076 – Buying People
Qin Mian and Lei Tie planned to fill up the manor with staff. The town’s brokerage was too small, and the people they were selling were jagged and lack of basic quality. The two men went to Zhaoyang County Town to survey and stroll around in passing.
The county town and outskirts town were different. The level of liveliness alone was incomparable to that of Running Water Town. The gate of the county town was full of incoming and ongoing people and an endless stream of horses and carriages. After storing the oxcart at the carriage station, the two men walked into the town. Qin Mian looked at the spacious streets, the beautiful clothes of the pedestrians, and the rows of shops; it was somewhat too much for the eye to take in.
“To Changmen Street? It’s lively there.” Lei Tie sought his wife’s opinion, taking pity on him. It was his little wife’s first time to come to the county town, so he ought to let him have fun.
Qin Mian said, “No, let’s just casually roam around.” As a transmigrator, he only saw the ancient-styled towns and cities on television and films before. Now that he was personally on the scene, it really perked his interests a bit.The things in the county town were more exquisite, more upscale, and more diverse than those in the town. Qin Mian animatedly went to a cloth shop, a jewelry shop, an iron shop, and entered a large restaurant. After walking around inside and scanning the food on the table, they came out. The waiter, who had enthusiastically introduced them all kinds of cuisine until his mouth dried up, gloomily rolled his eyes behind their backs.
Lei Tie had been walking beside Qin Mian in silence. While Qin Mian looked east and west with interest, he looked at the various expressions on Qin Mian’s face.
If the waiter also transmigrated, he might be tempted to scold both of them: “Snake spirit disease1!”
One would not know the other, and Qin Mian by no means would care about what the waiter was thinking. He once again pulled Lei Tie to two snack shops, looking carefully and asking attentively, but he did not buy anything.
Lei Tie could see that he was thinking of some money-making ideas.
After strolling for nearly two hours, Qin Mian asked the owner of a shop the location of the brokerage and went directly with Lei Tie.
The brokerage in the county town was more stylish than in the town and there were many more choices here. As soon as the owner of the brokerage heard that they wanted to buy people, he called all the people out and arranged them into several rows, giving free rein to Qin Mian to choose.Qin Mian was not used to choosing people like goods, but he had to do so. If he carelessly chose people with health and behavioral problems, it would be troublesome.
He first selected a couple under 40 years old. Their clothes were old and patched, but they were clean and not sloppy. The man was called Uncle Fu, who was healthy and good at farming; the woman was Aunt Fu, who could farm, cook, sew and mend, and make clothes. She could help washing dishes, washing clothes, and feeding chicken in the manor.
Qin Mian had thought that since Lei Tie was his person, he should be good to him and should not let him wash the dishes for a lifetime.
He also picked a young chap who could drive a cart, named Gou Wa. He was 20 years old. There was a drought in his hometown and he was the only one left in the family. He sold himself and stranded in Zhaoyang County.
Qin Mian chatted a bit with Gou Wa and felt that he was very smart. He could farm and drive a cart. So Qin Mian bought him as a cart driver. When he did not have to drive a cart, he would help to do farm work and miscellaneous work.
The three people were bought for a total of 300 taels silver and all of them signed an irrevocable title deed.
When they went back, it was Gou Wa who drove the oxcart, steadily.
“Gou Wa, what’s your formal name? ‘Dog Baby’ is too unpleasant to hear.” Qin Mian asked.
Gou Wa grinned, “Answering to the little young master, this little one doesn’t have a formal name. Please bestow a name, little young master.”
Qin Mian was a little awkward, “Bestow or whatever. Anyway, the name Gou Wa is really unpleasant to hear. How about I name you Xile2?”
Gou Wa happily said, “Many thanks, little young master. It’s a nice name. Afterward, this little one is called Xile.”
Qin Mian said, “Don’t use ‘little one’ and just use ‘I’. Your eldest young master and I are very easy to get along with; you all don’t have to be too formal. After all, if there is no mishap, you’ll stay in our manor for the rest of your life. I hope we can get along well. As long as you do your duty well and don’t make any mistakes, we won’t slight you.”
