Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 1263 - 396: Return to the Homestead, Purchase a Servant_3

Chapter 1263: Chapter 396: Return to the Homestead, Purchase a Servant_3

Mo Yan was kindly led by the shopkeeper to the backyard, where she saw a spacious yard already filled with rows of people waiting to be selected.

There were no fewer than a hundred people: old people in their fifties or sixties, as well as children around the ages of five or six; young girls of thirteen or fourteen, and women in their twenties or thirties. Overall, there were more women than men.

Looking at the several white-haired old people at the very front, Mo Yan’s heart was heavy. These were people who should have been enjoying their twilight years, surrounded by doting children and grandchildren, but instead, due to various misfortunes, had fallen to this pitiable state.

Noticing Mo Yan’s gaze linger on a few old people who couldn’t be sold, the shopkeeper’s eyes lit up, and he hurried forward, pointing to one of the old men while enthusiastically recommending, "He was originally a steward for a wealthy family, quite skilled at it too. If the young lady has a need at home, buying him would be most appropriate."

This old man was already well into his sixties, and his physique seemed alright, but he was just too old. There was always the risk of him collapsing at any moment, otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent more than a year in the Dentist with no one showing any interest.

Initially, he was bought because he was cheap; it cost only three hundred wen money. If a willing buyer were found, making a hundred times profit wouldn’t be a problem. But if, in the end, no one bought him, they would just have to cut their losses and drive the man out to beg. After all, the Dentist is a business and cannot be expected to provide for these old people until their dying days.

The old man, who the shopkeeper was vigorously recommending, had a faint glint of hope in his dim eyes. Slighting lifting his head to look at Mo Yan, his face bore a deep expression of humility, evoking a sour feeling in one’s heart.

Mo Yan remained expressionless, and her gaze shifted to another old man beside the first, only to hear the shopkeeper praising vigorously, "Don’t be fooled by his age, miss; he’s still very strong. Carrying a hundred catties is not a problem—he used to carry two hundred when he was young, working down at the docks!"

If it wasn’t for the tragedy that struck his family, with his wife, son, and grandchildren all dead, leaving behind only a gravely ill great-grandson, he would not have considered selling himself for silver at his advanced age, to pay for his great-grandson’s medical treatment. Though the great-grandson was saved by the sale, a child of only a few years could hardly fend for himself. Consequently, the great-grandchild also ended up selling himself, and now both grandfather and great-grandson depended on each other for survival within the Dentist.

Mo Yan’s eyes settled on the small child pressed closely against the old man, a four or five-year-old who already had a look of sadness and helplessness not suited for one so young.

Seeing Mo Yan still not speaking, the shopkeeper was no longer hopeful but still pushed the remaining few old people one by one, advertising all their respective skills and strengths before finally turning to the maids of the age fourteen or fifteen, younger maids of eight or nine, and the rough servant women who could withstand hard work—all in line with Mo Yan’s needs.

Mo Yan perked up, listening attentively to the shopkeeper’s detailed introductions while closely observing the people who fit her requirements. After half an hour, she finally selected the suitable candidates, pointing to the two older maids, four younger maids, and four rough servant women, and said, "These will do."

The shopkeeper was overjoyed, smoothly flattering, "The young lady has excellent taste; these are all the best of the lot and today you get to choose them all."

Mo Yan merely smiled, not engaging further in conversation.

The shopkeeper gave a sheepish smile, hurriedly instructing the clerk to fetch the sale deeds of these maids and servant women. During this interval, he reported to Mo Yan the price for these ten people, "The young lady must know that the prices at my Dentist are higher than others’. As it’s your first visit here, I will offer you a discount on my own accord: forty taels for an older maid, thirty-five taels for a younger maid, and twenty taels for a rough servant woman. Altogether for these ten people, it is exactly three hundred taels."

After speaking, the shopkeeper carefully watched Mo Yan’s expression. Seeing that not even an eyelid twitched, he breathed a sigh of relief, recognizing her as a wealthy person with plenty of silver to spend.

Indeed, Mo Yan was not short of silver to spend, but that did not mean she was willing to let herself be taken for a fool. Even if something was of high quality, she would not buy it if the price was far beyond its worth.

"Shopkeeper, you seem to lack sincerity. How come I’ve heard that here, an older maid is sold to regular customers for thirty-five taels, a younger maid for thirty taels, and a rough servant woman for fifteen taels?" Mo Yan looked at the shopkeeper, smiling as if she were not smiling, exposing his lie. Since she managed to find this place, how could she not inquire about the prices in advance?

The shopkeeper did not expect Mo Yan to know their internal pricing so well, which clearly came from referrals by regular customers. He quickly put on an appeasing smile and said, "The young lady mentioned those prices are for regular customers. Next time you come to buy from us, I will definitely offer you those rates."