Chapter 87: Hua Po

"To think there really is such a thing as a pie falling from the sky!"

"Can we draw up a written agreement?"

"Of course."

Zhao shi stood to one side, her eyes darting about. She thick-skinnedly stepped forward, her face full of fawning smiles: "That... Chi Family girl, our family also wants to switch to growing medicinal herbs."

"Oh." Chi Nan Yi merely nodded casually: "Your family wants to grow them — what does that have to do with me?"

"But... don't you need seeds for that?"

"You want seeds too?"

Hearing this, Zhao shi nodded repeatedly.

"Go out, turn right, and keep walking straight — that's the road to town. You can buy every kind of seed in town."

"You!"

Chi Nan Yi said with a smile: "I forgot to mention one thing — I'll take anyone's licorice, but yours, I won't take."

Zhao shi was so furious she felt smoke pouring from her seven orifices. She glared fiercely at Chi Nan Yi and turned to leave.

"Those who want to grow medicinal herbs, come over and leave your names. When spring arrives next year, I'll give you the seeds."

Chi Nan Yi looked at the full page of names in her hand, her face brimming with smiles.

Leading the whole village to prosperity could be considered a good deed — the space should be about to upgrade soon!

After the crowd dispersed, Fang Juan trotted forward and said with a smile: "Boss!"

"What is it?" Seeing the fawning smile on Fang Juan's face, Chi Nan Yi's eyebrow twitched.

"Our family would like to get some seeds too."

"Fine."

"There's one more thing." Fang Juan rubbed her hands together: "I was wondering if you still need people to roll pills and pound medicine? I have three sons at home — though they're a bit younger than my daughter, they're all handy at work. I was thinking of sending all three sons over to work for your family. What do you think?"

"I don't need that many people. If they're younger than your daughter, they must be only about ten or so. They're too young — don't send them to work."

"Not young at all, they can do anything. Besides pounding medicine, they can sweep and clean too." Fang Juan's eyes darted about: "Boss, the newly built house is so large, you'll certainly need some people to clean. My three sons are all quite good." Fang Juan praised her three lazy sons to the skies — anyone who didn't know better would think each one was incredibly diligent.

"If I need people when the time comes, I'll let you know."

"Don't say that — let's settle it right now, that'd be much better." Fang Juan pointed at the brush and ink on the table: "Write up an agreement now, and I'll take it with me."

Chi Nan Yi frowned deeply and said in a low voice: "Aunt Fang, whether I need people and when I need them, I'll judge for myself. I don't need you pointing fingers here."

Hearing her unfriendly tone, the smile on Fang Juan's face stiffened.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's me being too anxious." Fang Juan said sheepishly: "Then you carry on — I'll head back first."

Fang Juan walked out of the Chi Family home and muttered to herself: "Pah! So what if you've got a bit of silver? What are you putting on airs for? Do you really think you're some grand young lady?"

Chi Huai Qian walked up behind Chi Nan Yi and said softly: "Little sister, these people from the Lin Family absolutely cannot be used."

"What is it, Third Brother?"

"I'm not sure about that girl from the Lin Family, but their three sons are probably lazier than pigs. The Lin Family has such a large plot of land, and it's all worked by their daughter alone. The three sons idle about doing nothing — they're not cut out for work."

"Alright, I understand." Fang Juan had praised her own sons to the skies, and Chi Nan Yi had sensed something amiss: "According to what Third Brother says, the Lin Family's daughter is a good one?"

"Well..." Chi Huai Qian scratched his head: "I'm not too clear on that either."

She hadn't been in this village for long and didn't know each household well. Once the house was built, she would indeed need some servants. Rather than looking for them in the village, it would be better to buy some servants and bring them back — then, holding their contracts, she could use them with more peace of mind. The shop in town would also need staff once it opened.

Having made up her mind, Chi Nan Yi planned to go to town another day and look up a human trader.

Early the next morning, Chi Nan Yi went to town. After a few simple inquiries, she found the most renowned human trader in town — Hua Po.

"Please come in, honored guest." Hua Po stepped forward with a beaming smile and said: "What kind of servant would you like? You've certainly come to the right person — whatever you want, Hua Po here has it."

When Chi Nan Yi saw Hua Po, she couldn't help but startle.

She had assumed someone with such a name would be quite old, dressed and adorned in a gaudy and flamboyant manner. She never expected a young woman in plain clothes with an innocent-looking appearance.

The contrast was considerable, to say the least.

"Honored guest, why are you looking at me like that?" Hua Po covered her mouth and said: "I'm not for sale, you know."

Chi Nan Yi smiled: "Nothing — it's just that you're a bit different from what I imagined."

"Is that so?" Hua Po's eyes were seductive as silk as she looked at Chi Nan Yi, a trace of amusement in her gaze. She suddenly leaned closer, and a wisp of fragrance reached Chi Nan Yi's nose: "What kind of person does the honored guest think I am?"

In the instant she drew near, a flicker of something unusual flashed through Chi Nan Yi's eyes.

Charm arts.

A human trader who actually knew charm arts? Moreover, the fragrance she wore was no ordinary spice.

Chi Nan Yi looked straight into her eyes and said with a smile: "How would I know what kind of person you are? But I imagine Hua Po has the people I want here."

Seeing her calm and composed demeanor, a faint trace of surprise flashed through Hua Po's eyes.

She was actually unaffected by the charm arts.

Her gaze toward Chi Nan Yi now carried a hint of probing — was she simply too naive, or was it that... the charm arts truly had no effect on her?

"Please tell me in detail, honored guest."

"Someone like Hua Po would do."

"Like me?" Hua Po rested her cheek on her hand and said with a smile: "Then I'm even more confused."

"Clever, sharp, harmless-looking, but ruthless enough to kill when pushed."

Hua Po's expression paused, and she sat up straight: "If you say I'm clever and sharp, I'll accept that. But calling me ruthless and cruel — I can't agree to that. I'm a human trader, so naturally my heart can't be soft as mush."

Chi Nan Yi nodded indifferently: "Does Hua Po have the kind of servant I'm looking for here?"

"Of course I do — I told you, whatever you want, I have it here." She clapped her hands, and over a dozen people walked out from behind the screen.

"These girls are all skilled in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting — clever and talented. What do you think?"

Seeing this, Chi Nan Yi said with a smile: "I'm looking for servants — the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting aren't very important to me. Do you have any who know martial arts here?"

"I do." The trailing note of her voice curled in several bends, making every hair on Chi Nan Yi's body stand on end.

It was not her exaggerating; the truth was that this girl wore an innocent, harmless face yet behaved like a brothel woman, which was truly a bit overwhelming.

Before long, several women were brought before Chi Nan Yi.

"How about these? Most of them are children from martial arts academies, skilled in some boxing and kicking. I wonder if you are satisfied, sir?"

Chi Nan Yi nodded: "Very good."

"As long as you are satisfied."

After that, she picked several more rounds of maidservants and manservants who could do rough labor.

Altogether, she picked over thirty people.

Though Hua Po was a bit odd, she was worthy of being the most renowned human trader in town—everyone Chi Nan Yi wanted, she had.

Some were just right, and the prices were very fair too.