Famine 185: The Landlord

Meanwhile, while Boss Qian was run off his feet, Si Zhiyan was leisurely picking out curtain colors.

Should it be gray, or brown? Si Zhiyan pondered over the fabric swatches.

Their bodies might be stuck in the illusion, but thanks to the Holy Grail’s existence, they could communicate with the outside and coordinate logistics at any time.

Small rooms have their own charm.

Si Zhiyan had a new, energy-saving farm air conditioner installed, replacing the old, yellowed, decrepit unit. He swapped in lattice wood windows and had the four white walls freshly painted, creating a vintage Shanghai-style look.

He put up a few attractive retro record posters on the wall and laid wooden flooring throughout. The living room got a gray rug, an aged wood table, and two vintage leather-and-wood rocking chairs.

Behind it stood an industrial-style arched lamp and a windowsill full of lush green plants.

A simple arrangement, and the place was completely transformed.

After living so long in the farm’s lakeside villa with its panoramic windows, spending some time in such a small, charming room was its own special delight.

Bian Xu was busy tending the plants under the sunlight, watering and fussing over the leaves, murmuring as he spoke to his green charges.

In the end, Si Zhiyan settled on a warm brown. Once he made his choice, he gave the pen a flick, and the curtains went up at once.
Then he settled back into the rocking chair, stretched out comfortably, and with a wave of his hand conjured a new display screen.

So as not to tempt human nature, before renting out the spaces, Si Zhiyan had purchased a tool from the system shop:

[D-Rank—Honest and Upright Electronic Accountant]
Brought to you by Peter Pan Toy Company, the very latest and most convenient portable accounting system!

You can assign it to any company you control to record all transactions by category and perform monthly statements and tax filings. All account books are instantly synced to the system.
Every figure is completely accurate; all accounts reflect the true state of your company’s affairs—every expenditure and income.

However, this product comes with a major flaw: whether it’s a tax audit or a bank investigation, the accountant will always answer truthfully; and no prison will take the blame for you.

As a result, no real boss is willing to buy it, so it’s sold only as a children’s toy.

Please call our hotline to order: XXXX-XXXXXX

…

Si Zhiyan placed one in each of the rooms he’d rented out, and now, squinting happily, watched as the revenue numbers ticked steadily upward.

Business was brisk; Old Qian was surely busy now. It seemed that with so much work, even Gu Ying had gone to help. Everyone’s eyes glowed with faith in the future; the place was bursting with energy.

Si Zhiyan didn’t have to do a thing—just rent out the rooms and, lying in his own, watch the money flow in without a care in the world.

And this was with only a single shop. As he leased out more spaces in the future, the cash would keep coming.

So carefree—was this the life of a proper landlord?

Noon sunlight streamed in, casting shadows of the wood-lattice window across Si Zhiyan’s desk.

…On the desktop stood four or five enormous, tiered wooden dessert boxes, filled with an eye-catching abundance of over a hundred sweets.

Tiramisu, molten chocolate cakes, mango sticky rice, matcha red bean mille-feuille, Mont Blanc chestnut cakes, honey toast, almond tofu, opera cakes, milk pudding and soy boxes…

Packed tight—there was barely room for more.

Bian Xu, having finished with the plants, put down the watering can, turned, and let out a wail: “Another whole tableful?!”

“Mm.” Si Zhiyan picked up a slice of Mont Blanc chestnut cake, lowered his head with ceremony, and offered it to Bian Xu.

Bian Xu received it gingerly, every bit of energy seeming to drain from him and even from his plant vines; he flopped bonelessly into a rocking chair, completely losing color.

“I really can’t eat another bite…”

Even as he protested, he scooped a spoonful of chestnut cream into his mouth.

“…Wait, it’s good.”
He sat up again.

Si Zhiyan took a slow sip of coffee, tilting his head to watch Bian Xu’s dessert parade, and patted the golden head.

Ah, a large dog really was a professional at cleaning up leftovers.

“What else can we do? Our rental space was carved out of the tiramisu jar, after all.”
“Actually, not just the tower—Zisi and the others’ living spaces are from jars, too…”

The friends in Tianman Paradise had lived through such hardship; they hated to waste a crumb. The desserts were all individually packed and kept fresh by celestial energy, then sent to Si Zhiyan.

That really was… no, several world’s-worth of desserts.

Bian Xu, tears streaming, swallowed another bite: “…Please, mercy.”
How could he possibly eat so much pastry?

Si Zhiyan patted his head comfortingly.

He was getting rather good at this.

Truth was, there wasn’t much time; after a full day working with Gu Ying, hurrying every step, they’d only managed to fit out fifteen rooms in the farm apartment, for now available to rent.

He was still working out the numbers.

These spaces were small, and current businesses were all adapted to such; most were egg crepe or jianbing shops, that didn’t really want to expand.

Just now at lunch, only a handful put up the rent and moved in immediately. At the same time, having solved their biggest issue, he received their [Recognition], tallying up to four.

That made for thirty-two thousand saved up—enough to balance the books and relieve a pressing emergency.

Si Zhiyan had already calculated: this floor still had ten shops that needed dine-in space.

Let them observe the donkey sandwich shop’s success today, and he’d do the rounds tonight—those ten shops were all but guaranteed to follow. Two left to deal with the next day or so.

