Both buffaloes were already injured, and if this continued, they wouldn't stop until one of them died.
Several people were standing beside the two cows, pacing anxiously but not daring to approach.
Seeing this, the woman became anxious. Last time, the two cows were injured in a fight, and Master He withheld his brother's wages for half a year. This time, the two cows fought again and were already injured. She estimated that Master He would withhold her brother's wages again.
The woman quickly ran to a large locust tree not far away and shouted up at it.
"Big Ox, wake up! The two oxen are fighting again. Come down and separate them."
After shouting a few times, a young man jumped down from the tree. He was tall, dark-skinned, shirtless, and wearing only a pair of shorts.
After he jumped down from the tree, he kept rubbing his eyes, looking like he hadn't slept well.
"Big Ox, why are you sleeping in the tree again? The two oxen are fighting again. Quickly separate them."
Da Niu then opened his eyes and looked at the grass. When he saw two cows fighting, he immediately became anxious.
"Stop fighting, stop fighting! Didn't I tell you this when I went to sleep? Why are you fighting again?"
After Da Niu finished speaking, he ran wildly towards the two water buffaloes.
He approached the two cows and began to persuade them.
"You two stop fighting, okay?"
But the two buffaloes completely ignored him; their four horns were tangled together, making it difficult to separate them.
Da Niu got anxious. This was disrespectful to him. He stepped forward, grabbed the horns of both water buffaloes with both hands, and then used force to separate the two buffaloes.
The two separated water buffaloes looked at the larger buffalo at the same time, and immediately became much more obedient. They stood still, not daring to move.
Such immense strength! It could separate two angry water buffaloes; one arm must have the strength of at least a thousand pounds.
The villagers watching the spectacle seemed used to it; they were just a little disappointed, and seeing that the two water buffaloes could no longer fight, they left one by one.
The servants of Master He then led the two water buffaloes away. The buffaloes were already injured, and Master He was likely to be furious, and Master He would probably deduct their wages again.
Seeing Zhao Xian and Zhao Cheng beside her, the woman gave an awkward smile.
"I'm sorry to have made you laugh. My brother is a little simple-minded, but he's very strong."
Two water buffaloes got into a fight and were injured. The larger buffalo knew it had made a mistake, so it lowered its head and followed behind the woman, not daring to say a word.
"My name is Chen Xiaoxiao, and my younger brother's name is Chen Daniu. When he was little, he liked to climb trees, but he fell from a tree and broke his head, so he's a little mentally challenged," the woman began to introduce herself.
Zhao Cheng looked at Chen Daniu with great admiration. This young man was born with superhuman strength. If he were taught martial arts, he would definitely be a fierce general on the battlefield.
When the group arrived at the door, Chen Xiaoxiao invited the two inside, only to find that someone was already sitting there.
"Chen Xiaoxiao, you said you would pay off the debt in three days. Today is the third day. I don't know if you have the money ready yet."
Chen Xiaoxiao was stunned. She had indeed promised the creditor that she would pay off the debt in three days. In order to raise the five taels of silver, she stood in the county town for three days, but still did not sell herself.
Today is the deadline for repaying the debt. Although the buyer came to learn about her situation, he has not yet decided whether he is willing to buy her.
Chen Xiaoxiao looked helplessly at Zhao Xian, who nodded and handed over eight taels of silver.
Upon seeing that Zhao Xian was willing to buy her, Chen Xiaoxiao was initially overjoyed, but then a look of sorrow appeared on her face.
Zhao Xian understood Chen Xiaoxiao's feelings, and after accepting the money, she was no longer a free woman; she was forced to sell herself into slavery.
"You take care of this first, and we'll wait outside for a while." After saying this, Zhao Xian and Zhao Cheng went outside.
Before long, the debt collectors left, and Chen Xiaoxiao followed them out.
"Have you taken care of everything?" Zhao Xian asked.
"Everything is done, sir. Please come inside with me."
Chen Xiaoxiao changed how she addressed herself. This era is so realistic; a few taels of silver can change a person's fate.
The group returned to the house, and Chen Xiaoxiao took out a contract of indenture and handed it to Zhao Xian. Zhao Xian took it and looked at it, but found no problems.
Chen Xiaoxiao pressed her fingerprint on the indenture, and Zhao Xian also pressed his fingerprint on it, officially establishing their master-servant relationship.
Next, Chen Xiaoxiao began packing her clothes. Her home was already destitute, and there wasn't much to pack.
Chen Daniu watched his sister's every move from the side, his face filled with fear. Although he was a bit simple-minded, he knew what had happened at home.
"Sister, I don't want you to leave." The silly boy finally spoke.
“Da Niu, listen to me. I’m going out to find work. You’ll herd cattle for Master He’s family. Here are three taels of silver for you to find a wife. Da Niu, please keep it safe.” Chen Xiaoxiao tried to keep her tone light.
"Da Niu doesn't want a wife, Da Niu wants a sister." The silly boy finally shed tears.
Chen Xiaoxiao's expression was complicated. She didn't know what would become of her foolish younger brother if she wasn't by his side. Even if she gave him three taels of silver, she didn't know if he could stay.
Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhao Xian spoke up:
“Chen Xiaoxiao, why don’t you take Da Niu with you? We also have a few water buffaloes. Let him continue herding them. I’ll pay Da Niu his wages. That way, you siblings can look after each other.”
Zhao Xian's words delighted Chen Xiaoxiao. With her younger brother by her side, she had no worries.
She quickly pulled Chen Daniu to kneel down before Zhao Xian. Zhao Xian was taken aback; he couldn't accept the siblings kneeling before him.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside the door, and three or four people rushed into the room. One of them was a short, fat man in his forties with a face full of scars.
Several people suddenly burst into the house. Chen Xiaoxiao was so frightened that she trembled. When Chen Daniu saw this man, he also lowered his head and dared not look at him.
"Master He, is there something you need?" Chen Xiaoxiao asked slowly, sounding very nervous.
Master He looked at the people in the room and immediately understood what was going on.
These past few days, everyone in the village has known that Chen Xiaoxiao is going to sell herself into slavery, and the two men in front of her are probably the buyers.
Master He's eyes lit up, and a plan came to mind: could he extort some money from him?
He ignored Zhao Xian and looked at Chen Xiaoxiao instead.
“I asked your brother to herd cattle for me, but he made two cows fight. Now both cows are injured and can no longer work in the fields. You have to give me two cows in return.”
Last time, when the two cows fought, Master He withheld half a year's wages from Chen Daniu. Daniu worked for the He family herding cattle and earned 600 cash a year. After deducting half a year's wages, that's 300 cash. This time, Master He wants them to pay for the two cows. How much will they have to pay?
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