#38 - Chapter 38 Finalized

Admittedly, the mature woman's charm emanating from that mother was indeed attractive to Cheng Feng.

One could say it struck right at the heart of Cheng Feng's desires.

However, Cheng Feng's heart was willing, but his wallet was not.

Ten taels was simply beyond Cheng Feng's bottom line.

The expenses for a five or six-year-old child were like throwing money down a well.

Add to that the necessities of life such as food, drink, and lodging.

Cheng Feng glanced at them twice, then turned and walked away.

He liked them, but couldn't afford them.

It was better not to look.

Out of sight, out of mind.

The beautiful woman also looked at Cheng Feng twice.

They had exchanged glances during their previous meeting.

However, without buying her and her daughter, nothing else mattered.

The rules of the brokerage forbade the goods from actively conversing with customers.

Everything was to be handled by the receptionist; otherwise, there would be severe penalties.

The shop assistant asked Cheng Feng, "Is the guest not satisfied with that mother and daughter?"

Cheng Feng honestly replied, "I like them, but I'm embarrassed by the shallowness of my purse."

"If the guest is interested, the price is negotiable," the shop assistant enticed Cheng Feng, hoping he would buy them.

After all, that mother and daughter had been there for quite some time.

The adult was one thing, but the five or six-year-old child was truly adorable.

The shop assistant still had some kindness in his heart.

Selling them to one person was better than selling them to a brothel.

Cheng Feng tentatively asked, "How much cheaper can it be?"

The shop assistant gauged Cheng Feng's interest: "Eight taels, how does the guest find that?"

Cheng Feng flung his sleeve and left: "I don't find it well at all."

He only had eight taels left; he would look again.

The shop assistant watched Cheng Feng's performance without saying much; the scene just passed like that.

Next, the shop assistant showed Cheng Feng one that was worse than the last.

Either the price was high, or their appearance was ordinary.

There was basically nothing particularly outstanding.

He understood in his heart that with his current financial resources, it would be difficult to buy a woman he desired.

You get what you pay for.

This principle holds true everywhere.

After circling around twice, Cheng Feng had a sense of things.

Right now, he must first complete the task of staking the sword.

Everything else could be put aside.

Becoming a disciple of Wang Tieshan, even a nominal one, was the only way out of his current predicament.

With a bite of his teeth, he made up his mind.

"Shop assistant, will you sell that mother and daughter for five taels? I'm really short on funds; I don't have much left."

"Guest, please wait a moment; I'll go ask the shopkeeper."

Watching the shop assistant's hurried figure disappear,

Cheng Feng felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.

In fact, Cheng Feng's bottom price was six taels; the remaining two taels could be used to settle the mother and daughter.

From then on, Cheng Feng did not plan to spend any more money.

The days of spending lavishly were over.

If he couldn't complete the task of staking the sword, Cheng Feng might really face a difficult situation.

There was no other way; one couldn't just sit and eat away at their savings.

Relying entirely on his old savings to support him.

Adding more chopsticks and bowls to the table.

No family's wealth could withstand such extravagance!

After waiting for a while, the shop assistant hurried back: "Guest, the shopkeeper said yes, but according to the old rules, you must take another person with them; then this mother and daughter can be traded for five taels."

Cheng Feng was stunned; what a familiar routine.

Could it be that the shopkeeper had checked the accounts from last time?

Since there was a freebie,

Cheng Feng didn't mind spending an extra tael; he picked a girl with neat teeth and bright eyes from the group of disaster victims.

She was about 16 years old and had a heroic spirit.

Cheng Feng didn't always pick the ones he liked.

Cheng Feng planned to set up another courtyard.

If he couldn't buy, he would rent.

If he mastered the art of staking the sword next year, he would have a source of income.

He would buy then.

He slowly took out six taels and then took out two large coins and handed them to the shop assistant: "Thank you for your help, brother."

The shop assistant initially declined a bit, but seeing that Cheng Feng was really giving it to him,

He couldn't refuse and accepted it.

Seeing that the shop assistant had accepted the money, Cheng Feng added: "I plan to rent a house, preferably near my home."

He gave the address, and the shop assistant went to check the information again.

Before long, the shop assistant found a place near Cheng Feng's house.

Just looking at the area, it was very large, but when he asked about the rent, it was even more expensive.

