The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

With Lü Fusheng, the head steward of the Lü family, personally guiding him, Wang Zhonghua's journey in the market went much more smoothly, and he witnessed the Lü family's influence in Chenzhou City. However, this "smoothness" did not diminish the heaviness and chill that welled up from the bottom of his heart when he stepped into this area.

In the "Mule and Horse Market" west of Chenzhou City, half were livestock and half were people. The air was filled with the mingled smells of animal dung, cheap cosmetics, inferior incense, and a bone-deep, musty odor of despair. In the low sheds and open fields, all sorts of "goods" stood, squatted, or huddled together—most of them wearing straw tags, their eyes vacant and numb, like livestock waiting to be slaughtered.

There were ragged, emaciated children and teenagers, pushed out by their parents and relatives with tears in their eyes due to famine and war; they huddled together like frightened fledglings. There were young women who had once been slaves in wealthy families but were sold off after their masters fell into ruin; they tried to remain calm, but their eyes darted around nervously. There were also strong men with whip marks on their faces, forced into hard labor due to debt or lawsuits...

The sounds of haggling, the shouts and boasts of slave traders, the scrutinizing and pinching of buyers, and the occasional low sobs and desperate whimpers—all these elements combine to create a vivid, apocalyptic panorama. Here, human dignity is openly priced and crushed into dust. That barely audible plea, "Please, buy me," is often a person's last, humble cry.

Lu Fusheng whispered a reminder from the side: "Young Master Wang, if you want to find reliable people, this old servant suggests you look at those who are 'sold by the government' or those disaster victims whose backgrounds you know. Those with unclear origins and who are glib are mostly not trustworthy."

Wang Zhonghua nodded, his eyes sharp as he carefully scanned the area. He wasn't just looking for laborers, but also for "seeds" he could cultivate and entrust with tasks in the future. This required vision, and even more so, a bit of luck.

His gaze eventually settled on a few special "goods".

There were four children, two boys and two girls, the oldest no more than fifteen and the youngest only twelve, huddled in a corner. Unlike other children who were completely numb or crying, their eyes, besides fear, still retained a trace of clarity that hadn't been completely extinguished, and a faint, tenacious spirit, almost like wild grass, unwilling to simply rot away. Their tattered clothes showed that they were the clothes of refugees from Huaibei who had suffered from both floods and locust plagues.

Lu Fusheng sighed softly, "What a tragedy! This year, there was a great disaster in Huaibei. 'The weeds in the river are weighed on the scale,' meaning that a single bite of food could save a life. I heard that these four children are refugees from the same village. Their parents starved to death, and the clan couldn't afford to raise them, so they were sent here in the hope that they could find a way to survive."

Even more striking were the haggard-looking middle-aged man and woman standing nearby. The man, around fifty, had a square face and slightly graying temples. Though his face showed signs of illness and his clothes were worn and patched, his posture was as straight as a pine tree. Even standing in the queue to be sold, he subconsciously maintained a faded neatness and discipline. His fingernails were neatly trimmed, and thin calluses from years of holding a pen were visible on his knuckles. The woman stood close to him, her hair meticulously combed and held in place with a smooth wooden hairpin. Her face was haggard yet serene, her hands rough but her nails clean, and the cloth belt around her waist was neatly tied. They wore special wooden tags around their necks, indicating that they were convicted slaves of officials being sold "by the government."

Seeing Lü Fusheng stop, the slave trader quickly stepped forward to introduce them: "Master Lü has a good eye! This couple is top-notch! They were the steward and cook in the household of Zhao Wenhuan, the former registrar of Xiangcheng County. The man, Shen Zhou, I heard, even passed the imperial examination in his youth and later managed the internal and external accounts and documents in the Zhao household; the woman, Wu, was the second-in-command in the Zhao household's kitchen, a master of Huaiyang cuisine, and also knowledgeable in purchasing and management. It's a pity that Registrar Zhao committed a crime, his property was confiscated, and his servants were sold off. This is a legitimate 'official deed,' their background is impeccable!"

Shen Zhou? Wang Zhonghua's heart skipped a beat. This name... He tried hard to recall his limited historical knowledge. In the mid-Northern Song Dynasty, there was a famous person with the surname Shen... Shen Kuo! Unfortunately, the down-on-his-luck steward in front of him was not named Shen Kuo, and he had never heard of any connection between Shen Kuo and Chenzhou.

He remained impassive, observing carefully. He noticed that although Shen Zhou's head was lowered and his expression demure, the scholarly air and underlying pride between his brows were difficult to completely conceal. Wu Shi stood close to her husband, occasionally glancing at the slave traders or buyers, a hint of humiliation and wariness in her eyes, but when she turned to Shen Zhou, her gaze transformed into silent dependence and comfort. The mutual support and resilience they shared in their dire circumstances were undeniable.

