"I will get whatever money I sell at that time. Is this a member of your family? I am not involved in human trafficking! And why is this face painted like this?" The stall owner put down the basket and looked at Gu Zheqi and asked.
"Of course, my sister got pregnant out of wedlock and refused to say who it was, so the family had no choice but to sell her. As for this face, he didn't want to come, so he wiped the shit on his face and used ink to suppress the smell. . You see, this is a contract to sell oneself. The elders of the family have already negotiated with the madam for a small amount of money."
The man took the deed of betrayal and asked doubtfully: "Then why don't you go there yourself?"
Gu Jiu coughed and scolded slightly: "How can a scholar do such a thing?"
Hearing this, the stall owner's face showed an I-know-you expression: "Well, you told me earlier, my son is like this too, he doesn't even want to set up a stall. But we have made an agreement, No matter how much money it is, it’s all mine.”
"Of course. Later, you can go around to the back door and knock on the door to ask if you want chicken. The people inside will open the door for you."
"OK."
After reaching an agreement, the stall owner tied the sack and put it on his shoulder with a strong swing: "As expected of being pregnant, it's quite heavy."
Gu Jiu and Ling Yang quietly moved behind and watched as someone walked out of the back door. After taking the deed of betrayal and looking at it, they turned around and went in again. After a while, the madam came out.
"Why is it you? Where is Mr. Gu?" The madam smoked a cigarette and untied the sack with a puff of smoke: "What's wrong with that face?"
"Students are all thin-skinned. He is afraid that people will see that his reputation will be ruined, so he asked me to come. As for his face, he is a fierce person. He wiped his own excrement, shouldn't this be used to suppress the taste?"
The madam took out the handkerchief and rubbed it on Gu Zheqi's face, then pinched it with his hand: "She's a pretty girl, she's still a virgin, right? If she's not, I'll have to pay less!"
As the Madam asked for someone to pull Gu Zheqi in for a body check, the stall owner immediately stopped them: "How come your body check doesn't take more than half an hour? This is not okay. I have something to do at home and I have to leave in a hurry. In this way, we can't Regardless of whether it’s a virgin or not, Mr. Gu said that all he needs to do is sell it, and you can give me half a pound of money!”
Hearing this, the madam took another look at Gu Zheqi. Perhaps thinking that Gu Zheqi was a regular visitor to her place, he couldn't cheat her, so she nodded and asked someone to get the money.
"Tell Mr. Gu that once this contract is signed, this person will definitely belong to Hongxiang Pavilion!"
"That's that." The stall owner took the money and didn't take it with him anymore. He went back and picked up his own basket and walked happily towards his home.
Gu Jiu and Ling Yang were afraid of being discovered, so they wanted to wait for the madam and others to enter the house before leaving. In a daze, Gu Jiu seemed to hear the old madam murmuring in a very low voice: Mr. Zhao is here to have some virginity today. I was thinking about how to make this deal, and you came at the right time!
"Take her behind so she can be washed."
"It's the bustard."
As the back door closed again with a creak, the excitement in Gu Jiu's eyes almost overflowed.
"Sister, when do you think they will find out?"
"You should have noticed it when you were taking a shower. Gu Zheqi is a frequent visitor to Hongxiang Pavilion. Many people have seen him."
"Then... I can't have the same room with Mr. Zhao?" Gu Jiu asked with some pity.
Ling Yang was startled: "Not necessarily, depending on the score."
Gu Jiu: What should I do if I want to go in too?
"Sister, you said we..."
"Okay, it's getting late, let's go back. Your mother and Xiaojing won't have to worry about you." Ling Yang stood up and walked out, not even curious about what was going to happen next!
"Fine."
In line with the principle that curiosity killed the cat, Gu Jiu comforted himself while walking back.
…
After returning to the inn, Gu Jiu first visited Ye Qingyi and Gu Jing.
"This is... embroidery! Mom, can you do this?" Gu Jiu took the pattern in Ye Qingyi's hand and said in shock.
"I accidentally saw this when I was shopping for clothes today. I thought it looked familiar, so I tried it on. Unexpectedly, it was quite simple. The shopkeeper said he would embroider one for fifty cents, so I took two and they were exactly the same amount. Money to get to the inn.”
Gu Jiu touched the bird pattern in his hand, and the more he looked at it, the more magical it became. The needles are fine and the colors are rich. At first glance, it's not something she can do.
"We are not short of money at the moment. This thing looks like it will ruin your eyes if you embroider it. Be careful and don't hurt your eyes."
Ye Qing nodded: "No. Look at Xiao Jing. She has been tracing words there for a day, and she is really good at reading."
Gu Jing was seven years old this year, and Gu Jiu couldn't let such a young child run around with her. If something like the accident happened today, she would have to live with regrets for the rest of her life.
After thinking about it, I decided to let Gu Jing practice writing first, and wait for everyone to participate in this year's children's examination to test the water. Knowing what to test, I will have a direction to work hard next year.
Gu Jiu walked over and looked at the nearly two centimeters thick paper on the table, and took a breath of shock. When I picked it up and looked at it, every one of them was filled with writing!
