After Transmigrating Into An Idiot - Chapter 11

Hearing Song Jianshuang say this, Qiu the Lame’s heart rose and fell, and he could not help feeling secretly annoyed.

So what if that person had come? He had taken the benefits, yes, but he had also raised Qiu Liang for eighteen years according to the agreement. This child was almost nineteen now, and that person still had not appeared. It was that person who had failed to keep the promise.

What did he have to be afraid of?

After calming down, Qiu the Lame asked uncertainly, “Miss Song means…”

Song Jianshuang spoke plainly. “I only have a few dozen taels of silver left with me. It’s impossible for me to lend all of it to Uncle Qiu. But if I can buy an honest and obedient maid to help me manage household chores, then that is something I can consider.”

Qiu the Lame looked at Song Jianshuang and pretended to be troubled. “Although Liang girl is foolish, she is still my daughter. For generations, our ancestors have never done something like selling a daughter.”

Of course, these words were only meant to deceive Song Jianshuang. If Miss Song did not lend him silver tonight, then tomorrow he would sell Qiu Liang.

Originally, he had wanted to find Qiu Liang a household that did not lack food or drink and marry her over. Carpenter Zhao’s two taels of betrothal silver could still be considered decent, and during festivals, they could receive some gifts from their son-in-law. That was better than getting nothing.

But now circumstances were stronger than people. What use were two taels of silver? He had already made the worst plan. If they truly could not gather enough silver, then they could only sell Qiu Liang to one of those filthy places.

Compared to his biological son, what was there to be reluctant about when it came to a fool who was not related to him by blood?

Qiu the Lame pondered inwardly and began testing Song Jianshuang’s bottom line. Since she had to be sold no matter what, of course it was best to sell her for as much as possible.

Song Jianshuang was not the least bit dragging things out. She said directly, “Uncle Qiu is an elder, so I’ll speak plainly. If you agree to sell Qiu Liang to me as a maid, you don’t need to return the ten taels of silver from earlier, and I will add another forty taels. Otherwise, please forgive this junior for being unable to help.”

She had handed over those ten taels at that moment precisely to wait for this moment.

Since Qiu Liang liked pretending to be stupid, then she could be stupid and sold to her.

Once the deed of sale was in hand, Song Jianshuang could take her wherever she wished. Why worry that this fool would not follow her back to the capital?

Qiu the Lame’s brows furrowed. Unwilling to give up, he said, “Liang girl has always been obedient and honest.”

Song Jianshuang glanced at Qiu Liang and said without mercy, “She is a fool.”

Qiu the Lame choked. “Liang girl has some strength. She can do any kind of work.”

“Not only is she foolish, she is also mute.”

“Liang girl is my biological daughter, after all. How could I bear to part with her?”

“For someone foolish and mute like her, you won’t get this price once you step outside.”

Qiu Liang: “…”

Were these two being polite? Could they bargain somewhere away from her? She was a person!

Obviously, Qiu the Lame did not treat her like one. He continued striving for more. “Add fifty taels. Otherwise, even if I have to smash pots and sell iron, I won’t sell her.”

Since this was a one-time sale, of course he had to do his best to sell her for a higher price.

Song Jianshuang was also rather inhuman. She remained unmoved. “Forty taels. Otherwise, Uncle Qiu should find someone else.”

Qiu the Lame tightened his grip on his crutch. There was no room for negotiation.

Although Miss Song was cold and unfeeling, there was one point she had not said wrong. Qiu Liang was a fool, after all, and she could not speak. If he sold her elsewhere, she might not fetch this price.

He let out a long sigh, regretting that he had not managed to fight for a few more taels, but he could only accept this result.

Qiu the Lame looked at Qiu Liang and blinked hard. He truly could not squeeze out any tears, so he could only put on a face full of pain and say, “Liang girl, from now on, follow Miss Song properly. Miss Song is beautiful and kind-hearted. She won’t let you go hungry or thirsty. When Father has silver in the future, I’ll redeem you back.”

Qiu Liang sneered inwardly. She truly wanted to slap him across the face. Even now, he was still putting on an act for Song Jianshuang. The original owner had been a fool. What could she understand?

Fortunately, Qiu Liang was not foolish.

But Qiu Liang did not plan to refuse. First, she was afraid Song Jianshuang would expose the truth that she had been pretending to be stupid and had silver on her.

Second, compared to being sold to people from the gambling house, Song Jianshuang was the better choice. However, being sold as a maid and falling into slave status from then on was not appropriate either. What she wanted was to be free.

Qiu Liang secretly thought that if all else failed, she would find an opportunity to run away. Could Song Jianshuang really chase her across the whole world?

Seeing that Qiu the Lame had agreed, Song Jianshuang turned to fetch paper, brush, and red ink paste. She quickly wrote out the deed of sale, her movements flowing smoothly, as if she had rehearsed it in advance.

Qiu the Lame did not know many characters, but he could still write his own name.

