Liu Yuan hung a wooden sign on the gate that said "The proprietor has something to go out", and told Situ Changxin, who was guarding the door, to take a good look at the three pieces of jewelry, and then went out with the little lady.

The place I'm going to go today is Slave City.

Xiao Niang should not show her head too much, now she has to do everything by herself, everything has to be done by Liu Yuan alone, she is so busy that it is dark, she has to look at the store during the day, and she has to light the lamp at night to make jewelry, in less than a month, Liu Yuan's whole person has lost weight.

Others go back to ancient times, either the prince or the gentleman, the clothes come to reach out for food to open their mouths, and they take the evil servants to walk the dog on the street without any trouble, and the bubble daughter molests the good family or something, very happy, Liu Yuan feels that he is a hard worker, first he was almost sold into slavery, and then he is a coolie, he has to do everything by himself, and he doesn't even have an assistant.

Liu Yuan made up his mind, no matter what, the little lady has a shadow in her heart, and she doesn't like to accept apprentices, so buy slaves, anyway, there is no shortage of money in his hands, and it is good to lighten his work.

Xiao Niang calculated it last night, plus Cui Mengyao's deposit of three hundred taels, deducting the money to be purchased, there are more than seven hundred taels of silver that can be used in the two hands, not including the hundred taels of gold in Liu Yuan's hand, the current Liu Yuan is not as good as the big salt merchants who earn hundreds of thousands of taels in Yangzhou every year, but they are barely at the level of being well-off.

The two hired a carriage and went straight to the south gate of Yangzhou City.

"Little lady, what kind of slave do you want to buy?" Liu Yuan asked with a smile.

Xiao Niang thought about it for a while, and then wrenched her fingers and said: "Well~~ well-behaved and obedient, but also shrewd, work diligently, by the way, we do business, that appearance can't be too bad." ”

"Both, buy slaves, I advise you to buy Silla maids or official slaves, don't buy those slaves and nomadic slaves, otherwise you will regret it." The one who drove the car was an old man who was over half a hundred years old, and when he heard that the two were going to buy slaves, he couldn't help but speak.

"Really? Old man, what is this for? Xiao Niang asked curiously.

The old man said with disdain: "Those slaves, most of them are not educated, either I was captured by the Tang Dynasty in the war, or they were sent over after the failure of their internal fighting, especially the people in the grassland, who fought every day, and brought the captives to our Datang to exchange for tea and salt as soon as they won the battle, they were fierce and addicted to alcohol, and they were easy to make trouble if they drank too much and did not listen to discipline, no, the rich man of Zhao in the north of the city bought two slaves as house slaves cheaply, this is not, stealing wine is not counted, and he fled after getting drunk and ruining his daughter. I haven't been arrested yet. ”

"Then, Xie Lu Xie reminded the old man." The little lady was a little frightened when she heard this, and thanked her again and again.

The old man said happily: "No, no, just wake up." ”

"Senior brother, let's buy the Silla maid and the official slave that the old man said." The little lady held Liu Yuan's hand and said.

Liu Yuanzhi said, what this old man said was the truth, such as mining, doing coolies or something, and most of the slaves and nomads who chose those slaves and nomads were defeated soldiers, which were not easy to control, like what they needed was someone who made jewelry, who was dexterous, patient, and understanding.

"Okay, little lady, you have the final say."

"Senior Brother Xie Lu~~" Hearing that Liu Yuan accommodated herself, the little lady immediately smiled like a flower.

Liu Yuan turned his head and asked the old man who was driving the car: "Old man, you have seen a lot of information in Yangzhou City, I don't know which one has better slaves?" ”

Those who are in a hurry are walking around Yangzhou City every day, and those gossip are the most well-informed, and asking him is much more reliable than those slave owners and princesses selling melons and boasting about themselves.

"The first choice for buying slaves is official slaves, this is very popular, only the teaching workshop in Yangzhou is sold on behalf of the department, but it depends on luck, many people with status are staring at it, and some have not been sent to the slave market to let people buy it, Yangzhou's largest, the most reputable, is Ma Sanyan, that is, Ma Sanye's goods are the best."

