Chapter 101 Security

“Although I have never been to Pingkangfang, I know that every household has to pay taxes to the government every month and also make money for the people behind you. Not to mention that maintaining such a place requires a lot of manpower. Where do you have any money left? Even if you have some, you should save it for future use.”

Hearing these words, which showed that everything was for the women in the brothel, Qi Zhidie felt her heart burning with warmth. She wished she could confess to Li Sanniang on the spot that she was actually a member of the Bad People, and that Shihua Brothel was now a stronghold of the Bad People, where they did intelligence gathering. The Bad People not only didn't ask the women for money for selling themselves, but also gave the brothel a sum of money every month to maintain its expenses.

"I only wanted to help the women. Don't worry about the money. I still have some money to cover my expenses right now. I'll think of something else for the future."

Even if Qi Zhidie wanted to tell Li Sanniang the truth, she couldn't.

Therefore, she said to Li Sanniang with genuine sincerity, "Sanniangzi, there's no need to worry. Before I entered the brothel, I was also a daughter of an official. Since becoming a madam at Shihualou, I have old friends backing me up. Most of the girls in the brothel were sold by their families for a sum of money. Most of them were sold for a few taels of silver when they were seven or eight years old. Not to mention they didn't want to look for their families, even if they really wanted to, they had long forgotten where they came from. Girls don't need to save money for families who don't treat them as family."

As she spoke, Qi Zhidie, in order to further prove her words, took out a light purse from her sleeve, took out a few folded pieces of paper from it, unfolded them, and handed them to Li Sanniang.

"Third Mistress, we do have money, but given our status, we really have nowhere to spend it. To be honest, most of the prostitutes in the brothel are only around for the day, and they make a living by selling their smiles and bodies to please men. We only think about squeezing money out of our customers."

I don't know about other places, but none of the women in Shihualou are stupid. Who would think about love and romance in a brothel?

Which of us sisters hasn't gone through a lot of hardship? Besides money, who can truly treat us well?

So, my lady, rest assured, we have money. We absolutely cannot let you lose money or suffer a loss.”

After Qi Zhidie's explanation, Li Sanniang looked at the few silver notes in her hand. The lowest denomination of a single note was one hundred taels, so these notes must have been worth five or six hundred taels of silver.

Li San Niang finally understood that the women of Shi Hua Lou were not short of money; what they lacked was someone who would treat them as human beings and be willing to lend a helping hand.

Li San Niang nodded, folded the silver notes, and handed them back to Qi Zhi Die. Qi Zhi Die wanted to take the silver notes back, but Li San Niang insisted on pressing her hand. "The money that Madam Qi brought last time is enough for your expenses for a long time. If you run out of money, I will talk to you about it."

Qi Zhidie thought for a moment, then took out two banknotes from her collection and handed them to Li Sanniang, saying, "Sanniang, consider these as our membership fee for this month."

Seeing that Li San Niang still wanted to refuse, Qi Zhidie said, "Please accept it, San Niang. It will put our minds at ease. Only by paying money will we feel accepted by you, so that we can join the alliance with confidence and receive your medical treatment and help."

Having said all that, how could Li San Niang refuse? She naturally accepted the three hundred taels of silver.

Thus, the two had a heart-to-heart talk, and it became easier to discuss how Li San Niang would go to Shi Hua Lou to help the women with their medical treatments.

Finally, it was decided that Qi Zhidie would personally come to the Li family tomorrow night to pick up Li San Niang and Li's mother to go to Shihua Tower. Last night, Qi Zhidie went back and discussed with the women in the tower that the older women who no longer entertain customers would be seen first. If things went smoothly, they could see five people in one night. After a short rest, Qi Zhidie would take the two women back to the Li family at dawn.

After reaching an agreement, Li San Niang took Qi Zhi Die to their usual spot in the front yard to settle down.

Li San Niang stayed up late last night, and it was windy and rainy in the middle of the night. She couldn't fall asleep because of the wind outside. She only fell asleep after the rain stopped and the wind subsided.

This is also a downside of her heightened senses since childhood; she can hear sounds from all directions too clearly.

So, even when the sun was high in the sky, Li San Niang finally woke up, still half asleep. When Li Da Sao saw that she was awake, she waved the three silver notes that she had found under the pillow when she went to the front hall to tidy up the room where Qi Zhi Die had slept the night before. Li San Niang still looked like she was still half asleep.

Seeing Li San Niang like this, Li's mother turned to Lu Zhu'er, who was sitting obediently eating snacks, and said, "Grandma's precious Lu Zhu'er, don't be like your mother who stays in bed late. It's already past noon, how shameful."

Dewdrop swallowed the pastry in her mouth, and with a serious expression, she nodded and said, "Good girl, Grandma, don't be angry. Mother is just tired."

When Li San Niang heard Lu Zhu'er's voice, she came out of her daze and saw Li Da Sao holding several silver notes in front of her with a helpless expression.

"Sister-in-law, I'm so hungry."

Li Ersao put Xiao Wulang into the basket, took out the breakfast that she had prepared in advance for Li Sanniang and kept warm in the pot. Before Li Ersao could bring it over, Li Sanniang quickly stepped forward to take it, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Ersao. You are the one who cares about me the most."

"Let's eat later. First, tell me what we should do with these banknotes?"

Li San Niang was not surprised that Qi Zhi Die deliberately left the silver notes. According to what Qi Zhi Die said last night, these were the silver notes they used to buy peace of mind, and it would be strange if they didn't leave them for Li San Niang.

“Perfect, sister-in-law, keep them. I received two more last night. I’ll give them to you later and put them directly into the ledger in the secret book.”

Sister-in-law Li nodded, folded the banknotes, and put them away.

While eating, Li San Niang said, "Mother, I made an agreement with Qi Niangzi last night. Tonight, I will go with you to Shihualou to see the ladies. In a little while, I will go to the counter to get some medicinal herbs, and we will take them with us."

"Then you'll have to make a copy for me so I can record it in the books."

Li San Niang nodded to Li Da Sao, indicating that she understood.

"Why are only Third Sister and Mother going? Aren't Eldest Sister-in-law and I going?"

Li Ersao thought that all the women in the family had gone, so she asked.

Li San Niang swallowed the soup cake in her mouth before saying to Li Er Sao, "My mother and I can go to such places. If we need to communicate the alliance through my mother in the midwifery in the future, we will definitely need the help of you, eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law."

Li Ersao originally thought that since they were all her own daughters, they could take care of each other if they went together. However, she was worried about only her elderly mother and her young daughter, Li Sanniang, going together.

"Why don't you let your second brother go with you? We'll feel more at ease at home with a man by our side."