Trouble Finds Me Like an Ant

Two days later, Jiang Shouyi, carrying the two children, walked into Anqiu City, overjoyed to the point of tears!

He had only slept a few hours over the past two days, spending the rest of the time rushing on the road.

Seeing the female infant only drinking thin gruel and her cries growing weaker, on the verge of starvation, he finally managed to enter the city.

Langya Commandery had nine counties. Besides the administrative seat, Kaiyang City, only Anqiu had a large garrison.

It was precisely because of the regular garrison, and not fearing riots from refugees, that the city gates were not tightly shut.

However, there were still refugees everywhere, with countless frozen to death.

Along the city roads, countless people lay curled up numbly in small alleys. Soldiers patrolled the streets, and some of the stronger refugees were organized to clear corpses outside the city and clear snow from the roads.

Refugees who participated in the clearing work undoubtedly received a meal.

Jiang Shouyi sighed, found an alley, huddled with others, and inquired. He learned that the local influential families in Anqiu provided porridge to aid the disaster victims every afternoon, and these refugees had survived until today on that thin porridge.

During the porridge distribution, stewards would also select people from among the refugees. If suitable candidates were found, they could sell themselves to a household and exchange it for a few bushels of rice and flour.

Jiang Shouyi licked his lips, contemplating.

It would be extremely difficult to sell the infant girl to someone to be a daughter, and the current situation could not be delayed.

Since that was the case, it would be better to sell her to a large family. Even if she became a servant, at least she would not lack food and warmth.

But he had planned to raise Yan Nu himself, so he wouldn't sell him. He would watch over Xue'er as she grew up.

If Xue'er were sold to someone else, he wouldn't see her future life or be able to help her, so he would only be at ease if she was accepted as a daughter.

But in this Year of Great Calamity, human lives were worthless. Xue'er was a girl, so who would want to take her as a daughter?

"Alas, I can only do my best," he said with bitterness. The children were starving to death, and he could only try his best.

"Old man, your two children look so good. Why don't you find Zhang the Broker and ask?" The refugee he inquired with saw that the children in Jiang Shouyi's arms were bright and had excellent complexions, so he introduced him to someone.

"Zhang the Broker?"

Under the guidance of the refugee, Jiang Shouyi found a brokerage.

It turned out that in addition to the stewards from local influential families recruiting people, there were also some merchants and brokers selecting people from among the refugees.

Countless refugees could not even survive, so selling themselves was extremely cheap. Many brokerages that specialized in trading slaves were like cats smelling blood, wandering around the major refugee gathering areas.

Zhang the Broker was one of them. When he saw Jiang Shouyi, he frowned immediately.

A decrepit old man, and he brought infants. Infants were the least valuable. They weren't weaned yet, so what use were they? They still needed to be raised!

Only those over ten years old could fetch a good price.

However, when his gaze fell upon the infant in his arms and he looked closely, a smile appeared.

"Good merchandise!" Zhang the Broker was a veteran of his trade, having seen countless people. His judgment was extremely sharp!

Even with a child who wasn't weaned yet, he could tell its appearance.

And these two children were like jade.

The female infant looked like she had been starving for a long time. Her skin had lost some of its luster, but with good care, she would definitely be a stunning beauty in the future.

"Selling children or joining a household?" Zhang the Broker asked.

Some refugees might still have land and were respectable families. Even if they fell on hard times, they would only sell their children to get money and food to survive.

As for some refugees, they had lost everything and would often simply join another household as slaves with their entire family, to avoid their flesh and blood being separated.

"Selling children..." Jiang Shouyi replied softly.

He had already sold his land before winter and joined the Zhang Clan of Hua County, becoming a lowly commoner. However, during the snow disaster, the Zhang Clan did not care about him, as there were plenty of tenant farmers anyway.

Therefore, as long as he could survive, it didn't matter if he didn't go back.

"Good, put down the two children, and you can receive eight bushels of rice," Zhang the Broker waved his hand, seemingly very generous.

Eight bushels of rice for two children. In a good year, this would not be a deal, but now, many refugees around showed envious expressions, because they only got two to three bushels of rice for selling their ten-year-old children. Eight bushels were enough for them to last a month.

Jiang Shouyi was stunned, then said, "Even a mud doll can't be sold for just eight bushels of rice!"

"Does a mud doll need to eat? Such a young child, I'd need to find a wet nurse, raising them doesn't cost money?" Zhang the Broker was very arrogant, not putting Jiang Shouyi in his eyes at all. He had no idea that this old man had just killed a top-tier martial artist a couple of days ago.

Jiang Shouyi hugged the children tightly and said, "I won't sell them to you!"

Zhang the Broker was a little surprised, then realized, "Alright, I'll give you another three hundred coins."

He didn't mind adding a little. In this year, three hundred coins might not even buy three bushels of rice.

These two little children had such excellent appearances; he didn't want to miss out.

However, Jiang Shouyi still shook his head. This time, Zhang the Broker got angry, "Old man! Do you think you can bargain? This is already my great mercy! If you don't sell, you'll starve to death!"

