The sallow-faced girl said tremblingly, "Don't tell anyone. The benefactor said, wealth must not be displayed for others to know."
Chen Guangrui was speechless, and after the sallow-faced girl left, he turned again to look at the broker, stroking his beard and nodding slightly.
Inside the broker's shop, Xu Qing was chatting leisurely with Fourth Master, who was playing Pai Gow on the couch. Master Huang Wu had a worried expression at the gaming table, unsure whether it was the bad cards or recent distress causing the mood.
"Shopkeeper Xu, when you went to the city gate, did you see the newly appointed county officer?"
Xu Qing shook his head and said, "I'm just a commoner, how could I get close enough to have a good look? Besides, neither Master Wu nor Fourth Master went."
Li Si Fourth Master smiled at this and said, "Master Wu and I didn't go because we don't get along with certain people. Going might cause unnecessary trouble. Once those people leave, Master Wu and I will naturally pay a visit to the county officer."
The broker, after all, is ultimately a businessman. These days, merchants have status far inferior to those land-owning gentry. Even if Li Si Fourth Master and Master Huang Wu shamelessly join in, they would still likely rank behind those gentry, and might even get ridiculed by old foes.
Better to stay out of trouble.
"Alas, who knows what kind of person this county officer is. It's really worrying."
Li Si Fourth Master glanced at Master Huang Wu, who was frowning at his cards, and laughed, "Old Wu, your luck doesn't seem too good today."
After finishing the game, Li Si Fourth Master called for fresh tea and asked, "Shopkeeper Xu, you're a busy man, rarely seen here except for something important. Might you have business with me today?"
"Oh, it's nothing major. Chatting with Fourth Master and Master Wu is the big thing, everything else is just peripheral, hardly worth mentioning."
Master Huang Wu looked Xu Qing up and down, suddenly laughing, "Maybe Shopkeeper Xu came to check if Fourth Master is still alive, if not, then to bury him."
"Oh, go away! A dog's mouth can't produce ivory!"
After some banter, when the timing felt right, Xu Qing finally said, "Fourth Master, I heard there are some plots of barren land west of Linjiang County that haven't been sold yet..."
Master Huang Wu was the first to speak, "Are you talking about that land? It's not particularly good, no nearby households, and crops don't thrive. If it weren't so, it wouldn't have fallen to Fourth Master initially."
Xu Qing looked at Li Si Fourth Master and said, "Fourth Master, if I wanted to buy those plots of barren land..."
Li Si Fourth Master understood Xu Qing's thoughts but still advised, "Brother Xu, now that Linhe District has become Linjiang County, land prices within the city are surely going to rise rapidly, even good land outside can fetch a good price, but the barren land to the west is different."
"That poor land doesn't grow crops, and building houses there would seem isolated. Even if Linjiang County becomes more prosperous in the future, it may not be valuable."
Xu Qing didn't elaborate much; the piece of land west of the city was indeed somewhat isolated, not suitable for houses for the living, but if used for a Yin Residence...
Linhe's transformation into Linjiang County means the population is destined to multiply several times. The fortifications on the west side of the city have yet to be completed, seemingly requiring expansion by several miles.
While others are contemplating businesses for the living, Xu Qing has already considered future speculation on Yin Residences, aiming to engage in the funerary business.
He has already planned; by then, he won't sell the graves at a high price, maybe even lower than the market value, but with one condition: the owner of the Yin Residence must have their funeral hosted by the Funeral Shop.
Moreover, this funeral service is included with the purchase of the Yin Residence, absolutely no additional charges.
Xu Qing was calculating in his mind how to enlarge and strengthen his own business while discussing land purchases with Li Si Fourth Master.
The Yin Residence is a crucial part of the funerary trade, and he must plan well in advance.