Chapter 0138 Loser
As the lights came on, Baibao Street became more and more lively. Even those foreign merchants with big beards and sheepskin coats came out to have fun. They talked business during the day and did whatever they wanted at night. In order to entertain these guests with vulgar preferences, many shops hired young women.
The clerks in a normal small shop are definitely all men, so the reason for hiring women is self-evident.
Qu Yunmie issued a clear order prohibiting the emergence of businesses like brothels, but there were still people doing it secretly. Fortunately, there were people patrolling the city day and night, so there were not many such sneaky businesses, especially those big stores. The reason they were able to get this good opportunity was because Xiao Rong forced them to come here. Later, when they realized what a good business Xiao Rong was giving them, they changed their original attitude and all came to curry favor with Xiao Rong.
They naturally dare not disobey the government and displease the officials above them, but the profit-seeking nature of businessmen will not disappear. Seeing those people making huge amounts of money, they become jealous, so they start to play various tricks.
Hiring female waiters was only one of them. There were also barmaids, song girls, and dancers who were paid by the day, as well as the most popular type among literati - ladies of letters.
Not everyone can be a lady of the court. They have to be good-looking, literate and have a skill. There were such talented women in the past, but once they showed up and became a little famous, they would be bought by wealthy families and hidden away. The ladies of the court on Baibao Street could only be looked at but not bought, because once the risk of human trafficking was involved, patrolling officers and soldiers would come up and inquire about the situation.
Before the chaos began, the nobles had domestic slaves. After the chaos began, many emperors promulgated new laws almost every year in order to consolidate their rule. As a result, the rules of each city were different. Some allowed domestic slaves, while others only allowed the hiring of domestic servants.
In the past, people in Chenliu could buy and sell domestic slaves. Xiao Rong has not yet made it clear whether this is allowed, because too many people would be involved if the law is to be implemented. So he cautiously implemented it on a pilot basis. The first pilot was Baibao Street. The sale of human beings was not allowed on this street. Whether they were waiters or barmaids, they were all employed. The money could be paid monthly or annually, and each employment contract was not allowed to exceed five years.
At this time, this decree had little impact on most shops, because those who could afford to open a shop must have servants already bought at home, but these men and women could only be found from outside.
Xiao Rong's move was to prevent these poor people from being sold like commodities, but some people were determined to follow the customers, and he couldn't just issue an order prohibiting redemption.
The law of yin and yang applies everywhere. The more glamorous and beautiful a place is, the dirtier and more dangerous the side that is not in the spotlight is. At this moment, he was standing on the arch bridge, looking at the long street lights in front of him. He had to admit that it was after the appearance of these women that Chenliu began to feel more like a prosperous city that never sleeps.
It seems that some things will not necessarily get results just because he interferes. After all, the development stages of things have their own laws, and no matter what Xiao Rong does, he cannot change this.
…
Xiao Rong's eyes moved slightly. The arch bridge he was standing on was built not long ago, and the stones on it still had traces of polishing. There were also clumps of snow on the railings of the arch bridge. The wind blew Xiao Rong's cloak, and the edge of the cloak was stained with a little snow.
The cloak carries Xiao Rong's body temperature. If left alone, the snow will melt in a while and Xiao Rong's cloak will also get wet.
So Qu Yunmie stretched out his hand, first brushed off the snow stains on Xiao Rong's cloak, and then raised his ruthless iron palm and slapped it, turning at least three railings into bald spots.
Xiao Rong: “…”
He couldn't help but look at Qu Yunmie.
Facing the same scenery, Xiao Rong could see the results of his hard work, the helplessness in the change, and Jiang Yue’s philosophy of looking forward to the same thing every year. But Qu Yunmie couldn’t get these. The most he could see was that there were so many people on this street, so noisy and annoying. It was already dark, and didn’t these people need to sleep?
…
Although he felt annoyed, he did not move because Xiao Rong was still standing there. Qu Yun Miejue would not leave him more than a forearm's distance before sending him back to the palace safely.
Xiao Rong felt very strange.
Although Qu Yunmie didn't even know the significance of building this street, in a sense, this street was the result of their joint efforts. Xiao Rong was in charge of internal affairs, while Qu Yunmie was in charge of external affairs. One of them worked hard to develop the city, while the other sat firmly in the city like a stabilizing force, deterring those who wanted to make trouble.
In the night, Xiao Rong chuckled. Qu Yunmie's ears moved. He just looked at Xiao Rong and saw Xiao Rong raised his head towards him and asked him seriously: "Qu Yunmie, do you believe in fate?"
Qu Yunmie: “?”
His face was full of confusion. After coming out of the restaurant, it was Xiao Rong who came here to see the night view. How could seeing the night view lead to such profound questions?
After a moment of silence, Qu Yunmie still gave Xiao Rong some face. He thought slowly and finally came to a conclusion: "I don't believe it."
Xiao Rong was stunned.
He really didn't expect this answer: "Don't believe it? You, I... No, I don't believe it at all??"
He actually had a lot to say, but when it really came to his lips, he didn't know how to say it. Strength is indeed the cornerstone of people's success, but you should always admit that among so many people in the world, only you have reached the edge of the emperor, so you must have some luck.
And me, a modern person, who has experienced so many incredible things to come to you, and there is a broken system that forces me to help you, isn't this fate?
The surprise on Xiao Rong's face was too obvious. Qu Yunmie frowned and then explained, "What fate means is that the thing was not supposed to belong to me, but God took pity on me and gave it to me. I don't think any of the things in my hands were given to me as charity. I fought hard to get them all."
Xiao Rong listened, feeling a little strange. He buried half of his face in his cloak, which was covered by a thick layer of cloth. Xiao Rong's voice became much softer: "What about me?"
Did you steal me too?
…
Xiao Rong looked up, the cold air made everything more vivid, so Qu Yunmie had an illusion that Xiao Rong's eyes were becoming more crystal clear.
Being stared at by those eyes, Qu Yunmie opened his mouth and replied: "You are not."
He paused, then added: "You worked hard to get yourself to me, but this can't be considered fate. The first ninety steps for you and me to be together are your credit, and the last ten steps are my efforts."
Xiao Rong fell silent.
What Qu Yunmie said seemed to make sense. The broken system only served as the air ticket, and everything that followed was done by him and the others together. The four words "fate" seemed mysterious and romantic, but in fact, it lightly denied their role. Even if they were destined to have such an experience, then the depths and shallows, joys and sorrows that followed, weren't they still up to them to experience and decide?
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