He did need the cash. He also had additional long-term plans that required plenty of currency here.
After all, he was here looking for broader resonance and more recognition.

To have the black hole crystal reach [Harmony], and to generate the [Seed of Famine (Embryonic Version)], he’d need no less than 500 recognitions.

Si Zhiyan hadn’t forgotten that, and there was still much left to investigate.

Knock, knock!

Just then—

Si Zhiyan opened up and saw…

A vast crowd, as far as the eye could see.

There were so many people they jammed the narrow corridor like sardines—when the door opened, the mass surged forward with the force of an explosion. Pushed and pulling each other, they flooded into the room at once, packing it to the brim and hemming Si Zhiyan tightly in, all shouting at once:

“Sir, that farm apartment—do you have any more rooms to rent?”
“That wonderful place—are there any left?”
“I want to rent, sir!”
“Me too, just like the donkey sandwich shop—”

“I’ll pay extra, sir—if they’re paying three thousand, I’ll pay six!”
“I’ll go eight!”

Further back, a middle-aged man in a suit, unable to get through, sweated and bounced on his tiptoes, shouting over the crowd, “Fixed rent isn’t the point! I asked around—the rent here is revenue-based! The fixed rent’s nothing, the real money’s in the commission!”

“Sir, look at me, my business does over a hundred thousand a month! My books are all in order—the accountant has them right here for your review!”

…

The onslaught left Si Zhiyan dizzy and dazed.

Wait, wait—what was going on?!

This floor was divided into units; were there really this many shops here?
Could these have come from other units? But it had only been a single afternoon—how had word spread so fast? That didn’t seem possible.

Bian Xu squeezed forward, shielding Si Zhiyan behind him, fending off the bosses one by one: “Who let you in here! Hey, you there, don’t bounce—your shiny bald head is blinding me!”

A burst of laughter broke out; at once, they all fell back, turning to stare.

The balding, suit-clad boss at the back, far from embarrassed, took advantage of the moment to sidle forward, hands wringing in supplication: “A hundred thousand a month, sir—at the very least in the off-season! There’s no ceiling!”

“Xiao He, bring the account books!”

…

He Ming stood at the door, blank-faced, cradling the ledger, eyeing her boss’s sycophantic antics with a roll of her eyes.
Where was all that temper from the lunch meeting?

Finally, Si Zhiyan sorted out what was happening.

Among these people were not just restaurateurs from this floor, but a whole crowd… upstairs, there were business owners who had rented workspaces.

They all wanted bigger spaces too!!

The advertising company boss, clutching his latest financials in both hands, nearly wept as he handed them over.

At a glance, he could see this landlord cared more about commission than a flat rent—but so what?

Ugh, he’d had gastritis for years, stuck in that cramped space, choking on the smells of his employees’ lunches. He hated it, too.

If he wasn’t desperate, what small studio would want to rent in a place like this? The staff felt cramped and uncomfortable, so did he.

The rent was so expensive! Starting a business was so hard! With no connections, he’d sweated through a thousand humiliations in desperate bids for investment and clients. The damage to his health was the least of it.

Lately, business was doing well—he needed to hire, but the cramped space couldn’t hold any more. It was a pressing problem.

Now, with a chance to expand at such a low cost, he was thrilled—this was a golden opportunity!

In his heart, the boss clenched his fists.

And besides… hey…
Once he got the deal, their “monthly revenue” would be whatever their own accountants said it was, right?

These two young men clearly didn’t know how to read accounts.

Si Zhiyan, of course, saw right through him, glancing sidelong with a hint of a smile.

Heh.

He really couldn’t read a ledger. With a lazy flip through the papers, he closed the books and handed them back to the young accountant.

“That works.” Si Zhiyan’s eyes curved amiably. “There are still rooms to rent. Come, I’ll show you around?”

The bald boss grinned ear to ear. “Yes, please!”

…

So, that afternoon, Si Zhiyan opened up another fifteen shops, and by just after lunch they’d all been snapped up by eager tenants.

Those who got a space walked away grinning from ear to ear, especially the balding boss, who looked downright giddy with happiness.
Naive kids are so easy to cheat. Because he came early and claimed big revenue, the place was his.
If something didn’t match the promised numbers later… well, business is never a sure thing. “Had a tough season… sudden expenses… lost an old customer…” Any excuse would do.

Si Zhiyan and Bian Xu watched them leave, exchanging a faint smile.

Let’s see how you’re doing in a few days.

As for those who didn’t get a lease—their disappointment was palpable. Clusters of them lingered at the door, making repeated offers to pay more, until Si Zhiyan stepped out and promised further spaces would open at this time tomorrow. Only then did they leave, uplifted.

Closing the door, Si Zhiyan shook his head and leisurely counted his money.

Anyone who thinks others are fools is the real fool.

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, the door was knocked again.

Bian Xu rose to answer it, finding Gu Ying at the threshold, and quickly welcomed her in.

She was a real contributor. Si Zhiyan sat up straight and poured her a cup of coffee, asking gently, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Ying had just finished helping out at Old Qian’s and only left once the rush was through, still sporting a bead of sweat on her brow as she hurried over.

She sat in a chair, lips pressed tight, hands laced together, hesitating for a long moment before finally making up her mind. She gave a small bow and said in a soft voice:

“Um, Mr. Si… may I… get an advance on this month’s salary?”