50th floor
Inside Shanshan City.
The fifty women who had risked their lives to act as bait were still very nervous as they held the second imperial edict.
Many of them couldn't even write their own names properly, and they listened in bewilderment as the unfamiliar words "bureaucrats," "deliberation," "review," and "election" were used. What did they all mean?
They don't understand, but they dare not say it.
It was not until Zhou Yingxue explained to them with red eyes that this meant that from now on, they would no longer be playthings to be treated with contempt.
They were officials. They had salaries, status, and the right to participate in all the affairs of Shanshan City. They...
Do they have someone to rely on for the rest of their lives?
After Zhou Yingxue finished speaking, someone choked up first, and then there was a mixture of crying and laughing. They hugged each other, patted each other's backs, and tears streamed down their faces.
I've lived for over a decade, toiling away in the hustle and bustle of life, never dreaming I'd be able to live like this today? Living like a human being, standing tall and straight, under the bright sky?
After the ecstasy, real problems followed.
Your Majesty's reward is not just empty title, but also real rights. When the sea girls killed Barhan, they divided the money accumulated by the trading company among them, which was a considerable amount.
Now that they have become officials, they are even more attractive.
The minds of all kinds of people in the city immediately became active.
Matchmakers would knock on the doorstep, their sweet talk bringing together talented young men in the city; distant relatives would suddenly visit, asking about their well-being; and even wealthy businessmen would bring generous gifts and talk about business partnerships, promising them huge profits...
Most of them came from humble backgrounds, trapped in the backyard for years. How could they have ever experienced such a situation? At first, they were a little dazed, thinking that after all the hardships, they had finally met a good person.
But soon, problems emerged.
Some were cajoled into investing part of their money with sweet talk, only to lose everything; some relatives they had acknowledged began to demand money with impunity, even trying to take over their recommendation quotas; and some were so naive that they were fooled by a few sweet words and almost made a lifelong commitment without a clear mind...
"A man is innocent unless he possesses a treasure."
Ji Daiyu thought of this sentence.
She was the only singer in the Barkhan Company who could barely compete with Ji Hai Nu in terms of appearance and skills. Her temperament was also a bit colder and harder than others, which annoyed Ji Hai Nu the most.
She looked at the sisters who were dejected after being cheated, and glanced at the faces of those who were still trying to get away with dealing with the "kind-hearted people" outside, and knew that this could not go on.
But she didn't know what to do. She thought about it for a long time and wrote a letter to Zhou Yingxue. Zhou Yingxue then showed the letter to Ning Lingyi. When the reply arrived, it was a thick stack and several large boxes of books.
She carefully read the letters from Ning Lingyi and Zhou Yingxue.
Then, Ji Daiyu gathered everyone together and scanned the faces that were either confused, anxious, or hesitant.
"Sisters, wake up!"
"You really think it's a free lunch! Are those people interested in us? What they're interested in is our official positions, the rewards bestowed upon us by His Majesty, and the chance to be sent to the capital!"
"What are our origins? In the eyes of those people, we were just toys before, and now we're just lucky bastards! They're praising us and coaxing us now, just to try to trick us out of what we have! When we're no longer useful, our fate will be even worse than before!"
Someone murmured quietly: "But we are women, we always need to find someone to rely on..."
"Rely on?" Ji Daiyu sneered and pointed out the window. "Rely on those men who came here because of the smell of fish? Or rely on those distant relatives? Where is our support?"
She pointed her finger at everyone present, "Here! On ourselves! On this imperial decree given to us by His Majesty!"
"The fifty of us must work together as a team! No one can cheat or take advantage of us alone! Our money and power must be in our own hands!"
"I propose," Ji Daiyu said after taking a deep breath, "that we take out all the money we were allocated and pool it together. Let's buy a big house and live together! Let's hire a teacher together and learn to read and learn the law, learn how to be an official, and learn how to avoid being cheated! We want to show everyone in Shanshan City that we are not pushovers!"
The house was silent.
Take out the hard-earned money?
Living with so many people? And learning those boring things?
Hesitation, struggle, fear...all kinds of emotions flashed across everyone's faces, and most people were unwilling.
