Chapter 005: The Lean Horse

Mo Jiu shuddered, and only then did he notice that the grid of the nine palaces held a different world. Behind a layer of gauze, there were many young ladies, gathered in groups of threes and twos. Some, like her and Mei Er, were bound, while others were sitting quietly, waiting to be priced and purchased.

These individuals seem to be mindful of something; they did not take the official road, nor did they cross the river at Xuyi, but rather stealthily headed towards the direction of Zhao Xin. In this regard, Mo Jiu found it somewhat strange. If they could act openly and aboveboard, why go through such trouble?

She had an expression as if she were about to divide the spoils right there, leaving the madam speechless

Are you able to endure it?

I see! Just by hearing the name "Yanyun Tower," one can tell what it is about. After all, it is a place that serves men; staying to serve one is certainly much better than going to a place to serve countless others. Therefore, these young women naturally strive to be retained.

Hmm. That person did not speak much and placed a piece of broken silver in the hands of the old madam

Mo Jiu chuckled lightly: "Even if there is danger, I will be the first to face it"

It seems that learning an additional foreign language is indeed very necessary

Regarding such a serious personal attack, Mo Jiu could not tolerate it. She kicked the carriage in protest, only to hear Mei Er grit her teeth and moan, "Mo Jiu, you elbowed me." She had taken more hits than Mo Jiu, with multiple injuries on her body, and it seemed the pain was unbearable, prompting her to cry out.

Accompanied by a nauseating laughter, young women were continuously being taken away from the tent

You, come with me

Upon hearing this term for the second time, Mo Jiu remained puzzled: "What exactly is a thin horse?"

Mo Jiu is skilled in feng shui and has never made a mistake in assessing people—except for Xiao Qian

Meier was taken aback, her voice tinged with surprise, "Do you have a way?"

Mo Jiu was taken aback, biting her ear in return, "Do you understand what they are saying?"

Along the way, apart from knowing that Meier's mother was a woman from the country of Gan bought by her father from a matchmaker, she also managed to overhear some "secrets" of Nanrong from the mouths of those two fools. Thus, she gained more confidence.

The madam was taken aback for a moment, staring at her as if she were a fool, and soon after, she smiled and pinched her little face, "Which gentleman can enjoy the young lady, then he must not be able to rest..." She left a hint, then turned her face towards the man who was "picking up the goods," "The intricacies of it, you will understand once you have tasted it, the old woman never speaks falsely."

Mo Jiu, Mo Jiu, I am afraid...

He did not speak, yet through his actions he conveyed to her, "You cannot even save yourself"

Fearing punishment, the little girl did not cry out loud, but instead bit her lip tightly, shedding tears.

Mo Jiu rubbed against her body, "Don't be afraid, I am here."

Seeing her about to leave, Mo Jiu chuckled lightly, "Stop!"

Before long, someone came to take them away, their hands and feet still bound, and they were once again thrown onto the enclosed carriage. The surroundings were dark, and it was surprisingly quiet. Mo Jiu maintained a calm demeanor with a mindset of "since we are here, we shall accept it," but Mei Er, leaning against her, trembled incessantly like a sieve.

Mo Jiu was secretly mocking, the old madam had returned again

The two individuals gazed at each other, and Mo Jiu whispered softly, "Continue listening"

Why do these people want to capture you

Mo Jiu raised his eyes and collided with a pair of pitch-black eyes. The person was relatively tall, with well-defined features. Although there was a noticeable small scar at the corner of his eye, his overall appearance was quite high, and what was particularly rare was that there was no lewdness on his face. If it were not for being in this cursed place, Mo Jiu would have labeled him as a "good person".

