The human trafficker chuckled. "Go on, you can pick first."
The madam walked onto the stage. She first selected a few younger girls and had them stand to the side, then her eyes began to rove over the older maids.
The madam pulled Bi He over. She pinched the girl's cheek, had her hold out her hands for inspection, and even gave her waist a squeeze before nodding. "Not bad. Your skin's still smooth and tender. Stand over there."
Tears welled in Bi He's panicked eyes. With a THUD, she fell to her knees before the madam. "I'm begging you, please don't buy me." She would rather be a slave or a maid than go to a place like a brothel. After speaking, Bi He began to kowtow, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
The madam grinned, revealing a large gold tooth. "Well now, little lady, are you looking down on our Chunxiang Building? The real good life begins once you join us. You'll eat the finest foods, wear silks and satins, and even have younger maids to wait on you. I guarantee that once you're there, you won't ever want to leave."
Bi He said nothing, only continuing to kowtow desperately.
The human trafficker waved his hand, and two men came forward to drag Bi He over to the group of chosen girls.
Just as the madam was about to turn toward Gu Fei, Gu Fei, in her growing panic, suddenly saw someone sprinting toward them in the distance.
When Gu Fei saw who it was, her body began to tremble with excitement.
The man had just reached the foot of the stage, his eyes anxiously scanning the crowd.
Gu Fei suddenly pushed her way out of the crowd and reached a hand toward the man. "You there, big brother! Please, buy me."
This was no stranger—it was Gu Fei's very own older brother.
Sometimes, when her family came to the city to sell vegetables or buy supplies, they would visit Gu Fei at the back gate of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion.
Gu Qing was overcome with emotion when he saw Gu Fei. He had come to the city to buy grain and had planned to visit his younger sister first. He hadn't expected to hear along the way that the Marquis Mansion had been raided. Gu Qing had asked around frantically until someone told him the servants of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion were being sold off at the South Market today.
Gu Qing had run here as if his life depended on it, terrified he would arrive too late and his sister would already be sold.
He froze when he heard Gu Fei's words, then a jolt went through him. He nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes! I'll buy you."
The human trafficker strode over, barking, "What do you think you're doing?!"
Gu Qing faced the human trafficker. "I— How much for this girl? I want to buy her."
The human trafficker looked Gu Qing up and down. Seeing his coarse, blue-cloth clothes, he sneered. "Fine. Twenty taels of silver, and you can take her."
"T-Twenty taels?" Gu Qing was so shocked he could barely speak.
The human trafficker said impatiently, "She's a senior maid from the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. Not only can she do needlework, she's also literate. Twenty taels is practically a giveaway."
Gu Qing gritted his teeth. "I—I'll go home and get the money. Please, could you hold her for me?"
He only had a few silver coins on him; he'd come into the city to buy grain.
The human trafficker scoffed. "I'm not making any promises. See that lady over there? She's waiting to make her choice!"
Gu Qing pleaded desperately, "Please, sir, have a heart! I'm just going home to get the money. I'll be back in one or two hours!"
'He didn't even know if they had that much silver at home. He'd probably have to borrow some.'
The madam came sashaying over, studying Gu Fei, who was standing at the edge of the stage. "Well now, this girl's got some lovely features. Why is her face covered in ash?"
"Heh, you're hiding your looks on purpose, aren't you? A clever one, I see."
The corner of Gu Fei's mouth twitched, but she said nothing.
The human trafficker laughed. "But it seems she couldn't escape your expert eye, ma'am."
The madam waved a hand. "I'll take this one."