The knocking on the door in the front yard became more and more urgent, so Shen Lie had no choice but to get up in a hurry, put on his coat and trousers, tied his belt and hurried towards the front yard.
It was not yet bright yet, but the man outside the door was very anxious.
As Shen Lie walked away, he responded: "Here we come!"
As he pulled the latch and opened the courtyard door, he was stunned when the familiar slim figure of Miss Zhang hurried in with a faint fragrance.
As soon as the cheerful Zhang Jingxiu entered the door, he saw the disheveled appearance of his sweetheart, his bright and pretty face flushed, and he spat lightly.
"spit!"
A yellow-flowered girl, although she was a little shy, she couldn't hide the excitement in her heart. She beamed at Shen Lie and said, "It's done, my fourth brother agrees!"
Shen Lie hurriedly tied up his belt, his brows were filled with excitement, and he waved his hand carelessly: "What are you still waiting for..."
Get dry!
At this moment, in the wing room of the courtyard of the inner house, Yue Xuan'er also tidied up her skirt and hairpin and walked out, saluting Miss Zhang.
So amidst the chattering of several women, Shen's house became very busy. He hurriedly walked into the backyard and asked Yun'er to take out a large number of banknotes hidden in the house.
After washing and changing clothes in a hurry, he went to call Tian Hong again.
The sky was just getting brighter when a few people hurried to the street opposite Fusi in Beizhen and bought the small three-story wooden building that Shen Lie was interested in for a high price of three hundred taels of snowflake silver.
This place was originally a teahouse, but the business has been tepid, and the original owner has long wanted to transfer it.
So a few people waited for the landlord at the door of the store. The teahouse shopkeepers were all here, and they began to discuss the transfer contract, fingerprints, and signatures...
After completing the handover procedures, a few people, led by the landlord and the teahouse owner, slowly walked into the small building and looked around.
Walking slowly in the empty teahouse lobby, the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Looking at the dusty tables and chairs and a dead end behind the window.
Zhang Jingxiu came over and said softly: "This is the Wangpu that you have been wandering around for many days... and found with so much hard work?"
Tian Hong also touched his head and felt that this location was too remote.
Under the suspicious gaze of everyone.
Shen Lie touched his nose in embarrassment and defended himself: "The big shopkeeper Rong Zhen, although the location of this store is a bit off, there are not many residential houses around it, it looks deserted, but the tables, chairs, benches, and various decorations are It’s ready-made.”
Although there are a few faults, the main reason is that there is a lot of space here!
Shen Lie was defending himself when he saw the teahouse owner rolling down his arms and walking downstairs. He also hugged Shen Lie and others with a smile on his face.
"May you be happy and prosperous."
After saying that, the shopkeeper ran away in a hurry, as if he was afraid that Shen Lie would regret it, and as if he was looking at some idiots.
Watch the shopkeeper's back disappear into the street.
The store was quiet for a while.
a long time.
Tian Hong began to feel sorry for the high rent of three hundred taels, and sighed at the side: "Three hundred taels are just wasted."
Obviously he doesn't like this remote shop.
Miss Zhang also rolled her eyes at Shen Lie, and even Yue Xuan'er frowned slightly, seeming to feel pity for the three hundred taels of silver.
Only Yun'er still said coquettishly: "The young master must be doing this for a reason!"
After everyone was speechless.
Shen Lie touched his nose again, and soon cheered up. As if he had found his goal in life, he began to wander around and touch here and there in the three-story building.
He is very satisfied with everything here.
After walking around the building, Shen Lie waved his hand again and said with a loud laugh: "Open up!"
According to Shen Lie's idea, he planned to keep the private rooms on the second and third floors.
However, a major operation was needed on the first floor. First, all the tables, chairs and benches in the lobby on this floor were removed, leaving only a counter, and then the store door was enlarged.
Listening to Shen Lie's endless talk, everyone was speechless again. They were confused by his plan and looked over with doubtful eyes.
Is this a restaurant?
Even if we want to expand the food delivery service, do we need to dismantle all the furnishings in the lobby on the first floor, move the tables and chairs, and where will the guests eat?
Is this really okay?
But Shen Lie said firmly: "Listen to me, you can't make a mistake!"
Tian Hong gritted his teeth and nodded quickly: "Okay... I'll hire someone right now."
As Tian Hong quickly left the store and went to the market not far from Chaoyang Gate to find plasterers and carpenters, everyone had no choice but to give up.
The money has already been spent, so we can only follow Shen Lie's wishes.
Shen Lie was not idle either, he excitedly picked up the feather duster and started cleaning the shop he had spent a lot of money to take over.
Yun'er quickly ran over happily and said softly: "Master, please rest...I'll do it!"
After that, Miss Xuan'er also picked up the rag and began to wipe the tables, chairs and benches. She quickly finished wiping the tables and chairs on the first floor, and the two women went to the private room upstairs talking and laughing again.
There needs to be cleaning there too.
As Yun'er and Xuan'er left, the lobby became quiet again.
Shen Lie bent down and knocked on the solid wood furniture. He just stood up and turned around to see Miss Zhang rolling up her sleeves and picking up the broom.
Looking at her sweaty and pretty look, Shen Lie said softly: "Just leave it alone...I'll do it."
There is no one around at the moment.
Miss Zhang showed a sweet smile to her sweetheart and said softly: "It doesn't matter..."
But there was a bit of uneasiness between her slightly frowning eyebrows, and she said softly: "Is this okay or not?"
Shen Lie said firmly: "Believe me!"
Seeing the confident look on his sweetheart's face, Zhang Jingxiu felt a little at ease, and smiled sweetly at Shen Lie, and the two of them joined in the work side by side.
Less than an hour.
Tian Hong hired plasterers, bricklayers, and a large group of helpers, and began to move things and break doors according to Shen Lie's instructions...
In the busyness of midsummer, the atmosphere begins to become lively.
In the blink of an eye, it was a few days later.
at dusk.
As the sun sets, the cicada is still screaming desperately.
When the scorching summer heat eased a little, some wealthy families drove their carriages, carrying large and small packages of gifts, and moved out of the crowded and hot city, heading to their old houses in the countryside to escape the summer heat.
As for the rich and powerful, when the weather had just warmed up, their families had already moved to large farms on the outskirts of Beijing or to mansions in the Miyun area.
The dignitaries could leave at will, take large carriages or sedan chairs to escape the summer heat outside the city, and enjoy the cool scenery of the large farms with beautiful mountains and clear waters.
But for the poor people who are looking for a living in the capital, the large number of people from the surrounding areas who come to the city to sell vegetables, grain, and strength, and even low-level officials and well-off families.
They can only endure the torment of the heat and struggle to hold on in this scorching summer.
What was the population of the Ming capital in the summer of the ninth year of Wanli?
