Regarding everyone’s request, Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words. How had they concluded she had the Silver to buy Yixiang Courtyard? She was broke, okay?
"I don’t have any Silver."
"How can that be? Aren’t you associated with Yuelai Restaurant...?" Everyone was surprised at Xiaoxiao’s claim of having no Silver, because they thought she had connections with Yuelai Restaurant.
"I only know the Young Master from Yuelai Restaurant, but we don’t have any relationship. Actually, I’m just a farmer," explained Xiaoxiao.
Hearing this, everyone fell silent as if struck, the hope that had just ignited was extinguished. It was as if things weren’t that bad before, but Xiaoxiao’s suggestion that they could survive by only selling their talents and not their bodies had raised their expectations.
Seeing everyone’s disappointed faces, Xiaoxiao felt helpless. Indeed, they were a pitiable group, the most vulnerable in this place. But her own capabilities were limited; she was still just a farmer.
Later, Xiaoxiao began to teach everyone about the evening’s performance again, but everyone lacked the excitement they had shown earlier. They all looked troubled, which made Xiaoxiao feel helpless. She softened her heart and asked, "How much Silver is needed to buy Yixiang Courtyard?"
The procuress’s eyes lit up at Xiaoxiao’s question, "Not much, just a thousand taels."
The procuress really hadn’t exaggerated; she and the girls had scraped together one thousand five hundred taels to secure Yixiang Courtyard. Moreover, the girls had all used their savings to buy their freedom. Otherwise, a thousand taels wouldn’t have been enough; ten thousand taels would be more like it, since buying their freedom was expensive.
For Xiaoxiao, however, a thousand taels was too much. To come up with a thousand taels was like ripping her heart out; she didn’t have that much Silver on hand. Wang Xiangxiang had given her five hundred taels, and she had three hundred taels left from selling pickled cabbage. She had also made some money selling underwear recently, so there should be some Silver left. But spending it all would mean they couldn’t build their house.
Yet, considering the future of Yixiang Courtyard, Xiaoxiao thought that if it was reformed well, it could be a cash cow. Buying Yixiang Courtyard during their time of trouble seemed like a golden opportunity. So, should she just grit her teeth and go for it? But after the fish pond, they would need Silver again; Xiaoxiao was really torn. Without money, life was truly difficult.
Looking at the girls, each one with hopeful eyes, she found she couldn’t refuse. She realized she was a soft-hearted person but also a businesswoman who saw the potential for profit. "No cunning, no business," probably described her. However, she still believed in having a conscience. Thus, she gritted her teeth and agreed, "Fine, one thousand taels. I’ll buy it."
Upon hearing Xiaoxiao’s words, everyone instantly became elated, grasping each other’s hands.
"That’s great, Yixiang Courtyard is saved."
Seeing everyone’s reaction, a smile appeared on Xiaoxiao’s lips as she added, "Although I said I’d buy it, I don’t have the Silver at the moment. I’ll get it when my friend arrives."
"No rush, no rush. Whenever you can give it is fine." The procuress was beaming, unable to stop smiling. She had demanded a thousand taels because she wanted to use it to subsidize everyone’s expenses over time; otherwise, she would have taken nothing as long as she could help Yixiang Courtyard get back on its feet.
Afterward, everyone started rehearsing again. Even Xiaoxiao herself hadn’t anticipated that this trip to the brothel would turn out to be so dramatic.
Just like that, she had become the owner of a brothel. Only, having spent all the family’s Silver, would she get beaten for it?