Buying Servants

The official brokerage was indeed efficient. Shen Jingchuan had just registered as a local resident, and with his household registration document in hand, he could complete the deed and transfer on the spot. From drawing up the contract and pressing his seal to filing the tax deed and receiving the receipt, the entire process took less than two hours. There was not the slightest obstruction, and the property deed was smoothly registered in his name.

Shen Jingchuan casually pulled out a small piece of silver weighing about one tael and handed it over. The clerk's eyes lit up at once. He hurriedly accepted it with both hands and tucked it into his robes, thanking him profusely. The commission on the property alone had been substantial, and with this extra tip, he had landed a major customer today.

"Young master, such a large residence with three courtyards shouldn't be left so empty. You'll need a few servants to guard the gate, sweep and tend the garden. Our brokerage also handles the sale of people. They all come from legitimate sources registered with the authorities; none have been abducted or illegally trafficked. Would you like to choose a few?"

The clerk came closer with a flattering smile, taking the opportunity to solicit more business.

Shen Jingchuan thought it over and agreed. At present, he only had the two young girls Qingshu and Qinghua with him. With such a large residence, he was short of hands to guard the gate and grounds, shop for supplies and handle errands. He nodded and said:

"All right, take me to have a look."

The clerk handled property matters exclusively; other staff were in charge of buying and selling people.

He led Shen Jingchuan through the rear courtyard, talking as they went:

"Our official brokerage's human market is nothing like those chaotic private brokers on the street. Every person is entered in the register. They've either sold themselves after their families fell on hard times or were seized and assigned by the authorities from households convicted of crimes. Their origins are perfectly clear. Once you buy them, there'll be no trouble later, and no former masters will come looking to make a fuss."

At the far end of the rear courtyard stood a row of connected rooms along a covered walkway. The windows were bright, the furnishings spotless and the floors swept clean. It was nothing like the filthy, noisy human markets outside.

The people beneath the walkway stood in groups according to age and sex. All held their hands at their sides and kept their heads lowered, quiet and still. When someone approached, they did not dare glance around. They were very well behaved.

A broker in a blue cloth robe stood beside the walkway. Seeing the property clerk bring over an honored customer, he hurried forward with a broad smile.

The clerk quietly said a few words to the broker, then took his leave of Shen Jingchuan and went happily back to the front.

The broker led Shen Jingchuan slowly along, introducing the people as they went. There were strong laborers, older women who could cook and young maids in their early teens. Every one of them stood straight and allowed themselves to be inspected.

Shen Jingchuan looked over about half of them before his gaze settled on a family standing in a corner.

The four stood close together. The man at their head was in his early forties, dressed in a blue cloth robe washed pale. He held himself very straight, and there was a scholarly air about his features. He did not look as though he came from a background of manual labor.

The woman beside him was around forty, clutching the hand of the young girl next to her, looking ill at ease. The boy appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, tall and slender, with solid shoulders and a steady expression.

The girl beside them was about fourteen or fifteen, her hair arranged in two buns. Her face was thin, and her features were neat and delicate. But her eyes remained lowered, and her fingers twisted tightly in the hem of her clothes. She looked both frightened and embarrassed.

"This family served Clerk Liu of the household registration office."

Seeing his interest, the broker hurried over to explain:

"Clerk Liu got into trouble for embezzlement. His property was confiscated, and his household servants were seized and put up for sale along with it.

"This man is called Liu Zhong. He used to be his master's bookkeeper. He has excellent handwriting and is skilled with the abacus; he's an expert at keeping accounts and managing affairs."

Shen Jingchuan called him forward and asked him a couple of questions about bookkeeping. Liu Zhong answered clearly, speaking in a steady, orderly manner. He was nothing like an ordinary menial servant.

Shen Jingchuan was already tempted. He was just short of someone who could keep accounts and manage the various affairs inside and outside the household. "All right, I'll take him."

When Liu Zhong heard Shen Jingchuan say he would buy only him, he dropped straight to his knees with a thud, his voice hoarse:

"Young master, I know my status is lowly, and I dare not make unreasonable demands. I only beg you to show kindness and not separate my family.

"My wife and I, together with my son and daughter, will serve you with all our hearts and strength when we reach your residence. We can do any rough or tiring work, and we will never harbor disloyal thoughts. We only beg you not to part us from our own flesh and blood..."

As soon as he finished, the woman pulled her two children down to their knees as well.

The girl's eyes reddened at once. She bit her lower lip, not daring to cry aloud, her shoulders trembling slightly. She raised her eyes and cast a quick glance at Shen Jingchuan, then hurriedly lowered her head again, ashamed and miserable.

"Ah, look at this."

