[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful":3,"chapter-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Even a Gentleman Must Be Careful",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2268675,4429,"Chapter 55: Fifty-Five: A Blessing Weighing Only Five Dou of Rice (Boldly Asking for Votes!)","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>Fifty-Five: A Blessing Weighing Only Five Dou of Rice (Boldly Asking for Votes!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slaves also have hierarchies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undoubtedly, it’s determined by their value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young maids just summoned to the front hall each had their own rooms—even the Kunlun slaves did, because Kunlun slaves were expensive too, and if one happened to know how to swim or some other skill, they were worth more than a “half-fine,” and losing one would make Li the shopkeeper ache for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of the above were the privileges of high-class slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the open backyard, dirty iron cages were either piled on the ground or stacked atop one another, filling over half the courtyard path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only here did Ouyang Rong see the cold brutality behind the glittering facade of Jin Xiao Kou Horse Market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the iron cages were ordinary slaves—old, weak, sick, or injured; some missing arms or legs, others with grotesque, ugly faces, or plagued by severe illness—all strange foreign faces Ouyang Rong couldn’t even identify fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder they were what the customers had left behind; before being shipped off to some unknown place to squeeze out their last bit of usefulness, Jin Xiao Kou Horse Market gave Ouyang Rong, its final customer, a seasonal clearance sale:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each one cost less than two hundred cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’d be getting ripped off. You’d be getting cheated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was in this environment that Ouyang Rong saw “her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cage was shoved to the edge, closest to the courtyard’s open space—one of the most marginal positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant the eaves above the corridor couldn’t shield her tiny home; last night’s heavy rain had only just stopped by morning, and the morning sun, just rising from the east, slanted through the eaves—but didn’t reach her soaked body. Instead, water dripping from the eaves fell straight onto her long hair. She didn’t move, as if numb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until a tall figure stepped directly from the morning sun into this damp, dark shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Squeak~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of the iron cage scraping the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong felt the iron cage in his hands wasn’t heavy, even with a girl inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When dragged into the center of the courtyard under the sunlight, she finally looked up in fright, like a startled rabbit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she quickly buried her face again, Ouyang Rong still caught a glimpse of her small face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was thanks to the eaves’ rainwater, which had washed her face and hair relatively clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, under the warm sunlight, Ouyang Rong saw her more clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t been mistaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong turned to look at the junior clerk trailing behind him; the clerk’s expression was odd, and he hurriedly nodded in reply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, if it’s this little female slave… not two hundred cash—fifty cash should be enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifty cash?” Ouyang Rong couldn’t help asking: “Are you sure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Absolutely!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior clerk’s answer was firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his gaze toward Ouyang Rong grew even stranger, and Ouyang Rong looked down at the slave in the cage under the sun—then his own gaze toward the clerk turned equally odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them might as well have both wandered into the Eastern Forest Temple’s destitute relief center, staring at each other with identical expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior clerk, fearing he’d change his mind, hurriedly added: “If you think it’s too expensive, we can go lower—even forty cash wouldn’t be out of the question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was the price dropping further?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong lowered his head, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior clerk quietly studied his expression, speaking calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This little female slave… the shopkeeper planned to ship her to some remote southern villages, to see if any private cults need her for sacrifice…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you perform human sacrifice? Those are illicit rites, deceiving the people—strictly forbidden by the authorities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong frowned, interrupting, then paused and pointed at the cage seriously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll take her. Fifty cash—no discount needed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he took another discount, he feared his conscience would hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong added sternly: “But Jin Xiao Kou Horse Market must never engage in such acts that encourage illicit rites again—or wait for the government office runners to shut you down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, right!” The junior clerk nodded quickly, smiling awkwardly. “It’s just… too unusual. Aside from that use, we couldn’t think of anything else for her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong opened his mouth, then said nothing more. He didn’t delay—he immediately summoned Zhen Shi, the half-fine, and the stern-faced Li Yan to the backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young county magistrate pointed at the small iron cage, lowering his head and covering his mouth with a fist:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, cough… that one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he uttered this embarrassing line than Ouyang Rong felt the entire world seemed to fall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan, who had been slightly annoyed moments ago, now wore an expression full of bewildered complexity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Zhen Shi and the half-fine, their eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Liu Ashan’s gaze shifted from initial astonishment to… growing reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong stared at them, seriously asking: “Why are you all looking at me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan turned to Zhen Shi and sighed: “Madam, you were right—your nephew’s taste is… just a little bit too high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi pointed at the little female slave in the cage, incredulous: “Why would my nephew buy such a slave? That white hair—is she an old crone or a girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan immediately clarified: “She’s a girl, definitely a girl—her teeth show she’s barely past puberty, Madam, no need to worry. Maybe she has premature graying, haha—but she’s perfectly healthy, just thin. And she eats little, saves grain, can do more work… Young Master, feel free to take her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The big merchant grinned, revealing a row of white teeth—but compared to the clean, delicate skin of the girl’s neck washed by rain, his skin looked yellow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi glared at him. “You’re happy to sell this ill-omened thing to my nephew!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Absolutely not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan waved his hand, solemnly stating:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My family has been in the horse and slave trade for generations—we’ve never seen a white-haired barbarian girl like this before. Madam, think: rarity commands value. Ordinary people don’t know how to appreciate… Your nephew has the eye of a connoisseur!