Crossing the famine, I am a poor fish, and my descendants have to work hard

Zhao Yuanzhen went to find Zhao Yuanlan.

Wait with him for the letter from Butler Xiao.

About an hour later, Butler Xiao came over with a thin man in his 40s.

"General Zhao, Madam Zhang, this is the teacher I found. After comprehensive investigation, this is the most suitable one! What do you think?"

"What Butler Xiao chose is naturally the best. On behalf of Zhangjia Village, I would like to thank Butler Xiao for his help."

"Mrs. Zhang, you are too kind. It's just a simple favor."

"It's just a small favor, but you still need Butler Xiao to raise his hand, right? I'll give this to Butler Xiao to play with. This small gift is not a sign of respect."

Zhao Yuanzhen took out a wooden base with a glass hourglass and a glass crystal ball ornament on it. There were also snowflakes cut out of paper in the crystal ball, which looked very beautiful when they shook.

The price is also very attractive, 1 point for 10 pieces, and all colors are available.

"This, this is too valuable. I cannot accept it. Madam Zhang, please take it back."

"Butler Xiao, just take it. If you're like this, how can I ask you for help next time?"

"Well, I'd be very sorry to refuse. Thank you, Madam Zhang."

"We should be the ones thanking you."

"Mrs. Zhang, you're welcome."

"Butler Xiao, my brother and I will take our leave. I have other things to do. I won't stay any longer."

"Okay, I'll see you two off. You can take this Master back with you to discuss in detail."

"Okay, I'm done."

Zhao Yuanzhen and Zhao Yuanlan left with the teacher.

"Hello, Master. My husband's surname is Zhang. May I know your name? Has Butler Xiao told the Master that our school is in the village and we need to go to the village to teach?"

"My last name is Du, and my given name is Qiyuan. Butler Xiao has said it, and I know it. I am alone, and it doesn't matter where I am."

"I wonder how much money Master Du makes per month for teaching?"

"Just two taels of silver, with room and board, is that ok?"

"Of course, thank you for coming to our village to teach and preach."

"Mrs. Zhang, thank you."

"Then big brother, you can take Master Du back first. I still have some things to do."

"Okay, then be careful and come back early."

"Well, don't worry, brother."

He untied Xiao Hei from the back of the carriage and watched them go back.

Zhao Yuanzhen has to go to the dental clinic.

"Hello, Madam Zhang. Please come in quickly."

"I want to buy some that can play the piano, sing music and dance. Do you know where to buy them?"

"We have people who can play the piano, sing and dance in our pawnshop! Look at the people who play the piano and sing in the brothels and theaters. Many of them were trained by our pawnshop."

"Your dental practice is so powerful and has trained so many skilled people."

"Mrs. Zhang, you may not know that we in the dental industry are very comprehensive. We will train any skilled people we need, and once they are trained, they can be sent to various major palaces or special places where they are needed."

"Is there a teacher who can teach?"

"some."

"There really are some. How many artists are there who can play the piano and sing?"

"We just finished a batch of classes yesterday and haven't sent them out yet. There are about 36 of them. How many would you like, madam?"

"Call him up first, and I'll take a look."

"Okay, wait a moment. I'll go get him."

This time I had to wait a little longer, about 20 minutes before he came.

None of them came empty-handed, they brought musical instruments.

There are pipa, lyre, se, erhu, flute, dizi, guzheng, xun, sheng, suona and even drums.

Quite complete.

There are more than 2 people playing each instrument.

“Do they specialize in one instrument, or do they play a variety of instruments?”

"Madam, there are a few who are very talented and can do everything, and the rest can only do one or two things, but those who know less are all very specialized in their skills."

"Well, those who can do everything stand up."

Three of them stood out, they all looked good in appearance and had lively eyes.

These girls were probably bought and slowly nurtured. They have not experienced the world yet and still have light in their eyes.

"These three stay here first, and the rest of you stand according to the instruments you know. Discuss and choose a piece of music, and each of you try to play a passage. Those who can sing can also sing. I'll listen."

"Yes, ma'am."

The tone is gentle, but not too pretentious, and it sounds very comfortable.

After each performance,

Zhao Yuanzhen discovered that these little girls, in addition to playing musical instruments, also sang while playing. Their voices were light, clear, and as cold as spring water.

Some people were immersed in it and suddenly understood the joy of listening to music in a brothel.

"How much silver is this?"

"Madam, these all-round ones are a little more expensive, 180 taels of silver per person, and these ones that only know one or two are 150 taels per person."

“But it’s not cheap.”

"Mrs. Zhang, you don't know that this batch of little girls will take us two to three years to train, and four to five years at most. We need to hire teachers to teach them etiquette, musical instruments, dancing, and literacy, so the price is a bit high."

"Well, then let's keep these three all-rounders and pick 20 more."

"Okay, ma'am, take your pick."

Zhao Yuanzhen had basically observed the performance process just now, and can directly select them now.

There are 23 in total, 3 of which are all-powerful.

"Ma'am, do you need anything else?"

"Do you have any young maids? Those who have been taught the rules, about 15 or 6 years old, smart and clean. I want a large number, about 50. Do you have that many?"

