Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

When Qin Ran arrived at Ren'an Pharmacy, Liu Ming and Zhao Lin were already busy packing.

"Why are you starting to pack already? Have you found a new place?"

Zhao Lin gave a bitter smile. "We closed at midnight last night. Where could we find a new place so quickly? But we have to move out in two days, and with all these things to pack, it'll take us at least two days."

Just then, an elderly woman came in to buy medicine and overheard Zhao Lin's words.

"You're moving out? Your business seems fine. Why leave?"

"Because the landlord wants to raise the rent by fifty percent," Zhao Lin said helplessly. "The current rent is 30,000 yuan. With a fifty-percent increase, that would be 45,000 yuan per month. How can we afford that?"

This year, the occupancy rate in the neighborhood had increased, and a new subway line opened earlier in the year, with a station just 300 meters away. The foot traffic in the area surged in just a few months.

As a result, most shops on this street saw rent increases. Zhao Lin and her colleagues had heard about it too, but other landlords only raised rents by three to five percent, with the highest being ten percent. Only their landlord demanded a fifty-percent hike—clearly trying to drive them out.

"A fifty-percent increase? That's outrageous! Your landlord really has no conscience…"

Before the elderly woman could finish complaining, Cheng Yang's mother walked in, her voice cold and cutting.

"It's my shop. I can set whatever rent I want. What's it to you?"

The elderly woman, intimidated by Cheng Yang's mother's stern expression, didn't dare buy her medicine. She quickly turned and left, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

"Ms. Zhang," Zhao Lin hurried forward, trying to placate her. "It's the 30th in two days. Could you give us one more month? We…"

"No way. Not even one extra day, let alone a month. You're dreaming," Ms. Zhang snapped impatiently, pointing at them. "You'd better start packing now, because you have to be out by the day after tomorrow. Even if you offered double the rent, I wouldn't rent to you. Get out!"

Qin Ran had anticipated this outcome. After all, she had beaten up Cheng Yang, and the Cheng family wouldn't continue renting to them for the sake of their reputation.

"If you don't want to rent to us, fine. We don't want to pay fifty percent more either," Qin Ran said, holding last year's contract. "But please follow the terms of the contract. It's legally binding."

Ms. Zhang, visibly irritated, snatched the contract from Qin Ran's hand.

"Who's not following the contract? Who doesn't understand the law? The contract expires the day after tomorrow, and I'm telling you to move out by then. I'm not asking you to leave right now!"

"In that case, please read the contract carefully before making such claims," Qin Ran said, flipping through the pages and pointing to the relevant section. "It clearly states that under equal conditions, the original tenant has the right of first refusal after the contract expires. Additionally, notice of renewal or termination must be given one month in advance."

Qin Ran paused, looking directly at Ms. Zhang. "If you don't want to rent to us, you should have given us one month's notice, just as we notified you a month ago that we intended to renew."

Last month, when Zhao Lin paid the rent to Ms. Zhang, she mentioned they wanted to renew the lease and asked her to prepare a new contract for the coming year. At the time, Ms. Zhang told Zhao Lin the new contract would include a rent increase of three to five percent, which Zhao Lin agreed to. The sudden fifty-percent increase was entirely due to Qin Ran rejecting Cheng Yang.

The Cheng family, accustomed to having their way, couldn't handle someone defying their demands.

Enraged by Qin Ran's questioning, Ms. Zhang exploded.

"So what if I didn't give you one month's notice? Sue me if you dare!"

"I'm telling you, the lease expires the day after tomorrow, and you need to get out. This is my shop, and I'd sooner leave it vacant than let you stay. If you have a problem with that, buy your own shop. No one will kick you out of your own property!"

Qin Ran wanted to say more, but Zhao Lin pulled her back, signaling her not to argue further. Ms. Zhang was right; it was her shop, and if she didn't want to rent it to them, there was nothing they could do. Even if she wasn't following the contract, they didn't have the time or energy to take her to court. Moreover, the court would likely mediate, and Ms. Zhang would probably just offer a perfunctory apology without any real compensation.

Seeing that Qin Ran and the others were silent, Ms. Zhang felt triumphant and continued in a mocking tone.

"Little Zhao, it's not personal. Some people think they're better than everyone else, don't know their place, and keep criticizing others…"

Qin Ran was furious. "So what if I don't like your son? Are you trying to force me into marrying him?"

"Force you to marry him?" Ms. Zhang sneered. "Qin Ran, I'm not belittling you, but look at yourself. It's a miracle you managed to get married at all. Do you really think you'll find another family like ours, or a man as excellent as my son? Never in this lifetime."

"I'm already married! And someone like your son? I wouldn't look twice at him!" Qin Ran shot back.

"Married?" Ms. Zhang's voice rose two octaves in mockery. "Let's see him, then. Words mean nothing. For all I care, you could claim your husband is the President of the United States. Big talk doesn't cost anything."

Qin Ran: "…." She couldn't exactly bring Lu Sheng out to prove her point.

Seeing that Qin Ran finally fell silent, Ms. Zhang strutted out of the pharmacy like a victorious hen, her eyes filled with disdain for Qin Ran and her companions.

These poor people needed to be put in their place. Did they really think a bit of education and skill made them special?

Little did she know, this was a world ruled by money—and the poor would always be at the mercy of the rich.

Qin Ran was so angry she wanted to hit someone again. But she knew that even if she beat up Ms. Zhang today, it wouldn't change anything. The pharmacy belonged to the Cheng family, and if they wanted her out, she had no choice but to leave.

"I'll start looking for a new place," Liu Ming said, pulling out his phone to browse local listings. "If we can't find anything suitable, we'll have to move the medicine back home or contact nearby pharmacies to sell it to them at a discount."

Medicine had expiration dates, and once moved back, it might expire before they could sell it, leaving them no choice but to throw it away.

"That's all we can do. Let's spend today looking for a new place. If we can't find one, we'll start discounting the medicine tomorrow. We'll sell as much as we can today."

Neither Zhao Lin nor Liu Ming complained, but Qin Ran blamed herself. The trouble had started because of her, and she couldn't just give up. Since renewing the lease wasn't an option, she had to help Zhao Lin and Liu Ming find a suitable new place.