The shopkeeper said sheepishly: "Your mother's illness requires more than ten taels of silver to cure her." You are a child. With so much money, can’t I sell you? "
Xiao Shaofei was so reprimanded and ridiculed by the shopkeeper that he left the drug store empty-handed.
Xihai, a metropolis in the North, is exceptionally gorgeous and prosperous. However, Xiao Shaofei stood on the bustling street with people coming and going, without any friends and penniless...
At this time, Xiao Shaofei was about to cry but had no tears. He was desperate and had no way to call for help. His calls to heaven and earth were unanswered, and the earth and earth were not working...
How to save my mother from the disease? If possible, ask him to do anything.
For some reason, the sarcastic face and words of the drugstore shopkeeper appeared in Xiao Shaofei's mind from time to time.
"How can we pay back the medicine? Can't we sell you?" The shopkeeper's words rang in Xiao Shaofei's mind again.
Xiao Shaofei has heard his father tell the story of the ancient adopted daughter who sold her body to bury her father since she was a child. At this time, Xiao Shaofei came up with the idea of selling herself to save her mother.
So he went to the market and put a straw in his head that symbolized selling himself.
In the bustling market, there are people selling grain and cloth, people selling donkeys and horses, and people killing pigs and sheep. Chickens crow and dogs jump, shouting. The most lively place is of course the place where people are trafficked: Xiao Shaofei's Prostitution scene.
There were onlookers on three floors inside and three floors outside, and it was packed to the brim.
When the crowd learned how the mother and son came from Qiu County to Xihai to seek refuge with Master Pei Zhong, and learned the truth that Master Pei had died of illness, his mother unfortunately fell ill, had no money for medical treatment, and was dying. They were forced to have no choice but to sell their lives to save their mother. , sympathy and compassion arise spontaneously.
Alas, for such a weak child to have to bear such misfortunes, how can it not make people feel sad and shed tears?
A young woman with a kind face and kind eyes took out a handful of copper coins from her bag, gently placed them in front of Xiao Shaofei, and left quietly.
As a result, people donated their money one after another, or put a few copper coins into Xiao Shaofei's hands, or put them in front of him. An old woman was short of money, so she handed a basket of eggs that she was going to sell to Xiao Shaofei. She touched Xiao Shaofei's hair, her eyes were red, and she choked with sobs and said, "Take this and give it to your mother." Replenish your health..."
But Xiao Shaofei waved his hands repeatedly and said gratefully: "Dear benefactors, sisters, wives, uncles and aunts, thank you for your kind intentions. However, I want to sell myself to save my mother, not beg! I can't accept you. charity. My father said that starving to death is a small matter but being dishonest is a big deal. Sisters, wives, uncles and aunts..."
An uncle helped Xiao Shaofei collect the money donated by people and said, "Child, look, is this money enough for your mother to get medicine? Maybe you won't have to sell yourself."
"Yes, yes!" Everyone agreed.
However, the uncle helped Xiao Shaofei count and found that the money was only equivalent to one tael of silver, which was only one-tenth of the cost of 10 taels of medicine.
At this time, a middle-aged man with a fat body and a big belly came over waving a folding fan.
An acquaintance whispered: "Boss Wang, he is Boss Wang of Xihai Pawnshop."
As a result, people subconsciously opened a way for Boss Wang.
Boss Wang walked slowly and leisurely in front of Xiao Shaofei as if there was no one around. He first looked at the grass mark on his head, and then looked at Xiao Shaofei carefully as if he were looking at a little pony. .
After a long time, Boss Wang said: "I just opened a branch and need manpower. Can you do it?"
"Yes, yes!" Xiao Shaofei said hurriedly: "I can make tea, serve food, fetch water, sweep the floor, and make beds and quilts. By the way, I can also beat your back, wash your feet, and carry a urinal." "
Boss Wang nodded, "How much do you want?"
"Twelve taels."
"What? Twelve?" Boss Wang suddenly jumped up as if a nail had pierced his feet: "Little guy, are you a Jie Dao? You know, a small pony with an upright body can also But it’s only worth a little more than a tael of silver!”
The old man who helped Xiao Shaofei said: "But he is a human being, how can you compare him with an animal?"
Boss Wang didn't care, "It's very rare to find a good horse these days, but there are plenty of people with two legs!" He closed the folding fan with a "snap", "Little guy, can eight taels of silver be enough? Otherwise, I’m leaving now!”
Xiao Shaofei said in embarrassment: "Boss Wang, I don't know if I am worth ten taels of silver. However, the shopkeeper of the medicine shop said that my mother's illness cannot be cured without ten taels of silver, so..."
Boss Wang thought about it again and again, and hesitantly said: "Well...well, I also see that your child is very filial, so I...but you have to think carefully that once you sell yourself, you will be a slave for the rest of your life."
Xiao Shaofei nodded and whispered: "As long as my mother's disease can be cured, I am willing."
"Okay then, you and I will find a matchmaker and sign a deed of sale."
"A Fei! Wait!" Xiao Shaofei was about to follow Boss Wang out when he suddenly heard someone calling his name.
