Chapter 115: Prime Shop Space for Rent

The two Sheng Family laborers who left Jingxing Fang after exchanging their labor for a stack of Grain Tickets still felt a bit timid, feeling somewhat guilty toward their employer.

But on second thought, they had only spoken about their own farming experience, and it was only for the sake of the Grain Tickets that they had offered a few small tips for increasing production; it had nothing to do with the Sheng Family, so it couldn't be considered betraying their master, right?

What was wrong with earning a little extra by their own ability?

After the two laborers quickly rationalized it to themselves, they no longer felt any psychological pressure, and what followed were more ulterior motives.

"I heard that the Grain Tickets from this Jingxing Fang can be exchanged for a lot of things in Xinzhou City."

They needed to exchange them for things that were easy to carry and not easily discovered, to take back and resell.

Since they were already here...

A large merchant caravan, even with its current reduced personnel, still had dozens or hundreds of people; there were always those they were close to, and of course, good things had to be shared.

Soon, others learned of their way of earning Grain Tickets and quietly came to Jingxing Fang the next day.

Unfortunately, after inquiring, they learned that the old village head who rode the ox cart had returned to his village as soon as the ward gate opened in the morning.

The next time he would enter the city would be at least half a month later!

By that time, they would likely no longer be here.

They had been hesitant before coming, suspecting someone was setting a trap, but now that they couldn't make the exchange, they instead regretted not coming a step earlier.

The busy stewards were unaware of the private affairs of the few laborers.

The steward who had been inquiring about news of Jingxing Fang came again the next day.

His target had changed today; it was no longer those laborers and idlers, but the minor Clerks of Jingxing Fang.

He found a few people to talk to, then picked a certain Clerk surnamed Tao with a local accent to get close and fish for information.

After receiving a bribe, the Clerk surnamed Tao was very enthusiastic, took him to the construction site, and revealed some "inside information."

The merchant caravan steward expressed his gratitude on the surface, but remained skeptical in his heart. Afterward, he set his sights on a certain Clerk surnamed He, who had a southern accent and was said to be at odds with the one surnamed Tao.

The Clerk surnamed He also brought people to that construction site, and regardless of whether it was currently under construction or vacant, he blew the prospects even louder, and his words also revealed some "inside information."

It was a mix of truth and falsehood, and it was well-reasoned.

In short: Prime shop space for rent!

That night, the steward returned to the merchant caravan.

The leader of the merchant caravan, Sheng Ren, called his few trusted aides into the room.

He had gone to Zhao Fu on the first day and successfully met with Zhao Shaozhu.

This meeting had been for other matters, and today he had gone out again to visit some old acquaintances and confirmed some news.

"Xinzhou is about to establish a 'Four Seas Firm' to facilitate the management of the markets and formulate trade regulations; at that time, this firm will undertake external procurement."

Sheng Ren understood very well that this so-called "Four Seas Firm" was essentially just a tool for the Zhao Family to manage the commerce of Xinzhou.

"With the current state of the world being unstable, Xinzhou is only this small a place; they aren't splitting into separate trade guilds, but are simply overseeing the markets, with each category having its own person in charge. The rice trade... the chief manager of the rice market is held by that head of the Shen Family, Shen Yuan."

Sheng Ren stated this news to let his few trusted aides have an idea of the situation.

A steward asked hesitantly: "Employer, should we join this Four Seas Firm?"

Sheng Ren was silent for a moment before saying: "Becoming a member of the Four Seas Firm can allow us to gain more convenience in our dealings in Xinzhou."

The others showed worry: "It's just that I fear the Dong Clan might be dissatisfied."

Sheng Ren smiled indifferently: "No need to worry too much; in such a state of the world today, one cannot view things by conventional standards. Besides us, other merchant caravans coming to Xinzhou will also make the same decision; otherwise, it will be impossible to move an inch in Xinzhou."

As he spoke, Sheng Ren's smile faded: "Our Sheng Family Merchant Caravan only does business when we are out, we do not engage in politics."

The master and his followers discussed it in the room for a while, and the others left, leaving behind the steward who had gone to Jingxing Fang and Qingyun Fang to inquire for news.

Sheng Ren picked up a teacup to moisten his throat and asked: "How was it?"

The steward briefly reported the news he had gathered and took out a stick of incense to hand over:

"This was bought from Qingyun Temple. The Danguan is indeed under construction, the place is not small, and it looks quite meticulous in its building; it doesn't look like they are just messing around. The Warding Evil incense and Warding Evil Talisman I bought were checked by the Pharmacist in the caravan, and they are both good things!"

Sheng Ren took this stick of Warding Evil incense and looked at it carefully. In these times of crisis and chaos, their merchant caravan had come into contact with a lot of Warding Evil incense, so of course, he could distinguish the good from the bad.

"That Qingyi Daozhang... if there is an opportunity, I still must meet him."

Sheng Ren pondered in his heart; he certainly couldn't invite this Daoist Priest with his status as a steward, so next time he would go himself!

