stingy landlady

Chapter 22 Buying People

After Dazhu ordered the plow and harrow, Li Shi coaxed Siya until she was almost asleep. Country folk go to bed early, and naturally, they also wake up early.

After Dazhu got onto the kang (heated brick bed), Daya brought him a basin of hot water to soak his feet.

"Young lady is so kind! She even left me hot water to soak my feet!" Dazhu exclaimed, glancing at Li Shi and laughing, "Mother of my child, have you soaked your feet yet? Why don't we soak them together?"

"Get out! The child is right here! You have no manners!" Li Shi spat.

"Hehehe! Hey, honey, I need to talk to you about something!"

"What is it! Just say it!" Li said dismissively.

"Honey, we can plant vegetables in our garden on the east side now! This afternoon, Dad and I dug up a lot of soil and sowed some spinach, lettuce, and rapeseed. We planted three wide rows. Just wait and see in a few days!" Dazhu boasted deliberately.

"Planted so early? Isn't the ground still rock hard?" Li asked in surprise.

"Oh my! My wife! We need to plant them quickly. In about ten days, our first batch of vegetables will be ready, and we'll take them to the restaurants in town to sell. There will definitely be as many people as we want. You can just sit back and wait to collect the money!" Dazhu envisioned the future for Li Shi. Of course, these were also his true thoughts.

"That's great! The vegetable garden is big. Why don't I go dig the ground tomorrow? If we always rely on Dad to do the work, my second brother and sister-in-law will probably complain." Li thought about it and was happy, but she was also worried when she thought that only Dazhu would be doing the work. It's definitely not a good idea for the old man to help too much.

"Yes! My wife is so sensible! In a while, our land should be plowed out! Sigh! We're too busy!" Dazhu looked at Li Shi with worry.

Guizhi, Daya, and Erya chuckled to themselves, knowing that their father was trying to persuade their mother to agree to buy servants.

“It’s all my fault for not giving you a son! Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been separated from the family! Even if we hadn’t separated, your father and your brothers would have helped you with farming!” Li said sadly.

"Cough cough! Er Ya! The water's a bit cold, pour it out!" Da Zhu coughed.

“I told you, honey, whether we have a son or a daughter isn’t something we can decide. These girls are so capable, everyone praises their abilities when I take them out!”

“No matter how capable she is, she’s still just a girl! She’ll know how difficult it is when she starts working in the fields! Besides, when she grows up, one by one she’ll get married and leave, leaving only the two of us…” Li Shi said, becoming even more heartbroken.

Dazhu felt like he meant well but ended up doing something wrong.

“Honey, don’t cry! I just wanted to cheer you up, but I’ve only made you sad! I don’t look down on you or our daughter. Once we earn more money, you’ll live the good life of a landlady, and we won’t have to worry about finding people to work in the fields.”

These words made Li laugh through her tears again: "Landlady, huh! I'm content as long as I can eat my fill and stay warm."

"No, no! This is just the beginning!" Dazhu waved his hand and said, "Tomorrow we'll go buy a few people to work for us! With people to do the work, we can get busy and naturally earn more money!"

Li was stunned, staring wide-eyed at Dazhu: "Buy people? Buy what kind of people? Are you running a fever? Are you talking nonsense!" After saying that, she quickly touched Dazhu's forehead.

“No fever! And no delirium! Mother, how much silver do we have left? I’ll take it all with me tomorrow morning and buy a few people to work!” Dazhu said earnestly.

"I see you've been tired these past few days, dreaming! Go to sleep, you can have all sorts of dreams!" Li gave Dazhu a push and was about to go to sleep.

Dazhu sighed helplessly, looked at his three eldest daughters, and gestured with his lips for them not to watch the commotion and to speak up immediately.

“Mom, look, our family is now selling boxed lunches, making and selling dumplings, picking soybeans and sprouting beans, and selling them by the pound. Our whole family does all of this together, it’s busy but we feel at ease. These past two days, I’ve seen the ground in the garden thaw, so I’m thinking of planting some vegetables as soon as possible and taking them to town to sell, so as not to waste such a good vegetable garden,” Daya said slowly.

“Mom, this afternoon Grandpa saw my older sister and me digging the ground and said we were being lazy. Grandpa was helping Dad dig the ground, and my sister and I were using shovels to level the clods of earth, sow seeds, and water the plants,” Er Ya explained in a friendly manner.

"Mother!" Guizhi, taking advantage of her small size, came over and hugged Li Shi.

"Mom, don't worry!"

Li calmed down and said, "I'm not in a hurry. I'll listen to what you have to say."

“Mother, we can’t use Grandma’s vegetable garden this year. We can’t waste the vegetable garden on the east side of our house. We need to grow vegetables there, and we can raise chickens and pigs there in the future. We also need to plant on our own land this year. Let’s hire some capable people to help us with the work and make money! Isn’t that great?” Guizhi slowly explained the benefits of hiring people.

