217: Big Purchase (3 more updates)
The men varied in age, with the older ones looking worn and forlorn. Upon hearing Xie Zhinuan’s words, they all lifted their eyes to look at her.
Having been shuffled from one place to another, they were the most lowly of slaves, bought and sold, drained of all their utility, until at last, they were sold to this county. They never dared to dream that in the remainder of their lives they might find peace or that someone would treat them as human beings.
“Miss Xie, about these people…”
Xie Zhinuan nodded slightly, “I hear you all have culinary skills?”
Actually, not everyone should, and even if they did, it might not be very good.
However, she would need many hands for the tasks ahead. Having bought these people now, if she trained them well, they could be of great use in the future.
“Where do these people come from? Is there a route guide available?” Xie Zhinuan asked.
“We have it!” Lian immediately ordered someone to fetch it.
Xie Zhinuan recognized a few characters and asked Zhinuan for help with those she did not understand.
Zhinuan read them out for Xie Zhinuan with great care.
“…” Lian was astonished.
Xie Zhinuan couldn’t recognize all the characters.
When Zhinuan read out a name, Xie Zhinuan would look at that person. Perhaps because their backgrounds were not good, they couldn’t help but tremble or bend their backs and droop their heads when their names were called.
After confirming the identity of some forty people, Xie Zhinuan finally turned to Lian, “How much for these people?”
“If Miss Xie takes them all, it’s five taels of silver per person!”
Five taels of silver, a price less than that of one mu of farmland.
The deal for the forty or so people was finally settled at two hundred taels of silver.
“I can’t yet accommodate people on my side; I must leave them with you for a couple of days!”
“That’s fine!”
She then went to pick out maids and servant girls.
These women were even more nervous than the men, each one cautious, not even daring to lift their eyes.
“…”
Xie Zhinuan pursed her lips.
She suddenly understood the implications behind Yuanbao and Li Hengyi’s words.
Beauty was already a sin.
She did not consider herself the Holy Mother, but at that moment, she still felt a tug of compassion.
Buying these people home, initially providing them with food and clothing, but they weren’t freeloaders; they could work with their own hands and feet.
And the more hands the better for the tavern she would open.
For about forty people, she still paid two hundred taels and left them temporarily at the Pawnshop.
“I’ll come to fetch them at the latest the day after tomorrow; I still need to procure some things on my side!”
“No problem, even three to five days would be fine!”
Lian saw Xie Zhinuan out of the Pawnshop.
As Xie Zhinuan was leaving, she added, “Find me about ten young men around sixteen or seventeen years old, fairer ones of this sort!”
Lian was surprised but did not ask further questions, quickly agreeing to the request.
Xie Zhinuan and Zhinuan then went to the carpenter’s shop to order tables, stools, screens, flower racks, and washstands.
Because she ordered many items, she was able to negotiate a discount.
She also went to order iron pots, clay pots, bowls, and chopsticks.
After placing the orders for pots, pans, and the like, the shopkeepers were all smiles, their eyes narrowing into slits.
Xie Zhinuan chose not just one type of bowl or plate, but a variety, thinking that different dishes should be served in different types of bowls.
She bought them in sets, whole sets.
“Shopkeeper, please be careful when you deliver these items; don’t damage any!”
“Rest assured, miss, we’ll handle them with the utmost care!”
The things Xie Zhinuan needed to buy were too many to purchase in one day.
After returning to the posthouse, she went to cook dinner.
After enjoying the evening meal and lying back in her chair, Xie Zhinuan thought that the first step was to train reliable people who could take over these tasks in the future.
If she had to manage everything herself, she would be worn out.
But for now, she had very few people she could rely on.
Chapter 218