Chapter 97 The Reputation of the Maid
This time, Qi Zhidie only brought Hongniang with her when she came to visit. Firstly, Hongniang was taking the medicine prescribed by Li Sanniang and came for a follow-up visit.
Secondly, after Qi Zhidie entered the Li family through Diliber's help, although Diliber's actions were explained at the time, Tuva and Shen Qiuniang still gave Diliber some advice afterwards.
Therefore, Qi Zhidie could no longer bring Diliber to the Li family.
Unlike last time, this time in addition to Li's mother and Li San Niang, Li's eldest sister-in-law and Li's second sister-in-law were also left behind.
Therefore, now, including Qi Zhidie and Hongniang, there are a total of five women sitting in a circle in the main hall.
Since the day she went with Tuva to prepare for the wedding, Shen Qiuniang moved out of the Li family and into a house that Tuva had previously rented in the outer three streets of Chang'an City after the city was expanded. However, Li's mother and Shen Qiuniang had agreed that the wedding procession would still start from the Li family.
Xiao Wulang is naturally being looked after by Brother Li. Fortunately, Lu Zhu'er is still young, so it's not a problem for Brother Li to help take care of her. In the future, if all the women in the Li family have successful careers, they really won't be able to spare anyone to take care of Lu Zhu'er.
Li San Niang had already realized this problem, but there were still four or five years until Lu Zhu'er turned seven, so she would deal with it then.
Qi Zhidie and Hongniang first bowed to Li's mother, and then bowed to Li's sister-in-law and the others before sitting down.
"I would like to trouble you, Third Sister, to take another look at Hongniang. She does seem to be in better spirits these past few days."
Li San Niang didn't need to examine Hong Niang's pulse to tell that she had indeed had plenty of rest these past few days from Hong Niang's rosy complexion.
Li San Niang placed her fingers on Hong Niang's wrist, admiring the beautiful woman's shimmering eyes. Looking at the beauty made her feel better.
"The recovery is going well; the itching and odor should have lessened considerably by now?"
"Yes, it's much lighter." The matchmaker lowered her head, blushing, and answered softly.
"That's good. Continue taking the medicine according to the prescription for another seven days, and you should be fully recovered."
Hongniang nodded, stood up, and bowed to Li Sanniang.
Hearing that Hongniang was out of danger, Qi Zhidie breathed a sigh of relief. After all, she was the maid she had watched grow up, and compared to the other maids in the brothel, Qi Zhidie cared about Hongniang more.
Qi Zhidie naturally noticed the difference in the Li family's hospitality tonight. Last time, only Li San Niang and Li's mother were left to deal with her, but tonight all three of the Li family's daughters were present.
"Zhi Die got straight to the point. I suppose Madam Li has already figured out how to get us into the Women's Assistance Association?"
"Whatever request Third Sister makes, we shall grant it."
At this point, Qi Zhidie slowly lowered her head and continued in a desolate tone: "In just a few days, another corpse was carried out of the Qunfang Courtyard across the street at dawn today."
Not to mention Li San Niang, even Li Da Sao, Li Er Sao, and Li's mother were all shocked and saddened after hearing Qi Zhi Die's words.
It's not easy for a woman to live, and it's even harder for a woman in a brothel.
Li San Niang picked up the membership rules she had written in advance, which she had retrieved from the room while inviting Qi Zhi Die and Hong Niang to sit in the main hall. "Madam Qi, these are the membership rules I wrote earlier. There are only a dozen or so. If needed, they will be added or removed later."
"Take a look first, and it would be best to take it back to the building and discuss it with the other women. If there are any objections, we can revise it when I get there."
Qi Zhidie took the piece of paper handed to her by Li Sanniang with both hands. Before she could even read it, she heard Li Sanniang say that she would go to the brothel by herself. She froze for a moment. After being nudged by Hongniang, she realized what was happening and swallowed hard before asking cautiously, "Does Sanniang mean she is going to the brothel?"
Li San Niang replied with an expression that said, "Of course I'm going. How can I treat the women if I don't go?"
The matchmaker was all smiles and happy, but Li Dasao and Li Ersao looked embarrassed. Li Dasao even went to see Li's mother, her eyes saying, "How can we let San Niang go to such a filthy place?" hoping that Li's mother would stop Li San Niang.
Li Ersao was twisting her handkerchief so tightly that she was about to tear it, muttering "No, how can this be?" but she dared not say it out loud before Li's mother and Li Dasao spoke. She was extremely anxious.
Li's mother shook her head slightly at Li's sister-in-law, reassuring her that they could talk about it later and there was no need to rush.
Sister-in-law Li finally calmed down, but her expression remained icy.
Although Li San Niang's ability to read people's expressions was not as good as Li Er Xiong's, she could still tell that the atmosphere had become unpleasant after she said those words.
Apart from Li's mother, who remained as calm as ever, the expressions of the others varied.
Qi Zhidie looked surprised and incredulous, her cherry-like mouth slightly open. Hongniang looked excited and happy. Li Dasao looked unwilling. Li Ersao felt that she shouldn't go, but she also felt that it was good to help the women of Shihualou get medical treatment. She was so caught in this dilemma that she looked like she was about to cry.
"Oh dear, it's nothing, you're all overthinking it." Li Sanniang first went to Li Ersao's side, forcefully pulled the handkerchief out of her hand, and patted Li Ersao's hand to comfort her. Then she went to Li Dasao's side, first refilling Li Dasao's teacup, and looked at Li Dasao expectantly, which made Li Dasao pick up the teacup and take a sip. After Li Dasao glared at Li Sanniang, Li Sanniang sat back down in her original seat.
"Since I promised Madam Qi, I will naturally keep my promise."
However, I'll have to make proper arrangements for Madam Qi. I don't know the condition of the women in the brothel, so perhaps Madam Qi should arrange them according to the severity of their illnesses.
If I can't finish watching it in one night, I'll just go again another time.
Qi Zhidie had seen many noble ladies in her youth, and she herself was a daughter of an official. Not to mention those noble ladies, even she herself, who had fallen into prostitution, looked down on the status of prostitutes from the bottom of her heart. She used to think that they were depraved and lowly, relying on selling their bodies to please men for a living.
But fate is cruel. Who knew that his family would be implicated? His father was beheaded, his father and brothers and nephews were exiled, and the women were sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district) and assigned to Pingkangfang.
Unable to bear the humiliation, her mother and sisters-in-law committed suicide by swallowing gold, leaving behind a child who was only ten years old.
What respectable young lady would go to a place like Pingkangfang?
Aside from men seeking pleasure with ulterior motives, who can truly regard the women of Pingkangfang as human beings?
In the backyard of Shihualou, there was an old woman who came every day to do odd jobs. She washed clothes for the women in the brothel and relied on the money she earned from them to make a living. Even so, this old woman would still spit on them behind their backs and curse them as filthy donkeys.
So, Li San Niang, a respectable woman who also knew medicine, was willing to personally treat the women at Shi Hua Lou.
Qi Zhidie, who had only approached Li Sanniang because of Mr. Bu Ke's request in the TV series "Bad Guys", and who even used her charm to seduce Li Sanniang during their first meeting, now felt that she was truly bad and dirty.
It's not because I work in a brothel, or because I have to sell my body and smiles, that I'm bad or dirty. It's because, faced with Li San Niang's sincerity, I was hiding something and lying. Putting myself in her shoes, I realized that I was truly bad and dirty.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com