But thinking back to the recent experience of being cheated, thinking back to those dark days in the past, and thinking back to what Ji Daiyu said about the future where we would stick together and no one would dare to bully us...
They were also hesitant.
Finally, someone raised their hand tremblingly: "I agree with Sister Dai Yu."
More people are weak, have no opinions, and go with the flow.
They were originally sold, beaten, scolded, and trampled upon. Their self-esteem had long been dissipated in every moment they were away from the sun.
Ji Daiyu knew their personalities, forced them together, protected them like an old hen, endured their complaints, urged them day by day, and instructed them to take action.
Finally, they bought a large house with front and back yards in a good location in the city, and personally inscribed a plaque on it, naming it "Fifty Floor".
This is the common home for all fifty of them, and it is also the foundation for their future survival and career.
Then, they invited several learned old scholars in the city, and through Zhou Yingxue's relationship, they found some basic legal provisions booklets. They often corresponded with Zhou Yingxue for advice.
The 50th floor is brightly lit every night.
The sound of reading replaced the previous music of stringed instruments.
These women, whose average age is over 20, started with the simplest "Thousand Character Classic" and "Hundred Family Surnames", learning each character stroke by stroke; they held the boring "Household Law" and "Work Law", trying hard to understand the provisions related to people's livelihood and administration.
At first, it was very difficult.
Some people lift a pen as if it were a tripod, while others listen to the law as if it were a heavenly book.
Almost every day you can hear people wanting to give up, and some wanting to secretly escape from here, but Ji Daiyu has already made preparations. Like a strict mother, she forces them to continue studying.
Arguments, quarrels, and crying were common on the 50th floor.
Sometimes, someone was extremely hateful, hating Ji Daiyu for making her suffer, and wanted to fight with Ji Daiyu. When Ji Daiyu pulled her up a tall building and wanted to jump down with her, that person would cry weakly and choke up to say that she was willing to continue studying.
Days and nights were spent in disputes, resentment and dissatisfaction.
Gradually, studying no longer became difficult. There was no beating or humiliation. After eating and drinking, I had the leisure to do what I loved. These days were so leisurely and so habitual.
They began to test each other, ask each other questions, and those who were better at learning taught those who were slower, often arguing over the interpretation of a law until they were red in the face.
They were smart by nature, and in front of Master Barhan, the stupid ones would have been beaten to death long ago.
In the past, they simply didn't have opportunities, but now they have goals and companions. They can finally be themselves again. They no longer compete for men's favor, but instead make a beautiful skirt or cook a dish with an unusual taste for their sisters to taste.
There are still quarrels, and when they get serious, they slap each other.
But he couldn't stand Ji Daiyu's ferocity. After being hit on the hand with a stick, all his arrogant temper changed.
Time flies, and two years have passed like water.
Today, on the 50th floor, Ji Daiyu has become the unspoken person in charge. She is decisive and clear-headed, and she keeps the 50th floor in good order inside and out.
The sisters have also been transformed.
Their speech and behavior were less coquettish and fearful than before, and more calm and composed. Although not all of them became scholars, at least they could read and write well, and had a clear understanding of the court laws and the basic situation of Shanshan City.
They began to truly exercise the power given to them by Ning Lingyi.
Sisters who are interested in government affairs regularly participate in the meetings of the Shanshan City Yamen and can put forward practical suggestions on tax collection, road repairs, market management, etc. They are no longer just decorations, but a force that can truly influence the governance of the city.
The sisters who were good at business used the funds of the 50th floor to jointly open pubs and restaurants, which not only increased the income, but also made the 50th floor famous. It became a unique landscape in Shanshan City and the whole Western Xinjiang was proud of it.
There were also several students who made the fastest progress in their studies. Following the arrangements of the court and Hai Enli, they opened a girls' school in the 50th floor, teaching girls from poor families in the city literacy, arithmetic, and needlework for free, sowing the seeds of hope to more distant places.
A pile of loose sand was condensed into an indestructible rock.
Now, no one dares to look down on any woman on the 50th floor.
