From afar, Li Niangzi saw Yang Er approaching the village with a well - dressed man. Alert as she was, she couldn't help but think something was amiss.
Dejintang had started boiling the second batch of medicinal glue. After the incident with the Chinese goldthread, all the apprentices were highly motivated. They rolled up their sleeves and worked with great enthusiasm. Li Ying was also hands - on, checking on the situation every day.
She had just left when Yang Er showed up. This hooligan was probably here to cause trouble again!
"Folks, put down your work for a moment. We've got some great news to share!" Yang Er shouted arrogantly, attracting the curious fishermen's wives.
"This is Manager Tao from Tianxianglou in our town. He's a great benefactor. He's willing to pay double the price for your seafood!"
The fishermen's wives were taken aback by his words. Doubt was written all over their faces.
Seeing their hesitation, Yang Er reached out to grab a basket from one of the fishermen's wives.
"What are you waiting for? Double the price! It's a once - in - a - lifetime opportunity. It's rare for the manager to be so kind. Hurry up and bring your seafood over!"
As the saying goes, "A man will risk his life for wealth, just as a bird will for food." With such a good opportunity, these women should have immediately turned their backs on Li Ying.
However, they still remembered Yang Er's false accusations against Li Ying at the pier the other day. They looked hesitant, as if calculating something in their minds.
While everyone was indecisive, Li Niangzi had already rushed straight to Dejintang to fetch Li Ying.
"Yang Er, you treacherous dog! A Ying has been whole - heartedly helping our village live a better life. And you, colluding with outsiders to poach our business! I'll beat you to death!"
Li Niangzi was in a hurry. She casually picked up a broom and swung it at Yang Er.
Some fishermen's wives who were on good terms with Li Niangzi echoed her actions.
Yang Er was in a sorry state. He stumbled and was grabbed by Li Niangzi, who gave him a hard slap. His annoying face instantly swelled up.
"You bunch of narrow - minded women! I'm doing you a favor by bringing you a chance to get rich, but you're biting the hand that feeds you! Li Ying is no match for Tianxianglou. You'll all be left with nothing but wind and hunger!"
Yang Er spat on the ground angrily and fled in a hurry with Tao Zhi, cursing all the way.
Li Ying thanked the fishermen's wives. After the crowd dispersed, Li Niangzi looked at her worriedly and said, "A Ying, 'Fame is a burden, just as fattening spells doom for a pig.' Yang Er and Tianxianglou failed today, but they won't give up easily. You have to sell stir - fries during the day, take care of Dejintang, and run the night market. If this hooligan brings people to cause trouble when you're not home, what should we do?"
She happened to be here today, but what if she was busy making the crispy oil pancakes Li Ying taught her and couldn't be in two places at once?
Li Ying frowned deeply.
Indeed.
At home, there were only Granny Sun and Mianmian, an old woman and a child. Although Maomao could call on a pack of dogs for help, it was just a sickly kitten after all. They really needed a guard.
"I heard that there are some new Kunlun slaves in the labor market in town. A Ying, why don't you go and take a look? Pick a honest and strong one. You can buy him back to do some heavy work for you. What do you think?"
Li Niangzi kindly advised, but Li Ying was still a bit hesitant.
She had enough silver, but the idea of enslaving others...
Granny Sun noticed her dilemma and persuaded her, "A Ying, you've been busy since you came to the village and haven't had a chance to rest. Since you have some free time today, whether you buy a Kunlun slave or not, the three of us should go to town for a stroll. It'll be good for your mood."
Li Ying thought about it and found the suggestion reasonable. She nodded in agreement, picked up Mianmian, and the three of them headed straight for the market.
At the entrance of the labor market, several Kunlun slaves were tied up like mummies and kneeling with their heads down.
"Sir/Madam! Take a look at these Kunlun slaves. They eat little but are very strong. They work efficiently and don't slack off. Buying one to work on the farm is as good as having a strong ox!"