“Please rest assured eldest young master and little young master, I’ll do a good job.” Xile did not comment on the “eldest young master is very easy to get along with”. He did not even dare to open his eyes to take a look at the eldest young master, but he thought Qin Mian was a kind master.
Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu looked at each other and felt a little uneasy about the future, but they were also a little relieved. Although they were not free, they wished to settle down.
Qin Mian thought for a moment and said, “In a little while, buy some tableware, pots, shovels, and whatnot in the town. Before Xile gets married, he’ll join Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu for meals. The future matters will be discussed in the future.”
Aunt Fu immediately answered, “Yes, little young master”
Neither she nor Uncle Fu seemed to be talkative, which was more in line with Qin Mian’s intention.
“Tie, do you have anything to add?” Qin Mian asked Lei Tie.
Lei Tie was taken aback, “What did you call me?”
Qin Mian raised his eyebrows, “Tie. Can’t I?” He did not think it was kind enough to call his full name.
“Anything you like.” Lei Tie put his arm around his waist and pressed his lips on his forehead, “Nothing to add.”
Qin Mian did not push him away and paid attention to the reaction of Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu.
Aunt Fu did not seem to think much; Uncle Fu was shocked and immediately lowered his head.
Qin Mian smiled and relaxingly leaned on Lei Tie, no longer talking. He did not expect the three people to immediately accept that he was together with Lei Tie, but at least they should not discriminate against them.
When the oxcart arrived in the town, Qin Mian bought more pots, tableware, ladles, and basins. Uncle Fu, Aunt Fu, and Xile had no baggage with them. He bought three sets of coarse cloth garments, some fabrics, and other daily necessities for each of them.
While at it, Qin Mian also bought some flour and rice. He and Lei Tie both like to eat rice, and the rice at home was consumed fast.
When the oxcart drove into the farm residence, Uncle Fu, Aunt Fu, and Xile were shocked to see the beautiful scenery in the farm residence.
This was where they were going to live? They would live in such a beautiful place?
Qin Mian chuckled, “First, follow me to your living place. After you’ve sorted things out, you can stroll around the farm residence and get familiar with the new environment.”
Uncle Fu and his party quickly withdrew their gazes.
“Yes, little young master.”
Following Qin Mian into the servant’s house, the three people were dumbfounded again. The house was newly built, not a thatched house or a wooden house, but a house with red bricks and black tiles. The inside of the house was bright and clean, with no shortage of household furniture, and the bed was even covered with a brand-new cotton-padded mattress and cotton-padded quilts. It was several times better than they used to be in their own homes!
Qin Mian made arrangements, “Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu, you two live in the first house. Xile, you live in the second house. If another servant comes in later, you’ll share the house with him. Of course, if you get married in the future, you can also live in a house like Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu.”
Xile could not hide his excitement and said, “Yes, little young master! Many thanks, little young master!”
After Qin Mian explained the work contents of the three people clearly, he said, “You’ll be provided with food and shelter. The monthly wage is tentatively set at 50 Wen, which will be increased at every festival, New Year, and busy farming season. You’ll have three meals a day. Breakfast and lunch are noodles, dumplings or buns, and dinner is cooked white rice. Eat until full. But of course, no waste is allowed. Vegetables are homegrown, which you can take whenever. You’ll be given 10 jin of meat every month and it’s up to you whether to eat at all in one meal or save to eat for a month.”
Uncle Fu, Aunt Fu, and Xile looked at each other in astonishment and felt a little uneasy.
Xile spoke first, “Little young master, this arrangement is a little too good. As servants, two meals a day are enough for us.”
Qin Mian said with a faint smile, “When you enter our house, you follow our rules. You don’t have to think you’re unworthy, just work harder.”
Uncle Fu and his party answered “yes” in unison.
Lei Tie went to look at the oxcart. Xile cleverly carried a sack of flour and a sack of rice down.
Qin Mian said, “You don’t have to do anything today. Go walk around. Start working tomorrow.”
“Many thanks, eldest young master and little young master!”
