novelaction Chapter 165 Buying People Through a Brokerage Firm
Chapter 165 Buying People Through a Brokerage Firm
The broker glanced at Shi Wanxia, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes. This girl wanted to buy so much; could she be a young lady from a wealthy family?
However, business that comes knocking on one's doorstep is a waste of time. After some thought, he realized that selling all seventeen of them would yield a considerable profit; they were government slaves, which were inherently harder to sell.
"Miss, since you're so eager to buy, I'll give you a discount. Including the eighteen people from earlier, you can give me a total of one hundred and fifty taels of silver!"
"How much? One hundred and fifty taels! You dare ask for so much, you matchmaker! Why don't you just rob me?! Do you know who my sister is? She is..." Shuyun was furious and incredulous. This old woman really dared to ask for so much. One hundred and fifty taels? This government slave was not worth that much.
Besides, my sister is now an official, so this old woman Yu really dares to ask for an exorbitant price.
Shi Wanxia quickly grabbed Shuyun's hand, signaling her to be quiet.
"Since the shopkeeper doesn't want to do this business, then this old woman will take her leave." Shi Wanxia pulled Shuyun to leave, but the old woman hesitated for a long time before finally trying to persuade her to stay.
"Fine, fine, I'll give up on you old woman. Name your price!"
Shi Wanxia smiled slightly; her bargaining skills were effective no matter when or where.
Shi Wanxia cleared her throat and said, "Eighteen government slaves, fifty taels. I'll buy them all!"
The matchmaker stared in astonishment; this woman really dared to shout!
"No, the minimum is eighty taels. Take it or leave it. Are you going to make this old woman starve?"
Shi Wanxia shook her head regretfully, "It seems the shopkeeper hasn't made up his mind yet. I'll go and check on him first."
She pulled Shuyun away, but after only a few steps, the old woman shouted through gritted teeth from behind.
"Alright, fifty taels it is. You little girl, you look so honest, I didn't expect you to be so cunning. Hurry up and pay up and leave, this old woman is still heartbroken."
Shi Wanxia smiled obsequiously: "Shopkeeper, you flatter me. By the way, please give us their documents and contracts as well!"
The old woman from the brokerage firm reluctantly handed over the indentures of these people to her, and Shi Wanxia accepted them with a smile.
"Everyone, you're all mine now, come with me!"
The dozen or so people trembled, their eyes darting about, and followed the two girls. Just as they were about to leave through the gate, the girl who had first taken a liking to Shi Wanxia knelt down in front of her and begged her.
Shi Wanxia hurriedly helped the girl up and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. She looked so pitiful from crying, and the girl was really pretty.
“I have a younger brother here, but he is sick. They abandoned him in the woodshed in the backyard to fend for himself. Please, Miss, have mercy and take my poor brother with you. I will serve you like a cow or a horse for the rest of my life to repay your kindness.”
Shi Wanxia was somewhat at a loss and looked at the matchmaker. "Shopkeeper, is what she said true? Have someone bring her brother out! I'll give you an extra two taels of silver. Anyway, you didn't plan to treat him, so you might as well let me have him, right?"
The matchmaker was furious, but the girl's words made sense, so she could only order her men to bring the child over.
Several rough-looking old women walked in, cursing and swearing. A moment later, they roughly threw a dirty little boy, about seven or eight years old, onto the ground. The boy was hurt badly from the fall, but he bit his lip tightly, stubbornly refusing to utter a cry.
Just then, a thin figure scrambled over and grabbed the little boy.
This was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen. Although her clothes were worn, they could not hide the determination in her eyes. She hugged her younger brother tightly, as if she wanted to use her small body to support him.
The little girl's name is Ling'er, and the little boy is her younger brother, Xiaoyu. They were originally the children of a minor official in the martial arts world, but their family suffered a calamity, their parents died, and they were forced to embark on a journey of escape.
Along the way, they endured hardships, sleeping in the open and eating in the wind, and now they have fallen into this dangerous place.
