flstandardbreds Chapter 175 Buying People (1)
Chapter 175 Buying People (1)
Upon seeing the person Liu was pointing to, the broker hurriedly said to the two girls, "You two are lucky to have been chosen by Madam first. Come out quickly and stand over here." She thought that Madam Liu had taken a liking to these two girls.
The two chosen girls were clearly unwilling, dawdling and reluctant to come out. Anyone present, except perhaps those who were simply looking to vent their anger, could see their displeasure. However, having been sold to the brokerage firm, they were only there to be chosen, not to choose their masters. Such behavior was hardly the act of a wise person. The broker glanced at Liu Shi's expression, worried she might be angry, then looked at the two still hesitating girls, and snapped, "Hurry up! Have you no manners?!"
Hearing the broker's reprimand, the two reluctantly came out and stood in the place designated by the broker.
Liu remained silent, continuing to select from the remaining people. Soon, she pointed out six more. The broker standing nearby was overjoyed, yet also somewhat annoyed. He regretted not calling out more people; perhaps he could have sold a few more. He was already secretly calculating how much silver he could earn if this deal went through.
But then they heard Liu ask one of the remaining two people.
"What's your name? How old are you?"
“My name is Da Niu, and I’m eleven years old. Madam, please be kind and take me with you. I’m strong and can work hard. From now on, I…I…I’ll just eat one bowl of rice per meal.”
"Oh, is one bowl of rice enough to fill you up?" Liu asked her because she noticed her rough hands, which suggested she had done a lot of work, and her appearance was also honest and simple. Now that she heard her ask for just one bowl of rice per meal, implying that one bowl of rice wouldn't be enough, she became interested and asked her that question.
"I think I can eat about half full," the girl whispered after secretly glancing at the broker's face.
Seeing her like this, Madam Liu knew the girl probably ate quite a lot, but she didn't dare say too much in front of the broker. So she changed the subject and said...
"You just said you're strong? I wonder how strong you are?"
"I...I..." Da Niu looked around the room, trying to find something to prove her strength.
But after looking around, he couldn't find anything suitable, so he had to tell Liu, "I can carry a sack of grain."
Liu listened without comment, then turned to look at another little boy, who looked about twelve or thirteen years old.
"How old are you? What's your name?"
"My name is Gao Shuanzhu, and I am thirteen years old."
"What can you write?" Madam Liu asked softly.
"I can do all the farm work in the fields."
Looking at the two people standing together, Liu initially thought the boy was the youngest. But upon asking, she learned that Da Niu was only eleven years old, the youngest of the ten, and because she ate a lot, she looked taller than Li Shuanzhu, a thirteen-year-old boy.
"What are you doing in the brokerage? Where are your parents?" Judging from his name 'Shuanzhu', it was clear that his parents valued him highly. How could someone who was about to get married end up in a brokerage? She had some questions.
Upon hearing Liu's question, Gao Shuanzhu's eyes suddenly reddened, and he hurriedly lowered his head, replying, "My mother has passed away, and I sold myself to bury her." After saying this, he lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and couldn't say another word. Only on the ground where he was looking down, drops of water fell, spreading out little by little on the blue brick floor.
The atmosphere became somewhat heavy upon hearing his answer. After a while, Madam Liu took a deep breath and asked again, "Where is your father?"
Gao Shuanzhu wiped his eyes with his sleeve and said, "When I was three years old, the government conscripted soldiers and took my father away. At first, he would come back with news and money, but then we gradually lost contact. After my grandparents died, my uncle took over our land. Some time ago, my mother died of illness. I didn't have money to buy her a coffin, so I sold myself."
"..."
In fact, all the men here who are 23 years of age or older are registered. In the event of war, all registered men who are not only sons will be forcibly conscripted, although they can pay silver to waive their military service. Those who were conscripted ten years ago should have returned long ago if they hadn't died.
Liu looked at the broker and asked, "How much are they worth in silver?"
When the broker heard Liu ask about the price, he quickly replied with a smile, "These two are just the right age to work, and they are both strong. Each of them will be paid eight taels of silver."
After listening to the broker's words, Madam Liu nodded and said, "Let's go with the two of them."
"Huh? What about the others?" The broker asked in surprise when he heard that Liu only wanted these two. Did she not want the ones who were chosen first?
“I didn’t like any of those. This group only wants these two. Don’t bother bringing them around. Let’s just go to your backyard and choose.” Madam Liu said, seemingly a little impatient.
"Ah? None of them are to my liking..." The broker's mood was like a pot of hot coals suddenly extinguished by water. However, upon hearing that Madam Liu wanted to go to the backyard to choose in person, he knew there was still hope. He perked up, put on a smile, and led her to the back.
This was their second time visiting the courtyard filled with people. Having been there once before, Xia Yu was somewhat prepared, but seeing the scene in the courtyard again still startled her. 'Why are there so many people?'
Xia Yu looked at the several enclosures, which were packed with people—more than half as many again as the last time she came.
Zhang Youtie and Liu Shi were probably also stunned by the scene before them. Zhang Youtie, who had been silent, asked the broker, "Why are there so many people? It wasn't this crowded when we came a few months ago."
Looking at the overcrowded enclosure, the broker said somewhat embarrassedly, "Brother, this year the snow fell early and heavily here, but you don't know, this autumn a hailstorm with hailes the size of bowls wiped out the entire area for hundreds of miles. Many people couldn't make ends meet and started selling their children, and even themselves. Many of these people came from the south."
Hearing the broker's introduction, Zhang Youtie and Liu nodded somewhat heavily. Xia Yu thought about raising silkworms and reeling silk after the New Year, and whispered it to Liu. Hearing her daughter's words, Liu thought they could take this opportunity to buy some.
So he said to the broker, "I want a few women who are good at raising silkworms and reeling silk."