Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Update.
When we arrived at Sangshu Lane, this big chestnut horse attracted the attention of the neighbors.
Because Tian had been riding in the Yan family's carriage frequently in the alley recently, they were all familiar with each other and asked:
"Miss Tian, why is there an extra horse today? Did you steal it from the Yan family?"
"Go to hell! This horse was given to me, her eldest daughter, by her aunt. It's such a good horse! Only her aunt loves her niece so much that she would be willing to give it away."
As he spoke, he stroked the horse's neck a few times. It was indeed a docile and good horse.
The groom untied the horse's reins from the shaft and handed them to Ji Xu. He politely declined Tian's invitation to come in for tea and turned back in the alley.
The neighbors who had just returned from the market to buy food and vegetables stopped to watch and said:
"What a fine horse! Look at the color of its coat. It must have been well-fed."
"Better than the skinny horse at Dussoff's house."
"It's more than just good, it's much stronger. This horse is so strong, I'm sure it can carry a hundred bushels of wheat."
A few people pointed and talked at the horse. The neighbor, Jin, was about to go out to dispose of the ashes, but after listening to the noise from behind the door, she hid for the time being and did not go out. She gritted her teeth and
"She has become a cheap aunt. What a blessing for her, Tian Guinu."
I suddenly regretted not being nicer to the mute.
Tian's family invited a bricklayer that day to build a wall in the cow and horse stable, dividing it into two pens. They also built separate feeding troughs and water troughs to raise the family's yellow cattle and chestnut horses respectively.
Wood shavings are laid under the horses' bed, which can prevent moisture and keep warm, facilitate the horses' rest, and are also easy to clean and replace daily. The shavings soaked with horse urine are directly shoveled away, and the horse manure mixed in the shavings is raked out with a rake. New shavings are added every day, and the horses' hooves are trimmed and their hair is combed regularly.
Tian had learned all this from the groom on her way back, saying:
"Raising horses is more delicate than raising cattle."
The groom said, "A good horse must be well bred and well fed."
The monthly cost of raising horses is also a considerable expense. No wonder most ordinary people use ox carts. For example, Tian tried to feed the fodder that the ox eats to the horse, but it didn't eat it.
I went to the West Market and bought the kind of fodder that the groom mentioned before he would eat it. In the past, I absolutely could not afford to raise a horse. Fortunately, my family is better off now and I can afford to raise a horse.
Tian naturally used the horse manure and cow manure to fertilize the vegetable fields. With the fertilizer, the vegetables grew better and better.
In the first month of the year, Ji Xu put on thick clothes, a hood and hand clothes, wrapped himself tightly, and rode to Maoling Town to prepare meals for Mrs. Xu, who had lower abdominal pain during her menstrual period.
This was a long-term, gradual process of recuperation. She visited every once in a while, and also hosted a banquet for her old friend, Madam Zhou, and Madam Wu, who was hosting a birthday party...
They were all those who had met Ji Xu in front of Song that day, and they sent someone to deliver an invitation to invite her to work in the kitchen. Every time Ji Xu came to their house, she would charge one or two taels of gold, which was equivalent to four or two taels of silver.
Therefore, they gave Ji Xu a nickname, "Yi Jin Nu Niang". Of course, this happened gradually after the New Year.
It was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the day for family reunions, and the day after Ziyan returned home.
In front of every house in the alley hung peach and fish charms, sheshou and other items to ward off evil and bring good fortune, and the aroma of wine and meat was stronger than before.
They saw a shrewd fat woman knocking on each door. She was a human trafficker in the area and she came to ask them with a smile if anyone wanted to buy a slave.
These slaves had their hands tied, and were lined up in a row, the older slaves in one row and the younger slaves in another. They were wearing thin clothes. Children in the alley were playing with burning bamboo, and the sound of the explosions scared them so much that they shrank back. They were scolded by the traffickers and stood in line.
The children left the fire and ran over. Looking at them, they found Ji Feng among them.