Guizhi secretly thought that she could hire someone, but human nature is unpredictable. Her family's little way of making a living was currently going unnoticed. But if she hired someone, the villagers would definitely find out how she made money. And since it wasn't a specialized skill, no one could learn it. If someone like Zhao or Qian appeared again, she couldn't argue or fight back; she'd just have to suffer in silence. Since there were people being bought and sold, which was more effective than a contract, and the conditions allowed, this was the way to maximize profits.

Li began to take out the money box and count the silver. She understood what she was hearing and had figured it out.

"What if the person who buys it isn't on our side? You can't judge a book by its cover. What if we end up buying someone who's lazy and dishonest?" Li muttered.

“Mother, the indenture is in your hands. If someone is lazy, slacking off, or disobedient, you can scold them or beat them as you please! If someone doesn’t share our hearts or betrays us for personal gain, you can sell them off again!” Guizhi pretended to be fearless.

“How can that be! Even though she is of low social status, she is still a person of the same social standing!” Madam Li’s heart softened again.

Although reluctant, Li knew what was right and wrong. Whether it was for a better life in the future or out of the mentality of a married woman obeying her husband, she showed Dazhu the entire money box.

It's been over a month since the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, and I haven't had any expenses lately. I happen to have thirty-two taels of silver on hand.

Originally, we planned to give Wang Yiyun, the fifth son, two taels of silver from the academy, but we had promised to give one tael of silver to our eldest cousin's wedding on the second day of the Lunar New Year, and since we didn't have the silver on hand, we didn't give it to Wang Yiyun. Now we bring him boxed lunches every day and have mentioned that our family will do our best if he has any difficulties.

Li took out thirty taels and asked, "Is thirty taels enough? Or should I take it all?"

"That's enough! Thirty taels is more than enough," Dazhu said hastily. "Give me back the rest of the silver!"

This time I can finally sleep peacefully.

In the morning, Dazhu took his three daughters to the east end of the village in an oxcart, as he did every day.

"Dad! I forgot to lock the door last night! The front door wasn't locked!" Daya said, annoyed.

The gate opened, and the oxcart entered the yard.

"The door is locked, the storeroom is locked, nothing is missing," Er Ya said as she ran in first.

Guizhi heard a noise coming from the garden and ran in to see what was going on: "Oh! Grandpa! Fourth Uncle! Why are you helping us dig the ground so early?!"

Daya and Erya also ran over. Dazhu quickly tied up the cow and went into the vegetable garden.

"Father! Fourth Brother! Why are you busy with my side first?" Dazhu was very touched.

“Brother! Dad said there’s not much space left in your vegetable garden. I happen to have the key to the firewood I used to use. So Dad and I came over first. We saw you were quite busy this morning, so we came over first. We’ll dig for a morning, and the three of us can finish by the afternoon. The sooner we plant the vegetables, the faster they’ll grow.”

Dazhu thought for a moment and said, "Dad, you need to plant your seeds earlier too. You don't need to buy seeds later. I didn't buy enough yesterday, so I'll buy yours today as well."

"Wouldn't that mean you'd have to spend money again?" the old man chuckled. His son was sensible and filial, which made him happy as a father.

"Father, Fourth Brother! Thank you for your trouble! I'm taking a few girls to town. The door to the house isn't locked, so you can go inside and rest later. The kang (heated brick bed) is heated now, it'll be warm soon. I've left two boxes of dumplings on the kang, you can eat them yourselves later," Dazhu arranged.

"Go on, go on! Why keep the dumplings? Take them and sell them. Don't we know how to come home for dinner?" The old man waved his hand to shoo them away.

"Hehe! Dad and my fourth brother are doing chores for me, and I'm still reluctant to part with two boxes of dumplings. What kind of person am I?" Dazhu laughed as he walked out of the vegetable garden.

"Fourth brother! You're a sensible and hardworking one! Try to persuade your wife not to be as short-sighted as your second brother and sister-in-law. Your eldest brother's daughters are good; they seem destined for success and are filial. Once your eldest brother is better off, he won't forget us. That's why he's encouraging us to plant vegetables early; he'll take us with him when he sells them. And we'll need his oxen for farming too. Brothers should understand and help each other!" the old man said to his fourth brother with emotion.

The fourth brother nodded: "Yes! I'll listen to Dad! I know how good my eldest brother and sister-in-law are to me!"

That afternoon, Dazhu took his three sons to buy vegetable seeds, all of which were frost-resistant and cold-resistant small green vegetables, such as lettuce, spinach, bok choy, and celery.

Guizhi suddenly said, "Celery dumplings are delicious too! That would mean extra dumpling filling. Hmm, we're too busy to handle it all, maybe we could just sell dumplings from now on!"

"This little glutton!" Er Ya reached out to touch Gui Zhi's head. Gui Zhi wouldn't let her, and the two sisters ran towards the oxcart.

Upon arriving at Zhang Yapo's place, the group was warmly led inside to see the people.