Wang Zhonghua needed manpower, but even more so, he needed reliable people with basic abilities who had experienced ups and downs and knew how to cherish what they had. A "disgraced official's servant" who was cultured, knew management, and had experienced the vicissitudes of officialdom, if of decent character, was far more valuable than an ordinary servant. More importantly, if this was indeed Shen Kuo's father... then the significance of this "investment" would be entirely different.

He stepped forward and asked Shen Zhou directly, "Can you read? Can you do accounting? Are you literate?"

Shen Zhou slightly raised his eyes and glanced at Wang Zhonghua. Seeing that the person asking the question was a young man with a calm demeanor and clear eyes, rather than an ordinary playboy, he bowed respectfully and replied, "In response to your question, young master, I am somewhat literate and can handle money accounts and ordinary correspondence."

His voice was calm and clear, and his words were appropriate; he was indeed a well-educated person who had seen the world.

"Why were you sold off?" Wang Zhonghua asked again.

A flicker of pain crossed Shen Zhou's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and replied briefly, "My master, Zhao Wenhuan, the registrar of Xiangcheng County, has been caught embezzling, which has implicated the entire household. As the steward, I failed to advise him and am also at fault for my oversight." He did not shirk responsibility, nor did he complain about fate, nor did he mention how he ended up as a steward in Zhao Wenhuan's household. This sense of responsibility earned Wang Zhonghua's silent approval.

Wang Zhonghua then looked at the four children: "Are you four together? What are your names? What can you do?"

The eldest boy mustered his courage and stepped forward, his voice still trembling slightly: "Young Master, we're from the same village. My name is Shitou, I'm fifteen, I know how to farm, and I'm strong! This is Gouwa, fourteen, quick and nimble; this is Xing'er, thirteen, she can cook and do laundry; this is Yaya, twelve, she can also do chores! We can learn anything, please give us some food, Young Master, we'll work our hardest!" After saying this, the four children looked at Wang Zhonghua with pleading eyes, and the youngest, Yaya, couldn't help but start to cry.

Lu Fusheng whispered from the side, "Young Master, Mr. and Mrs. Shen Zhou are indeed talented, but some people are wary of their status as 'convicted officials' servants.' These four children are clean, but they are too young and will need to be raised for several years."

Wang Zhonghua had already made up his mind. He looked at the slave trader: "What's the price for these six people?"

The slave trader's eyes lit up, and he quickly calculated: "Young Master Wang, Mr. and Mrs. Shen Zhou are government-sold, with official documents, so their price is higher—fifteen strings of cash for the two of them. These four children are disaster victims, so they're cheaper—three strings of cash each, twelve strings in total. That's twenty-seven strings in total. Since you were brought by Steward Lü, I'll round it up to twenty-five strings! I'll process the official contracts and indentures for you all at once!"

Twenty-five strings of cash was not a small sum for Wang Zhonghua at the moment, but it was still within his means. He glanced at Lü Fusheng, who nodded slightly, indicating that the price was fair.

"Just the six of them." Wang Zhonghua no longer hesitated.

"Alright! Young Master Wang is so generous!" The slave trader beamed, quickly preparing the documents while shouting at Shen Zhou and the others, "Be smart! This Young Master Wang is a distinguished guest of Master Lü's mansion. Going with him is the best luck you've ever had! If you keep looking so miserable, you'll get a beating!"

Shen Zhou, holding Wu Shi's hand, silently bowed deeply to Wang Zhonghua and whispered, "Thank you for taking us in, young master." His tone was complex, containing gratitude, resignation, and a faint hope for a new life. The four children, bewildered and frightened, knelt down and kowtowed as well. Shi Tou pulled his younger siblings, whispering, "Quick, thank our benefactor!"

After bringing them back to the Wang family courtyard, Wang Zhonghua didn't immediately put them to work. Yao Shi and Qin Tiehua had already boiled hot water and brought out clean coarse cloth clothes. Looking at the steaming wooden tub and the clean clothes, the children were stunned, and Shen Zhou and Wu Shi's eyes instantly reddened—since being detained and sold, when had they ever received such treatment? Had the officials who escorted them and the slave traders in the market ever treated them like human beings?

After thoroughly washing and changing into clean, warm clothes (though not luxurious), they sat down at a small table in the courtyard. Looking at the large bowl of thick, fragrant soup, garnished with chili oil, and a hearty bowl of white rice, the youngest child, Ya Ya, burst into tears. It wasn't sadness, but the sudden release of tension, the warmth of human kindness she hadn't felt in so long. The other children also shoveled rice into their mouths, tears streaming down their faces. Shen Zhou and Wu Shi ate slowly, but each bite was precious. Wu Shi turned away, her shoulders trembling slightly, silently weeping.

