Chapter 36: The Brokerage (II)

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That evening, Wang Dayong discussed what he had learned during the day with Xing’er. Xing’er could not help sighing. “This is fate, I suppose. A living person is worth less than the price of a single meal at our Wangjiang Tower.”

After some hesitation, Xing’er finally decided to buy all the slaves Dayong had seen at the first broker’s establishment, making up the rest through other agencies. She particularly stressed that the woman locked in the cage must be brought back for her to see.

The next day, Wang Dayong returned to the slave agency with two others. When Ma Xiao saw him come back, he knew there must be good news and hurried forward with a broad smile.

“Master, you’re here!”

“Mm.”

“Please, have a seat. I’ll brew you a pot of tea,” Ma Xiao said ingratiatingly.

“No need. Let’s get to the point. I’ll take everyone in your agency.”

“Truly?” Ma Xiao asked in astonishment.

“Of course. Why would I come here if I weren’t serious?”

“Oh, gracious! Master, you’re like my own father!” Ma Xiao was so delighted that his grin nearly reached his ears. “Please wait a moment. I’ll call our proprietress.”

He hurried out of the shop and headed in a certain direction. The moment he stepped outside, the several other dealers who had been waiting earlier swarmed around Wang Dayong.

“Master, which noble household are you from, to be buying so many servants?”

“Master, do you still need more people? I have several sellers here. I can bring them over whenever you like.”

“Master…”

The men all began speaking at once.

Wang Dayong dealt with them casually. “Not for now, though I may need more after some time. If I do, I’ll come looking for you.”

It was not long before Ma Xiao returned with a woman. She had broad brows and large eyes, a plump face and thick waist. Her bosom was broad beneath her bent arms, and each heavy step struck the ground with a resounding thud.

Wang Dayong drew a sharp breath when he saw her. No wonder Ma Xiao had said that her husband could not withstand three moves from her before ending up flat on the ground. She was a veritable female ogre.

As soon as the woman entered the agency, she spotted Wang Dayong sitting beside the table. Opening her wide mouth in a hearty laugh, she strode over to greet him. The dealers hastily retreated to one side and fell silent, seemingly terrified of provoking this ogre of a proprietress.

“This humble wife pays her respects to you, sir,” the proprietress said, clasping her fists before him.

Wang Dayong wore an awkward expression and secretly laughed to himself. He had never seen anyone salute quite like this before. Outwardly, however, he returned the gesture. “You’re too courteous, Proprietress.”

The proprietress sat opposite him, picked up the teapot, poured him a cup, and asked with a smile, “May I ask your name, honored guest?”

“My surname is Wang. And yours?”

“My married surname is Kui, and my maiden name is Dou,” the proprietress replied with a smile.

“I heard from Ma Xiao that you intend to purchase every slave in our agency. Is that truly the case?” she continued.

“It is. There is some work to be done at home, and I need the labor.”

“Your household must surely be engaged in a considerable business, or you would not need so many people.”

[Page 2 of 3]

“Hahaha, it can hardly be called a considerable business. We merely make enough to get by,” Wang Dayong replied perfunctorily.

The proprietress was an experienced woman of the world and naturally understood that Wang Dayong did not wish to say more. She immediately turned the conversation back to business.

“Ma Xiao already told you the prices, so I shall not repeat them. According to our usual arrangement, I can give you a ten percent discount on the total. If you need more people in the future, feel free to come to me. I guarantee you a favorable price.”

“I can pay the full price,” Wang Dayong said, “but I have two requests I need your help with.”

Hearing that she would receive full payment without bargaining, the proprietress happily replied, “You are refreshingly straightforward. I will not be coy either. What assistance do you require?”

“First, keep these people here for three days. During that time, provide them with three meals a day and make sure they are properly fed. I will pay for the food. Otherwise, I fear they will collapse before they reach their destination. I would rather not buy corpses.”

“That is no problem. And the second request?”

“Could you send them to Hebei? I will provide someone to guide the way. I will also cover all expenses along the route, including the costs for your men.”

The proprietress hesitated only briefly before agreeing. “Very well, it is settled. Let us go to the prefectural office and complete the transfer documents.”

An hour later, after the formalities were finished, Wang Dayong and the others returned to the agency. He carefully selected a dozen or so people and brought the woman from the cage out as well.

He turned to them and asked, “If you follow me, I will give you enough food to fill your bellies. Are you willing?”

The dozen people answered in unison that they were. Only the disheveled woman kept her head bowed and remained silent.

Wang Dayong paid her no mind and led the others out of the agency. After walking only a few steps, he suddenly remembered something. He gave the other two men a few instructions, then turned and went back inside.

When the proprietress saw him return, she hurriedly asked, “Is there something else you wish to arrange, honored guest?”

Wang Dayong gave Ma Xiao a sly grin. Ma Xiao was utterly bewildered by it, but could only smile sheepishly in return.

