The storefront was over fifty square meters, priced as much as two apartments combined. It also had a small courtyard out back, perfect for planting some green onions, cabbage, and the like.
At the market rate of five hundred yuan per square meter, the total would have been 25,200. In the end, Qin Jiao haggled with Boss Wang and got the price down to 24,000.
Even so, this was a huge sum of money for Su Yun.
The money she and her husband had saved, plus their recent wages from the clothing factory and Xiao Jiao’s own money, might still not be enough.
Su Yun was hesitant, but Qin Jiao agreed on the spot.
Boss Wang was quite pleased. He said, "My second son’s home isn’t too far from here. Once I’m living with him, I’ll come by your noodle shop for a meal."
"Deal. Then it’s settled, Uncle Wang. Bring all the paperwork tomorrow, and we’ll go transfer the deed and make the payment."
"Sounds good."
After efficiently settling things, the mother and daughter were both hungry. They found a dumpling restaurant nearby and ordered a plate of chive and egg dumplings, as well as a plate of cabbage and beef dumplings.
Su Yun asked nervously, "Xiao Jiao, did we spend too much?"
"Mom, money is meant to be spent. If you want to run a business, you have to invest. Buying this storefront is an investment. It’s in a great location, so its value is sure to increase. Since it’ll be our own property, you won’t have to worry about anyone raising the rent. And when you decide you don’t want to run the business anymore, property prices will have gone way up. We can just sell it and make a huge profit."
Su Yun asked curiously, "Will it really go up in value?"
Qin Jiao said with certainty, "It definitely will." ’And it’s going to skyrocket!’
With the property purchase settled, the subsequent tasks were much more manageable. After the paperwork was done, they still had to move the tables and chairs over from Boss Li’s place.
Su Yun and Qin Zhonghui handled the follow-up errands together. When it came time to sign the contract, they had Sun Jianhua look it over to make sure everything was in order.
Lately, Qin Jiao had been studying programming. Relying on memories from their past lives, she and Shen Yi wanted to invest in the tech field.
Shen Yi said, "There’s a clothing festival in the South at the end of March. I have to go. Jiao Jiao, why don’t you come with me? We can check out those electronics investment opportunities there at the same time."
They both knew that over the next twenty-plus years, the market for mobile phones would become massive.
But for now, the industry was still in its infancy. If they could seize this opportunity, the returns would be enormous.
Qin Jiao glanced at the calendar. "How long would we be gone?" she asked.
"Let’s fly. It’s faster. A total of four days should be enough."
If they took a long-distance train, a significant amount of time would be spent just traveling.
Qin Jiao replied, "But a round-trip flight is too extravagant right now. I remember you just took the train when you went to the South on business with Chen Sheng, didn’t you?"
"The factory was struggling back then, wasn’t it? But look at us now—we have so many orders, and the cash is flowing back in quickly. Besides, this is a business trip, so we can expense it."
Qin Jiao shot him an exasperated look. "Have you forgotten that we own the factory? It’s not like we’re working for someone else."
Shen Yi smiled, leaned in, and kissed the corner of her mouth. "It’s precisely because it’s ours that I can’t let my wife suffer," he said. "Long-distance train rides are exhausting. I know from firsthand experience."
Although Qin Jiao wasn’t one to be pampered, she didn’t want to waste too much time since she had classes to get back to. In the end, she agreed to the plan to fly to the South at the end of March.
Besides, she was curious. She had no idea what the South looked like in this day and age.