Thirty Fresh-Faced Young Women

The Old Scholar Tree searched in the mountains for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, asking hundreds of trees, and finally found the address.

The Old Madam Zhou; this cave was specifically dug by death row inmates.

The cave is not tall, but it extends quite far inside, with rough stone walls and a smooth, excavated floor.

The cave was Manman, with almost no empty space; it was filled with things that were easy to store and wouldn't easily spoil.

The walls were piled high with grain, sack after sack, stretching from the ground all the way to almost reaching the top of the cave.

Rice, wheat flour, millet, sorghum, corn, soybeans, and mung beans were all packed in thick burlap sacks, stacked neatly in rows and rows, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Further inside, there were only cloth, quilts, and cotton-padded clothes.

Rolls of coarse and fine cloth were piled up into mountains of fabric, and cotton quilts, thick cotton-padded clothes, and cotton-padded trousers were folded into neat squares, stretching from the cave entrance all the way to the depths of the cave, in countless quantities.

The entire cave, except for a narrow passage in the middle, was almost entirely filled with food and clothing. It was sturdy and secure, enough to sustain the cave for a long time even in the event of a severe drought.

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said:

"The poor are dying of poverty, and the rich are dying of wealth. People outside are starving and eating dirt, while here the grain is piled up like mountains."

Uncle Scholar Tree, take them all back.

The Old Scholar Tree immediately made the other trees move all these things back.

Zhou Wanwan returned to the village, and the next morning, they went back to the Zhou Family.

Today is the official wedding day. Xiao Yuhan came to pick her up early in the morning. He was pale and looked frail.

Zhou Wanwan chuckled softly, probably because she had diarrhea all night yesterday.

He looked at Zhou Fuyu and said, "Father-in-law, you've really put me in a terrible situation."

Zhou Fuyu looked at him and said, "Son-in-law, don't worry. I've booked ten tables today, the best of the best, especially to apologize to you."

Xiao Yuhan and said, "You wouldn't be trying to harm me again, would you?"

Zhou Fuyu quickly replied, "Absolutely not, absolutely not. Today I've found a cook from Black Wind Stronghold, and I will definitely fulfill my promise to you."

Xiao Yuhan and said, "Then I'll trust you one more time."

By noon, the feast from Black Wind Mountain Stronghold would be ready.

The young men from prominent families that Xiao Yuhan brought also sat down, waiting for the beauties from the mountain.

The reason they agreed to come to pick up the bride today is because Zhou Fuyu said he wanted them to have a taste of the beauties from the mountains.

As soon as he saw a group of people starting to serve the dishes, Xiao Yuhan's expression completely changed.

Yesterday, all the vegetables were delivered by young girls from Black Wind Stronghold, but today, the delivery people are all old ladies.

These old ladies were all in their fifties or sixties, with gray hair and wrinkled faces.

Zhou Fuyu looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Where are the people from yesterday? Why weren't they the ones who served the food yesterday?"

Zhou Wanwan said with a smile, "Those people naturally went back to the mountain stronghold; a new batch arrived today."

Zhou Fuyu's face darkened. "You'd better send them back right away. I paid for them, so they have to come and work."

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said, "Our contract doesn't specify who will host these banquets! Is there something wrong with these old ladies?"

Zhou Fuyu shouted loudly:

"Of course there's a problem. Today you must bring all the women from the mountain stronghold here."

Otherwise, I'll go outside and spread the word, so your bandit gang won't be able to do business anymore.

Xiao Yuhan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"You'd better be sensible. She's just a little girl. Don't be ungrateful. Let's eat first."

After you finish eating, you must send over the thirty most beautiful women in your mountain village.

Otherwise, you'll regret it.

Zhou Qingyan and Gu Sinian were about to argue with them when Zhou Wanwan waved her hand and said, "Alright, you guys eat first. I'll have the thirty prettiest girls in the village come over right away."

She went outside, Zhou Qingyan was furious. "Wanwan, you can't agree to such an unreasonable request, or it will never end."

Gu Sinian sneered, "What kind of scion of a noble family is this? It's utterly disgusting."

Zhou Wanwan looked at them with a smile and said, "You're not allowed to say that. I need to have a good talk with Xiao Yuhan."

Xiao Yuhan just came out, and Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"I didn't finish what I was saying. Why do you want thirty girls?"

If it were just about serving food, that would be fine.

If it's not just for serving food, then it's at a different price!

Xiao Yuhan snorted coldly and said, "I knew you people were greedy. 100 taels of silver, is that enough?"

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said, "Are you kidding me? Those girls are all top-tier beauties, they should cost at least five hundred taels."

Xiao Yuhan immediately tossed out five hundred taels of silver notes, saying, "You're greedy! We want the prettiest girl in the stronghold!"

Zhou Wanwan picked up the banknotes and said, "Alright! Deal."

Zhou Qingyan's face turned red. "Wanwan, are you really going to make the girls from our mountain village entertain people like them?"

Zhou Qinghe looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Little sister, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Everyone in our mountain stronghold is a good girl. Do these guys even deserve her? I'm going to find Cheng Chao."

Cheng Chao laughed after hearing this, "I thought it was something serious! It's simple! I'll arrange it in a bit—30 beautiful young women."

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said, "No, no, no, only someone with a physical illness is worthy of a young master from a prestigious family like this."

Cheng Chao immediately understood and quickly found 30 girls, who were indeed very beautiful.

Cheng Chao sighed and said:

"These women all had no way to survive; they were all afflicted with a terrible disease, and they were all quite beautiful."

What a pity! But these women have nothing to do with our brothel; our brothel is completely clean and tidy.

Zhou Wanwan looked at the women and asked, "Would you be willing to serve those young masters?"

The women nodded quickly; this was their only chance.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "How about this, as long as you're willing to serve those young masters, I'll cure all your illnesses, okay?"

The women were stunned. "Our illness is incurable."

One girl burst into tears and said:

"I was originally a respectable woman, but my family sold me into a brothel."

"Only once, that wealthy merchant fell ill, and I caught it, was locked in the backyard, and made to work as a lowly maid."

"Me too, sob sob sob... My life is ruined."

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:

"Don't cry. I told you your illness can be cured, and it can be cured."

If you complete this mission, I will heal you. Trust me.

Moreover, I will also ensure that you marry into those prestigious families. Even if you can't marry into them, I can still arrange for you to become concubines.

However, you'll be my people from now on. This is a contract of servitude; if you're willing, sign it!

Of course those women were willing; this was their only chance to defy fate.