I want the one with a mole on the forehead

Why does Mei Er, a person from Nanrong, understand the language of the Jiang country

The residence where we are staying this time is quite large and affluent, built in a location that is both near the mountains and by the water. The courtyard walls are painted white, and the green tiles shine brightly. The beams are high, and the courtyard is deep, exuding a sense of grandeur. Although Nanrong is prosperous, the families capable of affording such a residence are certainly not ordinary

"Oh, what a charming girl!" At this moment, the curtain was lifted, and an old madam, resembling a flower, entered with a fragrant breeze. She scrutinized Mo Jiu from head to toe as if assessing merchandise, and feeling it was not enough, she began to touch her body indiscriminately.

Gazing at the beautiful faces, Mo Jiu turned his head to look at the man beside him

Mo Jiu's maternal instincts have overflowed, "Don't be afraid, good child, I will save you"

This is outrageous! Such despicable behavior deserves to be punished.

Mo Jiu nudged her with his shoulder, "Don't be afraid, everything will be fine"

Thinking of her mother, tears fell down like "drip drop" from her eyes, and that lovely little face, not larger than a palm, accompanied by a childish voice still tinged with innocence, successfully evoked Mo Jiu's feelings of compassion

Ten strings

Having said that, he turned and instructed, "Gu Er, let the Moon Lady from the Yan Yun Building come to lead the people, and teach them well."

"Thank you, Sir Xie." The man with the surname Gu suddenly called out softly. Xie Bingsheng shifted his gaze and naturally saw the only person in the room wearing clothes, Mo Jiu. He paused for a moment, his eyebrows slightly raised, then closed his folding fan and reached out to tug at her collar.

With a swift motion, her vision darkened as the man covered her head.

Mo Jiu's face was as red as blood, not out of shame, but out of anger. She did not fully understand the concept of "raising thin horses," which referred to the human trafficking trade, but she had a general idea that unscrupulous merchants bought little girls for exploitation, engaging in illicit business.

She hasn't asked yet, and Mei'er continued: "But they dare not..."

Mo Jiu and Mei Er were dragged into a room, where the four corners were adorned with intricately carved wooden screens, arranged like a grid, dividing the space into small compartments. Each compartment was separated by layers of translucent, hibiscus-colored gauze that offered little concealment, while the upper part remained open, allowing fragmented warm light to filter in, enveloping them in the center of the grid, making their skin appear milky white and alluring. Consequently, the screams from outside grew louder.

At this moment, the courtyard gate opened. The man who had grabbed her ushered in an old man who appeared to be over fifty. He walked a short distance in front of her, pointed at her with a broad smile, and spoke in a language she could not understand. From his sleazy demeanor, reminiscent of a pimp, it was evident that he was trying to sell her and the young girl.

Like the shouts in an auction house, the voices rose and fell, various accents mingling together, and Mo Jiu probably understood about seventy to eighty percent of it. This place should be a large transit station for the trafficking of women, where she sat in a space similar to an exhibition hall, with the girls placed in the center, allowing buyers to set their prices.

But if it is illegal, why did the person with the surname Xiao pretend not to see it

At sunset, the carriage finally came to a stop

"How good is it?" The person asking is Mo Jiu

The little girl raised her head and said, "My name is Li Xinmei, and my mother calls me Mei'er..."

Mo Jiu hummed, "We will be fine."

The man's lips twitched slightly, seemingly impatient, as he pulled her out. Mo Jiu's arm was painfully squeezed, and she cried out, "Haven't you heard that I am a rare gem? Why don't you understand the importance of cherishing beauty?"

What should be touched has been touched, and what should not be touched has also been touched

Meier said: "They suspect that you are mentally ill and are afraid of offending a noble person"

Mo Jiu said seriously: "I am more good-looking than you."

Let me take care of it! I will send your newly acquired concubine back home later

Thus, she once again spent a day in the carriage

Meier : `` ... ... ''

When she went out, smacking her lips, her excited expression resembled that of a mother who had found her long-lost daughter

"Shut up! Be honest!" Unpleasant shouts came from outside the carriage. Once they quieted down, the two men driving the carriage began chatting and laughing again. Mo Jiu perked up her ears, but due to the language barrier, she could not understand a single word.

