Is the beginning of a catastrophe? The little farm cook is raising a family with a full warehouse.

"Boss, could you please bother me for a moment? I'd like to ask you something."

The shopkeeper put down what he was doing and looked at Cheng Yuntao. Seeing that she was polite and gentle, he smiled and replied, "I wonder what you want to know, young lady?"

"It's like this. My family and I just arrived in Junhua City. We think this place is very prosperous. We want to stay here for a while. I wonder where we can rent a house in the city?" Cheng Yuntao looked at the other party expectantly.

The innkeeper lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up again and said.

"Miss, if you want a reliable rental in this city, you can find a reputable real estate agent. They specialize in house rentals and sales, are familiar with the city's housing resources, and usually have written contracts to ensure fairness."

"You can also ask the older residents in the area; they might know which houses have vacancies for rent. Neighbors can introduce each other, which can build trust. But don't trust random people soliciting on the street, as you might be scammed."

Brokers are middlemen in the market who broker transactions between buyers and sellers and collect commissions. They are active in various business fields and play a similar intermediary role.

There are many theories about the origin of the name. One theory is that it may come from "mutual people", which originally played the role of mutual communication and transaction, but was later mispronounced as "ya ren" due to similar pronunciation or typos. Another theory is that bird and animal trading was prevalent in the early days, and ya ren needed to check the teeth of birds and animals to judge their condition, hence the name, and later the business expanded to many fields. Another view is that it is related to the ya flag. Some powerful middlemen set up ya flags in the shape of teeth in places such as markets to show their status and credibility, so people called them ya ren.

In short, the brothel in ancient times was equivalent to the intermediary in modern society.

Cheng Yuntao nodded slightly, pursed her lips and said, "Thank you very much for the information, shopkeeper. Does the shopkeeper have any recommendations for brokers?"

"I see that the innkeeper is very organized and manages the inn very well. The person you recommend will be more reliable."

The innkeeper's face showed some joy at the guest's sincere praise, and he continued in a very kind manner.

"If you want me to recommend someone, I do have one. His name is Li Fu, and he's quite famous in Junhua City. He has a wide network of contacts, and he knows a thing or two about unused mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles, as well as empty houses in ordinary people's homes."

"Most importantly, he's thorough and fair. He'll negotiate the rent between the tenant and the landlord based on the property's size, location, and state of repair. As long as you clearly explain your needs to him, he'll be able to select a property that meets your requirements. If you find a satisfactory property after viewing it, you can sign the contract and move in smoothly."

Hearing this description, Cheng Yuntao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurriedly continued to ask: "There is such a powerful person, I wonder where should I go to find him?"

The innkeeper saw that Cheng Yuntao was full of hope and didn't want to pour cold water on her, but he had to say some unpleasant things in advance to avoid disappointment in the end.

"This Li Fu, when he has nothing to do on weekdays, he likes to hide in the old teahouse on the north side of West Street to drink tea. It is common for him to drink a pot of tea for most of the day."

"I don't know if it's because he's gotten older or because he's made enough money, but his temper has become a little weird in the past two years. He's not willing to accept orders even if people call him. It depends on luck."

"But even so, he's still one of the best agents, with a great reputation. Every client who rents a property from him is satisfied, and his fees are reasonable, so he's a very good value for money."

"Girl, you can try your luck. If he's unwilling to take the job, you can go to the brokerage firm and find an experienced broker to take you with you. It's not impossible."

After this communication, Cheng Yuntao had a general understanding of this broker Li Fu.

It is said that there are top talents in every field. To have such a thorough understanding of the distribution of housing resources in the huge Junhua City, one can be considered a leader among the real estate agencies.

"Thank you for the information, shopkeeper."

"you are welcome."

Now that he had gotten the information, he naturally had to go and give it a try. After Cheng Yuntao politely thanked him, he decided to go in person and go to the old teahouse to find the broker Li Fu.

Passing through the noisy street corner, Cheng Yuntao arrived at the old teahouse smoothly.

The green tiles on the roof are arranged neatly and closely connected like fish scales. Occasionally, a few green grasses poke out from the gaps between the tiles, adding a bit of vitality.

Before even entering the teahouse, the noisy sounds were already overwhelming.

Cheng Yuntao stepped inside and looked up to see the storyteller on the small stage in the center. He was wearing a bright silk gown and opening and closing the folding fan in his hand freely as he slowly told the story from the book.

Below the stage, densely packed tables and chairs were placed in a disorderly manner. Tea drinkers of all kinds gathered together, chatting in low voices from time to time, and bursts of hearty laughter could be heard.

On the small stove nearby, the kettle was happily emitting steam, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

Looking up at the second floor, unlike the noisy area below, it was much quieter. I guess it was a private room.

While she was looking around, a waiter came up and said, "There's a vacant seat inside. If you'd like some tea, just follow me inside."

Cheng Yuntao withdrew her gaze, nodded slightly, and followed the waiter's footsteps into the deeper part of the room.

After sitting down, she whispered to the waiter, "Waiter, do you know the broker Li Fu? I came here today to look for him."

Hearing this familiar name, the waiter revealed a look of understanding and pointed to a corner, saying, "Look over there, young lady. The man with his head lowered, peeling peanuts and drinking tea, is Li Fu."

Cheng Yuntao looked in the direction the waiter pointed and spotted the person immediately. "Thank you. I'll go over and have a word with you first. I'll call you back for tea later if I need anything."

Cheng Yuntao was about to get up when the waiter stopped her: "Hey, girl, I guess you're here to ask Li Fu for help finding a house, right? But I have to warn you, Li Fu hasn't taken on any work in a while."

"Many people have come to him before, but they all ended up in a bad way. If things don't work out, you'd better leave quickly. After all, Junhua City is so big, it's not like we can't find other reliable brokers."

After the reminder, the waiter did not linger any longer, but picked up his tray and continued to work.

Cheng Yuntao stared at the sloppy figure and couldn't help but feel curious. How bad was this person's temper?

With curiosity stirring in her heart, Cheng Yuntao stood up quickly and walked towards the corner.