In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lord Chu Yuan quietly got up.

On the kang (a heated brick bed), the husband, Yang Huai-ren, slept soundly due to his leg injury and days of exhaustion. His two daughters, Jing-wan and Jing-yi, were also curled up in the thin, old quilt, their little faces showing a rare hint of peace after a good meal.

Yang Guangming woke up the moment his mother got up. Having absorbed memories from several lifetimes, his alertness far surpassed that of ordinary people. He closed his eyes, watching his mother carefully bypass the family members, get off the kang (a heated brick bed), begin her busy work, and then fall into a deep sleep again.

Chu Yuanjun first carefully carried the half-pot of stewed fish left over from last night to the kitchen.

The fish soup had already formed a layer of white oil film on the cool autumn night, and the fish meat, soaked in the thick broth, still exuded an enticing aroma.

She poured the fish back into the large iron pot that the whole family shared, added some water, put the lid on, and then squatted in front of the stove, skillfully lighting the firewood.

The orange flames licked the bottom of the pot, making a soft crackling sound. Soon, the pot began to simmer and bubble, and the rich aroma of fish filled the air once again, dispelling the morning chill.

She looked at the leaping flames with a complicated expression.

Last night's hearty fish and meat meal was a satisfying experience that she and her family hadn't had in a long time, and the comforting warmth still seemed to linger in their stomachs.

But the thought that the fish would be gone today and the future was still uncertain quickly replaced that brief sense of satisfaction with the worries of reality.

We have so much fish and meat at home, we should have eaten it for a couple more days, but it's hot and it won't keep well, so we have to finish it today to avoid it spoiling and going to waste.

After the fish was cooked, she scooped it out into the largest ceramic pot in her house, and it was still a full pot.

She hesitated for a moment, then found two relatively intact earthenware bowls, filled each with more than half a bowl of fish, and deliberately ladled out extra broth. This was for the old man and woman's breakfast.

Even though the family has separated, each branch should take care of its own affairs, but filial piety should not be forgotten, and this small token of respect should still be fulfilled.

Next, she blanched the purslane and shepherd's purse that she had dug up and cleaned the previous afternoon in boiling water, squeezed out the water, sprinkled a little salt on them, and simply mixed them together to make a refreshing cold vegetable salad.

This is what their family of five ate for breakfast and lunch today.

She carried the fish and vegetable bowls back into her own house, then went back and forth twice more, bringing over the two bowls of fish she had left for her in-laws, and whispered:

"Dad, Mom, this is the leftover fish from last night. Heat it up and eat it while it's hot."

The old lady gave a mumbled response from inside the house, without saying anything more.

Back in their own house, Yang Huai-ren had already been woken up by the noise and was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Yang Guangming and his two younger sisters had also gotten up and washed up.

The family sat around the kang table, looking at the steaming stewed fish and cold wild vegetables in front of them. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than yesterday.

"Eat quickly." Chu Yuanjun distributed fish, meat, and wild vegetables to her husband and children.

Jingwan and Jingyi ate with great relish, their little faces beaming with satisfaction.

Yang Huai-ren looked at his wife and daughter, then at his still swollen and painful leg, his heart filled with mixed emotions. But at least the food in front of him was real, and the hope his son had brought yesterday was still there.

Yang Guangming quietly ate the fish in his bowl, savoring the rich flavor created by the lard and seasonings, while secretly planning his next move.

After the family split up, they only had one pot, which made cooking and eating inconvenient. He had to act quickly to rent a house so that his family could have a stable living environment.

After the meal, Lord Chu Yuan quietly cleaned up the dishes.

She heard other noises in the courtyard. The people from the second and third households were also getting up and starting to prepare their own breakfast in the kitchen.

Now that the family has separated, each household cooks its own meals. Although they still share a kitchen, the boundaries are clear, and they do not disturb each other.

She picked up the old bamboo basket from the corner and called to her two daughters.

Although Jingwan and Jingyi had eaten a hearty meal last night and their complexions were better, long-term malnutrition still made them look thin and weak. When they heard that they had to go dig for wild vegetables again, a hint of reluctance appeared on their little faces, but they still obediently walked to their mother's side.

Yang Guangming also stood up, picked up the fish basket and net leaning against the corner of the wall, and said to his parents, "Dad, Mom, I'm going to go to the river to take a look too."

Yang Huai-ren leaned against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and, upon hearing this, cautioned, "Be careful, don't go into the deep water. Yesterday was just luck; we can't expect to have such a big harvest every time."