He then asked about Jingxing Fang. After hearing the summary of the news the steward had collected, he mentioned the construction site there. Although the steward had asked the Clerks there, he still had suspicions in his heart.

Sheng Ren, however, had a thought, and let the steward take paper and brush: "What is the general layout over there? Draw it out."

The steward quickly drew the important areas of Jingxing Fang on the paper, such as the Public Office for work, the Wanfu Garden currently under construction, and that piece of vacant land for "prime shop space for rent."

Sheng Ren only glanced at it briefly and raised his finger to point at that vacant land: "Tell me about this."

The steward recalled the prospects the two Clerks had been blowing about and said cautiously: "The Clerk there revealed that a row of shop fronts will soon be built here, mainly for external rental."

Sheng Ren asked: "Who do the shop fronts belong to? Who is the owner? When will they be built?"

The steward replied: "The Zhao Family; the Zhao Family from Zhaohui Fang just bought the land. They said the blueprints are still being designed, and it is expected to be built in two stories; it should be finished by the end of this year."

Sheng Ren was surprised: "It is actually the Zhao Family!"

In the past two days, when he visited some old friends, he had heard about the struggle between the Zhao Family of Zhaohui Fang and the Shen Family of Xianghui Fang; the younger generation would fight every few days, and he had never seen them get along peacefully.

Privately, some also said that Jingxing Fang was the Shen Family's territory. The Ward Chief Wen Gu was the nephew of Lady Shen, and the largest building complex, Wanfu Garden, was also built only because the Shen Family acted as the go-between.

If these shop fronts belonged to the Shen faction, he would certainly wait and see to do more evaluation, but since these belonged to the Zhao Family...

He recalled the strange Treasure Bridge he saw when entering the city, which radiated an overwhelming air of "wealth."

To be able to build such a Treasure Bridge in a short time during the current crisis and chaotic world without harming military pay was undoubtedly a display of financial power and foundation!

Add to that the Wanfu Garden currently under construction, and the powerful and wealthy of Xinzhou City would surely be active there in the future.

"How is the rent?" Sheng Ren asked.

"Because the shop fronts haven't been built yet, the rent hasn't been determined, but one can pay a reservation fee first. The rent and the deposit only accept Xinzhou Money Vouchers for transactions, saying it is for the sake of clear accounts," the steward replied.

Sheng Ren said decisively: "Go and reserve two shop fronts."

Two of them?!

The steward dared not question him and only respectfully acknowledged the order.

Sheng Ren picked up a brush, marked the approximate location of the chosen shopfronts on the drawing paper, and said again, "I have important business at Sihai Fang tomorrow and will not be free; go to Jingxing Fang as soon as possible and get this matter handled."

With Sheng Ren's second emphasis, the steward dared not delay in the slightest, fearing that the place might be sold off, so he rushed over the moment the ward gate opened early in the morning.

——

The young men of the Zhao Family would send one person to Jingxing Fang every day to stand guard.

Although that plot of land was still empty, since they had already decided to come to Jingxing Fang every day to show their presence, someone had to come over here to loiter.

The young man on duty today arrived at Jingxing Fang yawning; before he had even entered, he was pulled aside by He Da, who was guarding the ward gate, and informed that someone wanted to rent their shopfronts.

The Zhao Family youth's face was full of the bewilderment of someone who "hasn't woken up and is hearing dream talk."

"Huh? What shopfronts? Where are there any shopfronts?"

He Da pointed over: "That place you bought."

The Zhao Family youth exclaimed in shock: "Isn't that just an empty lot?!"

He Da said: "That's why it's a pre-order. The other party heard you were going to build a row of shopfronts there for rent, thinks very highly of the prospects there, and decided to pre-order two shopfronts; they sent a steward over today to pay the deposit first."

The Zhao Family youth muttered: "Where did this sucker come from..."

He Da asked in confusion, as if he hadn't heard clearly: "Hm?"

The Zhao Family youth came to his senses: "Ahem, I meant that brother has great foresight and eyes like torches!"

He wiped the sweat that had been startled out of him from his forehead. He was only here to go through the motions today; he couldn't handle such a major matter!

He hurriedly had his attendant run back to notify the family group.

The Zhao Family youth felt this matter was too absurd and also felt a bit guilty; he looked left and right and asked He Da in a low voice: "Where is your Ward Chief?"

He Da thought to himself: Hmph, how could such a small matter require our Ward Chief to show his face.

However, he still politely replied: "The Ward Chief is busy with official business, but he has had us keep a constant watch; rest assured, no one dares to mess around in Jingxing Fang!"

The Zhao Family youth thought to himself: Of course I know no one dares to mess around in Jingxing Fang, I'm just a bit suspicious and curious—

Although buying the land was their own decision, building shopfronts there to rent out was actually Wen Gu's suggestion.

But Wen Gu never said that one could trade the place while it was still an empty lot!

What kind of black-hearted person could do such a thing?!

If he were standing from an outsider's perspective, he would have to curse a few times, but as the beneficiary...

Sincere!

Wen Gu is truly sincere! He's a keeper!