Chapter 53 Renting a Shop

  After the summer vacation started, classmates who had been in school for a semester finally felt they had time to breathe.

  Gu's mom wanted to borrow Chen Wen's sophomore books, but was stopped by Gu Xiang.

  The elder sister-in-law is now definitely harboring a grudge against Chen Wen's grades, and in the past, Mother Gu might have really had to swallow her pride.

  Gu's mother then made a phone call and sure enough, her sister-in-law said that Chen Wen had already borrowed the book for his sophomore year.

  It's good I called ahead of time, otherwise it would have been a wasted trip.

  Gu Xiang didn't understand why the older generation thought they were all one family and would give their hearts to each other.

  She was an only child and thought it was better to get along with relatives who got along well, and those who didn't would just pretend to be polite. Her mother didn't consider her two aunts as outsiders, but the two aunts might not think so.

  Gu Xiang took her homework and went to her grandmother's house, where she stayed for more than half a month.

  Dad has been house hunting in the city and is rarely at home.

  Gu Xiang was also pulled over to help take a look several times, all of which were new buildings with rough interiors, and she didn't know how to look either.

  When she got back, her father had already chosen two houses and paid the deposit.

  At this time, news had already spread from the county government that they were going to turn Liberation Road into a pedestrian street.

  A bunch of people have their eyes on this pancake.

  Those who think they have foresight have already started thinking of ways to buy out the shops here.

  However, apart from some businesses that urgently need money, most of them would rather wait for one or two years to benefit from the pedestrian street.

  Gu Xiang's family was one of these few people.

  She wants to persuade her mother to transfer the shop.

  The transfer fee of Jiefang Road Shopping Mall was originally 300,000 yuan, but now it has been speculated to nearly 600,000 yuan.

  Someone is willing to buy this store and pay 600,000 yuan as a transfer fee to the tenant.

  The contract with Gu's mother is until next March, the landlord means to ask her if she wants to buy it or not, if not willing to buy, then she will take back the store and sell it next year.

  Gu's mother had verbally agreed with the landlord back then, and after the New Year, they gathered money to buy out the store.

  Gu Xiang didn't let her mom buy it, she had said before that this news might be inaccurate.

  Mrs. Gu hesitated: "It won't be, will it? People in the county are all talking about it. And if I buy it, I don't have to pay the transfer fee."

  Gu Xiang said: "I told you a long time ago that there would be such rumors, didn't I? Now they're spreading, aren't they? I've also heard a lot of things from my dad, if you don't believe me, just give him a call and ask."

  Gu's mom certainly couldn't call Gu's dad, as she had only spoken a few words to him over the years, countable on her fingers.

  For a week now, Gu Xiang has been inseparable from her mother, fearing that she might lose her mind.

  Gu's mother was mainly thinking that she had been working at the Jiefang Road shopping mall for seven or eight years, and next year when her contract expires, she would be unemployed. What could she do then?

  At her age, she's still going out to work for others? Moreover, the little money she earns from working is not enough, right? It doesn't matter how she lives herself, but her daughter is just in junior high school and will need to go to high school and university later on, all of which require a lot of money.

  Gu Xiang had already taken a look around, she used to hang out at Jianghua Road Middle School when she lived with her grandmother.

  There are now many elderly residents nearby, with several small shops. One of them is right opposite the school gate, with a rolling shutter door and a red paper with "For Rent" stuck on it.

  Gu Xiang has written down the phone number.

  It's just the right time to say this now.

  Gu's mom was a bit frightened, Gu Xiang's serious look was no longer just helping out with ideas, but actually wanted to take charge. She had never thought that a 15-year-old child would think so much.

  Gu Xiang told her that he also heard from his father that the abandoned land would be included in some construction range, and there would definitely be business opportunities in the future.

  It's really daring for Mrs. Gu to rent a store in such a remote location. The rental contract is usually signed for one year, and some longer ones are signed for three years.

  What if they lose everything... Their house is also rented, what if something happens and they have to sleep on the streets?!

  Gu Xiang also wants to urge Gu's mother to transfer the store now and go with the buyer to discuss the transfer fee.

  This can still get some more money.

  This big thing, Gu's mother is really not possible to listen to her, just saying that she wants to think about it herself, but looking at the attitude, it's clear that she's just being perfunctory. In her opinion, Gu Xiang is now clever and capable, but after all, she's still a 15-year-old junior high school student.

  The store was put on hold when renting, but fortunately, Gu's mother didn't think about buying the Liberation Road shopping mall again.

