Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 17
The arrival of Song Shi’an’s aunt and two cousins made his home much livelier.
They had rushed over all night, and Song Shi’an was still asleep when they knocked on the door. He vaguely heard sounds at the door, the soft breathing of a woman. They quickly entered.
The two cousins greeted him timidly, as if they were afraid of causing any trouble, they casually mentioned that they could stay with their mother on the streets at any time, which made him feel concerned.
Since it was getting late, Song Shi’an tidied up the room for them and told them to go to bed first.
He could fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Before he opened his eyes, he heard noises outside. The rope on which he hung sausages had not been removed, and it was covered with clean clothes.
Song Shi’an initially had only one set of clothes and had recently purchased two sets of linen clothes when his noodle stall business flourished. While he enjoyed staying clean and changed his clothes daily, sometimes he grew too lazy to wash them.
He’d pile up a bucket full of dirty laundry. Unexpectedly, the two little cousins had taken it upon themselves to wash the clothes.
His face turned red, and he quickly went to the kitchen to fry a large pot of noodles. He used the best lard he had just made and sliced two large sausages. He also cut a handful of crispy golden noodles that had just been freshly harvested.
The fried noodles were so flavorful that Gao Yu and Gao Lu devoured them eagerly. Gao Lu chimed in with a child’s enthusiasm, “I’ve never had noodles this delicious!”
Aunt Liu had arrived in a hurry, and many of their personal items had yet to catch up. She was still contemplating going back to fetch them, but Song Shi’an urged her not to.
He said, “Auntie, if you need anything, we can buy it together.” He proudly patted the money pouch containing copper coins, exclaiming, “I’ve got a lot of money!”
Apart from the rainy days, this was the first time Song Shi’an had left the stall in days. They strolled around Qingjiang Town, purchasing new bedding, sheets, quality cotton fabric, tooth powder, soap, clam oil for the face, and osmanthus oil for hair.
He spent two taels all at once, and Aunt Liu was delighted. For the first time, Song Shi’an willingly paid without hesitation.
It was almost noon when they returned home and enjoyed another sumptuous meal. Aunt Liu carefully stored the bronze mirror she had just bought, then took out a set of wedding clothes that she had guarded and preserved with great care.
When she left the Gao’s house, the wedding dress was still a few stitches away from being finished. She was worried it might be confiscated by Gao Mingda. Now, after an entire night of hard work, it was finally complete.
“An’er, try it on.”
Looking at the bright red wedding dress, Song Shi’an felt a sense of awkwardness.
Marriage was inevitable, but he had been deliberately avoiding thinking about it, hoping to postpone it for a few more days.
Under the hopeful gazes of his aunt and cousins, Song Shi’an took a deep breath and accepted the wedding clothes as if he were resigned to it. However, the belt was quite intricate, so he had Gao Yu help him put it on.
Shortly after changing into the attire, they heard a knock on the courtyard door. Aunt Liu beamed with joy. Gao Lu rushed to open the door with her short legs.
Xu Zhongyue stood at the entrance of the courtyard and saw at a glance that the door of the east wing was open, and Song Shi’an was bathed in bright spring sunshine, dressed in dazzling red wedding attire.
Their wedding hadn’t taken place yet, and it wasn’t proper for the little shuanger to be seen in his wedding dress by the fiancé. However, Xu Zhongyue had been visiting more frequently, so Aunt Liu had chosen to turn a blind eye.
Xu Zhongyue, who was usually composed, was momentarily taken aback. He gazed at Song Shi’an in the wedding dress for a long moment before sighing and saying, “You look so beautiful.”
A somewhat flustered Song Shi’an hid behind the bed frame. After a while, he changed back into his regular clothes and reemerged. However, he had forgotten to remove the red ribbons that adorned his hair, with two bright red strands cascading from his jet-black hair.
Xu Zhongyue observed him and couldn’t help but think that his wife looked particularly handsome in red, so he resolved to purchase more red clothing and headbands for him.
