Chapter 7 The Moon of Yesteryear
Xie Ning used silver coins to exchange for silver dollars and banknotes in town, so she didn't get much money. Now that she was at the bank, she immediately showed her gold ingots, which were given to her by her maternal uncle's family in her previous life.
In her previous life, Xie Ning's father was an official, though he was rather poor. However, her mother was a merchant, and her family was very wealthy. In particular, her uncle, who managed the family business, was very fond of Xie Ning's delicate health and was overjoyed to see that Xie Ning liked gold and silver.
Therefore, he would send Xie Ning gold and silver treasures from time to time, and in the end, Xie Ning's private savings were more than those of his elder brother.
The mother was in charge of managing the household finances and was very strict with the money of the two men in the family, but she didn't care about Xie Ning at all. In fact, she would often give Xie Ning extra money, just in case he was short of money.
But heaven knows Xie Ning had no place to spend money; she saved it all in her spatial storage. As for the fact that her money was missing after her death, she had already left a letter, firstly to prevent her family from suffering too much after her death, and secondly to prevent her parents from misunderstanding that the maids and nannies had stolen from her.
Xie Ning exchanged a considerable amount of money with gold ingots at the bank. He didn't invest in any financial products, but instead saved some for emergencies. He exchanged the rest for silver dollars and some paper money, as well as a lot of coins.
The "big one" was a copper coin with a face value of twenty, and the "small one" was a copper coin with a face value of ten, which was ten coins. Of course, some copper coins were also exchanged, with one copper coin being one coin.
"Sir, are you looking to buy a house? We have the most comprehensive selection of properties. If you're interested, please feel free to contact us. Rest assured, our service will be impeccable." The bank manager was all smiles; Xie Ning was a major client in his eyes.
Speaking of houses, Xie Ning's heart stirred. She couldn't stay in the hotel forever, so she still needed to buy a small house. Moreover, it would be even better if she could buy a house in the concession. Although she didn't remember the specific events of that period very clearly, she still had a general impression. The Shanghai concession, especially the French Concession, was relatively safe.
The French and Japanese concessions were returned in 1943, and it's only 1931 now, so it's still a long way off.
What she lacks is not money, but a way to buy a house.
The bank manager was overjoyed that Xie Ning actually agreed to what he had just casually mentioned. His enthusiasm grew even stronger, and he became even more attentive to Xie Ning's needs. He not only personally escorted Xie Ning to the door but also called a rickshaw to take Xie Ning to the hotel.
The hotel rooms are decorated in a European style, and are fully equipped with toilets and showers.
Lying on the soft, spacious bed, Xie Ning pondered her future path. She certainly couldn't rely on the meager savings in her small space to make a living indefinitely. Moreover, if she had no income but spent money lavishly, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.
She didn't want to be shot as a spy.
So she needs a job, and one that requires minimal interaction with others and pays well.
After thinking for a long time, Xie Ning still had no clue, but her stomach started growling. Fortunately, there was a room service available. She just had to press the bell in the room and a waiter would come to serve her. It was very considerate.
Xie Ning ordered food first, and then took a bath in the bathroom while waiting for the food cart, washing away the dust and fatigue.
"Knock knock—"
Xie Ning thought her lunch had arrived so quickly, so she went to open the door wearing a bathrobe, her hair still wet, with a white towel hanging on her head.
"Sir, is this a flower you dropped?" A sweet and charming female voice entered my ears, sending shivers down my spine.
A vibrant red rose came into view. Xie Ning frowned slightly. The woman in front of him was wearing a sleeveless cheongsam, her makeup was exquisite, and she exuded charm with every glance.
There were quite a few women like this in the corridor. Some customers would simply open the door and let them in, while others would pay for a bouquet of flowers and then close the door.
Seemingly noticing Xie Ning's youth, the woman raised a hand to adjust her temple and chuckled, "One silver dollar for roses, and the rest..."
The warm breath sprayed against her ear, and Xie Ning's earlobe immediately turned red, startling the woman into laughing even more unrestrainedly.
Xie Ning took a small step back, only then feeling the heat on her face dissipate a bit. The price of the "other services" was too high for her to afford, and she didn't have the means to do so.
I have to buy this rose, whether I want to or not.
This is good for both of them; that's one of the things the woman just said.
Xie Ning was unaware of any rules here that she didn't understand, but she still bought the roses anyway. She gave three silver dollars and said, "Miss, I'll be staying here for three days. I hope there won't be any more disturbances from 'roses' in the next two days."
"Of course." The woman lightly flicked the silver coin; the sound was excellent, and the quality was also very good—it wasn't a fake.
Xie Ning returned to her room after closing the door, but her expression wasn't good. She hadn't expected that such a peculiar business of forced buying and selling existed in a grand hotel. When the waiter pushed the food cart in, Xie Ning handed over a dime and casually asked, "Who are those scantily clad women outside...?"
Although the cheongsams they wore only had slits up to their knees, it was considered daring in this day and age.
Basically, the cheongsams worn by respectable women here are only slit up to the ankle or just a little above, and the two cheongsams she bought were like that.
The waiter's gaze fell on the one-cent tip, and his smile became even more enthusiastic.
"Guest, you may not know this, but those women are backed by the Black Dragon Gang. They only hire wealthy guests who book top-class rooms but don't have female companions. It's all about mutual consent. If you don't want to, accepting the roses will get you the Black Dragon Gang's protection. All the hotels in this area are like this. Just consider it a loss to avoid trouble."
Xie Ning: This financial loss is a bit unfair. I should have found a hotel myself. This hotel was booked by the bank.
The waiter didn't mention the consequences of refusing even the roses, and Xie Ning didn't want to press the matter, assuming it wouldn't end well.
What she was thinking was, "This gang is too arrogant."
Regardless, the three silver dollars did have an effect; at least she didn't encounter any other trouble during her three days at the hotel. However, a vibrant red rose was placed outside her room every day.
Xie Ning quickly found a house she liked—a two-story villa. It wasn't very big, but it was definitely enough for Xie Ning, who lived alone. There was also a small courtyard with some flowers and plants that Xie Ning didn't recognize, but that didn't stop her from appreciating them. Next to it was a set of rattan table and chairs, perfect for relaxing and chatting.
Because the original homeowner is returning to their home country in the next couple of days, all the furniture and other items in the house have been left behind, for an extra fee, of course.
Xie Ning didn't care. She looked at the furniture and found the materials to be quite good, so she didn't bother buying it.
Moreover, she chose this house for another reason: the homeowner was French, and she needed him to handle some matters for her trip to France.
That's her background.
Since she has already said that she used to live in France, it is natural to confirm this to avoid being caught red-handed later.
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