After what should be made clear was made clear, Lei Tie led the ox, preparing to leave with Qin Mian.
Xile walked over quickly and said respectfully, “Eldest young master, let me. Is the ox house over there? I’ll take the oxcart to its house after I send the things over.”
Qin Mian looked at him with approval. As expected, he is really smart.
After the outside wall was built, the courtyard wall of the house was demolished a few days ago. The view became wider. At the door of Qin Mian and Lei Tie’s house, Xile quickly moved the things on the cart into the house.
Qin Mian grabbed a piece of bacon weighing about 10 jin from the kitchen and let Xile take it back. He started to prepare his and Lei Tie’s lunch.
“Wife, what are you going to do with these?” Lei Tie came in with three small bells.
Qin Mian took a look, “Oh, I almost forgot. It’s too far away from the servant’s quarters, so inconvenient to find them. Didn’t I also buy three different colors of rope? You tie the three bells to the ropes and tie them inside the house of the three with the other ends tied to our side. If you need to find them, pull the rope here and the bell will ring there. The black rope is Uncle Fu, the red rope is Aunt Fu, and the gray one is Xile.”
“Wife is very clever,” said Lei Tie.
“It’s necessary.” Qin Mian turned his head proudly and was accurately kissed by Lei Tie. Before he had time to say anything, Lei Tie took the bells and ropes and walked out without delay.
“Mensao3.” Qin Mian muttered and then hummed a song as he trimmed vegetables for cooking.
After Lei Tie came back, he tied three ropes to the window lattice of the central room.
Qin Mian mentioned another thing, “Do you remember that we said we would invite the grandparents and aunts to come and see the flowers last time we dug the pond?”
“Yes.” Lei Tie asked, “These days?”
Qin Mian nodded, “Invite them over a day earlier, so as not to think about this matter all the time.”
Lei Tie said, “I’ll go to Deng’s Village tomorrow morning.”
After Qin Mian made the fried noodles in soybean sauce, Lei Tie carried it out in passing.
Qin Mian smiled and followed with two pairs of chopsticks.
He sat down on the chair physically and mentally at ease, feeling that today’s fried noodles were particularly aromatic. “So far, things in the manor have been basically handled, and we can relax for a few days.”
Lei Tie said, “After grandpa and the others leave, I’ll take you to the mountain.”
“Alright.” Qin Mian nodded while eating noodles. “It’s spring now. The scenery on the mountain must be very beautiful. Bring the bow set, we can go hunt while at it.”
Lei Tie nodded and suddenly asked, “Do you remember your birthday?”
“28th of the third month.” Qin Mian raised his head and looked at him with a smile, “Why? Do you have a gift for me?”
“En.” Lei Tie did not deny it.
“Your––” Before he finished, he suddenly remembered that Lei Tie’s mother died of difficult labor, which was to say, Lei Tie’s birthday was Deng Shi’s death anniversary.
Without waiting for Lei Tie to speak, he said, “You’ll have your birthday on the same day as mine.”
“Alright.” Lei Tie raised his hand and wiped the sauce from the corner of Qin Mian’s mouth with his thumb.
After lunch, Lei Tie washed the dishes.
Qin Mian took out his notebook and a writing brush and wrote on the tea table.
Lei Tie came out of the kitchen after washing the dishes and sat down beside him with an arm around Qin Mian’s waist.
“What are you writing?”
“Accounts.” Qin Mian said, “Previously, we didn’t have to keep accounts. But now there are three more people in our family, so it’d be better to keep a good record of our income and expenditure to be sure. If anything goes wrong in the future, there is a basis.”
“Sell them if they make mistakes.” Lei Tie indifferently spoke.
Qin Mian nodded, “If they make a big mistake, I certainly won’t tolerate them.”
Note:
Footnotes
- In online language, “snake spirit disease” is a homophonic (shé jīng bìng) of “neuropathy”. Netizens read it as “snake spirit disease” to express the original meaning.
- Meaning joyful; happy
- (coll.) outwardly cold or retiring but deep and passionate inside
