Madam Xin took her two children and walked towards the market against the crowds of people going to work in Beicheng.
There is a special livestock market there.
Cattle, sheep, horses, and more importantly, people were sold.
People in the city who couldn't survive went there.
Mrs. Xin went there last month.
It was dirty and smelly there, and most people had tattered clothes and bare feet.
In order to sell themselves smoothly, some women took off their clothes and stood on the street corner.
Whenever a wealthy family came to pick someone, the crowds would flock to him as if they had seen salvation.
But after all, only a few can be chosen. No one wants the tuberculosis of those who are as thin as a stick.
Most of them died in a corner on the second day and were cleared away by the officials in charge of the shops.
Mrs. Xin took the child there.
"In the future, we may be separated. You should be good, don't cry, work hard, and don't make your master angry."
She warned the two children as she walked.
The ignorant girl nodded and coughed from time to time. She looked up at her mother and said, "Mom, after you sell me, remember to go back to pick up grandma. Grandma will be cold alone."
"Okay!" Mrs. Xin agreed, raising her hand and folding a few pieces of hay on the side of the road.
He put one on his son's head and one on his daughter's head. After inserting one on his own head, he tucked the last one on the swaddling clothes of the child in his arms.
The eldest daughter thought that the whole family would survive if she was sold.
But Mrs. Xin knows that people are worthless these days.
Poor families don't sell their children in exchange for anything, but mostly because they can't afford to raise them.
A six-year-old girl has to spend food to support her, so she can't be sold for much money.
In the long and cruel winter in the North, this little money will make no difference.
From the moment the house burned down, they had no other way to survive except selling themselves.
They had no chance to go back to pick up grandma.
Stepping into the market where people are sold, you will no longer be able to decide whether you live or die.
Madam Xin raised her sleeves and wiped her face.
She thought that since she was still young and could have children, she should be the best seller.
Whether it is bought by a wealthy family or sold into prostitution, it can eventually be exchanged for some money and food.
Then the money from selling one's body will be used to find a better place for the children.
At least it won't fall into the wrong hands. If it can be sold to a kind owner, God will bless it.
Madam Xin was thinking wildly, and finally walked to the market with her two children.
Not long after the war, the shops were still very deserted.
Mrs. Xin walked along the street, walking slower and slower, walking slower and slower.
Finally, he stopped in front of Fangshi Gate and stared blankly at the gallery above.
Seeing that she refused to leave, the eldest daughter gently shook her hand, coughing and urging in a soft voice: "Mom, let's go. Don't be reluctant to leave me. I will obey the master's words."
Mrs. Xin lowered her head and glanced at her daughter's eyes, which were extraordinarily large due to her weight loss, and couldn't help but shed a few more tears.
"Okay." She gritted her teeth and swallowed the scream that overflowed her mouth.
He took the two children and walked in.
Compared to the bustling past, there are far fewer people here now.
Recruiting workers are everywhere in the city. If they can grit their teeth and survive, no one will be willing to separate their flesh and blood.
Mrs. Xin took her child with her and found a sheltered place to stand.
She loosened her clothes, patted her cheeks hard, and pinched them twice.
Make your pale face rosy and healthy, and sell for a higher price.
I didn’t dare to find a place to sit, for fear of being misunderstood as a tired person or having something wrong with me.
After standing upright like this for a long time, a man who looked like a manager finally came over after taking a look from a distance.
A smile immediately broke out on Mrs. Xin's face.
The man in charge approached and asked in a calm voice.
Then he asked Mrs. Xin to open her mouth and look at her teeth.
Mrs. Xin followed her instructions one by one, but the steward still frowned and looked dissatisfied: "I'm still nursing the baby, and I don't know if I can give birth."
"Yes, yes." Mrs. Xin said hurriedly, "Look, I gave birth to three children, a son and a daughter."
The steward frowned slightly and asked, "What about these young ones?"
Hearing his intention, Lady Xin seemed to want to buy them all, and she was ecstatic: "Three small bargains, if you can buy us together, I won't pay a penny for selling myself."
The steward raised his eyebrows slightly, seeming to be thinking.
Mrs. Xin hurriedly pulled open the skirt of her clothes, revealing a piece of skin: "Please give me a way to survive. As long as I can take these little ones with me, I can do whatever you want."
The steward finally showed a smile, reached into Lady Xin's clothes and pinched her.
Finally, with Lady Xin's expectant eyes, he nodded, "Let's see how colorful you are."
Just as he was about to say the word "Okay," there was a commotion at the gate.
Groups of black-armored soldiers walked in.
A notice was posted in front of the farm gate and they shouted in unison: "From now on, human trafficking is prohibited, and those who violate the order will be executed."
The steward shivered, took a step back, and quickly ran away against the wall with his sleeves covering his face.
From joy to despair.
Madam Xin watched the steward leave with the last glimmer of hope, and stood there blankly, the wind pouring in from her open skirt, freezing her to the core.
The place where they stood was very conspicuous, and the leading officers and soldiers saw them at a glance.
He couldn't help but frown, turned around and asked the soldiers around him to continue posting notices and shouting, and then walked towards them.
Madam Xin stood there blankly, and suddenly her vision went dark, and a tall shadow enveloped her.
She looked up and saw a very tall officer in black armor.
"Did that person bully you just now?"
Lady Xin heard the beard-bearded officer ask this.
She held the child and stood there silently without saying anything. The officer couldn't help but frown and glanced at the two children she was holding and the swaddling clothes in front of her.
When he saw the grass marks on their heads, he frowned a little more, and finally met the eyes of the little girl with a crimson face and coughing.
The little girl was a little scared and subconsciously wanted to hide it, but then she thought of something and asked timidly: "Do you want to buy me?"
Looking into the child's eyes, the officer couldn't help but sigh. Just as he was about to speak, Lady Xin made a move.
She pulled open her clothes vigorously, exposing her entire chest.
The officer's pupils shrank and he took a step back in horror.
"I can have children and am in good health. Please buy us."
Mrs. Xin took a step forward and wanted to hold the man's hand, but was suddenly moved away.
"My house is burned down. If I don't sell myself, my whole family will starve and freeze to death. Please give me a way to survive."
Her tears flowed down heavily and wet the ground.
There was no reply from the other party.
Just when Mrs. Xin was desperate, a big hand stretched out.
The big rough hand grabbed the skirt of her clothes and pulled the clothes to cover her naked body.
"Let's go!" She heard the man say in a deep voice, "If there is a way to survive, I will take you there."
