stingy landlady

Chapter 233 The villagers solve their own food and lodging problems

While considering her own situation and that of Steward Han, Guizhi said to Aunt Jiang and the peddler An:

“You can rent three rooms separately, one for the men and one for the women. You can also cook your own meals on the stove, which will save you a lot of money! If more people from our village come to the county town, the cost will be even lower if everyone shares the money!”

Aunt Jiang frowned, still a little worried:

"Renting a place saves money. But we don't know how long this business can last. Guizhi said that we're like early cucumbers and early green beans, so we can get a good price."

If we wait until everyone's vegetables are harvested, we won't make any money then! Sigh! Isn't renting this place a waste of money?

Gui Xiang didn't know much about business either, so she looked at Manager Han, who also shook his head. Gui Xiang thought for a moment and said:

"Aunt Jiang! Uncle An! Let's go to Huanghua Village and ask my third sister! See if she has any good suggestions!"

In Huanghua Village, Guixiang told Guizhi about the villagers' housing difficulties in the county town. Guizhi pondered for a moment and said:

"Aunt Jiang! Uncle An! There are always gains and losses in business. Every business involves risks; there's no such thing as a sure thing that guarantees a profit."

Selling vegetables is the same! Just like Manager Han said, renting a house saves on rent and food expenses.

But renting a house requires a long-term lease. Selling vegetables, like we are now, is just a temporary solution. We can still make money selling vegetables later, but the profit margin won't be as high!

Actually, running a small business year-round is also possible. In the summer, you can sell leafy greens and wild mountain vegetables, and in the winter, you can sell pickled vegetables, dried vegetables, and the like. If you know how to make pickled vegetables, you can sell spicy cabbage, radish strips, and so on!

Every business needs someone to do it, right? As long as you're willing and dedicated, there's always a way to make money! Even selling roasted sweet potatoes in winter is profitable!

Guizhi then addressed everyone:

"In all things in the world, there are gains and losses. Taking things in stride is the key to long-term success in business."

If you can't maintain a balanced mindset, constantly calculating gains and losses—profiting today, losing tomorrow—you're unlikely to be able to run a business sustainably in the long run.

Of course, Uncle An! Aunt Jiang! This is just my personal opinion! As for the fact that more people in the village are going into business, some will definitely earn more and some will earn less!

There will be all sorts of opinions then, although our best intention is for everyone to make money. But doing business requires many factors, and luck is one of them!

Just like Aunt Jiang ran into a wealthy family today, and they bought all the vegetables for you. But what if you didn't run into one, and some vegetables were left unsold?

If there's a small amount left, just consider it as no profit for today. But if there's a large amount left, and it gets ruined, wouldn't that result in a loss?

Aunt Jiang's enthusiasm for making money was dampened by half when she first started her business. Little Peddler An, on the other hand, was used to it; he'd often encountered both profits and losses before and found it perfectly normal.

"Guizhi! Uncle used to lose money a lot selling needles and thread, though he did make a profit sometimes. Sigh! When it came time to settle the accounts at the end of the month, he realized he'd only made enough to feed me and my mother!"

Uncle made a tael of silver selling vegetables today, which is more than half a month's income for me! I don't care about anything else, I'm going to keep selling vegetables with Guixiang!

We'll sell until as many days as we can!

Aunt Jiang pondered for a long time before saying:

"Guizhi! I'm going too! If it doesn't work out, I'll just swallow my pride and try to squeeze in at my relatives' house!"

Guizhi looked at the two of them and said:

"Then let's rent a place! Like Guixiang said, for now, the two of you can share a three-room apartment. One room for the man, one room for the woman. It's better than squeezing into a relative's house or having Uncle An just eat out for the night. After all, your safety is the most important thing."

"We can only make money if there are people around! We can't afford to neglect our health! Tomorrow I'm going to the county town to find a brokerage firm and rent a place nearby. That way, if anyone from the village goes to the county town in the future, they'll have a place to stay!"

Gui Xiang secretly asked Gui Zhi,

"Third Sister! Should we take Aunt Jiang and Uncle An to stay with us temporarily?"

Guizhi asked rhetorically:

"Big sister! How do you and Manager Han live?"

Gui Xiang said shyly:

"Third Sister! Our house has three rooms! I'll share one with the two maids, and Steward Han and his two attendants will share another."

Guizhi nodded:

"Big sister! You can't be too honest! A little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment! If we take care of their food and lodging, then if we fail to do even the slightest thing properly in the future, then it will be our fault!"

Sister! You're not married yet. Although we family members know what's going on, there's no need for the villagers to gossip behind your back.

To put it nicely, we know you and Manager Han each have your own room; to put it bluntly, all sorts of things could be said! We don't need to cause that trouble!

Gui Xiang seemed to understand but not quite.

Guizhi smiled and said:

"Sister! Real business people don't care about a pittance! Food and lodging are normal expenses, we don't need to get involved in that!"

Besides, how much they earn is none of our business! We just need to mind our own business! You and Manager Han should make money selling vegetables and live a comfortable life!

Big sister! When you have time, come visit your land. How's the house construction going? Once the chicken coop and pigsty are finished, you can catch some chicks and piglets from my land to raise!

They'll be ready for market around the Lunar New Year! Then we'll have money in the bank and pork to eat! What's not to like?

Gui Xiang couldn't help but smile as she thought about the good days Gui Zhi had described.

"Third sister! I love listening to you! Your words always bring hope. As long as we work hard, things will get better!"

Looking at Guixiang, who was gradually becoming more cheerful, Guizhi said:

"Big sister! We're family! We can discuss anything in the future. One person might not be able to figure it out, but we sisters can help each other!"

As the saying goes, "Three cobblers with their wits combined can equal one Zhuge Liang!"

Gui Hong has recently run into trouble. She was invited by the Zhou siblings to go see a play, but she has been targeted.

Guihong originally didn't have time to go to the opera, but she couldn't resist Miss Zhou's repeated invitations. Besides, Miss Zhou was her future sister-in-law, so Guihong finally went along.

Gui Hong has grown into an increasingly elegant and beautiful young woman, and she also knows how to dress well. Moreover, after being the manager for so long, she has developed a generous, cheerful, and talkative personality.

It was this captivating laughter that attracted not only the Zhou siblings but also Mr. Du in the next private room.

As the performance ended, Young Master Du stood at the door of his private room and looked out. He saw two women and a man coming out of the next room, and judging from their voices, they were the same people who had been talking wittily in the next room.

Young Master Du whistled, and many people looked over at him curiously. Among them were Miss Zhou and Gui Hong, and Zhou Shaoyu also saw Young Master Du.