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi’s face remained expressionless. “But Li the shopkeeper is selling her for only fifty cash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan didn’t blush or flinch. “Friendship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in the silk skirt grew more uneasy by the second, her right eyelid twitching violently. She gritted her teeth: “Where did your shop even find this… treasure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan had planned to brush it off, but Ouyang Rong’s curious gaze pinned him. The rules of trade required full disclosure—so the honorable big merchant could only sigh and shrug:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A friend from Da Shi country brought him this cargo. He traveled farther west than Da Shi, and by chance captured a group of barbarians—blonde hair, blue eyes. He thought these slaves could fetch a fortune in the Great Zhou Empire, so he shipped them ten thousand miles via the maritime barbarian route to Guangzhou. Then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s it. The business didn’t go well. Later, heading north, he was robbed by mountain bandits who took all his goods. He gave me this little girl as a gift, took some travel money, and returned to Da Shi—he looks like he’ll never do this trade again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sighed, then shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This little girl was born to one of those pregnant barbarian women. By rights, she should’ve had blonde hair too—but strangely, I don’t know what kind of blood she carries, yet she grew up with white… he quickly corrected himself—“silver hair? A pity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi was speechless, cutting straight to the point: “The bandits avoided this white-haired barbarian during the robbery, right? They took everything else back to their mountain hideout—but didn’t dare touch this ill-omened thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan smiled awkwardly, diplomatically: “Silver-haired barbarian. Silver-haired barbarian. Hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the big merchant also found the silver-haired girl slightly uncanny. Normally, everyone in the backyard avoided her—managers, slaves, even he, the shopkeeper, all disliked and shunned her, unwilling to get too close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the silver-haired girl was tough—she’d survived until today. Though thin as a stick, she’d actually been well-treated by the horse market’s standards. Li Yan sighed inwardly: mainly because Great Zhou’s laws protected slaves’ lives. The market officials overseeing this street checked the slaves’ food and injuries every morning and evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of how grain prices had skyrocketed lately, and how much of that expensive grain this low-class silver-haired girl had consumed, Li Yan felt a pang of pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Li Yan’s story, Ouyang Rong looked down at the bowed head of the girl in the cage, his expression thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The big merchant regained his familiar demeanor, fearing Ouyang Rong might change his mind—he eagerly offered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want her, I’ll have her taken out to wash, then notify the market official to come witness and sign the official market contract.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.” Ouyang Rong didn’t look up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan immediately turned to the junior clerk, who silently left to find the market official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a keychain from a Kunlun slave and unlocked the silver-haired girl’s cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong crouched down and untied the ropes binding her hands. The silver-haired girl kept her face buried in her knees, refusing to look up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her wet little hands were icy. Though spring was deep, they were covered in frostbites—cold as iron door handles in winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young magistrate warmed them with his large, warm hands. “It” shrank back in fright—he let go gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan summoned a coarse labor woman, who pulled the silver-haired girl up and took her to the neighboring laundry room to wash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong turned away, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie, please cover the fifty cash for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi spoke softly and gently: “My nephew, your auntie doesn’t like this one. Today we came to choose maids, not to do charity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The big merchant timely reminded: “You could pay in grain instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi turned her head, expressionless. Li Yan quickly looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong glanced at Liu Ashan, who silently set down his sack of rice and handed it to the approaching Kunlun slave. The dark, sturdy slave weighed it, opened the sack to inspect, then reported honestly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixty jin. Five dou of rice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded. “At today’s noon market rice price, it’s slightly more. But we still need to split the cost of the market official’s contract fee…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He calculated quickly, then took two copper coins from the Kunlun slave and handed them over: “Two cash change—returned to you, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong took them casually, then suddenly asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you all think… she’s ugly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan spoke first: “Quite distinctive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ashan nodded: “Master is kind-hearted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The half-fine muttered under her breath: “Freak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi… said nothing. Her gaze toward her nephew held a quiet, unforgiving sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coarse labor woman brought the silver-haired girl back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the silver-haired girl wore a clean, coarse linen robe—no longer filthy—but her wet hair dripped steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lowered her head, stepped into the sunlight, shivering as if freezing, and was led by the labor woman onto a scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Arab merchant called out loudly and skillfully: “Raise the scale!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As was customary, two Kunlun slaves lifted a hanging scale, one in front and one behind, to weigh the person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Arab merchant glanced over and joked loudly: “How coincidental, Young Master—I weigh sixty, same price as the rice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young county magistrate ignored him, grabbed a towel, walked straight over, stood face to face, and personally dried the silver-haired barbarian girl’s wet, long hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sunlight, every detail of the girl’s appearance was laid bare:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath her coarse cloth skirt, her slender frame was delicate; her skin, from slender neck to collarbone, was fine and pale as milk, yet blanched from chronic malnutrition;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her silver-white, smooth, straight hair reached her waist, faintly golden in the sunlight;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her small nose was high and upturned, her eye sockets slightly deep, her facial contours profound yet softer and smoother than those of a typical western Hu woman; her facial bones were exquisitely small, her eyes bright and teeth white, her pink lips now slightly gray from the cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially her large eyes, with misty gray-blue pupils, now gazed softly through a veil of moisture at the calm man carefully drying her hair in the sunlight…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver-haired barbarian girl looked, in every way, like a delicate, noble white-haired loli, a true beauty in the making.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is she pretty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I traded a sack of rice for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you, Elder Yong, for your first support! Thank you, Chaoyun Heng Ai, Zui Han Qian Zhou, Mo Quan, Tianji Qingkuang Haoyue Kong, Yu Zhuan Shiqing Qianjiang Wu for your generous donations! Many others not listed, but all noted in my little book… Thank you all for your support since the novel’s launch—I’m hugging you all! And now, with shameless boldness, I beg for votes—they truly matter for this new book! (pouts)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2180,"2026-06-19T21:28:25.445Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6dc40bba0350d95dfeb0f004af7ae3617a42147fc625e9c3e8695b2f3463cf3f","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-56","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-54",864,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feven-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-cover.jpg"]