Outwitting the madam
It turned out that Qian Tao had suddenly started her period today and was in unbearable abdominal pain, so she asked her mother for leave and rested in her room. Unexpectedly, a patron saw that she was not coming out and kept shouting that she should come and serve him. Yu Rou, Qian Tao's close friend, tried to explain for her, but was slapped instead.
Left with no other choice, Qian Tao had to force herself to come out. When ordinary people saw that she was pale and unsteady on her feet, they would know that she was really unwell. But that person was not giving up. He not only forced Qian Tao to drink cold wine, but also said that she was being pretentious. He stripped her of her coat and chased her outside, only allowing her to come back after she had learned her lesson.
That man still held some power in Qinzhou City, and none of the people present would stand up for a mere courtesan. They felt sorry for Qian Tao but were powerless to help her, so they could only watch as she was dragged into the freezing cold.
She was already feeling unwell, and the cold outside made her hands and feet feel even more numb. At this moment, even if you poked a needle into her flesh, she wouldn't feel anything.
"Outrageous!" Pei Qingwu was furious upon hearing this: "Even if you didn't have your period, you still can't humiliate me like this!"
As she spoke, she took off her cloak and was about to drape it over Qian Tao: "Come on, come with me. It's so cold outside today. If you stay here any longer, you'll freeze."
Qiantao refused, saying, "That man is related to the military governor of Longyou and has great power and influence in Qinzhou. Even the governor of Qinzhou has to give him some leeway. My lady, I am used to being treated badly. A little wind and snow won't bother me. But you must not provoke him because of me."
"It's just that you're related to the military governor, it's not like the military governor is actually here." Pei Qingwu sneered, "Let's go, I can't just stand by and watch something happen to you."
As she spoke, she forcefully pulled Qian Tao into a nearby soup noodle shop. It was a cold day, and not many people were out, so the shop was deserted. The waiter was dozing off by the counter, and it was Pei Qingwu who woke him up.
"Hmm... what would you like, my lady?" He got up groggily.
"Excuse me, could you please bring me a bowl of beef soup noodles and a bowl of hot water?"
"Okay, sure."
A moment later, the waiter brought over a bowl of hot water: "Madam, please enjoy your meal. The soup noodles will be ready in a little while."
"This is troublesome."
After the waiter went to attend to his business, Pei Qingwu first warmed Qian Tao's hands in his own, breathing on them to rub them until he felt his icy hands slowly warm up.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked softly.
"Okay, much better..." Qian Tao murmured, hesitating to pull her hand away. Pei Qingwu noticed this, but let go of her hand, took a spoonful of hot water, blew on it until it was drinkable, and then brought it to Qian Tao's lips.
"Drink some hot water and your stomach will feel better."
"Mother, my lady..."
"Hurry up, or you'll most likely catch a cold tomorrow."
Qian Tao's eyes were exceptionally beautiful, round like almond kernels, with long, narrow double eyelids that curved into a charming arc at the outer corner. At this moment, they were filled with clear tears, making her eyes even more radiant and pitiful to behold.
"Why is my wife so kind to me? I am but a lowly courtesan, treated like a rat in the street, hated and chased by everyone. Respectable women would never dare to touch us. Why is my wife so kind to me..."
Pei Qingwu sighed, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, and gently wiped away her tears: "How did you become a rat crossing the street? Let me ask you, did you and your sisters at Zuiyue Tower willingly debase yourselves to do that kind of business?"
Qiantao shook her head.
“That’s it. Those who sell you live off your flesh and blood, and those who buy you enjoy yourselves through your blood and tears. But what have you done wrong? You’re just a group of pitiful women who have no choice in what they do.” Pei Qingwu said gently, “You’re perfectly innocent young women, but you’re ‘dirty’ just because you’ve been with a man. It only means that someone else is dirty. A woman’s chastity has never been confined by her skirt. You are good, and your sisters are good too. Don’t belittle yourselves.”