"Madam, we don't have that many trained ones at the moment. Please pick them first. I'll take you to another dental shop of our employer to choose the rest. What do you think?"

"That's fine. Then bring your dental practitioners here first."

"Okay, ma'am, please wait a moment."

When the broker left, he took the remaining musicians with him.

"Madam, these little maids were newly trained during the New Year. They are all smart and sensible. Please take a look."

"Okay, raise your head, stretch out your hands, and smile. Let me see."

Since I have to give massages to female customers, I can't have calluses on my hands, otherwise it will damage the skin.

Fortunately, this batch of people were newly trained and pampered by the dentists for a long time. Even if they had calluses before, they have fallen off and their hands are in good condition.

A total of 33 people with amiable and pretty faces were brought, and Zhao Yuanzhen selected 28 of them.

"Ma'am, you're lucky you came early. The dental clinic has only been open for business for a short time during the Chinese New Year. If you had come a day later, these would have already started to be pushed out."

"That means these girls are destined to be with my family."

"Yes, yes, ma'am, you are absolutely right."

"By the way, cook, let me pick a few more."

"Okay, ma'am, please wait a moment."

We selected 8 more cooks because there were so many shops at home and there were not enough cooks!

"Okay, let's settle the accounts."

"The all-round musicians are 180 taels each, there are 3 of them, the one who is good at one thing is 150 taels each, there are 20 of them, the young maids who are taught to behave themselves and learn to read are 10 taels each, there are 28 of them.

The illiterate cooks are 8 taels each, and there are 8 of them, so the total is 3884 taels. I will charge you 3880 taels, and I will let them take all the musical instruments they use, as a gift to you, is that ok with you?"

"Alright, that's fine, let's do it this way."

"okay."

Zhao Yuanzhen handed the silver and money to the broker, and the broker gave all the indentures to Zhao Yuanzhen.

Zhao Yuanzhen looked at it carefully. These coins cost 180 taels each, so she had to take a closer look.

Seeing that there was no problem, I let them pack their belongings.

"By the way, does your brokerage have a carriage? I came here on horseback. Please find a carriage to take these girls to my house."

"Yes, I will arrange a carriage right away. Where is the Madam's house?"

"Go out from the east gate and walk east for about half an hour to Zhangjia Village. There are no other villages along the way. When you enter the village, ask for Zhang Xinbaijia and you will find it."

"Yes, ma'am, I'll prepare the carriage and take it to you."

"Well, I also want to buy a shop. Are there any good shops for sale recently?"

"Where do you want to buy a shop?"

"The areas near Rendian Street and Yulin Lane are fine. If there are no shops there, the area near Diertangshui Lane where I bought a shop before is also fine."

"Well, wait a moment, I'll check it out."

"Ah."

The broker first ordered a carriage to be prepared to send the girls back, and then he took the house account book to search.

"Madam, there are about five shops. Shall we go to another dental clinic first, and then go to the shops?"

"Okay, let's go."

Following the broker, I rode on horseback to Rendian Street first.

I went to another dental clinic first.

"Good job, Shopkeeper Dai. I'll bring Madam Zhang here to select some young maids. We want them to be well-behaved, 15 or 6 years old, and clean and neat."

"Hey, okay, you guys go wait in the hall now, I'll bring someone over."

The broker took Zhao Yuanzhen to the lobby with ease and served her tea.

After about ten minutes, the shopkeeper Dai came with a group of maids.

39 in total.

"Mrs. Zhang, this is the new instruction, please take a look."

"Well, keep your head up, put your hands out, and smile a little."

I picked 22 and made a total of 50.

"That's all. Let's settle the accounts."

"Madam, this literate maid is 10 taels of silver each, a total of 220."

"Okay, let's sign the contract."

He paid the money and bought the indentures of the little girls.

"Boss, you have to find a carriage to help me send these 22 people back. Is that okay?"

"Of course, no problem. Where is your house?"

"Send someone to our dental office and tell them to wait for you to go with them. They haven't left yet. We have some too, and we want to go with you."

"Okay, I'll do it right away."

"Well, thank you very much, boss. I will leave first."

"Okay, Madam, take care."

"Mrs. Zhang, let's go check out the shop."

"Well, you lead the way."

"OK, all right."

The shop was not far away. After walking for about ten minutes, I arrived at the first shop. This shop had two floors, but it was relatively small, about 200 square meters.

Zhao Yuanzhen wanted a bigger one.

Continue watching.

The fourth store is located north of the intersection of Rendian Street and Yulin Lane.

This is also a two-story house with a main area of ​​more than 400 square meters. It seems to have been an inn before and has many rooms.

Moreover, on the first floor near the backyard, an extended lobby was built that was connected to the front floor. It is probably used for dining and is over 200 square meters.

Zhao Yuanzhen really liked this layout and lobby. She had originally thought that if it was an independent second floor, she would also build a lobby on the first floor facing the backyard as a leisure and entertainment hall, just like the bathing centers in the Northeast, which have a leisure and entertainment hall.

But in winter, this project would probably have to wait for about 3 months. Unexpectedly, it is available now.

God help me!