Feng Yiyi walked into the slave market. The broker immediately greeted her with a wide smile.
“Honored guest, what kind of people are you looking to buy?”
“I need a few maidservants. Do you have any who know martial arts?”
“Ah, your timing is excellent! Just yesterday, a group arrived. They were servants from a wealthy merchant’s household.
The master committed a serious crime, but these servants all have clean family backgrounds.”
She signaled to a maid nearby, who hurried off.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll gather them in the courtyard so you can see which ones suit your eye.”
“Alright,” Feng Yiyi replied calmly.
Soon, she followed the broker into the courtyard.
Over twenty young women stood in neat rows.
“Those who know martial arts, step forward,” Yiyi said.
Seven or eight stepped out immediately.
She looked them over carefully. Their appearances were all acceptable.
Pointing to a slender young woman, she asked, “What were you responsible for before?”
“We were shadow guards and personal maids in a wealthy merchant’s household. After the master was convicted, we were sold here.”
“You’re all from the same household?”
“Yes.”
“Besides martial arts, what other skills do you have?”
They answered one by one.
“I can manage accounts. I handled the First Madam’s ledgers.”
“I’m skilled at managing staff. I oversaw the Old Madam’s shops.”
“I know disguise techniques.”
“I have medical knowledge.”
Yiyi nodded. “Fight each other. Let me see.”
The broker was stunned. Is she selecting servants or holding a martial contest? But she said nothing.
The women leapt and spun, palms striking, legs sweeping, moving with impressive agility.
After a while, Yiyi called out, “Stop!”
All eight halted instantly.
“If you follow me, loyalty is all I require.
If you believe you can be loyal, come with me.
If you harbor any betrayal, I will kill you. Choose now.”
All eight knelt in unison.
“We are willing to serve the Master unto death.”
“Good. Then you will come with me.”
At that moment, one maid hesitated. “Master, could you buy one more person?”
“Oh?”
“There is a cook who came with us. She cooks exceptionally well and also knows martial arts. She’s the only one left behind. We hope you might take her too.”
“What is her name?”
“Qin Momo.”
“Bring her out,” Yiyi told the broker.
Soon, a thin middle-aged woman stepped forward.
“You are Qin Momo? One of them pleaded for you. Are you willing to follow me?”
“This old servant is willing.”
“Fine. How much for all nine?”
“The young maids are fifty taels each. The older woman is forty taels. Four hundred and forty taels total.”
Without hesitation, Feng Yiyi paid the full amount.
Seeing their ragged clothes, likely worn from long transport, she next went to the property broker.
“Honored guest, what kind of house are you looking for?” the agent asked.
“Something by the main street, suitable for business.”
The agent spread out a map. “In the middle of this street, there are two adjoining properties. Quite spacious. Here.”
Yiyi studied the location. “Is this near the marketplace?”
“Yes. Diagonally across is Hall of Abundant Blessings.”
“Let’s go take a look.”
They soon arrived at the bustling market street.
“These two houses were originally one property,” the agent explained.
Yiyi inspected them. There was a large front hall suitable for business, with five or six rooms in the back for living quarters.
Perfect.
After negotiation, the two properties cost 5,900 taels—a high price for a town, but worth it for the location.
She then went to the yamen to complete the ownership transfer.
Finally, she brought the nine servants to one of the newly purchased houses.
Over the past days, Yiyi had observed that this region had no chili peppers. Spicy cuisine would surely succeed.
One property would become a spicy hotpot and skewers restaurant. The other would be a medical clinic—she couldn’t abandon her original profession.
She had already chosen a name: Xinglin Medical Hall.
The nine knelt together. “Please bestow names upon us, Master.”
“Those skilled in accounting, management, medicine, and disguise—step forward.”
Six stepped out.
Yiyi smiled. “I’ve truly found treasures.”
Turning to the remaining two, she asked, “Your specialties?”
“I excel at embroidery.”
“I am skilled in incense-making.”
Yiyi pointed to the last two. “You will be called Chun Tao and Qiu Ju. You will serve my grandmother—protect her and guard the house. Since she must remember your names easily, we’ll keep them simple.”
“Who among you has the highest martial skill?”
They all pointed to the girl skilled in disguise.
“Good. From now on, you are Chen Yu, Luo Yan, Bi Yue, Xiu Hua, Hua Ying, and Yue Ying. Qin Momo keeps her name.
Hua Ying and Yue Ying will follow me.
Qin Momo, you will oversee the shop and manage them.
We will first open the clinic, then the spicy pot restaurant, then a skewer shop.
Eventually, our businesses will spread across the entire Western Chu.
You will go to different regions to manage them.
When that day comes, I will return your contracts and restore your freedom.
When you marry, I will provide generous dowries.”
Joy lit up their faces.
If their contracts were returned, they would become free people again.
Yiyi continued, “After falling off a cliff, I was rescued by the son of an old woman from Zhao Village. I now live there.
I am also pregnant. I will rely on all of you in the future.
Qin Momo, here are four hundred taels. Buy bedding, clothing, and kitchen supplies. Tomorrow, renovations begin. Also purchase two capable shop managers.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Chen Yu and the others, listen to Qin Momo. I’ll return tomorrow.”
Hua Ying, Yue Ying, Chun Tao, and Qiu Ju followed Feng Yiyi to the horse market.
She bought a horse and carriage, then bedding, clothes, and vegetables.
As always, before even entering the courtyard back in Zhao Village, she called out brightly:
“Grandma, I’m home!”