Two days later, Broker Huang truly found a buyer for Xu Yi. The gentleman of that household was particularly fond of agarwood, and even his daily clothing was scented with incense made from agarwood.
When Xu Yi came to the brokerage in disguise, Broker Huang said to him with a beaming smile, “This Master Xing is a connoisseur who loves and understands fragrance. After seeing the agarwood, he immediately fell in love with it and said he must buy it.”
Hearing this, Xu Yi looked at Broker Huang with a strange expression.
Not noticing anything amiss in his gaze, Broker Huang continued, “What a coincidence! Just a few days ago, Master Xing asked me to inquire about premium agarwood. I never expected you to show up so quickly and seek me out. This is truly fate at work. By the way, did you bring the agarwood?”
He asked Xu Yi.
Xu Yi shook his head and said in a low voice, “My master sent me to first ask what price this… Master Xing is offering. If it’s suitable, I can bring the agarwood tomorrow.”
The act had to be complete. As a servant, how could he casually carry agarwood around?
Sure enough, Broker Huang didn’t think much of it. “That makes sense.”
Xu Yi took the opportunity to ask, “Might this Master Xing be the one doing silk business on West Street?”
Broker Huang replied, “That’s exactly the Master Xing I mean.”
After speaking, his eyes darted around, thinking that this servant’s master must have some standing in Yanting County. Perhaps the two were even acquainted.
The servant said his master didn’t want others to know, and this might be the reason why.
Broker Huang said with a smile, “No worries, no worries. I didn’t tell Master Xing much, and he’s a reasonable and tactful man who didn’t ask which customer wanted to sell the agarwood.”
Having said this much, even if that master still had some reservations, they would surely be greatly reduced.
Xu Yi’s expression remained unchanged, but his thoughts were indescribable.
How was this someone he’d met in the three-dimensional world? If it were an ordinary stranger, it would be one thing, but this person was probably Xing Yuesen’s father.
But no matter what, the agarwood still had to be sold.
Xu Yi asked again, “What price is Master Xing offering? I need to report back to my master and let him make the decision.”
Broker Huang made a gesture, his eyes lighting up. “Fifteen strings of cash per tael of agarwood.”
Fifteen strings of cash wasn’t a large amount, but this master had half a jin, which would be seventy-five strings of cash.
That such a small piece of agarwood could sell for this price was beyond Xu Yi’s expectations.
However, on second thought, agarwood was precious, premium agarwood even more rare, and the piece in Xu Yi’s hands was qinan, the finest of the finest.
It was said that during the Song Dynasty, there was a saying “one tael of agarwood for one tael of gold.” Master Xing’s offer of fifteen strings converted to one tael of gold plus five taels of silver.
Thinking of this, Xu Yi wasn’t so surprised anymore.
Seeing Xu Yi deep in thought without speaking, Broker Huang quickly added, “Go back and speak well to your master. Not many in Yanting County can offer this price. Though in Bianjing you could sell it for even more, after all, we’re just a small city under Tongchuan Prefecture and can’t compare with Bianjing.”
…
Coming out of Broker Huang’s office, Xu Yi let out a deep breath of turbid air.
Things had developed slightly differently from what he’d anticipated. He thought that knowing so few wealthy people in Yanting County, he naturally wouldn’t encounter anyone familiar.
Instead, he was caught off guard, running into someone from the Xing family asking about the price.
Seeing people coming and going in the brokerage, he silently kept his head slightly lowered as he walked to the side. Even though the probability of encountering an acquaintance was very low, Xu Yi still chose to keep a low profile.
Just as he was about to pass the human trafficking broker’s office, he heard harsh cursing. It was a strong young man in worn clothes with a fierce and angry expression, holding a stick and beating a child curled up on the ground.
“You little bastard who’s turned against heaven itself, you dare run away from me? Think I can’t control you anymore? Dare to run, and I won’t beat you to death.”
“Bah! Been a money-losing burden for years. Wanted to send you to a wealthy household to seek fortune, but you’re unwilling. Made me waste half a day searching for you!”
The fierce-faced young man cursed while still unsatisfied, reaching to drag the child up from the ground to beat him more.
The surrounding people were all indifferent. Witnessing this cruel scene seemed all too familiar to them.