Ling'er felt a pang of heartache looking at her younger brother's wounds. She gently stroked his head and whispered, "Xiaoyu, don't be afraid, your sister will protect you." Xiaoyu nestled tightly in his sister's arms, his eyes filled with trust.
Shi Wanxia, feeling sorry for the boy, had Shuyun place him on her back so she could carry him back. The others were stunned; they were now slaves, how could they let their young lady...
Shi Wanxia turned and instructed Shuyun to lead them to follow, and the group set off home in a grand manner. Sunlight shone on them, casting long shadows.
Leading the group was Shi Wanxia, dressed in a light blue outfit, looking dashing and confident, her eyes filled with determination and courage. Beside her, Shu Yun, in a light green dress, was charming and lovely, her eyes brimming with anticipation for the future.
As they walked, they passed a cloth shop. Shi Wanxia looked at the ragged appearance of the people there and felt a pang of pity.
She stopped and said to Shuyun, "Shuyun, take some people to buy some ready-made clothes and fabrics. I don't know if we can afford to support so many people!" Shuyun nodded and immediately led her people into the fabric shop. Before long, they came out carrying many bags and bundles of clothes and fabrics.
Everyone was deeply moved as they looked at the new clothes and fabrics. They knew that Shi Wanxia genuinely cared for them. However, Shi Wanxia herself felt a pang of worry. She secretly regretted her impulsiveness; she wondered if she could afford to support them!
As she continued her journey, Shi Wanxia remained preoccupied. Suddenly, she slapped her forehead: "Oh no, I forgot to ask about my wages!" She then realized that she hadn't yet inquired about her pay at the county government office.
Seeing Shi Wanxia's appearance, Shuyun couldn't help but chuckle. "Sister Shi is still so absent-minded," Shuyun thought to herself, but she also knew that Shi Wanxia's kindness and absent-mindedness were precisely what made her so adorable.
Although there were many of these people, they were all unfortunate souls. Shu Yun silently supported Shi Wanxia, thinking, "Let her save them if she wants." She believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would definitely overcome this difficulty.
When Qinglan finally got home, she was startled by the person that Sister Shi had brought back.
"Sister Shi, you're back! Go back and rest for a while!"
Shi Wanxia carried the little boy back to her room and placed him on her bed. "Qinglan, quickly go and fetch a doctor. Where's Shuying? Take some people downstairs to wash up! Then, Shuyun, go to the market and buy some food utensils. We'll cook together tonight!"
The group immediately understood and split up. Shuying led the rest of the group. Since there weren't many rooms in the house, they could only make do with what they had for the time being.
Qinglan went next door to ask a doctor to treat the little boy, while Shi Wanxia went to the kitchen to boil water. The two of them had enough for the kitchen.
Soon everyone was busy in an orderly manner. The doctor prescribed medicine for the child and gave him a few acupuncture treatments. By the time they finished, it was almost evening.
Shi Wanxia and her team were cooking a large pot of food in the kitchen. Now that they had enough people, it seemed that the division of labor was clear, otherwise, it would be chaotic and exhausting.
Shuyun rushed over with a smile on her face: "Sister Shi, the official documents from the yamen have arrived. I've put them in your room. We're here, so please go and take a look."
Upon hearing this, Shi Wanxia immediately stood up, wiped her hands, and quickly left.
Back in her room, Shi Wanxia sat quietly at her desk, awaiting the arrival of the official letter and appointment document. Her heart was filled with anticipation and hope, and she was brimming with confidence for her future work.
Soon, the official letter and appointment document arrived in her hands. She read every word carefully, feeling the responsibility and mission contained within. She knew that this job was not only an affirmation of her abilities, but also a sign of trust and expectation placed upon her.
Shi Wanxia decided to live up to this trust and expectation through her own efforts and talent. She will go all out to improve the lives of the people and work together with everyone to build a prosperous and peaceful Xinyang County.