Aunt Liu, understanding the situation, knew that the young couple needed some privacy, so she took her two daughters out of the room and left the door slightly ajar.
Even though they were alone, they didn’t want to be disrespectful with an elder like her present.
“How did you…”
“I took a liking to…”
They both began speaking simultaneously, then paused at the same time. Their eyes met, and Song Shi’an couldn’t help but smile faintly, which prompted Xu Zhongyue to smile as well.
“You go first.”
“Alright, tell me how Aunt Liu managed to escape from the Gao family and what methods you used.” Song Shi’an was genuinely curious.
In truth, Xu Zhongyue had only a general idea. He knew that Zhuang Yan had various connections, so he could find something to grab Gao Mingda’s attention. Zhuang Yan’s strategy was more intricate than he had imagined.
After hearing what Xu Zhongyue shared, Song Shi’an smirked and said, “It’s still better for Gao Mingda. My aunt left, and now the Lady Shui has appeared. He’s quite lucky.”
Xu Zhongyue responded with a noncommittal smile, “The future, whether good or bad, remains to be seen. Let’s wait and see.”
Song Shi’an agreed, as long as Aunt Liu and his cousins were safe. As for Gao Mingda, that scoundrel could deal with his own fate for all he cared.
“I’ve said my part, what do you want to tell me?”
Xu Zhongyue surprised Song Shi’an, “I’ve set my sights on a shop. If you think it’s a good, I’d like to purchase it and open a business together after we’re married.”
The idea of buying a shop and starting a business after marriage was complex, and Song Shi’an was momentarily overwhelmed.
“I remember you once mentioned wanting to go into business with me.” Seeing Song Shi’an’s hesitancy, Xu Zhongyue gently reminded him.
“There is such a thing.” Song Shi’an replied, looking a bit bewildered. His normally well-behaved hair had taken on a disheveled appearance, and he gazed at Xu Zhongyue with wide, innocent eyes.
Back then, he had contemplated the idea of entering into a contract marriage with Xu Zhongyue.
“But renting a shop is quite expensive, let alone buying one?”
Xu Zhongyue smiled and said, “Tell me how much you have, and I’ll cover the rest. We can be business partners and open a shop together.”
“Really? But I only have a bit over five taels… or rather, four taels.”
Xu Zhongyue affectionately ruffled Song Shi’an’s hair, playing with the unruly strands.
“That’s enough. You’ll be fine. Let’s go take a look at the shop together.”
This time, the person who guided them in searching for a shop was the same real estate agent that Song Shi’an had previously approached. On the previous visit, when he had inquired about renting a shop, the man had seen that he had little money and had treated him indifferently.
However, this time was entirely different. As Song Shi’an and Xu Zhongyue arrived, they were met with warm hospitality. The man was bustling about, serving freshly brewed spring tea along with rock sugar pine nuts and black plums
“You must taste the tea we just harvested this year. And the black plums, I’ll fetch the key right away.”
In the yard of the real estate agent’s place, there was a donkey cart that was usually parked there. Since the shop they were considering was a bit of a distance away, the man kindly invited them to hop on the cart for a comfortable ride.
Qingjiang Town, and its surrounding areas, was quite expansive. It was a bustling and prosperous town, with the Rouge Road serving as the busiest and liveliest spot.
The shop they were looking at was located on the main road of the Rouge Road, surrounded by a string of businesses including oil shops, general stores, lacquer shops, silk and satin shops, and fruit stalls, where many well-to-do merchants conducted their trade. Even those who weren’t wealthy still lived only a few streets away, so the streets were always abuzz with people.
The shop they were considering had previously operated as a tea house. It was a grand three-story wooden structure, adorned with intricately carved brackets and cornices, giving it a stately appearance.
To the back of the building was an expansive courtyard, featuring three smaller structures: a woodshed, an animal shelter, and a large kitchen that occupied considerable space. In the middle of the courtyard was an open area that could be used for storage.
Song Shi’an wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about tea, so he didn’t delve too deeply into it. He was content to drink whatever tea was available, whether it was black tea, green tea, or any other type. If they were to purchase this shop, his intention was to open a restaurant.
