Wei Yuyan knew that her brother-in-law wanted to develop his career in their hometown, but he still lacked business experience and was a little worried.
"Okay, I'll take your opinion."
Chen Yu thought that even if a hothead like him were asked to open a shop, he wouldn't dare.
"Today we're going to town to buy helpers for the steamed bun shop, and tomorrow we'll go find a shop together."
Wei Yuyan planned to handle everything with Chen Yu. This time, she would be the one funding it, and she would pay Chen Yu a monthly allowance in the future.
"Sister-in-law, we're here."
As soon as Wei Yuyan finished speaking, her two sisters-in-law came over.
"Perfect timing, let's go."
After Wei Yuyan finished speaking, she got up and went back to her room to get the silver.
Fifteen minutes later～～～
"This is it~".
Looking at the large storefront, Wei Yuyan guessed that there must be many people waiting to be bought inside.
"Oh dear, ladies, are you looking to buy workers? I have all kinds here."
Maids, attendants, pageboys, farmhands, old women—any age you want, we have them.”
A woman came out to greet them, and Wei Yuyan thought she looked a bit like a brothel madam.
"I want to see men and women around thirty or forty years old."
Wei Yuyan replied.
"Understood, I'll go call them right away."
The proprietress waved her handkerchief and went to the backyard to call for people, so Wei Yuyan and the other three sat down to wait.
In less than fifteen minutes, the proprietress called out ten women in their thirties or forties.
There weren't many men, maybe four or five.
"These men don't look very good."
Sister-in-law Zhang muttered to herself.
I think so too.
Sister-in-law Xiuhua chimed in.
“There are few men around thirty or forty years old here, but there are quite a few around eleven or twelve years old.”
The proprietress explained.
Wei Yuyan nodded silently and began to observe the ten women.
"Madam, I can do everything. I can do laundry, cook, take care of the children, and even work in the fields."
Suddenly, the person in front of me started volunteering, probably because life here was tough and they couldn't wait to be sold off.
"Madam, I can read, please buy me."
"Madam, I can do anything."
Once one person started speaking, many others began to volunteer.
Wei Yuyan was not affected by their words, but carefully observed their expressions and actions.
"She's not good with men, she looks sickly."
At this moment, Wu Chen leaned over and whispered these words in Wei Yuyan's ear.
"Alright, then forget it, ma'am. I'll take this one. How much does it cost?"
Wei Yuyan pointed to the eldest sister standing at the very back. The eldest sister looked somewhat introverted, and one look at her hands revealed that they were the hands of someone who did manual labor.
"Oh, it's Yu Niang. Alright, alright, Yu Niang, stay. Everyone else, you may leave."
The proprietress was quite pleased to see that those who were chosen had gone home.
"Greetings, Madam. I am Yu Niang."
When the eldest sister heard that Wei Yuyan had chosen her, her expression was a little strange. She seemed to be both happy and conflicted, and it was hard to tell if she was unwilling.
“Yu Niang, I can’t really be called a lady. My family just runs a steamed bun shop.”
"If I buy you, you'll be making and selling steamed buns. I can't guarantee anything else, but you'll be able to eat your fill and stay warm. I don't know if you'd be willing."
Wei is very democratic; if he wants manpower, he wants loyal people. If someone doesn't want to work, buying them back is useless.
“Yu Niang dares not complain, but she has one unreasonable request…”
"Jade Maiden~".
Before Yu Niang could finish speaking, she was loudly reprimanded by the proprietress who had returned with the tea.
Yu Niang immediately lowered her head.
“Yu Niang, what were you about to say? Please speak freely.”
Wei Yuyan wondered if Yu Niang had some unspeakable secret.
"I... I implore you, madam, could you buy my son as well? My son, Shitou, can do everything."
As Yu Niang spoke, she kowtowed, her eyes filled with urgency.
"son?".
Wei Yuyan never expected this situation; both she and her son had been sold here.
"Madam, don't listen to her nonsense. You can buy whoever you want. We don't do forced buying and selling here."
Worried that Yu Niang would scare Wei Yuyan away, the proprietress quickly came out to explain and glared at Yu Niang.
"No rush, let his son come out and take a look."
Wei Yuyan raised her hand to stop them. Yu Niang herself was satisfied. As for her son, she would see. Buying the mother and son was not out of the question.
"Thank you, madam."
Yu Niang looked at Wei Yuyan with gratitude, somewhat excited.
"good".
Seeing that Wei Yuyan had something on her mind, the landlady stopped glaring at Yu Niang and quickly went to the backyard to call for help.
Soon, the proprietress called over a boy who looked about the same age as Xiao Lei, or maybe a little older.
"Mother~".
When Shi Tou saw his mother kneeling on the ground, he quickly went over to help her up.
"Stone, come quickly and call the lady."
Yu Niang pulled Shi Tou and was about to kowtow to Wei Yu Yan.
"No rush, right, Stone? How old are you this year?"
Wei Yuyan thought Shi Tou looked very honest and simple, so he must be a very honest and simple child.
"Madam, I am thirteen years old this year."
Stone knelt on the ground and replied.
"Are you willing to work in the fields, like planting rice seedlings?"
Wei Yuyan asked.
"I'm willing. I'll do anything as long as I can be with my mother."
Shi Tou looked at Yu Niang and then nodded heavily.
What do you think?
Wei Yuyan looked at Wu Chen.
"Yes, that's good."
Wu Chen nodded.
"Madam, how much silver do they cost together, mother and son?"
Wei Yuyan had made up her mind to buy the mother and son.
"Madam, the price for the mother and son is not expensive, twelve taels."
As the proprietress spoke, she began looking for indentures. "Great! This hot potato has finally been sold today."
This kind of family-oriented purchase is the most troublesome; very few people buy a whole family's property.
"So expensive?"
Sister-in-law Zhang was surprised, thinking that ten taels of silver was the most she could get.
"It's not expensive. Yu Niang is a very capable worker, and Shi Tou will be a full-fledged laborer in a couple of years. Come, Madam, take a look at this indenture. There are no problems."
The proprietress smiled as brightly as a flower, and then handed the two contracts to Wei Yuyan.
Wei Yuyan took the indenture and looked at it. Yu Niang's surname was Xu, Xu Yu Niang, and Shi Tou's real name was Li Qingsong. Neither of their names were unremarkable.
"no problem".
Wei Yuyan readily took out twelve taels of silver from her pocket, which was the money she had saved from selling steamed buns last year.
After buying these two indentures, the family only had less than two taels of silver left.
"Thank you, Madam. Yu Niang, please pack your things and come with you."
The proprietress beamed as she took the money, and her attitude towards Yu Niang improved.
"Yes, madam, please wait a moment."
Yu Niang took Shi Tou to pack their things, while Wei Yu Yan and her group of four waited at the door.
"Girl, you're too soft-hearted. Before we came, you said you didn't want any young punks, but now you're saying no..."
Sister-in-law Zhang felt sorry for Wei Yuyan, thinking that a twelve or thirteen-year-old child couldn't possibly do many things.
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