Qian Tao was probably hearing someone speak like that for the first time, and she was stunned for a long while, until the waiter threw the towel over his shoulder and came out with a bowl of beef soup noodles: "The beef soup noodles that you ordered, madam, are ready. Enjoy."
"Thank you, Brother Xiao Er."
The soup is a deep, clear amber color, with carefully selected beef brisket and bones floating on top, along with a few pieces of spicy old ginger and a few pieces of bright green scallions. The aroma is rich and mellow, penetrating deep into the lungs and whetting the appetite.
The silverfish-like dumplings unfurled in the soup, absorbing the essence. Their edges curled slightly like crepe, while the center was as lustrous as white jade. Oil droplets transformed into golden beads, adorning the dumplings. Coriander① floated on top like jade, and a spoonful of bright red dogwood② juice added a touch of spiciness, making it a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
"You eat first. Once you're full, I'll go with you to Zuiyue Tower."
Pei Qingwu pushed the soup cake towards her.
Qiantao was slightly taken aback: "My lady wants to..."
"A courtesan can't get by without talent. What are your skills?"
"I...I can read, I can paint, I can embroider, I can play the pipa, I can make tea and sing..." Qian Tao hesitated, not understanding why Madam Pei wanted to ask these questions.
"Then you must be very good at talking to people."
Salespeople and top salespeople are practically two different species. Top salespeople can turn black into white with a single word and turn people who were initially uninterested into customers. If you want to grow your business, you need a top salesperson in your shop.
But she's only quick-witted when arguing and bickering. When it comes to sales, she's incredibly introverted. Once, when she was working at her mother's shop, a customer asked her to recommend some snacks, but she had no idea what to say and almost ruined a sale.
As for the two people currently working in the shop, Gu Heng is a taciturn and taciturn man who can't be coaxed into saying a word, while Yin Lan is also not very talkative. After all, she was once a maidservant from a high-ranking family, so she is proud of her status and not good at dealing with people. She only knows how to work hard in the kitchen.
Qian Tao is different. Brothel girls are not afraid of being watched or interacting with normal people. The madams have to teach them to speak properly, to talk to people in a human way and to talk to ghosts in a ghost way, and to make sure they take out all their money. If Qian Tao can get out of the brothel, and she is taught a bit more, maybe there will be a top seller in Sushan Market.
Moreover, the business will definitely grow bigger and bigger in the future. It cannot be limited to the small courtyard. If it is expanded, it can also set up a dining area. If you eat too many sweet and greasy snacks, you can have Qiantao serve a cup of tea to neutralize the sweetness. It is not only delicious but also very visually appealing.
"Yes...my wife is asking these questions..."
"Eat first, eat first, we'll talk after we finish eating."
Despite her doubts, Qian Tao was truly hungry. She hadn't been feeling well that day and hadn't eaten much. Plus, she'd been forced out into the cold. The beef soup dumplings were warm and comforting. She first sipped the hot soup, letting it slide down her throat. The freshness of the beef marrow filled her mouth, and together with the warmth of the scallions and ginger and the slight numbing sensation of the dogwood, it powerfully dispelled the chill. The soup dumplings were thin yet chewy, the wheat aroma wrapped around the rich meat juices, making them incredibly comforting.
After finishing the whole bowl, Qian Tao was drenched in sweat and felt completely revitalized.
Inside the Drunken Moon Pavilion, everyone had already dispersed, leaving behind a messy scene. Mama Xu leaned against the wall, cracking melon seeds, spitting out the shells as she scolded the young maids for not slacking off.
Upon seeing Qian Tao, who had been brought back by Pei Qingwu, the old man's face immediately fell: "Look what you've done! You've offended Young Master Cui! You dare to act high and mighty in front of him? Do you really think you're some delicate young lady? You're lucky you haven't frozen to death. Hurry up and get ready. Tomorrow, dress up in your finest clothes and apologize to Young Master Cui."
The cloying scent of perfume in the building made Pei Qingwu extremely uncomfortable. Seeing Qian Tao timidly about to approach, he quickly stopped her, saying, "What are you apologizing for? You can't even let people rest during their menstrual period? What kind of hellhole is this? How can you exploit people like this?!"