Some even stood watching the excitement with amusement, cracking melon seeds and clapping, saying he was beating him well.
Xu Yi unconsciously frowned. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the dragged child’s face.
His face was filthy, unable to hide his sallow and emaciated features. His tattered clothes tore in several places during the pulling, revealing his skeletal, frail body underneath. On his dark yellow skin were scars, both old and new.
Even though some time had passed since he’d last seen him, Xu Yi recognized who this child was at first glance.
It was the child whose parents called him “Cow Dung.”
He was biting his lower lip tightly. Even though the pain made his whole body tremble, he neither cried out nor begged for mercy.
His fawn-like eyes tried hard to stay wide open, filled with rolling tears and despair about the future.
For some reason, Xu Yi’s heart felt as if it were being fiercely gripped by sharp claws, his breathing becoming rapid in an instant.
“Come here… I’m definitely selling you today.”
The young man dragged Cow Dung toward the broker’s office, completely uncaring of the scrutinizing gazes around him.
This little bastard had made him lose face in front of others, so he shouldn’t blame him.
At this moment, a powerful hand pressed down on his wrist wielding the stick. He froze, then turned his head with a fierce expression to glare, only to see a clean-looking youth.
Looking at the youth’s attire, he seemed to be a servant from some household. Any servant who could appear in a brokerage had a master behind them who couldn’t be offended. The young man instinctively withdrew his hand, putting on a smile and ingratiating himself, “Young brother, is there something I can help you with?”
“What relation are you to him?” Xu Yi pointed at Cow Dung, who was being dragged by him.
Cow Dung, who had been hanging his head, heard the voice. His shoulders moved, and he slowly raised his head.
The young man said, “I’m this child’s father. I originally wanted to send him to a wealthy household to enjoy good fortune, but this child refused and even ran away. It’s really outrageous.”
The words “father” coming from this man’s mouth were so ironic.
If he could truly go to a wealthy household to enjoy good fortune, why didn’t this man go himself instead of cursing and beating the child while selling him here?
Moreover, looking at this child, he clearly didn’t want to go.
Even in the Song Dynasty, which emphasized filial piety, there were still many families who disdained such behavior. Yet this young man acted as if it were perfectly natural, not feeling there was anything wrong with it.
Xu Yi said coldly, “He’s unwilling.”
The young man snorted. Now he wasn’t so afraid of the servant before him. Impatiently, he said, “What does it have to do with you, young brother, if I want to sell him? Besides, I’m his father, so he has to listen to me. And you don’t know, this little bastard has a wicked heart. Not only is he bad to his younger brothers and sisters, he even steals money from home. Tell me, doesn’t he deserve to be beaten and sold!”
With that, he tried to drag the child away.
Suddenly, the child in his grasp burst forth with tremendous strength, desperately breaking free from his restraint.
Cow Dung ran toward Xu Yi, forcefully kneeling on the ground and pleading, “Young master, save me! Young master, save me! I don’t want to be sold!”
As he spoke, he kowtowed forcefully.
Xu Yi quickly pulled him up, looking at his forehead bleeding from the kowtowing, utterly shocked.
Cow Dung had recognized him too.
Seeing this, the young man quickly called out “Hey” and tried to grab Cow Dung back.
“You little bastard, what nonsense are you spouting…”
Hearing this, Xu Yi pulled Cow Dung to his side, looking coldly at the man and saying, “I’m buying this child.”
“Buy? Buying him!” The young man’s eyes lit up with joy, and he quickly said yes.
“Young brother, you have excellent judgment. Though this child’s bones are a bit weak, with proper training he’ll be very obedient. If you buy him, you definitely won’t be disappointed.”
Xu Yi: “…”
Xu Yi didn’t want to continue talking with him outside. Faced with his smiling face, he only felt disgusted inside.
He pulled Cow Dung along, giving him a reassuring look and saying softly, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you away.”
Then he entered the human trafficking broker’s office, stating he wanted to buy this child.
Cow Dung’s indenture contract was already in the broker’s hands. Seeing someone wanted to buy this disobedient child who tried to run away, the broker was also pleased, thinking he wouldn’t have to waste several days’ worth of rations.
