Chapter 56 Sympathy is not a meal!
It is said to be the busiest cattle and horse market in Wei, but in fact it is just a large open space surrounded by wooden fences.
Two hundred soldiers from the Tunhe Guard were assigned to patrol and maintain order.
There are many straw huts and more than a dozen adobe houses built on the south side of the market. The straw huts are used to house the best horses, each of which can be sold for hundreds of taels of silver. The adobe houses are for big merchants and servants.
Big merchants traveled between the Northwest Grasslands and the Great Wei, and they needed to eat, drink, and rest, and the officials had to witness all transactions and then collect taxes!
Tunhewei is a poor place. Apart from furs and medicinal materials, the transaction tax from the cattle and horse market is an important source of income.
The Tai family was a small family and they just wanted to buy a helper to farm the land, so they didn't dare to walk around the south side of the market. Almost as soon as they entered the door, Grandpa Tai ran to the north.
Tai Jiye was secretly trying to sneak away to the south, but his brother pulled him back to his side...
Sure enough, the north side of the market was mostly filled with cattle, old horses, and injured horses, but the prices were all around ten or so taels.
The old man walked back and forth, but couldn't find anything he liked. He was also worried about the money and became hesitant.
Tai Jizu was a filial son, and he whispered, "Dad, if it really doesn't work out, we can just take turns pulling the plow. We don't really need to buy an animal. Let's just take a stroll. Even if we don't find a suitable one, we can still save money."
Tai Jiye is quick-witted and instigated his father.
"Dad, there's nothing good in the north. Why don't we go to the south and have a look? What if we find the right one?"
The old man was interested and thought that since it was his turn, it wouldn't hurt to go over and take a walk.
The father and his two sons walked around the crowd and along the edge of the market all the way to the south, where they saw a lot of people gathered around a tent and talking.
Tai Jiye immediately came over with a smile and started a conversation. It turned out that a merchant had brought back some horses from the northwest. One of the horses was suffering from diarrhea due to the unfamiliar climate.
The merchant also found a veterinarian, but the horse did not improve after several days of treatment. Now the horse was dying. The merchant was anxious to leave, so he had to sell the sick horse at a low price.
After hearing this, Mr. Tai quickly squeezed into the crowd.
Sure enough, there was a completely black horse lying in the stable, with only a white patch on its forehead. Its skeleton was well-proportioned and tall, but unfortunately, the back of its tail was covered with excrement. It was very thin, its fur had no luster, and its head was so sick that it could not lift it up. It was obvious that it was dying.
A merchant from the northwest, with deep eye sockets and a high nose bridge, frowned deeply and shouted to the crowd, "Ten taels! Just ten taels, and you can take this two-year-old BMW home! Don't look at its appearance; I spent a full fifty taels on it when I bought it!"
Some of the onlookers knew the merchant and couldn't help but joke.
"Even the best horse will soon become a dead horse! Not to mention ten taels of silver, even one tael is a loss!"
The merchant was heartbroken and angrily said, "Even if it's ten taels of silver, if no one wants it, I'll skin and sell the horse while it's still alive!"
Dark Horse probably understood and struggled to get up, but his legs and feet had no strength at all. He tried to support his head but couldn't support his body.
After struggling for a long time, the black horse was unable to stand up, except for being covered with more feces.
Finally, it lay there, with big tears streaming down the corners of its eyes.
Even a heartless person couldn't help but sigh after seeing this scene.
But no one's money comes from the wind, so if you buy it back, you will lose money.
Sympathy is not worth spending money, let alone eating...
The merchant was also disappointed. Just when he was about to order his servants to kill the black horse, Old Man Tai stood up.
"This black horse, ten taels of silver, I'll buy it!"
Everyone was surprised and looked over.
I originally thought he was a rich man who wouldn't feel bad about throwing away ten taels of silver, but I didn't expect him to be an old farmer with gray hair.
Someone said something and advised, "Old man, if you buy this horse, it will die. Aren't you afraid of regretting it?"
"Yes, ten taels of silver is enough to buy an acre of good farmland."
"It's pitiful, but you can't go bankrupt just for a horse!"
Others were also trying to persuade him, and they were kind-hearted.
The old man said nothing more, just waved his left arm and replied, "This horse looks like it's the descendant of a military horse. I was also injured and retired from the army, so I really can't bear to see it. Buy it back, and if it can be cured, keep it. If not, bury it."
Everyone suddenly realized what was happening, and even those who had just laughed at the old man for being crazy changed their expressions.
The merchant was very happy that someone was taking over, and he quickly made arrangements to write the deed, pay the taxes, and start the business.
Although Tai Jiye also felt that he would suffer a loss if he bought the horse, he did not dare to make his father unhappy, so he could only quickly pay the money.
Tai Jizu had already found a torn sack and cleaned the dirt from under the black horse.
The old man looked at the black horse's eyes and mouth, rubbed its belly, and examined it very carefully.
The merchant couldn't help but ask, "Old man, can you cure horse diseases?"
The old man shook his head and replied, "In the army, a warhorse is a brother whom a soldier can trust with his life. After spending a long time with him, he will always understand some of his habits. I can't say I can treat illnesses, but I'm just thinking of trying some folk remedies when I get back. If I can save his life, that would be great."
The merchants often traveled on the grassland and encountered danger many times. They were also rescued by border troops several times. Seeing the old man's injured arm gently wiping the tears of the black horse, he was a little moved.
After thinking for a while, he gave a few instructions to the manager beside him.
Soon, the steward came back with a black puppy.
The merchant personally handed the puppy to the old man and said, "Old man, it's fate that we made this deal. My mastiff just gave birth to puppies, and I'm giving you one. Take it home and raise it for your children."
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