The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 467 - 465

Chapter 467: Chapter 465

Yan Zhongren had gone to handle affairs, so the two of them didn’t feel it would be good to leave either; they simply ordered tea and pastries and sat in an elegant private room on the second floor, sipping tea and waiting.

It had already been several months since Wang Yongzhu last came to Jing County town.

Last time, his mood was oppressive and angry, and he had no interest in looking around the town.

Today, he was waiting to get his hands on a shop and a house after a while, so naturally, Wang Yongzhu was in a cheerful mood.

While eating pastries, he looked around.

The inn they were staying at was located on the busiest street in Jing County, with the inn at the back and a restaurant at the front.

In front of them was the liveliest place in Jing County; shops of various kinds flanked the inn, cries of hawkers rose from everywhere, attracting scholars and young ladies alike who stopped to look around.

It was now autumn, and fruits and vegetables were plentiful. Since the year had seen good weather, everyone’s days were also going well.

Peasants from the outskirts of the county town pushed wheelbarrows and carried baskets full of produce from their own fields, taking advantage of the good weather to come to town to sell their goods and earn some extra cash.

Therefore, that morning, the streets were bustling, ten times more lively and noisy than in Shiqiao town.

Wang Yongzhu took an interested look at the stalls selling goods below, thinking that if he had time later, he might also buy some seeds or something, which might come in handy in the future.

Song Chongjin was drinking tea and watching Wang Yongzhu, who found everything new and interesting, and he couldn’t help but smile.

After drinking two pots of tea and having the pastries replenished only once, Wang Yongzhu saw Yan Zhongren coming towards the restaurant with a face full of joy.

Song Chongjin also saw him and gestured for the waiter to bring Yan Zhongren up.

The joy on Yan Zhongren’s face was more than clear as he said, "Both of you, the matter has been settled!"

He took out the deed, which already bore the seller’s handprint and signature.

There was also the house deed and land deed, neatly set before Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu on the table.

Wang Yongzhu examined the deed carefully; it clearly stated where the considerable house was, how much it was worth, and to whom it was being transferred. There was a blank space, ready for direct inscription.

Song Chongjin also checked the land deed and the house deed, found no problems, and nodded to Wang Yongzhu.

Wang Yongzhu quickly took out the remaining silver notes and two shiny gold ingots and placed them on the table.

Yan Zhongren had also handled affairs for many noble patrons and wealthy merchants, but he had never seen such well-crafted gold ingots of such fine quality.

He couldn’t help but weigh them in his hand for a moment before quickly concluding that each ingot was twenty taels.

Today, such a gold ingot was worth two hundred and forty taels of silver.

They had already given a down payment of two hundred taels in silver notes, and with these two gold ingots, that made six hundred and eighty taels of silver, plus another precise sum of three hundred and twenty taels in the remaining silver notes.

Exactly one thousand taels in total.

Yan Zhongren pocketed the silver notes and gold ingots, the smile on his face growing ever more genuine, for this was indeed a big client.

From the commission on this one transaction alone, he would be making about ten taels of silver.

Thus, he eagerly and attentively asked, "Sirs, if you need to transfer the property through the Government Office, I have acquaintances there, and the price can be even cheaper, guaranteed to get the job done."

Since Wang Yongzhu had already shelled out a large amount of silver, he naturally wouldn’t skimp on this, especially since with the official seal from the Government Office for the property transfer, even if Boss Tian wanted to renege, he wouldn’t be able to.

He agreed readily, "Then we’ll trouble Brother Yan with this matter."

Yan Zhongren was more than happy to have such troubles, carefully leading the two to the Government Office, clearly familiar with the place.

After slipping an ingot of silver into the hands of a minor official, the efficiency was indeed very high; it took no more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea for Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin’s names to be on all the property and land deeds.

Moreover, the tax paid was half the price of the last land purchase.

Wang Yongzhu knew that this was Yan Zhongren’s doing and promptly gave Yan Zhongren ten taels of silver as gratuity.

Yan Zhongren was beaming with joy, as the intermediary fee was meant to be split between the seller and buyer, each paying half.

Now that just the buyer had given him ten taels, and there were still five taels to come from the seller, he had earned several months’ expenses in one day.

Yan Zhongren naturally wanted to keep in touch with such forthright clients for future business dealings and reminded them not to forget him, "Sirs, if you have any buying, selling or renting matters in Jing County in the future, just look for Old Yan. Guaranteed to handle it perfectly for you, you won’t have to worry a bit."

Wang Yongzhu was very satisfied, recognizing that knowing a local fixer like Yan Zhongren made many things much easier to handle in the future.

Right then, he exchanged pleasantries with Yan Zhongren, both keen to establish a good relationship. It didn’t take long before they were addressing each other as if they were old friends.

Knowing that the two didn’t live in the county town, Yan Zhongren took the initiative to suggest that he could hang up a rental sign on the house and help rent it out if he found a suitable tenant.

With someone living in the house, it would have a lively atmosphere and they could collect some rent, which was better than leaving the house empty and letting it fall into disrepair.

Wang Yongzhu profusely thanked Yan Zhongren, and the three of them left the Yamen one after another. They hadn’t gone far when they heard a voice, "Old Yan? Is the job done? I’m waiting for the silver, you better not be deceiving me, otherwise I won’t let you off, eh, this is..."

They turned their heads to look, and Yan Zhongren immediately cracked a smile, "It turns out to be Boss Tian, I was just about to look for you. The job is done, don’t you trust Old Yan’s work? Who in Jing County doesn’t know that when Old Yan gives his word, it’s as good as gold, I never engage in swindling or cheating?"

Boss Tian? Wang Yongzhu watched the man with a smile creeping into his eyes.

A middle-aged man with a rounded figure, eyes the size of mung beans squinting, his forehead creased with wrinkles, hair beginning to show flecks of gray.

There was an indelible gloominess between his brows, his eyebrows drooped, giving the man an ineffably downcast aura.

Hearing that Yan Zhongren had settled the matter, a bitter smile finally appeared on Boss Tian’s face.

"Well, that’s very good, come, come, let me treat you to a cup of tea, who might these two be?" Boss Tian looked at Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin, a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman, although dressed plainly, they had an air quite distinct from the people around, which made him a bit cautious.

"Hey, isn’t this a coincidence, these two are the bosses who bought your shop and house," Yan Zhongren was very astute. Seeing that Wang Yongzhu preferred not to come forward, he glanced at Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin for approval, and only after Wang Yongzhu nodded did he make the introductions.

Immediately, Boss Tian’s face turned warm with enthusiasm, yet awkward as he rubbed his hands together, "Then... then an unplanned meeting is better than a planned one. Since we’ve met, why not let Old Tian play the host and invite you two for tea?"

Now that Wang Yongzhu had already had the shop and everything else transferred to his name, stamped by the Government Office, he wasn’t afraid of Boss Tian having second thoughts. Instead, he was curious to see how Boss Tian would react upon learning the truth.

Without any false courtesy, he took hold of Song Chongjin’s hand.

Song Chongjin immediately understood and nodded gravely, "Then we’ll take you up on your offer."

Thereby accepting the invitation.