Because of that plaque, it was generally accepted in Qinzhou City that Pei Qingwu and Magistrate Zhao had a close relationship. Madam Xu naturally couldn't afford to offend such a person, so she said with a forced smile, "Actually, it's not that I don't care about my daughters, it's just that Young Master Cui comes from a prominent family and is a distant nephew of the military governor; I really can't afford to offend him..."
"Can't afford to offend him? Then don't offend him in the future." Pei Qingwu said, "I'm here to redeem Qian Tao. Once she's reformed, you'll have no way to offend Young Master Cui."
Upon hearing this, Qian Tao suddenly looked up, her face filled with disbelief.
"This... Mr. Pei, you must be joking..." Mrs. Xu was momentarily embarrassed.
"What? If someone can redeem this courtesan, you should prepare the necessary documents and contracts. Could it be that your Drunken Moon Pavilion is special and refuses to release her?" Now that things had come to this, Pei Qingwu decided to use his influence to his advantage: "Prefect Zhao is the most just person. Why don't we go to the prefectural government office and argue our case to see if the law allows such behavior from you?!"
Mrs. Xu felt cold sweat pouring down her forehead: "N-no, of course not... I, I meant that this madder is still small, and the price is even higher than that of cassia branches..."
"How much?" Pei Qingwu asked in a cold voice.
Mrs. Xu held up two fingers.
"Two taels of silver, is that right?" Pei Qingwu said quickly. "Alright, check if there are any omissions in this document. If not, then sign and affix your seal, and report it to the government. You don't need to go; I'll just tell the magistrate."
After saying that, she shoved the prepared documents into Xu's mother's arms, and taking advantage of her unpreparedness, grabbed her hand and smeared it on the rouge, then pressed it, leaving a bright red fingerprint on the documents.
“It seems that Mom has no objections,” Pei Qingwu announced.
"I... I mean, two taels of gold!" Mrs. Xu said, her voice filled with embarrassment and anger.
"It's just two taels of silver, and it's all signed. Do you want to go back on your word?"
Seeing her shamelessness, Madam Xu narrowed her eyes and smiled sinisterly, saying, "Master Pei, you've come to try your tricks on me. Do you even know where you are? You've only made a few taels of silver selling snacks, and now you think you're so high and mighty?"
As she spoke, she clapped her hands.
Immediately, a tall and burly pimp came down from upstairs, his hand on the knife at his waist, and looked at Pei Qingwu with ill intent.
Qiantao knew what these people were capable of, and shrank back, saying, "My lady, there's no need for you to worry about me..."
Pei Qingwu remained completely calm: "Mother Xu, do you really intend to do this? I am a person of good birth."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu laughed and said, "A woman of good birth? Master Pei, in this Drunken Moon Pavilion, who can say for sure what might happen in a moment? It's not unheard of for a woman of good birth to stumble into a brothel, fall, or be ambushed by thieves...
As she spoke, she gave a suggestive glance to the approaching pimps.
Qian Tao turned pale with fright, clutching Pei Qingwu's sleeve and pushing her away, her voice trembling: "My lady, my lady, go quickly! Don't worry about me!"
Pei Qingwu remained unmoved: "Mother Xu, I, Pei Qingwu, am a registered owner of a legitimate business in Qinzhou City. I have come here tonight to redeem people, and there is a contract here. You have already put your fingerprint on it, and the contract is now in effect. If you dare to order these wicked servants to attack me now, you will be breaking the law."
Mrs. Xu's lips twitched, and she was about to say, "Who are you trying to scare?", but Pei Qingwu didn't give her a chance to interrupt, speaking even faster.
“The Law on Fighting and Litigation states: ‘Anyone who kills in a fight shall be hanged.’ Even if I, Pei Qingwu, am not dead today, ‘Anyone who breaks a tooth, mutilates an ear or nose, is blind for a day, or breaks a finger or toe in a fight shall be exiled for three thousand miles.’ If these wicked servants armed with weapons were to do it, the crime would be even more serious!”
