Chapter 1, The Unruly Youth

Mother, you don't know, business is good today. I helped the boss sell two horses, and he gave me four taels of silver. I bought medicine for you, and I will go prepare it shortly. Uncle Wang said that after taking this medicine, your illness will be cured. There is still some left, and tomorrow I will go buy some grain. I thought that since business is good these days, I could earn more money..." Little Bao's voice grew quieter as he noticed the anger rising on his mother's face. "What is wrong with you?"

In front of two individuals stood a girl of about eighteen or nineteen, staring blankly ahead with a vacant expression that revealed her numbness. As the wealthy merchant was about to turn away, the boy quickly said, "Sir, please don't go, look at this delicate skin and tender flesh." As he spoke, he stepped forward and with a swift motion tore open the girl's top, exposing a patch of tender, white skin. The merchant, captivated by the sight of the exposed flesh, had his eyes gleaming with a predatory glint.

Xiao Bao smiled and said, "Please eat, I have already eaten."

Due to the influx of a large number of refugees, the originally prosperous towns have become overcrowded. Along the spacious roads, in front of various shops, one can see disaster victims lying down and begging along the streets, accompanied by children crying from hunger and the weak moans of the elderly

Xiao Bao quickly knelt before his mother and said: "Mother, please do not be angry. This money is truly earned by me. There are many disaster victims outside, but there are still some opportunities for business. Recently, many wealthy merchants are eager to return to the Central Plains, so the mule and horse trade has been doing relatively well."

Another elder smiled slightly and said, "Indeed, it is an excellent choice; we will know for sure after we take a look tonight." After saying this, the two exchanged a smile and disappeared into the crowd

The wealthy merchant considered for a moment, then haggled with the young man. Finally, he reached into his pocket and took out several banknotes, handing them to the young man, saying: "Here are the banknotes from Taiping Bank, totaling four hundred and fifty taels. You can take them, and I can take the person away."

Xiao Bao gently patted his mother on the back and said, "Mother, you mustn't overthink things. I have already bought the medicine, and after finishing these few doses, you will be fine. Don't you still want to wait for me to marry? I will earn some more money, and in a few years, I will be able to marry. Please rest well; I will go prepare dinner now." After saying this, he turned and left the room. When he arrived at the stove, his face was already filled with tears.

As the red sun sets, the bustling mule and horse market, which had been lively all day, gradually quiets down. The merchants and customers return to their inns to rest, while the shopkeepers begin to drive their "goods" back to the warehouses to feed them and await the opening of a new day. Little Bao, having spent the day hawking books, gathers his belongings and leaves the market. Walking along the spacious road, he touches the meager coins in his pocket and smiles faintly, then looks up at the sky before hastening towards the apothecary in the west of the city.

The elderly man reached out to support his son and said: "Child, you must remember that even in poverty, one should not lose ambition and must not engage in immoral acts. It is all the mother's fault; this illness has persisted for three to four years, causing you much suffering..."

Xiao Bao, carrying medicine, bought a few pieces of rice cake and then carefully placed the remaining small silver coins into his pocket, happily walking home. His home was located in a low-lying residential area in the west of the city, where generally the impoverished masses lived. The low grass houses and narrow streets were filled with mud and sewage. Xiao Bao hopped and skipped through the narrow alley until he reached a dilapidated courtyard, where he pushed open the nearly collapsing wooden door and slipped inside.

Although it is also called a house, it is essentially just four earthen walls topped with a roof that barely provides shelter from the wind and rain. Xiaobao placed the medicine in the main room and then lifted the tattered door curtain to enter the inner room, which was equally dilapidated and completely empty. On the low earthen bed, a woman's figure was struggling to sit up.

Upon encountering the wealthy merchant, the hesitant young man once again showcased his formidable language and sales skills. "Sir, this mere three hundred taels of silver is nothing more than forgoing a drink or a dish in your eyes. To be able to bring such exquisite beauty into your home not only brings you personal pleasure but also enhances your reputation among friends, does it not? As for the price, let us not dwell on that. How about this: you choose one from my collection, and as a regular customer, I will offer you a 20% discount. This is already the lowest price available, and you will find no other comparable offer in the entire market. Acquiring such high-quality goods has cost us a significant amount as well. Just take a look at the others at a 20% discount."

Xiao Bao supported his mother while she leaned against the pile of quilts, gently patting her back. After a long while, the coughing finally subsided. Xiao Bao then turned around, brought a bowl of water, and handed it to his mother, saying: "Mother, please drink some water first. I will go cook now. By the way, here is the rice cake I just bought; it's still warm. Please eat it quickly." As he spoke, he handed the rice cake to his mother's hand.

"You no longer need to deceive your mother. Although I am ill, I am not foolish. Today, Aunt Zhang from next door came over and said that this year there is a severe drought, and there are refugees everywhere. How could there be any good business? Speak honestly, where did this money come from?" The old man's voice grew stern.

The elderly man took the rice cake, raised his murky eyes to glance at his son, and softly said, "You eat it, Mother is not hungry."

