Qingfu Town has been established for a long time, and being close to Jiangnan, it is wealthier than the northwest of Central State. Any rich family with some capabilities would send their servants around to scour for shops, and as soon as one is available, it would be quickly snapped up.
"Qingfu Town has only three streets: Front Street, Back Street, and Main Street, and all the shops on these streets already have owners. Particularly, the shops on Main Street have long been occupied by the wealthy families from the county."
Even for the less impressive Front Street and Back Street, their shops are also bought by families of village chiefs, clerks, and government officials.
The remaining shops belong to families who have lived in the town for nearly a hundred years. These are ancestral properties, with front shops and backyards—fundamental to their livelihood and not for sale.
