Chapter 175 Tu Shi
"I want to buy some slaves." Song Yuntang stated his purpose directly.
The person behind the counter walked around to her and said, "What kind of servant is this? I'll introduce him to Miss Song."
Song Yuntang thought for a moment and said, "I want someone who is diligent and honest, not someone who is cunning and sly. It doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman, but they have to be able to work."
"Miss Song, come with me."
The manager led Song Yuntang to where the servants of the pawnshop lived.
There are thirty or forty slaves living here, including men, women, young and old. The market is not good this year, and the slaves are also unsaleable. Some have been here for more than half a year and have not yet been bought.
It costs money for the pawnshop to support these slaves, and the slaves have a hard time if they cannot earn any money here for a long time. After all, they are also human beings, and as human beings they need to live.
At this moment, they saw the manager leading a girl over. Everyone put down their work and gathered here. Some of the more powerful ones even pushed others aside and stood in front of the crowd, hoping that the girl would see them first when she was choosing a servant.
"Miss Song is here today to select servants. Everyone stand still."
"I wonder which family this girl is from?" someone asked.
Song Yuntang wore a beige cotton straight-collared jacket with a light green skirt today. Her long hair was tied into a bun on top of her head with a light-colored headband, making her look neat and tidy.
Although she had a good temperament, she was not wearing silk or satin, so everyone thought she was a maid in a wealthy family.
The family that can raise a maid with such temperament must be either rich or noble.
Some people couldn't help but feel secretly happy in their hearts, hoping to be chosen by Song Yuntang to buy. However, Song Yuntang's next words made these people's hearts fall into the abyss.
"I am not from a wealthy family. I came here today mainly to find a few people to work on my farm. Anyone who is willing can step forward. Anyone who is not willing can leave now."
As she spoke, she glanced over the expressions on these people's faces one by one.
In the past, only servants from wealthy families who had made mistakes would be sent to the farm. Not only was it dirty and tiring, but the monthly salary was also low. It was obvious that working on the farm was not an easy job for servants like them.
Therefore, as soon as Song Yuntang finished speaking, half of the people dispersed.
The rest of them are either really looking for work, or looking for a temporary job, or trying to fish in troubled waters.
Song Yuntang saw these people's reactions.
She pointed at several of them one by one.
"You, you, and the rest of you, I don't want you."
Seeing this, those people looked at each other, turned around and left.
In the end, there were only eight people left in front of Song Yuntang, three men, three women, one old and one young.
Among them, there was a man and a woman, an old and a young person, who looked like a family. The couple was about 23 or 24 years old, and the younger one next to them should be their child, about five or six years old. The other aunt looked to be in her early forties, and she didn't have many wrinkles on her face, but her hair was half white, so she looked old.
"Has anyone among you ever done farm work?" Song Yuntang asked.
Except for the two women who were born into slavery and the child of five or six years old, five people, three men, one woman and one old man, raised their hands.
"We all did it."
"These people were originally from farming families. They sold themselves into slavery because their families suffered misfortunes and they had nowhere else to turn." The steward pointed at the family and said, "Miss Song, if you are willing to buy these four people, I can give you a discount."
Looking at the neatly arranged family of four, Song Yuntang was very confused.
There were boys and girls, with hands and feet. Since they came from farmers' families, they could easily work hard to support themselves and their families. She really couldn't understand why they would sell themselves into slavery with their children.
"Why did you sell your bodies?"
The man lowered his head.
"To be honest, my father is a gambler. He usually drinks and gambles."
"More than two months ago, he lost a large sum of money in an underground bank. My family couldn't pay it back, so the bank sent people to intimidate us. They also crippled my father's legs and threatened that my father would have to pay for the debt. If I couldn't pay back the money, they would take my wife to a brothel and sell her, and they would also sell my son to a wealthy family for them to play with."
"I really had no choice. I couldn't defeat those people. I was afraid of any accidents, so I sold my ancestral home overnight and took my wife, children and mother to sell themselves as slaves to pay back the money for my father. I can't care what he does in the future."
Song Yuntang understood.
"Is that underground bank in Cile Town?"
If she were in Cile Town, she would not dare to accept these men. It is better to be safe than sorry. Even if a gambler has his hands and feet broken, he will still go to gamble. As long as there is a blood relationship between them, there will inevitably be trouble.
The manager said hurriedly, "They came from Yuquan Town, which is hundreds of miles away from us."
Song Yuntang nodded. Since they were hundreds of miles apart, he didn't have to worry about it.
"I wonder how much silver it would cost to buy out their family of four?"
If the price is right and you want to buy it, it would be best to buy it together. The whole family is on the farm and has a soft spot, so they can think more about the consequences when they do things.
It would be a shame to separate this family.
After thinking for a while, the manager looked at Song Yuntang.
"We usually sell a mature servant for fifteen taels of silver. This aunt is a little older, but she can still work for a few more years, so she will sell for eight taels. As for this child, he is still too young, so I will give him four taels."
"Miss Song is a frequent customer here, and we both do business on this street, so I'll just give you a change, how about forty taels?"
It is equivalent to saving two taels.
On average, one person cost ten taels of silver. In ancient times, people were really worthless.
Just then, a man who was half a head taller than the man in the family of four pointed at him.
"Girl, you can also consider me. I'm strong and good at farm work! If you buy me, I don't need monthly salary, just enough food."
The man is big and strong, and doesn't look like a very scheming person.
Song Yuntang didn't hear anything else, but the words "no monthly payment" did attract her attention.
She looked at the person in charge with some confusion.
Seeing this, the manager said quickly, "This slave's surname is Tu, and his name is Tu Shi. He is an orphan because his parents are both dead. He is 21 years old this year. He is indeed a good worker, and he can do the work of three people. But he has a huge appetite. He sold himself into slavery after he ate himself to the point of being penniless."
Tu Shi smiled innocently, scratched his head and said, "My appetite is a bit big. My biggest wish in this life is to have enough food. I really don't need the monthly salary from the girl."
It’s okay to have a big appetite, as long as you are capable.
She has no shortage of food anyway.
Song Yuntang looked at the headmaster and said, "I won't say anything more to Headmaster Li. I will take these five people with me. They will be given fifty taels of silver."
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