If You Don't Want to Rent, Then Don't Rent

"That's right! The rent is so high, we can't even keep our businesses running!"

"I've got elders above and children below—how am I supposed to survive like this?"

The tenants were full of complaints, grumbling one after another.

Seeing that he had plenty of support, Mason Zhang decided the timing was right and pressed Lily Evans: "Miss Lily, you heard them all. I'm not the only one saying the rent is too high—everyone thinks so."

Lily Evans smiled. Wasn't this bunch just trying to gang up on her because she was young, hoping to pressure her into lowering the rent?

Too bad for them—Lily had no intention of lowering the rent. In fact, once Phoenix Academy was built in half a year, her rent would only go up.

By then, the annual rent would be five hundred taels, and people would be fighting over the best shops.

"As far as I know, the rent at Tenmile Hill has been the same for seven or eight years. You’re all long-time tenants—why didn’t you complain before? Now that I’ve taken over, you suddenly find it expensive. Is it because I look young and easy to bully? Only a fool wouldn’t take advantage, huh?" Lily gave Mason Zhang a pointed look, calling them out.

Mason Zhang hadn’t expected this young lady to be so sharp. His face flushed as he retorted, "Miss Lily, you’re just a woman—you don’t understand business. There used to be plenty of customers here, but now everyone shops in Greenfield City. Our businesses really are struggling."

"There are fewer customers here, so the rent is lower. Greenfield City has more people, so the rent there is at least five times higher. Every place has its price—that much, even a woman like me understands. You’ve been in business for years; surely you get it too. My shop is twenty taels, and I’m not lowering the rent." Lily smiled, firm and unwavering.

Seeing Lily Evans stand her ground, Mason Zhang dropped the pretense and said bluntly, "Miss Lily, let me be straight with you—we’ve all talked it over. Twenty taels a year is too much. Ten taels sounds about right."

"Ten taels? Not a chance." Lily Evans laughed. Did they really think she was that easy to push around?

Mason Zhang’s face turned even uglier. He slammed the table and threatened Lily: "If you don’t lower the rent, we’ll all stop renting! Hmph, imagine all those empty shops—how much rent will you lose? Besides, only us old merchants are willing to rent in Tenmile Hill. If we leave, who’ll come? Your shops will sit empty, gathering dust!"

Lily Evans raised an eyebrow. "So what you’re saying is, if I don’t lower the rent, none of you will renew your leases?"

"That’s right. No lower rent, no renewal!" Mason Zhang declared.

"We’ve all agreed—if you don’t cut the price, we’ll boycott you. No one will rent your shops!"

"Ten taels a year—not a copper more!"

"Exactly! This place is in the middle of nowhere, and these run-down shops—she’s treating them like treasure. Does she really think they’re worth that much?"

The tenants all started arguing at once, piling on the pressure against Lily Evans.

Feeling triumphant, Mason Zhang shot the others a look: surely the new landlady would cave and lower the rent under all this pressure!

Lily Evans didn’t get angry. She sipped her tea leisurely, waiting until the crowd had worn themselves out with shouting before finally speaking: "So, if I don’t lower the rent, you really won’t rent? Are you serious?"

"Of course we’re serious! You think we’re bluffing? Just wait till we’re all gone—you’ll be crying!" Mason Zhang blustered, though none of them really wanted to leave. Their businesses were established here; starting over somewhere else would be tough.

"You’ve all made up your minds?" Lily stood up, her gaze slowly sweeping over each tenant. "Think carefully before you decide."

The tenants felt a wave of pressure under Lily’s gaze, but they were convinced she was young and easy to bully. They all shouted, "We’ve thought it over! If you don’t lower the price, we won’t rent! Your rundown shops are worth ten taels, tops!"

"Fine, don’t rent then. Anyone who wants to leave, I won’t stop you. Since you’re all long-time tenants, I’ll give you seven days to move out." Lily sat back in her chair and looked at Mason Zhang. "How about you go first?"