CH 69

Mo Ling’s name was on their business document, while this rent contract was signed by Mo Yan.

Ms. Hua couldn’t stop smiling when she saw the contract. With it, they’d be able to have three meals every day from now on.

Mo Yan didn’t bring that much money, so she just gave them five hundred dollars for now. She’ll give them the rest of the rent tomorrow.

There was supposed to be a deposit, but it was waived because Mr. Cao vouched for them and said they would pay their rent on time.

Zhao’er was playing with the pillow in Mr. Cao’s hospital bed as he said, “I want to learn to be a doctor and heal people, like you. If I was a doctor, I would be able to cure my dad’s illness, and he might not have died.”

Mr. Cao gently patted his head, “Do you really want to learn medicine? It’s really dry and arduous.”

He nodded, “I’m willing to learn.”

Hua’er fell onto her knees and kowtowed, “Sir, please accept my Zhao’er! He’s still young, but he can clean and make tea, and he doesn’t eat much either. Even if he can’t become a doctor, he’d still make a good servant. I trust your character and know you won’t mistreat him.”

Ms. Hua also made Zhao’er kowtow, and Mr. Cao went to help him stand up, “You don’t have to do this, I’ve already accepted the child. But whether or not he’ll be able to become a doctor will depend on his own ability.”

She was so happy tears started brimming in her eyes, and told Zhao’er to call him ‘Master’. Zhao’er followed her instructions obediently, and Mr. Cao nodded before helping Ms. Hua back up.

Mo Yan and Mo Ling congratulated Mr. Cao on getting a new disciple, while Mr. Cao congratulated the two for renting a storefront.

The small storefront had dirty windows and an old door. Looking at the roof, the boards were thin and had dust on them.

Mo Ling sighed, “This storefront isn’t even as well-constructed as our kitchen. If it was summer, it wouldn’t even keep the rain out. If mum found out, we’d definitely have another row. She’d say that we shouldn’t rent this shack even if we had money to burn.”

“Let’s just renovate simply! We might take this storefront down next summer.”

There was a beautiful image of the future in Mo Yan’s mind. But they had to take things slow.

They were standing in front of the storefront and considering how it would be best renovated, when a galloping horse stopped right in front of them.

“Yan’er, why are you standing there?”

Mo Yan turned around to see Lu Junming, “Didn’t you go to the Upper Valley? When did you come back from there?” [1]

“I went to check up on my mother, as well as take a look at some wares. I’ve come back to find a place for her to live. Do you know a place that can be rented out? Preferably, somewhere fairly peaceful and quiet.”

Mo Yan gave her sister a smile, then turned to Lu Junming once more, “Yeah! There’s one right there, and it’s extremely affordable.”

Lu Junming was exuberant. “Really? I never thought things would go that smoothly. Could you bring me over to have a look?”

Mo Yan led him to the Ng family household. Ms. Hua didn’t go far either and returned to the courtyard as well.

Lu Junming scanned the courtyard, then went back to the storefront and said, “This building is blocking the alley. If it gets dismantled, the courtyard will be worth much more.”

Mo Yan hadn’t laid things out that clearly before, so Ms. Hua only figured that out after Lu Junming said it that explicitly.

She asked, “So if I dismantle that storefront, how much will my courtyard be worth?”

Lu Junming asked, “Are you renting it?”

Mo Yan showed the contract in her hand to Lu him before she could say anything, “I’ve rented this courtyard out for three years.”

He grinned, “That’s even better. I’m investing in you, we can split the profits equally.”

She glanced at her sister, “Are you still worried about losing money?”

Mo Ling smiled, “I don’t care what you do with that courtyard, I’m just concerned about managing my own store well.”

Lu Junming walked on foot alongside them and the three went back to Chenzhong Village. On the road, Mo Yan asked him what goods he looked at, and he replied, “The ones I was talking about, like seafood, lotus roots, and salted duck eggs.”

“We were just thinking about what to sell in the store. That works out well, since it’s edible, it wouldn’t clash with what we normally sell.”

Mo Ling said, “We have to renovate the storefront first, and we also have to find a way to ask mum for the rest of the rent.”

Lu Junming stopped and asked Mo Yan, “How much of the rent do you still have to pay? When did you rent the storefront?”

Mo Yan raised up the contract in her hand, “It just happened! We had just finished signing the contract at Mr. Cao’s when you came over.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I currently have money on hand, so you won’t have to owe them money anymore!”

“Don’t worry, I can just pay the rest of the rent when I go to renovate the building tomorrow.”

When they got home, Mo Yan immediately told Mrs. Liang that they had rented a storefront. She was about to scold them again when Mo Ling cut her off, “We’re renting it alongside Lu Junming. It’s just to have a place to stay warm in the winter.”

Since the risk wasn’t entirely their own, Mrs. Liang didn’t say anything else.

After lunch, Mo Ling took the wheelbarrow to the fields. She wanted to grab some sorghum stalks to repair the storefront’s roof tomorrow.

That day, Zhong Cheng came to deliver duck eggs again, and saw Mo Ling with the sorghum stalks as he was leaving from the main door. He didn’t say anything and helped her carry them to the courtyard.

“You don’t have to be in such a hurry to remove all of these sorghum stalks. I’ll help you dispose of them over the next few days.”

Mrs. Liang instructed him on where to put the sorghum stalks down, “We have to use them in a hurry. The two of them rented a storefront in the market, and they’re taking all of these to renovate the roof.”

“You rented a storefront?” Zhong Cheng turned to Mo Ling.

Mo Ling nodded, “Mo Yan rented it with Lu Junming. I’m just using it as a place to shelter from the wind and to sell my wraps.”

“Let me go help you with renovating the roof!”

“Then go, and help us repair the windows and door too. If you have any tools, take them, and if you have any wood, take it too.”

Seeing that Mo Ling no longer rejecting his help, Zhong Cheng felt warmth in his heart, “Alright, I’ll grab the carriage and help you take the sorghum stalks tomorrow.”

Mrs. Liang smacked a bundle of sorghum stalks on the ground to remove the stray leaves, “I want to go see your storefront tomorrow. You’re still kids and might’ve been scammed.”

Mo Yan reassured her mother, “Don’t worry! Mr. Cao has vouched for them, so it’ll be fine. The storefront is near his clinic as well.”

Hearing that Mr. Cao had vouched for the storefront, Mrs. Liang felt reassured. She could trust Mr. Cao; she didn’t know if he was a good businessman, but at least they wouldn’t be scammed.

Post-edit notes: Today, it’s been demonstrated how helpful Zhong Cheng is and how trusted Mr. Cao is, yet again. Also…nice.