Transactions in the brokerage couldn’t arbitrarily inflate prices, especially for transactions of lower-class people. These all had fixed prices.
For someone like Cow Dung, just over ten years old, a half-grown boy who could do quite a bit of work, the price was higher than for younger children: three taels and five qian.
Xu Yi wouldn’t be taken for a fool. Hearing that from this three taels and five qian, the broker would take three qian in commission with the rest going to the young man, Xu Yi frowned and haggled, “Three taels of silver, and I’ll buy him.”
Before the broker could speak, the young man cried out first, “Young brother, how can you lower the price? If you take this child back, he can do lots of work; chopping firewood, tending fires, fetching water, washing clothes, he knows it all. It’s not a loss.”
“You beat him like this, and I haven’t even asked you for medical expenses yet.” Xu Yi showed a displeased expression, saying unhurriedly, “If you don’t want me to lower the price, that’s fine. You pay for this child’s medical expenses, and I’ll buy him at the original price.”
Hearing this, the young man timidly closed his mouth, not daring to say anything else, afraid Xu Yi would really ask him for medical expenses.
The broker, watching from the side and having seen enough, spoke up, “Alright, alright, let’s go with the price of three taels. Young brother, once you’ve paid, you can take the person away.”
The young man looked disappointed, thinking the broker would argue for him a bit. He didn’t know that the broker was already somewhat annoyed with him. If not for this man, he could have kept the child for two more days, fattened him up mentally, and sold him for a higher price.
Now, not asking for medical expenses was already quite good.
After paying the money, Cow Dung’s indenture contract came into Xu Yi’s hands. He carefully placed this contract, which would determine Cow Dung’s future fate, in his bosom, took Cow Dung’s small hand, and left the brokerage without looking back.
Cow Dung followed closely behind him, looking up at the tall figure before him. The tears he’d been holding back the entire way could no longer be held back, falling down like crazy.
Silent crying gradually became audible.
The sobbing struck at one’s heart. Xu Yi’s steps halted, and the little person behind him didn’t notice, colliding the next instant with his waist area.
“Young master, I didn’t mean to.” Cow Dung sniffled, saying somewhat fearfully.
He’d been presumptuous, asking the young master to buy him, which was already very unfair to the young master. But seeing the clothes he’d dirtied with his tears, he felt extremely guilty inside. How could he dirty the young master’s clothes?
Xu Yi looked down at him, reached out to rub his head, and said, “No need to apologize. I forgot to mention, and you don’t need to call me young master. Just call me Brother Yi.”
Cow Dung was stunned, somewhat confused.
Having been sold by the young man to the brokerage for only one day, he’d already learned many things.
People sold there were all to be sold to wealthy households as servants. When servants encountered their masters, they couldn’t look directly at their faces, couldn’t call their masters by name, and would address them according to their status… Cow Dung wasn’t stupid. On the contrary, he was quite clever. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to recognize so many medicinal herbs and dig them up to sell in the county town.
He’d quickly memorized what the broker told them, also saying that if they behaved, they’d have food to eat.
But he had something on his mind. He couldn’t wait peacefully in the brokerage for someone to buy him. He had to escape to find his younger sister.
Xu Yi didn’t say anything. What was urgent now was to bring this child home to treat his wounds.
In the hot weather, bleeding wounds with broken skin were prone to infection, and a fever wouldn’t be good. Even a small wound could cost someone their life, let alone this child who looked thin and weak, nothing but bones to the touch.
Xu Yi didn’t make the child walk home with him, but hired an ox cart outside.
Before long, the two got off the cart. Cow Dung followed behind Xu Yi restrainedly, not daring to look around at all.
Xu Yi wanted him to be more at ease, but at this moment, he didn’t deliberately say anything more, planning to let him independently adapt to his new environment.
Little Huang, who was guarding the house, saw Xu Yi return and happily ran out barking. Just reaching the doorway, seeing there was someone following Xu Yi, he stopped curiously and carefully approached to sniff the stranger’s scent.
Cow Dung recognized Little Huang. Several times he’d seen a little yellow dog following Xu Yi. It had just been a while since he’d seen him, and Little Huang had grown quite a bit, looking majestic, just like the dogs raised by hunting families in his village.