After a stroll around the backyard, they cheerfully returned to the teahouse. Both the upper and lower floors were furnished with black tables, chairs, and benches, giving it a bright and clean appearance. The space was imbued with a strong tea aroma, likely due to the many years of tea business conducted there.
If they were to open a restaurant, the ingredients would be stored in the backyard, and the open space in the yard could be used for loading and unloading by anyone riding horses or carts. A small door connected the backyard to the tea house, making it convenient for food delivery.
As Song Shi’an thought about this, a small smile graced his lips, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement.
The man, adept at reading people, noticed Song Shi’an’s delighted expression and knew that they were likely interested in the shop. With a respectful bow and a warm smile, he asked, “What do you think?”
Realizing the main issue, Song Shi’an furrowed his brow slightly. He didn’t want to reveal his enthusiasm for the shop in front of the man, so he deliberately maintained a calm expression.
“How much is the selling price for your shop, and what would the rent cost?” he asked.
The agent smiled and replied, “As I mentioned before your visit, this shop is only available for purchase, not for rent. The previous landlord had no intention of renting it, but he had to let it go when his son passed the imperial exam three years ago and found success in his official career. They wanted to relocate to Beijing to reunite with their parents. So, the landlord reluctantly decided to sell it. This shop is being sold to finance their new home in the capital.”
“We consulted a Feng Shui expert, and this place is a treasure trove for good Feng Shui. Anyone who does business here is destined for prosperity and wealth.” the vendor continued. The more Song Shi’an heard, the more enticed he became.
“Tell me, how much?” he inquired, getting straight to the point.
The agent responded, “Shops in this area typically cost at least four to five hundred taels of silver, but the landlord is eager to make a quick sale and is willing to negotiate. The current price is three hundred and thirty taels. With two taels, you can go to the Yamen to have the contract re-registered and transfer the shop’s ownership to the designated buyer.”
Three hundred and thirty taels!
This amount left Song Shi’an feeling astonished. After living in Qingjiang Town for quite some time, he had gained a deep understanding of the value of three hundred and thirty taels.
Eggs were only a cent each, and pork cost thirty to forty cents per pound depending on the cut. For an ordinary family, three hundred and thirty taels were an enormous sum of money.
Xu Zhongyue, who had remained silent, spoke up: “We’re sincerely interested in purchasing it. Please offer us your best price.”
The agent and he began to haggle, and after a while, they reached an agreement on a price of three hundred taels. They visited the Yamen earlier in the day while it was still open, where they had the contract re-written, transferring the shop’s ownership to Song Shi’an’s name.
Once a wealthy businessman, Song Shi’an couldn’t help but be amazed at Xu Zhongyue’s assertiveness. He tugged Xu Zhongyue’s arm and inquired in a hushed tone, “Is…is the money enough?”
Xu Zhongyue looked at him with an impassive expression and replied, “Not enough.”
“What!?” Song Shi’an’s hair took on a wild and disheveled appearance, and he appeared anxious. “How much more do we need?”
“Four taels.”
Song Shi’an was utterly baffled. In truth, Xu Zhongyue was toying with him. With a casual demeanor, Xu Zhongyue took out a small bag from his pocket and revealed neatly stacked silver ingots.
Ten taels each, he counted twenty-nine of them. He then withdrew a bit over five taels of broken silver from the purse hanging at his waist and added it to Song Shi’an’s silver.
The agent was delighted to see the money. Being an experienced clerk, he quickly revised the contract. The donkey cart carried the two of them, along with the original owner, to the government office once more.
“Whose name should be stamped on this contract?” Xu Zhongyue took Song Shi’an’s hand, and Song Shi’an was still in a state of bewilderment, unsure of how to react.
He only came to his senses when his thumb was pressed onto the contract with red ink, and he signed next to his name. As he raised his head in astonishment, he asked, “This… this shop is mine?”
Xu Zhongyue’s thin lips curled into a pleased smile as he said, “Yes, Boss Song.”