The daily life of a space tycoon raising children, doting on his husband, and farming.

Chapter 204 Bargaining
They weren't there.

Shang Wan frowned. "When are you coming back?"

Chen Cai: "I'll ask him in the next couple of days. Once he gets back, I'll get back to you."

"Okay, before you finalize anything, let me know if you have any other good shops in mind, and I'm ready to switch at any time."

Chen Cai: "..."

You are so beautiful!
After handing Chu Xu's letter to the post station, Shang Wan and her party took an oxcart home.

Three days later, Chen Cai sent word that the shop owner had agreed, but with one condition: Shang Wan had to find a way to ruin the restaurant, otherwise he would not lower the rent.

Shang Wan: "..."

This owner is really cunning. He wants her to help him ruin the restaurant for a hundred taels of silver. What a pipe dream!

"If he lowers the price by another two hundred taels, I might consider it."

Chen Cai was speechless and vigorously fanned himself with his folding fan to cool down.

He said irritably, "Are you going to rent it or not? If not, don't waste my time."

He was demanding and fussy; anyone else would have quit long ago.

"Rent it, why not?" Shang Wan glanced at him sideways. "I'm not the one making unreasonable demands. Listen to his requests, would you be happy if you were in his shoes?"

Chen Cai... was indeed unwilling.

"But your asking price of two hundred taels is outrageous."

Shang Wan sneered, "Isn't this just to test his sincerity?"

Chen Cai: "..."

Who is the landlord, anyway?

He said, "I can ask for you, but don't get your hopes up too high."

Shang Wan: "Thank you."

Two days later, new information arrived.

The shop owner wanted to meet Shang Wan, so he arranged to meet at the restaurant across the street from the shop.

Shang Wan: "..."

Well, she's already stirring up trouble for him before she even opens for business. She's ruthless.

·
Chen Cai led Shang Wan into a private room on the second floor of the restaurant, where people were already waiting.

"Young Master Zhong, this is Madam Shang," Chen Cai introduced the two.

Young Master Zhong had just come of age and was handsome, with a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.

His gaze swept over Shang Wan, and he raised his hand in a gesture of respect, saying, "My name is Zhongli, the 'Li' in 'abandoned by all.'"

Shang Wan twitched her lips; this introduction was quite unique.

She curtsied in return, "My surname is Shang, the Shang of 'no merchant is not cunning,' greetings, Young Master Zhong."

Zhongli:? ? ?
Chen Cai: "..."

The atmosphere in the private room became a little awkward for a moment. Zhong Li chuckled twice to break the awkwardness, "Madam Shang is really good at joking."

Shang Wan smiled, but it was a forced smile. "You're not as good at joking as Young Master Zhong."

Zhongli: "..."

"Let's sit down and talk." Chen Cai gave Shang Wan a wink, implying, "Shh, are you still going to rent the shop or not?"

Of course, Shang Wan had to rent the room, so he obediently sat down.

Zhong Li cut to the chase: "If I agree to lower the rent to Madam Shang, how do you plan to deal with the restaurant?"

Shang Wan glanced at the waiter standing to the side.

Good grief, plotting in front of your buddies, is that a blatant scheme?

She smiled, but her words were anything but polite: "Young Master Zhong, are you trying to get something for nothing?"

Even a donkey has a carrot dangling in front of it, and this guy thinks he can just get a free solution with a single sentence? What a pipe dream!

Perhaps not expecting Shang Wan to speak so directly, Zhong Li was stunned for a moment, then smiled and waved for the waiter to leave.

The man tiptoed out, clearly wanting to gather more intelligence on the enemy.

Zhongli said coldly, "Are you waiting for me to reward you with a foot massage?"

The waiter immediately changed from walking to running, slamming the door shut as if being chased by a dog.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and voices resumed speaking in the private room.

“Madam Shang speaks frankly, and I won’t beat around the bush either.” Zhong Li tapped the table with her finger, her peach blossom eyes staring directly at Shang Wan, carrying a hint of authority. “Madam Shang, how confident are you?”

