Though they had known each other for a while, Shen Xuanqing had never entered the brothel. Just then, the neighbor, Rong An, stepped out. They were acquainted through Luo Biao and had once shared drinks.
Rong An recognized him. "Brother Shen, here for Luo Biao?"
Shen Xuanqing nodded. "Exactly."
"He probably stayed with Hongyao last night. I’m heading in anyway, I’ll fetch him for you." Rong An was cheerful. Their drinking camaraderie made this small favor nothing.
"Many thanks," Shen Xuanqing said.
The brothel’s side entrance was just across the way. Rong An went in and soon returned with Luo Biao, who was hastily fastening his belt.
Luo Biao wiped his face and grinned. "Brother Shen, didn’t expect you today."
He unlocked the door and gestured for Shen Xuanqing to enter first.
"On duty today?" Shen Xuanqing asked casually.
"Duty’s a nighttime job. Mornings are slow, hardly any troublemakers. Don’t worry." Luo Biao waved it off, inviting him to sit while he went to the kitchen to wash his face.
Shen Xuanqing set the bamboo basket down, glancing at the plump rabbits huddled inside. The two he’d sold earlier had both gone for forty-five coppers.
When Luo Biao returned, he asked, "Eaten yet, Brother Shen?"
Noticing the fat gray rabbits, he praised, "Your hunting skills keep improving, you could catch them alive."
Shen Xuanqing smiled. "Actually, I bred these. Caught a few breeding rabbits earlier, and these are their offspring, now grown enough to sell."
"Ah, I see." Luo Biao wasn’t embarrassed by his mistaken assumption. He picked up the teapot but found the water was cold and set it down. "I’ll go buy some meat buns. Anything else you’d like?"
"I’ve already eaten at home. Don’t trouble yourself," Shen Xuanqing said.
Luo Biao nodded and left with the teapot, returning with six large buns and a refilled pot.
Though he’d eaten, Shen Xuanqing accepted one bun out of courtesy.
After wolfing down a bun and easing his hunger, Luo Biao didn’t wait for questions before sharing what he knew about the Li family.
Li Mingshan, with his beautiful wife and concubine, hadn’t visited the brothel in a while. Five or six months ago, Luo Hongchou and Lu Wen had become pregnant one after another, bringing days of celebration to the Li family. The old madam had gone to the temple to give thanks, distributing alms along the way, even beggars received lucky coins.
"Say what you will, but that Li boy’s luck is something else," Luo Biao remarked with a sigh. Offspring were important to any family, and at his age, still unmarried, he couldn’t help feeling a twinge of envy.
With his wife and concubine both pregnant, Li Mingshan had stayed home for over a month before sneaking back to the brothel four months ago, visiting every few days.
The courtesans, having received Luo Biao’s incentives, used all their charms to please Li Mingshan, ensuring his utmost satisfaction. He often spent nights there.
Their efforts weren’t solely for Luo Biao’s sake, they had also profited handsomely from Li Mingshan, skimming extra silver for themselves despite the madam’s strict oversight.
Once, after three straight days in the brothel, Li Mingshan was dragged home by the Li family’s steward and guards. The scene had been chaotic. Li Mingshan, naked and entwined with a courtesan, had been rudely awakened when the door was kicked in. He had cursed the steward vehemently but was still hauled back.
Li Mingshan’s exploits were easy to track, but Lu Wen, as a pregnant shuang'er, had rarely been seen outside since his marriage, likely ashamed of his status. Details about him were harder to come by.
Hearing this, Shen Xuanqing guessed a thing or two. Given Lu Wen’s pride, he wouldn’t have stooped to concubinage without coveting wealth. Now, with Li Mingshan carousing in brothels despite his pregnancy, Lu Wen must be miserable.
Shen Xuanqing had no ties to Lu Wen anymore. If not for last year’s threats, he wouldn’t have asked Luo Biao to intervene.
He wasn’t a saint. Knowing Lu Wen was unhappy gave him a sliver of satisfaction.
"Brother Shen, birds of a feather flock together. I just had Hongyao and the others squeeze more money out of Li Mingshan, but after running with his dissolute friends, he’s picked up gambling. Two weeks ago, I saw him at the gambling house."
Luo Biao took a sip of tea, grinning. "He doesn’t know me, but I know him. Us nobodies get ordered around, treated like dirt by those young masters. Little do they know, we’ve got their number."
"They say whoring, gambling, drinking, and gluttony are life’s four banes, but look at Li Mingshan, he has hit them all. He’ll never amount to anything." Lowering his voice, he added, "I heard Miss Yu’s been seeing doctors lately but won’t say what’s wrong. Even the brothel barely knows. She didn’t win the courtesan ranking before, but she’s just as pretty. Yesterday, her maid asked me about Li Mingshan’s preferences. Poor thing just wants to earn enough to buy her freedom someday, so I helped."
Luo Biao chuckled.
Li Mingshan, constantly flattered in the brothel, had briefly reformed after marriage, convincing his mother to let him manage family affairs. Now with more money, he spent even more recklessly, what courtesan wouldn’t eye him? Luo Biao had merely given a nudge, the rest was up to Miss Yu.
Shen Xuanqing smiled faintly but didn’t dwell on it. Bad habits, once entrenched, were hard to uproot. If unchecked, they’d spiral out of control.
But it was too early to say. As long as Lu Wen stayed quiet and didn’t incite Li Mingshan against them, Shen Xuanqing wouldn’t interfere. Everyone had their own fate.
"I came today to ask another favor." He raised a hand to stop Luo Biao from refilling his tea.
"Just name it, Brother Shen." Luo Biao set the pot down.
"The brothel serves food. I’m raising more rabbits, chickens, and ducks now, especially rabbits. If you could help negotiate a deal with them, I’m flexible on price. If they’re not interested, I’ll find another buyer."
"Is that all? Consider it done." Luo Biao agreed readily.
Shen Xuanqing cupped his hands in thanks, but Luo Biao laughed it off, saying he was being too formal, they were brothers, after all. He even jokingly "penalized" him with another cup of tea.
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