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墨書 Inktalez
Ye Xiaohan listened quietly to the story behind the Dye House.
It turned out that this Dye House had been in operation for over a decade.
At that time, the Shopkeeper acquired the land and pondered what kind of business to start.
The shop was located in a prime area, right in the bustling center of the city. After much thought, the Shopkeeper decided to open a Dye House there.
Back then, there weren't many Dye Houses, and nearly all of them were doing well. Moreover, his shop's location in the city center meant it attracted even more customers, to the point where the Shopkeeper himself was surprised by the booming business.
"Other Dye Houses were envious of me; my shop had the best location."
The Dye Shop Owner reminisced about those days, a hint of nostalgia on his face.
"The capital has always been a prosperous city, filled with wealthy people. Anyone you meet is likely to be rich. Those wealthy folks spend money like water; if they like something, they don't even ask about the price."
Vibrant Silk was highly sought after for making garments, especially among the Nobility. The materials were indeed top-notch and comfortable to wear. More importantly, only those of status were allowed to wear such fabrics; commoners were not permitted.
Thus, these items became symbols of status and a means for them to flaunt their wealth. As long as the quality was good, they didn't care about the cost; they would toss money around without hesitation.
In such circumstances, his business thrived. Because of his shop's location, Nobility passing through the city would notice it and sometimes remember it.
This little bit of recognition led more people to learn about his Dye House. At its peak, almost every Silk establishment in the capital collaborated with him.
Every bolt of fabric he dyed brought him substantial profits, and within a few years, he had amassed a considerable fortune.
"Later on, business became harder," the Dye Shop Owner said. "More Dye Houses opened up, which scattered the customers. Plus, my Dye House had been around for a long time; over time, it developed a strong odor that not only affected my shop but also permeated nearby establishments."
The scent of the past lingered, an odor that could not be washed away. The Dye Shop Owner had invested considerable manpower and resources, striving for cleanliness more than any other Dye House, yet to no avail.
"More and more shops around me have come to complain and argue. I have no choice but to hide, afraid to face them. The Dye House is open one moment and closed the next; I can't even get any business."
The street-side fabric dyers, with techniques inferior to his Dye House, were faring far better than his current operation.
The skills he once took pride in had now become a shackle.
"Ye Boss, I know deep down that this shop cannot continue. There’s no profit to speak of; to be honest, I've barely managed to hold on these past few years. This year has been particularly bad; I've lost my capital and have been pouring money into it."
The Dye Shop Owner surveyed his Dye House, his face etched with despair.
Upon hearing his plight, Ye Xiaohan finally understood why the smell was not overwhelming when she purchased the shop. It seemed that the strict Boss had gone to great lengths to deceive her, even timing her visit during the Dye House's closure.
Ye Xiaohan felt a flicker of curiosity towards the Dye Shop Owner. Logically, a Dye House located in such a bustling area, attracting so many complaints yet managing to stay afloat without collapsing, indicated some level of capability.
Out of politeness, Ye Xiaohan refrained from asking questions; instead, it was the Dye Shop Owner who brought up his troubles. He likely had no one else to confide in and seized the opportunity to pour out years of grievances.
"Although my Dye House has struggled in business, I had my sworn sister, Princess Chang Murong Huan, backing me up all these years."
He shook his head. "But that's no longer the case. I can see it clearly; Princess Chang's influence has waned. Now those Yard Officers dare come knocking at my door, warning me to pack up and close down. It's because the Government Office no longer fears Princess Chang!"
It was during a chance encounter that he had saved the beleaguered Murong Huan. In gratitude, she had sworn him as her elder brother and supported his Dye House over the years. Without her backing, he would have long since failed.
Yet he knew that Murong Huan could only protect him for so long. He feared that soon enough, whether Ye Xiaohan came or not, he would be left with no choice but to shut down for good.
Ye Xiaohan couldn't help but sigh inwardly; the capital was indeed filled with powerful nobles. The fall of her previous sign had crushed seven or eight influential figures, and it seemed she had still underestimated the situation.
