Picking Up the Old Trade (Part 2)

The private room in the teahouse was decorated in a fresh and elegant style.

While waiting for the entertainer, Shen Tang played with a teacup on the tea table. As a child with mild hyperactivity, she wasn't accustomed to overly quiet environments. Seeing the shopkeeper also spacing out and killing time, she couldn't help but ask a question that had been on her mind for a while.

"Shopkeeper, I have a question. I wonder if you can answer it."

The shopkeeper, his thoughts not yet having drifted too far, was immediately pulled back to reality by her words. He joked, "What can't I answer? As long as you don't ask about my wife and me, young lady."

Shen Tang: "..."

She didn't want to understand that immediately either.

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Who wants to know about your intimate moments with your wife!

Seeing Shen Tang's strange and complex expression, the shopkeeper suddenly realized that the artist before him was still a young lady of eleven or twelve. No matter how exquisite her painting skills were, or how proficient she was at drawing erotic pictures, he shouldn't have made such a suggestive joke. He quickly skipped over the topic and asked instead, "What were you saying just now, young lady? You have a question, right? Feel free to ask, I will tell you everything I know."

Shen Tang asked, "Why would the county government encourage this kind of business? Shouldn't public officials avoid suspicion?"

They're even leading the development of this industry. I've never heard of such a thing.

The shopkeeper thought it was just a trivial question.

Hearing it was a common, basic question, he was instead a bit surprised by Shen Tang's "innocence." This was common knowledge known by everyone. Thinking about it, this young lady was beautiful, had an extraordinary aura, her hands showed no signs of rough labor, and she possessed excellent painting skills. She must have come from a wealthy family before her fall. It was normal for her family to protect her from knowing about these sordid affairs.

With this in mind, his gaze towards Shen Tang held a bit more pity. This young lady must be living too difficult a life to come out looking for work drawing erotic pictures. If this job goes smoothly, I can keep other drawing commissions from the bookstore for her in the future.

He took a sip of tea and sighed again, "Well, that's a long story. There have been many natural disasters and wars these years, and the people can't make a living. Those with fields are afraid to plant, fearing being robbed by bandits. Those without fields are even more likely to starve to death. Tell me, if the officials can't even eat or stay warm, how can they afford to raise many children?"

Shen Tang shook her head, "Naturally, they can't afford it."

The shopkeeper said, "So, if they can't afford to raise them, they either abandon them or sell them. The county government saw that this wouldn't do, so they decided to build more brothels and entertainment houses, where people could sing, dance, and entertain. This would attract more merchants and travelers, bringing in money. Secondly, it would provide a place for these children. Thirdly, with such heavy taxes, it would help fill the gaps. Otherwise, if the higher-ups demand tax revenue and the county government can't produce it, they'll be in trouble. By doing this, they called it... killing multiple birds with one stone."

Shen Tang's expression changed upon hearing this.

She held back her disgust, feeling sickened.

She asked, "Is that really what the county government means?"

The shopkeeper pointed in the direction of Xiaocheng's center.

He lowered his voice and leaned in, saying, "Of course. The notices say so. What these nobles think, how can we common folk comment? To be honest, if there were no wars, none of this would be happening! Now that things are like this, selling sons and daughters into brothels and entertainment houses is considered a blessing from these nobles."

Due to the special circumstances and the county government's strong encouragement, other businesses in Xiaocheng were not doing well, except for the brothels and entertainment houses, which were making a fortune. Their business was booming every day.

The common people, unable to survive, were forced to sell their children. The money they received wasn't even enough to cover a family's expenses for a month, but it enriched the human traffickers and the brothels and entertainment houses. With more children being sold, these establishments had a wider selection and could be more discerning, colluding to drive down prices. The parents could only sell their children tearfully at a low price.

A child with a decent appearance could be taken away for at most one or two hundred copper coins, and their future fate depended entirely on luck.

After speaking, the shopkeeper felt indignant and sighed. Glancing at Shen Tang, who was lost in thought, he suddenly realized he had said too much to a child and immediately tried to salvage the situation: "Alas, all that is in the past. It's hard enough just to survive in this world now."

Whether it was enduring hunger, displacement, or staying in a brothel and entertaining guests, the choice was not in the hands of the poor common people. Lives were cheaper than grass, so there was no room for choice.

