Chapter 17: Listening to Music

“Lord Han is here, please come upstairs.”

When they arrived at the Li Chun Brothel, the madam, Aunt Fang, immediately attached herself to Han Du’s arm like a sticky plaster.

Xu Lian looked around with curiosity and saw the only brothel in town. The two-story wooden building was old and worn, nothing like the grand golden palaces seen in dramas.

It wasn’t hard to understand. In Green Bamboo Town, a small place where even the common folk were struggling to get by with little food, only a handful of people could afford to spend money here.

Only someone like Han Du, who had more free time during the day, would come here occasionally to pass the time, listen to some music, and relax.

“This is Brother Xu, the new manager of the mine,” Han Du introduced, perhaps wanting to make sure that Xu Lian wasn’t left out.

Aunt Fang gasped dramatically, “Oh my, I didn’t recognize you! How could I have been so blind?” She quickly pushed a brightly dressed woman towards Xu Lian.

A strong scent of perfume wafted into the air, nearly suffocating Xu Lian with the thick makeup. He instinctively raised his hand to keep a little distance and asked in confusion, “Aren’t the girls here supposed to rest during the day?”

Aunt Fang sighed wistfully, “Business is slow at night, so they rest a lot. But how can they not work during the day? A delicate body that doesn’t work will start to rot, you know, with no man to tend to it.”

With a sly, flirtatious smile, Aunt Fang lightly patted Xu Lian’s arm and added, “Manager Xu is young, successful, strong, and has plenty of food and money. You must come here often to support our business!”

Xu Lian reluctantly agreed, “I will definitely come next time.”

They went upstairs.

To the private room.

“As usual, bring all the girls who can sing,” Han Du casually placed a silver ingot on the table.

Aunt Fang happily accepted the silver, knowing that Han Du was only there to listen to music. She didn’t say much, but eagerly looked at Xu Lian and flashed him a flirtatious grin. “Manager Xu, it’s your first time here. Would you like to experience some of the girls’ enthusiasm? We have a lot of variety here. I guarantee it will lift your soul to the heavens!”

Han Du slapped Aunt Fang’s backside, laughing and scolding, “You think the silver I paid isn’t enough? Are you trying to make Brother Xu pay as well? Don’t try to fool him with your old, withered flowers.”

Aunt Fang, holding her backside, bared her teeth but smiled, “Lord Han, you know I arrange everything properly for you every time you come. If you bring a friend, how could I give him the old stuff? Of course, it’s the new arrivals. Some families who ran out of food sent their daughters here. It looks like they won’t be able to redeem them, so…”

Han Du turned to Xu Lian, “Do you want to take a look?”

“No need.”

Xu Lian waved his hand, preferring a genuine mutual relationship like with Xiya and Chan’er rather than anything transactional.

Seeing his hesitation, Han Du smiled and added, “If they’re sent here because their families are starving, they’ll be used by someone else if you don’t take them. But if you take them in, they’ll have a better life.”

Xu Lian hesitated. Han Du’s words made him feel like refusing would be like letting them fall into the flames of hell. Should he save them, or should he simply turn a blind eye?

Seeing the conflict in Xu Lian’s eyes, Han Du chuckled and waved at Aunt Fang, “Bring them over to show Brother Xu, but if they’re not up to par, I’ll let him refuse.”

Xu Lian could tell that Han Du was determined to give him a “home-like” experience.

“I guarantee they look good. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have lent food to these families.”

Aunt Fang patted her chest in confidence and swayed her hips as she went downstairs.

A while later, she returned, bringing with her five or six girls holding pipa lutes and erhu instruments, along with three slightly younger girls who appeared shy.

“What did I tell you three?” Aunt Fang shouted. “Raise your heads!”

The three girls timidly raised their heads, obviously startled when they saw how young Xu Lian was.

Aunt Fang gave Xu Lian another flirtatious smile, “See, Manager Xu, I wasn’t lying to you. These three little ones are really something, especially the one in the middle. Look at her face, her cherry-like lips, those willow leaf brows-she could be chosen as the flower queen of the county in a few years.”

The middle girl seemed to realize that this moment could change her life. Whether she would escape hardship and live a better life depended on Xu Lian’s decision now.

The girl lightly bit her lip, seemingly making up her mind. She took a few steps forward and knelt in front of Xu Lian, looking up at him with longing eyes. “Manager Xu, take me. I will serve you well.”

Han Du sneered, “You’re quite clever.”

The other two girls looked anxious, wanting to step forward and beg, but they were too shy and lacked the courage to do so.

Xu Lian felt a headache coming on. As the assistant manager of the mine, he could afford to take in one more, but he had just brought Chan’er home the day before. Taking in another girl so soon felt a little too fast.

Too many women at home would complicate the matter of their favorability.

He decided to wait until Chan’er’s favorability reached 90/100 before bringing another girl home, which would be easier to manage.

After a moment of thought, he made his decision. He took out three taels of silver and said, “Aunt Fang, I have a proposal. I’ll pay you three taels of silver each month to keep her here. Can you arrange it?”

Everyone in the room was stunned. Was there such an arrangement?

Han Du couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Brother Xu, your ideas are truly unique.”

Aunt Fang’s eyes lit up at the mention of three taels of silver. She didn’t care about the customer’s request; she agreed immediately. “Alright, alright. I’ll keep her here, well taken care of.”

The girl, still kneeling on the ground, was stunned. If he bought her, but didn’t take her home with him, what did this mean?

But she didn’t mind being relieved of the need to take customers; it was still a good thing. She quickly expressed her gratitude, “Thank you, Manager Xu, for your kindness.”

Aunt Fang eagerly asked, “The other two girls aren’t as exceptional as this one, but they’re still pretty good-looking. Do you want them?”

“No, I don’t.”

Xu Lian shook his head.

With Xiya and Chan’er at home, another girl would make things too complicated.

He was different from other men. He valued “quality over quantity”. For instance, when Zhang Yuan was working as a stone worker, he had three women at home; when Liang Yan was an overseer, he had five. As the assistant manager of the mine, he could easily afford ten or eight wives, but he didn’t want to overwhelm himself with too many wives just yet. Too many would affect their quality of life and the favorability ratings.

Although the other two girls were pitiful, he wasn’t a saint. There were too many people in need in the world, and he could only do so much. Taking care of himself was good enough already.

“Alright then.”

Aunt Fang looked a bit disappointed, but took the two tearful girls and left, leaving the one Xu Lian had chosen behind.

The girl quickly stood up and poured some wine for Xu Lian.

Xu Lian glanced at her pretty face and asked, “What’s your name?”

Her voice was soft and sweet. “My parents sold me here in exchange for a sack of grain, so the kindness they gave me is gone. I don’t need my original name. I will just keep the surname Liu. Since Manager Xu took me in, I’m your woman now. Please give me a name.”

At such a young age, she spoke so well… Xu Lian couldn’t help but take another look at her. Her appearance was indeed striking, and Aunt Fang was right when she said that she had the potential to become a courtesan.

“Then I’ll call you Chuntao.”

The girl beamed with joy. “Chuntao thanks Manager Xu for giving me a name. I really like it.”