Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 323 Doing Business

Chapter 323: Chapter 323 Doing Business

Nanzhi didn’t recognize the visitor at first, but hearing Hu San address him as Second Young Master Qian, she greeted him in turn.

"Young Master Qian."

"Master Lin." Qingyan’s face was as fair as jade, his frame tall and slender, exuding a scholarly elegance. He looked at Nanzhi with a smiling countenance, his voice clear and sonorous, which was quite pleasant to hear.

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold, yet Qingyan was still looking at her with a smiling face. When their eyes met, Nanzhi realized that she should invite the visitor to sit down.

As they went upstairs to a private dining room, Qingyan finally spoke, "I am curious as to why Master Lin would want to buy my courtyard?"

After asking Liao Da to pour some tea, Nanzhi began to explain, "I must confess, I plan to turn that courtyard into an iced beverage shop. The weather is getting hotter, and I want to open another shop."

Qingyan nodded slightly, not saying anything, he just took a sip from the cup of tea that Nanzhi had handed him.

"I wonder, would Young Master Qian be willing to sell the shop to me?" Nanzhi was quite anxious within.

The sooner the matter of the women’s restaurant was resolved, the more at ease she would feel.

Although the restaurant had started to make profits, her own investment was considerable, amounting to over twelve hundred taels of silver.

"Since I’m here, naturally I’m willing to sell." Qingyan confessed, a blush crossing his face. Although he felt it was taking advantage of people in a difficult situation, after some internal conflict, he raised the issue.

"There’s just one thing, I need to ask Master Lin for a favor."

Seeing Qingyan’s awkwardness, Nanzhi, despite her confusion, continued to smile and waited for his explanation, given that she was the one asking for a favor.

"I...I would like to invite Master Lin to a family banquet."

Qingyan felt somewhat ashamed, thinking that he was taking advantage of a difficult situation, which was not a gentleman’s behavior.

But right now, the only person he could think of was Master Lin.

He had originally planned to ask Miss Su for this favor, but now that Miss Su had left, there was only one appropriate woman in Yan City – Master Lin.

Qingyan’s statement was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue; it almost made Nanzhi and Hu San stand up in surprise.

Even Liao Da, who was guarding outside the private room, pricked up his ears.

"Young Master Qian, surely you’re joking." Nanzhi laughed awkwardly, using her drinking as cover for her confusion.

But inside her mind, a storm was brewing.

She just couldn’t remember if the book mentioned anything about this Qingyan character.

Normally, wouldn’t these situations be encountered by the female protagonist, Su Tao?

Why did she encounter this ridiculously unexpected situation?

"Master Lin, I am not joking. I only came up with this idea because I felt pressured by the elders in the family," said Qingyan. He knew his request was unreasonable, but he could no longer bear the nagging of the elders at home.

His family was a scholarly one. His parents weren’t in a hurry for him to get married and have children. But his uncle’s family always liked to bully him, sometimes even implying in front of his grandfather that he had some hidden ailments, even rumored outside that he had a disposition of homosexuality.

The elders in the family always liked well-educated and intelligent daughters of influential families, and he had to counter their wishes.

He wanted to bring home a businesswoman to shut them up.

As long as he could get through next month’s family banquet, he could live a peaceful life afterwards.

The warmth in Nanzhi’s smile faded a bit, fearing Qingyan might misunderstand, she responded helplessly, "Young Master Qian, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. It’s because I already have a fiancé and I can’t help with this."

Nanzhi looked apologetic. Qingyan knew he had been imprudent and just apologized.

"I was too brash. I hope, Master Lin, you won’t take it against me." Qingyan admitted that he did feel disappointed that his approach didn’t work. After all, he was of ripe age and his family had been urging him to marry and have children in order to continue his family line and take care of the family business.

The motive behind asking Master Lin of San Wei Ju to help him was because she was a businesswoman. He did not expect that Master Lin would already have a fiancé.

As it was, Nanzhi began to feel uneasy.

The second son of the Qian family approached perhaps because he thought she could help him silence those people. But now that she was of no use, it was not clear if he would still agree to sell the courtyard to her.

Perhaps spotting her unease, Qingyan just smiled, then asked, "I do not want to force anyone. Since Master Lin wants to buy my courtyard, how much silver are you prepared to pay?"

Nanzhi and Hu San exchanged a glance and both sighed in relief.

"One hundred and forty taels."

Nanzhi quoted the price and waited for Qingyan’s response.

Hu San had told her that although the courtyard had a great location, it was rather small and the layout was too narrow and long, which was not very suitable for business purposes. Therefore, such a courtyard in a more remote area might have cost just ninety taels.

However, it was in a good location, plus they were the ones to initiate the purchase, so the price was about one hundred and sixty taels. They offered one hundred and forty taels just to gauge the bottom price. The Qian family were not a small family, and the person who came was the second son of the Qian family himself. The price should not be pressed too low, nor should it be too high to be profitable. Therefore, the two settled on the price of one hundred and forty taels.

After a moment’s thought, Qingyan didn’t immediately agree.

This courtyard was under his name and although he was not in charge of the Qian family, he still had a fair amount of property. He owned three bookstores and two manors in Yan City alone, and had four or five such courtyards.

Having considered the location of this courtyard and the distribution of his properties, Qingyan finally nodded.

"Since Master Lin wishes to buy, I won’t hesitate. One hundred and fifty taels, if you are willing, we can proceed to the County Office for the transfer."

He already had a bookstore on this street, and this courtyard was indeed a bit old. Although the location was good, it was not worth the cost of renovation for business purposes. It was too expensive.

If it was for personal use, the surrounding shops were mostly restaurants and bars, which were quite noisy. It would be better to sell it to Master Lin, and gain a favor in the process.

Business settled, Nanzhi’s smile became more sincere. After going to the County Office for the property transfer, she invited Qingyan and Hu San to stay for lunch at the restaurant.

Seeing Qingyan’s preference for dishes made with cumin, Nanzhi noted it down and went to the back yard.

After eating and drinking their fill, Hu San left first. Before leaving, Nanzhi gave him a pot of old wine and bid him farewell.

After leaving San Wei Ju, and getting on the carriage, the servant beside him said, "Young Master, Master Lin sent someone to deliver something. Would you like to have a look?"

Qingyan was a bit puzzled but nodded, signifying that he should take out the object to have a look.

The servant made a sound of surprise and carefully took out a package.

The wrap was made of fine cotton fabric, and inside was an oil paper packet.

He was curious when he saw the neat folds of the oil packet, so he brought it closer to examine it.

As soon as he brought it closer, a rich fragrance punched through the air.

Qingyan was delighted and wrapped the oil paper packet back up.

He had said he could give Master Lin a favor, but now it seemed that hope was in vain.

Seeing his young master shaking his head in resignation, the servant curiously asked, "Young Master, what’s in there?"

"It’s anise fennel."