"Slap!" Jiang Shouyi slapped down a string of coins and said, "Introduce me to a good family that will take her as their daughter."

He wasn't selling the children for money; it was just that he couldn't raise them himself anymore. From the conversation just now, he knew that Xue'er couldn't be sold to this person.

"Hey, you old man!" Zhang the Broker saw him giving him money and was suddenly at a loss.

He had money and was still selling children? He immediately sized up Jiang Shouyi carefully and was suddenly stunned.

It turned out that Jiang Shouyi had been sleeping in the snow all the way. When he first arrived, he looked like a snowman, no different from the refugees outside.

But just now, after paying one string of cash and shaking off the snow on his body, Zhang the Broker immediately saw the fur coat on the old man.

Although it was just sheepskin, the craftsmanship was good. This outfit alone was worth two to three strings, which was not something ordinary civilians could afford.

So it wasn't a refugee selling a child, but a business opportunity?

As a well-known broker in Anqiu, Zhang the Broker's main business was as an intermediary.

"I see, it was my discourtesy. Old man, please come with me, we can talk inside... Someone, serve tea!" A commission of one string of cash was enough to warrant a smile.

Jiang Shouyi entered the inner room and explained his intentions. Zhang the Broker immediately frowned.

Good heavens, in this day and age, there were more than enough people willing to be servants, and he expected someone to buy a child to be their daughter?

He might be able to introduce someone if they were looking for a son, but who would want a daughter?

"Old man, since you're selling the child, do you care if she's of good birth? Hmm, I might be able to help you with this boy."

Jiang Shouyi was mentally prepared for Zhang the Broker's words and immediately said, "If it really doesn't work out, I won't sell her for now... I'll hire a wet nurse for a few days first, this child is starving."

"This..." Zhang the Broker was a little unwilling. He didn't want to miss out on such a beautiful prospect.

As long as he sold her to a powerful and influential family, he could make a fortune. Even as just an intermediary, he could profit greatly.

"Old man, why insist on good birth? Isn't it also good to be sold into a noble family as a servant?"

"Let me tell you, just a few days ago, the Zhu Family in Anqiu wanted to buy a female infant. I don't know what they wanted her for, but they offered a very high price, and the only requirement was good looks."

"I sent one over then, also a beautiful prospect, but compared to the porcelain doll in your arms... Sigh! There's no comparison!"

"I don't know if they still want one. Old man, if you agree to sell her to the Zhu Family, you'll get at least ten strings!"

Zhang the Broker tried his best to persuade him, hoping to sell the female infant to the Zhu Family.

Jiang Shouyi sighed, "As a servant?"

He was very conflicted. Of course, he knew his request was ridiculous, so if it really didn't work out, he would have to sell her to a noble family as a maid.

Zhang the Broker replied, "It's really a waste..."

He was about to say it was a waste of time, but his eyes darted around, and he changed his words, "Not... if you really have to say it... the Zhu Family didn't explicitly say they wanted a servant..."

"The Zhu Family is a major clan in our Anqiu. Their patriarch is the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and among the younger generation, there is the current Anqiu County Magistrate and the Langya Commandery Five-Camp Commandant... all remarkable scholars and talents."

"Such a clan doesn't lack servants. This time, they want to adopt a daughter... to prepare for future marriage alliances! That's why they require good looks, and only an infant!"

As he spoke, Zhang the Broker himself began to believe it.

In fact, the adopted daughter part was just a guess, but it wasn't impossible. Anyway, he was trying to trick the old man, so he might as well say it as if it were true.

Jiang Shouyi was overjoyed. An adopted daughter was fine too! He didn't care about marriage alliances anymore, at least they would raise the child well!

She would be a young lady from a good family, a noble daughter! What else could he ask for? This was a stroke of luck he couldn't have imagined!

This was the perfect outcome he could envision for Xue'er!

"Really? You said before that no one would want her..." Jiang Shouyi doubted him slightly.

Zhang the Broker said without batting an eye, "That's because such a good opportunity has already been missed! I sent a female infant before, but yours is even better! I think I can ask! Anyway, one more or two more to raise, it's all the same!"

"Good, good, good... Ask! Hurry and ask!" Jiang Shouyi was ecstatic and nodded repeatedly.

Zhang the Broker grinned, "Follow me!"

He called for a carriage and led the old man directly to a mansion in the city.

Upon arrival, Zhang the Broker got out of the carriage first, tidied his clothes, and went up to knock on the gatekeeper's door. "Old Man Tan, are you there? It's Zhang the Broker..."

This was the back gate of the Zhu Residence. An old gatekeeper came out and looked down at Zhang the Broker and Jiang Shouyi.

"What is it?"

Zhang the Broker bowed humbly and said with a smile, "Old Man Tan, a few days ago Miss Xiangyun asked me to find a female infant for your esteemed family. Today, I have found better goods. Compared to the one I sent last time, this one is like a firefly compared to the bright moon!"

"I've brought the person. Please trouble Old Man Tan to pass on the message. I'll be waiting outside the gate."

