From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 3 Selling oneself
People have aspirations to reach the sky, and they cannot achieve it without luck.

It has been a month since Meng Yuan traveled here. He has been fleeing and has not had a full meal.

I don’t know much about this world. A few days ago, when I was burning books to keep warm in a shabby house, I found that the text was the same as in my previous life, but the dynasty history was different.

This place is called Qing Kingdom, which has been established for nearly 500 years, but is now in turmoil.

In this world, there are powerful Confucianists, Buddhists, and Taoists, there are monsters that can devour an entire city, and there are unrivaled sword masters.

Meng Yuan traveled through time and space with nothing to rely on, but there was a strange spirit fire in his body. He didn't know where it was exactly, but he could feel it as long as he thought about it.

Because he had been fleeing for these days and was weak, his essence and fire actually fed back to him, but its power was getting smaller and smaller, and it had already retreated to a tiny spark.

Now after eating some hot tofu, my whole body feels hot and the flames have grown a little bigger.

This essence fire is closely related to one's own well-being. As long as one is healthy, the essence fire can absorb nutrients from food and drink and slowly grow stronger.

I just don’t know how big this essence fire can grow, and I don’t know what use it will have then.

But Meng Yuan knew that everything was difficult now. He had to get a full meal first, and then he could consider nourishing his energy.

"Starting with just one bowl is not as good as weaving mats and selling shoes!" Meng Yuan sighed. Seeing that Grandpa Jiang and his grandson were still eating, he simply picked up the empty bowl and asked the stall owner to refill it with a bowl of hot water for cooking tofu.

Holding the bowl and sipping the hot water, Meng Yuan started chatting with the vendor.

Nowadays, young people with no skills, no distant relatives, and no money are unwilling to sell their skills, so they can only sell their labor.

This place is called Songhe Prefecture, adjacent to the Canglang River, with prosperous water transportation. Maybe I can find a short-term job at the dock.

But after a little inquiry, I found out that there was less rain this year and the water level of the Canglang River had dropped. There were not many boats sailing in winter, so there was even less work.

There was not enough work for the locals to do at the dock, and the Cao Gang was not hiring anyone. If a stranger took on private work, a beating was considered the least of his punishment.

As for eating military rations, you have to pay first.

After thanking the shop owner, Meng Yuan and Grandpa Jiang and his grandson walked out of the alley and headed towards the city gate together.

There was an open space outside the city gate, with many people sticking dry grass on their heads, and quite a few human agents coming and going to ask questions.

The first ones to be picked up were naturally the craftsmen and young laborers, followed by women and children. The elderly, the weak and the disabled were absolutely unwanted.

Selling children and daughters, and pawning wives as slaves, can be seen everywhere.

Moreover, the times were different now. The rich, pawnbrokers and government officials were connected, so most people could not get a good price for their bodies, and they were indentured to sell their bodies for life.

In years of disaster, life is difficult and people are treated like grass. It is generally like this.

"Brother, do you want a woman? Give me money and I'll leave!" A man grabbed Meng Yuan.

"Brother, I'm also a prostitute, you see clearly." Meng Yuan said.

"Then you sell it for two silver coins?"

"I am cheaper than pork?"

"What do you think?"

Meng Yuan was speechless.

Seeing this, Mr. Jiang held Meng Yuan and comforted him, "Don't worry, I have a family skill, I'm sure I can find a way to make a living."

After asking, I found out that Mr. Jiang's so-called craftsmanship was actually castration, which means castrating pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks. He also knew how to select horses and treat livestock.

This is indeed what a craftsman does.

"I think it's better for the three of us to stay together so that we can take care of each other!" Old Man Jiang said sincerely.

Meng Yuan thought about it and felt that copying poems and books in this world was too far away, so he simply learned a skill from Old Man Jiang. Today, I castrate cattle and sheep, but who knows if I can castrate the world tomorrow?

The two of them agreed, grabbed some snow to wash their faces, and went together to find a matchmaker.

"In today's world, your skills as a gelder are not popular. You have a family to support, so I'm afraid you can't sell it at a good price!" This matchmaker was obviously used to this. She started by bluffing and lowering the price. Then she pulled Meng Yuan to a corner and said, "Young man, you are handsome. Let me take a look at your work. If the capital is sufficient, the nobles will scramble for it!"

As she spoke, the matchmaker actually reached down.

Daqing was founded on military power, and its people were tough and sturdy. Women also had a high status, and it was common for them to show their faces in public, and some even kept lovers. Meng Yuan was terrified. He didn't expect that just as he had saved his groin, another thing would be targeted. He quickly protected his crotch, and only then did he manage to keep his innocence.

"Well, you're unlucky!" The matchmaker didn't force them and took Meng Yuan and the other two to a courtyard with a bungalow. Before they even entered the house, the matchmaker called out, "Manager Liu! Here we have an old gelder and a young gelder who can take care of cattle and horses. People outside are vying for them. I asked them to wait and I'll come to check them out for you first!"

