0p0 Chapter 167: Conversation with the Innkeeper
Chapter 167: Conversation with the Innkeeper
"Young Madam, this is our own shop, so you don't have to worry about the rent."
Only then did Xie Jiaojiao nod.
When they arrived at the house, Xie Jiaojiao saw that it had been cleaned up.
"What was this shop used for before?"
"It's also a food store, but it was losing money before, so I closed it. Someone came to rent it, but the young lady also said she wanted to find a store to do business, so I didn't let anyone rent it out."
Xie Jiaojiao nodded and looked around the shop. The shop was indeed very big, with three floors in total. It was clean inside and out, and it was obvious that it was intended to be rented out.
Xie Jiaojiao took out the drawing she had designed from her bosom and handed it to Manager Wang. She had made this drawing during the days when she was sick.
Manager Wang took it and nodded at some parts, but didn't understand some others.
"Madam, I'm afraid we need to find a carpenter to take a look at this!"
"Can you find it now?"
Steward Wang shook his head: "I'm afraid it will have to be tomorrow morning."
That's it.
Xie Jiaojiao put away the blueprint and said, "Then let's come back tomorrow morning. Uncle Wang, please take me around Jiangbo City so that I can get familiar with the surrounding environment."
Manager Wang nodded immediately. Seeing that he seemed to have nothing to do, Chen Pi took his leave and said he would come back early tomorrow morning. Xie Jiaojiao nodded in agreement.
Manager Wang explained as he took Jiaojiao around the city.
Jiangbo City is divided into four major sections: upper, middle and lower.
The north of the city is the richest, and most of the wealthy families in the county live there. The west of the city is considered the slums of the city, and it is also the noisiest and most chaotic place.
There are only small vendors over there, and no larger shops would go there.
Next are the south and east of the city. Both are the most prosperous areas and all businesses in the city are concentrated here. However, the businesses in the south and east are different. The south is mainly engaged in grain, oil, rouge and powder for girls, and bush.
The east of the city is dominated by restaurants and entertainment.
"There are actually divisions for business operations in this city!"
Manager Wang smiled and said, "These were sold out a long time ago. The rest are in the city, just like our shop, which is in the city. If you are in the city, you can find everything."
Xie Jiaojiao nodded.
When they returned to the inn, it was already evening and Xie Jiaojiao was a little tired.
Jiang Weinan had already asked people to prepare meals and toiletries.
Xie Jiaojiao washed up first before sitting down to eat.
Jiang Weinan asked her what she was busy with this afternoon, and Xie Jiaojiao told him everything.
Jiang Weinan asked, "What exactly do you want to eat?"
Xie Jiaojiao smiled and said, "You will know in a few days. Let's eat first."
Just as they picked up their bowls and chopsticks, a man came over.
"I am Li Baoshan, and I am here to greet the young master and young mistress!"
Xie Jiaojiao immediately put down her chopsticks and stood up: "Are you the owner of this inn?"
Li Baoshan nodded: "I heard that the young lady wanted to see me, so I came here after finishing the things I was doing."
Xie Jiaojiao nodded and first asked him if he was ready to eat.
Li Baoshan just replied that he had eaten.
That's it...
Xie Jiaojiao said to Jiang Weinan: "You eat first, I want to talk to Manager Li."
As he spoke, he took the person to the empty room next door. This room was the one that Jiang Li had used to discuss something.
"Manager Li, please take a seat."
Li Baoshan nodded slightly and then sat down.
"I wonder why the young lady asked me to come here?"
Xie Jiaojiao took out an account book and handed it to Li Baoshan.
"This account book belongs to this inn, right?"
Li Baoshan simply flipped through two pages and nodded slightly.
"Is this account wrong? Or is it?"
Xie Jiaojiao shook her head: "This account is correct."
Li Baoshan then let out a breath, and then looked at Xie Jiaojiao in confusion.
Xie Jiaojiao said, “It’s just that when I look at the accounts, although the revenue has been relatively stable in recent years, it still seems to be a lot less than in previous years!”
When it comes to this, Li Baoshan sighed: "Young Madam, you don't know that this inn has not been repaired since Madam left. In addition, the market competition is fierce. It's already very good that the inn can maintain it and make some profit now."
After listening to this, Xie Jiaojiao nodded slightly, then smiled and said, "Manager Li, don't worry, I'm not looking for faults in your work, but today I saw such a large inn with unique decorations, and I thought that the income shouldn't be like this, so I wanted to discuss countermeasures with you."
Li Baoshan stood up hurriedly: "If the young lady has any ideas, you can directly bring them up."
Xie Jiaojiao smiled and asked him to sit down: "I have some ideas in my mind, but I still need to discuss these ideas with you. But before the discussion, I want Manager Li to help me with something."
"As long as the young lady can restore the business of this inn to its former state, I will do anything for you!"
"I can't say I can restore it to its former state, Shopkeeper Li, but I think it will be at least better than it is now!"
Shopkeeper Li nodded: "If it can be better than now, that would be great. I wonder what you want me to do, Madam?"
"Please help me count how many inns we have in this state capital, and also their distribution map in the state capital and several counties."
"What do you want this information for, Madam?" Shopkeeper Li was puzzled.
Xie Jiaojiao smiled and said, "You will understand then."
……
After seeing off Shopkeeper Li, Xie Jiaojiao went back to eat. Jiang Weinan didn't pick up his chopsticks and kept waiting. Food in summer doesn't get cold easily and it's still hot now.
"Didn't I let you eat first?"
"It's not very tasty if you eat it alone."
As soon as Xie Jiaojiao sat down, Jiang Weinan started to pick up some vegetables and meat for her.
Xie Jiaojiao suddenly asked: "Where's Ruonan? Why didn't he come over to eat with us?"
"Let's ignore him. He has his own business. He's so grown up, don't you think he doesn't know how to eat?"
Xie Jiaojiao raised her eyebrows and glanced at him, then lowered her head and tried hard to eat. This made her busy, as she was really hungry!
Jiang Weinan asked beside her: "Did Shopkeeper Li listen to you?"
Xie Jiaojiao nodded: "From the looks and the way he speaks, he is quite respectful."
"That's fine, but if anyone is disrespectful to you, you must tell me."
Xie Jiaojiao looked at him carelessly and put down the bowl in her hand. "Are you really confident in handing over this huge business to me? Aren't you afraid that I will run away with the money?"
Jiang Weinan glanced at her and said, "Not only will I give you my property, but I will also give you everything! Also, if you really run away, I can't do anything about it. I can only say that I still haven't done well enough, so I can't keep you."
For some reason, in Xie Jiaojiao's eyes, his nonchalant look seemed much more serious than usual.
He snorted softly: "Who wants you?"
Jiang Weinan smiled and said nothing. He scooped a bowl of soup for her and said, "Drink it while it's hot. It will get cold soon."
Xie Jiaojiao took it.
"I originally wanted to marry you so that I could bully you, but now I have become a shrew. Not only do I get bullied by you all day, but I also have to serve you tea and water and pass you things."
"Why? You're not happy?"
Jiang Weinan raised the corner of his mouth: "It's an honor..."
After saying that, he put a piece of her favorite pork ribs into her bowl.
……