Chapter 22: Purchasing the Sake House

"Greetings, Manager Qian."

Liu Ruifeng approached with a smile, engaging the manager in conversation.

"Manager Qian, let me introduce you. This is my good brother, Shen Xuan. He is the one interested in taking over your tavern."

After a brief exchange, Liu Ruifeng pulled Shen Xuan forward to make the introduction.

"Oh! So this is Young Master Shen! It is truly an honor to meet you!"

Manager Qian’s eyes lit up. He grasped Shen Xuan’s hands with immense enthusiasm, speaking repeatedly.

"Manager Qian, you are too kind. May I ask what price you are looking for to sell this tavern?"

Shen Xuan felt something was slightly amiss given the manager's overwhelming fervor. However, trusting Liu Ruifeng, he decided not to beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Hahaha! The price is negotiable. Since I have known Young Master Liu for quite some time, I will give you a discount. How does four hundred taels of silver sound?"

Manager Qian smiled, offering a figure without the slightest hesitation.

"Four hundred taels?" Shen Xuan’s brows furrowed at the number.

"Is that too expensive? How about three hundred and fifty?" Seeing the change in Shen Xuan's expression, the manager hurriedly offered another price, assuming the first one was too high.

But this time, instead of just frowning, Shen Xuan looked at the manager with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Three hundred taels! I cannot go any lower. You have seen the size and the location of this tavern yourself. Any cheaper, and I would be suffering a massive loss." Manager Qian gritted his teeth as he proposed the final price, his expression one of genuine pain.

"Manager Qian, you misunderstand. It is not that I find the price too high." Seeing the manager’s frantic state, Shen Xuan finally spoke up.

Upon hearing that the price wasn't the issue, the manager breathed a sigh of relief, but Shen Xuan's next question made him tense up once more.

"I have a few questions for you. As you said, both the decor and the size of this place are excellent. Under normal circumstances, three hundred taels would never suffice. Why are you so eager to drive the price down to such a level?"

This was what Shen Xuan could not understand. He wasn't complaining that the price was too high; he was concerned that it was far too low. Buying this tavern for three hundred taels was cheaper than dirt.

Meeting Shen Xuan’s sharp gaze, Manager Qian realized that unless he was honest, the sale would never go through.

"Sigh! Come inside with me, and we shall talk it over while seated." The manager sighed helplessly.

***

"Would you two like something to drink?" the manager asked once they had settled inside.

"A cup of tea will suffice," Shen Xuan replied politely.

"I’ll have tea as well," Liu Ruifeng added. In truth, he was just as curious as Shen Xuan about the suspiciously low price.

"One moment." The manager went to prepare the tea himself. Once he returned and poured for them, he began his explanation.

"You both have seen it for yourselves. It is midday, yet our tavern, Qingjiu Residence, is completely empty."

"That is exactly what I found strange. Could you tell me the truth?" Shen Xuan asked directly.

"What other reason could there be? The customers have all flocked to Xianliu Pavilion and Baijia Hall. With those two major establishments dominating the market, who would want to come here?" The manager curled his lip.

As Manager Qian spoke, Shen Xuan began to grasp the situation. Xianliu Pavilion and Baijia Hall were in a league of their own in the capital.

Xianliu Pavilion catered to high-ranking officials and nobles. With its exquisite food, fine flavors, and their signature 'Xianliu Wine,' it attracted countless scholars. Its only drawback was the exorbitant price, far beyond the reach of ordinary folk.

Baijia Hall, true to its name, offered delicious food in generous portions at prices commoners could afford. Their lotus-leaf chicken was legendary—it was said that even the Emperor himself occasionally sent someone to buy a portion.

One focused on the elite, the other on the masses. Together, they had carved up the market so thoroughly that they left no room for other taverns to survive. Furthermore, they were notoriously ruthless; whenever a competitor showed signs of success, they would coordinate to suppress it with the dirtiest of tactics.

"Xianliu Pavilion, you say?" Shen Xuan mused, a sense of irony washing over him. It was, after all, an enterprise owned by the Prime Minister's estate. His predecessor had frequented that place many times with his band of troublemakers. As for the owner of Baijia Hall, Shen Xuan did not know who they were, but to be able to compete with the Prime Minister's estate, the power behind them was clearly not to be underestimated.

***

"That is the situation. In this current climate, a tavern simply cannot survive in the capital. If I don't sell it, I have no choice but to change professions."

"Recently, my family has been in urgent need of money due to some personal matters. I don't want to struggle anymore; I plan to sell the tavern and take my wife and children back to the countryside." Manager Qian sighed again, looking at Shen Xuan with desperate hope.

He had been trying to sell for a long time, but no one wanted to touch this sinking ship. Today, he had finally found someone stubborn enough to take the bait, and he was determined not to let the opportunity slip away. He resolved that even if he had to drop the price further, he would sell Qingjiu Residence today.

"Manager Qian, I will take the tavern for three hundred taels," Shen Xuan said decisively.

"Truly?" The manager was stunned. He hadn't expected Shen Xuan to agree so readily after hearing the full story.

"Naturally."

"Young Master Shen is indeed a man of his word! Please wait a moment while I fetch the title deed." Overjoyed, the manager rushed toward the counter, fearing that Shen Xuan might change his mind.

"Congratulations, Young Master Shen. From this day forward, this tavern is yours." After the papers were signed and the manager received the silver notes, he finally felt at ease, his smile now appearing much more genuine.

"Congratulations to us both." Shen Xuan was equally pleased to have acquired a two-story building at such a bargain.

"Young Master Shen, forgive me for overstepping, but business here is difficult. Perhaps you should consider changing the decor or the business model?" the manager suggested with well-meaning caution.

"I appreciate your concern, but one never knows what is possible until they try." Shen Xuan bowed in thanks, his expression full of confidence.

"Then I wish you great prosperity." The manager shook his head, lamenting internally that some people could not be persuaded to avoid a mistake. After a few more words, he took the silver and left.

In a dark corner nearby, a pair of hidden, inscrutable eyes watched the entire transaction unfold.