The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

Chapter 580: Chapter 567: Broker

Ordinarily, residence in the Qingzhuyuan would be arranged, with a day off every ten days to return home.

Everyone was quite satisfied with this arrangement.

Only Zhuang Qingning sighed.

For suddenly, the courtyard, usually filled with laughter, was left with just her and Snowball, a solitary woman and her cat, a situation she found hard to get used to.

Moreover, as business steadily increased, it was hard for her to keep up all by herself…

After pondering for a night, Zhuang Qingning went to the county town the next day.

She didn’t bother going anywhere else, heading straight for the brokerage.

The brokerage was bustling at this time.

As the spring planting had just ended and the summer harvest hadn’t yet arrived, it was a time of transition. Not a few people were selling their fields, houses, or even their children.

With so many sellers, naturally there were plenty of buyers too.

The clerks and the shop manager were busy welcoming customers and negotiating prices.

One clerk recognized Zhuang Qingning and promptly came over to greet her, asking, “What are you looking to buy, Miss? Whether it’s dry fields, rice fields, or houses, we have everything.”

“I’d like to see if there are any girls of similar age to me, perhaps one or two years older. Girls who are honest and industrious, to help with household chores and such.” Zhuang Qingning explained her intentions.

“You’ve come at just the right time, Miss. We’ve just received several of them.” the clerk smiled, “They are all honest children from farming families who can’t make ends meet, thus they have to swap their daughters for some money to survive.”

“If you’d like to take a look, they are just in a courtyard not too far from here. I can lead the way so you can see if there’s anyone that catches your eye?”

“That’s fine.” Zhuang Qingning nodded.

“Alright, please follow me, Miss.” The clerk smiled broadly, informed the shop manager, and then led Zhuang Qingning into the spacious courtyard at the back of the brokerage.

This courtyard was indeed spacious, with many houses. However, these houses were built without regard for aesthetics, just along the perimeter of the courtyard. In the middle, there were numerous bamboo poles for drying clothes, with a variety of garments hanging from them.

What was shared between these clothing items were the patches. Every piece was tattered and patched-up.

It was clear these people had all been purchased from various places by the brokerage and housed here.

An older woman, with strands of white in her hair, saw the clerk approaching with a potential buyer and approached, smiling, “Are you here to look at people? What type are you interested in?”

“Aunt Dong, this lady wants to buy a couple of maids. Please pick out some that are practical and sensible.” the clerk instructed.

“Alright.” Aunt Dong agreed, proceeding to fetch about a dozen young girls and lined them up for Zhuang Qingning to view, “Please take a look, these were all bought last month. We taught them the ropes, they are all hardworking and quick-witted.”

“Moreover, they were bought directly from their parents. Their backgrounds are clean, all are from farming families. You can rest assured.”

Zhuang Qingning took a look at the girls lined up in front of her.

They were all around twelve or thirteen years old. Their hands and feet thick from labor and their skin tanned. Even though they held their heads up, they dared not meet Zhuang Qingning’s eyes.

“Just now, you said these were new purchases last month from farming families. How come so many are selling their daughters all of a sudden?” Zhuang Qingning asked in surprise.

Typically, farmers would never sell their children if they could make ends meet, no matter how modest their meals.

“There has been a drought since last autumn in Lu. To this day, not a drop of rain has fallen. The crops have all died. So the farmers had no option but to sell their children in order to survive.” the clerk explained.

“Living a displaced life is not easy, especially with the high number of displaced people. Many get sick or die on the way,” he continued, “many sell their children not just to survive, but also in the hope that their children will at least have a full meal and not starve. So they die of malnutrition.”

“Before selling them, they insist on finding a kind home for their children, somewhere decent.”

“Ah, it tugs at your heartstrings to say the least.”

The clerk sighed expressively.

I see.

Zhuang Qingning nodded slightly, looked at the group of girls again, and finally focused her gaze on a girl in the middle.

She was stronger than the average person and looked more durable, even her skin had an additional layer of darkness. There were evident calluses on her fingers, a sign of hands that often did labor.

Zhuang Qingning noticed that her hands were very clean, and there was no dirt in the crevices of her fingernails. Her clothes, despite being old, were clean and the patches were neatly sewn.

“Did you mend these clothes yourself?” Zhuang Qingning asked.

The girl seemed surprised at being addressed but soon lowered her head to reply, “Yes, I sewed and fixed them myself.”

“Can you cook, clean, and do other chores?” Zhuang Qingning asked.

“I can do all of that.” The girl nodded urgently, “I can work in the fields, wash clothes, and even farm. I am not afraid of dirty or tiring work. I am stronger than most boys. If you buy me, you won’t regret it.”

“In the past, I also washed clothes for a rich family. I know how to handle fine garments and will not ruin them.”

Anyone who enters the brokerage hopes to be sold as quickly as possible.

Living in the brokerage, one could always eat enough, but if no buyers showed interest, they would have to be sold off in the end.

They would either be sold as wives to blind or lame men, or as child brides to others.

Thus, when someone showed interest in buying her, the girl hurriedly pushed herself forward. Especially when the prospective buyer appeared to be kind-hearted.

“I’ll take her,” Zhuang Qingning was very pleased with the girl and informed the clerk.

“Miss, you have a good eye. Of all these girls, Xiangqiao is the most capable. During her stay here, she has been the most self-sufficient and the least lazy,” Aunt Dong laughed, “Just as Xiangqiao said, if you take her home, you won’t regret it.”