The broker tried to smooth things over, smiling at Shen Jingchuan as he said,

"Young master, this old woman is just a laborer and isn't worth much. You can take her for three taels of silver. The boy is sixteen, strong and sturdy. He can guard the gate and grounds, run errands and shop for supplies: five taels. The girl has good features and nimble hands and feet. She can manage work both inside and out. You can make her a senior maid in your chambers or take her to your bed, either would do. She's only eight taels.

"Liu Zhong is a capable bookkeeper, so I'll charge you ten taels for him. That comes to twenty-six taels for the whole family. Buy them all and keep the family together, and you can use them with peace of mind. They're much more reliable than servants bought separately."

Shen Jingchuan made a quick calculation. With Liu Zhong keeping accounts and managing the residence, his son running outside errands and guarding the gate and grounds, and the mother and daughter sweeping, cooking and tending the inner courtyard, he would have a full complement of help. With the family together, they would also be less likely to harbor disloyal thoughts.

"All right, I'll take the whole family." He raised a hand. "Complete all the paperwork and make sure the register is in order. Don't leave any trouble for later."

"Right away."

At those words, Liu Zhong's family was overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed in thanks. The girl raised her head too. Her eyes were still full of tears, but now there was also some relief at having survived a disaster. She softly added, "Thank you, young master."

Once the formalities and transfer were completed, the deeds of servitude and registration records were handed over to Shen Jingchuan. He tucked the documents away and led Liu Zhong and his family of four toward his newly purchased residence.

They passed through streets and alleys until they reached the black-lacquered gates in the quiet, secluded lane. Shen Jingchuan took out the copper key, unlocked them and pushed them open to let the four inside.

The moment Liu Zhong saw the residence, his heart jolted. He recognized it as one of the finest properties in the city.

It had originally belonged to a wealthy merchant from the Chu Kingdom and was renowned for its exquisite, meticulous design. He had not expected this young master to have bought the entire property. It seemed his new master's wealth ran far deeper than he had imagined.

With a clang, Liu Hu, the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy, deftly turned and shut the gates, then slid the bolt into place. He followed beside his mother, but could not help looking around at the courtyard with its carved beams and painted pillars, his eyes holding a trace of unease and curiosity.

Beside him, Madam Liu gripped her daughter's hand. She too held her breath and softened her footsteps considerably.

Shen Jingchuan strolled to the steps of the main hall and casually instructed them:

"I've only just bought this house, and it hasn't been put in order yet. Spend the next few days cleaning it thoroughly, inside and out. Buy whatever daily necessities are missing yourselves. I'll come back later."

As he spoke, he pulled a ten-tael silver note from his sleeve and held it out to Liu Zhong:

"Take this silver. Use it for daily purchases, repairs and cleaning. From now on, you'll manage everything inside and outside the household. You can serve as steward."

Liu Zhong froze for a moment, then hurriedly accepted the note with both hands and bowed:

"This old servant thanks you for your trust, young master! I will do everything in my power to manage the residence well and will never fail the task you have entrusted to me."

He was both surprised and delighted. When ordinary masters bought servants, they would observe them for some time at the very least before daring to entrust them with the accounts. Yet this young master had given him ten taels of silver to settle the household the moment they met, and had even made him steward on the spot. He was plainly a generous and straightforward man. Life under such a master could not be bad.

"Choose your rooms yourselves. Do whatever is convenient; there's no need to stand on ceremony." Shen Jingchuan waved a hand.

He had never understood the many rules governing servants in ancient times, and he had not given much thought to whether they might run away. As he saw it, he had simply hired a few people to look after the house. If they really wanted to leave, it would be no great matter.

What he did not know was that this entire family had been seized into official custody as servants. Their deeds of servitude were in their master's hands, and escaping was a serious crime indeed. The authorities would issue notices for their arrest, and if caught, they would be beaten with a rod and sold. Even households that sheltered them would be punished along with them.

In this world, a servant without a master could hardly move an inch. There was simply no reason to run.

Still less did Shen Jingchuan know that the great households of this world had their own reasons for preferring to employ servants they had bought.

Although their deeds of servitude were in their masters' hands, making them much like private property to be beaten or scolded at will, these people were often more loyal than ordinary hired servants. Their fates had long been bound tightly to their masters'. If their masters prospered, they could live in peace; once their masters fell, their own ends would be far more miserable.

For an entire household to be sold together, as Liu Zhong's family had been, was already the best outcome they could hope for. In worse cases, the men were beaten or killed at will, or sold into hard labor, while the women were sold to pleasure houses to spend their lives as prostitutes, never to see a day when they could rise again.

For that very reason, servants understood that only if their masters remained secure would they have a way to live. They rarely entertained disloyal thoughts and were instead more dependable than others.

After giving his instructions on the various matters, Shen Jingchuan did not linger. He turned and left the residence, heading straight back toward the escort agency. Qingshu and Qinghua were still there, and he had to make proper arrangements for them before moving over.