CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 185 RENTING A SHOP (1)

Li Yuzhu said to the Great Princess, "Big sister, I think it’s doable."

Agreeing too easily would seem insincere. The Great Princess blinked and looked around the shop, "It’s a bit expensive..."

The young man’s expression turned anxious, and he quickly said to the Great Princess, "Eight hundred coins a month is also okay."

Li Yuzhu was surprised. The young man has money!

Eight hundred coins a month, is he giving it away?

"Ah, um..." The Great Princess wanted to say something, but Li Yuzhu covered her mouth.

Li Yuzhu was worried that the thrifty Great Princess would keep bargaining, making the young man refuse and not rent the place.

A shop this cheap, you couldn’t find with a lantern!

Li Yuzhu threw her money pouch to Mu Yuanxiu, "Mu Yuanxiu, here are six hundred coins and a piece of broken silver. Help me rent the shop, and I’ll go find my second brother with my big sister first."

Mu Yuanxiu smiled slightly, "Okay."

"Ah, hmm—" The Great Princess looked at Li Yuzhu in shock. This crazy girl! Giving money to an outsider to rent a shop?

"Also, help write the tenancy agreement for the shop, Mu Yuanxiu!" Li Yuzhu added and dragged the Great Princess away, covering her mouth.

After walking for a while, Li Yuzhu finally released the Great Princess.

The Great Princess gasped for air, "What are you doing, Li Yuzhu? Why did you cover my mouth?"

"I was afraid you’d say something foolish." Li Yuzhu dusted off her sleeves, "Eight hundred coins a month, and the first three months are rent-free, where else can you find such a cheap shop?"

The Great Princess said, "What’s wrong with eight hundred coins? Seven hundred coins would be reasonable."

See, it’s a good thing Li Yuzhu pulled the Great Princess away. Seven hundred coins a month? How could the Great Princess dare to ask for that? Li Yuzhu shook her head, "Big sis, your price is too harsh. What if that young man decides not to rent it?"

"I think he would compromise." The Great Princess thought for a moment, "He seemed eager to rent out the shop, maybe he’d go for five hundred coins."

"That’s wishful thinking!" Li Yuzhu was speechless, "Alright, eight hundred coins is not bad. It’s the cheapest around the market. Let’s go find second brother and talk about finding a shop."

"Alright, you’ve already sealed the deal, so how can I haggle?" The Great Princess glared at Li Yuzhu.

The little girl’s vision is so narrow, satisfied with just this small amount of money.

The two sisters returned to the Second Princess’s pancake stall.

"Where did you go? Why are you just coming back? Second brother even went looking for you; he checked two pharmacies. One said you didn’t go, and the other said you left half an hour ago." The Second Princess said as soon as she saw them.

"Yeah, young ladies, where did you wander off to? It made me and the second one worried." Li Xing’an also said, glancing at the Great Princess, "Little sister, were you wandering aimlessly with the third sister?"

The Great Princess angrily replied, "How is it my fault? Clearly, it’s Li Yuzhu, saving this one moment and rescuing that one the next, making us late!"

The Second Young Master said, "It’s good you’re back. So, third sister, who did you save?"

Li Yuzhu said, "Oh, one was Da Niu’s aunt, and the other was a fainted young man."

"Liu Da Niu’s aunt? That shrew? Why did you save her?" The Second Young Master asked in surprise.

"Of course, it’s for the second sister. She swore that if I cured her, she’d no longer trouble the second sister’s pancake business." Li Yuzhu said, "Oh, and she gave two taels of silver as a consultation fee."

"Is that possible? I have my doubts." The Second Young Master sneered.

"I have a hold over her. She wouldn’t dare." Li Yuzhu smiled with confidence.

The Second Young Master curiously asked, "A hold? What kind of hold?"

Li Yuzhu smiled mysteriously, "Can’t say now. If she troubles the second sister someday, I’ll say it, making sure the whole village knows."

The Second Young Master laughed, "You little rascal."

Li Xing’an also asked, "And the young man you saved?"

"He was certainly worth saving." Li Yuzhu recounted the encounter with the young man to everyone.

The Second Princess was the happiest, "Ah? Only eight hundred coins a month for rent, that’s great. This shop is worth renting—no, no, third sister saved the right person. He must be grateful to third sister to rent to us so cheaply."

The Great Princess snorted, "It could have been cheaper if third sister hadn’t pulled me back."

The Second Princess waved her hand, "This price is good. If it were any cheaper, what if he decided not to rent?"

Li Xing’an nodded, "Yeah, what if he didn’t rent it then? You can’t find such cheap rent anywhere else."

