In the Otherworld, there are also rental contracts, which, in addition to the tenant and the owner, require a guarantor and an intermediary, the intermediary being the broker of the brokerage.
This broker is also called a "broker".
The so-called brokerage classifies the noble and the poor, distinguishes the fine and coarse, weighs the light and heavy, and discerns the genuine from the fake. It's similar to a modern intermediary but with a semi-official background.
The guarantor is usually represented by an elder from the owner's family. In a family like the Sun Family, there would be specialized personnel responsible, so Sun Die and Yu Yanghong don't need to show up.
The contract is made in three copies, with the owner, tenant, and brokerage each holding one, ensuring no errors.
"The courtyards on Xieliu Street are all about the same size. Last year, one was sold outright, and one was sold for a term. Outright sale for thirty taels, term sale for about twenty taels."
The broker introduced the market conditions:
"It's rare to rent. Young Master Fang should thank the Sun Family."
Fang Zheng nodded.
Here, houses and lands are divided into outright sales and term sales. Outright sale means complete sale, while term sale is the sale of usage rights for a certain period, which is considerably cheaper than outright sale.
Upon the expiration, the owner redeems it at the agreed price.
If it cannot be redeemed upon expiration, the buyer then gains ownership of the property.
This system separates ownership from usage rights and was devised in the previous dynasty to avoid official fields from being traded.
In the current dynasty, it has gradually become mainstream.
Privately, there are also those who term-sell wives and daughters, though it's not allowed by law.
In fact, modern society also has similar transactions, such as handover fees in some places, and "term lease" in certain countries...
During the contract signing process, Fang Zheng didn't speak much, mostly listening, but he did gain some understanding of the prices and market conditions in the Otherworld.
The broker earns twenty coins a day, which amounts to a bit more than half a tael of silver per month, although there are additional earnings, it absolutely doesn't reach one tael.
Ordinary people naturally can't compare with brokers.
No wonder Old Liu's expression changed entirely when he saw the silver.
That wristwatch he sold wasn't considered cheap.
"Brother Wu."
On the street, Fang Zheng put away the 'contract' and cupped his hands in salute:
"Thanks for your help."
"It's my duty." Wu Hai smiled and said:
"I'm just doing work for the master family too."
"Brother Wu is talented, no wonder you found a job so quickly," Fang Zheng said.
Wu Hai's expression stiffened slightly, shaking his head lightly:
"I'm afraid it can't last long."
"Oh!" Fang Zheng showed a look of surprise:
"Why?"
"I..." Wu Hai opened his mouth and said:
"To be frank, I've made mistakes in the past, like the Sun Family who values reputation, probably won't tolerate me hanging around."
"By then, I might still need to bother Brother Fang."
"No problem," Fang Zheng said with a smile:
"If you face any troubles, feel free to come to me, no need to be formal."
When he first entered this world, it was thanks to the other that he got through it. After some interactions, he found that the other's temperament was indeed good, and when he had the capability, he naturally didn't mind helping.
Wu Hai hastily expressed his gratitude.
The reason he spoke frankly was that he wanted a fallback. After all, looking at Fang Zheng's appearance and demeanor, he could tell he wasn't a 'commoner.'
His behavior was also different from others.
Perhaps his background was extraordinary, merely temporarily downfallen.
Fang Zheng certainly never thought he would give others such an impression. The two walked along the long street for a while before their path was blocked by a dense crowd.
At the intersection of the cross-shaped street, heads were jostling, bustling with activity, and even vendors selling goods left their stalls to crowd into the people.
"So many people?"
Fang Zheng looked curious:
"What's going on?"
"It should be the execution by decapitation of a criminal." Wu Hai pointed with his hand:
"See that steamed bun in that person's hand? Once it's stained with the blood of the dead, it becomes a medicinal material, and some people will pay a high price for it."
"The more ferocious the criminal, the greater the evil qi, the better the blood, it's said to drive away evil and prevent disasters."
Ugh...
Fang Zheng felt a churn in his stomach.
So that's where human blood steamed buns come from?
"Can we take another route?"
"Detouring will take a lot longer." Wu Hai said, his expression suddenly changing, and he sharply grabbed Fang Zheng's shoulder:
"Be careful!"
"What's going on?" Fang Zheng was taken aback.
"Something's not right." Wu Hai's eyes flickered, pulling Fang Zheng slowly back with one hand, while the other was already on the long saber behind his back.