Those who had thought of marrying one of them to profit found that this was a dead end. If they truly wanted to marry, the Fiftieth Floor would be their most powerful family. The sisters would help oversee everything from betrothal gifts and engagements to married life. They would not tolerate any disrespect from their husband's family. If they dared to humiliate them, they would knock on their door, take the sisters home, and punish them severely.
The quota for recommendation to go to Beijing every year has become the focus of attention of the entire city.
Initially, many people tried to use connections to get their wives and daughters in. However, the people on the 50th floor quickly established a strict assessment system—requirements included good character, diligence, a harmonious family, support for women's advancement, and passing a public assessment organized by the 50th floor.
Once the mechanism was implemented, speculators were left empty-handed.
The reputation of the Fifty Floor for being impartial and impartial gradually spread. The women they recommended did not hold high official positions at first, but they were all diligent and down-to-earth, and gradually gained a foothold in the capital. Under the leadership of Zhou Yingxue, they began to promote the policy of allowing women to study and serve as officials.
The people of Shanshan City began to truly trust and even rely on these fifty women.
They are no longer "lucky singers", but respected "female teachers", "female officials" and "female bosses". They are fair and just, willing to listen to the people, and they will do their work well. They have made a lot of efforts for this city.
Thanks to Ning Lingyi's grace of exempting taxes for ten years, and the fame and business opportunities brought by the Fifty Floor, more and more people and caravans flocked to Shanshan City.
Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
The former small border town has expanded several times, with its population increasing to more than 200,000. Merchants gather here, and the streets are prosperous. It has become the most important city in the western border and a key point connecting the east and the west.
Another year has passed.
It was the day when the Ama jumped off the cliff.
Ji Daiyu got up early and changed into a plain dress. She was now a prominent figure in Shanshan City, her expression more capable and dignified, but at this moment, her eyes were filled with only sorrow.
Among the fifty buildings, there were still more than thirty people who had not married or chose to stay in the building. They tacitly prepared incense, candles and offerings, and followed Ji Daiyu, a group of people riding horses, out of the city, and towards the familiar red cliff.
The wind was still very strong at the cliff edge, blowing people's clothes fluttering.
They had already erected a monument for Ji Hainu here. It did not have too many carvings, only the four words "Mrs. Ji Hai" were engraved on it.
Everyone silently placed the offerings and lit incense and candles.
The green smoke curls up and merges into the vast sky and earth.
Ji Daiyu stood in front of the monument, looking at the bottomless canyon, his thoughts drifting back to ten years ago.
She tried hard to recall, but the face of the bright and flamboyant Ji Hai Nv in her memory, who often competed with them for favor and beat and excluded them in front of Barhan, was a little blurry.
Thinking back on it now, those details of jealousy, those secret rivalries, seem to be hidden behind a thick fog, not very real.
She once hated the mermaid, hated her for taking away most of the master's favor, hated her for making life more difficult for herself and her other sisters, and hated her so much that she cursed her to be beaten to death by Master Barhan.
But now, all that hatred has long since disappeared.
She only remembered that in that chaotic moment, the mermaid broke into their crowded dwelling with a bloody knife in her hand, with an expression on her face that she had never seen before.
She threw handfuls of gold, silver, and jewelry in front of them, her voice clear and bright: "I killed that old man Barhan! Divide the money among you! Follow Zhou Yingxue and leave quickly!"
Some people were so frightened that they dared not move.
Ji Hai Nu raised her eyebrows and cursed, "You useless thing! Are you waiting to be beaten to death by the next Barkhan? Take the money and get out of here! You are so ugly and stupid!"
She pushed and urged them out of that devil's den.
That was the last time Ji Daiyu saw Ji Hai Nv.
Today, they are all still alive, living a respected life, having a foundation for their livelihood, and even being able to influence the fate of many people.
However, the mermaids have been jumping off this cliff for ten years.
The wind blew, bringing with it the sound of rolling sand in the distance, like sobbing.
Ji Daiyu knelt down and rested his forehead on the cold stone tablet. Behind him, more than 30 women knelt down together, their sobs drifting in the wind.
In the distance, Shanshan City has clear outlines and is full of vitality under the sunlight.
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