Shang Wan: "The lower the annual rent, the greater the chance of success; it would be even better if we didn't charge rent at all."

Zhongli: "..."

Chen Cai tugged at Shang Wan's sleeve under the table, "Take it easy." Shang Wan smiled, "Just kidding. How confident I am depends on how sincere Young Master Zhong is."

The woman wore a pink pomegranate-colored dress, and although she looked pretty, her words were not sweet and carried a hint of arrogance.

Zhongli suddenly laughed twice and pointed to the ground, "Do you know who owns this restaurant?"

Shang Wan honestly shook his head.

Zhong Li chuckled cryptically, a cold glint in his eyes. "This is a restaurant owned by Qiao Yugui, the eldest son of the Qiao family."

Qiao Yugui?
Shang Wan chuckled, "What a small world."

Zhongli looked at her and said, "There are only a handful of people in the whole city who dare to go against Young Master Qiao. Madam Shang has quite the nerve."

Shang Wan: "..."

You have more guts than me, discussing things on someone else's turf.

"Not as good as Young Master Zhong." Shang Wan's lips curved into a smile. "Young Master Qiao's legs were almost ruined."

Zhongli's eyes darkened, the brightness in her peach blossom eyes fading, replaced by a slightly gloomy expression.

"From whom did Madam Shang hear these rumors?"

"A rumor?" Shang Wan stared at him. "I don't think it's a rumor. What does Young Master Zhong think?"

Zhongli stared at her for a moment, then, as if struck by a thought, his expression softened.

"That medicine came from you."

He spoke with certainty, and Shang Wan knew what medicine he was referring to, but she did not deny it.

Chen Cai silently drank his tea, trying to minimize his presence.

"Madam Shang is quite capable."

Shang Wan inexplicably sensed a hint of gritted teeth in those words.

That's right. They went to great lengths to ruin Qiao Yugui's leg, only to have it saved by her medicine. How could they not be furious?
After a moment's thought, she asked directly, "Is the shop still available for rent?"

If we don't rent to her, it'll be easier to find another tenant.

"Rent." Zhongli chuckled sullenly, like a madman. "I hope Madam Shang won't disappoint me."

A few hundred taels of silver meant nothing to him; he would be more than happy to see Qiao Yugui suffer.

Shang Wan began to wonder what kind of grudge existed between the two. Chen Cai should know; she could ask him when she had the chance.

Zhongli said, "The rent for the first year is two hundred taels, and four hundred taels every year thereafter. What do you think, Madam Shang?"

Compared to the original price of 500 taels after bargaining, this price is already very reasonable.

However, Shangwan's bargaining principle is that the deal isn't over until the bottom line is reached.

Taking advantage of Zhongli's good mood (presumably), she decided to deliver another ruthless blow.

She held up two fingers, "Two hundred for two years' rent."

What's the price increase for "Real Men"?
Zhong Li was genuinely surprised that Shang Wan was such a good negotiator. He glanced at Chen Cai, who was acting as if it were none of his business, and asked, "Did you teach her that?"
Chen Cai: "..."

no! ! !

This woman is self-taught; it has nothing to do with him!

Shang Wan calmly watched Zhong Li, waiting for him to make a decision.

This person is clearly trying to scam her, how can she not return the money?

Zhongli lowered his eyes in thought, his long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath them.

"Sure, but I have one condition."

Shang Wan listened attentively.

"Bring the restaurant down within a month."

Shang Wan: "..."

This person thinks way too highly of her, doesn't he?

She thought she could ruin the restaurant in a month? Haha, she could only smash it up in one night.

"One year."

"Half a year."

"Eight months."

"Three months."

After some back and forth, the two finally agreed on a six-month period and signed a contract as proof.

Once the signature and fingerprint are on, the matter is settled.

Zhongli was a generous person, and he also paid the portion of the money that Shang Wan should have given to the middleman.

Shang Wan and Chen Cai were both very satisfied.