Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 437 I came here today to pay you back your money

Shen Yu thought: "Why is it laid out like this? I can't tell you that in the modern times where I lived, many houses were laid out like this."

"If I really say that, I'd be surprised if you weren't scared."

Shen Yu blinked his eyes and spoke without changing his expression: "I also saw it by chance in a book. It said that the tents were set up in rows like this in the barracks."

"Adapt to local conditions, be practical, and don't pay attention to any layout."

"I think this inn is not like a home. Guests only stay in the inn for a few days and then leave. There is no need to be so particular."

"There are many people in the barracks, and there are many people in the inn, so the houses are designed and built in this way."

"Before it was finished, I was worried that it wouldn't look good. But when I saw the finished house, I finally felt relieved."

Lu Lang believed it and nodded thoughtfully.

Shen Yu was afraid that if Lu Lang asked where he read it in a book, he would be exposed, so he quickly changed the subject and said, "Mr. Lu, don't talk about this anymore."

"How much money did you spend on building the inn? I came here today to pay you back."

Lu Lang was still thinking about the benefits of building a house like this, and said nonchalantly: "It's only two or three hundred taels of silver, Miss Shen doesn't have to rush to pay me back."

According to the price Shen Yu inquired from the real estate agent when he was buying a house, building a house like this would cost about six or seven hundred taels of silver.

When Shen Yu heard Lu Lang say that there were only two or three hundred taels, he thought he had heard it wrong.

She put away the smile on her face and said seriously, "Mr. Lu, we agreed at the beginning that you would help me find Master Zhu to build a house, but I have to pay for the construction myself."

"Even if Master Zhu doesn't overstate the price for your sake, it can't be more than half less than the market price."

"You know I have money left over after paying off my debts."

"Besides, the restaurant business has been very good these days, and we have income every day. It should be enough to pay for the construction of the house without borrowing money."

"Mr. Lu, please tell me how much money you spent."

Seeing that Shen Yu was serious, Lu Lang calmly took an account book and handed it to Shen Yu.

He said calmly, "I knew you wouldn't believe it. When Master Zhu told me about it, I didn't quite believe it either."

"I'm afraid he's charging less money just to save my face, and is secretly suffering a loss."

"After reading the account book, I realized that the expenses were indeed not much. Master Zhu's labor costs and various building materials were all reported according to the actual usage."

Shen Yu took the account book with doubt.

But the words on the account were written like a gust of wind, and there were many items.

She couldn't understand it at the moment.

I could only read the places marked with numbers, and the summary account on the last page did show the total: two hundred and seventy-five taels and three hundred wen.

Seeing Shen Yu's frowning expression, Lu Lang knew that she probably couldn't understand Master Zhu's cursive writing, so he explained, "Master Zhu said that the cost was low because the house was built in a simple style."

"There are no interior walls, no gates, and fewer beams and columns. This alone saves a lot of materials and time."

"If you build a courtyard with several entrances, the wood and bricks will cost a lot of time and effort, at least six or seven hundred taels of silver."

"On the contrary, yours, except for the small courtyard which uses more materials, the rest are built quickly and with less materials."

“That’s why Master Zhu said that when he was building it, he thought your layout and design were very good and he wanted to use it as a reference in the future.”

Shen Yu then realized that the design layout and building method were based on the rows of dormitory buildings in later generations, which unintentionally helped him save a lot of money.

Lu Lang continued, "Not only that, when the house was being built, the craftsmen ate at your restaurant every day. I didn't expect that the meal cost was much less than when they ate at other restaurants."

"Although Master Zhu didn't know that this house was built for your restaurant, he still praised the food in your restaurant."

"He ate there twice when he was instructing the foreman on his work, and he recommended your restaurant to me."

"He said that if there is work in the future and the employer does not provide meals, he will send a craftsman to your house to order meals."

"I also asked if the county government could order food from you instead of hiring a cook when doing any work. The food is delicious, the portions are large, and the price is affordable, which is very suitable."

Master Zhu's house-building skills are among the best in Anping County.

Although he was just a craftsman, countless wealthy families had asked him to build their houses.

He has seen all kinds of delicious food, yet he can praise his own snack shop like this.

Shen Yu felt happy when he heard this.

Lu Lang also smiled and said, "Master Zhu has seen the world too. He thinks it's good, so it's really good. I'm sure you'll have more regular customers in the future."

Shen Yu smiled and nodded, but then asked, "Even if the money is not much, I have to pay the bill in time. Why do you keep refusing to pay?"

"Will the money be transferred to your own account or to the county government account?"

"Or I exchanged the bank notes for silver and sent them to you."

Seeing that she insisted on returning the money to him right away, Lu Lang asked, "If you give me this money now, will it be enough to repair the inn and prepare for its opening?"

"I'm not waiting for the money here. If you give it to me, I'll just keep it for nothing. It's better to keep it with you so that it can be used properly."

Only then did Shen Yu understand why Lu Lang was unwilling to accept the money now, and he couldn't help feeling grateful.

She smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Master Lu, for thinking of this for me. The inn doesn't need any renovation or decoration, it just needs to be clean and tidy."

"When the time comes, I can buy furniture, put up window paper, prepare mattresses and start business. It won't cost much money. My savings, which I used to pay for the house, will be enough for me."

She was afraid that Lu Lang would not believe her, so she quickly took out the money slip she brought and showed it to him.

Lu Lang looked at the amount above and silently calculated the expenses that Shen Yu would probably need before he felt relieved.

I am sure Shen Yu will no longer need to live on debt.

He then replied: "Then transfer it to my money slip."

"Will you come tomorrow? If not, I'll go to the restaurant to find you, and we'll go to the bank together."

Shen Yu nodded and said, "I will come again tomorrow. I will report the dishes and ingredients I have in mind to the county magistrate so that he can have someone go shopping and prepare them early."

Lu Lang smiled and said, "If it was for this, you wouldn't have to make this trip."

"I'm going to the bookstore in the east to look for some books tomorrow morning. Just write a list and I'll bring it back for you."

Shen Yu is the one who is most afraid of cold and would rather stay at home in winter if possible.

When he heard that Lu Lang could come over to get the list, he didn't hesitate at all and immediately said happily: "That's great."

"Why don't you come to the restaurant for lunch tomorrow at noon, Mr. Lu? The bank is close to the restaurant, so it's very convenient to go there."