A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 185 - 151: Ding Axiang, Broker Feng

Ah Xie?

Bai Qi was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that dark-skinned, quiet little boy.

Among the fishermen in Datian Bay, his closest friends were none other than Xiaotou and Ah Xie.

The former was the only son in the family and had two sisters to support him, so life was relatively comfortable, even allowing him to enter the Martial Arts Hall to apprentice and serve tea;

The latter, however, was rather destitute, with a sickly old mother and several younger siblings to feed, barely able to make ends meet.

So Ah Xie took the initiative to sell himself, willingly becoming a slave to a wealthy household to take care of their horses, in exchange for seven thousand coins.

Afterward, they saw each other less often; after all, selling oneself into slavery meant losing all freedom, even if his parents died he had to beg his masters for leave to attend the funeral, and if not permitted, there was nothing he could do.

Slave Households were even more humble than lowly households; after signing the indenture, men became slaves, women handmaids, the lowest of the low, even less esteemed than prostitutes, spending their lives under another's roof.

"Xiaotou, explain it clearly."

Bai Qi didn't slam the table in anger; emotions needed a gradual progression, acting too aggressively would be too revealing.

"Ah Xie sold himself to Master Ding on the eastern side of the Inner City, working to care for horses. When the Red Eyebrow Bandits attacked the city, the Ding family suffered significant losses, many were killed or injured, and now Second Young Master Ding is in charge. He plans to dismiss some of the slaves, selling them to human traffickers…"

Xiaotou spoke clearly and without ambiguity, clearly having understood the situation before seeking Bai Qi's help.

"Selling slaves?"

A coldness flashed in Bai Qi's eyes.

The harshest punishment used by masters on slaves was not beating them to death or burying them in a well, but selling them elsewhere.

To be a slave or handmaid was indeed miserable, but at least one could have a hot meal and shelter from the elements, at least live like a "human."

If sold by the master, it was like livestock branded with a hot iron, completely reduced to the level of pigs and dogs.

For the master, slaves sold were mostly deemed "unruly."

Even if bought, they needed watching, only fit for the hardest labor, given scraps of wild vegetables and rice soup, used like mules and donkeys as they pleased.

In the poor rural areas around Black River County, in the early years, many old bachelors and mountain people sought tooth women, specifically buying those lowly maidservants driven out by wealthy households and sold cheaply, tying them to the bed with rope, completely not treating them as human.

"I remember the Dragon Court's laws clearly state that masters cannot forcibly sell slaves?"

Bai Qi looked sideways at He Jingfeng sitting beside him, who wiped sweat from his forehead:

"These things go unmentioned by the people and uninvestigated by officials, turning a blind eye. If truly scrutinized, the Celestial Water Prefecture's Grand General Zhao's mansion has nearly thirty thousand private slaves… right, who dares to investigate."

He Jingfeng spoke not to shield Feng Shao Ling, but because this was the way of the Red County Divine Land under the Dragon Court's rule, where among the three classes and six households, Slave Households were the most numerous, followed by lowly and Servant Households.

Seventy to eighty percent of the lower six served a handful of the three classes, as it had been for centuries.

"Lao He, I feel a connection with you at first sight, and Xiaotou, Ah Xie and I are as close as brothers.

That Feng guy, to offend my two brothers at once, how can I swallow this anger."

Bai Qi stood up, and He Jingfeng hurriedly followed suit: 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"When I was seriously ill years ago, Ah Xie asked Xiaotou to bring two bags of soybeans and some eggs, all good things he had painstakingly saved up."

He Jingfeng listened, sweating profusely, knowing that this Brother Bai was known for his lofty heroism and eagerness to help others.

Previously, he had dealt with several ruffians over a bowl of rice, and now…

"We fishermen of the Black Water River long for better days, for success, so as not to be bullied."

Bai Qi pressed He Jingfeng's shoulder, his hand applying slight pressure:

"Lao He, whoever tarnishes your reputation, I'll definitely back you up! Now, with my former brother about to be sold, how can I stand idly by!"

Having said this, He Jingfeng smiled helplessly and did not dissuade further.

Just hoped Brother Bai understood the consequences, administering only slight punishment, sparing Feng Shao Ling's life.

Otherwise, having two Thirteenth Branch members die consecutively, even if those in charge were turtles, they wouldn't sit still.

Nurturing core heirs in prominent families is not easy, all raised with golden and silver resources as the "good seedlings."

To lose one would mean tens of thousands of silver coins gone to waste.

"Where are the people from the Ding family?"

"At the Training Ground Entrance in the Northwest Corner of the Inner City."

Bai Qi strode out of the main hall, worried for a pretext to make those hidden assassins believe he had voluntarily left Black River County, overseen by Ninghai Zen.

"Let's put on a performance: 'For fellow kin, Master Bai Qi storms the Feng family brokerage; disheartened, the trafficker flees Nu Yun River at night,' let them see."

...

...

The Training Ground Entrance, once a place for military drills and inspections, had gradually become dilapidated, turning into a lively plaza for selling sundries, food stalls, and performances.

Today's hustle and bustle formed a large circle, usually only seen when tax collectors visited the countryside to recruit villagers and collect taxes, tallying household numbers.

Dozens of vigorous and strong servant guards maintained order, holding back the surging crowd outside.

In the center was a lineup of kneeling men and women, not very old, ranging from thirteen or fourteen to their mid-twenties, with straw labels stuck in their hair, like livestock waiting for buyers.

"Young Master Feng, these slaves are all excellent goods. If my family hadn't suffered misfortune, unable to support our household, there's no way we'd take them out for sale, please, take a good look."

The speaker was a young man with heavy bags under his eyes, unsteady on his feet, visibly depleted by a life of indulgence, bowing slightly with a fawning expression.