When the thick door curtain was lifted, a middle-aged man in a long gown was seen sitting by a stove, and six or seven other people were standing there.

There is a thick-bottomed iron pot on the stove, and the tofu and pickled vegetables in the pot are sizzling and emitting a fragrant aroma.

The middle-aged man picked up a piece of hot tofu and took a sip of hot wine. Then he looked over and asked, "Have you ever taken care of cattle and horses? Deer and sheep?"

"I've taken care of them all. I can even cut the blood of a deer! I raise cattle and sheep, take care of horses, deliver babies and breed, and I can treat sick animals! I've lived with livestock since I was a child! I can also castrate pigs and sheep. I'm used to doing all of this!" Seeing that this man was very impressive, Old Man Jiang bent over and kept boasting.

The middle-aged man did not comment and just ate the hot tofu in the pot. Another man with a donkey face asked a few questions about the care of cows after giving birth.

Mr. Jiang answered them one by one.

Seeing the donkey-faced man nod, the middle-aged man asked again: "Are these two people with you?"

"That's right, Master." Old Man Jiang bent over, forced a smile, and said respectfully, "This is my granddaughter, and this is my engaged grandson-in-law! This child is capable, she has been carrying manure since she was young, and she can endure hardships!"

This was something Meng Yuan and Old Man Jiang had discussed. They would say the three of them were a family. The older ones had skills, and the younger ones were in their prime. The girl might seem like a burden, but she could tie the adults down and she wouldn't eat much rice, so the host family could rest assured.

Moreover, girls from poor families marry early these days, so early engagement is common, and an age difference of a few years or even more than ten years between boys and girls is common.

"Then sign the contract of sale. From now on you will work at the princess's ranch, and you will be provided with food and drink." The middle-aged man agreed.

The matchmaker quickly took out three documents of selling her body, "The old gelder is five cents, the young gelder is three cents, and the girl is two cents! We are all honest people, and we can't get this price anywhere else!"

Three people for only one ounce of silver? Meng Yuan was shocked and quickly took the document to read. It was still a lifelong indenture, and the only thing missing was to fill in the name and sign the contract.

The situation is stronger than people, and everyone outside is doing the same thing, and they are determined to take advantage of the refugees. If we delay for another two days, there will be more victims and it will be even more difficult to make a living.

But Meng Yuan still thought it was outrageous. In this world, if you say it's bad, the princess did find a pawnbroker and acted according to the rules; if you say it's not bad, three people only sold for one tael of silver, and if they were all chopped up and sold at the price of pork, it would still be more than that.

"Don't underestimate the small amount of money we get from selling our bodies. We are going to the princess's ranch. We won't have to worry about food and lodging, and we will get paid every month! The princess treats her servants very kindly. You can ask around. There are so many people who want to go but can't!" The matchmaker saw Meng Yuan's incredible look and quickly comforted him, "Little gelder, if you miss this opportunity, you will never get it again!"

"My lords, please let the three of us discuss this matter." Old Man Jiang sighed and pulled his granddaughter and Meng Yuan to walk out.

After leaving the house, Mr. Jiang and Meng Yuan were speechless.

"Grandpa, please pawn me first and then find a way to redeem me later." The little granddaughter grabbed the hem of Mr. Jiang's clothes and raised her dirty little face.

"Grandpa doesn't have much time left at this age. I just hope I can stay by your side and watch you for two more years." Old Man Jiang smiled kindly, then looked at Meng Yuan and said, "Thank you for your help along the way. There's nothing I can repay you for. If you want to find another way, I'll give you the money I get from selling my body, and you might be able to make a name for yourself. When the time comes, I just hope you can come and see this child more often and help take care of him."

"Old man, you trust me too much." Meng Yuan smiled helplessly.

"I can see that you are a good person," said Mr. Jiang.

"It's better to be together. If we help each other, we will get ahead one day." Meng Yuan pinched the child's face.

He returned to the house, took out three documents of sale, and wrote down the name and place of origin.

Mr. Jiang’s full name is Jiang Shuanyou and he is fifty-three years old.

The little girl was called Jiang Tang and was only eleven years old.

Meng Yuan is his real name, and he is sixteen years old.

The three of them signed their names respectively, and the matchmaker and the middle-aged man also signed their names.

Meng Yuan has since sold himself to the palace and become the princess's private slave. Unless the princess lets him go, he will have to work as a gelder and have his testicles cut for the rest of his life.

The matter was settled. The middle-aged man took out the silver coins, and the matchmaker took out a small scale from her bag to weigh them. She asked the middle-aged man to look at the scale and said, "Our rule is to take one out of ten, one cent each!"

Meng Yuan took the nine cents of silver and couldn't help thinking that in this world, even if he went to sell ditch, he would not be blamed.

"You three are so lucky!" The matchmaker facilitated the deal and got the commission, and she was very happy.

Meng Yuan and the other two were all homeless people, and now they had sold themselves into slavery. When they heard this, they found it extremely ironic.

(End of this chapter)