Isn't That Not Good?

If a product of modern industrial technology like a car were to appear in Nanli City, Lin Fei would undoubtedly become the center of attention immediately.

The three great families and the five major powers—any one of them could easily turn Lin Fei into a prisoner with a mere gesture.

If he couldn't clearly explain the origin of the car when that time came, he would certainly meet a miserable end.

Therefore, it was better to keep a low profile, develop in the shadows, and earn more gold coins.

When the time was right, he would be able to live a life of luxury and comfort, whether on Earth or in Nanli City.

After an in-depth exchange with Peach Blossom last night, Lin Fei discovered that Nanli City actually had many advantages.

Here, as long as you have money, you can obtain anything you desire.

Take the human trade, for example; this is strictly prohibited within the Great Xia of Earth.

Yet in Nanli City, people are treated like livestock, bought and sold at will as private property.

Qingfeng Agency.

This was a relatively famous agency in the East City, where many wealthy families came to select and trade servants.

"Who is in charge here?"

Lin Fei stood at the entrance and shouted loudly.

During his time in Nanli City, he had discovered that those who dared to speak and shout loudly were always the wealthy and powerful.

Money and power are the sources of confidence!

A manager immediately hurried over, bowing with cupped hands and a face full of smiles.

"This master, what can I do for you?"

"I want to buy some servants."

"No problem at all. May I ask what kind you are looking for? Are you after rough-work maids, personal attendants, or general laborers and kitchen helpers?"

Lin Fei was stunned; he hadn't expected there to be so many nuances to buying servants.

"I need all of them, and in large quantities."

The manager beamed with joy, realizing a big deal had arrived, and immediately invited Lin Fei into a private room.

After the manager's introduction, Lin Fei finally understood the differences between rough-work maids, personal attendants, and general laborers or kitchen helpers.

Rough-work maids were servants with no particular skills, capable only of manual labor and menial tasks.

Personal attendants were generally those who served their masters directly; they were usually clever, sensible maids who had mastered specific skills.

For instance, assisting their masters with hair styling, makeup, and bathing.

The ladies and young misses of the wealthy families in the city styled their hair in beautiful, trendy patterns every day when they went out, unlike the loose hair common on Earth.

In short, personal attendants held a higher status than rough-work maids, possessing broader horizons and greater capabilities.

As for general laborers, they were servants who did a bit of everything but possessed no specialized skills.

Kitchen helpers were servants who understood culinary arts and were specifically tasked with assisting in the kitchen.

Beyond these types, there were also housekeepers, security guards, and concubine-maids.

The small residence in the East City didn't require many servants.

It was only that haunted house in the South City that required a large number of people.

"Give me two housekeepers, one female and one male."

"Two personal attendants, two security guards, two rough-work maids, and four kitchen helpers."

Hearing Lin Fei count out "two here, two there," the smile on the manager's face began to falter.

Didn't he say "large quantities"?

Adding it all up, it was only a dozen people or so. Was he being toyed with?

Before the manager could speak, Lin Fei added, "Additionally, I need some servants who understand gardening and farm work. Strong and sturdy ones would be best."

"Give me five hundred of them!"

The manager's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open in shock.

It wasn't that he hadn't served big clients before, but someone like Lin Fei, asking for five hundred people in one breath, was truly rare.

Wealthy families usually had their own established servants; even when they occasionally bought new ones, a few dozen or a hundred was considered a large order.

Many servants in wealthy households were hereditary, and with generations of offspring, their numbers were actually quite high.

"Master, are you certain you want five hundred people?"

"What's the matter? Do you not have them?"

"We do, we do! The one thing we have plenty of here is people."

The manager's attitude became even more obsequious, terrified of offending such a major client.

Anyone capable of buying so many servants in one go was definitely either incredibly wealthy or highly influential.

"Sir, for this many servants, do you require indentured contracts or life-long contracts?"

"Servants with indentured contracts can redeem their freedom if they have the money, though this naturally requires the master's consent. Servants with life-long contracts are bought out once and for all, so the price will be higher."

Lin Fei said decisively, "Money is no object; prioritize the life-long contracts. Also, do you have any servants here who are skilled in combat?"

For a long time to come, Lin Fei would likely be staying in Nanli City.

If he could have some powerful experts for protection, it would be much safer.

The manager replied, "Sir, most of the servants here are ordinary people. Even the guards only know a few moves; they are just a bit stronger than the average person."

"As for experts who practice Qi, most of them serve the three great families or the five major factions. Even if an ordinary person has a talent for cultivation, without a Qi-refining manual, they can only practice some crude martial arts."

Lin Fei sighed inwardly. He had originally hoped to buy a servant who could practice Qi—someone who could protect him and perhaps even provide some guidance.

At this moment, the manager added, "Experts who practice Qi generally do not sell themselves into slavery. If you wish to hire such experts, you could try the Black Abyss Society."

The Black Abyss Society was one of the five major factions in Nanli City.

Unlike the Iron Sword Gang or the Blood Wolf Gang, the Black Abyss Society was not a gang and held no territory.

The Black Abyss Society claimed to be an organization dedicated to providing protection, abstaining from local factional disputes, much like a security firm.

This organization recruited many Qi-refining experts and maintained branches in every major city of the Dragon Abyss Dynasty.

Many wealthy merchants would hire people from the Black Abyss Society for protection and to escort goods when traveling to other regions for business.

The stronger the hired Qi-refining expert, the higher the fee.

Lin Fei did not trust anyone right now, so he had no intention of contacting the Black Abyss Society for the time being, lest he draw unwanted attention to himself.

"Forget it, I was just asking. Prepare the servants I requested first."

"Sir, the number of servants you require is quite large, so I may need some time to prepare. Why don't you leave an address, and I will have them delivered to you later?"

"That is fine, but I will take the housekeeper and the personal maid we discussed today."

"No problem, I will take you to select them now."

After Lin Fei finished his selection and paid a deposit of five hundred gold coins, he returned home.

The staff at the agency would deliver the servants directly to his residence, so Lin Fei did not need to bring them back himself.

When Lin Fei returned to the mansion, Peach Blossom was already up, sweeping the courtyard.

"Peach Blossom, I have bought several maids and handymen. Since you are already my woman, you shouldn't be doing such rough work anymore."

Lin Fei took Peach Blossom's small hand and tossed the broom to the ground.

Peach Blossom's face turned red instantly; as a newlywed, she was still quite shy.

"Husband, it is no trouble. I have been doing chores since I was a child; I am used to it."

"That won't do. A master must act like a master; from now on, you are only responsible for attending to me. Come, let's go back to the room and rest."

"Ah... Husband, it's broad daylight, this isn't very appropriate..."