The madam turned back, "Did the young lady call for me?"

The little girl seems to not fully understand, "Raised up, so that one can ride..."

She was mocking herself, having been brushed by Mei Er's arm. Glancing sideways, she noticed the little girl seemed to have something to say. Mo Jiu gently shifted her body and lowered her head, and indeed, Mei Er leaned her mouth close to her ear and whispered in a low, suppressed voice: "They say they are going to send us across the river and sell us to the Yan people..."

Both humans and animals seek a sense of security within a group, especially in times of adversity. The mutual warmth among companions serves as the courage to survive. Without Mo Jiu, her fear is understandable

She sensed that there were some issues, but with her hands and feet bound, she had no way to resist other than listening to the two fellows babbling in their incomprehensible language

Sitting on the uneven ground, Mo Jiu had not yet fully adapted to this rhythm, and the thought of the surname Xiao made her grit her teeth in anger. She glanced around the dilapidated courtyard and cast a sidelong glance at the little girl who was sobbing incessantly

Meier : `` ... ... ''

Little sister, what is your name

Led by someone as if drawn by wealth, Mo Jiu walked for a considerable time, equivalent to the burning of an incense stick, before finally removing her hood. Suddenly seeing bright light after emerging from a realm of darkness, she squinted her eyes, and when they adjusted, she was almost nauseated by the scene before her.

Meier trembled, her two rows of teeth chattering, her body pressed tightly against Mo Jiu

The person did not answer her, suddenly turned around, cupped his hands in salute and said: "Thank you, Sir."

The little girl bit her lower lip and said, "My father sold me to them to be a thin horse."

This is a luxurious large room, devoid of beds, yet filled with them everywhere. Red silk curtains, brocade quilts, and flowing tassels gently sway, while beneath the feet, satin flows like water, in which cool young women ripple. They are arranged in captivating poses like livestock, trembling bodies yet forcing a hint of eager smiles on their faces

Before she finished scolding, the sounds of Mei Er and Tu Shu crying came from behind

The old man stroked his beard with satisfaction and nodded before leaving

Mo Jiu : `` ... ... ''

Why are you competing with me again

Meier's eyes were both misty, "Mo Jiu, what should I do? What should I do?"

Mo Jiu then noticed that a young man had entered through the door, holding a folding fan, swaying as he walked. He did not see Mo Jiu—after all, she was dressed. His gaze was drawn to the various beauties, playfully lifting the chin of one girl with his flirtatious fan, teasing the slender waist of another, his pair of green bean-like eyes lingering and wandering among the crowd of colors and forms.

Mo Jiu asked: "Why?"

Meier nodded, making a sound like a mosquito, "mm".

She remained silent, so the man grabbed the rope and pulled her up. The madam, seeing his rough hands and clumsy movements, seemed reluctant and quickly held his hand, smiling in a way that made one shudder all over. "Be gentle, be gentle! Young man, you mustn't harm her. In my lifetime, I have seen countless beauties, not to mention ten thousand, at least eight thousand, yet I have never encountered such a fine specimen..."

This milk is abundant

Mo Jiu nodded calmly and said, "You have to tell me, how much did you sell it for?"

The madam nodded and bowed, her eyes nearly disappearing in her smile

Mo Jiu had never engaged in heavy physical labor in his entire life, so how could he possibly be a match for two burly men? As he watched Aunt Lan, due to her low attractiveness, attempt to call for help only to be knocked unconscious on the ground, Mo Jiu gave up resisting and was dragged into a secluded courtyard near the riverbank, where he and the young girl were tied to a bald tree stump.

Following her is a robust man

The man outside the car shouted angrily, "If you speak again, I will silence you."

In this case, their actions are indeed illegal

The people in this world are truly indifferent

They are all quite good, but I can only keep one of you.

Five strings of cash

Haha, your kindness and righteousness are commendable, how could I possibly refuse