“He’s called Little Huang. He’s part of the family. If you’re home in the future, you can keep him company.” Xu Yi smiled and said.
Then Xu Yi took him to the kitchen, scooped a bucket of clean water, and had him take off his clothes.
“Wash with cold water first. I’ll go find you clothes you can wear.”
“Young master…” Seeing Xu Yi about to leave, Cow Dung called out nervously.
Xu Yi turned to look at him and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
Xu Yi’s words were very persuasive. Cow Dung immediately stopped being afraid. He looked around the kitchen. There were two large racks with medicinal herbs he didn’t recognize drying on them. There weren’t many pots, bowls, ladles, or basins, but there were quite a few neatly arranged jars.
He quickly withdrew his gaze, took the cloth Xu Yi handed him, took off his tattered clothes, and carefully wiped his limbs.
When he wiped the wounds, he grimaced in pain. In the brokerage, he’d held back from crying, but now the wounds were swollen and hurt to the touch.
On the other side, Xu Yi returned to his room and rummaged through the chest of old clothes for a long time without finding clothes suitable for Cow Dung’s age.
Unable to find anything else, he picked out a set of cotton short robes. When he returned to the kitchen, Cow Dung had already finished washing his body.
His skeletal frame made Xu Yi’s steps falter. Feeling bones through clothes and seeing them nakedly displayed before one’s eyes were different sensations. An indescribable feeling crashed chaotically through his chest.
Even someone as emotionally stable as Xu Yi felt an impulse to beat someone at this moment.
He said nothing with a somber face. Cow Dung nervously hugged his arms and said carefully, “Young master, I… I’ve finished washing.”
Xu Yi met his timid gaze, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said gently while restraining his hostile energy, “Come here, put on the inner garment first. Once you’re dressed, come with me.”
Xu Yi’s clothes worn on him were comical even with rolled-up sleeves. He touched the soft inner garment and walked out with pursed lips.
Outside, Xu Yi had already taken external injury medicine from the medicine box. Seeing him come out, he brought him to his room and had him lie on the bed.
“The wounds on your body need medicine quickly, otherwise with the hot weather, they might fester by tomorrow.” As Xu Yi spoke, he had him take off his upper garment, sat beside him, and mixed a jar of external wound ointment using the medicine jar.
Cow Dung was stunned. Looking at Xu Yi, his eyes reddened. “Young master, you’re so good to me.”
Xu Yi smiled. “Earlier in the ox cart, I exchanged names with you, so we’re acquainted. I was lucky to encounter you today. That’s our fate. Since I happened upon you, I won’t just stand by and watch.”
Speaking thus, seeing the grateful expression in his eyes, Xu Yi reached out and flicked the lower part of his forehead.
“You kowtowed your forehead really hard. Aren’t you afraid of a concussion?”
Cow Dung was puzzled. “Young master, what’s a concussion?”
Xu Yi: “…”
“Lie down properly. I’m applying medicine to you.”
Looking at the red and swollen scars, the smile on Xu Yi’s face suddenly disappeared. He asked in a low voice, “Is that man really your father?”
Cow Dung, lying on the bed, rarely didn’t give an answer immediately.
After a few seconds, he finally said stuffily, “Yes, he’s my dad. He said in the past he spent a lot of money on me, so I must be filial to him… But now, he doesn’t want me anymore, and he doesn’t want my little sister either.”
Xu Yi frowned. “Little sister?”
Cow Dung suddenly sat up, bowed to Xu Yi, and said while biting his lip, “Please, young master, save my little sister too. My dad wants to sell her to a brothel.”
Xu Yi was shocked. This person could still be called a father?
He was simply worse than an animal.
He said coldly, “When did this happen?”
“That day when they were discussing selling me, I heard them also wanting to sell my little sister, saying some brothel would take her.” As Cow Dung spoke, his eyes turned red.
At first, he didn’t know what a brothel was. It was only in the brokerage when he heard the woman broker saying that disobedient children would be sent to brothels, where they’d live lives worse than animals, and by then they’d have no chance to regret it.
“Young master, my little sister can’t go there. If she goes, she’ll never be able to come back for the rest of her life.” He ran away to find his little sister.
