Chapter 92: It Wasn’t My Money Anyway

Father and daughter followed Deng, the broker, to the back courtyard. Behind the brokerage was a large three-sectioned compound where all of Deng’s maids and servants resided. There was also a livestock shed in the rear, housing the cattle and horses for sale.

As they walked along with Deng, they could see the trained maids and young servants standing by the doors or busy with their chores, all casting furtive glances at them.

Noticing Wen Yao’s curious gaze, Deng chuckled, “Miss Wen, do you want to buy a personal maid? I can guarantee the maids here are both highly capable and unfailingly loyal.”

Wen Yao was taken aback and waved her hand quickly, “No, no, that won’t be necessary. We’re just simple folk; we don’t deserve to have servants.”

She exchanged a glance with her father.

Wen Yao thought to herself: This is truly a feudal era with no concept of human rights.

Wen Xiuyi sighed helplessly.

Upon reaching the back courtyard, Deng had someone open the door to the livestock shed. It was well-kept, with dedicated staff to clean and tend the animals, so it wasn’t as dirty or chaotic as one might expect.

The majority of the animals were horses; only two or three cows stood scattered in the cattle pen in the corner, one of which looked like a newborn calf.

“These are the last three cows left. Brother Wen, take your pick. I’ll give you a good price,” Deng offered.

Wen Xiuyi walked around, studying them closely. Among the three, the yellow ox was the largest and appeared the most robust. The other two were smaller, one noticeably weaker than the yellow ox.

“Don’t worry, all three are good animals. This one is a bit older, already over three years. The small one is just a few months old. As for this one, it’s just come of age, strong and sturdy—naturally, it’s the most expensive,” Deng explained.

Wen Xiuyi nudged Wen Yao with his elbow. “Which one do you fancy?”

Wen Yao gave him a look, signaling him to be calm, then turned to Deng, her eyes crinkling with a smile. “Uncle Deng, how much are each of these cows?”

“This one, three years old, is fifteen taels—fourteen at the lowest. This newly matured, strong one is eighteen taels. The smallest is cheaper, only twelve taels, because it’s young and won’t be able to work for some time. That’s why it’s priced lower. But very few people buy calves; most buyers want adults,” Deng replied.

Wen Yao had made up her mind about the strong yellow ox.

“Uncle Deng, can’t you give us a better price for this one?” Wen Yao asked, pointing to the large yellow ox.

Deng stroked his short goatee and smiled. “Girl, it’s not that I don’t want to give you a discount. When I brought this cow in, not to mention the purchase cost, raising it this long—feed and labor—all cost money. And just look at how well I’ve kept it: healthy, sturdy, not a single illness. It’s in its prime, ready to work the fields the moment you take it home.”

Wen Yao tugged at Wen Xiuyi’s sleeve, and he immediately understood, clearing his throat to say, “Manager Deng, we count as old acquaintances now, and in the future, we’ll be doing plenty more business with you. Give us your best price, and if it’s fair, we’ll take the cow today.”

“Well…” Deng hesitated, glancing at the father and daughter and recalling Manager Qiu, who had brought them in.

Anyone who had been in Misty Town for a while would have their ways of knowing things others didn’t. Especially regarding those two from the Hall of Benevolence—he was well aware of their backgrounds. This family seemed to have a close relationship with them, and the son was currently apprenticing under Doctor Jin. As the saying goes, the last person you want to offend is a doctor. For that reason alone, this was a good opportunity to make friends.

“All right, since the young lady seems to like it so much, seventeen taels, but not a copper less. I’d be losing money otherwise,” Deng relented. Seeing Wen Yao’s pout, he quickly added, “But although I can’t lower the price any further, I’ll throw in a cart for free. How’s that, girl?”

Wen Yao’s furrowed brows visibly relaxed, and Deng smiled in satisfaction.

After some consideration, Wen Yao nodded. “Very well, seventeen taels it is. I’ll have to trouble you, Uncle Deng, to have someone teach me how to drive the cart.”

Neither she nor Wen Xiuyi knew how to handle cattle.

Wen Xiuyi had herded cattle as a child, but herding and driving a cart were not the same.

Deng readily agreed, instructing his men to lead out the big yellow ox, hitch it to the cart, and carefully teach Wen Xiuyi how to drive it.

Meanwhile, Wen Yao followed him to the front hall to settle the bill and sign the contract.

“Girl, if you ever need anything, just come find Uncle Deng. I’m not boasting—whatever you want, I can get it for you,” Deng said cheerfully as Wen Yao signed her name and counted out the silver.

To his surprise, despite her youth, she wrote with an elegant hand, which delighted him. He hadn’t misjudged this family; they were certainly not ordinary people.

Wen Yao paid the seventeen taels without hesitation and nodded. “Of course. I’m sure we’ll be troubling you again in the future.”

“My pleasure, my pleasure.”

Wen Yao waited over an hour at the brokerage for Wen Xiuyi to learn how to drive the cart. At last, father and daughter bid farewell to Deng and slowly drove the ox cart toward the docks.

Wen Nong’s eyes nearly popped out when he saw the ox.

“Uncle, what’s this?” he exclaimed in dismay, certain that his grandmother would scold them for this at home.

Wen Xiuyi patted the big yellow ox and grinned, “What do you think? This is Big Yellow—ours now.”

Wen Nong was dumbfounded, and even Liuzi came running over, touching Big Yellow here and there with envy. “Sir, did you really buy this?”

A fine ox like this cost a dozen or twenty taels. The Wen family had just bought one as if it were nothing; how could anyone not be envious?

Though Wen Nong was worried about being scolded, he couldn’t resist stroking the ox as well.

Despite its size, Big Yellow was gentle and didn’t mind the attention, only snorting softly in response.

“Uncle, how much did you pay for it?” Wen Nong asked.

“Seventeen taels, including the cart,” Wen Xiuyi replied without a second thought. After all, he wasn’t the one paying, so he wasn’t the least bit concerned.

Wen Nong’s eyes almost fell out of his head at the price.

“Uncle, you’re done for.” Seventeen taels for an ox—Grandfather and Grandmother would bury him alive when they got home.

Wen Xiuyi lounged carefreely on the bench, waving his hand dismissively. “I wasn’t the one who paid.”

Wen Nong turned to look at Wen Yao, suddenly feeling a wave of sympathy for his cousin.

Soon enough, as Wen Xiuyi began questioning them about their studies over the past few days, Wen Nong came to accept the new ox. After all, even if Uncle had bought it, they would all be able to use it.