Chapter 114: Small City
Zhang Luo asked curiously:
"Is there a small market outside Jinjiang City?"
Zhang Shengwen nodded and said:
"Of course there are, but there are only maids from poor families in there."
"Good employers don't happen in small markets."
Small market, also called tooth market.
It was a place dedicated to selling people during the feudal era.
Some of the people inside were kidnapped.
Or those who escaped from famine and became slaves.
When Emperor Hongwu founded the country.
The sale of slaves is strictly prohibited.
Except for high-ranking officials.
And members of the royal family thought.
Slaves may not be traded privately.
When the Ming Dynasty was founded.
Everything is fine, this decree can still be enforced.
But in the Jiajing Dynasty.
There are already policies in place.
There are countermeasures now.
Traffickers and businessmen work together.
Sell people at the corner of the district.
Rich and powerful local landowning gentry.
There are many servants in the family.
Zhang Shengwen continued:
"People in small cities are refugees."
"Brother Zhang Luo wants to buy someone."
"I will complete the yamen procedures for you."
Zhang Luo remembered.
Zhang Shengwen wrote a petition at the Yamen.
I know a lot about this business.
With his help, it should be fine.
Zhang Luo bowed his hands and thanked him.
This will buy and sell slaves.
A contract needs to be signed.
It doesn't matter which one you like.
Just pay and take it away and that's it.
Each yamen has a corresponding format for signing contracts.
A decree issued by Emperor Hongwu when he founded the country.
It has long become a piece of waste paper.
Zhang Shengwen then asked:
"Brother Zhang Luo buys people."
"The plan is to buy the craftsmen into Zhenhaiwei and enroll them in the military."
"Or should I pay money and keep calling?"
Zhang Luo said:
"Is there a big difference between the two?"
Zhang Shengwen said:
"To pay money is to rent."
"Jinjiang is a one-time payment of ten years."
"It can be used for twenty years."
“Better than naturalization.”
"The purchased slave, the tax on him."
"The master doesn't need to give it to him."
"It is still up to the slave to bear the responsibility."
"As for naturalization."
"It means becoming a member of your family."
"Don't worry about him rebelling and running away."
"The bad thing is his taxes."
"Brother Zhang Luo has to hand it over for him."
"Until Brother Zhang Luo starts to look at his fame."
"You can stop paying taxes."
Zhang Luo listened.
I feel like the slaves in the small city are quite miserable.
No matter what kind of second half of life.
They haven't had a good time.
Zhang Luo couldn't make up his mind.
I plan to go to a small market with Zhang Shengwen first.
A few days later, the two walked out of the city.
It didn't take long to reach the small market.
Chaos, this was Zhang Luo's first impression of the small city.
If Zhang Shengwen had mentioned it.
Zhang Luo thought this was a disaster area.
Both Zhang and Luo were wearing Confucian uniforms.
After walking a few steps, a chubby aunt walked up to the two of them.
He said flatteringly to the two of them:
"You two gentlemen, I have a very beautiful maid."
"You two gentlemen, why don't you come and take a look?"
Zhang Shengwen quickly took Zhang Luo away.
I avoided these traffickers who came up to yell at me.
After walking to an open place, he said:
"Brother Zhang Luo, don't trust what the trafficker says."
"How many beautiful people can there be in a small city?"
"They are all deceiving people and stealing their money."
"Brother Zhang Luo, don't be fooled."
Then Zhang Shengwen took Zhang Luo.
Then we walked deeper into the small city.
I came to a middle-aged man covered with pockmarks.
"Wang Mazi, do you have any craftsmen here who know how to engrave and print?"
I saw the person coming was Zhang Shengwen.
The pockmarked man suddenly stood up.
He smiled and said:
"It's Mr. Zhang who's here."
"There are many craftsmen, please rest here."
"I'll bring it to you right away."
Zhang Luozai has been in the small market for a long time.
Gradually I started to smell some bad smell.
I couldn't help but cover my nose.
Zhang Shengwen said:
"That's what the small cities outside the city are like."
"But the small market in Fuzhou is much better."
"I heard there are also red flowers for sale."
"Who is Honghua?"
Zhang Shengwen glanced at the side and said softly:
"Some families have too many children."
"The daughter she was born has been cared for since she was a child."
"Let her learn a little bit of everything."
"When the daughters are fifteen."
"Just sell her to someone else's house to be a concubine."
"Ah? Is there such a thing?"
"Of course, my daughter is sold."
"I can make some money at home."
"My daughter doesn't have to worry about not having enough to eat."
"Brother Zhang Luo, Wang Mazi has brought someone here."
"See which one is suitable."
Behind Wang Mazi were three short, middle-aged men.
They all looked dull.
He lowered his head and did not dare to look at anyone.
But there are no chains on him.
There is no iron cage to lock them up.
The three men stood apart.
It's like selling vegetables in the market.
Let Zhang Luo choose.
As a traveler in the 21st century.
Although Zhang Luo was mentally prepared.
But the bones in my body were still shaken.
He approached the three men.
It was seen that these three people had no injuries on their bodies.
It can be seen that they have never been beaten or scolded by Wang Mazi.
When I walked to the third man.
The middle-aged man raised his head.
Show a flattering look.
I hope Zhang Luo will buy it for him.
"Okay, you guys, raise your heads."
"Tell me clearly what you are capable of, Mr. Zhang."
Wang Mazi shouted from behind.
Three middle-aged people.
One by one, they talked about their own situations.
The three of them are all refugees from Putian.
All the relatives in the first two families starved to death.
The last man still has a daughter alive.
All three of them worked in a bookshop in Putian.
They are all matters involving engraving and printing.
The first two people agreed to naturalize.
Just be a cow and a horse for Zhang Luo all his life.
The last person only agreed to sign a ten-year contract.
Zhang Luo looked at the three of them carefully.
Finally decided to choose the one whose daughter is still alive.
Afterwards, Zhang Shengwen and Wang Mazi discussed the price.
The price was set at forty taels of silver.
Then this craftsman named Du.
His daughter is only five years old.
It’s also considered five taels of silver.
The father and daughter were together.
Work for Zhang Luo for ten years.
After signing the contract.
Zhang Luo took out the accumulated silver and gave it to Wang Mazi.
Wang Mazi held the broken silver in his hand.
They touched each other.
After making sure there is no problem.
Call the craftsman named Du aside.
Only ten taels of silver were given.
Wang Mazi took the rest of the money himself.
Craftsman Du held his scrawny little daughter.
Follow Zhang Luo.
Walked out of the small market.
After leaving the small city.
Zhang Luo turned to the craftsman and asked:
"your name?"
"Reporting to the master, this villain has no name or surname."
"It was just when I was at Putian Bookstore."
"People call me Du Yin."
Zhang Luo then looked at Du Yin's daughter who had a runny nose.
He sighed, took a tael of silver and said:
"It's not convenient for you to walk with your daughter."
"In this case, you go to the county town and buy two wooden carts."
"Run on my horse."
"You guys go back to Zhenhaiwei with me in the carriage."
Du Yin knelt on the ground with his daughter.
cried:
"Thank you for your gift, Master!"
Zhang Luo quickly pulled them both up.
We are almost at the city gate now.
It's not good to be seen by so many people.
This chapter has been completed!