The early winter weather isn’t too cold.
But a north wind blew all night last night, and the streets have become somewhat desolate.
It’s just past Chen Hour.
While other shops are still quiet, just opening and waiting for their first customer.
At the end of the most bustling street along the Qinhuai River in the south of Jinling City, the largest slave market has opened.
It’s already crowded with people, all eager buyers looking to buy people, and of course, there are those just there for the spectacle.
There are some people discussing quietly among the crowd.
"Hey, hey, hey, are you also here for Miss Tang from the Tang Family?"
Another person gave a ’of course’ expression and then leaned over to speak quietly and mysteriously.
"Who hasn’t suffered at the hands of that old bastard Tang Jincai in Jinling City these years?"
"Now the tables have turned, and he’s finally getting his comeuppance. Even if we can’t buy, watching the commotion is good enough!"
The person agreed and nodded quickly.
"Exactly, last year I went to Tang’s shop to buy rice, and they sold me old, moldy rice!"
"The entire family of seven or eight had diarrhea, and it cost me over ten taels of silver to cure us! When I went to confront them, guess what they said?"
A bunch of curious heads gathered around.
The person continued.
"They actually accused me of swapping their rice to extort them! They even threatened to report me!"
"By heaven and earth, everyone knows Old Master Tang has an official position. Commoners can’t fight officials; I could only chalk it up to bad luck!"
The surrounding people suddenly understood and quickly showed expressions of anger.
"Exactly, exactly, the silk from their store I bought that year was fake!"
"The grain I bought was short on weight and all substandard!"
"My distant relative was wrongly imprisoned by Old Master Tang over a small dispute and is still locked up in the state county jail!"
Everyone started pouring out grievances like opening a box, listing the wrongs done by Old Master Tang over the years.
After venting, everyone deliberated together.
"We’ve got to buy his three daughters and give them a harsh time!"
"Let that old bastard taste humiliation!"
"Yeah, let’s do that!"
Someone nearby expressed concern.
"But...we’re all common folk; none of us need to buy maids!"
If your family is well-fed, clothed, and warm, it’s good enough; who’s got room for another mouth at home!
"There’s not enough food to feed them either!"
"And to keep them just as they are, buying them is unaffordable," surrounded by nods and sarcastic laughs as they disperse.
No ordinary folk can afford to buy maids.
But there are still some people who are better off financially around.
Hearing this, they quickly joined the fun.
"No need to keep them as maids!"
"With such plump figures, making them concubines isn’t too bad!"
"Warm the bed, keep company, attend with lights, bear children, share affection with the master; what’s wrong with that? No one loses!"
"Hey, hey, hey! Makes sense!!"
"Surely, this gentleman is keen?"
Seeing someone able to afford it, the surrounding commoners quickly gathered closer.
Everyone put forth suggestions chaotically.
"Though they look chubby, starving them might reveal a beautiful figure!"
"Even if not a beauty, they can’t be too ugly!"
"There’s always the option of keeping them as maids if nothing else works, no loss there!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
Peals of laughter erupted from the crowd.
The person nodded frequently, swaggering while adding.
"Hey! If they don’t work as maids, I’ll wed them to some old bachelors in my household!"
"It’s also a kindness of mine as the master, getting them a miss to marry!"
"Oh my, the gentleman is generous!"
"This gent’s household servants even getting their own miss to marry, how extraordinary!"
Everyone mingled humor with praise, the atmosphere unparalleled in excitement.
People gathered everywhere; the whole slave market was bustling and chaotic, teeming with ruffians, lowlifes, people of all classes, and the varied human experiences and societal nuances.
Some of the more excessive ones directly said unspeakable things in front of everyone.
To them, these taken to the slave market were no different from livestock.
...
The market has been open for half a Shi Chen already, during this time.
Batches of maids and servant boys are led out with ropes, standing in the square on high platforms.
After the price is announced, buyers can select freely.