The next day, after selling her pancakes, Shen Shaoguang took advantage of the mild sunlight to stroll along the street, buying some groceries and sundries while inquiring about renting a shop.
Business in Chongxian Ward indeed seemed prosperous, as the turnover rate for shops was very low. After walking around, Shen Shaoguang didn’t find any information about prime locations for rent but ended up buying a person instead.
This person was no stranger to her—A-Liu from the grain shop.
Though named "Liu" (meaning willow), A-Liu bore no resemblance to the graceful, swaying tree. She was a tall, plump girl of about fourteen or fifteen, somewhat simple-minded, her footsteps thudding heavily on the floorboards. She could lift half a sack of grain with one hand, and Shen Shaoguang often saw her hauling and moving grain around the shop.
"Stupid slave, dumb as an ox! All you know is how to eat! I ought to beat you to death!" The grain shop owner’s wife pinched the tender flesh at the girl’s waist, cursing viciously.
The girl puffed out her cheeks, neither dodging nor resisting, letting herself be pinched.
This only angered the shop owner’s wife further. "Still sulking! Who do you think you are? You’re not some little temptress—don’t think that old lecher will stand up for you!" The more she cursed, the angrier she grew, finally grabbing a broom from the corner and flailing at the girl.
The girl hunched her shoulders, covered her head, and endured the beating.
Unable to bear it, Shen Shaoguang stepped forward to intervene.
The shop owner’s wife stopped, panting, and weighed out glutinous rice for Shen Shaoguang. The girl glanced at her, then bent down to pick up the scattered beans.
After buying the rice, Shen Shaoguang went next door for vegetables and took the opportunity to ask about the girl named A-Liu.
"Her master took another slave, A-Xiang, as a concubine. Madam Xu is upset and takes it out on this simpleton," the vegetable seller revealed in one sentence, exposing her neighbor’s affairs.
"The poor girl seems pitiful," Shen Shaoguang steered the conversation back.
"Doesn’t she? A few years ago, during the floods in the south, slave traders brought her here. Madam Xu bought two cheaply, hoping for maids to serve her and sell for a profit when they grew up. But one was taken by her husband, and this one grew up dull and unrefined—who’d pay much for her? Madam Xu’s investment turned out to be a loss."
"But the girl seems quite hardworking."
"Madam Xu wouldn’t notice even if it bit her!" The vegetable seller scoffed.
Carrying her vegetables, Shen Shaoguang stepped out and saw that the shop owner’s wife was gone, leaving only A-Liu squatting at the shop entrance, gnawing on a millet cake.
"Why didn’t you dodge earlier?" Slaves were human assets, and the shop owner’s wife, calculating to the bone, would never damage her own "property." Dodging could have spared her a few blows.
The girl glanced at Shen Shaoguang and muttered, "The sooner she finishes, the sooner I eat."
"..." The logic left Shen Shaoguang speechless.
Suddenly, she made a decision. "If I bought you, would you be willing?"
The girl stopped chewing, wide-eyed as she studied Shen Shaoguang. "Will you feed me?"
"Until you’re full."
The girl nodded. "Okay!"
Shen Shaoguang nodded back. "Keep eating. I’ll go talk to your owner."
The shop had a front store and a rear residence, connected by three rooms and a small courtyard. Shen Shaoguang knocked on the gate.
The grain shop owner’s wife came out, smiling. "What else would you like, miss?"
"I’m not here for grain. I was wondering if you’d be willing to sell the girl working in your shop?" Shen Shaoguang stated her purpose directly.Originally thinking she was stuck with the goods, the rice shop owner couldn't help but smile when someone showed interest, though her words said otherwise. "I've watched this maid grow up since childhood and truly can't bear to part with her."
Shen Shaoguang couldn't be bothered to play along. "In that case, I won't deprive you of your beloved." With a nod, she turned to leave.
After Shen Shaoguang had walked a dozen steps, the rice shop owner, seeing she was serious about leaving, quickly called out, "Young mistress, young mistress—"
Haggling was all about patience and timing. Shen Shaoguang turned back with a smile. "What is it, madam?"
"Young mistress, please wait. We can discuss this further."
Shen Shaoguang nodded and stood still, waiting for the rice shop owner to approach before smiling. "Are you willing to part with her now?"
The rice shop owner gave an awkward chuckle.
"How much are you asking?"
Having already lost the upper hand in this negotiation and afraid of losing this easy mark, the rice shop owner didn't dare quote too high. "Since you've taken a liking to her, how about three thousand coins?"
Instead of calling it expensive, Shen Shaoguang simply smiled. "This year saw drought followed by floods—a poor harvest. When autumn taxes come due, who knows how many will be selling their children outside the city walls."
Though Shen Shaoguang was casually exaggerating, the rice shop owner took it seriously, having bought two maids cheaply during a famine year. Moreover, she was planning to sell these two older ones and buy younger replacements—this time being more selective.
After some back-and-forth haggling, they finally settled on two taels of silver. Shen Shaoguang went back to fetch the money and insisted on completing the official sale contract at the government office. Then, smiling at the little maid following her, she said, "Come with me."
Shen Shaoguang bought her some daily necessities, bedding, and two simple ready-made outfits—her current clothes were in terrible shape, and Shen Shaoguang's own clothes didn't fit her.
After returning, they had a quick meal, then gave her a thorough bath and hair wash. Dressed in new clothes, she finally looked presentable. One tends to favor their own people, and Shen Shaoguang thought the girl looked quite pretty after some tidying up.
A Liu grinned foolishly at her and added, "The noodles you made were really delicious."
"..." She was still thinking about dinner. Shen Shaoguang nodded. "Good taste!"
A Liu smiled again. After a while, she suddenly said, "Young mistress, please give me a new name."
Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Now that I'm with you, I'm no longer Madam Xu's A Liu."
Seeing the little maid's earnest expression, Shen Shaoguang smiled. "Let's call you A Yuan then. Your round face is so cheerful!"
A Yuan nodded happily.
With A Yuan around, Shen Shaoguang's workload lightened considerably. Tasks that used to leave her grimacing with effort—like moving the stove—were now easily handled by A Yuan with the cart. When making sour plum drink, Shen Shaoguang could focus on the finer cooking tasks while A Yuan fetched water and tended the fire. Pounding glutinous rice for mochi, which used to leave her hands aching, was now done tirelessly by A Yuan, whose eyes sparkled at the sticky rice and sweet bean paste filling.
Shen Shaoguang could finally expand her business slightly. Pre-made zongzi, mochi cakes, and sour plum Fruit Drink were displayed at the neighborhood entrance. Though A Yuan couldn't cook, she handled money well—likely from her time at the rice shop—and was surprisingly good at arithmetic. Shen Shaoguang felt she'd stumbled upon a treasure.
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