After applying ointment to his leg overnight, the pain seemed to have lessened a bit, but the swelling was still obvious, and his face showed worry for his son.

“I know, Dad, don’t worry,” Yang Guangming replied.

Chu Yuanjun also looked at his son, his eyes filled with concern: "Come back early. If you're not as lucky as you were yesterday... don't force yourself."

"Mm." Yang Guangming nodded.

The family then split up to travel separately.

Chu Yuanjun took her two daughters out the door and bumped into her second and third aunts and their children in the yard, who were also preparing to go out to dig for wild vegetables.

The two simply nodded to each other and then parted ways, heading in different directions outside the city.

After the family split up, even digging for wild vegetables seemed to have an invisible barrier and competition.

Yang Guangming carried a fish basket and a net, and finally walked out of the yard.

However, after leaving the alley, he did not turn towards the river outside the city, but instead checked his direction and quickened his pace towards the inner city.

He has no intention of going fishing today. From now on, it will only be an excuse he uses to exchange goods.

The most urgent task is to find a suitable independent place to live as soon as possible.

Although the family has separated, the current residence is still cramped in one courtyard with only one pot, making cooking and eating extremely inconvenient. With so many people around, it is even more difficult for him to take out things from his spatial storage to supplement his household income.

He needs to rent a house as soon as possible to settle his family in and have a stable and relatively private place to live, so that he can improve his life more easily.

As a native of Beiping (Beijing), Yang Guangming, whose memories are intertwined with this area, is quite familiar with the southern part of the city. Now, amidst the chaos of war and turmoil, many houses are vacant, so finding a suitable place shouldn't be too difficult.

But he didn't want to wander around aimlessly like a headless fly, because that would be too inefficient, and he might not be able to find a house that suited him even after two or three days.

He didn't want to wait, and he couldn't afford to wait.

The best way to find a suitable house as quickly as possible is to find a broker who specializes in the rental business.

They have more information and a wider range of properties, offering more choices and significantly reducing the search time. Of course, this requires an additional agency fee, usually half of a month's rent.

This amount of money would be a significant extra expense for an ordinary family these days, requiring careful consideration. But for Yang Guangming, who had refrigerator space and could exchange silver dollars and gold coins daily, it was naturally no problem.

Instead of going to those well-known dental clinics, he turned into a quieter alley based on his memory, intending to find a private dentist with a good reputation.

This man's surname is Li. He lives in this area and is said to be a fairly honest person who is also efficient in his work.

After walking for about seven or eight minutes, he stopped in front of a slightly dilapidated, detached courtyard. The gate was ajar, and he raised his hand to knock.

"Who is it?" a slightly hoarse voice came from inside.

"Is Li Yaren home? I'd like to inquire about a house," Yang Guangming replied in a bright voice.

Soon, a middle-aged man, around forty years old and with a lean face, wearing a worn gray cloth long gown, came out.

He glanced at Yang Guangming and saw that although he was wearing ordinary student clothes that had faded a bit from washing, he was tall and had a calm look in his eyes, unlike the typical bewildered poor man. So he put on a professional and enthusiastic smile.

"That's me, young man. What's your name? Please come into the courtyard to talk." Li Yaren stepped aside to let Yang Guangming in.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was fairly clean. There were four main rooms facing north, and two side rooms on each side. A woman was sitting on a small stool in the courtyard mending clothes. When she saw a stranger enter, she looked up briefly, then lowered her head and continued her work.

Li Yaren didn't invite Yang Guangming into the house. Instead, he sat down on the stone bench under the jujube tree in the courtyard and asked directly, "Young man, what kind of house are you looking for? Is it for your own residence, or..."

"It's for my own use." Yang Guangming got straight to the point. "I want to rent somewhere else, at least three main rooms, preferably a detached house with its own courtyard, or a side courtyard within a traditional courtyard house. The location should ideally be closer to the inner city, and the surrounding environment should be relatively safe."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed across Li Yaren's eyes, which was quickly replaced by an even wider smile.

He had initially assumed that Yang Mingming, dressed simply, just wanted to rent a cheap room or two, but he hadn't expected his demands to be so high. Rooms meeting these criteria wouldn't be cheap; they would cost at least twenty or thirty silver dollars per month.

These days, the rental business is tough, and fewer and fewer people have the money to rent a place. If he can close this deal, it could be a considerable income.

