Chapter 513 - 515: There is Only One Condition to Buy You
After dividing the work, everyone started to get busy. Bai Ruozhu, however, was not in a hurry to start her tasks. Instead, she spent some time calming down Dengdeng before stepping outside and asking Wei San to accompany her to look for slave traders in Beiyu City.
Aunt Lin was getting old, and spinning thread was physically demanding for her. With increased workload, she needed an assistant to help with spinning and other household chores.
Wei San, who had been a carriage driver in Beiyu City for many years, knew a few slave traders’ addresses. He recommended one to Bai Ruozhu, saying he heard that this trader was honest and forthright, always stating the exact condition of the slaves for sale.
Soon, Bai Ruozhu met Ge Yapo, the slave trader. She was not as obsequious as Bai Ruozhu had imagined. After sizing up Bai Ruozhu, she asked, "Are you looking to buy maids? How many? Any particular requirements?"
Probably because she did not appear wealthy, as it was generally known that wealthy families have maids delivered to their doorstep by the trader for selection.
"For now, just one maid. She needs to diligent, honest but not too talkative." Bai Ruozhu responded.
Ge Yapo chuckled, "Basically, everyone has these requirements.Let’s see who you like, then I’ll tell you about their situation."
Bai Ruozhu glanced at the girls, who had straightened up at the word of a potential buyer, and felt a pang of sympathy. They seemed to be living a hard life here. Their clothes were worn and torn, their complexion very sallow. It was likely they weren’t eating well.
Given the high cost of living in Beiyu City, Ge Yapo probably couldn’t afford to provide them with full meals all the time, least she make a loss.
The girls sneakily sized up Bai Ruozhu, straightened themselves even more when she glanced their way, trying to appear energetic. It was as if they desperately wanted to be her choice.
Bai Ruozhu eyed a few of what appeared to be the more honest-looking girls, with clear eyes, and beckoned them to come forth. She asked, "Which of you knows how to spin thread? If you do, step forward."
Three of the girls stepped forward without hesitation. One hesitated, her eyes shifting about, only stepping forward after some contemplation. It was clear Bai Ruozhu was not going to choose her.
Bai Ruozhu pointed to the three girls, "Can you tell me about them, Aunt Ge?"
Ge Yapo couldn’t help but look at Bai Ruozhu. Their profession as slave traders wasn’t highly regarded and mostly dealt with wealthy households. Hardly anyone ever treated them with courtesy.
Bai Ruozhu was still dressed in her fine clothes from the wine feast earlier. While Ge Yapo couldn’t figure out her status, she knew Bai Ruozhu wasn’t ordinary. Seeing Bai Ruozhu call her "Aunt Ge" respectfully, her disposition towards Bai Ruozhu was no longer as cold as before.
"This girl is fifteen and comes from a neighbouring village. Her brother got ill and needed to see a doctor, so her family had no choice but to sell her. She is to serve until death." Ge Yapo after saying this, pointed at another maid, "This one is seventeen. A bit old, but she’s strong. She used to help her father on the farm. She was sold by her father to pay off his gambling debts."
The seventeen-year-old burst into tears as Ge Yapo told her back story. Ge Yapo sighed but didn’t scold her. At seventeen, she was of the age to be married off, but now she was being sold by her own family. Anyone talking about marriage to her would have to back off.
"The last one, you might not fancy. She’s mute," Ge Yapo said and heaved a heavy sigh. "Her father passed away early, and she depended on her mother. When her mother also passed away from illness, her ruthless uncle wanted to sell her. She has quite a fiery spirit. She bit her own tongue in an attempt to kill herself but was saved. Unfortunately, she lost her ability to speak."
Ge Yapo shook her head as she spoke, "I was being too kind-hearted again when I took her in. I shouldn’t have done it. It’s a loss for me because she can’t be sold and I have to provide for her. But I had no choice. When she was saved, her uncle wanted to sell her to be buried with the deceased. He’s truly heartless."
Bai Ruozhu regretted asking about their stories. She felt sorry for them and wished she could buy all three. Buying one slave was more than just saving them—it was also about providing a stable and secure shelter for them, so they wouldn’t end up being sold again or even worse, bought by brothels.
She could only afford one or two maids in her current situation. She couldn’t take care of three at once. Though she empathized with the first two girls’ experiences, she dared not buy them.
When speaking about her past, the first girl didn’t show resentment towards her family in her eyes. Instead, there seemed to be a hidden sense of pride for her sacrifice for her family. People like her who still cared for their families were likely to continually look after her sick brother later in life. This could end up being a burden for the Bai Family.
The second girl harbored resentment towards her gambling-addict father, but she was timid and prone to weeping. This kind of person would easily be controlled by a father who gambles. Bai Ruozhu did not want to bring up any new problems for her family.
Though the third girl was mute, her parents were both deceased, and there was nothing outside related to her that could be used against her. The only source of malevolence was from her uncle’s family.
But...
Bai Ruozhu turned to the mute girl, asking, "Do you still want to die?"
Her sudden question startled both the girl and Ge Yapo..
Regaining her senses, the girl’s eyes turned determined. She shook her head vigorously, indicating her desire to live.
"A person who has been close to death doesn’t wish for it. The right thing to do is to live well. I say, if you aren’t too picky, Madame, you should buy her. I can offer you a discounted price," Ge Yapo advised.
"What do you want to do after survival?" Bai Ruozhu asked, ignoring Ge Yapo, her gaze still fixed on the mute girl.
The girl was taken aback by the question and looked lost after contemplating it. Shaking her head, she acknowledged she didn’t know what she wanted to do. She couldn’t possibly seek revenge by killing her uncle, could she? And about getting married... could she even get married in her condition?
"I can buy you and teach you how to read and write. You can communicate by writing in the future. I can also provide you with a comfortable life. However,..." Bai Ruozhu extended the last words.
The girl anxiously looked at her. Her eyes full of anticipation, as she fixated on Bai Ruozhu, waiting for what she had to say next.
Ge Yapo pricked up her ears as well, curious about what Bai Ruozhu was about to speak.
"However, you must not think about revenge. While your uncle isn’t a good person, he must have had his reasons for selling you. If you seek revenge, you will only cause trouble for yourself and me. Furthermore, as much as you might find it difficult to accept, no one forced you into committing suicide. It was you who gave up your life too easily, who didn’t value the chance to continue living," Bai Ruozhu said, clearly and slowly.
It took quite some time for the mute girl to respond to that. Her eyes began to turn red, and eventually, she squatted on the ground and started crying loudly. She regretted her actions. The words of the madame were right. She gave up her life too easily. No matter how hard life got, she should never have contemplated suicide. She felt guilty towards her mother’s parting words, her advice to live well, marry a good man, and to birth a few dutiful children...