The so-called Miss Xiangyun was actually a personal maid to the side wife of the Zhu Family's eldest son, but even with such a status, Zhang the Broker had to call her Miss.

Old Man Tan was surprised, "Find a female infant?"

"You don't know?" Zhang the Broker blinked. "Two days ago, I sent a female infant, and Miss Xiangyun herself came to get her... Oh, you weren't here that day..."

As he spoke, Zhang the Broker felt something was wrong.

He remembered that Xiangyun had warned him to forget about it and not tell outsiders. Could it be that even the people in the mansion were being kept in the dark?

"Wait!" Old Man Tan turned and went back into the mansion.

Outside the gate, Zhang the Broker trembled. The more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt, and the more scared he became!

If it was to take in a maid, there was nothing to hide. If it was to adopt a daughter, it was fine to keep it from outsiders. Old Man Tan, as the gatekeeper and steward, was naturally a trustworthy person in the mansion, and there was no need to hide it from him.

So, hiding it from Old Man Tan actually meant hiding it from the entire mansion!

This must involve some secret in the Zhu Family's back courtyard, and he had gotten involved.

"It's over! It's over! Disaster! I was truly blinded by greed!"

Zhang the Broker hated himself for not thinking of this earlier. He had told Jiang Shouyi for the sake of money, but that was that.

The person even came looking for him, bringing people along, and stirred up trouble with the doorman again.

If the people in the Zhu mansion wanted his life, wouldn't it be as easy as killing a chicken?

"You just wait here... I'll be right back." Zhang the Broker smiled stiffly, reassuring Jiang Shouyi to stay while he immediately bolted.

He didn't even drive his carriage, lest Jiang Shouyi become suspicious. He wanted Jiang Shouyi to be the shield, to stall for him for a moment.

Jiang Shouyi found it strange and directly grabbed him, "You have to stay. What do you mean by leaving me here?"

"Damn it, can't you just inspect the goods yourself? Let go!" Zhang the Broker was a bit anxious, but he couldn't break free from Jiang Shouyi.

It turned out that in the past two days, Jiang Shouyi had eaten and drunk his fill, and coupled with Chen Hu's medicine being truly effective, his injuries had almost healed. Thus, his strength was not something a "fat but weak" fellow like Zhang the Broker could match.

Zhang the Broker was sweating in the cold, making Jiang Shouyi more suspicious the more he looked, but he didn't know what was going on, so he just wouldn't let him go.

"Alright, alright, let's go! Let's all go quickly!"

"Miss Xiangyun is looking for a female infant, not because the Zhu mansion wants to adopt a daughter. This matter is being kept from everyone in the mansion, likely involving infighting in the inner court. The secondary wife probably intends to use the plan of 'substituting a peach for a plum'..."

As Zhang the Broker spoke, he had already conjured countless scenarios in his mind. Preparing a female infant was likely to replace the son born to another woman?

"You've misunderstood this," a clear, cold voice suddenly came.

Zhang the Broker trembled as he turned around and saw a young girl in green, with a sword at her waist, walking out. A plum blossom with a faint fragrance was tucked into her hair.

"Miss... Miss Xiangyun, this humble one knows his mistake..." Zhang the Broker's legs went weak, and he immediately knelt on the ground.

Xiangyun's face was like frost, and her voice was clear and cold, "Old Man Tan also knows his mistake. What right do you have?"

Hearing this, Zhang the Broker's teeth chattered, reaching the depths of despair.

Old Man Tan, as the doorman, had not returned. He must have already met his end.

If even an old servant of the mansion like Old Man Tan could be killed so readily, how could Xiangyun spare him?

"Run!" Zhang the Broker knew escape was impossible and stopped wasting words, fleeing for his life.

However, after only a few steps, Xiangyun slightly raised her hand. A flash of red light was seen, and Zhang the Broker fell to the ground.

Simultaneously falling with him was a blood-stained petal!

"Hiss!" Jiang Shouyi gasped, it was too fast. He hadn't even seen how Xiangyun had flicked out the petal!

It was a petal! It was the plum blossom Xiangyun wore in her hair. At this time of year, the only flowers women would wear would be Snow-Defying Cold Plum Blossoms.

Xiangyun had long intended to kill with it. At some point, she had gently plucked a petal into her hand, perhaps not wanting to dirty her sword.

Such a fragile thing could easily slit a person's throat. It was completely beyond the comprehension of someone like Jiang Shouyi.

The fragile, soft petal killed like a swift flying dagger, remaining undamaged after the kill. It even drifted down lightly, with no residual force to fly further. Everything was perfectly executed.

Anyone could tell that this displayed extremely high-level martial arts. How old was Xiangyun? In her teens, right? Was this the martial artist of a true influential family?

Sensing the killing intent rushing towards him, Jiang Shouyi knew he was next and fell into despair.

But he wasn't afraid of death. While he could still speak, he quickly shouted, "This old man truly knows nothing. Miss, you can kill me, but please take in these two children. Even if it's just to serve as maids..."

p.s: Sorry.