The following day at noon.
Flower-Between Pavilion )
As soon as the third tread of the stairs was pried open, Pu Yunshan saw that the tenon inside was completely rotten.
He placed his toolbox at his feet, first using a short chisel to chip away at the rotten wood bit by bit, then picking out a piece of straight-grained pine from the wood he had brought, and using a plane to smooth the edges.
Sunlight streamed in through the windows on the second floor of the Flower-Between Pavilion, falling onto the floor so bright that even the dust was clearly visible.
Pu Yunshan touched the empty money pouch, his fingertips brushing against a few copper coins inside, but the plane in his hand didn't stop.
The five hundred taels of silver notes went out too quickly yesterday. He didn't realize it until he returned to the south of the city. The money for the piglets' feed was gone, and even the money to treat Tuoba Mang to a bowl of mutton soup had to be postponed.
But the IOU at the entrance of the Flower-Between Pavilion, the knife in Master Ma's hand, and Qin Hongxiu's words "Young master, don't worry about it" when she stood in front of him kept replaying in his mind.
Money can be earned again.
When people are forced into that situation, you can't just ignore them.
"Tap gently!"
The madam stood at the top of the stairs, a handkerchief in her hand, her eyes practically rolling to her forehead.
"The girls in the building were entertaining clients until midnight last night and didn't go to sleep until dawn. If you make two more noises with this hammer, they'll all come after me."
Pu Yunshan raised his head.
Yesterday, when he took out five hundred taels, the madam was all smiles, serving him tea and snacks, and even calling him " Young Master Pu " sweetly.
Today, the silver notes are gone, and so are the teacups.
"The wood needs to be nailed securely."
"Then shut up and get to work."
The madam turned and started walking downstairs, but turned back halfway down.
"Get out of here after you're done. Don't use the Prince's order as a pass. Flower-Between Pavilion doesn't owe you any favors."
Pu Yunshan gripped the hammer handle and ground his molars.
The people here change their minds faster than turning the pages of a book.
Qin Hongxiu has lived here for so many years, and she sees countless faces like this every day.
The sounds of girls laughing and joking came from downstairs, mixed with the noise of patrons banging on tables and urging for music. The scent of perfume and aged wine wafted up from the corridor, making Pu Yunshan's nose feel uncomfortable, but he hammered the Dingzi in his hand even more steadily.
He embedded the new wooden board, stepped on it a few times to test it, and only after confirming that it wouldn't wobble did he put away his tools.
" Young Master Pu."
Footsteps sounded behind me.
Pu Yunshan turned around, his hands still covered in sawdust.
Qin Hongxiu stood under the eaves, not wearing her usual red dress, but only a worn-out coarse cloth dress. Her hair was loosely tied up with a wooden hairpin, and she had even taken off her earrings.
She was holding a bowl of clear soup noodles, with a few green vegetables floating on top and barely any oil.
Pu Yunshan looked at her empty earlobes, his throat tightening.
Why are you dressed like that?
"Clothes are fine as long as they're wearable."
Qin Hongxiu placed the bowl of noodles on the small table by the window, rubbed her fingers on the hem of her skirt a couple of times, and then took out a faded old purse from her sleeve.
"Yesterday's events were caused by Hongxiu, young master."
She stuffed the purse into Pu Yunshan's arms.
Pu Yunshan felt a thin piece of paper inside his hand, and when he looked down, all the wood shavings in his palm had fallen to the ground.
The five-hundred-tael silver note was folded neatly.
Where did you get it from?
Qin Hongxiu did not answer, but turned her face to the window.
Downstairs, someone was shouting for drinks; even through two floors, the clinking of glasses could be heard.
"Last night I begged my mother to pawn all the jewelry I'd saved up over the years, and I also changed the lease agreement from a live contract to a three-year fixed contract."
As she finished speaking, her voice became so soft it almost faded away.
"Once the Caoyun Gang receives the money, the IOU becomes invalid."
Pu Yunshan clutched the silver notes, his palm burning hot.
"You sold yourself for three years to pay back my five hundred taels?"
"Young master's money should be left for him to settle down and make a living."
