Bullies Have Been Arrogant Since Ancient Times

By late November, the Capital's temperature was probably below freezing at its coldest. Xu Qi'an had reached that conclusion when he got up in the morning and saw a thin layer of ice on the courtyard's water vat.

The Great Feng dynasty held sway over the Central Plains of the Nine Provinces and called itself the rightful ruler of all under heaven. The Capital's climate was probably a temperate continental monsoon climate.

In a region with that kind of climate, winter would be extremely hard to endure without heating.

In this era, it's only natural, a matter of heaven and earth, for people to freeze to death in winter. Xu Qi'an sighed inwardly.

He regretted not having studied mathematics, physics, and chemistry well enough to pursue a farming-style life in this era of backward infrastructure and material scarcity.

That way, he could have done a great deal of good for the people.

The sun hung high in the sky, offering only a little warmth. A lovely young woman led her five-year-old sister by the hand as they strolled eagerly down a bustling street. Her limpid eyes looked this way and that, and a faint smile played on her exquisitely carved lips.

His younger sister wore a pale-green silk dress today, with twining flowered vines blooming across her cuffs and collar.

Her loose sleeves fluttered, giving her a touch of ethereal grace.

Xu Qi'an couldn't help thinking of the beauties in period costumes from his previous life and comparing them in his mind. Women's clothing in this era tended to be conservative, not as alluring as those beauties' costumes.

I've suddenly thought of a way to make money. Could I improve their clothes, make women's outfits prettier and more seductive? An idea struck Xu Qi'an.

In an instant, many epoch-making articles of women's clothing flashed through his mind: cutouts, black stockings, garter belts...

Stop, stop! I'll be dragged to the Meridian Gate and beheaded!

Rumbling carriages, peddlers carrying their wares on shoulder poles, hurrying passersby, and shops standing row upon row formed a vivid picture of an ancient marketplace.

After spending a month together, Xu Lingyue's impression of her cousin had changed a great deal. She no longer felt as estranged from him as before.

In the past, because of his aunt, the original owner of his body had disliked both of his younger cousins, apart from the little squirt who took after Second Uncle.

At first, Xu Lingyue had still called him "Big Brother," but after being given the cold shoulder many times, she had merely nodded when they met.

Their relationship had improved considerably now, though a little distance remained between them. His elder sister, as pretty as a flower, led their youngest sister by the hand at his side, deliberately keeping two paces away from Xu Qi'an.

The little squirt was drawn to all the different things in the street and tried several times to break free, but her sister held her fast.

"Candied hawthorns! Candied hawthorns!" the little squirt called in her clear little voice, pointing at a peddler by the street.

"Don't you want your teeth anymore?" her sister scolded, tugging her onward.

The Xu Household had suffered a great calamity and exhausted its money. They had lived rather frugally this past month, and Xu Lingyue had no copper coins on her to buy candied hawthorns for her sister.

Xu Qi'an walked behind them, watching his sisters, mainly the elder one. She was tall and slender, with the youthful grace and greenness of a young woman.

From behind, she looked like a newly sprouted willow shoot. Perhaps she wasn't as full-figured as a mature woman, but that lively, youthful charm was unique to girls her age.

"Big Brother, Big Brother!" The little squirt grew frantic, sticking out her bottom and plowing her feet through the dirt to resist her sister's pulling.

Xu Lingyue bit her lip, looking both anxious and annoyed.

"Big Brother didn't bring any silver either, but I'll have some soon." Xu Qi'an signaled for his youngest sister to be patient. As he spoke, his foot came down on something hard. He looked down and saw a dull-colored piece of silver.

He bent down, picked it up, and weighed it in his hand. Sure enough, it was one qian.

Over the past month, he had found one qian of silver far too often.

Xu Lingyue's eyes widened.

He'd found silver?!

Now I have money to listen to songs at the pleasure house today. Counting the days, he hadn't been to a pleasure house in two days because he hadn't found any money.

A little pleased, Xu Qi'an pinched the silver between his fingers and went over to the peddler. "Three skewers of candied hawthorns, please."

"Coming right up!" The dark-skinned peddler beamed and took down three skewers. "Six copper coins."

Unable to make change for the piece of silver, the hawthorn seller ran to a nearby shop to break it. He kept six coins for himself and gave Xu Qi'an ninety-four in change, strung together on a thin cord.

In Great Feng's monetary system, one tael of silver equaled eight qian, or one thousand copper coins. Gold was a luxury and wasn't part of the monetary system. Poor families might go their whole lives without ever coming into contact with it.

Xu Qi'an took the coins and candied hawthorns, put one skewer in his own mouth, and handed the other two to his sisters.

Xu Lingyue accepted hers demurely and said softly, "Thank you, Big Brother."

She took a bite, savoring the sweetness in her mouth. Her big eyes curved into crescent moons, a sight that could strike the softest part of a straight man's heart.

Xu Qi'an nodded, then looked at the little squirt. She was already munching away.

"Big Brother, Big Brother, are your candied hawthorns sweet?" Xu Lingyin asked indistinctly, her cheeks bulging.

"You want to eat mine?" Xu Qi'an saw through the little girl's thoughts.

"Huh? How did you know?" Xu Lingyin was startled. She hadn't expected Big Brother to know what she was thinking. He was amazing.

Xu Qi'an let out a "heh." "If you eat too many candied hawthorns, worms will grow in your mouth."

