Chapter 136: Buying a Shop

Even if his legs are crippled, having an heir would allow him to inherit the Great Unification.

"Tomorrow morning, have Prime Minister Su come to the imperial study to see me."

"Yes."

Early the next morning, Chi Nan Yi changed into men's clothing, put on a mask, and went out with Ji Bai; yesterday's attire was indeed a bit too eye‑catching.

She inspected several shops; either the location was poor or the area too small, and after half a day her legs ached and she hadn't found a suitable shop.

"Ji Bai, have you ever been to Jingcheng?"

"No."

Chi Nan Yi: "…"

Had I known earlier, I would have let Yun Shan and the others return to Prince Li's mansion.

The original owner had lived in Jingcheng before, but she was always obedient, rarely went out, let alone bought a shop.

Jingcheng is vast; you can't search street by street.

At that moment, her gaze fell upon a restaurant, the three bold characters "Wei Xiang Zhai" caught her eye.

It was lunchtime, the restaurant was packed, and young servants carried trays weaving among the diners, constantly calling out.

"Squirrel‑shaped mandarin fish, stir‑fried seasonal vegetables—please enjoy at your leisure, honored guest."

Chi Nan Yi then looked at the shop opposite the restaurant; it was also three stories tall, but its doors were nearly empty, with only a handful of people—fewer than the servants inside the restaurant.

Anyone with eyes could see that the opposite restaurant was unsustainable, merely holding on by force.

A restaurant of that size could not be sold; no one was willing to take it over.

Wei Xiang Zhai is one of Jingcheng's most renowned restaurants; everyone knows it belongs to the Meng Family, and challenging the Meng Family is as hard as doing it with one's toes.

The shop's ultimate fate would be nothing but closing its doors.

"Miss, perhaps you should return to rest while I go scout the area."

"No need," Chi Nan Yi shook her head, her gaze burning as she stared at the restaurant: "I've already found it."

She walked slowly into the restaurant; in the spacious hall, Chi Nan Yi felt her words echoed.

"Honored guest, what would you like to eat?"

Sure enough, her guess was right; there truly was an echo.

"What signature dishes do you have? Just bring them up."

"Got it!" The waiter heard this and hurried toward the back kitchen.

Soon, several well‑presented dishes were brought out.

Chi Nan Yi tasted a few bites of each dish and found them unexpectedly good.

With such tasty food, how could there be no customers?

"Waiter."

"Honored guest, what is your command?"

"Your shop's food is good, but why is it so deserted?"

When asked, the waiter's face fell and he sighed helplessly: "Honored guest, you may not know, our restaurant was once flourishing. Since the opposite shop opened, their dishes taste similar to ours but are cheaper. We considered lowering prices, yet even then they're not cheaper than Wei Xiang Zhai across the street. Over time, our patrons have been poached by them."

Chi Nan Yi nodded; the Meng Family's enterprise has always been managed by Madam Jiang, who comes from a merchant background. For the Jiang Clan to hold a firm foothold in Jingcheng, they must possess extraordinary skill.

Madam Jiang, if she wants to ruin the opposite shop's business, isn't it just a matter of having the power to choke them?

"Then isn't your shopkeeper anxious?"

"Very anxious! Our shopkeeper is dying to act, but what can be done? He says the shop barely makes a few silver coins, and trying to sell it draws no interest—now we're riding a tiger and can't get off."

Hearing that, Chi Nan Yi's smile widened: "And your shopkeeper?"

"The shopkeeper is upstairs."

"I have business to discuss with your shopkeeper."

Chi Nan Yi went up to the third floor; in a refined room, the shopkeeper was sighing while looking at the ledgers.

It's over; the shop is completely ruined in his hands!

Generations of effort, and this shop has been utterly smashed in his hands!

"Shopkeeper, a young master wishes to see you."

Shopkeeper Hao patiently opened the door, forcing a thin smile: "What does this young master request? I am rather busy here…"

"I find the feng shui of this shop favorable; might the shopkeeper be willing to part with it?"

At first, Shopkeeper Hao didn't grasp Chi Nan Yi's meaning; after a while, he finally realized what she had said.

"Buy… buy this shop?"

"Exactly, would you be willing to sell it to me?"

"Young master, you… you really want to buy?"

"Of course."

"Good! Good! Very good! Please come in, please come in."

Chi Nan Yi smiled and said, "The shopkeeper isn't busy now?"

"Not busy at all, not busy at all." What could be more important than someone taking over this shop?

"When would the young master like to purchase?"

"Now, as long as the shopkeeper is willing to sell."

Shopkeeper Hao blinked: "Young master, allow me to ask one more thing—what do you intend to do with this shop after buying it?"

"My original trade—whatever this shop originally did, I will let it continue doing that."

"Huh? Your original trade?" Shopkeeper Hao exclaimed, "Do you mean… you'll still run it as a restaurant?"

"Exactly, it will remain a restaurant."

"Ah." Shopkeeper Hao sighed, shook his head, waved his hand at Chi Nan Yi: "Young master, if you intend to turn this shop into a restaurant, I still advise you not to. Guard the opposite Wei Xiang Zhai; the other restaurants on this street have no chance. I am already deep in a quagmire and cannot bear for you to fall in unknowingly. Take this chance and abandon the idea!"

Chi Nan Yi heard this and thought Shopkeeper Hao was indeed decent, worthy of his surname.

"No problem, I've already figured out how to run it; shopkeeper, just tell me how much silver you want for this shop."

"My shop is in a prime spot; normally it could fetch five hundred liang, but now four hundred liang. If you can buy, I'll sell it to you now; we sign and seal, payment in silver liang completed."

"Fine." Chi Nan Yi did not haggle; she knew Jingcheng shops are valuable, and Hao's price was indeed the lowest possible.

Seeing her accept so readily, Hao the shopkeeper was stunned for a moment.

"Not… already buying it?"

"Where's the bargaining?"

He had already prepared everything, why is any step missing?

Only when he held a silver note and a contract in his hand did Hao come to his senses.

This young master looks thin, but is actually wealthy!

"Thank you, young master, for rescuing me; without you, my whole family would have been reduced to eating chaff and swallowing vegetables."

"Shopkeeper, although I've bought this shop now, I'm troubled by having no trustworthy manager. You've been in the shop the longest, so you must have feelings for it. If you're willing, I can invite you to be the shopkeeper while I act as the owner, paying you ten liang of silver each month. What do you think?"

Hao, hearing this, couldn't help but nod: "Willing! Of course I'm willing!"

"Fine, one thing to clarify first: don't tell anyone about the hidden owner behind the shop; just say the shop is yours. Understood?"