“Young man, you have a good eye. These requirements… aren’t low.” Li Yaren rubbed his hands together, a hint of difficulty on his face. “These days, houses near the inner city in good surroundings are in high demand. I don’t have many listings, and the commission…”

He paused deliberately, observing Yang Guangming's reaction. He had originally planned to charge five silver dollars in commission for this deal, but now, judging from the situation, he should be able to ask for more.

Yang Guangming, of course, understood his thoughts perfectly. Before he could finish speaking, he interrupted him, saying:
"Mr. Li, as long as the house is suitable and I'm satisfied, the commission is negotiable. Name your price, and if it's reasonable, we can finalize it right now. I only have two requirements: quick, and the property must be good."

Li Yaren was secretly pleased. It seemed that although the young man was dressed plainly, he had some confidence.

He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said, "If it's just a business dealing with one or two rooms, charging three or five yuan is fine."

But young man, your request... is indeed difficult to find, and you'll have to run errands and ask around.

"If the deal goes through, you'll give me ten silver dollars, how about that?"

He quoted a price that was double what he had originally planned. Although the price was much lower than that of a regular dental clinic, he was still a little apprehensive.

He hadn't had any income for a while and desperately needed the money to improve his family's life. Worried about scaring away the young man, he offered a low price.

The brokerage firm typically charges a commission of half the monthly rent. Yang Guangming felt this price wasn't high, so he didn't hesitate and nodded.
"Sure, ten silver dollars. As long as the house meets my requirements, the commission will be paid immediately after the transaction, not a penny less."

Li the broker immediately perked up, and the smile on his face became much more genuine. In those days, a commission of ten silver dollars was enough for his entire family to live comfortably for a month.

"Great! You're a straightforward guy, young man!" Li Yaren slapped his thigh. "In that case, I, Old Li, will not hold back and will definitely bring out the best properties I have for you to choose from!"

After a moment's thought, he gave three recommendations in succession.

"This first one is in the inner city. It's the west wing of a large, well-organized three-courtyard house!"
There are four main rooms and two side rooms. The floors inside are all paved with bricks, making the rooms bright and spacious!

The courtyard is spacious. The surrounding area is inhabited by wealthy and influential people, and patrol officers walk back and forth several times a day, so security is guaranteed!

Li Yaren spoke with great enthusiasm, “It’s just that… the rent is a bit high. The landlord wants eighty silver dollars a month, and requires at least six months’ rent to be paid in full upfront.”

After listening, Yang Guangming felt a slight stirring in his heart.

The house is indeed in very good condition, and the environment is safe, which is exactly what he wanted.

Eighty silver dollars was expensive, but he could afford it. However, upon further reflection, he realized that the rent was far too exorbitant for his family's current financial situation.

Where did this teenager, who had just dropped out of school and made a living by fishing, get so much money? It's simply inexplicable.

He slowly shook his head, his tone calm: "The rent is too high, I can't afford it. And I don't have the means to pay for six months at once."

Li Yaren seemed to have expected this and was not disappointed. He immediately gave a second recommendation: "Then take a look at this one. It's in the south of the city, a detached house with four main rooms. Although it's a bit old, it can be renovated and is livable. The rent is cheap, thirty silver dollars a month."

He paused, then added, "It's just that... the surrounding residents are a bit mixed, all sorts of people, so the environment is a little messy. But if you don't mind, the price is quite fair."

Yang Guangming frowned slightly. The southern part of the city was already a melting pot of people; if it were an area with such diverse residents, his family's safety would be difficult to guarantee. He often needed to go out to "find work" and couldn't stay home all the time.

"The environment is too chaotic, and it's not safe with female relatives in the house," Yang Guangming reiterated, denying the claim.

A look of "I knew it" appeared on Li Yaren's face. He lowered his voice and gave his third recommendation:

"Young man, to be honest, I have a top-notch property available. It's near the inner city, a two-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), and the one for rent is the east wing of the second courtyard. It has three main rooms and two side rooms, fully furnished, even the pots and pans are practically ready to be used!"

He explained, "The previous tenant was from the south, and his family moved back to their hometown a while ago. The landlord left behind all the everyday items that they couldn't take with them, which made it convenient for the next tenant. They can move in right away and save a lot of money."

Yang Guangming became interested: "Oh? This house sounds nice. Where exactly is it located? How much is the rent?" "The location is good, just two streets away from the inner city, and the alleys are wide and clean. It's just..."

