The slave dealers were used to such scenes of loud crying and shouting.
Zi You's heart clenched. She scolded herself. Didn't she say she would never be softhearted again? Why was her old disease rearing its head again?
This world had too many people pitiful people. Could she afford to be sympathetic?
Moreover, those pitiful people must have hateful points. In her previous life, didn't she pity Yu LanXuan for being born a Shu [concubine-born] daughter and being bullied by her Di [legitimate wife-born] siblings? Then she [Zi You] led the wolf into her house?
Zi You hardened her heart and was about to conclude the transaction. But the little girl who begged her fiercely glared at her and scolded, "I'm not going with you. Even if I die, I will die with my big brother. You're so cruel. You want to separate us."
Looking at the little girl's determined face, Zi You was momentarily stunned. In her past life, when she learned her grandfather and uncle died of illness in Nanjiang, her heart was filled with pain, the kind of pain where she hated she couldn't follow them in death. Zi You's hard-like-iron heart collapsed a little.
She stopped the slave dealer who was about to hit the little girl and heavily said, "Bring her brothers over."
"Okay, okay." The slave dealer gladly ran off.
Four girls, including the one who called Zi You cruel, rushed towards Zi You and kowtowed. "Thank you, benefactor! Thank you, benefactor! This slave iswilling to do anything for benefactor Xiaojie, be it being a cow or horse." Although Zi You appeared cold, her mood was pleasant. It wasn't for the little girl's gratitude, but that in such a precarious situation, there was still real love and emotion.
The four girls' brothers came. They were ten and twelve and two were thirteen years of age.
The thirteen-year-old, tall,dark-skinned, aloof teenager was the brother of the first girl who begged ZiYou.
The little girl saw her brother and immediately rushed towards his chest, crying heartbreakingly.
The other three girls found their brothers, held hands and wept, while asking after each others' well-being.
Zi You's four first-ranked maidservantsall wept sympathetic tears seeing this scene.
Although Zi You's heart was also feelingsorrow, her appearance was always cold. She looked in the distance as if thethings happening in front of her had nothing to do with her.
After ten minutes or so, she gave theslave dealer 360 silvers. She told her maidservants and Fang Dasheng, "Hire twobig carriages. Take them to the market, let them eat, bathe, and wear cleanclothes before taking them home."
"Yes." Fang Dasheng was General Mu'sexclusive carriage driver, loyal and knew martial arts. Because Zi You did notwant guards or soldiers to follow, Old General Mu was worried she would suffer.He allowed his own carriage driver to follow this trip.
Since Laoye told him not to do anythinguntil the critical juncture, he would just not care about anything and listento Xiaojie. The two carriages were hired and the forty-nine slaves were broughtaway.
Back in the market, ShiYun and HaiYunwent to buy clothing. MoYun and ShuiYun went to contact a restaurant. FangDasheng went to contact the bathhouse.
Half an hour later, three sets of peoplereturned. MoYun and ShuiYun booked a small restaurant. Fang Dasheng booked abathhouse.Zi You ordered theslaves to the restaurant first. Everyone had one bowl of congee, two smalldishes and a small mantou [steamed bread].