She was taller now, with a double-ring bun, and a newly made silver-red jacket that showed off her slender figure. Her skirt and shoes were embroidered with beautiful orchids. When she saw the trafficker knocking at her gate, she came over and said,
"Where did it come from? We don't buy slaves."
There were also other adults who heard the knock at the door and came out, wondering:
"Why are you selling people here? You should go to the city, to Maoling Town. Who here can afford to buy a maid to serve you?"
"These are from floods in Lingnan. They were sold at a low price. This little slave is not worth ten thousand coins anymore. I can buy him for seven thousand coins to serve at home. I'll ask around. Is anyone short of servants for the New Year?"
Seven thousand coins was indeed a low price; a working ox was about the same price. However, a small slave wouldn't be able to do any hard work, and he'd have to spend money on food and drink, so it wasn't worth it. Some of them also inquired about the price of a full-grown slave, which was twice as much as a small one, but no one was buying them at the moment, and most of them were just watching the fun.
However, Tian had an idea. Her eldest daughter was going to cook for the ladies in Maoling County. As the snow and wind had stopped after the New Year, elementary school was about to start, and Feng and Zhu should continue their studies. She would also continue to set up a stall in the nearby Huai City, and the braised food stall in the store was in need of someone to look after it.
Besides, dealing with chores, washing clothes and feeding livestock every day is also a tedious task. Although it is not laborious, it takes time.
When Tian heard the human trafficker say that the maid was worth a good price, she had the idea of buying her to work at home.
When the trafficker saw Tian coming out of the large courtyard, with her hair in a flat bun and decent clothes, he looked at the little girls and said with a smile:
"These are all healthy people with healthy hands and feet. Which one do you like, Madam?"
The human trafficker untied a girl's hands and feet and pushed her in front of Tian. She was about the same height as Ji Feng, thinner and darker, and not very old. Because she was going out to find someone, the human trafficker made her wear a relatively clean reed-quilted jacket that was longer than her knees. She was not wearing any pants, and her shoes had exposed toes. Her hands were also frozen and had sores.
It was winter, and all the slaves looked like this. The better ones were naturally taken to Maoling Town and sold.
"How old are you? What's your name?"
Tian asked. She really wanted to buy a maid, a small servant would do. The chores at home were not too strenuous and there was no need to carry anything. Besides, a maid would be more convenient. After all, there were only girls in the house, and she was not at ease buying a servant.
"This servant is twelve years old and has no name. Please give me one, Madam."
As he said this, he kowtowed to Tian and said, "This was all taught by the human traffickers. You should call the buyer "Madam" and you can't use your old name anymore. You have to obey the owner of the new place."
Tian's face lit up when she heard this. She then asked her where she was from, how many people were in her family, and what kind of work she could do at home. After hearing all this, she decided to buy her. After thinking for a while, she said:
"My family runs a prepared food business. Well, you can be called Golden Bean. It sounds nice and festive."
"That's a great name, Jindou, thank you, Madam!"
Jindou was bought, and he no longer had to suffer the cold in the snow and could go back to live in the cowshed. Yin was also very excited.
Feng squeezed in the crowd and asked Tian: "Mother, do we really want to buy a maid? I can do a lot of work, why would I waste money?"
"The days are short and the nights long now. When your elementary school starts, you'll have to spend a lot of time at home. This is also your sister's idea. You're a little girl, but you don't understand. Go and watch the fire under the stove."
As he spoke, he paid money to the human trafficker in exchange for the body contract, which made others envious.
"Ms. Tian's life has become better now. She can even afford to have a maid to serve her."
"Yes, seven thousand coins can buy a powerful bull in the West Market! After all, it's more respectable than us."
It is said that Jin was also watching the fun outside. As she watched, she felt uncomfortable because Tian was willing to buy something. She also started to pick and choose among the maids.
Ji Yuan figured out her plan, squeezed over and pulled her back, saying:
"Don't think about that, mother. We don't need anyone to take care of us. Besides, we only have two rooms, so we can't accommodate everyone."