Li Yaren gave a wry smile. "The landlord has a special request: he doesn't want money, only grain. The exact amount will have to be discussed in person. These days, money changes every day; it's more reassuring to have grain in hand."

"Only accept grain?" Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat. This was exactly what he wanted! He had plenty of grain in his space; it could supply his whole family and still have a large surplus.

Paying rent with grain saved him the trouble of explaining the source of the money. He could use it as an excuse to exchange for grain, and it was more in line with the current barter system, making it less conspicuous.

“Paying with grain is no problem,” Yang Guangming immediately replied. “I’m quite interested in this house. Could you take me to see it in person?”

"Of course! The landlord should be home right now, shall we go now?" Seeing Yang Guangming's promptness, Li Yaren became even more eager and immediately got up.

After the two left the courtyard, Li Yaren closed the door and led Yang Guangming toward the direction closer to the inner city.

On the way, Li Yaren couldn't help but glance at Yang Guangming a few more times.

This young man was unusually composed. He didn't flinch when he heard the rent was eighty silver dollars, readily agreed to the commission of ten silver dollars, and now he didn't hesitate at all when he heard that the rent would be paid in grain. This demeanor was quite unlike what one would expect from someone dressed like him.

He muttered to himself, "Could he be some rich kid from a once-wealthy family that has fallen on hard times? Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse."
After walking for about twenty minutes, passing through several fairly tidy alleys, the two stopped in front of a two-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house) with blue bricks and gray tiles. The gate was a black lacquered wooden door, which looked quite old, but it was well-maintained, with shiny brass rings.

Li Yaren stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.

A short while later, the door creaked open from the inside, and a middle-aged man, nearly fifty years old, slightly overweight, wearing a clean blue cotton jacket, with his hair neatly combed, and black-rimmed glasses, leaned out.

"Hey, Li Yaren, what brings you here?" The middle-aged man pushed up his glasses, his gaze passing over Li Yaren and landing on Yang Guangming behind him.

“Mr. Shen, I’m sorry to bother you.” Li Yaren quickly cupped his hands and smiled. “This is Mr. Yang. He’s interested in your east wing. I brought him here to take a look at the house.”

The landlord, addressed as Mr. Shen, sized up Yang Guangming. Seeing that he was young and dressed plainly, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. However, out of respect for Li Yaren, he nodded and stepped aside, saying, "Please come in."

The three of them walked into the courtyard.

In front of the back house in the front yard, a burly, dark-skinned man was squatting on the ground tidying up some tools. When he saw the landlord bring his people in, he looked up and smiled憨厚ly, as if to say hello. The landlord nodded to him.

The courtyard was kept clean and tidy, paved with blue bricks. Although some small weeds had grown in the cracks between the bricks, it looked quite neat overall.

Passing through the hanging flower gate of the central courtyard, one enters a square courtyard with three tall main rooms facing north, flanked by side rooms, and three rooms each in the east and west wings. An old pomegranate tree stands in the courtyard, its branches and leaves lush, with several bright red pomegranates hanging from its branches.

Without lingering, the landlord, Mr. Shen, led the two directly across the courtyard to a moon gate on the east side.

"This is it, the east courtyard," Mr. Shen said, leading the two inside.

The courtyards form their own layout; they are not large, but they are also square.

The front of the courtyard has three main rooms facing south, and there are two side rooms on the east side. In the southwest corner of the courtyard, there is also a dry toilet built with blue bricks.

Mr. Shen took out his key and unlocked the door to the main room.

Yang Guangming strode inside.

The main house has a central hall with a bedroom on each side. The floor is paved with square tiles, and the walls are painted fairly clean. Inside the main hall is an eight-immortal table and four chairs; although the wood is ordinary, they are very clean.

Each of the two bedrooms had a heated earthen bed, the kang mats were new, and there were two old wardrobes. The window paper was also newly pasted, allowing light to pass through very well.

He then went to see the east wing. One room had been converted into a kitchen, complete with a stove, water tank, and even a set of slightly worn cookware. The other room was empty, containing a bed and a wardrobe.

A simple awning was erected on the south side of the side room, under which were neatly stacked firewood and some unused old furniture.

Although the entire courtyard wasn't particularly new or nice, it was clean, tidy, and practical, with basic furniture and amenities. Just as Li Yaren said, you could move in and live there immediately, saving a lot of trouble in terms of accommodation.

After carefully inspecting the place, inside and out, I was basically satisfied.