"Sir, ladies, please come in."

"Let's take another look today!" Dazhu walked straight into the hall.

"Everyone out! Let the masters and young ladies see. Behave yourselves!" Granny Zhang shouted into the room.

People inside the house came out one by one with their heads down. Except for families who would walk closer together, the other men and women stood separately.

There were significantly fewer people than yesterday; they must have sold out.

Zhang the matchmaker secretly counted the number of people. Dazhu mainly looked at the men's side, wanting someone strong and sturdy. Guizhi mainly looked at those families.

Dazhu followed Zhang the matchmaker slowly, looking at each person as they went. The faces of those being sold were filled with misery. Some secretly glanced up, hoping to be chosen soon and leave this place of hunger and cold. Most of them were quite well-behaved, perhaps because they had been specially trained.

As they passed by the family with the old man, the little girl cried out, "Grandma! My grandpa is very sick! Please find a doctor to take a look at him! I beg you!" She then knelt down.

Her brother, holding back tears, pulled her up, but the little girl pulled him down to kneel as well.

"Find a doctor? That old man won't fetch much, and it won't even cover the cost of medicine and medical treatment. I'd be losing out big time buying your whole family, feeding and supporting you every day for free. And then I'd have to waste a mat and throw it away." Granny Zhang was no saint.

"Master! Miss! Buy my family! My father-in-law is ill, and we are unworthy to be his children; we cannot afford to seek medical treatment for him!" The middle-aged woman also knelt down, but before Dazhu and the children.

The middle-aged man knelt down beside the woman, pleading, "My lord! This servant knows how to farm! This servant can even read a few words! I beg you, my lord, to buy my family. This servant is willing to serve you like a slave! I only beg you, my lord, to buy my family and find a doctor for my father!"

"Who gave you these rules? You've got some nerve! You've disturbed an important person. Just wait and see how you'll be dealt with!" Granny Zhang said, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws.

With a forced smile, he said, "Sir, ladies! Their manners were poor! But they had no choice! Please forgive them, sir!"

Dazhu didn't speak. The maids also remained silent.

"Ladies, I can read! I can cook and sew. My family of five is willing to serve you!" The middle-aged woman kowtowed repeatedly.

Guizhi looked down at the old man; his thin face was flushed, and he was trembling. He probably had a fever. She had to bring the fever down quickly.

"Dad!" Da Ya and Er Ya couldn't bear to watch anymore; they were so pitiful.

Dazhu was also somewhat tempted. "How much silver is this family worth?"

Granny Zhang saw an opportunity and smiled even more broadly: "Oh my! This gentleman seems to have a kind heart! Look, eight taels of silver for the man, six taels for the woman, ten taels for the two children, and three taels for the old man. That's twenty-seven taels in total!"

Guizhi objected: "Yesterday you said the girls and boys were three taels each, two would only be six taels, and you're asking for ten taels of silver. The pretty, presentable girls are only five taels, and these people are already in their forties, skinny as monkeys, and you still have the nerve to ask for six taels? The old man is dying, are you going to buy him a grave for three taels of silver?"

She then pulled on Dazhu's arm, saying, "Father, this is taking advantage of your soft heart, throwing money around so casually!"

"How dare you talk like that, child?" Dazhu scolded deliberately.

Turning to Zhang the matchmaker, he said, "I'm just a soft-hearted person. I only did it because I felt sorry for their family. But my daughter is right, your price is not fair! You can't spend money like that."

Zhang the matchmaker hurriedly said, "Oh, I'll give you the price and you can bargain. Miss, these two children look very smart. If you raise them well, they will definitely become your capable assistants."

"That's something our family has to pay for to raise, it has nothing to do with you. Right now you're just a little girl or a little boy!" Guizhi said mercilessly.

"Sir, this woman can cook, sew, and even read! Buying her would make her a great housekeeper, much better than a clueless young girl!" Zhang the matchmaker continued to praise her, unwilling to give up.

“The housekeeper’s wife must have been trained from childhood! Who can trust someone bought halfway through life? She’s just one of the family members!” Guizhi continued to argue.

Granny Zhang looked at Guizhi and shook her head helplessly: "Young Miss! You are truly amazing!"

"Then tell me your price."

“I won’t haggle. Let’s stick to yesterday’s price: eight taels of silver for the man, five taels for the woman, and six taels for the two children. You don’t need to pay extra for the old man’s mat; just give it to me as a bonus. I feel sorry for them, so let them stay together as a family!” Guizhi straightened her chest and looked at the group. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I’ve calculated it. It’s nineteen taels of silver in total!”

“Father, it costs nineteen taels of silver to buy two workers. There’s only one to farm. Oh! Mother will scold us if she finds out.” Guizhi looked at Dazhu pitifully again.

Granny Zhang seized the opportunity: "Miss! You're being too cruel. I've had them for so long, and all that money has gone into feeding them and providing for their lodging! Please raise the price a bit more!"