After Doctor Gu finished taking Fanghua's pulse and prescribing medicine, the group left the room with him.
"This young woman needs to rest; she just had a miscarriage. She should eat things that replenish her energy."
The two sisters and their little potato nodded in unison, saying, "I'll listen to whatever the doctor says, I'm sure I'll live to be ninety-eight!"
"What about her superficial injuries?" Chunying asked.
"It's nothing serious. Lingzhi pills can heal broken bones. Just rest well and avoid getting it wet. It should be fine after the New Year."
"mom!"
Cen Ang wiped his hands with a handkerchief as he walked out of the room. Seeing the group of people in front of him, he habitually pulled Huo Xiaolong into his arms and said...
"Dr. Gu has arrived?"
"Yes, a young lady has been injured, so this old man came to take a look."
If it weren't for the fact that it's a brothel, a man in his sixties wouldn't have bothered coming here in the dark and freezing wind in the middle of the night. What if there were some rare herbs or ginseng today? Wouldn't he make a fortune if he found some?
"Who's injured?" Mrs. Cen asked.
The only girls who went out today were Chunying and Liuxu. It's true that Miao Cuifang came back first, but that idiot left her there and went to the kitchen to find something to eat without saying a word. According to Doctor Gu, Cen Ang thought the girl in the building was injured.
"No one is hurt, Mom."
"It's Sister Fanghua!"
Huo Xiaolong wrapped his arms around the woman's neck and whispered in her ear
Cen Ang raised an eyebrow at Chunying. She remembered clearly that these two girls had never gotten along. Their fight was fierce, and the fact that they brought Fanghua back to the building was quite unexpected!
"I... I just happened to see her and brought her back," the girl said haltingly, her expression somewhat unnatural.
"Mom, that corrupt official inside is a real scoundrel, a heartless beast who let Fanghua bully him like that! One day, I'll get lightning to strike him dead!"
Cen Ang knew in his heart that Fanghua had suffered a great deal in Wei Ci, and as long as Chunying did not object to bringing her back, no one else would have anything to say.
The girl's problem is easy to solve, but where did this child in my arms learn to swear so much?
"Where did you learn to talk like that? Girl, a young lady like you shouldn't talk like that."
"At the alley entrance"
There are several large trees at the entrance of Hualiu Lane, the kind that can block out the sun. They look very old, and each tree is surrounded by a flower bed.
In the summer, every evening a group of old ladies or women would gather around gossiping. In the winter, there would be fewer people, only around noon when the sun was out.
Huo Xiaolong discovered this wonderful place a few days after arriving at the brothel. When she was bored and had nothing to do, she would go and hang out with them. The elders in the red-light district all recognized her.
"Then you're not allowed to listen to or learn anything from now on, understand?" Cen Ang earnestly instructed from the side.
"Aww!" the little dumpling replied with a cheerful "Ooh!"
"Did Wei Ci say anything, Mom?"
Cen Ang shook his head and replied.
"Although he's not very bright, he's quite stubborn. Magistrate Wang is still waiting for his reply. Let's give him another day and see what happens."
She placed a dripping water in the darkroom. A normal person would be mentally broken after being locked up for a day. The interrogation should be much easier then.
"Aunt Cen, that little girl outside hasn't left yet!" Er Ya ran over and said.
Two days ago, when the brothel was closing, a little girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, came in. That day, when Wei Ci caused a ruckus at Fanghua Tower, he arrested the madam. Fanghua Tower was leaderless and its members scattered. The girls sneaked into the madam's room, stole their indentures, and burned down their hell.
Only this little girl, carrying her luggage and indenture, knelt at the door of the brothel every night when it closed, begging Cen Mama to take her in. The little girl didn't cause them any trouble, and left on her own when it was almost dawn. I don't know what got into her, she finally escaped one quagmire, only to send herself into another one.
"You're still making her kneel?" Er Ya asked softly.
The nights in the dead of winter are the coldest. This little girl has been kneeling for three days straight. If this continues, her knees and body will be ruined. But she doesn't dare to plead for her in front of Mother Cen. She can only ask for help in a low voice.
"Let her in," Cen Ang said.
There are so many things going on all day long; I don't know what's wrong with this girl's brain.
"Peace be with Mama Cen"
A young girl, dressed in a cotton-padded jacket and wearing a hat, knelt before the woman and greeted her.
"Not too stupid, at least she knows to wear something warm. Tell me, you knelt for three days straight just to come to the brothel and continue being a prostitute?"
"Yes, please ask Mom to take me in."
The young girl took out the contract of indenture from her bundle, presented it with both hands, and then she continued...
"My parents sold me to pay for my brother's dowry. If I go home, I'll be sold again. If I don't go home, I can't survive alone. So, please, Mom, take me in."
"He's quick-witted," Cen Ang thought. "Since I already have so many, adding another one won't make a difference."
"Alright, get up."
The woman took the indenture, raised her hand, and the little girl immediately stood up.
"Hey? Mom, isn't this the maid who serves Fanghua at Fanghua Tower?"
Chunying glanced at the unconscious woman in the room again. After years of arguments, seeing Fanghua so weak all of a sudden was still a bit unsettling for her.
As soon as I came out, I saw the little girl kneeling on the ground. Unlike Fanghua, she didn't like to talk and her face was always gloomy.
"What's she doing here? She finally escaped from Fanghua Tower, why isn't she going home?" Chunying continued to ask.
"She'll just be sold again if she goes back. Fine, let her stay here. She can still serve Fanghua."
It's good that we don't need to assign her any more maids; it saves us trouble.
"There are several brothels outside, why did you choose our Fengyue Tower?" Chunying asked.
The little girl clutched her cotton coat and whispered with her head down.
"Because the girl is jealous of you." The girl refers to Fanghua; that's what everyone in the building calls her.
She continued...
"The girl is never jealous of others. She doesn't even glance at those in the building who compete with her for things. She only argues with you guys."
The little girl's voice grew softer and softer as she recalled how Fanghua had acted like a fighting rooster whenever she saw Chunying, and she felt a little embarrassed.
"Indeed, she's petty," Chunying nodded.
I reckon Fanghua is narrow-minded, even smaller than a pinhole; I'm bound to be a little jealous.
"Jealousy proves you're doing well, so I came..."
This reason is quite simple and unpretentious. A place that can make Fanghua jealous must be a good place. People strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill. Who doesn't want to go to a better place?
"What's your name?" Mrs. Cen asked.
The contract states that she is Li Xiaohua, but it doesn't make sense to use that name in the building.
"My name is Chunqing..."
"Tsk"
Upon hearing the name, Chunying clicked her tongue. What a terrible name! The madam of Fanghua Brothel must only have that kind of thing on her mind all day long. What? Can't she make money off men if she doesn't do *that*? If that's true, no wonder these brothels can't compete with Madam Cen; this is just too low-class.
“Alright, you’ll continue to serve Fanghua for the next few days. Someone will take you to your lodgings tomorrow morning. Just spend the night with her tonight,” Cen Ang said.
"Mother Xie"
The young girl bowed and walked towards Fanghua's room.
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