Gu Laosan, however, did not agree. Holding a shovel in his hand, he said fiercely, "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Hmph, if you’re smart, hand over the person. Otherwise, I’ll report you to the authorities. Liu Dazhuang, have you not eaten prison food for too long and want to taste it again?"
Liu Dazhuang was from the neighboring village and had always been involved in human trafficking. Human trafficking was permitted in Zhuzhao Country, and people too poor to survive often sold their children. But the cost of doing this through official channels was too high, with all the hassle involved, one could hardly make a profit. Thus, to earn more silver, he engaged in many illicit dealings.
A few years ago, he was caught once and sentenced to two years of prison food. Now that he was out, instead of reforming, he had returned to his old ways.
The taste of prison food was hard to endure, and naturally, Liu Dazhuang did not want to go back.
But thinking of that girl on the cart, with skin as tender as a peeled egg, he couldn’t bear to let her go.
Rich masters loved these kinds of soft, tender young girls. By his judgment, this girl could fetch a good amount of silver if he sent her to a wealthy household in Beijing. How could he willingly give her back?
Moreover, he had already found a buyer, who was offering not a small amount of silver. With goods this good, he might even be able to raise the price on the spot.
He snorted coldly and waved toward the man on the cart, who understood and took out a large saber.
Gu Laosan took a few steps back, holding his shovel. Being nothing more than an ordinary farmer, the sight of such a large, gleaming saber instinctively frightened him.
But with Gu Youyou on the cart, he could not back down.
"Liu Dazhuang, you want to take her by force? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the authorities?"
Liu Dazhuang said, "Go and report it then. This is a legitimate purchase with real silver; I even have your second brother’s fingerprint. He’s accepted my silver; what do I have to be afraid of?"
Saying this, he took out a Servitude Contract. It was an official human trafficking contract, but the illiterate Gu Laosan couldn’t understand it.
Gu Laosan cursed, "Don’t try to fool me with a tattered piece of paper. Our Youyou is married; once married, she follows her husband. Even if my second brother wanted to sell Youyou, he doesn’t have the right. Your contract counts for nothing. Even if I take this to the Governor’s Office, I still have the right."
She was sold by her second uncle and aunt?
Gu Youyou’s mind became increasingly clear, and she opened her eyes to look outside through the carriage curtains.
Gu Laosan was standing not far in front of the carriage, his trouser legs rolled up high, revealing muddy legs with plenty of mud on them, a shovel resting on his shoulder.
It seemed he had just come from the fields and hadn’t even had time to wash off the mud before chasing after the carriage.
She smiled bitterly but did not expect such an outcome.
Gu Lao’er and Huang Xiangwen were actually going to sell her to a human trafficker.
"Well, that’s not my problem. All I know is that Gu Youyou is a Gu, and your Gu Lao’er accepted my silver. As for who has the right to sell her, it has nothing to do with me. If we really make a fuss at the Governor’s Office, I will be the victim. Your family’s Gu Lao’er cheated me, and he will have to return my silver."
"You..." Gu Laosan planted the shovel onto the ground and angrily said, "I can’t believe there’s no justice to be had. We’re not selling, hand over the person."
There were three men on the other side, one driving the cart, sitting at the front holding the reins without speaking.
The other two faced Gu Laosan; one was Liu Dazhuang, who was arguing with hands on hips, and the other was a tall and stout man with a large saber on his shoulder, looking fierce and menacing.
If it really came to a fight, in a matter of minutes, they could finish off Gu Laosan’s small frame.