Having received an affirmative answer, Yuedie began to plan what she and her sisters knew.
"That maid is skilled in dancing and has some knowledge of the zither; the eldest sister is skilled in music and can play all kinds of tunes at will; the third sister is skilled in making clothes, and all the clothes we wear are made by her. The third sister also knows chess and can paint; the fourth sister is also skilled in dancing, but she is even more skilled in sword dancing."
"Why does Miss San ask this?"
Ning Yao asked, "If I gave you a chance to use your beauty to please others in a different way, would you be willing?"
Tingyun and Yuedie exchanged a glance, and Tingyun asked, "What do you mean by using one's looks to please someone in a different way?"
Ning Yao replied, "Would you be willing to use your talents and skills, your strengths, to please customers, instead of selling your bodies?"
A flash of surprise appeared in Tingyun's eyes at first, but then she calmed down.
There are hardly any good things in the world, but now that the choice is right in front of them, how could they not be excited?
The four women knelt down: "We beg the Third Miss to enlighten us."
Ning Yao raised her hand: "Get up, let's go talk over there."
Pinglanlou is a three-story wooden building. The first floor is a place for drinking and merrymaking, and in the middle there is a huge round platform for the girls of Pinglanlou to perform.
The second floor consists of private rooms where girls entertain guests with drinks and merrymaking.
The third floor houses the girls' rooms, the purpose of which is self-evident. Moreover, only girls like Yue Die and Ting Yun are qualified to stay in the rooms on the third floor.
Of course, the guests they entertain are also carefully selected.
They found a spot on the second floor and sat down to continue their conversation.
"I've learned quite a bit about Pinglanlou now. There are only a few of you here. Why don't we make preparations first, and then reopen when things are more or less ready?"
Tingyun asked, "How do we do it?"
Ning Yao said leisurely, "No rush. You all guard this Pinglan Tower well first. I will come back another day and we can talk in detail."
"As for your daily food and drink, I will have Zhilan deliver them on time, so you don't need to worry."
Tingyun and the others were overjoyed. As long as they could resolve their current predicament, everything would be fine.
"Thank you, Third Miss!"
Ning Yao stood up, straightened her sleeves, and said, "You are only making a living at Pinglan Tower, and you have not sold yourselves to my family, so you are not slaves. From now on, you don't need to refer to yourselves as slaves, understand?"
"clear!"
When Ning Yao left, Xiang Ning was still squatting outside the door, holding her things.
The weather in mid-March wasn't cold, and the stubbornness in the little girl's eyes touched Ning Yao.
"Don't you want to leave?" Ning Yao asked.
Xiang Ning nodded honestly: "No, I want to be with my sisters."
Ning Yao said, "Fine, since Pinglanlou is no longer doing those businesses anyway, you staying here won't be a waste of their kindness."
"Go inside and follow your four older sisters well. They'll help me make a lot of money in the future!"
Xiang Ning blinked, tears still clinging to her long eyelashes, and asked blankly, "Really? I can stay?"
Ning Yao looked at the child and felt that she was a bit simple-minded and silly.
"Of course it's true, aren't you going in?"
Xiang Ning was overjoyed, grinned broadly, and bowed deeply to Ning Yao: "Thank you, Miss!"
"Go inside quickly!"
Xiang Ning ran inside, stopping as soon as she stepped one foot over the threshold.
Ning Yao was a little curious, and the next second she saw her retract her foot, turn around and return to her.
"Since Miss has allowed me to stay, I cannot accept this silver and food. I will return them to Miss!"
Zhilan instinctively reached out to take it, but Ningyao stopped her.
"Fine, keep the grain, give me the silver."
Xiang Ning obediently handed ten taels of silver to Zhi Lan, thanked her, and carried the grain into the Pinglan Tower.
Ning Yao shook her head and laughed, "This girl is too honest."
Zhilan chimed in, "It's because Miss is kind-hearted."
"Let's go check out the restaurants and inns."
"yes!"
The three set off again, heading towards the restaurant.
"I see you're quite interested in Pinglan Tower, why don't you become its manager in the future?"
Hua Yan looked up, her face full of surprise: "Are you talking about me, young lady?"
Ning Yao nodded: "That's right. Although I don't know what a Red Kite is, you come from Nanyuan, so you must know a bit about things here, right?"
Hua Yan's face twisted for a moment, and she said with a hint of embarrassment and anger, "Miss Ning knows very well what I can do, so don't make fun of me!"
Ning Yao was taken aback, then frowned: "What are you thinking? My Pinglan Tower is not a brothel, but it is still a place for romance and pleasure. Does Nanyuan not have any places that do not engage in prostitution?"
"As for your situation, I understand it perfectly well. Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
Hua Yan instantly calmed down and understood what she meant, feeling somewhat embarrassed: "I'm sorry, I misunderstood."
Ning Yao waved her hand irritably: "Forget it, let's talk about this when we get back!"
Ning Yao stopped talking and began to close her eyes to rest.
Hua Yan noticed her unpleasant expression and hesitated to speak.
Not long after, the carriage stopped at the restaurant.
Zhilan's voice rang out: "Eh? What's Young Master Shen doing here too?"
Shen Ci'an said, "I'll wait for my sister."
Zhilan, unsuspecting, replied, "Is that so? Miss is in the carriage. Please wait a moment, Young Master Shen."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Yao lifted the car door curtain and appeared.
Shen Ci'an's eyes lit up, and he reached out to help her.
Ning Yao waved her hand, said no need, and then nimbly jumped down from the carriage.
Shen Ci'an pursed his lips and withdrew his hand.
What are you doing here?
Hearing Ning Yao take the initiative to ask him a question, he smiled and said, "When Father heard that my eldest sister was pregnant, he went to the manor. When he heard that you had come to the city, I came to find you."
Ning Yao was dazzled by his smile and softened her voice, "Is there something you need?"
She didn't ask Shen Wei how he knew Shen Cile was pregnant; she knew without a doubt that Shen Ce had told her.
Shen Ci'an stood beside her and said in a low voice, "My cousin has been found. My father and I will be returning to the capital with him soon. I came to tell you today."
Ning Yao couldn't help but glance at him, not expecting him to bring up Shen Ce on his own initiative.
She feigned surprise and asked, "What is he doing in Licheng?"
Shen Ci'an followed up with her words, saying, "I don't know. There must be a reason why he's here, but he'll be leaving soon."
He didn't mention Ning Qiong. The Ning family didn't want to attract attention, so he pretended not to know. Anyway, his cousin didn't intend to tell anyone about Ning Qiong.
Ning Yao said seriously, "It really is time for him to leave. The capital is in such a mess, it wouldn't make sense for him not to go back."
Shen Ci'an smiled and did not expose her.
I didn't know about her abilities before, but after hearing my cousin's words last night, I realized that this person in front of me is really formidable!
As they talked, the group entered the restaurant.
The restaurant was nearly empty, looking rather desolate.
Upon seeing someone enter, the clerk at the counter immediately perked up: "What would you like to eat? We have..."
"This is the new owner's house. Where is your manager?"
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