"Your mother, I chop meat and make soup every day, and my arms are sore. I should buy a maid to light the fire, cook, and massage shoulders and legs. Ji Xu didn't stop Tian Guinu, so if you stop me, you will be unfilial."
Yesterday, the neighbor brought back a tall horse, so majestic. My own skinny horse was outclassed. In the past six months, the family has saved some money by selling millet rice and meat soup. Jin has always dreamed of a good life with a maid to serve her, but the neighbor bought one, so she has to buy a maid no matter what.
Ji Yuan couldn't persuade him, so he walked in and complained to Ji Zhi:
"Mother is really something. She is becoming more and more uncalculating. She works hard from dawn to dusk to earn some hard-earned money, but now spends it lavishly."
"Do you want to buy a girl?"
In this way, she could be lazy and not be ordered to do housework by Jin. When Ji Zhi heard about it, he was looking forward to it.
As the son-in-law, Du Xian was in a difficult position to dissuade his aunt. Besides, it was too late to say anything now. Jin had already rummaged through the money box and brought in a little girl with a smile. The little girl was not very old, but she looked around the family with her eyes wide open.
next door,
Tian was preparing New Year's Eve dinner, Feng and Zhu were watching the fire under the stove. Jindou was brought in by Tian and called "Miss". The two of them were stunned and didn't react.
"Miss, let the servants do the rough work of lighting the fire, so as not to dirty your clothes."
It seemed that she was used to doing this. She knew how to make fire, fetch water, and pick vegetables. She helped Tian prepare a large table of dishes. Tian also asked Ji Feng to take her to the store to get familiar with the route and bought two liters of Luoma wine to bring home.
When Ji Xu came back from the West Market to buy a saddle horse, Jin Dou diligently washed an iron cauldron by the well. Seeing Ji Xu coming back, he said:
"The lady is back."
She also led her horse to the stable in the backyard. Tian had just shown her around, so she knew the way.
Ji Feng was quick-witted and ran to Ji Xu, pointing at the horse and telling her about the purchase of Jindou at home. Ji Xu saw that Jindou was a little timid, probably because he had never taken care of horses before, so he said:
"This horse is docile and won't kick. I'll teach you how to do it, and you'll learn it if you keep it."
He led her to the stable and taught her to tie the horse. Then Jindou went back to wash the cooking utensils, and was so particular that she remembered to wash her hands first.
Here, Tian had prepared the food early and was waiting for her daughter to come for the reunion dinner. She took her daughter's hand and kissed her for a few words, then asked her how the saddle and horse she bought went.
"Everything is ready now. We can ride to Maoling Town after the New Year."
Ji Xu took off his hood and said,
"Call Jindou in to eat too."
She and Tian discussed buying a slave because their family stall was short of staff. If they hired someone from outside, they were afraid they would not be trustworthy, so they bought an innocent little maid. Now she was washing cooking utensils alone. She was half grown up and looked very lonely.
Tian called her, "Jindou, Jindou, come in and have the New Year's Eve dinner."
"I dare not. Madam and the ladies, please eat first."
Jindoudao, Tian knew she would be so strict, and explained to Jixu:
"Her family had no one left. She had been serving in the kitchen of a wealthy family in Lingnan since she was a child, doing rough work. Later, Lingnan was hit by a flood, and the family couldn't afford so many people, so they sold her. Since the area was hit by a disaster, people couldn't be sold at a high price, so she was sold by human traffickers all the way to Chang'an."
These were all things Tian had asked about before buying the house. She chose her because she was good at housework, had served others before, and spoke coherently.
Having a meal at the same table with the master was something that Jindou, a low-ranking slave since childhood, had never dared to think about. Instead, he felt that he had done something wrong, so he worked even harder. He washed the cooking utensils, lit the fire under the stove, and cooked the old broth stored at home.
Ji Xu then served the rice and picked out some of the various dishes, making a large bowl, which he brought to her. Jindou, on the other hand, was much more relaxed, sitting under the stove, watching the fire while eating with big mouthfuls.
This was the first full meal she had eaten since she was sold. It was snowing outside and it was really warm here.
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