After bidding farewell to the man, it was their turn to inquire about renting a place.
There was also a young clerk at the counter.
Though young, he was quite experienced. Seeing they were looking to rent, he brought over a thick ledger and promptly asked, "What kind of place are you looking to rent? How many people will be staying? How much rent can you afford per month? Where are you looking to rent?"
The so-called Ma Sanniang was nowhere to be seen. She seemed very busy, but her shop had a good reputation, and these clerks could handle things, so Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao didn't fuss too much and stated their needs.
Upon hearing of a large deal, the young clerk immediately perked up and busied himself, saying, "Oh, then sir, you must be looking for a large courtyard, otherwise, it won't be enough space."
Cheng Hao nodded and said, "Exactly. But if possible, could you also help us find two more rooms, preferably adjoining? I have two other groups of people traveling with me. Or perhaps one larger room, with a few more courtyards would also be fine, as long as they're not all crammed together."
Since he was here.
He could also arrange lodging for the other two teams. After all, the three teams were close now. Compared to others, they were naturally more reliable, so if they could stay closer, it would be better.
If anything were to happen later.
They could look out for each other.
The clerk serving Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao was already nimbly flipping through the ledger and then excitedly said, "You know, it's just a coincidence, but we just received a large house two days ago that needs to be rented out. This three-courtyard large mansion belongs to the Xu family of Quezhou City, but they plan to join distant relatives and urgently need some money."
That's why they sought them out to list it.
They simply said that Ma Sanniang's real estate agency would pay them three years' rent upfront, and the Xu family would mortgage the house to the agency. As for how much they could rent it out for, that would depend on the agency's skills. They wouldn't interfere at all.
Meaning, they would let the agency earn the difference.
And during the rental period, they had to ensure there was no serious damage to the house.
Ma Sanniang did indeed accept this large order, but she was also a straightforward person, so the price wasn't excessively high and was quite fair!
As the clerk spoke, his hands didn't stop, and he quickly found the catalog for the three-courtyard mansion, immediately pulling it out for them to see.
"Look, it's this house, so spacious! The furniture and everything inside are complete. They couldn't take these things with them on their journey, so they left them all behind! You'll also save the trouble of buying beds, tables, and other trivial items, so much less worry?"
The clerk spread the blueprints out for the couple to see. It was a floor plan, marking the layout of the house. It truly looked quite impressive.
Each courtyard was large, and if the central atrium was large enough, the lighting would be excellent. Although it was an old house, it was said to be very sturdy.
Moreover, each courtyard had a kitchen, with just a distinction between larger and smaller ones.
There were many side rooms and attached rooms.
It could accommodate many people, which was perfect for their large group.
And with a large courtyard, many things could be done, such as practicing martial arts, exercising, writing and painting, or drying things, which would be very convenient.
The most important thing was that each courtyard had a well, so they never had to worry about running out of water and didn't need to specially go to the moat to fetch water for washing.
The moat here was built a long time ago, so it had already joined the river and was flowing. There were people in charge of managing the sluice gates.
Therefore, some water channels were introduced into the city, and many residents living by the small river would directly use the water for washing and other tasks.
But with so many people using it, it couldn't be considered one hundred percent clean.
So many people also dug their own wells. However, not every place could yield water. If water wasn't found, it would cost money each time they hired a well-digging master, and ordinary people couldn't afford such expenses.
Therefore, in Quezhou City, having a well at home was a very prestigious matter.
What's more, this old Xu family mansion had three wells, truly a "wealthy family."
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were quite satisfied. They hadn't expected the first place they saw to be so suitable. Furthermore, the layout seemed to have several doors.
The people from the three teams could each occupy a courtyard, making it convenient for visiting each other while maintaining privacy and a bit of distance.
It was quite suitable.
Seeing Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao examining it carefully, the clerk was also anxious to rent out this courtyard, as every day it remained unsold was a loss!
Therefore, he was naturally not as composed as the couple and would interject with praise from time to time, asking them what they thought and if it was suitable.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao naturally looked very carefully, not missing a single corner.
Afterward, they asked.
"What is the monthly rent for this house? When does the lease start? If we decide not to renew, will there be any trouble?"
Cheng Hao's focus was naturally on this, as they were currently looking to rent a place.
Su Miaomiao pondered for a moment and then suddenly asked the clerk, "Isn't Quezhou City famous for its beauty? Why are people leaving?"
This question didn't stump the clerk. He just smiled helplessly, "Madam, please don't misunderstand. Our Quezhou City is indeed the best within a hundred-mile radius, but naturally, there are better places farther away."
The clerk said that everyone had their own aspirations, and he couldn't stop them.
"Look, some people think this place is good, others think that place is good. This is not unusual. Our Quezhou City is indeed quite good, otherwise, you wouldn't have come here, right? As for the Ji family, they believe that hiding in the plateau region is safer than anything else, so they have gone."
The clerk also said, "But getting there is not easy. It's far, but not so easy to reach. The journey there is truly difficult. However, the Ji family plans to stay there for several years. If they can arrive safely, they can indeed live peacefully for a few years."
He then went on to say that Quezhou City was not bad either. Although it wasn't very far from the enemy, there was a distance. The city in front and their own generals were engaged in battle, so it wouldn't be so easy for them to attack.
The previous breaking of two cities was because the enemy was too cunning and suddenly broke their promise and launched a surprise attack.
Now, a confrontation had begun.
The enemy naturally wouldn't be able to invade their homeland so easily again!
The clerk was also very confident in Quezhou City. He urged the couple to make a decision, saying they could live a peaceful life here. "Moreover, it's very rare to encounter such a coincidence, like a courtyard prepared for you by heaven, fitting all your requirements. Nothing else is better than this!"
To be honest.
This young man was very good at his job, focusing on renting the house to them from all angles, ultimately urging them to finalize the decision quickly.
"Our prices here are already considered very affordable. In the future, rent in the city will only get more expensive..."