Chapter 249: Settlement

In the courtyard, Gu Daya’s family was sitting anxiously when they suddenly heard these words and were shocked.

What did they hear?

Xiao Yu is actually going to lend them money to open a shop.

Gu Daya’s family was both excited and scared.

Gu Daya wanted to go inside to have a look, but Qi Kangming held her back and whispered, "Mother, wait a moment, cousin Xiao Yu and Aunt Da Gui are still talking, it’s not good for us to go in now."

That Aunt Da Gui was very opposed to them opening a shop for their family, and it would definitely require more discussion before a conclusion could be reached.

Inside, Mrs. Chen started shouting again, "No, I disagree!"

Gu Jinli laughed, "It’s my family lending the money to my aunt’s family to open a shop, what does it have to do with you, and why do you disagree?"

Mrs. Chen was at a loss for words, unable to find anything to argue with.

Gu Dagui was holding Mrs. Chen’s hand and scolded her in a low voice, "This is Xiao Yu family’s own business, what does it have to do with you?"

It’s not your money being used, why are you making a fuss?

Elder Qin also said, "If the Xiao Yu family is willing to spend money for Daya’s niece’s family to open a shop, we have no reason to object."

Old Mrs. Yan nodded in agreement, "That’s right."

The other families were reasonable as well, naturally they wouldn’t object.

But Mrs. Chen was not convinced, she was very jealous, and suddenly started crying, "Why is the Xiao Yu family lending money to the Gu Daya family to open a shop? We’re still setting up stalls! During the Lantern Festival, it was so cold that it could freeze people’s teeth, and we still went to set up stalls every day braving the cold wind. When it rained recently, we had to run to Xuanhu Fang to hide from the rain, then come out to set up the stall again once it stopped, exhausted and battered by wind and rain. I also want a shop. Why didn’t you offer to open a shop for us who set up stalls first now that you have money?!"

After Mrs. Chen finished speaking, she started crying loudly again.

Gu Dagui had a headache and shouted, "What are you howling for? Shut up right now!"

What is this woman going crazy for? This is the Xiao Yu family’s business, why is she crying her heart out?

Gu Jinli looked at the wailing Mrs. Chen and said, "Aunt Da Gui has a point."

"What?" Mrs. Chen was stunned: "What did you say?"

Xiao Yu actually said she made sense? Did the sun rise from the west? She was making a scene, shouldn’t Xiao Yu be giving her a good scolding?

Gu Jinli looked at her and said, "Setting up a stall like this really isn’t a solution, so starting from tomorrow, we’ll go to the town and ask around to see if there are any shops for sale, let’s get ourselves a shop first."

Mrs. Chen was dumbfounded, and after a while, she exclaimed, "Xiao Yu, are you serious? Really going to open a shop selling tofu? No more setting up a stall?"

Hey, is she going to live the life of a shopkeeper’s wife?

"Of course it’s true," Gu Jinli nodded, "Continuously setting up a stall isn’t a solution, we need to have our own shop. With a shop, we will feel more at ease doing business."

"What Xiao Yu said is absolutely right, that’s exactly what I’ve been thinking," Aunt Da Gui, Mrs. Chen, immediately stopped crying, extremely happy in her heart, hehe, if Gu Daya’s family could open a shop, later she wouldn’t need to set up the stall, and she could sit in the shop, doing business comfortably and steadily.

"However, our town is only so big, and it’s rare for someone to sell their shop. If we want to buy one, it will take time to look around," Gu Jinli said to the families, continuing, "Another thing, when it comes time to buy a shop, whether everyone contributes jointly or a single family buys it outright, we need to make that clear."

"If we buy it together, the shop will be co-owned by several families; if a single family buys it, then the shop will belong solely to that family. Uncles, aunts, what are your thoughts? Share them so we can make a decision and have someone go scout for shops tomorrow."

Buying a shop was a big deal, and the families were hesitant to make a decision, all turning to look at Third Grandpa, waiting for him to speak.

Third Grandpa said, "Since we are going into business as partners, everyone should chip in to buy the shop together."

Otherwise, if one family buys the shop, what happens when they want to use it for other trades in the future?

Once Third Grandpa had spoken, naturally, the families had no objections.

Gu Jinli didn’t mind either; she was happy to partner with the other families to buy a shop.

Still, she wanted to buy a shop for her own family separately, having already planned to buy another shop in the future that would be solely theirs, no longer mixed with the other families.

"Alright, then while we set up our stalls tomorrow, let’s head to Xuanhu Fang to ask around, see which shops in town are willing to sell. We’ll start with those willing to sell, and if no one is selling, then we’ll consider renting a shop."

After deciding on converting the tofu stall into a shop, Mrs. Chen, curious, asked Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu, you said you would lend money to your aunt’s family to start a shop, what kind of shop will it be? It won’t be selling tofu and spices, will it?"

Mrs. Chen became sour again, afraid that Gu Daya’s family would steal their business.

Looking at her, Gu Jinli was at a loss for words: "Aunt Da Gui, it’s getting late, you better head back. As for what kind of shop my aunt’s family will open, that’s their business, and it has nothing to do with you!"

The last part of her speech was through gritted teeth.

Seeing her get angry, Mrs. Chen gave a sheepish smile, retracting into herself, and didn’t ask further: "Look at you, getting mad so quickly. I was just curious, just asking."

Gu Dagui found her embarrassing and dragged her out of the house, saying, "Third Uncle, Brother Dashan, it’s getting late, we’ll be heading back."

God, hurry up and go back, always calculating against relatives, does she have no shame?

Mrs. Chen was somewhat frustrated, itching with curiosity, really wanting to know what kind of business Gu Jinli would let Gu Daya’s family do?

But she didn’t dare to ask again. When she passed by Gu Daya’s family, she still warmly said, "Sister Daya, my house is the second courtyard down from the workshop. Come over for a visit tomorrow."

Gu Dagui’s face stiffened. This woman, who had just made a fuss in the house forbidding Xiao Yu from helping Sister Daya’s family start a shop, now had the face to greet Sister Daya?

Gu Daya, seeing Mrs. Chen’s face all smiles like a spring breeze, stiffened for a moment before quickly replying with a smile, "Sure, if I have the time, I’ll definitely visit Little Sister-in-law Da Gui’s place."

"Alright, then I’ll be waiting for Sister Daya," Mrs. Chen cheerfully left.

Gu Dagui turned back to Gu Daya and said, "Sister Daya, that’s just how she is, don’t take her words to heart."

Gu Daya smiled, "It’s alright."

Third Grandma shook her head at what she heard from inside the house, then after seeing the families off, she said to Gu Daya, "Daya, take the things everyone brought over and let’s head to the courtyard above the workshop, it was bought by your elder brother’s house, specially reserved for your family to live in."

Some time ago, when they went to the government office to handle housing and land deeds, they purchased three old mud-brick courtyards that were still habitable.

One was turned into a workshop, one was originally designated for Gu Fuya’s family, but now is inhabited by Old Zhu’s family and Wang Yongfu’s family. The remaining one was reserved for Gu Daya’s family.

"When Dashan went to the Prefecture to find you, I and Dashan’s wife cleaned up every day; now you can just move right in."