Chapter 469: 0287 So-Called Liking (Double-In-One)
The small boat drifted eastward along the water, the wind brushed against Yun Qian’s swaying skirt hem, and the passersby on the shore contrasted her silhouette, leaving the girl who had finally calmed down feeling bewildered.
She didn’t know what the "correct answer" was, nor did she understand why the lady asked her the same question again.
In the Rowing Maiden’s eyes, Yun Qian’s dark pupils seemed to be swirling with something unknown, as if even a small wave could swallow her whole.
Yet, Miss Yun’s demeanor remained utterly calm, so calm that it was impossible to guess her thoughts.
Strictly speaking, the Rowing Maiden was not part of the brothel; she was a boatman, neither an Artiste-Courtesan nor a Courtesan.
Although she had a delicate appearance, because there were too many beautiful women here, such a common girl was too inconspicuous, so after rowing here for several years... she hadn’t even encountered a single scoundrel.
Hmm.
A girl living in this district yet never having touched a man’s hand was exceedingly rare.
But because of living in such a place, even though she wasn’t a courtesan, she was used to such routines.
For instance, when Yun Qian asked if she liked her husband earlier, it was very much like the jealous wives described by the ladies and madams in the shop.
It’s said that sisters who redeemed themselves and got married as concubines were often bullied by the wives and were not allowed to like the men in the house.
In the sisters’ descriptions, such women were usually extremely despicable and malicious, a red heart being cut open from within, all filled with black, boiling poison.
Ms. Yun... Could she be such a woman?
The girl shook her head vigorously.
No way.
How could there possibly be such a beautiful jealous wife as Ms. Yun in the world?
The reason she felt bewildered was purely out of fear that she might say something to upset her sister. If she could read minds and knew what to say to make her sister happy, how wonderful that would be.
"..."
Yun Qian watched the girl’s flickering gaze and tilted her head slightly.
In fact, she wasn’t thinking too much, just asked casually.
For instance... she was clear that she had a favorable impression of the girl because she liked Xu Chang’an, but Yun Qian noticed that the girl’s attention was entirely on herself, not paying much mind to her husband... so she asked.
She wanted to know if her judgment was still as accurate as before.
That’s all, no other intentions at all.
"..."
The water rippled, and the girl, holding the oar, though slender, was full of strength.
She took a deep breath, feeling herself incredibly rude; how could she compare Ms. Yun to those jealous women in her heart? Which jealous woman would openly allow her husband to go to the Flower Moon Building?
"Ms. Yun." The girl softly opened her mouth.
"Hmm." Yun Qian looked at her.
"Actually... after Young Master last helped Sister Liu solve a problem, he also assisted me with many things."
The girl’s voice was very low, as if she didn’t dare to speak to Yun Qian, yet eventually, she raised her head and said seriously.
"Sister, you don’t know, I... not, I... I used to be just a common boat rower, not even counted as someone from the district, to be precise... I belonged to the carriage shop in the northern city."
Carriage shop?
Yun Qian didn’t understand what she was talking about, just nodded to indicate that she had heard.
"But now, I am also a girl belonging to the Flower Moon Building, Sister, look, this is the Flower Moon Building’s waist brand, it’s a sachet, I heard the spices inside were personally mixed by Class Leader Zhu."
The girl took off a sachet at her waist, her eyes shining. She was smiling as she spoke.
Yun Qian didn’t quite understand why she was smiling.
But when she looked down at her own sachet at her waist, which contained the locks of her and her husband, she suddenly understood a little about what the girl was flaunting.
Miss Yun also liked sachets.
Her gaze toward the girl softened a lot.
...
The girl didn’t speak too detailed; some things she knew herself were good enough.
What did it mean for her to no longer belong to the carriage shop and become the exclusive boatman for the Flower Moon Building’s waterway?
Perhaps it meant "a meteoric rise."
Having become an "internal" member of the Flower Moon Building, not needing to receive guests, only needing to "pick up and drop off guests," the improvement in silver taels treatment is secondary; most important...
It meant she also had backing, someone to look after her now.
No longer having to worry about one day being picked by someone, with one word being made into a house slave.
No longer needing to worry about encountering bad-tempered guests, she was most afraid of pain, the taste of the whip was really unpleasant.
"Sister, to have today..." The Rowing Maiden spread her palms open, in the fine sunlit rain, the yellow calluses on her palm were not attractive at all.
Yet she looked at her palm, for the first time... shifted her attention away from Yun Qian, to the now invisible Xu Chang’an.
All these were brought to her by Young Master Xu.
Because of asking Young Master for help, she managed to appear in Class Leader Zhu’s eyes and become a girl of the Flower Moon Building.
Moreover, she felt Liu Qingluo’s chance to enter the Immortal Sect also came because of Xu Chang’an.
Not just felt, she was certain.
She quite understood Sister Liu; if not for Young Master, she definitely wouldn’t have the courage to go to the Immortal Sect.
She had not elaborated on these matters carefully.
For Xu Chang’an, he hadn’t actually done anything, nor thought his momentary goodwill would bring such changes to her.
Even Sister Liu felt this way about Young Master, while she, someone humble down to the dust, didn’t dare to even have the slightest thought of "repaying the kindness."