This was Li Ying's first time seeing Kunlun slaves.
They all had bare, muscular upper bodies, dark skin, and yellowish, messy hair that looked like seaweed. Their hands and feet were big, and they were taller than the local villagers. They did seem to be good farmhands.
Seeing Li Ying looking curiously, the slave trader whipped his whip and greeted her warmly.
"Miss, take a look at these Kunlun slaves. They're quick - witted and loyal to their masters. They're suitable for both guarding the house and working in the fields!"
Li Ying saw the criss - cross whip marks on the kneeling Kunlun slaves. She felt sorry for them and couldn't bear to look anymore.
Mianmian, however, waved her little fingers. After waking up, she was wriggling restlessly in Li Ying's arms.
Li Ying knew her daughter well. Whenever Mianmian acted like this, she must have noticed something unusual.
Without hesitation, Li Ying followed the direction Mianmian was looking. Sure enough, she saw a short Kunlun slave running out of the labor market in a sorry state.
He also had a mess of long hair. The ragged clothes on his upper body were in tatters from the whip, clearly showing that he had suffered a lot.
Another slave trader raised his whip and whipped at him without mercy. The Kunlun slave nimbly rolled on the ground and ran towards Li Ying and her group in a panic.
Granny Sun felt sorry for him, and Mianmian babbled.
Li Ying had an idea. She stopped the Kunlun slave and asked the slave trader, "I'll buy him. How much silver?"
The slave trader grabbed the Kunlun slave and said, "Sorry to scare you, miss. This Kunlun slave is not well - trained. He's always trying to escape and slack off. He's not good for much. You'd better look at others."
Li Ying saw that he was much shorter than the other Kunlun slaves. She thought he was just a child. Under his messy hair, his bright eyes were as alert as a young animal. She felt even more sorry for him and was more determined.
"It's okay. I'll take him. Just name your price."
The slave trader knew that she was a rising star in town. If she opened a shop in the future, she might still buy slaves from him. He didn't want to offend a customer.
After repeatedly trying to persuade Li Ying to change her mind but failing, he told the truth.
"A Kunlun slave usually costs eight taels of silver. Since you've taken a fancy to this stubborn one who won't listen, six taels will do!"
Li Ying reached out and pushed aside the Kunlun slave's long hair on his forehead, revealing a wheat - colored face as small as a palm. Although it was covered in mud and ash, one could still see the handsome exotic features in his eyebrows and eyes. His wild and stubborn eyes made her heart skip a beat.
She took out the silver without hesitation. "Okay, I'll take him."
The slave trader was overjoyed. He bowed and took the silver. Then he tied a noose around the Kunlun slave's slender neck and handed him to Li Ying like a piece of livestock.
"Miss, here's the slave contract. Keep it well. If the Kunlun slave doesn't obey, you can beat him to death. They're tough. Once they're scared, they'll be obedient."
This made Li Ying frown imperceptibly. She was about to head back home with the Kunlun slave when she was stopped by Lu Xunguang after walking just a few steps.
"Miss Li, I heard that the hooligan Yang Er brought people to the village to cause trouble again. Are you okay?"
He asked eagerly, but before his words faded, he saw the Kunlun slave standing beside Li Ying.
Although the Kunlun slave had his head down, one could still see that he had eyebrows like the bright moon and eyes like stars. With his battered body and thin frame, he really looked like a sickly and handsome young man, arousing people's pity.
His smile froze on his lips. Li Ying was still worrying about how to settle this stubborn Kunlun slave and didn't notice the subtle change in Lu Xunguang's expression at all.
"Brother Lu, don't worry. With the help of the villagers, I wasn't bullied at all. See, I've bought a Kunlun slave to guard the house. I won't have to worry about any trouble at home in the future."
She said it lightly, but Lu Xunguang's eyes became more meaningful, and his face darkened slightly.
"Miss Li, when such trouble happened, why didn't you come to me?"