The house was in a location that met his requirements, close to the inner city and in a relatively stable environment; the layout was suitable, with three main rooms and two side rooms, enough for his family of five to live in, with some room to spare; and the facilities were complete, so they could move in immediately.

More importantly, the landlord's requirement to pay rent in grain saved him the biggest trouble.

“Mr. Shen, I’ve seen this house and I’m fairly satisfied.” Yang Guangming turned around and said to the landlord who had been silently following beside him, “Now, let’s talk about the rent.”

Seeing that Yang Guangming was composed and focused while looking at the house, Mr. Shen's doubts lessened somewhat.

He pushed up his glasses and his tone became serious: "Since Mr. Yang is satisfied, that's for the best. Li Yaren should have already told you my terms: I only accept grain, not money."

"Yes, I've heard about it." Yang Guangming nodded. "I wonder what kind of grain Mr. Shen wants, and how much he needs each month?"

Mr. Shen pondered for a moment and said, "Rice is a hard currency in the market these days. If Mr. Yang can pay with first-class rice, that would be best."

He paused, seemingly considering the amount, and hesitated for a moment before speaking: "This east wing, if calculated in silver dollars, would cost between fifty and sixty dollars per month."

But now food is expensive, especially top-quality rice. Although the official price is listed as two cents a pound, there's no market for it. The price on the black market is skyrocketing, and you have to take the risk to buy it..."

As he spoke, he observed Yang Guangming's expression. Seeing that the other party was listening calmly, he continued, "So, if you pay with first-class rice, I will only charge thirty catties per month."

Thirty catties of first-class rice? Yang Guangming quickly calculated in his mind.

According to the official price, thirty catties of rice cost only six silver dollars, but considering the black market price and the risk of purchasing it, the price would be more than ten times higher.

The landlord's asking price isn't outrageous, but it clearly leaves room for negotiation.

Yang Guangming shook his head, his tone calm but firm: "Mr. Shen, thirty catties is too much. First-class rice is rare. You know the current market price; even with money, you might not be able to buy it, let alone risk buying it from the black market."

If I pay with rice, assuming that part of the risk, the rent should be discounted. Fifteen kilograms per month—that's a price I can accept.

"Fifteen catties?" Mr. Shen frowned and waved his hands repeatedly. "Too little, too little! Mr. Yang, you're bargaining too hard. You've seen this house yourself—the location, the layout, the furniture—everything is top-notch! Fifteen catties of rice? Absolutely not!"

“Mr. Shen, in this day and age, there aren’t many people who can reliably provide first-class rice,” Yang Guangming said unhurriedly. “Since I dared to promise to pay with grain, I naturally have my own connections. But my connections didn’t come for free; they’re not cheap. Fifteen jin already shows my sincerity. If you insist on thirty jin, then I’ll have to go look at other houses.”

He made a move to leave.

"Hey, Mr. Yang, don't be in such a hurry!"

Seeing this, Li Yaren quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. He pulled Mr. Shen aside and whispered his advice:

“Mr. Shen, your house is just sitting empty anyway. It’s not easy to find a tenant like Mr. Yang who is willing to pay rent with scarce grain and seems quite confident!”
Thirty jin is a bit high. You know what the price of rice is on the black market these days; it's a case of high price but no supply. If you were really asked to buy it yourself, would you dare to go? How risky would that be?
Fifteen pounds is a bit low, how about... twenty pounds? Let's take a middle ground and compromise.

Mr. Shen's face showed a struggle.

He desperately needed food, but dared not risk going to the black market himself.

Yang Guangming didn't seem like someone who spoke carelessly; perhaps he really did have some connections. Leaving the house empty meant no income, so renting it to a tenant who could provide a stable source of food was the best option for him at the moment.

He sighed, walked back to Yang Guangming, and said helplessly, "Mr. Yang, what Li Yaren said makes sense. How about this, twenty catties of first-class rice per month, that's the bottom line. If you agree, we can draw up a contract right away."

Yang Guangming looked at Mr. Shen and knew that this was indeed his target price.

The space refreshes daily with five kilograms of Northeast rice and five kilograms of Southern rice, providing twenty kilograms of Northeast rice. For him, this is only four days' worth of savings, yet it can be exchanged for such a satisfactory place to live, making it a very worthwhile deal.

“Alright, since Mr. Shen is so agreeable, then twenty catties per month.” Yang Guangming nodded in agreement.