Xiao Niang asked a little puzzled: "What kind of official slaves are good to sell?" ”

The old man who doesn't need to catch the car, Liu Yuan can answer his question: "This is simple, the officials are mostly scholarly families, who can read and hyphenate, know honesty and shame, and understand etiquette and righteousness, especially those women, many rich people like them, and those who are officials, there will be some friends or enemies, but it is better to fall into the hands of a good family, if it falls into the hands of the enemy, it will be miserable." ”

"That's it, especially those rich people, just take this bite, hehe~~" The old man also agreed.

In the past, those official ladies were high existences and could only look at them from afar, but now they pull her off the altar and press her on her body, so that she can flatter and tactfully under her step, which is definitely a big temptation for those who have a lot of money but no status.

"It's really pitiful~~" Xiao Niang said while secretly rejoicing, and couldn't help but peek at Liu Yuan next to her.

If it weren't for Senior Brother Liu, it is estimated that he would still be locked up somewhere, like pigs and sheep, at the mercy of others.

Immediately, under the control of the old man who drove the car, he walked fast and steadily, and in about a pillar of time, the carriage stopped in front of the bustling and bustling market.

"Childe, Miss, the slave market you are going to has arrived, you get off the car and go to the right, the left is the livestock market, and the right is the slave market." As soon as the carriage stopped, the old man who was driving the carriage immediately jumped out of the carriage and took a small stool and placed it on the side of the carriage to facilitate the two of them to get out of the carriage.

Liu Yuan helped the little lady get out of the car, and then stuffed a handful of copper coins into the old man's hand, which was considered the fare.

"This son, as long as ten cents, this is too much." The handful of copper coins in his hand, to say the least, there are more than 20, and the old man who drove the car was a sincere person, so he hurriedly said it.

"It's okay, it's too much, just let me invite you to tea."

After Liu Yuan finished speaking, he took the little lady and went straight to the slave market, and the old man who was driving the car bowed and thanked him repeatedly.

As she walked, Xiao Niang took out a towel to cover her nose, and her eyebrows frowned slightly: "Well, it stinks to death." ”

The status of slaves is very low, it can be seen from setting up the slave market next to the livestock market, the status of slaves is not much higher than cattle and horses, but at this time, the health is not so important, in the livestock market, cattle, sheep, horses or something, feces and urine are all over the ground, there are many types, and the smell is big, not only Xiaoniang, but Liu Yuan also has a feeling of wanting to vomit.

The two of them left the area quickly, and were about to approach the slave market, so the smell was a little better.

Liu Yuan and Xiao Niang both entered the slave market for the first time, and as soon as they entered the slave, both of them couldn't help but be surprised.

First of all, it feels big, there are tens of thousands of square meters, which is divided into areas, those slave owners either build a platform or fence it with wooden stakes, and enclose slaves like cattle for sale, some strong people are also locked with iron chains, in addition, from time to time there are columns of soldiers with weapons, patrolling back and forth, so as not to have slaves to make trouble, just in the innermost part of the slave market, there is also a slave division, which is estimated to be responsible for notarization when the slave trade.

It has also become industrialized.

People come and go in the slave market, and from time to time there are people bargaining or something, which is very lively.

"Hey, boy, is this little maid next to you selling? I pay a high price. Liu Yuan and Xiao Niang were watching, and a frivolous voice sounded next to them.

Turning his head, he saw that it was a young master from a rich family with light steps, black eyes, and obviously a rich young master who had hollowed out his body due to excessive debauchery, and he looked at the eyes of the little lady, green and faint, like a wolf who had been hungry for a few days and suddenly saw a little fat sheep.

"Senior brother~~" Xiao Niang was startled and hurriedly hid behind Liu Yuan.

"Get out, she is my lady who has not passed through the door, be careful that I beat you, and then sue you for molesting a woman from a good family." Liu Yuan was furious when he heard this, and his fists were raised.

"You~~~ Neglected for a while, misunderstanding, misunderstanding~~" The boy saw that Liu Yuan was angry, and said that he was going to sue him, so frightened that he ran away.

"It's okay, little lady, I'm here, don't be afraid." Liu Yuan comforted the little lady, while thinking, with the appearance of the little lady, it is indeed very annoying those crazy bees and butterflies, and it is necessary to let her go out less in the future, even if she goes out, she must be like Cui Mengyao, and get a gauze to cover her face.