Chapter 90 Spring Breeze Pavilion

Ding ding ding!

Chunfeng Deyilou is now open!

"I laugh triumphantly, I laugh triumphantly..." With my legs crossed and humming an off-key song, I sat in the back room with my big belly, looking through the curtain at the bustling activity in the main hall.

After taking over Chunfeng Tower and resting for nearly half a month, Zhao'er added the word "triumphant" after "Chunfeng" with a stroke of her pen, making it Chunfeng Deyi Tower.

"Young master, please come in..."

"Oh dear, what's going on... they've changed careers..."

"You're so mean... don't touch me there!"

Hearing the sweet chatter coming from the front hall, my lips twitched slightly, and I wiped away a cold sweat. This...this is just the same old thing in a new guise! Grinding my teeth, I pulled Zhao'er, who was sitting obediently reading a book to the side, and whispered in his ear, raising my hand and grinding my teeth fiercely, making a killing motion.

Hehe, taking advantage of someone comes at a price.

Zhao'er nodded without any objection as always, then brushed off her robe and went out. Watching her gradually become more upright day by day under my care, I nodded with satisfaction, feeling quite like a daughter of my family who has come of age.

After leaving the back room, Zhao'er walked straight to the counter and whispered something to Yan Zhi, who was sitting behind it.

Rouge nodded, her eyes smiling as she looked at me through the curtain. Then she turned and gave me a wink, and the hall immediately became lively.

"Sister Rouge, we need two more jars of wine for this table!" Zi Yan said sweetly as the guest at the east table held her hand.

"Young master, you look so wealthy! Would you like to try one of our signature dishes..." Qiaolan at the west table flirted with him.

These kids are so clever! I almost jumped up and cheered.

"Young master, we're closing now." Rouge swayed gracefully as she saw off the last customer and gestured for Xiao Tao to close the door.

I yawned, rubbed my eyes, and walked out of the back room, supporting my back.

Xiao Tao quickly moved a chair for me to sit down and then gently massaged my back.

"How is it?" I glanced lazily at Rouge.

Rouge stepped forward and handed me the ledger.

I reached out and took it, glancing at it casually, since I couldn't understand it anyway. "How does it compare to the old Chunfeng Pavilion?"

"They are almost identical."

"They're almost the same?" I tapped the table lightly, frowning slightly. "I've been sitting in the back room today and haven't seen any female guests."

"All the guests who came today are regulars."

Does that mean that, in the eyes of outsiders, this place is still a brothel?

I raised my hand and patted my somewhat heavy head. A pair of cool hands touched my temples and gently massaged them, instantly relieving much of my fatigue.

"Sister, have dinner and rest. You must be tired."

I shook my head, still muttering to myself, "How can I get the female guest in?"

"Sister, Baozi is tired."

"Oh, right." I quickly stood up and apologetically patted my stomach.

Zhao'er laughed, and in the candlelight, she was so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

"Young master must be tired too. Dinner is ready." Xianglu looked at Zhao'er with a fascination.

"Yes, yes, please sit down quickly." Qiaolan smiled and reached out to pull Zhao'er.

I laughed; Zhao'er is much more popular than me.

Zhao'er subtly avoided Qiaolan's attempt to pull him away, sat down next to me, and began serving me food.

"Everyone, don't stand there, let's eat and rest together, we'll be busy tomorrow." I smiled and gestured for everyone to sit down.

Since it's a restaurant, the dishes are all ready-made.

"It's rare to not have to work at night, it's really strange," someone said.

"Ha, yeah, it really takes some getting used to..."

"Can't sleep without a man?" Rouge sat down and glanced at everyone sideways.

Everyone fell silent, it seemed Rouge was no ordinary person.

"So what if it's not Chunfeng Pavilion? If we walk down the street, people will still think we're prostitutes." Zi Yan curled her lips and laughed sweetly.

That laughter, however, made my heart ache slightly.

Rouge looked at Ziyan, a hint of anger creeping into her eyes.

"Trust me," I said, raising my hand to stop Rouge from unleashing her fury. I looked at Ziyan, then at the other girls, and said, "Spring Breeze Pavilion is a restaurant, not a brothel."

Zi Yan's smile froze slightly, and she slowly looked away.

"Let's all work together, and our Chunfeng Deyilou will not only be a restaurant, but also the number one restaurant in Danyang!" I stood up and spoke slowly.

Silence.

“We are not lowlifes, we are no less than others. It’s always better to face everything with a smile than with a long face, isn’t it?” I said again, seeing their silence.

I said "we," not "you," because I am one of them.

"Yes, we've always been selling smiles," Qiaolan chuckled softly, her voice tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"Chunfeng Deyilou is the first restaurant in Danyang run by women. This is not shameful, it is even our advantage. But we sell charm, not sex. The smiling service is very good. We sell smiles, but not our bodies. Only when you respect yourself will others respect you. Just stand up straight and have a clear conscience."

Still, silence.

I lowered my head, took a sip of water, and slowly sat down, supporting my back. "Zhao'er, fetch all the indentures for me."

Zhao'er nodded and went back to her room to retrieve the indenture.

Upon hearing this, there was a slight commotion in the hall. Everyone looked at each other, wondering what I was up to.

A moment later, Zhao'er came out carrying a small wooden box and placed it on the table.

I opened the box and pointed to the thick stack of indentures inside. "Come and take your own."

Rouge looked at me with surprise in her eyes.

Everyone looked like they'd seen a ghost.

"Come and get it," I said, pointing.

Everyone looked at each other, hesitating for a long time. Ziyan was the first to step forward and take her indenture. Then everyone else stepped forward one by one to take back their indentures.

"Tear it up, burn it, eat it—do whatever you want with it," I grinned.

Ziyan stared at me blankly for a long time, then lowered her head and slowly tore the indenture in her hand in half, then folded it in half again, tore it in half again, then folded it in half again, tore it in half again, until it was too small to be torn any further. She slowly raised her hand, and with a light flick of her water sleeves, grayish-yellow kraft paper fragments fell to the ground.

She lowered her head slightly, tears streaming down her face.

Qiaolan laughed too, took the candle flame from the side, lit the indenture, and watched it turn to ashes little by little. The firelight was dazzling, making her skin look as white as snow. She let go when it was almost burning her hand, and then stomped on the small patch of ashes on the ground, laughing as she did so, laughing until tears streamed down her face.

I sat quietly, watching everyone laugh and cheer as they destroyed the shackles that bound them.

“From the time I was sold to Chunfeng Brothel at the age of ten, I’ve dreamed of tearing it apart…” Someone spoke softly, and the hall was filled with sobs.

"Yes, I dream about it..."

"Alright, I've said what I needed to say and done what I needed to do. Now you're all free. No one is inferior to anyone else. We're all the same. That's all I have to say. Those who want to stay and help out at the restaurant are welcome. Those who don't want to stay can leave anytime," I said, closing my eyes briefly.

"I have nowhere to go, I want to stay." Qiaolan, with red eyes, slowly walked up and stood behind me.

"Hehe, me too. When I go back, I'll just get sold out by that gambler again." Zi Yan wiped her eyes and walked over as well.

"Where can those who have been sold and abandoned go?"

A dozen or so stayed behind, while the rest hesitated and wanted to go back to their rooms to pack their belongings.

"It's getting dark, let's eat first. Get a good rest tonight. Those who want to leave can leave tomorrow. You can take your clothes, jewelry, and personal savings with you." I was starving, so I took the food Zhao'er handed me and began to wolf it down.

"Let's eat." Rouge sat down and began to eat.