Pointing at him, Wang Dayong asked the proprietress, “Proprietress, is this fellow for sale?”

Ma Xiao shuddered at once, thinking, What on earth?

The proprietress glanced at Ma Xiao, a trace of reluctance crossing her face. But when she turned back, she smiled at Wang Dayong and said, “Hahaha, if you have taken a liking to the boy, then simply take him with you.”

Wang Dayong laughed heartily, took two ounces of silver from inside his robe, and placed it on the counter. Then he turned to Ma Xiao.

“Take good care of Master’s property. If he loses even a single hair, I’ll break your legs.”

Ma Xiao dropped heavily onto the floor and stared blankly as Wang Dayong walked out.

Outside the rear entrance of Wangjiang Tower, Xing’er looked at the dozen or so people before her. Their clothes were tattered, and their appearance was disheveled. She turned to an older servant behind her.

“Sister Zhang, bring out the fresh clothes prepared for them. In a moment, take them to the bathhouse and have them wash properly.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Xing’er turned and returned to the inner courtyard. Before long, Sister Zhang and another servant woman emerged from the rear entrance, each carrying two bundles. Inside were clean clothes, from undergarments to outer robes. Wu led the group toward the bathhouse.

For people from the north, bathing in winter was an exceptionally pleasant experience. Those from the south, however, were often unaccustomed to it. Bathhouses were divided into high-end and low-end establishments. The wealthy chose the more luxurious bathhouses, while ordinary people could only afford the large public ones.

Sister Zhang led several female servants into the women’s bathing hall and distributed the clothing. She handed a set of apricot-yellow garments to the woman who had previously been locked in the wooden cage.

“These were prepared especially for you by Miss. Take good care of them.”

The woman stared blankly for a moment before trembling as she accepted the clothes. She did not say a word.

The other women began removing their ragged garments and gradually entered the pool. Only she and another woman remained standing, their faces flushed with embarrassment as they clutched their clothes. Neither dared raise her head to look at the women bathing in the pool.

Bathhouses were rare in the south. Most people bathed at home, so these two women must both have come from the south, and this was likely their first time seeing such a scene.

Seeing their hesitation, Sister Zhang reminded them, “You had best hurry. It is noon now, and there are not many people. By afternoon, the bathhouse will be much more crowded.”

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When the woman finally removed her clothes and stepped into the pool, one of the women already bathing cried out, “My goodness, your skin is so fair!”

The others turned to look as well, their faces filled with amazement and envy.

A flush instantly spread from the woman’s neck to her cheeks. She turned away shyly, leaving her smooth, pale back exposed to them.

Sister Zhang saw her embarrassment and spoke up. “You are all women. What is there to stare at?”

Half an hour later, everyone gradually emerged from the bathing hall. When the woman from the wooden cage stepped out in her new clothes, Dayong and several of the men stared at her, their eyes wide.

Her lovely face resembled a hibiscus blossom. Her brows were delicately shaped, her lips red and full, her eyes bright, and her elegant nose slightly raised. A faint dimple appeared at the corner of her cheek. Her skin was as white as snow, her beauty soft as jade, her figure straight, and her long hair loosely pinned back.

If there was anything lacking, it was only the sorrow clouding her features. Though the dirt had been washed from her body, the grief in her heart remained impossible to conceal.

Back at Wangjiang Tower, the newly purchased servants were given their first full meal since being sold into slavery. There was even meat.

After the meal, the dozen or so new servants stood in the sitting room of the rear courtyard. Xing’er occupied the seat of honor, while Tian Dayong, Zhang Guide, and the two cooks, Master Zhang and Master Liu, sat on either side. After each of the four selected assistants, they led their respective groups away.

Only Xing’er and the beautiful young woman remained in the room.

Once everyone else had gone, Xing’er finally asked, “What is your name?”

“Replying to you, Miss, my name is Zhongli Xue,” the woman answered timidly.

“How old are you this year?”

“I will be eighteen by the end of the year.”

“That makes you about the same age as the young master,” Xing’er murmured.

She herself was only nineteen, but the experiences and hardships of life had given her a very different understanding of the world. As a result, there was a considerable gap between them in both conduct and ability.

“Are you still a virgin?” Xing’er continued.

Zhongli Xue was startled. She lowered her head shyly and replied, “Yes.”

“That is good. Dayong told me about what happened to your family. Do you know whether anyone remains at home?”

“My father was falsely accused of composing treasonous poetry and died unjustly in prison. My mother passed away from grief. All the servants in our household were registered as slaves, and I do not know where they were sold.”

As she spoke, two lines of tears slipped down her cheeks.

“Enough. Do not grieve so deeply. Life is full of unexpected changes, and you must strive to go on living. I heard that you can read and write, but do you know how to keep accounts?”

“I used to help my father calculate the rents and taxes on our family’s fields.”

“Very well. In that case, stay by my side for now. After some time, I will send you to the young master to serve him.”

“I will follow whatever arrangements Miss makes.”