Lin Sui of Taoxi Village learned to inspect houses and identify beams from her father, a carpenter, from a young age. Then an accident left her father with a severe leg injury and the family in debt, plunging their lives into hardship.
Villagers selling their homes had no idea how to value them, while buyers struggled to spot foundation problems. Many old houses were cramped and leaky, and their owners were too poor to rebuild, managing only simple repairs. Lin Sui saw an opportunity to make a living. She became a rural real estate broker, arranging home sales for a commission and helping people plan affordable renovations of old houses.
She traveled from village to village with her measuring rope, inspecting walls and beams and giving fair estimates. Lu Shen, a skilled and dependable carpenter, worked with her. One handled clients and planning, while the other took charge of the carpentry and repairs.
There are no blood feuds or vicious rivals who won't leave them alone. Along the way, they encounter clients with insufficient budgets, craftsmen who fall behind schedule, and gossip and exclusion from competitors. With honesty and care, Lin Sui slowly builds a good reputation.
Starting with estimating and repairing humble village homes, she gradually expands her business into the town. The whole family works together to pay off their debts and save enough to build a home of their own. Through one house-repair business after another, she and Lu Shen grow closer and support each other, steadily building a comfortable, prosperous life, one beam and one tile at a time.
