Chapter 390 If You Don’t Agree, I’ll Leave

Gu Jiayue looked at the box containing the money. It was already half empty, revealing the wood grain at the bottom of the box.

But she didn't even frown. She looked up at Zhao Ying and said, "Then could you please take me there, Boss Zhao?"

Zhao Ying's face showed a bit of embarrassment, and her fingers unconsciously twisted her sleeves.

She has always had a bad relationship with Mr. Wang, the boss of another dental clinic.

There is always competition among the same industry, and the two of them look down on each other's behavior, so they have always disliked each other.

Zheng Qinghe noticed this hesitation and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Boss Wang and I are quite familiar with each other, so why don't you let me take you there? Boss Zhao seems to have things to do here, so I won't bother her."

Gu Jiayue was not stupid. Seeing Zhao Ying's expression and considering that they were in the same industry, she guessed the connection.

They say that colleagues are enemies, so she naturally wouldn't force anyone to do anything. She smiled and nodded, "Okay, then I won't bother Shopkeeper Zhao. Just let County Magistrate Zheng take me there."

She turned to Zhao Ying again, took her hand and extended an invitation in a warm tone. "When you have time, Manager Zhao, please come to Taohua Village to find me. We can chat and talk about everything. It will definitely be a great experience."

This invitation wasn't just a polite gesture, it was genuine. She felt that Boss Zhao was exactly what she wanted. Talking with her was a real pleasure.

Zhao Ying also felt that she had a good relationship with Gu Jiayue, so she smiled and replied, "Of course! When the drought is over, I will definitely come to visit!"

The two chatted for a few more sentences, and they got along more and more, and it felt like they had met too late.

Gu Jiayue couldn't help but extend the invitation again: "How about Manager Zhao just come with me to Taohua Village and stay for two days?"

Zhao Ying's heart moved. She really hadn't talked enough, but when she thought about the large number of people she had to support in the dental clinic, she suddenly felt overwhelmed. She shook her head and said reluctantly, "Forget it, let's talk about it after this period of time. You bought so many children and it must be troublesome to take care of them. If you encounter any problems, just come to the county town to find me. I will help you in any way I can!"

Gu Jiayue naturally wouldn't refuse. Although Zheng Qinghe was the county magistrate, as long as she raised this banner, no one in the county would dare to embarrass her. However, even the best banners can sometimes be out of reach. Having one or two more friends would make things easier in the future.

"Okay, if there's any trouble, I'll definitely come find Sister Zhao!"

Look, in just a few words, she changed from "Boss Zhao" and "Shopkeeper Zhao" to "Sister Zhao".

Friendship between women sometimes comes so unexpectedly and inexplicably.

Zheng Qinghe stood aside, watching the sudden enthusiasm, and found it difficult to understand, but did not say anything.

After parting ways with Zhao Ying, looking back every few steps, Zheng Qinghe led Gu Jiayue down another street. "The other pawnshop isn't far ahead," he said as they walked. "Boss Wang isn't easy to deal with. He only cares about money. As long as you pay enough, he doesn't care what you do with the person you buy."

Zheng Qinghe remembered that when he first arrived in Annan County, his lawyer helped him buy a servant from Boss Wang. At that time, his lawyer said that Boss Wang was a greedy person.

Gu Jiayue felt that being greedy for money also had its advantages. At least one would not ask too many questions.

But when she weighed the remaining money in the box, she felt a little heavy in her heart.

What if there is not enough money to buy all the children?

Just as she was thinking about it, a white hand stretched out in front of her, holding a large stack of banknotes and a jade pendant with excellent water content.

"What are you doing?" Gu Jiayue turned around and looked at Zheng Qinghe with a puzzled look on her face.

Zheng Qinghe smiled and handed the item forward again. "Take it. Consider it a small token of my appreciation for the children."

Gu Jiayue took it without hesitation. "Okay, then I thank you on behalf of the children!"

This money is for the children, there is no need to be pretentious.

Every extra penny can save one more child, there is no need to hesitate.

When leaving, Hua Chao also gave all the money she had saved during this period to Gu Jiayue, so that she could save more children with the same unfortunate fate as her.

Zheng Qinghe smiled and didn't mention it again.

The two of them had already reached the door of the dental clinic.

Compared with the orderly dental clinic in Jiaxing, this one is really dirty and messy.

Maybe there have been too many people collecting crops recently, and the yard is filled with a bad smell, a mixture of rotten sweat and rotten water, which makes people feel like they are going to faint if they breathe in for a few more breaths.

There were many people lying in the yard, including men, women and children.

Women and children were crowded into a small space in the corner, while the stronger men occupied most of the yard. However, no one dared to speak out in resistance. They all had drooping heads and empty eyes.

Seeing Gu Jiayue and her group enter the courtyard, the servant guarding the door quickly put on a smile and came forward with a nod and a bow: "Oh, isn't this County Magistrate Zheng? Please come in! Please come in! I'll go call the shopkeeper right away!"