Fang Zheng looked around but didn't see anything amiss. Instead, Wu Hai's expression grew increasingly solemn, and the tension infected him, making him tense as well.
"Let's go!"
Wu Hai's voice sunk, dragging Fang Zheng to turn and leave.
Just then—
"Boom!"
A section of wall in front suddenly collapsed, and four blindfolded, ear-plugged horses charged out from behind, galloping straight at the crowd.
A horse can weigh up to two thousand pounds, four make eight thousand pounds, and charging with such speed, the force combined with speed nearly guarantees no chance of survival if collided with.
The horses were clearly agitated by something, rampaging with no regard.
"Crunch..."
"Ah!"
In an instant, screams arose, and the cross street swarmed like a hive of ants in chaos; the commoners watching the execution ran around like headless chickens.
"Charge!"
"Save Fourth Brother!"
At some point, a dozen strong men wielding deadly weapons emerged from the crowd, shouting aggressively as they charged towards the execution ground.
The governmental officials guarding the execution ground were caught off guard and quickly killed on the spot. The executioner abandoned his blade to flee, only to be chased down and slashed to the ground by one of them.
Even on the rooftops, several archers appeared, shooting arrows at the crowd, making the situation even more chaotic.
"Brother Fang, watch out."
Wu Hai held a saber in hand, slowly retreating along the wall:
"It's the Cyan Wolf Gang rescuing prisoners, stay behind me, let's find a place to hide."
Fang Zheng nodded repeatedly, his body tense.
When had he ever witnessed such a scene, where people turned upside down, horses toppled over, total chaos, and it was real killing, not a play, corpses and blood were right before his eyes.
Blood flowed freely, and intestines spilled out...
Being present was utterly different from seeing it on a TV screen; the chaos and brutality ceaselessly struck his mind, making it impossible to stay calm, like falling into a nightmare.
This Otherworld is truly chaotic!
"Kill!"
Not far away, a corpulent bandit wielded a pair of axes, slicing a person in half with one stroke, glancing their way as he did.
Then, with a grim smile, he charged at them with his axe.
"Humph!"
Wu Hai's eyes narrowed, the ground beneath his feet suddenly sank, and his whole body shot forward like a cannonball.
The long saber in his hand slashed out a sharp arc.
"Clang..."
The clash of saber and axe forced the bandit to stagger back repeatedly. Wu Hai, instead of pursuing, retreated two steps, adopting a defensive stance.
"Three Talents Saber, someone from the Hu Ben Army?" A bandit with a High Crown stopped, glanced over Wu Hai, then gestured to his comrades:
"Governmental officials will be here soon, don't waste time."
"Yes."
The fat man was visibly reluctant, glaring angrily at Wu Hai before rushing forward again, venting his anger by hacking a few unlucky bystanders along the way.
The bandit with the High Crown nodded at the two of them, then proceeded forward with deceptive leisure, moving remarkably swiftly.
A few movements and he vanished from sight.
"Gulp..."
Wu Hai swallowed, relaxing only once the man was gone:
"That was the third leader of the Cyan Wolf Gang, let's go quickly!"
"Right."
Fang Zheng didn't dare have any opinions, nodding repeatedly.
The two of them sprinted in the opposite direction of the chaos at the street corner, only stopping after crossing two streets when the noise had completely faded.
"Brother Wu..."
Fang Zheng panted heavily, his voice hoarse:
"Just now... just now..."
"It was very dangerous," Wu Hai was calm compared to Fang Zheng, unfazed as he said:
"The third leader of the Cyan Wolf Gang is nicknamed Hot-Handed Scholar, very skilled, if he had attacked us, escaping would have been difficult."
"I mean..." Fang Zheng straightened up, his eyes flickering:
"How are you all so formidable?"
One stroke to cut a person in half, even with a sharp axe and a frail human body, the required force doesn't seem to be something an ordinary person could have.
Moreover, Wu Hai's burst, five to six meters a step, the mere gust of wind was enough to almost sweep Fang Zheng, who was behind, off his feet.
This, obviously defies common sense!
"I'm far from being formidable," Wu Hai shook his head:
"It's just that I've practiced saber technique for a few years, merely at the entrance of martial arts, real experts wouldn't even look at me."
"Saber technique, martial arts!"
Fang Zheng's breathing quickened, his eyes lighting up with a bright, burning light.
This world...
Actually possesses martial arts!