noffsinger Chapter 40 Buying a Long-Term Worker
Chapter 40 Buying a Long-Term Worker
After saying goodbye to Liu Xuewen, Song Jiaojiao followed Manager Liu to a small alley. Although it was remote, it was not far from the town center. Although it was conspicuous, it required many twists and turns to get there. If it weren't for someone familiar with the area leading the way, it would be impossible to find this place.
"Madam Song, we've arrived. This is the place. Although the imperial court doesn't strictly prohibit human trafficking, everyone tacitly chooses less conspicuous spots." Manager Liu pointed to the small courtyard in front of them, where a sign stood at the entrance: 'Fengtang'.
Fengtang?
Without someone showing you the way, who would know what that name means?
"Thank you so much, Manager Liu. I wouldn't have been able to find this place without you," Song Jiaojiao said to Manager Liu.
"I was just following orders, Madam Song, let's go in first." Manager Liu didn't dare to take credit, and his words were all about praising his boss.
After Song Jiaojiao and Manager Liu entered the courtyard, a woman wearing a green headscarf greeted them warmly, "Oh my, oh my, what a rare guest! I knew there were magpies calling outside the door, it turns out we have distinguished guests visiting."
The woman who came was all smiles and immediately started saying nice things.
"Old Xu, you're joking. I'm just showing you the way today. The real buyer is Madam Song. Our master said to treat her well, so you can't hold back, Old Xu."
Although she was called Granny Xu, she looked to be about the same age as Aunt Li. Her face was all smiles, but her eyes were gleaming with shrewdness.
Manager Liu said calmly, and as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Granny Xu's eyes darting around. It seemed that she would have to talk to the person the owner of Huichuntang had sent.
"Hey, you know me, all the good stuff always goes to Huichuntang, Madam Song. What kind do you need?" Granny Xu said, covering her mouth with her hand and laughing.
Song Jiaojiao exchanged a glance with Manager Liu, and seeing Manager Liu nod, she said, "Granny Xu, I want to buy a man and a woman. The man should preferably know how to drive a horse-drawn carriage, and the woman should preferably be able to cook some home-style dishes and sew clothes."
Upon hearing Song Jiaojiao's request, Granny Xu immediately replied, "Alright, I'll go and call someone right away."
Granny Xu called out ten women and five men. The women ranged in age from young to old, while the men were all around thirty years old.
"Madam Song, see if there's anything suitable," Granny Xu asked Song Jiaojiao. She didn't see any reaction on Madam Song's face, thinking to herself, "She's a very composed person."
Looking at the people in front of her, Song Jiaojiao noticed they didn't appear sickly. She asked the women to extend their hands. Two of the younger women had few calluses on their hands, clearly indicating they hadn't done manual labor.
She made everyone look up again, and Song Jiaojiao looked at the people in front of her carefully. She noticed that although two of them did not have much of an expression, Song Jiaojiao still caught their disdainful eyes.
Indeed, Song Jiaojiao is a farmer after all, so her clothing should be comfortable and durable. Otherwise, she wouldn't have enough clothes to change into after just one trip around the village.
After reading it, Song Jiaojiao asked, "Do you know how to cook? If you do, please come forward."
Eight out of the ten people stepped forward, and Song Jiaojiao asked them, "Those who know how to make clothes, step forward."
Of the original eight, only four remained to move forward. Song Jiaojiao looked at these four people, and those she hadn't taken a liking to earlier were not there. "As you can probably tell from my clothes, I'm not from a wealthy family, just a farmer. Those who want to go forward can take a step forward."
Of the remaining four, three looked at each other without moving forward, while only one woman, around thirty years old and appearing slightly older than Song Jiaojiao, stepped forward. Her expression was solemn, as if she had made a difficult decision, and she knelt down and spoke.
"Madam, I can cook and sew. I only ask that you buy it for my daughter, son, and husband. I swear I will do my job diligently and will never betray you."
Song Jiaojiao was startled by the woman in front of her, not expecting her to kneel down suddenly. After helping her up, she asked, "Get up first. Tell me what your man can do?"
After Song Jiaojiao helped the woman up, she wiped away her tears and said, "My family used to be servants of a wealthy family. My husband was a stable boy. Later, our master went bankrupt and sold my family. My daughter was still young, and I didn't want to be separated from my family. So, we were sold further and further away."
"I know that if no one buys my family this time, we will be forced to separate. Please, Madam, buy my family back. I promise I will work hard." The woman was about to kneel down when Song Jiaojiao quickly pulled her back.
"So, your husband used to feed horses. I wonder if he knows how to drive a horse-drawn carriage?" Song Jiaojiao deduced from her words, but she wasn't sure if he knew how to drive a horse-drawn carriage.
"Well then, Granny Xu, why don't you call his family over so I can take a look?" Song Jiaojiao thought that she would only know if she saw the people in person.
“What a coincidence, her husband is here. I’ll go and bring her children out.”
Granny Xu said happily that this family had been in her hands for almost a month. Several groups of people had taken a liking to them, but this family insisted on staying together. Buying her and her husband was fine, but the key issue was that her daughter was not yet five years old and was always sick, perhaps due to the change in environment.
If this Lady Song can buy them back, it will be a great help to her.
Song Jiaojiao watched as one of the five men walked out. He was tall and big, and his face looked like that of a smooth and cunning person.
“Madam, I am her husband. I feed horses and drive carriages. I used to work with you often in your house. Please rest assured, my family will be absolutely loyal to you.”
The man spoke, his face showing a cautious, ingratiating expression.
When Granny Xu brought the people out, they saw a boy of about half a year old leading a little girl who was less than five years old. The little girl looked thin, with a sallow complexion and an abnormal blush on her cheeks.
Upon seeing the children emerge, the woman quickly pulled the two children to kneel before Song Jiaojiao, saying, "Come and greet Madam."
This time, Song Jiaojiao didn't stop them. She carefully observed their reactions. "Greetings, Madam." Two small voices came from inside. The little girl even tried to look up at Song Jiaojiao, but her mother stopped her.
Looking at the tiny person, Song Jiaojiao recalled the scene when she first arrived here, wondering if Mu Xue would have been picked over like this if she hadn't come, and might not have been in a better situation than this little girl in front of her.
"Get up. I'm from the countryside. Don't kneel so easily anymore. Just bow," Song Jiaojiao said.
"Granny Xu, how much for this one?"
“Madam Song, it’s their good fortune that you’ve chosen them. However, men who can drive carriages are generally more expensive than ordinary men, so the price will be 15 taels. The woman and her youngest son will each be 8 taels, and as for the little girl, we’ll give her 5 taels.” Granny Xu said, rolling her eyes as she quoted the prices.