Bai Qiaoyin never expected this.
It's not that the people of Anping County lack business acumen, but rather that brothels are not allowed here.
She had only been in Anping County for a short time, so how would she know the rules here?
This really got me into trouble, and it's not easy to handle.
The courtesans, who had been singing and dancing just moments before, never expected to be detained by county officials instead of welcoming a lavish guest. They were all crying and sobbing.
"How pitiful she is."
"Pity? Would you like to sit there again?"
The man immediately smiled apologetically, "My lady, you're joking. I'm not that kind of person. It's just a pity that this shop cost so much money. I feel bad about the money."
The woman ignored her husband and approached Gu An'an's shop entrance, asking, "Aren't brothels allowed around here?"
She's a native of Anping County, yet she didn't know.
Gu An'an said with a smile, "Some time ago, the Emperor issued an edict to grant Anping County to General An as his fiefdom. General An was ordered not to engage in prostitution in the county."
Upon hearing this, the woman seemed to recall something. "So that's why the county exempted taxes back then, but the brothel closed down. It turns out it wasn't because it couldn't stay in business."
"Manager Gu seems to know everything, but why didn't he tell us? He made us worry so much."
"Yes, Manager Gu, that's not very kind of you."
Gu An'an wasn't surprised at all by the complaints. "I didn't tell everyone firstly because I only found out by chance, and secondly because this was a personal feud between me, Third Sister, and Manager Bai. We were going to settle things once and for all, and it was pointless to keep arguing like this. So I took this opportunity to let them go to the county jail and quiet down, so they wouldn't bother me anymore. That's why I kept the news hidden before, in case it accidentally leaked out. Fortunately, it was a false alarm and didn't cause any damage. It just made you all worry for a while, which was my fault."
While these words certainly conveyed an apology, they also made one point clear—
If I tell you, it will definitely reveal a secret.
Besides, you haven't lost anything, so what are you babbling about here?
Having lived here for decades and knowing nothing of this story, yet coming to pick a fight with me, a newcomer to this precious land, is rather cowardly and bullying.
Gu An'an's explanation left the neighboring business owners somewhat speechless.
The woman laughed and said, "Manager Gu is right. If I told you, the news would have spread like wildfire. I think this is good. It would be best to let them stay in jail for three to five years, so they won't be able to scam people when they come out."
A group of grown men, unable to solve a problem, end up blaming the person who solved it.
The woman sneered inwardly, but her face remained warm and friendly. "Alright, alright, this place has been sealed off. Let's go about our business and not disturb Manager Gu's business any longer."
As she spoke, she pulled her husband away.
The others also dispersed, leaving Gu An'an with some peace and quiet.
"I really didn't expect you to be so calm, Xiao Gu." Liu Jiuniang thought to herself with admiration. If it were her, she would have revealed her hand long ago.
Gu An'an smiled and said, "Let's go. I told you it wasn't a big deal."
This was said to several children.
Jiang Mingyi didn't expect that when the two sides were competing, the other side had set up its defenses, but Gu An'an suddenly turned the tables on them.
Thinking of Bai Qiaoyin who had been detained, the young man was slightly worried. "She is one of Lin Zixing's people."
"Yes, but this is Anping County, not some Lin Family Shop or Taibai Restaurant. Lin Zixing's words may not be effective."
Jiang Mingyi chuckled at this. "You know that General An?"
"I don't know her." Gu An'an rubbed Bao'er's little head. "Go home and play with your older sister. After I'm done here, I'll go back and celebrate Qixi Festival with you."
The little girl nodded. "Then Your Highness, you must take good care of yourself and not overwork yourself."
It's especially endearing when a naive and adorable child says these words.
Gu An'an watched the children leave, and looking at the traces left by the big red firecrackers on the ground, she turned around and went back to her own shop.
For her, this matter has come to a temporary end.
But for Jiang Mingyi and Jiang Mingzhu, the matter goes far beyond that.
“Brother, I think Mother is admonishing me to be patient in everything I do.”
Just like this time, knowing that brothels are not allowed in Anping County, if Mother had announced this unknown information earlier, it would certainly have stopped Su San Niang and the others from their actions.
But those people will definitely have other tricks up their sleeves.
Now that war has been declared, we must be patient and find a way to completely defeat the enemy.
Otherwise, the consequences will be endless.
Jiang Mingzhu is determined to become a general, and she has been reading military books during this time.
She felt she had gained something from this experience.
Jiang Mingyi agreed, saying, "Yes, Mother had a deeper meaning in doing this. We should take this as a warning."
In all things, one should avoid arrogance and impetuosity, and act with composure. Since one has encountered a formidable enemy, one should remain calm.
Strike the snake at its vital spot to avoid being bitten.
"Mother has really gone to great lengths."
Bao'er didn't understand, but she repeated, "So thoughtful, how do you write the word 'brother'?"
Jiang Mingyi stopped, reached out, took the little girl's hand, and began to write stroke by stroke in her palm. "Have you learned it?"
Bao'er nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, brother, I've learned it."
He then kissed Jiang Mingyi on the cheek.
This action startled Jiang Mingyi slightly.
Seeing this, Jiang Mingzhu quickly explained, "When Mother checked Bao'er's homework earlier, she praised her for her good handwriting and kissed her."
As it turns out, although the little girl was slow at recognizing characters, she learned this skill quickly.
But my brother is different from my mother. In my mother's words, my brother is a bit of a germaphobe.
He was drooling on his face; Bao'er must be itching for a beating.
Jiang Mingzhu, being her own younger sister, naturally took her side.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mingyi glanced at the bewildered little girl, who seemed unaware of what had happened.
"Bao'er is all grown up now, she's not a three-year-old anymore. She can't just kiss people like that, you know?"
Bao'er blinked upon hearing this, "But my brother isn't just anyone."
She counted on her fingers, "My older sister isn't just anyone. She'll let me kiss her, but my little brother definitely won't agree. I don't want to kiss him either. I'll kiss Brother Abei instead."
Chen Bei?
Thinking of that woman with a pretty face, Jiang Mingyi's expression became a little serious. "Chen Bei has a fiancée. If you kiss him, his fiancée will be angry."
Bao'er suddenly realized, "Oh, I see. So, brother, you'll have a wife in the future, and I'll have to stay far away from you, right?"
For some reason, Bao'er felt very sad when she said these words.
She was raised by her older brother since she was little.
"I don't want to become estranged from my brother, so please don't get married, okay?"
The little girl's tears streamed down her face; she looked extremely wronged.
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