Not Quite Appropriate

If a piece of modern technology like a car appeared in Nanli City, Lin Fei would be thrust into the spotlight at once.

Any one of the Three Great Families or the five major powers could make Lin Fei a prisoner with a single move.

If he couldn't explain where the car came from, he would surely meet a gruesome end.

So he was better off keeping a low profile and quietly building up his strength while earning more gold coins.

Then, whether on Earth or in Nanli City, he could live a life of luxury.

After his long, intimate conversation with Peach Blossom last night, Lin Fei had realized that Nanli City actually had plenty of advantages.

Here, as long as you had money, you could get anything you wanted.

Take the buying and selling of people, for instance. In Great Xia on Earth, it was strictly forbidden by law.

But in Nanli City, people were treated like livestock. They could be bought and sold at will, as private property.

Qingfeng Agency.

It was a well-known agency in East City. Many wealthy households came here to choose and purchase servants.

"Who's in charge?"

Lin Fei stood at the entrance and called out loudly.

During his time in Nanli City, he had noticed that the people who dared to shout were all rich and powerful.

Money and influence gave you confidence!

A manager immediately came over, bowing with his hands clasped and a beaming smile.

"What can I do for you, sir?"

"I want to buy some servants."

"Certainly. What sort are you looking for? Low-ranking maids, personal maids, or general servants and kitchen helpers?"

Lin Fei paused. He hadn't expected there to be so many distinctions when buying servants.

"I need all of them, and quite a lot."

The manager beamed, realizing he had a big sale on his hands, and immediately ushered Lin Fei into a private room.

Only after the manager's explanations did Lin Fei understand the differences between low-ranking maids, personal maids, general servants, and kitchen helpers.

Low-ranking maids were servants with no particular skills who could only handle hard labor and odd jobs.

Personal maids served their masters closely. Most were clever and sensible, and had learned a few skills.

For example, they could arrange their master's hair, apply makeup, and help with bathing.

The wives and daughters of wealthy families in the city had their hair styled in fashionable, attractive ways whenever they went out. Unlike people on Earth, they didn't simply wear their hair loose.

In short, personal maids held higher status than low-ranking maids. They were more knowledgeable and had greater skills.

As for general servants, they were household help who did all sorts of work, though they had no special talents.

Kitchen helpers were servants with culinary skills who assisted with cooking.

Besides these types of servants, there were also housekeepers, guards, chambermaids, and so on.

The small residence in East City wouldn't need many servants or maids.

Only the haunted house in South City needed a large number of servants.

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

"Two personal maids, two guards, two low-ranking maids, and four general servants who can help in the kitchen."

Hearing Lin Fei count them out two at a time, the smile on the agency manager's face began to falter.

Hadn't he said he wanted "quite a lot"?

Altogether, it was only a dozen or so people. Was he making fun of him?

Before the manager could say anything, Lin Fei added, "I also need some servants who know how to grow flowers and plants and work in the fields. Strong, sturdy ones would be best."

"Get me five hundred."

The manager's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in shock.

He had served big clients before, but it was rare for anyone to order five hundred people at once.

Wealthy households generally had their own servants. When they occasionally bought new ones, they usually purchased at most a few dozen—or a hundred, which was already a lot.

Many servants in wealthy households had been slaves for generations, with children born into servitude. Their numbers could be quite large.

"Sir, you're sure you want five hundred?"

"What's wrong? Don't you have that many?"

"We do, we do! The one thing we never lack here is people."

The manager became even more deferential, afraid of offending Lin Fei, such a big client.

Anyone able to buy so many servants at once was bound to be rich or influential.

"Sir, do you want servants with redeemable contracts or permanent contracts?"

"Servants with redeemable contracts can buy their freedom if they have enough money, though they still need their master's approval. Permanent contracts bind them for life in exchange for a higher price."

Lin Fei answered decisively, "Money isn't a problem. Prioritize those with permanent contracts. By the way, do you have any servants who are skilled fighters?"

Lin Fei might be staying in Nanli City for quite some time.

Having a few formidable experts to protect him would make things safer.

The manager replied, "Sir, most of our servants are ordinary people. The guards know a few basic moves, so they're only a little stronger than the average person."

"Experts who can practice Qi Refining usually serve the Three Great Families or the five major powers. Even if ordinary people have a talent for cultivation, without a Qi Refining technique, all they can do is practice a few basic fighting skills."

Lin Fei sighed inwardly. He had hoped to buy a servant who could practice Qi Refining—someone who could protect him and teach him a thing or two.

Just then, the manager added, "Experts who can practice Qi Refining generally won't sell themselves into servitude. If you want to hire one, you could try the Black Abyss Society."

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

Unlike the Iron Sword Gang and the Blood Wolf Gang, the Black Abyss Society wasn't a gang or faction, nor did it control any territory.

The Black Abyss Society claimed to be an organization that specialized in providing protection. It didn't take part in conflicts between local factions and operated much like a security company.

The organization had recruited quite a few experts who could practice Qi Refining, and it had branches in all the major cities of the Dragon Abyss Dynasty.

Wealthy merchants traveling elsewhere on business often hired members of the Black Abyss Society to protect them and escort their goods.

The stronger the Qi Refining expert they hired, the higher the fee.

Lin Fei didn't trust anyone just yet, so he didn't plan on contacting the Black Abyss Society for the time being, in case he attracted unwanted attention.

"Forget it. I was just asking. Get the servants I need ready first."

"Sir, you're looking for quite a lot of servants. I'll need some time to prepare them. Why don't you leave me your address? I can have them delivered later."

"Fine. But I'll take the housekeeper and personal maids I just mentioned today."

"Certainly. I'll take you to choose them right now."

After making his selections, Lin Fei paid a deposit of five hundred gold coins and headed back.

The agency would send the servants directly to his house, so Lin Fei didn't need to bring them himself.

By the time Lin Fei returned to the residence, Peach Blossom was already up and sweeping the courtyard.

"Peach Blossom, I bought a few maids and servants. Since you're already my woman, you don't need to do this kind of hard work anymore."

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

Peach Blossom's face instantly flushed red. Having only just become a wife, she was still quite shy.

"Husband, it's all right. I've been doing chores since I was little. I'm used to it."

"That won't do. A master should act like a master. From now on, your only responsibility is to take care of me. Come on, let's go back to the room and rest."

"Ah... Husband, isn't it a little inappropriate in broad daylight...?"