Gu Jing was so focused on writing that she didn't notice Gu Jiu at all. It wasn't until she finished writing another page and stopped writing that she noticed Gu Jiu who was flipping through the paper.
"Sister, when did you come back? Can you see if my writing has improved?"
Gu Jiu nodded, starting from the four different words, gradually being able to put the words together, and finally writing straight and straight. It’s hard to believe how this happened in one day!
"But I still can't keep up with my sister's writing. My sister's writing is much more beautiful than my cousin's. I have to work hard to be as beautiful as my sister's writing!"
As Gu Jing dipped his pen in the ink and started to write again, Gu Jiu quickly stretched out his hand to stop him: "Don't worry, practicing calligraphy cannot be done in a short while. I will teach you to read some other characters."
…
The next day, Gu Jiu and Ling Yang went to the shop early.
"Okay, within the next six months, this shop will be yours!" The boss gave the key to Ling Yang and happily left while picking up the clothes he had not sold.
"I didn't take a closer look yesterday, but I didn't expect this place to be quite big." Ling Yang walked into the house, opened a door in the back room, and said in surprise.
Gu Jiu nodded: "We don't need much space to sell books. I plan to change the large room outside into two rooms, one half for business and the other half for books. As for this one, we will keep it for our daily rest."
Ling Yang nodded. Just as he was about to speak, there was a sudden noise outside. The two of them quickly went out to check. I saw a trace of blue clothes exposed in Hongxiang Pavilion. The owner of the clothes seemed to be coming out, but was pulled back before he could step out.
"It's not the opening hours of Hongxiang Pavilion yet. Someone must have tried to run away but was caught." Ling Yang took a look and said.
Gu Jiu nodded and went back to clean up the shop. The previous boss left the tables and counters behind when he left. There is no need to buy new ones now, just wipe them down and decorate them.
"Sister, can I hang a few words here?" Gu Jiu gestured and asked Ling Yang, who was working on the ground.
"Okay, your handwriting is so beautiful, it will definitely attract a lot of people. I saw Xiaojing practicing calligraphy yesterday, when did you say you would teach me how to write?"
Gu Jiu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Tonight."
"real?"
"Of course. Sister is so smart, she must learn faster than Xiao Jing!"
"That mouth of yours is sometimes sweeter than an oiran's!" Ling Yang said with a smile. She half thought of something and suddenly raised her head to see Gu Jiu's reaction. During this period of time, she had completely adapted to her new identity, and no longer cared that she had committed herself to Hongxiang Pavilion, but... But no matter what, the world didn't like women who came from Hongxiang Pavilion very much. Using oiran to praise someone was more like curse.
But seeing that Gu Jiu didn't feel disgusted at all, he even raised the corner of his mouth proudly. Ling Yang breathed a sigh of relief and continued to clean the ground.
Hongxiang Pavilion only opened after noon. Gu Jiu had just finished writing all the words when there were quarrels and scoldings outside. He looked outside and saw Gu Wensheng. He quickly shrank back and hid behind the door to peek.
"What's wrong?" Ling Yang came over and asked in confusion.
Gu Jiu pointed outside to her: "He knows that it is me who Gu Zheqi is selling. I am afraid that I will get into unnecessary trouble and ruin the words I just finished writing and hanging."
He didn't know whether Gu Wensheng came to see his son or to have fun. Anyway, he was stopped at the entrance of Hongxiang Pavilion with Gu Zheqi. Gu Jiu looked at the blue clothes and couldn't help but have wild thoughts.
"How could my son, a man, be your girl?" Gu Wensheng looked at the madam who was blocking him and his stomach was full of anger.
The madam was not in a hurry, and slowly blew out a puff of smoke: "I can't care about that. Anyway, someone used him to exchange money from me yesterday, so he has to earn it back for me!"
"Isn't it just a drop of money? I'll give it to you!" As he said this, Gu Wensheng took out a few small pieces of broken silver and threw them over. The madam took the money and smiled meaningfully, then took out the deed of sale from her arms.
"Look who's name is on this death contract? Both the name and the fingerprint match. Legally speaking, Mr. Gu is already a member of Hongxiang Pavilion. Since he signed the death contract, then It can’t be solved with a drop of money!”
As she spoke, the madam took the deed of betrayal closer so that Gu Wensheng could see it. Looking at the three big characters, Gu Wensheng looked at Gu Zheqi in disbelief: "Zheqi, what's going on? Did Gu Jiu do it?"
Since his back was turned, Gu Jiu couldn't see Gu Zheqi's expression, but judging from his body reaction, he probably hated her very much.
"No matter who did this, Hongxiang Pavilion will not accept a loss-making business. I know that Mr. Gu is a scholar and will be a high official in the future. So, I won't care so much. I will take ten taels of silver for this matter. It’s over!”
"Ten taels?" Gu Wensheng said in disbelief.
"Yes! Uncle, please don't forget that what you are signing is a death contract. If I agree to release the madam, I have made a big concession!"
