Chapter 7 Assessment

As they spoke, the little girl Xinying also woke up, her face showing the drowsiness of having just awakened, making her quite adorable. Upon seeing her surroundings, a deep sense of melancholy appeared on her face. Liu Liwa sighed silently; these two young women, in the prime of their youth, accustomed to a life of luxury and privilege, now found themselves in such a predicament, truly a cruel twist of fate.

Liu Liwa's ramblings are ultimately meaningless; in fact, he knows that with Qin Wan'er’s beauty, it is certain she would end up in a brothel, albeit in a high-class establishment

Although this statement refers to men, the other young ladies are also listening attentively. Despite all coming from affluent backgrounds, their qualities vary; not every well-bred young lady is necessarily a beauty, and in the brothel, one does not have to be attractive to succeed, but lacking in looks will certainly lead to failure. Therefore, among these young ladies, some will inevitably be eliminated, relegated to tasks such as washing clothes, cooking, serving tea, or even acting as servants to assist the ladies to the toilet. This situation leaves them feeling both angry and helpless.

In the center of the hall, a woman sat at the table, her curvaceous figure resembling a large gourd, which made her even more enchanting amidst the books. Today, she had her dark hair tied up in a woman's bun, indicating that she was already married. Her bright eyes were both kind and captivating, embodying a blend of maturity and charm. This left Liu Liwa somewhat puzzled; what kind of person could possibly win the hand of such a courtesan?

Yang Xiaosi's voice was not small; it was not only directed at Liu Liwa but also intended for others, especially the young masters. Upon hearing it, their faces changed dramatically. In this era, a gentleman stays away from the kitchen. For a man to wash clothes and cook is considered a great humiliation, especially for those of noble birth. Yang Xiaosi's words made them all extremely anxious and focused, as they were determined to pass the most important test of their lives. When Yang Xiaosi and Liu Liwa exchanged knowing glances, although no words were spoken, everyone understood that this was a signal to Liu Liwa that only Yang Xiaosi would protect him. With so many people around, the task of washing clothes and cooking would naturally not fall upon him.

When meeting someone, a smile is always welcome. Yang Xiaosi, upon seeing him, couldn't help but recall the exquisite satin garment from last night, which had indeed been pawned for twenty taels of silver at the gambling house on West Street. With this money, Yang Xiaosi was set to make a significant profit, enough to cover half a year's salary. He regarded Liu Liwa as a good luck charm and immediately smiled, patting him on the shoulder like an old acquaintance, saying: "Oh, Brother Xiao Qi, how are you? Did you sleep well last night?"

Wu Liniang slowly stood up, her gaze sweeping over Yang Xiaosi and directly landing on the faces of the young gentlemen and ladies. Noticing some with traces of tears and others with furrowed brows, Wu Liniang slightly frowned and sighed softly, deciding not to say more to add to their troubles. She went straight to the point: "Ladies and gentlemen, from today onwards, you will all be members of my Zui Xin Lou. Each person has their own position. Zui Xin Lou has clear rewards and punishments; those who are diligent will be treated accordingly, while those who are lazy will face different consequences. Now, I will conduct an assessment. Our Zui Xin Lou opens its doors for business, and to us, customers are like the Jade Emperor. Therefore, attracting business and serving customers is your duty. Do you see the flow of people on the street outside? In a moment, each of you will go out, find a passerby at random, and as long as you can bring them into my Zui Xin Lou, even if they only drink a cup of wine, you will pass the assessment. It is the same for both men and women. Who will go first?"

Upon hearing such a call, Liu Liwa instinctively looked around, feeling as if the foreman had come to summon them, and he needed to find a hard hat to get to work quickly! Meanwhile, Qin Wan'er and Xin Ying both wore expressions of tension and seriousness, but even if they were reluctant, they had no authority to make decisions at this moment

The three of them sat in silence, yet this could not prevent the tragic life from beginning now. After a simple grooming, they heard Yang Xiaosi's voice from outside the door: "Get up, get up! This is not a place for you to sleep in. Hurry up, the landlady is waiting in front. If you're late today, don't even think about having a meal!"

Although the two women were reluctant, Liu Liwa was filled with joy. Upon arriving in this world, they were assigned jobs, with provisions for food, housing, and room allocation. This was far better than the exhausting struggles of later generations to find connections for buying a house. Although they were serving others, it was certainly much better than serving the two inhumane figures, Furong and Fengjie.

Yang Xiaosi's words once again informed them that their identities had changed dramatically, undoubtedly rubbing salt into the wounds of their bloodshed and losses. The young masters and ladies wore expressions of deep concern, yet could not help but quicken their pace in the queue. Liu Liwa seized the opportunity to step forward, smiling broadly as he clasped his fists and said: "Fourth Brother, good morning!"

Well, well, thanks to Brother Si! Liu Liwa is indeed sweet-tongued; every day after finishing with the hibiscus, he still has to praise Fengjie, honing his skill in flattery to perfection

In the courtyard outside the door, Yang Xiaosi was shouting impatiently at the entrances of the two side rooms, exuding a certain air of a foreman. On either side were the young masters and young ladies who had just arrived yesterday, each one still bleary-eyed, some even sporting dark circles under their eyes. The environment was likely worse than the quarters of the servants in their own homes. Yang Xiaosi paid no heed to their feelings and impatiently grabbed a young master who had only put on half of his sleeve, pulling him directly in front of him, and said: "Hurry up and line up. What, are you all waiting for me to serve you with washing and changing?"

At this moment, everyone had completed their preparations. Yang Xiaosi waved his hand grandly and led the group through the rooms to the front hall. In an instant, the arrogant Yang Xiaosi reverted to a servile demeanor, hunching his back and lowering his gaze, which caused those behind him to feel disdain. However, this was soon replaced by a sense of bitterness.

Yang Xiaosi is essentially a servant, a sycophant who usually only flatters others. Now, hearing such delightful words directed at himself brings him immense comfort, and the smile on his face resembles a blooming rose. He pulls Liu Liwa aside and says, "Xiao Qi, make sure to prepare well. Later, the boss's wife will personally conduct a trial for you. Your future work will depend on your performance. Especially for men like us, if we perform well, we will naturally be assigned to work in the front, receiving guests. If luck is on our side, we might even receive generous tips from affluent patrons. If we save up a few, and once the commotion settles, there might be a chance for you to buy your freedom and regain your liberty. However, if you perform poorly, you will be relegated to work in the back courtyard, washing clothes and cooking for the girls, doing menial and laborious tasks. So, brother, you must put in your best effort!"

At this moment, Wu Liniang was staring blankly at the bustling street outside, lost in thought. It was only when she heard footsteps that she came to her senses. Yang Xiaosi had already approached her and bowed, saying, "Madam Boss, everyone has arrived"