Cheng Feng felt a little ashamed in his heart.

With more women, the property aspect also had to keep up.

He picked and searched again.

Finally, he found one at the end of the alley next to Cheng Feng's house.

It was also a small two-bedroom, even smaller than the one Cheng Feng bought.

The location was too far inside.

Cheng Feng didn't like it in his heart, but he had limited silver.

He inquired about the situation of the people around.

He didn't want to encounter bad people.

The shop assistant repeatedly assured him that the people in the alley were all kind people.

Nothing unpleasant would happen.

After considering it again and again,

Cheng Feng was still not at ease; the location was indeed too remote.

He added two taels and found a location diagonally opposite Cheng Feng's house.

Cheng Feng's heart was bleeding.

But in order to allow his women to have a good understanding and communication between them,

So that people wouldn't become distant just because the houses were far apart.

While waiting for the errand boy to issue the invoice and go to the government office, Cheng Feng also chatted with a few people.

The beautiful woman was called Chen Min, 24 years old, and was the wife of a merchant who traded leather goods in the Western District; she was a local. Her daughter was called Chen Zhu, 5 years old. The merchant was addicted to gambling, lost everything, and their family was ruined.

Cheng Feng was not surprised at all; those who came to the brokerage basically had their own stories.

Cheng Feng had no intention of exploring; as long as they behaved themselves after being bought, that was enough.

Anyone who dared to have an affair or betray him,

According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, their life and death were entirely at the master's discretion.

The procedures for the people were completed.

As for the house, they would first go to the actual site to take a look.

Not far from Cheng Feng's house.

It was also a small two-bedroom, not as big as Cheng Feng's house.

The layout was very similar, but the area inside the house was a bit smaller.

Cheng Feng didn't care.

Was this considered an outer room's outer room?

Following the shop assistant, he confirmed the house.

Then, he flipped out 50 taels from his old savings at home.

He took out ten taels, and the rest continued to be stored as his nest egg.

Renting the house for one year required a deposit of one tael, payable in half-year or full-year installments.

Cheng Feng chose to pay the full year, totaling six taels.

He held eight taels, six taels to buy people,

Leaving six taels.

He took out ten taels.

Totaling twelve taels.

Renting the house for one year cost six taels.

Leaving six taels.

With the money and goods cleared,

Cheng Feng also breathed a sigh of relief.

He had done everything he could.

Naturally, he first took Chen Min and the others home to wash up.

The house had previously bought cloth and also had self-made clothes.

He would see if they fit.

If they did, that was fine; if not, he would buy another set of ready-made clothes.

Chen Zhu was another matter; the house didn't have clothes for a 5-year-old child. He would buy two sets of ready-made clothes first, then buy two sets of winter clothes.

It was Cheng Feng's old rule: all old clothes were thrown away.

Watching the sisters Cheng Feng brought into the house,

Cai'er familiarly directed Cui'er and Xiao Hua.

Boiling water, getting clothes, cooking.

There were clothes and everything.

And quite a few.

The cloth Cheng Feng bought when he first entered the house had all been used.

Later, Cai'er, Cui'er, and Xiao Hua all learned some needlework.

They made their own clothes to wear.

Otherwise, they were afraid they would get sick from being idle.

Watching the women in the courtyard moving around,

Chen Min and Xiao Qing also lent a hand.

Cheng Feng left Chen Zhu to watch from the side.

The child was too young.

And she had stayed in the brokerage for a while, so she should rest first!

After the women finished cleaning up, it was almost dark.

First, they ate at Cheng Feng's main house.

Then, seeing that it wasn't too late, the four women took their belongings to give Cheng Feng's second home a thorough cleaning.

Cheng Feng felt sorry for Cai'er, who was getting dirty from the dust and mess.

Cai'er just accompanied Chen Zhu, the 5-year-old girl, chatting.

It was considered getting familiar with the baby-sitting rhythm in advance.

Cui'er, Xiao Hua, Chen Min, and Xiao Qing introduced themselves to each other, getting to know each other.

Anyway, the two houses were not far apart, so it was good to visit each other.

Cheng Feng looked at the scene before him.

Finally, he didn't have to worry before completing the task of staking the sword.

Cheng Feng expressed his affirmation of the brokerage's buy-one-get-one-free service.