Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 11: Chapter 7: Buying a Coachman for the Woman_2

Of course, if someone came looking for trouble, she was more than happy to welcome them.

That was all money! Though money isn’t everything, being without it is absolutely unbearable. She seemed to still be a distance away from returning to her formerly grand lifestyle. The revolution had not yet succeeded, and she needed to keep pushing hard. Keep it up!

“Nanny Xu, how much are you asking for these two? You name the price.”

“Thirty taels.” Trembling, Old Lady Xu extended three fingers, feeling uncertain about the lady whose demeanor seemed to be regaining its former nobility. Had she been mistaken during the recent brawl, or were her old eyes deceiving her?

Such a bargain, not even worth as much as a good horse, and here were two living people!

Gu Changsheng sighed, damn this wretched ancient time where people were valued less than animals. It was truly tragic.

“Xiao Cui, take fifty taels of silver and give it to Nanny Xu. The extra is to comfort everyone involved,” Gu Changsheng gave Xiao Cui a meaningful look, “The rest I leave to Nanny Xu’s care.”

“Lady, rest assured, rest assured. Old Lady Xu will get the official documentation from the Government Office, then I will immediately deliver it to you at Anping Inn,” Old Lady Xu said, bowing repeatedly, thrilled with the generosity as it was almost half more than the asking price! Since the lady was not afraid of trouble, she was happy to not wait on those two little burdens.

“So, I can take these people with me?” Gu Changsheng stood up and took hold of Little Meat Bun by her side.

“Lady, please, do as you wish,” Old Lady Xu made another bow, then turned to the siblings, “Aren’t you going to thank your new master? To be with such a household is your good fortune. Don’t stir up any more trouble or it won’t end well for you.”

Han Qiu, along with her brother, knelt again, “Han Qiu is grateful to you, my lady. I swear my loyalty unto death!”

What was so good about ancient times? It did not fit her approachable image at all. She had unwittingly become the type of person who was seen as a wealthy master—she glumly glanced at the two kneeling before her. Don’t they know a woman’s knees are also worth their weight in gold?

“All right, let’s go,” she sighed and led the way out first.

Old Lady Xu, with countless thanks, saw the group out the door. Then turning back to the people standing dumbfounded in the main hall, she scolded, “What are you still doing here? You bunch of unlucky souls, scatter! Go back to your business!”

…

Gu Changsheng returned to the inn and slumped onto the bed in deep dejection.

She was supposed to go buy a coachman, right? Yet in a moment of impetuousness, she ended up buying a maid and a little boy. The maid had some skills, but the little boy was only six or seven years old; she would have to care for him and spend money on him! And who knew what trouble that might bring? This deal didn’t seem worth it at all!

She wondered if she could back out now? Thinking about Old Lady Xu’s visibly relieved face, it seemed rather difficult.

She should have chosen a strapping, imposing coachman to make a statement when stepping out. It was such a miscalculation to have given in to a moment of kindness.

“Can I… let you two go?” she asked, struggling as she tousled her ruffled hair.

“I am an official slave,” Han Qiu stood to the side, expressionless.

An official slave, destined to be a slave for life. Even if she released them, they would likely end up enslaved again. What a waste of effort today had been! Dammit!

“Fine. This little boy, he’s your brother, Han Mo, right?” Gu Changsheng admitted defeat. What was done was done, and there was no antidote for regret. Taking on responsibility was a skill. It’s just two more people; was it really going to kill her?

“Yes,” came the succinct, forceful reply.

“That woman of yours is currently not in a very good mood,” Gu Changsheng began, “seeing how destitute you’ve become to the point of becoming official slaves, hurry up and share your tragic experiences. Let me cheer myself up.”

Xiao Cui frowned, lifting her head from the sewing basket, and reluctantly called out, “My lady…”

How could she be so mean? My lady is really bullying people…

Han Qiu, however, didn’t seem to care much, and continued to speak indifferently as if she were talking about someone else’s problems, unrelated to herself.

It turned out that these two were from a general’s family. Their father, Han Jingye, was the main general stationed at Tongguan City in the northern border. Last winter, there was a once-in-a-century snowstorm in the north of the desert. Cattle and sheep were all frozen to death, and the clothing-scarce, starving Tartars made a large incursion southward, besieging Tongguan with tenfold their number. Han Jingye had no choice but to hold out and seek help from nearby passes, but help never came, and he fought to his death on the city walls.

When the Court heard that Tongguan had fallen, they were enraged. They accused him of failing to defend the city, confiscated all his properties, and sent the grown men of the family to the execution grounds. Han Qiu and her brother, Han Mo, both fell to the status of official slaves.

After listening to their story, Gu Changsheng couldn’t bring himself to cheer up. He sighed, “Do not speak of ascending to nobility; when a general achieves success, it costs countless lives. Your father died in battle, unaware of what happened afterwards. Perhaps that is a form of bliss in itself…”

Han Qiu and Han Mo were finally moved, and their faces showed sorrow.

Her father had given his life defending Tongguan, and in return, the Court had accused him, leading to the ruin and death of her family.

How could she not feel chilled by such a court? How could she not feel that her father’s sacrifice was in vain?

“Don’t be sad either,” Gu Changsheng said as he stood up and patted Han Qiu’s shoulder, his comforting intent clear. “There’s a saying that rings true: ‘Since ancient times, how many soldiers return from war?’ For a soldier, dying on the battlefield is the best fate. As for what happened to your family, it’s just bad luck.”

She was just unfortunate to have an unwise Emperor, that’s all.

Such matters of the Imperial Court, who could truly predict them? As a former soldier, she felt a sense of empathy…

“My lady, thank you for taking in my brother and me,” Han Qiu knelt again, full of resolve. “I am willing to follow you for life, never changing heart.” With Gu Changsheng, she felt a familiar comfort, born of having both undergone military hardships. Perhaps, just as Old Lady Xu said, meeting such a master was their good fortune.

“Alright, we don’t have so many strict rules here; you don’t have to kneel at every turn.” Pulling the person on the ground back up, she looked toward Han Mo, “Your brother is not much older than my son; he can follow him and be a little pageboy. As for your promise of lifelong service, life is too long, and what opportunities come will depend on your destiny.”

“I may not have the power to command heaven, but taking care of the two of you is well within my means…”

Before Han Qiu could thank her, Gu Changsheng let out an “Ah!” and crouched down, holding her stomach with a look of misery, “Xiao Cui, hurry and see if there’s any food left at the inn. I’ve overexerted myself today, your lady is starving!”

Xiao Cui packed up the sewing basket with an expression that seemed to say she knew this would happen and went out to find food.

She knew that her lady wouldn’t stay serious for long; it only took a moment for her true colors to show.

After feasting to her content, Gu Changsheng, with a belly full from overeating, planned to buy a comfortable coach tomorrow, so they could continue their journey southward. They were getting closer and closer to their future home…

“Mother, mother, there’s trouble outside…”

As Gu Ze daydreamed about their beautiful life ahead, he turned around and saw Little Meat Bun running in with hurried steps, his demeanor rather frantic.