Xiao Bao exclaimed loudly: "Mother, I bought you medicine and delicious rice cakes!" As he spoke, he hurried into the house

"Delicious, Mother," said Xiao Bao as he pinched a corner of the rice cake and put it in his mouth. Then he added, "It tastes really good, Mother, you should eat it quickly," as he brought the rice cake to the old woman's lips.

Watching the boy walk away happily, Manager Wang prepared to close the door while muttering, "What a good child, only twelve years old. What a pity about your mother’s illness... Sigh, perhaps you should be freed from it all."

Suzhou, as the largest town in the northwest of the Tianyuan Continent, serves as a hub for trade between the Central Plains and the various countries of the Western Regions. Thus, it presents a prosperity that contrasts sharply with the local desolation. The streets are wide and lined with shops, bustling with wealthy merchants dressed in fine silks, while martial artists carrying swords and daggers weave through the crowd. Behind this prosperity, one cannot escape the inevitable presence of crime.

Mother, what are you saying? If you hadn't picked me up, I wouldn't know where I would have ended up by now, and you still say such things. Xiao Bao said softly, "Don't overthink it. I will go cook now." With that, he turned around and was about to leave

The setting sun is like blood, the north wind blows in, and now and then a few withered branches and fallen leaves drift away with the wind, disappearing among the crowd

Originally, Ba Hu, who had a face full of anger, instantly broke into a smile upon seeing the banknote handed over by the boy. He reached out, took the banknote, counted it, and laughed heartily while patting the boy's frail shoulder, saying: "Good lad, keep up the good work." As he spoke, he tucked the banknote into his bosom and then took out a piece of silver and handed it to the boy, saying: "Xiao Bao, this is a reward for you. Just do your best; Hu Ye will not treat you poorly."

Manager Wang smiled at him and said, "It will happen, it will definitely happen"

The elder reached out to hold his son and said, "You sit down first; I have something to say."

Among the crowd not far away, two elderly men in blue robes were carefully observing the boy. One of the older men said to the other, "His bones are extraordinary; he is a talented individual, but I wonder what his character is like"

These individuals are all "goods" of trade. Among them are both men and women, as well as frail children and strong laborers, yet they share a common characteristic: they are all in tattered clothing, with sallow complexions and emaciated bodies

Originally, the dark evils concealed beneath the splendor of a prosperous era began to thrive due to the influx of numerous disaster victims. Within a few days, more and more merchants, unable to resist the immense temptation of profit, joined this trade and the book industry. In an instant, the once quiet mule and horse market became bustling with people.

Xiao Bao stepped forward and said: "Thank you, Uncle Wang. My mother's illness has been worsening these past few days. I would like to get her three days' worth of medicine. Business has been good lately, and I want to earn some extra money to help her with her treatment. Here is the money." As he spoke, he took out all the loose silver coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter.

Within the market, wooden fences are seen everywhere, enclosing areas filled with impoverished youths dressed in thin clothing, shivering in the wind.

"Do not speak, listen to me," the old man interrupted his son and continued, "I am well aware of your mother's illness. It is better this way. My only concern is you. You are living alone in this world, without support or companionship. However, your mother knows you are a good child. Remember her words: you must always walk the right path and be a good person. *Cough cough*" Another fit of urgent coughing ensued

A weak voice from within the room said, "Is that you, Xiao Bao?" Following that was a series of continuous coughs

Ba Hu is a notorious thug in Suzhou City, known for his ferocity and ruthlessness, as well as his insatiable greed. He relies on his sister, who is the favored concubine of the Suzhou Prefect, to act with impunity in the city. He is also one of the earliest individuals to thrive in the flesh trade.

The boy chuckled and said, "I told you, sir, you have a discerning eye. You won't find another like this in the entire market. This is our prized possession; we generally do not sell it easily unless we encounter someone with your level of discernment. Three hundred taels of silver is already very cheap. Just think about it: with such a stunning beauty and your vigorous physique, I feel exhilarated just imagining it for you."

mother

"What does it mean to be gaunt and emaciated? This is not a problem, sir. If you take it home, with good food and drink for three days, it will return you a beauty like a celestial being." A young man enthusiastically recommended his "goods" to a portly middle-aged wealthy merchant.

Many among them are children and servants sold by parents who are struggling to make ends meet, while others are young adults who, unable to survive, have no choice but to sell themselves as laborers to wealthy families

Xiao Bao's hands, which were holding the medicine and silver, trembled suddenly, and then he smiled brightly at Uncle Wang, saying: "Thank you, I believe Mother will definitely get better, right, Uncle Wang?"

The shopkeeper Wang, in his fifties, smiled at him and said, "It's nothing, I knew you would come, so I have been waiting. Here is the medicine you wanted."

The wealthy merchant, under the flattery and deceitful persuasion at home, became somewhat intrigued. He glanced around the "goods" within the enclosure and finally fixed his gaze on a girl of about eight or nine years old, pointing at her and saying, "This one will do; the master prefers them a bit younger." He then let out a lewd laugh.

