Chapter 276: Chapter 276: What Do You Think?
"Brother!"
Liu Meiniang’s greeting was heard even in the living room, prompting everyone to come out quickly.
"Uncle Liu!"
Qi Manman ran up to Liu Qinghe: "Uncle Liu, you are so red!"
"Ah?"
Liu Qinghe instinctively touched his own face: "It’s hot outside, maybe that’s why Uncle’s face is red."
Actually, Liu Qinghe didn’t feel that hot, but since the little girl said his face was red, it must have been due to the excitement from the shop matter.
After speaking, Qi Manman covered her mouth and ran inside.
Oh no, she almost forgot what her mother said about not mentioning colors in front of others.
Liu Meiniang also heard Qi Manman’s words and instinctively looked at her brother.
The face... was indeed a bit red, but it didn’t seem too severe!
However, Liu Meiniang didn’t think much of it and stepped forward to help her brother with the horse: "Brother, come in and have some tea!"
"Hmm, be careful, don’t get kicked."
Liu Qinghe reminded as he strode forward, greeted the two elders, and then inquired about the whereabouts of Qi Quanjin.
"They’re all in the backyard! The fish in the backyard have grown quite a bit; catch a few to take back and eat."
Mrs. Qi said this with a smile and then took Mrs. Liu Sr. back inside.
The elders couldn’t withstand the sun outside; it was cooler in the living room.
Liu Qinghe wasn’t visiting the compound for the first time and quickly made his way to the backyard.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw Qi Quanjin and Qi Ercai standing by the water with their trouser legs rolled up, each holding a three to four-pound carp, talking.
"These fish are really not small."
Liu Qinghe approached with a smile.
Upon seeing Liu Qinghe, Qi Quanjin immediately greeted him with a smile: "Brother Liu, want to come down and catch some fish?"
"No, no."
Liu Qinghe quickly waved his hand.
He still had a task at hand; he wasn’t in the mood for catching fish!
Qi Quanjin didn’t persuade further, tossing the fish into a wooden bucket nearby before walking toward Liu Qinghe: "Brother Liu, when shall we find an intermediary?"
"I’ve already looked into it."
Liu Qinghe said, signaling Qi Quanjin to speak privately.
Qi Ercai was still catching fish and didn’t notice this detail.
"Second brother, catch two more and then come up!"
Qi Quanjin advised before going to a water jar nearby, rinsing his hands and feet with fresh water, and then rolling down his trousers.
The two entered the back living room, and seeing no one around, Liu Qinghe quietly said: "I mentioned to Lord County Magistrate about your family opening a restaurant. As luck would have it, he had a shop he wanted to sell, and has already found an intermediary."
"I’ve seen that shop before; it’s not big, but it’s in a nice location, right on the main street. However, the price isn’t cheap. I wonder if you..."
Liu Qinghe didn’t dare to say it was the county magistrate who offered it.
Qi Quanjin frowned at first when he heard this, and then asked: "How much does that shop cost?"
"The intermediary quoted four hundred taels."
Liu Qinghe was actually very nervous when he mentioned the price, fearing that it would scare him off, and quickly explained: "The shop’s location is really good, with three floors in total, a well in the backyard, three sides are single-story houses; there’s a place for the owner and a dedicated kitchen."
"Can I take a look?"
Qi Quanjin asked.
This put Liu Qinghe in a difficult position.
The county magistrate’s brother-in-law was still running a teahouse there; how could he show it?
Seeing Liu Qinghe didn’t immediately respond, Qi Quanjin guessed: "Brother Liu, we are not outsiders, just tell me what’s going on with that shop!"
The county magistrate’s shop, four hundred taels, isn’t pricey, though the asking price might be higher than other shops. But with the county magistrate backing it, future troubles could be reduced.
Qi Quanjin was quite clear about this.
But not being able to see the shop, that always left a person uneasy.
Seeing what Qi Quanjin said, Liu Qinghe couldn’t hide it anymore and explained who currently occupied the shop.
"It’s the county magistrate’s brother-in-law’s shop. I’m not even sure if his brother-in-law knows about this. Brother Quanjin, our relationship is different from others, I can’t deceive you."
"This shop is one the county magistrate intends to sell, so as long as someone takes it over, even if trouble arises later, the county magistrate won’t ignore it."
Liu Qinghe understood it this way and thus explained it accordingly.
Qi Quanjin thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright, I’ll discuss it with my wife; I can’t decide this on my own."
They could afford four hundred taels of silver, but the subsequent issues could be a headache.
Liu Qinghe nodded repeatedly.
Qi Quanjin went straight to his house, where he saw Yi Meng gently patting their younger son’s back, making him burp after feeding.
"Wife, there’s something I need to discuss with you to see how to handle it."
Qi Quanjin recounted the news Liu Qinghe had delivered.
Yi Meng frowned after hearing it: "If we acquire the shop and if the county magistrate’s brother-in-law stirs trouble, it will surely affect us."
"That’s what I thought too, but I sense that Brother Liu hopes we can buy it."
Recalling Liu Qinghe’s earlier behavior, Qi Quanjin believed his analysis was correct.
Yi Meng pondered for a moment, passed the younger son to Qi Quanjin, and went out to find their little daughter.
At that moment, Qi Manman was sitting beside Mrs. Qi and Mrs. Liu Sr., eating snacks.
The little girl would have a bite of snack and sip some tea, feeling quite at ease.
Liu Meiniang sat nearby peeling peanuts, quietly listening to the two elderly ladies chat.
When Yi Meng arrived, she saw this beautiful scene, though her arrival disrupted it.
"Meng Niang, did Eleven fall asleep? Come, sit down!"
Mrs. Qi called over her daughter-in-law.
Yi Meng replied with a smile: "He just ate and hasn’t slept yet. Brother Jin is holding him! Mom, you keep chatting; I’m here for Manbao."
"You’re looking for Manbao? What for?"
Mrs. Qi was surprised.
Yi Meng sighed and said: "Nothing much, just that the girl has been running around wild for half the day; I’ll take her inside to change into dry clothes."
"Then you should."
Mrs. Qi trusted her without question and gently patted her little granddaughter’s back: "Manbao, go with your mom to change clothes."
"Okay, okay!"
Qi Manman’s mouth was still full of snack, her cheeks puffed like a little squirrel.
Upon hearing this, Liu Meiniang quickly said: "Fourth sister-in-law, let me change Manbao’s clothes!"
"No need, no need, you’ve been watching her and must be tired. Rest a bit. I’ll take her to change, nothing much, not tiring."
Yi Meng politely declined Liu Meiniang’s offer and carried her little daughter to the backyard.
Once back in the room, Yi Meng, while changing her daughter’s clothes, said: "Manbao, Uncle Liu found a shop for our family. What do you think?"
Asking such a big question to a little girl, if outsiders saw, they’d think Yi Meng had gone mad as a mother.
