Chapter 151
The matter of the rabbits was settled. Once Luo Biao negotiated with the brothel, he would go to Qingxi Village to find him.
Shen Xuanqing paused, not hiding his hesitation, and then asked, "When I came in just now, I saw all the girls in the brothel holding handkerchiefs. Where do they usually buy them?"
This question surprised Luo Biao. Why would he suddenly bring up handkerchiefs? But he still answered, "I’m not too sure, but a couple of days ago, I heard Hongyao mention something about an embroidery workshop sending people to deliver handkerchiefs. She sent a little maid to the steward’s place to pick some out, so they probably come from the embroidery workshop."
"Brother Shen, why do you ask?" He couldn’t help but inquire. After all, it was quite unusual for a grown man to suddenly ask about embroidered handkerchiefs.
Shen Xuanqing smiled and said, "Guzi does embroidery work. He often comes to town to sell handkerchiefs, fans, and the like. Peddling along the streets is hard work, so I wanted to ask how much the brothel pays for handkerchiefs."
The girls and shuang’er in the brothel couldn’t leave, so they had to rely on deliveries. He wanted to ask about the prices, as he had never done business with women or shuang’er before and wasn’t familiar with it.
"I thought it was something serious. What’s the big deal…" Luo Biao trailed off mid-sentence.
Having been in the brothel for so long, he only realized after speaking that while chickens, ducks, and rabbits for the kitchen were one thing, handkerchiefs were intimate items. Selling them to ordinary people was fine, but selling them directly to the brothel girls would harm Lu Gu’s reputation.
He cursed inwardly - how cruel the world was, treating the brothel’s girls and shuang’er as less than human, and regretted his slip of the tongue. Hurriedly, he picked up the teapot to refill Shen Xuanqing’s cup as an apology. "Brother Shen, don’t take it to heart."
"It’s fine." Shen Xuanqing smiled, unbothered.
Luo Biao thought for a moment and said, "The one delivering the handkerchiefs is probably Zhiyun Embroidery Workshop. I’m a rough man and don’t understand embroidery threads, so I’m not familiar with the workshop. But I’ve heard Hongyao and the others mention that the handkerchiefs aren’t expensive, eight or ten copper coins each when bought in bulk."
"Good, I have an idea now." Shen Xuanqing nodded. Lu Gu only sold a handkerchief for three coppers. It was a shame that respectable families couldn’t easily associate with brothels, or else this price would have been quite good.
With everything said, he didn’t stay much longer and soon got up to leave. There was still work to do back home - firewood had to be stocked up at both the new house and the old one before winter set in, so the livestock wouldn’t freeze and they could keep warm.
Before leaving, he left the four rabbits with Luo Biao so the kitchen staff could inspect them when negotiating the price.
After Shen Xuanqing left, Luo Biao returned home, picked up one of the plump rabbits, and entered the brothel through the small back door. Since Shen Xuanqing had entrusted him with this, he had to get it done quickly.
Truth be told, the reason he could confidently promise to handle this matter was because his standing in the brothel had changed. He had built connections with the accountant and several stewards, earning their trust. Sometimes, he ran errands for the brothel and did well, gaining some status among the guards and enforcers.
And all of this was thanks to the ten taels Shen Xuanqing had given him last year.
He knew that money was for greasing palms (bribery), but Shen Xuanqing had trusted him so completely that he didn’t dare slack off. He had done his utmost to investigate the Li family’s affairs. Ten taels was no small sum, if he had relied solely on his meager brothel wages and occasional tips, it would have taken him a year or two to save up that much.
It was precisely because of this that he had the means to buy gifts and wine to cultivate relationships, gradually carving out a place for himself.
Back then, Shen Xuanqing had given him two steamed buns when his mother was dying. Now, it was again because of Shen Xuanqing’s ten taels that he had managed to rise above the crowd. This debt of gratitude was so great that even if Shen Xuanqing asked him to climb a mountain of blades or brave a sea of fire, he wouldn’t know how to repay it.
The reason Shen Xuanqing had felt comfortable giving him ten taels for bribes was that he knew Luo Biao valued loyalty and would handle things properly. Anyone else, and he would never have given so much.
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Weeding was slow work. They had to be careful not to damage the wheat sprouts, so they couldn’t rush.
As noon approached, Wei Lanxiang went back to cook, leaving Lu Gu and Shen Yan to continue working in the fields. The two of them weren’t afraid of being alone together, and in broad daylight, with other Qingxi Village folks working nearby - including Third Uncle and Third Aunt, there was nothing to worry about.
The sun shone brightly overhead, casting warmth. Lu Gu walked to the edge of the field, picked up the earthen jug, and poured half a bowl of water for himself. After drinking, he called Shen Yan over.
Straightening his back, a breeze blew past, bringing a hint of coolness. He gazed at the vast fields stretching into the distance. With so much land and grain at home, even as winter approached, he no longer felt the fear he once had.
"It’s empty." Shen Yan finished her half-bowl and tried to pour more, only to find the jug dry. She placed the bowl back on its mouth and stood at the edge of the field to rest.
"It’s about time. Let’s go, we’ll drink more when we get back." Seeing how thirsty and hungry she was, Lu Gu picked up the jug and started walking.
"Guzi, Yan Yan." Before they could leave, they heard Shen Xuanqing’s voice calling from a distance, coming to fetch them for lunch. Guaizi had come along too.
Shen Yan spotted Guaizi’s fluffy tail and gave it a stroke, patting his sturdy body. "Even though he’s always running around hunting in the mountains, he never seems to lose weight."
Shen Xuanqing chuckled. Guaizi wasn’t fat, he was just solidly built. Well-fed and with his winter coat thickening, he looked plumper than other dogs.
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