"What kind of worms?" The little squirt's face grew wary.

Xu Qi'an thought for a moment, then described them to her. "The kind that are white and plump, and greasy all over."

He had barely finished speaking when he saw his youngest sister swallow.

Unbelievable. Xu Dalang cupped his hands to her and presented his candied hawthorns with both hands.

Xu Qi'an led his two sisters down the street, the Capital's bustling splendor passing before his eyes, but he didn't feel particularly happy.

I fucking found silver again.

That's not scientific!

With his extensive knowledge of reasoning and criminal investigation, he was extremely sensitive to inexplicable details like this.

Could it have something to do with my transmigration?

Xu Qi'an clearly remembered that before he transmigrated, he hadn't touched an antique or had an old grandpa smile and pat his dog head.

Is this my golden finger? But what's with the one qian of silver every day? It's exactly enough to listen to songs at the pleasure house. So is it heaven's will that I spend every day there?

First, I'll find a way to break through to Qi Refinement. For now, whatever might be wrong with my body, finding money whenever I go out is a good thing.

I'll level up first and keep watch, see if anything changes later. Besides, I still don't know where the ceiling of this world's combat power is. Once I'm stronger, perhaps I can figure out the reason for my dogshit luck.

Xu Qi'an remained wary of his strange dogshit luck. If it had been a system, he would have happily accepted it instead, because that was within the bounds of his understanding.

There was a brothel on this street called the Cassia Moon Tower. It was a third-class brothel.

Thanks to the teachings and example of Head Constable Wang and the others, Xu Qi'an had acquired ample knowledge of brothels, greatly enriching his personal cultural foundation.

A brothel's suffix could indicate its grade. First- and second-class brothels mainly had names ending in "courtyard," "hall," or "pavilion."

Third- and fourth-class brothels were often named with "troupe," "tower," or "shop." Take note!

It wasn't even noon yet, but the girls at the brothel had already opened for business. Several pretty girls dressed in red and green leaned against the beauty rails on the second floor, smiling as they surveyed the passersby.

When they spotted someone they fancied-someone wearing silk-they waved their colorful handkerchiefs and called sweetly, "Master, come up and have a drink!"

Even at a third-class brothel, the minimum charge for drinks was two qian of silver. To sleep with a girl, depending on her quality, the cheaper ones cost about five or six qian, while the expensive ones cost a tael or two. Xu Qi'an calculated for a moment and confirmed that he couldn't afford it.

No need. All I own amounts to just a few taels of silver. He looked up at the bevies of beauties lounging against the second-floor beauty rails and sighed with feeling. "Back then, I was young, my blue robes thin; I rode by the slanting bridge, and red sleeves beckoned from every floor!"

This was every man's dream.

"Big Brother should put his poetic talent to proper use," Xu Lingyue said mildly.

She silently savored the lines again and sighed inwardly. Perhaps Father was right; Big Brother was the one with the makings of a scholar.

"Big Brother, the ladies upstairs are so pretty," the little squirt said in her clear little voice.

"They're in business. Of course they have to dress presentably," Xu Qi'an replied.

"What business?"

"Selling newspapers."

"What?" The little squirt's eyes shone as she tilted her head up at the brothel, unwilling to leave.

"Big Brother!" Xu Lingyue stamped her foot and called out, looking both embarrassed and annoyed, reproaching Xu Qi'an for discussing such things with their youngest sister.

Xu Qi'an turned to look at her. What are you angry about? Don't tell me you understood my joke?

They left the brothel behind and passed a fish-ball shop. The aroma spreading from it rooted the little squirt's legs to the spot.

Xu Lingyue glanced over several times and quietly swallowed. Since their release from prison, the Xu Household had lived frugally, sometimes eating meat only once every three days.

She was at the age when she was growing, and she needed a great deal of food, especially meat.

"Wait here. I'll buy you some."

The shop was small, and many people were waiting in line. Xu Qi'an told his sisters to wait by the roadside and squeezed his way over.

"Big Brother is so nice," the little squirt said in her clear little voice, swallowing as she looked at her sister.

Xu Lingyue held her little sister's hand and watched Xu Qi'an's back, the corners of her mouth lifting without her realizing it.

Soon, Xu Qi'an bought three portions of fish balls, packed in greaseproof paper bags. On his way back, he saw four or five attendants surrounding Xu Lingyue. They didn't touch her, but teased her freely.

The lovely sixteen-year-old girl was like a trapped elk, shielding herself as she tried to break out of the circle, only to be forced back by the attendants every time.

She was so distressed she was nearly in tears, her face full of fear.

The attendants roared with laughter.

Nearby, a young nobleman in fine clothes sat astride a fine steed, watching the scene as though it were a play.

Seeing her sister being bullied, Xu Lingyin ran on her short little legs to the young nobleman. She lunged forward with her little body, held both hands behind her back, and then burst into a wailing cry, launching a sonic attack.

"Noisy." The young nobleman instinctively raised the riding crop in his hand, then suddenly stopped. Cruelty flashed in his eyes. He pulled the reins, forcing the steed to rear high and bring its hooves down on Xu Lingyin.

Xu Lingyue let out a piercing wail.

P.S. This chapter is three thousand characters, by way of compensation for the late update.

He's here, he's here, and he's brought a treat for leg lovers. Our magical girl, Urgot.