Lin He followed along for a few days of study, but the material was something she had mastered in primary school, leaving her utterly bored. Mr. Xu noticed she was often lost in thought, yet when he tested her, she had grasped everything perfectly. He found this girl quite unique; she seemed inattentive but learned better than everyone else.

Lin He figured that by now, Boss Wen should have news regarding the shop preparations. Boss Wen had no other tasks for her except to devise a shop name and design the signboard.

In the preceding days, Lin He had conceived and rejected many names. Though the shop wouldn't be entirely hers, she was still a small proprietor, and this venture was vital for her family's livelihood; it demanded serious consideration.

Finally, Lin He recalled that many modern shop names, though occasionally lacking formal prosody, possessed a distinct flair that made them memorable. She decided to name the shop "He Cai Wa Wa" (Lotus Color Dolls). In ancient times, this would surely stand out and be easily remembered by children.

As for the signboard, ancient signs were typically made of wood with limited options. She decided the shop name on the sign should be painted in vibrant colors to catch the eye. Lin He also planned to feature a large image of Mickey Mouse's head on the sign—that would complete the look. It wouldn't be instantly forgotten like most ancient signs, nor would it be too jarring; it would be just right.

As she was contemplating this, Old Man Qin approached. "He Yatou, someone is outside asking for Young Master Lin and Miss Lin. They say they are clerks from the Caidie Xuan." Lin He asked Old Man Qin to invite them in, then called Da Bao over. The clerk from Caidie Xuan was the same waiter who had first served them when Lin He sold her cloth dolls. He was notably sharp and already familiar with Lin He and her group, likely why Boss Wen had sent him.

The clerk entered, bowed to Lin He and Da Bao, and then said, "The manager asked me to come over. He said things are nearly settled and requested you both come to town tomorrow."

Lin He agreed, promising to be there, and then asked Da Bao to escort the clerk out. Lin He quietly instructed Da Bao, as he gave the clerk the travel money, that they would need this clerk's help often when visiting town, and these courtesies must not be neglected. Da Bao nodded in understanding.

The next day, Da Bao asked the teacher for a day off. Early in the morning, he went with Lin He to Tianxin Town. Upon arrival, Lin He told Old Man Qin to take the ox cart back, saying she and Da Bao might return late that day.

At Caidie Xuan, Boss Wen was already waiting. He announced that the shop had been secured. The location was excellent, situated in a busy commercial area, and the space was quite large, with living quarters in the back and storage space for inventory. However, the rent was slightly steep: thirty taels of silver per month, and the lease required a binding ten-year contract. This meant the rent would have to be paid upfront—a total of three thousand six hundred taels.

Furthermore, there were monthly levies from the government, which were quite heavy at this time. Unless one had a scholar in the family and used the scholar’s name to obtain a permit—the equivalent of a modern business license—the taxes could only be halved. Add to that the cost of renovating the shop and hiring staff, and it seemed it would take a considerable time to recoup the initial investment.

Boss Wen wasn't truly agonizing over the money; he didn't obsess over such trifles. But he felt it necessary to inform Lin He of these details.

Da Bao, hearing this, was quite startled. Building a house back home had only cost about forty or fifty taels. Now, renting a shop required thirty taels monthly, and the mandatory ten-year commitment made him hesitate. He looked at Lin He. She understood his meaning, but she felt the price was reasonable.

After all, a property in town simply couldn't compare to their rural dwelling. She suspected that if the contract weren't for a full decade, securing it at this price might have been impossible. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Boss Wen is a serious businessman; if he finds it suitable, we have no objections."

Boss Wen said no more and simply led Lin He and Da Bao to inspect the new premises. The shop had previously sold cloth and the interior decoration was decent. The storefront was expansive enough for selling toys and cloth dolls. Lin He walked further inside and was somewhat stunned by the size.

She had expected just a few small rooms attached. But behind the storefront was an entirely different prospect. In contrast to the simplicity of the front, the rear was built rather luxuriously. It featured a small courtyard house layout, facing south. There were three main rooms facing the front, two rooms on the east wing, two rooms on the west wing, and three rooms in the rear structure (facing south). Lin He had seen small courtyard houses during her historical background tours in modern times and had immediately grown fond of them.

This courtyard was far more spacious than the dilapidated ones in Beijing. It had a small central yard containing a well. The previous owners had placed a stone table and benches, and several willow trees were planted. Since it was winter, their leaves had fallen.

She imagined that in spring, when the willows sprouted long branches, relaxing in the courtyard during summer would be extremely comfortable. The courtyard was paved with blue bricks, complemented by the dark, earthy tone of the doors and windows. Lin He fell in love with the shop the moment she saw it.

Moreover, Lin He observed that the courtyard was highly practical. With so many rooms, there would be ample space for living quarters or storage. Thinking this, Lin He couldn't help but admire Boss Wen's vision; it was truly excellent.

Lin He said, "Boss Wen, your eye for selection is excellent. Finding such a beautiful and practical shop is wonderful. Let's secure this one." She then clearly explained her intention to offset these expenses using future profits.

Boss Wen was a businessman, and before closing any deal, a businessman first considers his own interests. He had already factored this into his considerations before proposing the venture. Originally, he planned to split the profits with Lin He fifty-fifty, but because Lin He hadn't demanded reimbursement for these initial costs, he admired her honesty even more when she brought it up.

Now that Lin He proposed covering the costs, Boss Wen held her in even higher regard. He hadn't expected such boldness from a small girl from the countryside, nor such meticulous planning. He considered her an excellent partner.

Thinking that refusing now might cause the young girl to lose face, he smiled and said, "Miss Lin, since you put it that way, so be it."

Lin He nodded and told Boss Wen, "Boss Wen, how about you call me He'er from now on? Calling me Miss Lin sounds too formal."

Boss Wen laughed heartily. This girl was truly amusing. "Alright, I shall call you He'er. Then He'er can call me Uncle Wen."

Lin He smiled and nodded in agreement.