Mr. Shen and Li Ya both breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

“However,” Yang Guangming added, “we’re moving in tomorrow. Also, could we use the remaining days of this month as a rent-free period for moving and settling in?”

Mr. Shen was in a great mood and readily agreed: "Sure, today is the 26th, so consider these remaining days of the month as a bonus for Mr. Yang."

Rent will be calculated starting from the first of next month. Please give me 20 jin of rice for next month before the first of next month. After that, you must pay the rent for the following month before the end of each month.

“No problem.” Yang Guangming had no objection to this.

After the matter was settled, the three returned to the landlord's main house in the front yard.

Mr. Shen took out paper and ink, and Li Yaren wrote a simple lease agreement, specifying the location of the leased house, the method of rent payment, the payment time, and the rights and obligations of both parties.

Yang Guangming and Mr. Shen each signed their names and pressed their fingerprints on the contract. Li Yaren, acting as the middleman, also signed.

The contract is made in triplicate, with each party holding one copy and the broker keeping one copy.

Yang Guangming immediately took out ten brand-new silver dollars from his pocket and handed them to Li Yaren: "Li Yaren, this is the commission. Please count it."

Li, the broker, accepted the heavy ten silver dollars, his face beaming with joy. He repeatedly said, "Thank you, Mr. Yang! You're such a generous man! If you need anything in the future, just come to me, Old Li!"

When Mr. Shen saw that Yang Guangming casually took out ten silver dollars to pay the commission, the last trace of doubt in his eyes completely disappeared, and his attitude became even more enthusiastic.

After seeing off the profusely thanking broker Li, Yang Guangming did not leave immediately. Instead, he said to Mr. Shen, "Mr. Shen, since we will be neighbors from now on, could you briefly introduce the situation of the other tenants in the courtyard? That way, I'll have a better understanding."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Shen thought the young man was thoughtful and nodded, pointing to the courtyard as he introduced the situation: "Mr. Yang is right. In addition to your family, there are four other tenants in this courtyard, all of whom are honest and law-abiding people."

"The two back rooms in the front yard, the one closest to the gate, is where Master Liao and his family live."

Mr. Shen pointed to the room where the burly man they had seen when they came in was, "Master Liao is a 'shrew,' he specializes in carrying goods and doing odd jobs. He is honest and hardworking, and has a lot of strength."

In the neighborhood, anyone who needed help buying coal or transporting heavy objects was willing to pay him to do so, because he was trustworthy.

In this day and age, going out isn't safe. Having a reliable person to run errands for you makes things convenient for everyone.

He paused, then continued, "Those two rooms on the west side of the front yard are where Master Jiao's family lives."

Master Jiao worked as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in his early years, and his two sons followed in his footsteps, growing strong and upright.

Speaking of which, the Jiao family and my family are distant cousins.

At this point, Mr. Shen made a point of explaining, "So, since they live here, I don't charge them rent."

He looked at Yang Guangming and said meaningfully, "With the three of them living in the front, our courtyard has a pillar of stability. Those local thugs and idlers all know Master Jiao's reputation and don't dare to cause trouble easily. It's safer to live in the courtyard, isn't it?"

Yang Guangming nodded, understanding. This was equivalent to the landlord hiring three "security guards" for free housing, which was indeed a good thing for all the residents in the courtyard, as everyone could benefit from it.

"And then there's the backyard."

Mr. Shen pointed to the east and west wing rooms, "The east wing room is where Manager Zhao and his family live. Manager Zhao is the manager of a silk and cloth shop and is a very polite person."

The west wing was inhabited by Mr. Suga and his family. Mr. Suga was a primary school teacher, a scholar, and quite amiable.

The main house and the two side rooms are where my wife and I, our son and daughter-in-law, and our grandchildren—a family of six—live by ourselves.

Mr. Shen concluded, "That's pretty much it. They're all law-abiding residents, so Mr. Yang can rest assured."

After listening to Mr. Shen's introduction, Yang Guangming was even more satisfied with his newly rented place.

The location is good, the house is suitable, the landlord is reasonable, the neighbors are of simple backgrounds and each has their own "purpose", especially with the Jiao family father and son in the front yard providing "military protection", which greatly enhances the security.

This is simply the perfect temporary accommodation!

He also had a good impression of this landlord, Shen, whom he was meeting for the first time.

This person has some vision; he's not the kind of mercenary person who only cares about money. He understands how to maintain a good living environment by offering rent-free accommodations and "security," which is important for future interactions. (End of Chapter)