Qin Hongxiu raised her face, her eyes red-rimmed, and several messy red marks remained on her neck.
She tugged at her collar, trying to cover herself, but then lowered her hand halfway up.
" Hongxiu's life is lowly; enduring three more years won't hurt. We absolutely cannot let such a pure person as you, sir, perish."
Pu Yunshan stood still, a surge of heat rising straight up from his chest.
The internal energy in his meridians was out of control, causing his arm to go numb.
Having practiced swordsmanship on Mount Qingcheng for over a decade, Pu Qinghe taught him that drawing the sword should be steady, striking accurately, and that the sword should not be disrupted by a few soft words.
But Qin Hongxiu, dressed in a coarse cloth skirt, carried a bowl of clear soup noodles and brought back the five hundred taels he had thrown away yesterday, and told him that she had been selling herself for three years.
How can he maintain his composure?
"Get up."
Qin Hongxiu stepped back, her skirt falling to the ground, and knelt down properly before him.
" Hongxiu Xie thanks you for saving my life."
Pu Yunshan's hand crumpled the silver note, and he bent down to help her.
"I didn't expect you to repay me like this."
"How will you repay Hongxiu, young master?"
Qin Hongxiu looked up at him, her eyelashes wet with tears.
Pu Yunshan's hand froze in mid-air, his ears burning, and it took him a long time to finally utter a sentence.
"Get up first, the ground is cold."
Qin Hongxiu helped him stand up, her fingertips brushing against his palm before she withdrew them.
Just then, heavy footsteps came from the stairwell.
The madam slammed her hand on the doorframe, causing a few drops of soup to spill from the bowl of clear broth noodles on the table.
"You've lost your dignity, signed a dead-end contract, and you're still pretending to be high and mighty!"
She pointed at Qin Hongxiu, her voice so loud it could be heard throughout the entire floor.
"Li, Squire Li of the city, has spent one hundred taels of silver and specifically requests that you accompany him for drinks tonight. Since you've signed a contract that's binding on you, you won't be allowed to be picky in this establishment!"
Qin Hongxiu shrank her shoulders and gripped the hem of her skirt with her fingers.
He lowered his head, and his lips moved slightly.
"Mom, I'll go tonight."
Upon hearing this, Pu Yunshan could no longer restrain himself, and the soft sword at his waist slid out half an inch.
The sword's edge grazed the wooden railing, snapping off a section at the top. The piece of wood crashed downstairs, startling several girls who scattered with screams.
The madam slipped and had to grab the door frame to steady herself.
"What... what are you going to do!"
Pu Yunshan shielded Qin Hongxiu behind him, not fully drawing his sword, but pressing his hand on the hilt.
"She's not going."
The madam was initially afraid, but once she realized he wasn't really going to make a move, she immediately put her hands on her hips.
"In broad daylight, are you going to kill someone?!"
"Even if you kill my mother, Hongxiu will still have to pay with her life in court."
"If you're so capable, come up with a hundred taels of silver and buy her peace and quiet tonight!"
Pu Yunshan reached into his robes.
The banknote is still there.
The madam stared at his hand and snorted.
If you don't have money, stop acting like a big shot.
Pu Yunshan took out the silver notes, then drew his soft sword and slammed it onto the table with a "thud," causing the soup in the bowl to splash.
"One hundred taels, right?"
"I'm not short of money."
"I still have the strength."
He turned around, his voice trembling.
"Starting today."
"Anyone who dares to force her to do something she doesn't want to do, I'll cut off their hand."
The madam glared at him.
Pu Yunshan's chest heaved, and he finally shouted out all the words he had been holding back for so long.
"I am Pu Yunshan, the young master of Mount Qingcheng!"
Five chapters delivered, my drafts are all gone again!!! Can't be lazy anymore!
[Thanks to: Notus66 for the gift king + update reminder charm, Qingyu for the god certification, Zhenguo, Hongye, Yuyu for the update reminder charm, Tongzi's milk tea, ZZ, Jiangsheng, 3348, Luobo for the likes, Fenfa for the inspiration capsule, Luojun for the love letter, and everyone for their love and support!]
Thank you so much! I'm so flattered! I'm going back to writing now!