It was originally a place open for business, and Gu Jiayue and her group didn't look like they were looking for trouble, so even if Zheng Qinghe wasn't there, no one would have stopped them. It was just that with Zheng Qinghe around, these merchants were more enthusiastic.

Soon, Boss Wang came out with a grin on his face. "Oh, Magistrate Zheng, I'm sorry for not welcoming you. I'm so sorry!"

Zheng Qinghe waved his hand and didn't take his courtesy seriously.

Compared to Zhao Ying, he was not polite to the old man with yellow teeth and shrewd eyes. He directly stated his purpose: "Boss Wang, my friend just arrived in Annan County. He has many brothers and sisters at home and needs some children to help take care of them. Can you find some for him?"

Wang Dalian then turned his gaze to Gu Jiayue and quickly bowed, "Oh, so this lady is the big customer! If you have any requests, just tell me and I'll find it for you right away."

Gu Jiayue repeated what she had said at the Jiaxing Dental Clinic.

Unlike Zhao Ying, Wang Dalian never asked her how she would place the child.

On the contrary, when he heard that there were many children wanted, he immediately smiled and ordered his men: "Quick! Gather all the children and let this girl choose!"

Originally, he hadn't planned to buy these children, as they weren't very useful. But when he saw the Jiaxing Dental Clinic next door selling hundreds of them, he assumed the old woman had gotten some inside information and was stockpiling them for when they were scarce. So, he followed suit and bought some.

But who knew that these children could not do anything and still had to eat every day, so he felt that he had made a very unprofitable deal.

So when he heard that Gu Jiayue was here to buy a child, he was extremely excited. Finally, he wouldn't have to waste money on his own! He quickly asked the servants to gather the children together for Gu Jiayue to choose from.

Looking at those skinny children with stains all over their bodies, Gu Jiayue felt as if her heart was being tightened by something, causing waves of pain.

She took a deep breath and said to Wang Dalian, "I want all these children. Please calculate how much they cost."

Upon hearing the phrase "I want them all," Wang Dalian smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits, revealing his teeth. "Oh, you're such a big customer! Come on in, please. I'll calculate it for you right away!"

Entering the reception room, Wang Dalian pulled out his abacus and began counting, muttering, "I have about three hundred children here. For girls, I'll give you two taels of silver each; boys are a bit more expensive, three taels each. This is the cost price, and for County Magistrate Zheng's sake, I won't charge a penny more!"

If she hadn't just bought a girl from Zhao Ying for one or two taels of silver, Gu Jiayue might have really believed his lies.

Zheng Qinghe's brows furrowed instantly, his face darkened, and he said in an unhappy tone, "Shopkeeper Wang, this is not fair, is it? You are doubling the price."

Wang Dalian chuckled, his face trembling. "Look at what County Magistrate Zheng said. How could I possibly deceive you? I really spent two taels of silver per girl. It's not easy for anyone these days. Those families can't make ends meet. I just gave them a little extra silver out of kindness."

Zheng Qinghe waved his hand, too lazy to listen to his nonsense: "Don't tell me these nonsense. One tael of silver for a girl, two taels of silver for a boy. At this price, I will take everyone away."

"This..." The smile on Wang Dalian's face froze, and his eyes were full of astonishment.

What's wrong with Zheng Qinghe? Even the people know how much he earns?

The price is too rigid. Not only can I not make a penny, but I also have to pay for my food these days. Isn't this a losing business?

He waved his hands quickly, "No, no, no, that won't do. Even if you're the county magistrate, you can't force me to do this, right? I'm just running a small business, and these people need money to eat, drink, and go to the bathroom every day. I have to make some money, right?"

But looking at Zheng Qinghe's expression, he realized that although the county magistrate was easy to talk to on weekdays, he was not an easy person to get along with and was a dark person inside.

Last time, there was a rich man who was unwilling to donate money, and a few days later he found a reason to arrest him.

He has someone above him, but even that person can't save him this time, right?

So he had to be low-key when it was time to be low-key. So he thought about it and said, "Well, for the sake of the county magistrate, I'll sell you one tael and five cents for a girl and two taels and five cents for a boy! Any less and I won't sell you!"

Most of the children he collected were good-looking. If he sold them after a while, the price would definitely be high, so he wouldn't lose money at all.

Why would he rush to sell it to Zheng Qinghe? Is he so great just because he's the county magistrate?

Zheng Qinghe didn't respond to him, but just looked at Gu Jiayue. After all, it was her who had to make the final decision on the payment.

Gu Jiayue thought about it again and again. She felt that the price was too high, but looking at those children, she couldn't just ignore any of them.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and directly quoted the price: "One ounce and three cents for a girl, two ounces and three cents for a boy. If you agree, I'll take all the children away; if not, forget it."