  Gu Xiang had no choice but to call her dad for help.

  Some things you can't know just by asking around casually.

  But if you already have a goal, it will be much simpler to ask someone for help.

  Gu Xiang asked his dad about the land near grandma's house.

  Dad Gu went to make some inquiries and indeed found out something.

  This land may be put up for auction.

  Sounds like there's business potential here.

  Gu Xiang went to tell her mother again.

  Gu's mother originally felt that her daughter had been especially close to that side recently, which wasn't pleasant. Now, after hearing this, it turns out that her daughter was busy running around for her sake!

  After hearing the news, she was thinking of asking someone to ask again. But her current connections are certainly not comparable to those of Mr. Gu, who has already done business in the city, and after asking around, she couldn't even get a clue.

  There are still people who heard that she, a woman, wanted to open another store and do business. They advised her that the Liberation Road shopping mall is good, everyone is together, how can a single woman like her support herself? Moreover, even if the store is good, a woman like her cannot do it.

  Gu's mother was a stubborn person, hearing people say this how could she not be angry!

  She still insisted on making a big fuss about it!

  Contacted the store that was urgently rented, this store was originally a small business run by the landlord himself, a small grocery store of about 30 square meters. Now the family is ill and needs to take care of the family but lacks money. It's not for sale, but it's urgent to rent out.

  This is really a business that will not be found after passing this village, Gu Xiang was still worried that her mother would hesitate, but this time Gu's mother turned around and told the landlord of Jiefang Road Shopping Mall about her intention to terminate the contract in advance. The landlord was eager to do so and even said that he could give her a little transfer fee.

  Gu's mother didn't want it, so according to the contract she took one less ten thousand, and with the five thousand in hand, she went to rent that small grocery store.

  The store on Liberation Road charges 3,000 yuan a month, while this grocery store is less than 2,000.

  It's obvious that this family is in urgent need of money.

  Gu's mother paid a year's rent and waited until September to sell off all the goods in the store, then came over to take care of this shop.

  The landlord said that things in the store can also be transferred to them at a low price, and Mrs. Gu was also hesitant, she didn't know what business to do in this store yet.

  Gu Xiang suddenly said, "Let's open a small supermarket and sell some food and drinks."

  Mom Gu said: "Is this okay? If we walk for another 10 or so minutes, there's a Jia Dian Run Fa."

  Gu Xiang said: "The people living nearby are all elderly, like grandpas and grandmas. It's possible for them to go to the supermarket to buy eggs, but what about when they need soy sauce or vinegar at home? This store used to sell small things, and now the landlord doesn't want to sell it, which means selling these small items is still profitable. We can just add some food sales on top of the daily necessities. And don't worry about not being able to sell the food, I can help eat it."

  Her mother was delighted and pinched her face saying: "I knew you'd eat!"

  But later still spent two thousand yuan to buy goods from the owner, and the owner also gave a bunch of unsold brooms, mops, towels and so on.

  Fortunately, these things don't have an expiration date. Although they look old, they can't be sold, but they themselves can still use them normally.

  In the whole of August afterwards, Gu Xiang had been helping her mother sell clothes in the store.

  Because it's a closing sale, the prices are all set very low and generally won't be negotiated, they sell quickly.

  By the end of August, the walls and cabinets in the store were empty, and the remaining clothes were moved to Xiao Shu's family store. It was said that they would help sell them, but it was actually a gift to them, and there was no way to ask for money back.

  Gu Xiang also admired her mother, who was decisive and had a courage that ordinary housewives didn't have.

  Her mother smiled after hearing her daughter's praise: "I'm not as capable as you said, I just think that family is too pitiful. Their daughter is about your age and got sick. Since we're going to rent, renting two months earlier or later doesn't make a big difference. But these two months might be a matter of life and death for them." She stroked Gu Xiang's face, "After becoming a mother, I just can't bear to see these things."

  After finishing all the work in August, Gu Xiang finished her summer homework and started school.

  Gu's mother welcomed an even busier September here.

  The store had just opened its doors, and she had known many people from her previous business dealings, many of whom said they could provide her with wholesale goods.

  She didn't quite trust acquaintances and ran two trips out of town, finally finding a wholesale market that sold snacks at a good price.

  She does business, but she doesn't want to bury her conscience like some small vendors who sell fake or inferior products. Her daughter will have to eat what she sells after all.

  The family finally decided to open a store, and Gu Xiang's heart was also relieved of a huge burden.