A mere Dye House owner was connected to the princess; who knew how many hidden figures existed on this street?
However, it appeared that this Dye House Owner was a decent person. Collaborating with someone like him increased her chances of success by another ten percent.
Ye Xiaohan smiled and said, "So there’s such a complicated story behind this. Shopkeeper, you’ve really worked hard."
"Indeed, for this Dye House, I've invested almost everything I have. Now, asking me to just pack up and leave is truly painful," the Dye House Owner replied, his heart heavy with sorrow. He felt incapable of preserving the foundation he had built over the years; it was his own incompetence.
Seeing his reluctance and unwillingness to give up reassured Ye Xiaohan. It was precisely this determination that would ensure things proceeded smoothly. If he were to casually sell or close down the Dye House, her plans would suffer greatly.
"Shopkeeper, what are your plans moving forward?" Ye Xiaohan asked. "You’ve recognized reality; even if you persist, how much longer can you hold on like this?"
The Dye House Owner forced a bitter smile. "Boss Ye, I understand your intentions. I can no longer manage this Dye House. I plan to take my family back to our hometown to farm. I need to sell the Dye House."
The location was good; if he didn’t run the Dye House, he could easily start another business that would do quite well. Many had approached him in the past wanting to buy the land, but he had turned them all down.
He operated this Dye House not just for profit but also for his career and life’s aspirations. For that reason, he had endured years of not making money and even suffering losses rather than changing paths.
Ye Xiaohan smiled again. "Selling it like this could fetch a good sum of silver, but don’t you feel any regret in your heart, Shopkeeper?"
It was a question she already knew the answer to; if he felt no regret, he would have left this place long ago instead of putting himself in such a difficult position.
The Dye House Owner said, "Boss Ye, please don't make fun of me. Sigh, how could I not feel regret? Every time I think about how this place will no longer be my Dye House but will turn into another shop, it pains my heart!"
He paused for a moment and continued, "Boss Ye, I see you're a good person. Thank you for listening to my ramblings today. How about this: if you buy my Dye House, I won't ask for much more than the market price; I'll give you a lower rate. What do you think?"
Now, this Dye House was no longer a treasure trove but rather a hot potato—he couldn't keep it nor could he let it go. Throwing it away felt wrong, yet holding onto it was painful.
He decided to be resolute; sometimes it's better to end the pain quickly. Selling the Dye House would mean he wouldn't have to see it anymore.
The Dye House Owner's reaction was within Ye Xiaohan's expectations. However, buying the Dye House was not an option for her.
This Dye House had once been renowned in the capital, capable of taking on multiple orders from various silk shops at once, and its scale was considerable. It covered nearly four hundred square meters, and to purchase it at market price would require at least five thousand taels of silver.
Ye Xiaohan's entire savings amounted to only seven hundred taels, all of which had already been spent on another shop. Now her family was living frugally; she felt pained even at the thought of five taels, let alone five thousand. Even if she sold herself and her six siblings, they wouldn't be able to scrape together even a fraction of that amount.
Even if the Dye House Owner was willing to give her a discount, it wouldn't matter. She currently couldn't even afford that little bit of a discount.
However, not being able to buy the Dye House didn't mean she had no other options.
Ye Xiaohan said, "Shopkeeper, since you're being so sincere, I'll be honest with you: I can't afford to buy your Dye House. It's not just me; the area is too large for anyone who isn't wealthy enough—it’s simply out of reach."
"I just don't want to sell it to those people," the Dye House Owner replied. "Boss Ye, you're a good person, and I feel we have a connection, which is why I'm willing to sell it to you at a lower price. If it were someone else, I wouldn't sell cheap; I'd raise the price out of spite!"
Hearing his candid tone made Ye Xiaohan feel that he could be a potential partner: "Thank you for your kindness, Shopkeeper. Although I can't afford this Dye House, I have a good idea that can help you keep it open without closing down."
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