“Director Kang, it’s not easy for us to run a small business. Renovation is also required when setting up the shop, which is a substantial investment. Can we possibly extend the lease to a few more years?”
Kang Yong was not impressed by the woman before him; young in years but slick-tongued, a true old hand in cunning.
Renting the house to her was solely due to the textile mill’s poor performance. It was a waste to leave the property vacant. As long as it didn’t harm the interests of the textile mill, it really made no difference who the tenant was.
The scheme Lin Chuxia proposed yesterday was indeed viable, which is why he had agreed to rent the house to her.
Unexpectedly, she now aggressively requested a three-year lease.
Renting such a big house to open a minor bun shop, he didn’t comprehend her logic, nor did he know how much money her family had to allow her to squander it this way.
Squandering for a year wasn’t enough, she wanted to squander for three?
He tapped his fingers on the desk as if to ponder, “Let’s get this straight. If we change the contract to three years, you cannot back out if any unexpected issues arise. Contracts aren’t to be taken lightly. Also, if we agree on three years, you’ll have to give me an additional 300 yuan as a deposit, which won’t be refunded if you do renege.”
His words bore a hint of testing as his gaze lingered leisurely on Lin Chuxia.
Lin Chuxia smiled faintly, pulling out a red envelope from her bag and pushing it towards him.
Kang Yong’s expression instantly changed, “What are you doing? Let me tell you, I, Kang Yong, always keep my word. Such things won’t work on me.”
“Director Kang has misunderstood, I just wanted to express my gratitude for your consideration. Honestly, I came today with only a 50% hope, as you made it very clear yesterday that you had no plans to rent the mill’s property for a restaurant business. It’s all thanks to your efforts that we could smoothly sign the contract today. I’m well aware of the favor.”
Kang Yong’s expression softened slightly; indeed, he had pulled some strings in this matter.
He had them come to sign the contract because he had reported to the mill manager yesterday afternoon.
Although he had certain authority, if the manager objected, the deal would not have happened, so he was tactful in his reporting.
Lin Chuxia was right to say that the contract was secured with his maneuvering.
Lin Chuxia watched Kang Yong’s expression and timely added, “Now that we are renting from the textile mill, we’d only need more of Director Kang’s consideration in the future. I hope you can understand the feelings of us, the small self-employed citizens, and seek your protection despite the presumption.”
Listening to her frank words, Kang Yong chuckled inwardly at the girl’s naivety, which matched her situation.
Renting from the textile mill, in a way, meant they were in his grasp.
“Rest assured, the factory handles things systematically. As long as you follow the contract, the textile mill will honor its commitment.”
“With those words from you, I feel reassured. As for this contract…”
Kang Yong took the contract and immediately changed it from one year to three years.
No wonder people have high credibility now; a handwritten contract, with even amendments noted on it, as long as both parties sign and put their fingerprints, there is almost no room for denial.
Once Lin Chuxia saw the changes, she quickly signed her name and put her fingerprint down.
The façade building of the textile mill was now theirs to use for the next three years.
Upon leaving the textile mill, Su Wensong was still pondering over the red envelope.
In his view, even without Lin Chuxia’s red envelope, the contract would be safe.
As for seeking protection, he believed that with the contract in hand, there was no need for anyone’s protection. Even if the textile mill needed to take back the house midway, Kang Yong, as a director of the mill, would not go against the factory’s decision over a red envelope.
Thinking this, he asked about it.
Lin Chuxia, with contract in tow and feeling lighter, saw that no one was around and explained to Su Wensong.
“Seeking protection was just a pretext. This red envelope can only be considered as a foot in the door,” and to test Kang Yong’s character.
She touched the small cloth bag on her back. “One day, an addition must be made to this contract.”
When it came time to sell this building, she wanted the prerogative as the long-time lessee.
Meanwhile, Kang Yong, upon opening the red envelope and seeing it full of banknotes, counted a neat 10 bills.
His monthly salary was just over fifty now; this was equivalent to two months of his wage.
“This woman is indeed generous with her money.”
Now, Kang Yong’s only thought about Lin Chuxia was to see how she would continue to stir things up and whether her bun shop could earn the rent money.
…
Lin Chuxia and Su Wensong went straight back to the Bun Shop.
With the property leased, it was time to prepare for renovation.
Lin Chuxia needed to devise a detailed renovation plan, and then task Su Wensong with it. In the following period, Su Wensong would not be able to attend to the small courtyard, which was just as well since Brother Su and his wife had arrived.
She planned to go back and discuss the division of labor, but as soon as she arrived at the Bun Shop, Zhang Guilan came out to meet her.
With an anxious look, she turned to Su Wensong, “Xiao Su, you’d better go have a look. There’s someone at your place…”
Without specifying who it was or what the matter was, they already faintly heard the turmoil from inside the courtyard.
Su Wensong’s face turned as he hurried over, with Lin Chuxia following.
In the yard, Sun Lanlan shielded Granny Su behind her, pointing at a man with a flushed face from anger, “If you dare, wait for Brother Su to come back. Bullying an elderly like Granny Su, what kind of skill is that? If you upset Granny Su, Brother Su won’t let you off easily.”
“I’m telling you, girl, protecting them like that, isn’t it just because you fancy Su Wensong and want to be the boss’s wife? Let me make it clear, you don’t get a say here, forget about not marrying into Su Family yet; even if you did marry Su Wensong, you’d mean nothing to me.”
“You…”
“Su Dazhuang, get lost! You dare to ruin the reputation of an innocent girl for no reason; do you think everyone is as lowly as you?”
Sun Lanlan was infuriated beyond words, and Granny Su trembled with anger.
Identifying the visitor, seeing the livid Granny Su, Su Wensong took strides over and grabbed the offender by the collar, “Su by surname, do you really think I’m too scared to lay a hand on you?”
Just yesterday, he was considerate of the impact on the store, but now, in the courtyard, he had no such concerns.
Su Dazhuang wasn’t tall; Su Wensong nearly hoisted him off his feet.
Seeing Su Wensong, with eyes wide and shouting, “What are you doing? What do you want to do? I am your paternal uncle.”
“Paternal uncle my foot! Harm my Granny, and it wouldn’t matter even if the Jade Emperor himself arrived.”
Su Dazhuang didn’t expect that Su Wensong had grown so bold within such a short amount of time; it seemed wealth had indeed emboldened him.
