HCB Chapter 164 We will not sell ourselves into slavery
Chapter 164 We will not sell ourselves into slavery
Unfortunately, Yu Ningyao was too agile; by the time they caught up with her, she had already vanished.
The guards and maids were all somewhat uneasy.
Will the young lady be alright?
But since they couldn't find anyone, they could only follow Yu Ningyao's instructions and return to the mansion to inform the master and mistress of the matter.
……
Yu Ningyao caught up with the little beggar.
She saw him walk around a pile of debris, lift a slab of stone, and jump into the drain.
Yu Ningyao was taken aback.
After a moment, he tiptoed over.
My father told me that the capital city was flooded by heavy rain more than 20 years ago.
Later, the emperor ordered the construction of many drainage ditches, and drainage ditches were found all over the capital.
Before the little beggar jumped in, she never imagined that someone would live in the dark and damp sewer.
She crept closer, trying to peek through the narrow gap to see what was happening inside.
However, as soon as she got close, the people inside noticed her.
"Run."
Judging from the voice, it's the same little beggar from last time.
“Don’t be afraid, it’s me, the one who gave you money to deliver the message last time,” Yu Ningyao blurted out.
Iron Head, who was urging the children to run away, stopped in his tracks.
"Don't run yet, eat your steamed buns."
As soon as he spoke, the other children stopped.
"Can I come down?" a voice came from above.
After a moment of silence, Tie Tou recalled Yu Ningyao's appearance—
She was a girl from a wealthy family, a year or two younger than him.
"only myself."
The voice came again.
Tie Tou made up his mind.
"Come down if you can lift the stone slab."
He tried to make his voice sound indifferent.
Yu Ningyao reached out and tested the weight of the stone slab.
The drain wasn't big, and the stone slabs used weren't big either. She weighed them and estimated they were only about fifty pounds, which she could carry.
Her martial arts skills over the past six months haven't been for nothing.
Yu Ningyao lifted the stone slab and jumped down.
Upon seeing her, the children took a few steps back.
Their faces showed tension and curiosity, and they couldn't help but stare at Yu Ningyao.
Yu Ningyao was also sizing them up.
There are five children here. The oldest is the little thief who stole the buns earlier; he's probably eight or nine years old.
There were also two boys, six or seven years old, and a girl, four or five years old.
"What do you want from us?" Tie Tou couldn't help but ask.
“I want... to make you my people,” Yu Ningyao said.
Iron Head frowned: "We will not sell ourselves into slavery."
“No need to sell yourself into slavery. We’ll sign some contracts, I’ll give you money, teach you to read, write, and practice martial arts, and all you need to do is help me. It’s that simple.” Yu Ningyao had no way of buying them.
All the slaves she bought had to be registered with the government. If she wanted to secretly cultivate her own people, she couldn't go through the proper procedures openly.
Hearing her say that, Tie Tou became even more wary.
He never believed in free lunches.
Especially since these words came from a young girl.
Is she perhaps trying to play some kind of game to humiliate them?
He had heard that some of the children of high-ranking officials in the capital were just bored and took pleasure in making fun of poor people like them.
"Don't worry, it's not about murder or arson. I just need some of my own people." Yu Ningyao spread her hands and explained her predicament.
"There are some things I need my people to do, not my parents' people. Do you understand what I mean?"
Hearing her say that, Tie Tou relaxed a bit.
"Aren't you afraid we'll take the money and run away?" he retorted.
"I'm not afraid. My godmother is Princess Ning Le, and my master is the Grand General and the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. If you run away, I'll just report you immediately. I'm not mute." Yu Ningyao snorted.
"At that time, I won't be as easy to talk to as I am now."
Tie Tou fell silent.
The other children all looked at him.
He was their pillar of support, and they always followed his lead.
They were waiting for him to make a decision.
"Come with me, and I'll buy you a house to live in, hire teachers for you, and guarantee you meat every day. Of course, you'll also receive a monthly stipend. However, that will only be paid to you after you start working for me," Yu Ningyao stated her terms.
"Until then, I can guarantee that you will eat well and sleep well every day."
The little loach was tempted.
He looked at Tie Tou: "Brother Tie Tou, let's agree to her request. If we stay here any longer, Xiao Yueya's health won't be able to take it."
After speaking, she looked with some concern at the little girl beside her, whose face was pale and whose hair was tied in a small bun.
Yu Ningyao remained silent, waiting for them to make a decision.
After a moment, Tie Tou nodded.
"I promise you."
Yu Ningyao smiled and said, "Very good. Now I will give you your first task. Go and rent a house in the middle of Zhuque Street, Mingxuan Alley, and Xinghua Street. Make sure it takes about the same amount of time to get to these three places."
"The budget is fifty taels of silver."
"What kind of things you can buy depends on your ability."
Yu Ningyao took out the silver notes from her purse: "Is five days enough for you?"
The children stared wide-eyed at the fifty-tael silver note.
Their breathing became rapid.
They've never seen so much money before!
"That's enough." Tie Tou accepted the silver note.
Yu Ningyao smiled slightly: "Then I'll wait for your good news. After we've settled things, you can come find me at the Lu family's residence, the Assistant General's Mansion, on Zhuque Street this afternoon."
After saying that, she easily climbed up.
Tie Tou couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid I'll run off with the money?"
Yu Ningyao curled her lips into a smile: "Have you forgotten what I just said?"
Tie Tou fell silent, thinking of her influential elders.
Indeed, fifty taels was a lot for them, enough to buy their lives.
But for this delicate little girl in front of him, it might not be worth mentioning.
Yu Ningyao left gracefully.
Several children surrounded Tie Tou, staring at the silver notes in his hand, their eyes filled with longing.
“Brother Iron Head, we can all help. I often beg on Zhuque Street, I have experience!” Little Mudfish raised his hand.
“Me too,” Gray Bean nodded in agreement.
The remaining two little girls, Little Crescent and A-Luo, held hands and nodded in agreement.
"We will all help."
Tie Tou laughed: "Alright. Let's all work together and try to finish the mission as soon as possible so we won't have to live here anymore."
He reached out and patted Little Crescent and A-Luo's heads, reminding them, "Hurry up and eat the buns, lest the rats come and eat them all later."
As soon as he spoke, the children quickly broke open the meat buns he had stolen.
Five people, two meat buns shared.
They were divided into six pieces in total.
Everyone assumed that Tie Tou would eat one more piece.
Tie Tou didn't refuse, after all, he was the only child who could get food every day.
He cannot fall.
He's gone, and they're all finished.