At least staying in a brothel meant having a life. If heaven was kind and bestowed beauty, one could become a top courtesan and live a life of luxury. Even if they died young, it could be considered "having enjoyed life." The fear was being murdered by thugs, being dragged to the battlefield as cannon fodder, or nervously tending a few acres of barren land, working hard all year round and relying on the weather, only to have the whole family starve to death in the end.

Shen Tang felt it was too heavy.

Seeing her sad expression, the shopkeeper tried to change the subject and asked her, "Guess how many male brothels there are among the brothels and entertainment houses spanning five long streets?"

Shen Tang had no idea.

She casually said, "Half and half?"

The shopkeeper shook his head, "Male brothels make up this much!"

He gestured a "seven."

Meaning seventy percent.

Shen Tang: "..."

The shopkeeper began a Q&A session with himself.

"You must be curious why, right? The answer isn't difficult. Do you know that the person currently in power was once a 'favorite concubine' of the King of Xin Kingdom? He had a nickname called 'Nü Jiao.' As soon as he appeared, he attracted countless envious gazes, and male brothels in the private sector also increased, with business getting better and better. Look, he's now the ruler of a nation." He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "How amazing!"

He was practically awarding Zheng Qiao the "Most Inspirational Male Consort in History" award.

To be a male lover to that extent, who wouldn't say "Impressive!"

Zheng Qiao also became the idol and god of male brothel entertainers.

Shen Tang: "..."

Not long after, rhythmic knocking came from outside the private room.

The shopkeeper got up to open the door. Three strangers stood outside, two tall and one short. The one in the middle wore a veil, his face covered by black gauze, and on either side stood two tall, fierce-looking guards.

Needless to say, the person in the middle was the main character.

After entering the private room, he removed the veil, revealing a pale, delicate, and somewhat sharp face. He looked less like a man and more like a slightly immature youth. His gaze swept over Shen Tang. Seeing no one else, he asked the shopkeeper, "Where is the artist?"

Shen Tang raised her hand, "I'm here!"

Without even looking at Shen Tang, he unleashed his anger on the shopkeeper, "Did I give you too little money? You're trying to fob me off with such a young, inexperienced girl? Do you know how important that drawing is?"

The shopkeeper didn't expect this entertainer to have such a temper, but for the sake of business, he could only bow and try to appease him, vouching for Shen Tang, "Don't let her age fool you, her painting skills are no worse than those of the previous artists."

Shen Tang nodded in agreement.

After all, she used to make a living from this craft.

Trust her professional ability!

Upon hearing this, the person carefully examined Shen Tang.

At this moment, Shen Tang had already stood up. The Literary Heart hanging at her waist drooped with her movements, its transparent surface faintly shimmering with iridescent colors under the light. The youth was startled and suddenly changed his tune, "Alright then, let this person give it a try. If I'm not satisfied, I'll find someone else! However, I have a condition!"

Shen Tang said confidently, "Please, go ahead."

The youth said, "You must use the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone I provide to paint."

Shen Tang heard this and immediately agreed, seeing it as a good thing.

The sky was dark and the stars boiled.

Qi Shan felt like something was missing all day.

Hearing the familiar footsteps from next door again, he knew that Young Master Shen had returned. He glanced at the new books he had collected on his desk, thought for a moment, and carrying them, knocked on Shen Tang's door.

Shen Tang had just finished the draft and was about to start painting.

"Wait a moment, I'll be right there."

Shen Tang got up to open the door.

"Is something the matter, Yuan Liang?"

Saying this, she moved aside to let Qi Shan in.

"I borrowed a few copied manuscripts from a friend. See if there's anything you need..." Before he finished speaking, without even putting down the booklets, he saw the work spread out on Shen Tang's table and exclaimed, "Young Master Shen, this 'painting' in the arts of Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, who is the 'expert' who taught you?"

The paper depicted a person with a large black round head, a body drawn with crooked strokes, looking like a twisted pretzel, lying on what might be a "lounge chair."

A bulge sat atop its head, unclear if it was a bun or a flower pinned to its hair. Its "right hand" clutched a round fan, while its left hand hung down... it looked like a person lying on a chaise lounge, trying hard to strike a pose, with all the curves and bulges in place.

The style was crude and bizarre, yet it exuded an inexplicable sensuality.

The key was that there wasn't just one "person" on the white paper. Looking at them in sequence, the figures' actions progressed from undressing to climbing onto a bed to strike a pose. The unfinished scene seemed to be introducing a second strange "person"... He could sense a strange "anxiety" in the atmosphere.

Qi Shan...

He really couldn't bring himself to call this "painting" with a clear conscience.