Chapter 15: Eliminating Evil (5)

Chapter 15: Purging Evil (V)

Zhaozhao was illiterate and did not dare to send the cloth strip directly. She found a tight-lipped old gentleman to help her read it; only after confirming that it contained nothing more than the words she had instructed him to write did she feel at ease. She wrapped the tassel in the cloth strip and entrusted it to a letter carrier to take to Yunzhou City.

Before the letter carrier departed, Zhaozhao increased the price to one tael of silver, specifically instructing him to make it as fast as possible.

Unexpectedly, after the letter carrier left, there were seven or eight consecutive days of relentless torrential rain. The rain struck the ground, kicking up a white mist; it was so heavy it hardly seemed like rain. The already sweltering midsummer felt even more aggravating due to the noisy downpour.

Zhaozhao wasn't exactly annoyed, but she was bothered by the difficulty of traveling on the muddy roads. The letter carrier, who should have returned in a few days, would likely take half a month, meaning her long-awaited hundred taels would be even further delayed. What didn't bother her was that the torrential rain suppressed the lustful hearts of the patrons; the building was exceptionally desolate, which actually made it feel peaceful.

Mother Yu’s account book had not been opened for several days. The "small fish and small shrimp" weren't coming, and even Squire Zhao hadn't appeared. She couldn't sit still any longer and called Zhaozhao over to ask, "Didn't he say he would come every day? Why hasn't he come?"

The other girls were also very concerned: "That's right, Zhaozhao-er. We haven't seen him for days. You might not miss him, but we do."

"You only miss him because you see him as a God of Wealth who scatters money at will," Zhaozhao said. "As for me, I'd prefer it if he never came back at all."

Mother Yu’s face darkened. She wanted to scold her, but it wasn't the right time. "What kind of prostitute holds a grudge against a customer? If Squire Zhao hasn't come for a few days, he might be feeling unwell. We've taken so much of his silver; for the sake of propriety, we should show some concern..."

She selected three sensible and gentle girls, plus Zhaozhao: "If Squire Zhao still doesn't come tomorrow, you all go to his manor to pay him a visit. Take some thoughtful gifts when you go, but don't take any money he gives you when you leave—the gratuity will come from my pocket."

Mother Yu loved money as much as her own life, so it was rare for her to consider using her own funds to win over a client. The next day, someone from the Zhao manor arrived.

Everyone thought Squire Zhao was coming to book the whole house again, but it was actually a Zhao family attendant. He said to Mother Yu, "My master is drinking at Ruyi Restaurant. He finds drinking alone boring and asked Mother to pick a girl to accompany him."

Understanding the intent, Mother Yu simply pushed Zhaozhao forward.

If it were a dark and windy night and she had to go to the Zhao manor, Zhaozhao would certainly refuse; but going to Ruyi Restaurant in broad daylight, she actually found it quite desirable.

Ruyi Restaurant was one of the top restaurants in the county. The patrons were all wealthy merchants and affluent families, and they served only the finest food and wine. Every day at noon and evening, waves of heat would drift from that direction, smelling so delicious it made one's mouth water.

For the past six months, Zhaozhao had been scheming to get people like Butcher Wang or Tailor Li to treat her to a meal at Ruyi Restaurant, but they were too worried about the cost and refused no matter what. Now, things had turned around—Squire Zhao was actively inviting her to accompany him.

Without a word, Zhaozhao accepted the command and left. Mother Yu thought she had finally come to her senses and immediately arranged a carriage to send her. The driver was none other than the self-volunteering Xiao Duo. Fearing something might happen to Zhaozhao on this trip, he said once they were on the road, "I'll wait for you downstairs. If he tries to bully you, just shout out the window, and I'll rush up and teach him a lesson!"

"Good Xiao Duo, don't you worry." The carriage was spacious, even larger than Zhaozhao's bed. She crossed her legs comfortably. "That place is incredibly lively, and the people who go there are all respectable. Would a man surnamed Zhao dare to act wildly? If I start shouting, where would he hide his face?"

Hearing her lighthearted tone, Xiao Duo asked strangely, "Not only are you not afraid, but you seem almost impatient?"

Zhaozhao rubbed her stomach. Ever since Yaoniang had returned, she had been eating nothing but coarse, plain food—at best, vegetable buns with no grease at all. "Squire Zhao might be lustful, but he isn't a stingy man. Since he invited me to accompany him, I should at least be able to get a few bites to eat."

Xiao Duo couldn't help but smile bitterly, sighing inwardly that she was truly thick-skinned; she had forgotten the grievances of the past few days in the blink of an eye. Such a carefree nature made it hard to say whether it was a good or a bad thing.

In about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the carriage pierced through the heavy curtain of rain and arrived beneath Ruyi Restaurant. Upon lifting the curtain, one could see the bright red lanterns in front of the restaurant, along with the intoxicating aroma of oil and wine.

Xiao Duo stated their purpose, and a waiter at the door came forward, leading Zhaozhao upstairs with a smiling manner. Following the waiter, Zhaozhao took in the sights along the way. In the halls and outside the private rooms, she saw several familiar faces—the lewd bastards who would only take their pants off in her building had all become well-dressed, polite gentlemen here.

Arriving outside the private pavilion, the waiter reported quietly. Upon receiving a response, he pushed the door open to invite Zhaozhao in. This time, Zhaozhao wasn't carrying a pipa; she strode inside with her head held high. Squire Zhao, who was drinking alone at the table, was half-drunk. Seeing her arrive so boldly, he laughed tipsily, "Oh, I thought you would be looking quite miserable."

Zhaozhao ignored him and pulled out a chair to sit down. She immediately began inspecting the dishes spread across the table. Looking closely, she only recognized a few small meat dishes made of chicken, duck, goose, or fish, and a few light vegetable dishes. She had no idea what the dishes in the large platters were; they looked so beautiful they didn't even seem like food. She felt that anyone who dared to use chopsticks on them must be a heartless person who didn't cherish beautiful things.

Seeing her eyes gleaming, Squire Zhao thought she must be starving: "After I left the other day, did Mother Yu punish you by withholding food?"

Perhaps it was the sound of the rain outside the window that diluted the stickiness in his voice. Zhaozhao lowered her eyes submissively, and for once, she didn't sound muffled or defiant. "I talked back to you; it was only right that I be punished."

These words sounded like a surrender. Squire Zhao laughed, "Good girl. As long as you are obedient and don't get all worked up with me, how could you suffer? You've been hungry these past few days; eat whatever you like."

Zhaozhao was not polite. She picked up her utensils and buried her head in her food. At first, she was a bit restrained, occasionally exchanging a few words with Squire Zhao. Later, her appetite took over and she had no time to talk; instead, Squire Zhao became the one accompanying her.

Seeing Zhaozhao eating voraciously, he felt a secret sense of disdain. She was indeed a little courtesan who had never seen the world; even if she possessed a spine of poor dignity, she couldn't withstand persistent coaxing. Despite the disdain, he found himself stirred by the vibrant energy she possessed.

The "spring" was the spring of youth. When he was young, he could eat and drink just like her. Now that he was old, even delicacies lost their flavor. He was also like her—unruly and unwilling to cater to superiors, yet forced to flatter and please them.

A pity, he thought. If she were a boy, he could keep her by his side as an attendant or a groom, but since she was a girl, he could only take her to his bed.

Filled with lust, he placed his hand on Zhaozhao's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Once you've finished eating, are you willing to come with me?"

(End of Chapter)