Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Adding People Through the Door (1/2)

Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Adding People Through the Door

“There are generally several prices for carriages, starting roughly from 5 taels of silver, without a maximum limit. Then there are the horses. To my knowledge, the lowest grade ones used for pulling carriages range from 2 to 15 taels of silver. Of course, this doesn’t include the thousand-mile good horses. As for buying people, it depends whether it’s an open contract or a dead contract, and the specific individual.”

Nanny Wang spoke without any reservations.

“So Nanny Wang, if we were to purchase a set based on the Carriage Shop’s usual standards, how much would the carriage and horse cost? We only need a robust, young male horse. As for the person, we’ll have to see first.” Liu Sisi asked her questions one by one.

“The carriages of the Carriage Shop are generally priced at 6 taels of silver, which is also their best-selling price. A robust male horse would be most cost-effective at about 5 taels of silver. As for the person, Madam, are you hoping to choose someone older or younger to drive the carriage? Would you like to see the person now or buy the carriage first?”

Liu Sisi pondered for a moment, since they had already come this far, it was better to see the person first.

“Let’s see the person first.”

“Alright, please follow me.”

Nanny Wang immediately lead the two to the backyard without hesitation.

Along the way, Nanny Wang was exceptionally talkative, casually chatting about all sorts of things as she unhurriedly guided them. After passing through several archways and turning several corners in narrow alleys, they entered a small courtyard and pushed open the door.

“Please wait a moment; I will bring someone for the two of you.”

Without taking much time, Nanny Wang led a group of twenty or so people up.

“It’s the end of the year, and everyone who’s still here is present. Please take a look to see if anyone catches your eye.”

Nanny Wang had a smile on her face, and she turned around and instructed the group, “Don’t crowd together. If you can drive a carriage, step forward.”

Upon her words, the crowd began to shuffle. Among them were men of all ages, and only a small portion knew how to drive a carriage. The initial twenty or so were instantly narrowed down to roughly ten.

Liu Sisi glanced over the few who stepped forward, and asked sternly, “Who among you wants to sell yourselves as an open contract or a dead contract? Those who want to sell as an open contract, stand on the right side. Those who want to sell as a dead contract, stand on the left.”

At her words, the remaining dozen or so people immediately dispersed to their respective sides.

Most of these people were selling themselves as an open contract. Surprisingly, only four wanted to sell as a dead contract.

Among these four was an old man with white hair, a teenager not older than fourteen or fifteen, and the remaining two were roughly in their twenties and forties respectively.

She casually asked a few more questions, “Those of you selling themselves as a dead contract, are your families aware?”

In such an era, selling oneself as a dead contract meant becoming the property of the owner, a personal belonging. Even if one were beaten to death, the government could not intervene.

“Yes.” The four replied simultaneously.

Liu Sisi was rather conflicted; she wasn’t sure who to choose.

“Ye Lei, do you see anyone satisfactory?”

Di Yelei’s face remained expressionless. Upon hearing her words, he casually glanced over the crowd and pointed at the middle-aged man, “You say you can drive a carriage; did you often drive before? If I were to ask you right now to get on the carriage and drive, could you do it?”

The man immediately rejoiced, “To answer the Old Master, my family originally had a carriage and I was the one driving.”

After asking some specific details, Liu Sisi and Yelei turned their attention to Nanny Wang.

Since the beginning, Nanny Wang had been standing quietly. At this moment, she smiled and gestured, “Let’s go over to the side hall for some hot tea.”