He signed his name and pressed down his fingerprint, then looked at Song Jianshuang. The meaning was clear: it was time to give the silver.

Song Jianshuang unhurriedly took out twenty taels of silver and said, “Once we go to the government office tomorrow and have the seal stamped, I will naturally present the remaining twenty taels.”

That way, there would be no mistakes.

Qiu the Lame, however, was somewhat anxious. “I’ll go fetch Liang girl’s household registration right now. In any case, the deed of sale has already been signed. Tomorrow, Miss Song only needs to make a trip to the government office and have her changed to slave status.”

He truly feared those people from the gambling house. What if they could not wait for the silver and chopped off his younger son’s remaining hand and feet? Wouldn’t all of this have been for nothing?

Song Jianshuang appeared helpless. “That works too. Then I’ll have to trouble Uncle Qiu to make the trip.”

Qiu Liang: “…” She truly wanted to thank them.

These two old foxes had sold her without discussing it with her, and they still did not forget to play mind games here.

Qiu Liang really wanted to open her mouth and speak, but she was afraid Qiu the Lame would come back quickly and cause more trouble, so she could only condemn Song Jianshuang with her eyes.

Song Jianshuang slowly put away the deed of sale. Seeing Qiu Liang staring at her pitifully, she could not help curving her lips. “Once your commoner registration is changed to slave status, Miss Qiu will be my servant. If you dare run away privately, you will be a criminal slave. I don’t have time to hunt down a criminal slave, but I’m not short on silver. As long as I greet the authorities from time to time, that criminal slave will have to live her whole life in fear, hiding everywhere. Once caught, there will be no good end for her. Even being beaten to death with rods would not be excessive.”

As if feeling this was not enough, she added, “In the future, if Miss Qiu wants to travel far, you will need your household registration to get a travel pass from the government office. Otherwise, even if you flee privately, you won’t be able to leave the prefecture. Of course, if you behave and serve me attentively, I would not mind returning your registration to you. It is even possible that I might spend some silver to help you change back to commoner status.”

Qiu Liang: “…” Was this woman a demon?

It would be strange if she believed the pie Song Jianshuang was drawing for her. “Serve me attentively,” she said. What a beautiful thought.

Qiu the Lame returned very quickly. This time, Song Jianshuang handed over the silver readily too.

With one deed of sale, Qiu Liang and the Qiu family were clear of each other from then on.

After closing the door, Song Jianshuang folded the deed of sale and household registration, tucked them away on her person, and leisurely ordered, “Pour me a cup of water.”

Qiu Liang no longer wanted to endure it. “Which one of us do you think is stronger?”

She was truly afraid that she might lose control, pick up a brick, knock this woman unconscious, then directly snatch the deed of sale and household registration and leave.

Song Jianshuang stared fixedly at her, then suddenly laughed. “Miss Qiu doesn’t think I came to Song Family Village alone, does she? Believe it or not, before you could rob and murder me, my guards would send you off with a single sword strike.”

She was clearly smiling, but the coldness and scrutiny in her eyes carried a force of their own, as if thousands of soldiers and horses were hidden behind her. She was utterly confident.

Qiu Liang was speechless. There was really no need to think of her as that vicious and desperate. Robbing and murdering? She truly had never thought of that. At most, she had only wanted to run.

Besides, matters that could be calmly discussed did not require violence.

“Miss Song, I imagine you don’t need a disobedient maid either. Why don’t we discuss a deal? Name your price. I’ll redeem myself.”

Song Jianshuang smiled even more brightly. She stretched out her right hand and spread her five fingers. “Easy enough. This amount.”

Qiu Liang painfully took out the one-hundred-tael banknote. This woman really knew how to calculate. From start to finish, not even fifteen minutes had passed, yet with money going in and out, she had already earned ten taels.

Song Jianshuang accepted the banknote and looked at Qiu Liang leisurely.

Qiu Liang inexplicably felt a chill down her back. Why did she keep having an ominous feeling?

“Miss Song, if you have something to say, hurry up and say it. After you’re done, give me fifty taels in change and return the deed of sale and household registration to me.”

“Miss Qiu thinks too little of herself. A mere fifty taels can’t even buy a strand of your hair. What I meant was five thousand taels. Subtracting this one hundred taels, you still owe four thousand nine hundred taels.”

Song Jianshuang’s voice was gentle, her tone soft and slow, and her face was calm and breezy, as if she were saying something ordinary.

“You’re insane! Five thousand taels… Why don’t you just go rob someone?” Qiu Liang was dumbfounded. This woman must have gone mad thinking about silver.

Song Jianshuang smiled again. “Miss Qiu, don’t belittle yourself. In my eyes, you are worth ten thousand gold. Five thousand taels is already on account of our acquaintance. After all, rare goods are worth hoarding.”

Qiu Liang stood there woodenly.

To hell with rare goods worth hoarding.

You’re the goods. Your whole family is full of scam goods.