Chapter 112
This Yahang was not solely in the business of trading people. The boss of the Yahang, surnamed Fang, had once joked with Fang Zichen that they must have been one family five hundred years ago.
Boss Fang had over a dozen men under him and operated a legitimate business, incidents of forced buying or selling had never occurred.
Most of the people in their hands were those whose families had been convicted of crimes, their households confiscated, and they themselves enslaved and sold.
They also 'dabbled in' the business of renting houses and shops.
Xiaohe Village was located in the south, but unlike modern southern regions which rarely see snow, this place was different. Even though it was the south, it was bitterly cold. Throughout the entire winter, it was either drizzling rain or heavy snow falling thick and fast.
When it rained or snowed, the dirt roads inevitably became muddy and slippery.
He had slipped several times. The mud was like strong glue, sticking to the soles of his shoes in a thick layer, weighing eight or nine jin, making every step feel like marching with a heavy load. It was difficult!
Renting a shop meant they would have a permanent place to operate from. On rainy days, they could simply stay inside. And when the bitter winter winds blew, Zhao Ger would no longer have to stand on the street, shivering as he tried to sell his goods.
Matters like helping clients find houses or shops could originally be left to the low-ranking runners, but as Fang Zichen had recently become famous and his future trajectory was still unknown, Boss Fang came personally, thinking to build some rapport.
He didn't dare to deceive him either, selecting shops in very good locations. Since they were in the food business, most of the shops Boss Fang introduced were on West Street and North Street.
These two streets had high pedestrian traffic. South Street and the area near it were different; one was adjacent to the county government office, and the other was mostly populated by pawnshops and cloth shops.
For the food business, it was best to choose a shop in a place with high foot traffic. Although people said the scent of good wine feared no dark alley, if it was too remote, people might not even have caught a whiff of the aroma.
[酒好不怕巷子深 (Jiǔ hǎo bù pà xiàng zi shēn): lit. Good wine fears no deep alley; fig. A quality product needs no advertising.]
After looking at several places with Boss Fang, one location was quite good, situated opposite an intersection with plenty of people. The previous owner had run a bun shop there. The area wasn't large. The former boss, who had lost his son in middle age and was getting on in years, had taken his wife back to the countryside to retire this year.
Short on time, they viewed several places and finally chose a shop on West Street, in a relatively rear section.
Although it wasn't in the most bustling and prosperous area, this shop had a small yard in the back, with a room built alongside it. There was also a well in the yard. Fetching water in town was quite troublesome;one either had to hire a water carrier or fetch it themselves. It was not like in the village, where water was readily accessible. Having their own well on the premises would make their food business significantly more convenient.
This shop was satisfactory. Of course, the price was also 'beautiful'—the rent was over two taels of silver per month.
In a few days, he would have to go to the prefectural city to take the prefectural exam. After the prefectural exam, the Academy Exam would begin in the third lunar month next year.
Once he passed the Academy Exam, he would have to go study at an academy.
For the county exam, prefectural exam, and Academy Exam, he could self-study. But for the subsequent provincial and metropolitan exams, he would still need a Master to guide him.
Fang Zichen never fought battles he wasn't prepared for. Since he was taking them, he was aiming to pass. He never even considered the possibility of failing.
If he wasn't confident, he wouldn't go take the exam!
Failing would be so embarrassing!
Therefore, he probably wouldn't be living in Fu'an Town for long. He only rented it for nine months.
Currently, his pockets were cleaner than his face. He couldn't come up with the security deposit for now, but Boss Fang tipped him off that several people had already shown interest. If he wanted it, he needed to act quickly.
Fang Zichen wasn't afraid of Boss Fang colluding with the property owner to cheat him. Boss Fang, not worried about him reneging on the debt, paid it for him first.
The security deposit and the first month's rent totaled six taels of silver.
They called the property owner, signed the contract, and affixed their fingerprints. To be safe, without a 'witness', they would normally have to make a trip to the government office.
However, leaving aside whether the property owner would dare to go back on his word with Fang Zichen—like suddenly raising the rent midway or refusing to rent—just the fact that he was brought by Boss Fang personally meant the owner wouldn't dare do such a thing, out of respect for Boss Fang.
Fang Zichen thanked Boss Fang, saying, "Uncle, don't worry. Once I go home and get the silver from my fulang, I will repay you immediately."
Boss Fang: "..."
Boss Fang didn't know what expression to make.
Hearing this, he got the feeling that the other party was completely under his fulang's thumb, living in trepidation under his rule.
If it were someone else, they probably wouldn't even voice such a thing, finding it humiliating, but Fang Zichen said it with utter frankness.
"It's fine! You can pay it back anytime. If I can't trust you, then who can I trust?"
Fang Zichen was pleased.
As the saying goes, without money you can't move a step. But with good character, one can get by anywhere.
Hmph!
As expected of me.
The next day at noon, after assigning tasks to Yang Mingyi, Fang Zichen wandered out again.
First, he found Boss Fang to repay the silver he owed from yesterday. Then, pocketing the remaining half tael of silver, he headed towards the south of the city.
There was an alley over there. He had heard before that if anyone wanted to find women or gers for odd jobs, they should go look there.
The shop was rented, but it had been vacant for a long time and needed cleaning and tidying up.
Men weren't usually accustomed to this kind of sweeping and wiping work, and probably wouldn't be as thorough as the women and gers.
At this hour, several women were standing inside Anping Alley. Because they worked night jobs, most of the women were still catching up on sleep at this time. Only a few who hadn't managed to get any clients the previous night were now soliciting business. Seeing Fang Zichen, they immediately waved their handkerchiefs, greeting him with coquettish, tinkling laughter.
"Young master, come and have some fun!"
With a wave of her hand, a strong, cheap rouge scent assaulted Fang Zichen, making him sneeze repeatedly.
He was handsome, with a noble demeanor and a touch of youthful innocence on his face. Although his clothes didn't appear particularly luxurious, they were far better than those of country bumpkins. The women assumed he had sneaked away from his family to seek pleasure. For someone like him, they would even be willing to sleep with him for free.
They were dressed scantily and provocatively, their breasts half-exposed, and arms as pale as lotus roots bare for all to see.
To be honest, to Fang Zichen, a modern man, this attire was much more pleasing to the eye than conservative clothing that covered the body completely, often leaving only the eyes exposed. Yet, even as he found it pleasing, he could not help but feel confused.
This was because he knew this society placed a high value on female 'chastity.' In such a context, dressing in this manner was considered highly improper and utterly indecent.
There was a brothel in town he had passed by a few times, the women soliciting customers at the entrance often dressed like this. How would any respectable woman or wife dare to dress this way?
He had many questions, but he could hardly dictate whether people chose to bare their arms or not.
After all, different lands followed different customs.
Perhaps... the local women here were simply more open-minded?
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