Chapter 33 Purchasing People [5], Part 1
The slave dealers were used to such scenes of loud crying and shouting.
Zi You’s heart clenched. She scolded herself. Didn’t she say she would never be softhearted again? Why was her old disease rearing its head again?
This world had too many people pitiful people. Could she afford to be sympathetic?
Moreover, those pitiful people must have hateful points. In her previous life, didn’t she pity Yu LanXuan for being born a Shu [concubine-born] daughter and being bullied by her Di [legitimate wife-born] siblings? Then she [Zi You] led the wolf into her house?
Zi You hardened her heart and was about to conclude the transaction. But the little girl who begged her fiercely glared at her and scolded, “I’m not going with you. Even if I die, I will die with my big brother. You’re so cruel. You want to separate us.”
Looking at the little girl’s determined face, Zi You was momentarily stunned. In her past life, when she learned her grandfather and uncle died of illness in Nanjiang, her heart was filled with pain, the kind of pain where she hated she couldn’t follow them in death. Zi You’s hard-like-iron heart collapsed a little.
She stopped the slave dealer who was about to hit the little girl and heavily said, “Bring her brothers over.”
“Okay, okay.” The slave dealer gladly ran off.
Four girls, including the one who called Zi You cruel, rushed towards Zi You and kowtowed. “Thank you, benefactor! Thank you, benefactor! This slave iswilling to do anything for benefactor Xiaojie, be it being a cow or horse.” Although Zi You appeared cold, her mood was pleasant. It wasn’t for the little girl’s gratitude, but that in such a precarious situation, there was still real love and emotion.
The four girls’ brothers came. They were ten and twelve and two were thirteen years of age.
Chapter 33 Purchasing People [5], Part 2
The thirteen-year-old, tall, dark-skinned, aloof teenager was the brother of the first girl who begged Zi You.
The little girl saw her brother and immediately rushed towards his chest, crying heartbreakingly.
The other three girls found their brothers, held hands and wept, while asking after each others’ well-being.
Zi You’s four first-ranked maidservants all wept sympathetic tears seeing this scene.
Although Zi You’s heart was also feeling sorrow, her appearance was always cold. She looked in the distance as if the things happening in front of her had nothing to do with her.
After ten minutes or so, she gave the slave dealer 360 silvers. She told her maidservants and Fang Dasheng, “Hire two big carriages. Take them to the market, let them eat, bathe, and wear clean clothes before taking them home.”
“Yes.” Fang Dasheng was General Mu’s exclusive carriage driver, loyal and knew martial arts. Because Zi You did not want guards or soldiers to follow, Old General Mu was worried she would suffer. He allowed his own carriage driver to follow this trip.
Since Laoye told him not to do anything until the critical juncture, he would just not care about anything and listen to Xiaojie. The two carriages were hired and the forty-nine slaves were brought away.
Back in the market, ShiYun and HaiYun went to buy clothing. MoYun and ShuiYun went to contact a restaurant. Fang Dasheng went to contact the bathhouse.
Half an hour later, three sets of people returned. MoYun and ShuiYun booked a small restaurant. Fang Dasheng booked a bathhouse. Zi You ordered the slaves to the restaurant first. Everyone had one bowl of congee, two small dishes and a small mantou [steamed bread].
