Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 311 - 147 Hot Spring Manor

"Have I been so blind? Turns out it’s Young Master. I could tell Your Grace had an extraordinary aura. May I know how Your Grace is addressed?"

Jiang Yazi had long honed his eloquence, speaking warmly with a touch of flattery. However, it wasn’t repulsive.

"My surname is Gu. My second sister is getting married, and I wish to buy some land close to the Capital. Are there any good plots available?"

"Would Your Grace prefer a manor or just land? How many acres would you require?" Jiang Yazi brought over his record book, flipped through it, and asked Gu Chengyu.

"Is there a plot of a hundred acres connected into one?" Gu Chengyu didn’t plan to buy much as Gu Wan wouldn’t manage the land herself, and they would need to hire tenants and laborers.

Arriving in the Capital, it’s inevitable to find a means of livelihood. The embroidery shop in town is doing well, just on a smaller scale. It can open another in the Capital, allowing her to pursue her artisan craft.

Jiang Yazi glanced curiously at Gu Chengyu, knowing that he, as a broker, often dealt with both high-ranking officials and commoners. Sometimes handling transactions worth several thousand silver coins, sometimes only a few dozen.

Seeing Gu Chengyu as an aristocratic young lord, he didn’t understand why he only wanted a hundred acres, especially knowing the man in front wasn’t short of silver.

However, he was also aware that it was their affair, and even though it seemed less compared to before, it wasn’t considered a minor deal.

"Young Master Gu, there isn’t a hundred-acre plot connected at the moment. However, there is a small manor of over two hundred acres. Would Young Master Gu consider it?"

Jiang Yazi flipped through the book in his hand, which contained scattered plots or varied-sized manors, and indeed, no hundred-acre plots.

"That’ll do. As long as the land is good, I’ll buy it. I’ll have my steward go and look at it in the afternoon. I also want to buy a larger manor. Please check for any estates in the south. It doesn’t need to be big, just a one-courtyard will do."

Gu Chengyu had already instructed Yin Kun to keep an eye on the estate. Buying through a brokerage wasn’t economical, as it required paying a hefty sum. The manor he wanted was large, and Yin Kun, being an official, naturally had more connections than him.

A one-courtyard estate is being prepared for Gu Wan, and when the time comes, he’ll simply hand over the silver to him. There’s no need for formalities between siblings. Though he has silver, he fears rewarding laziness and non-reciprocity might cultivate a nature of idleness in Gu Wan.

"As for the larger manor, does Young Master Gu have any specific requests? I have several manors here, with plots of five hundred acres or even eight hundred acres. Some manors come with hot springs. Regarding the one-courtyard estates in the south, quite a few have nice locations. You’ll know once you see them."

Jiang Yazi meant that the estate’s surrounding environment was good, without any dubious households nearby, and the area was where many merchants and affluent families resided.

Gu Chengyu understood the implicit meaning, planning to let Ming Mo and Yu Tuanzi go inspect it in the afternoon.

"How large is the hot spring manor?" Gu Chengyu was intrigued upon hearing about the hot spring.

This winter vegetables could be grown, as in the Northern winters, only cabbage and radish are available. If fresh vegetables could be grown, they could be used by restaurants and sold to wealthy households.

"One is a thousand acres, and the other is six hundred acres, though the latter has fewer spring eyes. It’s a rare opportunity; previously, we didn’t have anything like this. It’s from an official’s household. If you’re interested, shall I inquire further?"

Jiang Yazi had already noticed Gu Chengyu’s interest; if he could sell one of the manors, the silver he would earn wouldn’t be negligible.

Gu Chengyu roughly calculated the silver he had, finding that purchasing two of the manors was feasible, as the small two-hundred-acre manor was only about two thousand silver coins, not expensive. But buying both and then a residence would make things tight financially.

However, Juxiang Building in the Capital had already opened, and the business should be good, likely earning more silver than the one in the Prefecture. In a month or so, his finances should ease up.

If timing became a concern, he could ask Yin Kun to advance some funds and repay him in one to two months. Moreover, there’s plenty of gold and silver in the space that could be utilized.

Gu Chengyu decided and intended to purchase them all, "For the three manors, I’ll let the steward inspect them, and if they are suitable, I’ll buy them all. You tell me the price; I need to see if it’s worthwhile."

Jiang Yazi’s face practically beamed; this was truly a patron with silver! Purchasing such expensive manors without hesitation.

"The large one costs thirteen thousand silver, the smaller one nine thousand, and the two hundred-acre one two thousand one hundred coins. As for the estate, it’s just eighteen hundred silver. Send someone to check it in the afternoon, guaranteed satisfaction."

Jiang Yazi considered, relative to the manors, the estate being small business for Gu Chengyu.

He planned to do some bargaining with the manors, thinking he could fetch additional silver from the estates, but later realized he was wrong, as these were small sums compared to what Gu Chengyu casually gave him.

"I’m genuinely sincere in dealing with you, but your pricing for those two manors is quite outrageous? I won’t accept such prices. Quote me your lowest price, as those households must have provided you with the baseline. Of course, if you’re unwilling, I can seek elsewhere; there are more brokers than just one brokerage."

This brokerage was sizable, with numerous brokers present, and several onlookers beside them.

Gu Chengyu didn’t care for camaraderie, especially as he had none with Jiang Yazi.

"Oh! Please don’t! I see you are straightforward, so I’ll offer another number, which is the lowest. If you don’t buy, I can only blame myself for not doing business with you. The large manor’s minimum is twelve thousand five hundred silver, the smaller manor eight thousand four hundred, and the smallest is two thousand. These are the lowest prices. If it weren’t for the urgency in selling from the household, they certainly wouldn’t offer such low prices."

Gu Chengyu grinned slightly; knowing they were eager to sell, not bargaining would disappoint his pocket, right? But he also knew manors like these could be bought by aristocratic families, and losing them to others would cause regret.

He pulled Jiang Yazi to the corner, lowering his voice: "Here’s the deal! You bargain for me, using any method needed, as long as you lower it five hundred silver, I’ll give you a hundred; if a thousand, I’ll give you two hundred, and so on. How about it?" Gu Chengyu didn’t doubt he’d be tempted.

"What? Are you serious?" Jiang Yazi exclaimed, his voice sharp.

With reddened eyes, he looked at Gu Chengyu, his hand shook holding his booklet. When he saw Gu Chengyu nod, he was too excited to speak.

"Indeed! How much silver you earn depends on your own capability."

Jiang Yazi hadn’t expected such a windfall to land on him; he had managed this business through much effort and connections. Transactions like these were rare, where manors of such scale were sold.

If completed, this substantial transaction, he initially calculated he could gain seventy to eighty silver, a delight he savored privately, only to be surprised by a greater delight following.