After the meal, Wang Zhonghua gathered the six people in the courtyard for a brief but serious talk.

He spoke clearly and made his demands explicit: "Here, you earn your living through your strength and conscience. I will pay you double the market rate. Uncle Shen and Aunt Wu will receive 300 cash a month, and the four of you, including Shitou, will receive 150 cash a month. There will be bonuses for good performance. You will be provided with three meals a day and two new sets of clothes every year. As for accommodation, Uncle Shen and Aunt Wu will have a separate room, while the four of you, including Shitou, will temporarily share a large room."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the six men, and emphasized, "I want you to abide by the rules I've set—no cheating, no stealing, no betraying your master, and brothers and sisters to live in harmony and help each other. As long as you work diligently and are loyal..." He deliberately lingered on Shen Zhou's face for a moment, "After five years, if you perform well, I will not only grant you your freedom but also give you a sum of money to help you find a proper place in the world."

These words struck the six like a thunderbolt! Especially Shen Zhou and Madam Wu, who knew all too well the horrors of slavery; once enslaved, it was almost impossible for generations to escape, and their descendants would never be able to hold their heads high. Five years? Freedom? Money to settle down? These were things they dared not even dream of! This young master possessed such magnanimity?

"Young Master..." Shen Zhou suddenly knelt down, this time not as a perfunctory gesture, but with trembling and shock. Wu Shi and the four children hurriedly knelt down as well. Shen Zhou's voice choked with emotion, almost incoherent: "Young Master's kindness is like being reborn! Shen Zhou... Shen Zhou is willing to sign a death contract, to serve Young Master with my life, without any disloyalty! If I break this oath, may I be struck down by heaven and earth!" The last eight words were spoken with resounding force. Wu Shi also kowtowed repeatedly, sobbing uncontrollably. The four children may not have fully understood the profound meaning of "freedom," but they also kowtowed. Shi Tou shouted loudly, "Young Master, Shi Tou will definitely work hard to protect our younger brothers and sisters and repay you!"

Wang Zhonghua helped them up one by one, his expression earnest: "What I need are partners who can work together, not animals who only know how to kowtow. Get up, learn the skills well, and do the work well; that's the best way to repay me. Uncle Shen, you can read and understand accounting, so you'll help manage the shop's accounts and purchasing records from now on. Aunt Wu, please take good care of the kitchen in the backyard and their daily lives. Shi Tou, you four should learn from him first, and be quick-witted and observant."

In the days that followed, the six people, like parched seedlings receiving rain, burst forth with astonishing energy and loyalty. The four children learned quickly, wiping tables and sweeping floors, calling out orders and calculating accounts, running errands and delivering goods—they were quick-witted and nimble-fingered, gradually shedding their timidity. Shen Zhou soon demonstrated exceptional management skills, not only managing the shop's materials and accounts meticulously and clearly, but also being upright and fair in his dealings, strict yet caring towards the children, earning everyone's respect. Wu was not only a skilled cook but also incredibly meticulous, taking excellent care of the backyard chores and the children's daily needs, freeing Yao and Qin Tiehua from heavy housework. With their addition, the Wang family courtyard became much more efficient, lively, and orderly.

Wang Zhonghua observed Shen Zhou secretly for several days, growing increasingly satisfied. This Shen Zhou was literate, knowledgeable about human relationships and accounts, had experienced great ups and downs, possessed a calm and composed temperament, knew how to cherish things, and handled matters methodically—exactly the kind of talent he desperately needed, someone he could cultivate into a right-hand man or even a steward. Moreover, if he truly was Shen Kuo's father… Wang Zhonghua already had even longer-term plans in mind. He began to gradually entrust Shen Zhou with some important procurement, external affairs, and basic paperwork, all of which Shen Zhou handled with utmost care and consideration, occasionally even offering insightful suggestions.

Wang Zhuacai and Yao were overjoyed. With an extra helper in the family and their son being so capable and discerning, they felt hopeful for the future and hoped to continue living peacefully like this.

Wang Xiangjun was also very satisfied. The house was lively. She could chat with Yaya and Xing'er, who were the same age, occasionally. She could drink spicy soup, her older brother taught her arithmetic, and her older sister Tiehua taught her some martial arts. She could also secretly read Shen Bo's books that she couldn't understand but felt were very powerful (a few old books that Shen Zhou cherished very much). Life was full of novelty.

Standing in the courtyard, Wang Zhonghua looked at everything in perfect order and felt somewhat at ease. He still held some hope for Emperor Renzong of Song, who was known for his benevolence in history. At least for now, it seemed that the common people, as long as they were willing to work hard, still had a chance to breathe. Someone as talented as Shen Zhou wouldn't have ended up like this if he hadn't been embroiled in the intrigues of officialdom.

But can such peaceful days really last?