"Furthermore, 'Anyone who fights by slashing or shooting at another with a weapon, and misses, shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane; if the weapon wounds, breaks a person's ribs, blinds them, or causes a miscarriage, the punishment shall be two years of penal servitude.' Mama Xu, you were the instigator. According to the law, 'Among those who commit crimes together, the one who initiates the crime is the ringleader, and those who follow are punished one degree less.' You are the ringleader."③
With each law she recited, her voice grew colder.
The pimps were somewhat hesitant due to their fright—they were all of low social status and knew that the law was even harsher on them; if they really hurt a good man, they would be severely punished, if not killed.
“Furthermore,” Pei Qingwu pointed at Qiantao, “Qiantao’s redemption contract has been drawn up, and it bears your fingerprint. The Miscellaneous Regulations stipulate that the sale of slaves and servants must be documented with a market certificate. Although this is not a sale of slaves, the redemption contract is still a private contract, which conforms to the principle of ‘agreement between two parties to establish a contract’④. Your obstruction at this moment is an attempt to break the contract! Not to mention that you just instructed the evil servant to threaten me, intending to harm a good person, which is already conclusive evidence! I can go straight to the state government office and beat the petition drum to present this contract, and also report your crimes of privately raising armed forces and threatening good people at Zuiyue Tower! Mama Xu, guess, will that young master Cui protect you, or will Magistrate Zhao’s iron ruler of law arrive faster?”
"You...you..."
Mrs. Xu was so shocked by the barrage of legal provisions and the threat of directly contacting the state government that her face turned pale and cold sweat poured down her forehead.
She knew full well that the connection with Young Master Cui was nothing but a bluff. If things really went to court, she would definitely be accused of privately hiring thugs and threatening innocent people. She knew the reputation of Magistrate Zhao and hated such bullying by powerful figures.
Pei Qingwu is a tough nut to crack!
Just as Madam Xu was in shock and caught in a dilemma, the tightly closed door of Zuiyue Tower was suddenly kicked open from the outside.
A biting wind, carrying snowflakes, rushed in instantly, causing the candlelight to flicker erratically.
Gu Heng stood against the wind and snow at the door, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Returning to this familiar place, filled with deep hatred for it, his voice was as cold as ice: "Master, it's getting late, we should go back."
Pei Qingwu made up his mind, no longer looking at Xu's mother who was ashen-faced, and said gently to Qian Tao, "Let's go."
After saying that, she picked up the document with the rouge-stained fingerprint in one hand and took Qian Tao's cold hand in the other. Under Gu Heng's protection, she strode out of Zuiyue Tower into the wind and snow.
Mrs. Xu watched them leave, her lips trembling, but she ultimately dared not utter another word.
The pimps seemed to be nailed to the spot, only daring to move slightly when the wind and snow once again covered the figures of the three outside the door.
Outside the door, it was a world of ice and snow, with a biting wind.
But the hand that Pei Qingwu held tightly, and the cloak that Pei Qingwu draped over her, gave Qian Tao a warmth she had never felt before.
She glanced back at the dim lights of Zuiyue Tower swaying in the wind and snow, then looked at Pei Qingwu's firm and upright back in front of her, and finally couldn't hold back her tears.
Pei Qingwu felt her trembling, turned his head, and gave her a reassuring smile: "It's alright, Qiantao. From now on, the world is vast and you are free."
Gu Heng was instructed to take Qian Tao to settle in, and Pei Qingwu went straight to buy materials. The matter of paying respects to Master Zhang could not be delayed under any circumstances.
Unexpectedly, just as she was returning from buying peas and passing through a small alley, her wrist was suddenly grabbed and pulled into it.
The stench of blood, like rust, filled the air. Pei Qingwu was stunned for a moment before she saw that the person who had pulled her inside was a young man in his early twenties, his face covered with a black cloth, revealing only a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes.
"Master Pei, Zhao Heng, the eldest son of Magistrate Zhao, has encountered an urgent matter and requests your help with a small favor. I will repay you handsomely afterward."
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