Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 373 A perfect strategy
Xie Chengrang wasn't in a hurry to ask questions, and just waited for Xia Ziqiao to continue.

Xia Ziqiao pushed open the window and pointed to a place not far away: "Erlang, what do you think that place is?"

Xie Chengrang looked over: "Yunqi Temple?"

“It’s Yunqi Temple,” Xia Ziqiao said with a smile. “Someone wants to buy a piece of land from Yunqi Temple to build a shop.”

“Yunqi Temple is not large, but it is very popular. When the late Empress Dowager was alive, she often went to the temple. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager also often gave her some rewards. It can be seen that the temple is not short of money. Therefore, it is natural that it will not sell the land.”

“Unless,” Xie Chengrang said, “the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital take a liking to it, Yunqi Temple will naturally give it some face.”

Xia Ziqiao laughed and said, "If I wanted to buy it, I could certainly buy it, but I won't buy this land for now."

Xie Chengrang raised his eyes: "Who wants to open a shop outside Yunqi Temple? How did they offend Xia Wulang? No matter what kind of shop they open, it will fall into Wulang's hands in the future."

Xia Ziqiao's eyes lit up: "How did Erlang know?"

"You said you won't buy that piece of land now, but that doesn't mean you won't buy it in the future," Xie Chengrang said, taking a sip of tea. "It just shows that now isn't the best time."

"You also said that someone wants to open a shop there. Perhaps once the shop is opened, it will be worth your planning."

Without him needing to say much, Xie Chengrang guessed his thoughts. That's why Xia Ziqiao enjoyed talking to Xie Chengrang.

Xia Ziqiao immediately explained the situation at the perfume shop.

"Wu Sanlang and the others went along too. They'll stay there tonight and go home tomorrow. There are all sorts of people at that dock, and the fact that they're willing to linger shows that they're quite satisfied with the perfume business."

“Once the perfume shop here opens, it will attract even more people, and the business will be incomparable to that of the dock,” Xia Ziqiao said. “I’ve been sitting here for an hour and I’ve noticed that there are quite a few people coming and going in this place. There are already many merchants, and there are also a constant stream of pilgrims.”

Xie Chengrang pondered for a moment and said, "Does Wulang know why the owner of this perfume shop chose to open a shop here? What's so clever about it?"

Xia Ziqiao shook his head: "I heard that the boss had someone calculate his wealth position."

Xie Chengrang smiled slightly: "The Tathagata of Many Treasures at Yunqi Temple is indeed efficacious, so what the master said makes some sense. However, his true intention is not that."

"Some people are used to taking a bath before burning incense. With the perfume shop located here, there's no fear of a lack of customers."

Over time, people began to associate bathing with worshipping Buddha.

“No matter what kind of business it is, as long as it is related to customs, it will prosper. For example, lanterns sell best during the Lantern Festival, willow branches are sold during the Cold Food Festival, and moon cakes and small cakes are sold during the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

"Nowadays, many families bathe and change clothes before worshipping Buddha, and then open a perfume shop outside the temple. The habit of bathing before worshipping Buddha has spread to the community."

"If word gets out that the perfume shop occupies a prime location for wealth, why won't people rush to visit it to worship the God of Wealth?"

Xia Ziqiao's eyes widened: "Is it really that amazing?"

Xie Chengrang said, "Fifth Brother, you didn't believe it, otherwise why would you have taken a liking to that deal?"

Xia Ziqiao thought about it and realized it was true.

“This owner is no simple man,” Xie Chengrang said. “He knows how to manipulate people’s hearts, but he probably didn’t expect that Bianjing would be so difficult to acquire.”

"Goro, you can have someone inquire about it. This owner has run into a wall at Yunqi Temple. They might be looking for land around other temples in the city. Goro, you need to make your move on them quickly, lest they find another place. Not every temple is as well-off as Yunqi Temple."

Reminded by Xie Chengrang, Xia Ziqiao's expression immediately changed.

"Will they look for another place?" That's true... Anyway, construction hasn't started yet. If that owner really buys the land, his plan will fall through.

Thinking of this, Xia Ziqiao immediately summoned a servant: "Have someone inquire whether those people have visited other temples to inquire about buying land?"

The servant responded and quickly left.

It wouldn't be difficult to find out the information immediately; the Xia family has plenty of manpower, and Xie Chengrang's guess would be confirmed in no time. "Have you investigated the background of these people?" Xie Chengrang asked. "The He family was just framed, so you should be extra careful."

Xia Ziqiao said, "They came from Huaizhou. I'm sending people to inquire about them. I doubt they'd dare to play any tricks. They've acquired so much land and shops in Bianjing; they can't just give it all up, can they?"

"The more money they spend, the less they have to worry about."

This is the truth.

Xie Chengrang said, "If you really want to do it, you have to be flawless, at least so that no one can find any fault to sue you."

"What does this have to do with me?" Xia Ziqiao said smugly. "I had Yunqi Temple step in and say that the land cannot be sold, but it can be rented to them."

"If the temple changes its mind, they'll have no choice but to leave."

Xie Chengrang said, "I'm afraid they'll have to sign a document with the temple."

“That’s not a problem,” Xia Ziqiao said. “I’ll have someone keep an eye on them. As long as that perfume shop causes any scandal and tarnishes the temple’s reputation, they will naturally have to leave. Otherwise, the worshippers won’t agree to it.”

"The worst-case scenario is that no one can use that land anymore, and the temple can build a pagoda on the site."

“My people followed them to repair the perfume shop and learned everything they needed to know. After that, we can open a perfume shop anywhere.”

"I refuse to believe that the perfume shop owned by that boss can be more famous than ours."

Xia Ziqiao had considered the worst-case scenario; in short, this deal was definitely not going to be a loss.

Xie Chengrang also felt there was nothing wrong with it, so he nodded: "After finding out the information, it was just as we expected. Let's do as you said."

Xia Ziqiao looked at Xie Chengrang and said, "I'll include you in this deal too. We'll all make money together."

Xie Chengrang was about to decline when Xia Ziqiao's face darkened: "If you succeed, even the Grand Councilor Xie will praise you. At that point, will you still be afraid of not being able to get rid of your status as an illegitimate son?"

"Status is something you earn yourself. Even if you are from a collateral branch, if you pass the imperial examination, you will be classified as a member of the main clan. Not to mention the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children."

Xie Chengrang pondered for a moment and finally nodded: "I will repay Wulang later."

“You helped too,” Xia Ziqiao said. “If you hadn’t reminded me, I might have missed out this time.”

The two talked while waiting for the Xia family servant. An hour later, news finally came back.

"They also went to other temples to inquire about buying land, and even asked brokers to help them run around."

Xia Ziqiao and Xie Chengrang exchanged glances: "Second Brother is truly remarkable. It's all thanks to me discussing this matter with you."

Otherwise, we would have really missed out.

Xia Ziqiao said, "There's no time to lose. I'll go find the abbot of Yunqi Temple now and discuss with him how to rent the land to those people."

"Don't forget to inform the brokers and temples not to agree to sell the land."

Since they couldn't buy land, they had to rent it, which is why Xia Ziqiao's method was effective.

Xia Ziqiao was in a hurry to get things done, so he didn't linger. After parting ways with Xie Chengrang, he immediately rode away.

"Perfume shop," Xie Chengrang stared at Xia Ziqiao's departing figure, "someone actually thought of moving the bathing area into the shop."

The Xia family went to investigate those people's backgrounds, and he also had to send someone to ask them. The He family's affair served as a reminder that Bianjing was not peaceful lately.

(End of this chapter)