The Second Young Master, listening to everyone, remained deep in thought.

Li Yuzhu asked him, "Second brother, what do you think?"

"I feel something’s not right." The Second Young Master frowned.

"What do you mean not right? Speak clearly, don’t beat around the bush." Li Xing’an said discontentedly.

"Third sister said eighteen hundred coins a month was too expensive; the young landlord immediately reduced it to a thousand. Big sister said a thousand was still too much; he reduced it again without a word. How was he so accommodating? It’s as if the shop isn’t his." The Second Young Master furrowed his brows.

Li Xing’an whispered, "Second, are you saying he’s scamming us?"

"It’s possible!"

Li Yuzhu shook her head, "I don’t think he’s a fraud. There’s no need to trick us, right? We’re so poor, dressed worse than him."

"Could it be the shop has issues, enticing us to quickly rent it out? Earning a coin is earning a coin, better than not renting it at all?" The Great Princess suggested, looking at everyone.

The Second Princess frowned, "It’s hard to find a shop we like, and it turns out to be unreliable?"

"I’ll go check the shop. Third sister, where is it?" The Second Young Master asked Li Yuzhu.

Just then, Mu Yuanxiu arrived and said loudly, "You don’t need to go. I helped you rent it."

Everyone looked at him.

Li Xing’an shouted, "Why did you rent it for us? We haven’t even seen the shop yet."

"I saw it. There’s no problem with the shop." Mu Yuanxiu said.

Li Yuzhu tugged at Li Xing’an, "Third brother, I asked Mu Yuanxiu for help because I was in a hurry to come back and discuss the shop matter with you."

"He’s an outsider..." Li Xing’an snorted, "Third sister, do you really trust him?"

"It’s not his money renting the shop, whether it’s good or bad doesn’t affect him." The Second Young Master chuckled.

Li Yuzhu was speechless, "He’s a neighbor. We’re already very familiar. How is he an outsider? You shouldn’t say that about him."

After saying that, Li Yuzhu comforted Mu Yuanxiu, "It’s hot; my second and third brothers got heatstroke, don’t mind them."

Mu Yuanxiu smiled lightly, "Okay."

The Second Young Master and Li Xing’an both wore dark expressions, "..." This girl’s bias is showing!

"Here’s the contract." Mu Yuanxiu took a document from his sleeve and handed it to Li Yuzhu, "I wrote the name of the intermediary. The landlord has already signed; the rest of the signatures need to be filled in by you personally. After signing, you can move in. He said there’s no deposit needed, and you can pay three months later."

"Wow? No deposit either?" The Second Princess exclaimed excitedly, "Did I meet a benefactor?"

The Great Princess chuckled coldly, "Be careful you didn’t meet a villain who’s setting you up."

The Second Princess looked blissful, "No no no, when I was little, my grandmother had my fortune read. They said I have a great fate, with food and drink, never living in hardship."

The Great Princess snorted more, "But Miss Li, you’re selling pancakes on the street now."

"But I make money selling pancakes. I don’t feel like it’s hard work!" The Second Princess still looked blissful.

The Great Princess directly rolled her eyes.

"Let me see the contract." The Second Young Master took the document and read it carefully.

From start to finish, there wasn’t a single clause that was a trap; all the terms were fair and standard.

For instance, without the landlord’s consent, no renovations are allowed. The tenant is responsible for any major damage such as fire during the lease. Profits and losses are borne by the tenant, unrelated to the landlord.

Then, it explained the rent, with the first three months free. The reason was written as gratitude for Li Yuzhu and the Great Princess saving him, thus waiving three months’ rent.

Starting from the fourth month, the rent is eight hundred coins a month, also out of gratitude for Li Yuzhu and the Great Princess’s aid.

The Second Princess squeezed in to see the contract and asked the Great Princess in surprise, "Big sister, did you also save him when he was sick?"

The Great Princess, thinking of the bowl of water she gave, said proudly, "Yes."

The Second Princess exclaimed excitedly, "Great, big sister, third sister, you are my benefactors; if not for saving that young landlord, I wouldn’t have got such a cheap shop."

The Great Princess felt smug, "So Li Yu En, how are you going to thank me?"

The Second Princess, Li Yu En, "..." She blinked, "I’m very poor right now. How about I make you some delicious pancakes?"

"Stingy! No wonder you’re so chubby! Hmph!" The Great Princess snorted coldly.

"Second brother, third brother, since the shop is fine, shall we rent it now? We can move in tomorrow, saving the second sister from moving the stove back and forth in the future. It’ll always be in the shop, so convenient." Li Yuzhu suggested.