Xu Yi told him not to panic and asked if his sister had already been sold.
Cow Dung shook his head. “No, he… he tricked me into leaving first because he didn’t want me to know where my little sister was sold.”
Since she hadn’t been sold yet, there was a chance to buy Cow Dung’s sister back too. Thinking of this, Xu Yi comforted him, telling him not to worry and to first treat the wounds on his body.
After applying medicine and bandaging with cloth strips, Xu Yi had him put on his clothes and said he was going out.
Before leaving, he naturally changed out of his servant’s disguise and put on a long robe to visit his next door neighbor Uncle Tang.
Uncle Tang had been a traveling merchant in his youth and was one of the few relatively knowledgeable people in Stone Well Lane. Many people would come to consult him about things they didn’t understand. Xu Yi, being unfamiliar with human trafficking, came to ask him.
Seeing it was Xu Yi, Uncle Tang enthusiastically invited him inside to talk.
Xu Yi got straight to the point. “Uncle Tang, I have something I’d like your help with.”
“Young Master Xu, just say whatever it is. If I can help, I certainly will.” Uncle Tang said with a smile.
Xu Yi said, “I want to buy a child from a farming household. I wonder if I must also go through the brokerage?”
Uncle Tang was startled, somewhat surprised that Xu Yi would want to buy a child to serve him.
“Well… actually, you don’t necessarily have to buy from the brokerage. The brokerage is the legitimate trade, but there are also purchases that don’t need to go through there. Like some unsavory places that are happy to go to the countryside to find families wanting to sell their children. With just a few coins, they can buy the child’s indenture contract.”
Saying this, Uncle Tang couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Young Master Xu, why do you suddenly want to buy someone?”
Living on South Street, there weren’t many households that could be called respectable, including the old gentleman who did charity last time. Only such households would buy one or two servants to serve them, or rather than buying, they’d rent one from the brokerage and return them when the rental period was up.
Xu Yi thought for a moment and said without much concealment, “I saw a child when I went out just now. Seeing his father selling him, I couldn’t bear it and bought him. Only then did I learn this child still has a little sister who’s also going to be sold to that filthy place.”
Uncle Tang was incredulous after hearing this. “Such a thing exists?”
“Yes.” Xu Yi sighed. “I saw that man wasn’t so poor he couldn’t make ends meet. How could he bear to sell both his children?”
Uncle Tang had seen much. He snorted coldly. “Young Master Xu, you don’t know. There are many in this world who are worse than tigers that eat their young. Some even deliberately have children to sell them. It’s extremely detestable.”
Having been a traveling merchant for over twenty years, he’d encountered countless situations. Naturally, he’d also encountered such unspeakable things.
But he hadn’t expected Xu Yi would want to buy that unfortunate child because of this.
Uncle Tang said, “If you want to buy that child too, seeing your kind heart, he’ll probably raise the price. You can’t let him have his way.”
Xu Yi pressed his lips together and humbly asked for advice. “I wonder what insights Uncle Tang might have?”
Uncle Tang stroked his beard and thought, then clapped his hands. “Why don’t you find a woman and have her come forward to buy the child for you?”
…
When Xu Yi returned carrying steamed buns, he saw Cow Dung in the courtyard holding a broom and sweeping.
This child had an eye for work, but Xu Yi hadn’t reached the point of having an injured child do household chores.
“I’ve brought you food. Eat your fill first, then tell me where your home is. I’ll send someone to bring your little sister back.” Xu Yi said.
Cow Dung’s eyes widened. “Young master, are you willing to save my little sister? Thank you, young master, thank you, young master.” As he spoke, his face flushed. “But I have nothing and can’t repay you, young master.”
Xu Yi smiled and said, “No worries. When I saved you, I didn’t expect you to repay me. However… if you’re willing, you can stay. Living alone is boring for me, so you can keep me company.”
Cow Dung was overjoyed upon hearing this and hastily said he was willing to stay and serve Xu Yi. Xu Yi told him to sit down and eat, but he was still unwilling, just standing to the side gnawing on a meat bun.
As he ate, he thought that from now on, his life belonged to the young master. If the young master wanted him, he would serve the young master for life.
i hope he changes this poor child’s name