Chapter Twelve: When All Seems Lost, a New Path Emerges

Yunniang naturally had unwavering trust in Gou Ye, yet the so-called golden location that Gou Ye had chosen left her feeling exceptionally uncomfortable. Though displeasure welled within her, she forced herself to suppress it, merely giving a cold snort and ignoring him.

Beside them, Gu Shen was quite curious. With another bow, he said, “Brother Gou Ye, I hope you won’t mind enlightening me. The three of us have visited many places in the county town—prosperous districts, the main street lined with taverns, and the bustling marketplace. Why is it that you, Brother Gou Ye, insist on calling this infamous pleasure quarter the prime golden location?”

Casting a glance at Yunniang at his side, Gou Ye began to explain patiently, “Brother Gu Shen, truth be told, the places you took me to were indeed good; I even considered the city gate. Take the marketplace, for instance—though it seems lively now, remember it’s summer. There are many stalls, and most of the passersby come for them. But when winter comes, the crowds at the stalls will surely dwindle.”

Gu Shen’s eyes lit up, realizing that Gou Ye’s words made sense, and he asked, “But what about the street full of taverns? All year round, people stop there for meals or lodging; surely it attracts plenty of customers. Why not choose that area, Brother Gou Ye?”

“I spent quite some time thinking about the tavern street. Sure, the inns and restaurants see a lot of foot traffic, but after a hearty meal or a few drinks, few linger on the street. As for those seeking lodging, they mostly arrive at night, and their main purpose is to rest, not to stroll about. So, although the tavern street seems to have a constant flow of people, it’s not the right place for the kind of shop we want to open.”

Gu Shen nodded his agreement as the three of them walked deeper into the inner streets, listening to Gou Ye continue.

“As I said, I also considered the city gate. While it’s a place where the crowds never cease, at night the gates close. Every day, you’d have to pack up early and set up again in the morning. The more I thought about it, the more troublesome it seemed.”

As Gou Ye spoke, he noticed Yunniang’s anger had subsided considerably, so his voice grew louder with renewed confidence.

“Just now, we saw two women. I caught a strong whiff of cosmetics and perfume on them, and combined with their heavy makeup, I deduced they must be courtesans from this pleasure quarter. I also overheard one of them say she’d return home for chilled pears made by her mother. That’s what made me pay attention to this area. Look, this street is as long as the marketplace, and there are plenty of vendors. The shops across the way are bustling with business. Most importantly, this district isn’t limited by the seasons. Even in winter, there won’t be a shortage of patrons seeking entertainment here. And think about this—when night falls and the men leave the brothels, their bellies full of food and drink, their bodies flushed with heat and spirits, wouldn’t it be delightful for them to enjoy an ice cream bar? And don’t underestimate the women in these establishments—they’ll be our main customers in the future.”

Gou Ye’s mouth was growing dry from talking. The three of them ducked into a nearby tavern, ordered a fine pot of tea, and gazed at the lively street scene. As Gou Ye imagined the future prosperity of their shop, he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

Yunniang, though still a little annoyed, had to admit Gou Ye’s reasoning held merit, so she no longer made things difficult for him. At that moment, Gu Shen seemed to remember something else and asked, “Brother Gou Ye, your reasoning is sound and I fully agree. But if you’re talking about opening a shop in the pleasure quarter, do you and I together even have enough silver? I fear we couldn’t even afford the rent.”

Gou Ye laughed heartily, eyeing Gu Shen mischievously. “That’s why I need your help, Young Master Gu! Don’t worry, you won’t have to put up any money for now, but there will be plenty of opportunities for you to invest in the future. Besides, I’ll need you to do me a big favor today.”

“A big favor?”

“That’s right! A big favor! Just tell me if you’re willing.”

Gu Shen hesitated only briefly before choosing to trust Gou Ye and agreed.

Without further delay, Gou Ye drained three cups of tea in quick succession and hurried outside. He scanned the street and suddenly noticed, opposite the brothel, a modestly sized candied hawthorn shop—a thought struck him at once.

The three of them walked straight to the shop. Gou Ye asked, “Boss, how much for your candied hawthorns?”

“Three copper coins a skewer, sir.”

“Three coins? At the marketplace it’s only one. Why so expensive here?” Yunniang, being a frequent patron of candied hawthorns, knew the prices well and couldn’t help but ask.

“Sir, you may not know, but the rent here is different from other places—often higher than even the marketplace. Plus, it’s a bit of a distance from the city center and doesn’t get much foot traffic during the day, so the price has to be higher. Anyone who comes here has a few coins to spare. Even for the courtesans, three coppers is nothing. And besides, this shop isn’t rented—it’s my own, so I don’t have to worry about rent.”

Hearing this, Gou Ye thought to himself that fate had brought him just what he needed. He asked, “Would you be willing to transfer this shop to me? I’m willing to pay a high price to buy it outright.”

The proprietor looked troubled and shook his head. “Sir, please don’t jest. This humble shop may not be much, but it supports my whole family. Selling it might bring in some extra silver, but what would my family live on in the future?”

The shopkeeper was indeed farsighted, not blinded by immediate gain. Gou Ye understood that while this wasn’t the busiest district, the flow of customers was steady. It might not make a fortune, but the income was stable—exactly what ordinary folk wanted: security.

“Boss, hear me out. I know your concerns, but if you transfer the shop to me, not only will I pay you a generous sum, but I’ll also provide you with a livelihood. You can continue to work here, and your monthly earnings will be no less than before—only more.”

These words struck a chord with the proprietor. He’d seen people come to buy shops before, but never had anyone offered him both a buyout and a job. He asked, “Sir, don’t tease me. I know my own shop well—it’s hardly a big business. If you say I’ll earn more than I do now, I’d like to hear just how much more you’re offering.”

“How much do you make in a month currently?”

“At least fifteen taels of silver.”

“Very well! I’ll pay you thirty taels each month, plus a share of the year-end profits. Name your price for the shop.” Gou Ye’s words left the shopkeeper stunned—thirty taels was double his current income.

“Well, since you’re so straightforward, I’ll be direct too—how about five hundred taels for the shop?”