Xiao Bao quickly set the rice cake aside, reached out to support his mother, and reproachfully said: "Mother, why are you getting up when you should be lying down?"

The door panels of the pharmacy have mostly been installed, leaving only a half door position vacant. Xiao Bao quickly walked in and said to the shopkeeper inside: "Uncle Wang, you have been delayed in closing up again."

Manager Wang glanced roughly and estimated it to be around 5 taels. Shaking his head, he helped Xiao Bao prepare the medicine while saying, "You poor child, your mother’s illness..." He did not continue, but the implication was very clear. He intended to hand something to Xiao Bao and took a piece of silver from the counter, giving it to him, "Take this back and buy something good for your mother."

While the boy was loudly hawking his wares, he was suddenly struck on the back of his head. He jumped up like a rabbit and exclaimed, "Who the hell hit me..." Before he could finish his sentence, he turned around to see a burly man standing behind him. He quickly put on a beaming smile and said, "Oh, it's you, Master Hu. You arrived just in time; I've just received two items. Here is the money; please take it."

The old man said while eating the rice cake, "How come you have money to buy rice cakes today?"

The wealthy merchant nodded at the boy and said, "The quality is still quite good, but the price is a bit high."

The young man looked at the girl's frail figure, a flicker of compassion crossing his eyes. However, he quickly put on a broad smile and said: "Sir, your discerning eye is remarkable. This little girl was just purchased this morning for a full one hundred and eighty taels. Don't be fooled by her young age; she is truly a beauty in the making. The owner originally stated that he wouldn't part with her for less than three hundred taels, but since it is you, I will make an exception: one large and one small for five hundred taels, no bargaining."

Watching the wealthy man walk away contentedly with two women, the boy's smile faded, and his eyes were filled with sorrow. Especially the girl's gaze sent a chill through his heart, making him dare not look again. From a distance, he saw the wealthy man casually touching and pinching the women's backsides as he walked. He spat fiercely and muttered under his breath, "Old lecher." However, the boy quickly regained his professional smile and continued to shout loudly, "Don't miss out as you pass by, everyone come in and take a look at the store's treasure, absolutely top-notch..." He spat fiercely and muttered under his breath, "Old lecher." However, the boy quickly regained his professional smile and continued to shout loudly, "Don't miss out as you pass by, everyone come in and take a look at the store's treasure, absolutely top-notch..."

The numb woman slightly recoiled but ultimately stood straight under the gaze of the crowd. The prolonged suffering and the ravages of hunger had long since eroded her already meager and cheap sense of self-esteem. Here, she was no longer a person but rather a commodity for trade, indistinguishable from the mules and horses that could be selected at will.

Xiao Bao obediently sat down, and the old man touched his face, saying: "I remember when you came back, you were only four years old. In the blink of an eye, eight years have passed. You are now a big child. I fear that your mother will not last many days with this illness..."

Mother just wants to sit, but lying down like this makes her feel uncomfortable. As she spoke, another fit of coughing seized her.

A boy named Xiaobao had a fawning expression as he repeatedly said, "Thank you, Lord Hu, thank you, Lord Hu..." Watching Lord Hu walk away, the boy clenched the broken silver tightly in his small hand, spat out a thick phlegm, and cursed, "Damn it, just three taels of silver..." The boy spoke resentfully, yet he carefully placed the broken silver into his pocket and continued working

Do not deceive me any longer, you are my son, and I know you well. If you do not eat, then neither will I.

The northern region of Liangzhou is characterized by mountainous terrain and a scarcity of fertile land, making the lives of the common people inherently difficult. Furthermore, a once-in-a-century drought has rendered the already barren land nearly barren, leading to a surge of refugees and widespread starvation. A large number of disaster victims have migrated to the relatively prosperous city of Suzhou.

At the market, a young man dressed in blue stands before a tall fence, loudly calling out, "Esteemed wealthy merchants passing by, please pause. Our Qingyuan Trading Company offers the finest young laborers in the city as well as the most beautiful young women. Whether you seek tender children aged eight or nine, charming young ladies of fifteen or sixteen, or graceful young matrons in their twenties, we have it all. There is nothing you cannot find here. Do not miss this great opportunity."

Ah, sir, your discernment is commendable. Just look at this young lady; in terms of both appearance and figure, she is truly exceptional. Just take a look at her skin, it is so radiant and fair that one could almost squeeze water from it.

The young man took a glance at the banknote and then waved his hand, instructing someone to bring out the two "goods" and hand them over to the wealthy merchant. With a beaming smile, he said: "Alright, sir, the transaction is successfully completed with both cash and goods. In the future, should you have any needs, feel free to come to me; I will reserve the finest goods for you."

However, in recent days, this place has been bustling with voices and a continuous flow of people. The reason is none other than that a few days ago, someone unknown initiated the clandestine trade of human trafficking here.

In the northern part of the city, there is a remote mule and horse trading market primarily established for merchants to purchase horses and rent carriages. Although the business cannot be described as thriving, it is certainly not considered sluggish either.