In Xihai, Xiao Shaofei didn't even have a distant relative. How could anyone know his name? He turned his head in response and saw a boy slightly older than him dragging a man and squeezing in through the crowd.
Ah, it's Lei Fei, the boy who delivers firewood to the inn.
Lei Fei pulled the adult to Xiao Shaofei and said, "Dad, this is the Shaofei I told you. It is with his help that the innkeeper continues to ask for our wildfirewood."
Uncle Lei looked at the grass mark on Xiao Shaofei's head and said in surprise: "Son, it turns out you really want to sell yourself?"
Xiao Shaofei nodded and said softly: "My grandma's illness is getting worse and worse, and the money we brought has been spent, so..."
Boss Wang interjected: "We have already negotiated his worth, and he is mine."
Uncle Lei ignored him and continued to say to Xiao Shaofei: "My child, have you ever thought about it? After you sell yourself into a slave, even if you have money to buy medicine, who will take care of your mother? You lost your father in your early years, and you have been living with your mother since you were a child. We depend on each other for life and never leave. If we are suddenly separated from each other and our flesh and blood are separated, can your mother be able to bear this blow? Maybe..."
Xiao Shaofei was stunned, horrified, and instantly broke into a cold sweat. He burst into tears with a loud "Wow", plopped down on his knees in front of Uncle Lei, hugged his legs, and choked up and said: "If I don't sell myself, I won't have the money to pay for my mother's medical treatment; if it's true, I am a slave, and my mother who is seriously ill has no one to take care of me...Uncle Lei, please show me a clear way."
Seeing Xiao Shaofei's heartbroken look, Uncle Lei couldn't help but burst into tears. He pulled up Xiao Shaofei and said: "My child, your sincere filial piety alone is enough to move the world and inspire ghosts and gods. Look, aren't there so many strangers who have extended a helping hand to you? So, there is a way.”
Uncle Lei clasped his fists and bowed to Boss Wang: "This child's surname is Zhang and his name is Shaofei. He is originally from Qiu County. He lost his father when he was young and his life experience was extremely unfortunate. However, his heart is very kind. When he was in trouble, Sometimes, we can't forget to try our best to help others. So, I want to take him away and try to help him tide over the difficulties."
Boss Wang stared and said, "What's going on with you? How can you steal my business!"
"I'm not trying to steal your business. First of all, I'm from the countryside and my family doesn't have overnight food. How can I afford people? Secondly, even if I could afford it, I wouldn't do such a shameful thing."
Boss Wang said: "He is willing to sell, and I am willing to buy. How can it be a shame? Besides, he sold himself to treat his mother's illness. Therefore, if I buy him, it is equivalent to saving his mother's life."
Xiao Shaofei also said: "Yes, Uncle Lei, if there is not enough medical expenses, my mother, she, she..."
Uncle Lei patiently enlightened and said: "Don't worry, kid, there won't be any delay in treating your mother. The medicine shop owner said that curing your mother's disease requires a lot of money. However, it doesn't mean that you can spend so much money all at once. Money! You have to take medicine one at a time. Therefore, the money people give you is enough to pay for the medicine for a period of time. You two will move from the inn to our village and settle down temporarily. We will slowly figure out a way. Besides, , your mother suddenly became ill because she suddenly lost her relatives and friends, and was left without any relatives or home in the West Sea, so she got sick in a panic. Once your life stabilizes, I believe your mother's illness will slowly get better. "
When Xiao Shaofei heard what Uncle Lei said, it was like seeing light in the dark night, and seeing hope in despair. He turned around, bowed deeply to Boss Wang, and said sheepishly: "Boss Wang, I'm sorry, I..."
Uncle Lei also said: "Boss Wang, I'm sorry for wasting your time. If you really need manpower urgently, I can let my son be your apprentice."
Boss Wang glanced at Lei Fei, who had a silly smile on his face, and said, "It's just a 250-year-old boy. Even if you give me money, I don't want him!" After that, he flicked his sleeves and walked away.
Uncle Lei and Lei Fei followed Xiao Shaofei to the inn, helped Wang Shaoxiang onto the donkey, and carried her to Baiyun Mountain Village outside Xihai City.
Uncle Lei took Xiao Shaofei and his son home. Aunt Lei packed up the room that had been vacant after her daughter got married a few years ago and gave it to Wang Shaoxiang. Xiao Shaofei and Lei Fei lived in the same room.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Xiao Shaofei saw Lei Fei put down his bowls and chopsticks, so he picked up the straw gun, hemp rope and ax at the corner of the door, then went up and asked: "Brother Lei Fei, are you going into the mountain to collect firewood?" ah?"
When Lei Fei asked, he stopped, looked at Xiao Shaofei and nodded, "Yeah."
When Xiao Shaofei saw that Lei Fei was going to the mountains to collect firewood, he suddenly became interested and shouted that he and Lei Fei would go to the mountains to collect firewood.
When Uncle Lei saw that Xiao Shaofei insisted on going to the mountains to collect firewood with Lei Fei, he couldn't bear to refuse his request. He thought to himself: Wang Shaoxiang has his wife to take care of him at home, and Fei'er and Xiao Shaofei are so in love, and they have a companion in the mountains. …
