Jiang Yichun was clearly more carefree than her; he said this only to reassure her.
"We are just fated to be busy; let’s go out and inquire a bit," Bai Ruozhu shrugged her shoulders.
Jiang Yichun smiled and grabbed her hand, "Let’s go, we can take a walk to digest."
In the evening, every household closed their doors, and the shops along the street also ceased their activities, with the clerks tidying up to close for the day.
The main inquiries were conducted by the servants from Fangzi and Huizi’s households, as the guards sent by Bai Ruozhu couldn’t speak Fusang language, and the ordinary people weren’t fluent in Zhongyuan language, making communication quite difficult.
Bai Ruozhu picked a few shops to inquire at; she could speak so Fusang language, allowing others to understand what she was asking about, but unfortunately, after asking several clerks, they all said they hadn’t noticed the two girls Bai Ruozhu described.
"I saw them, they were over there at Liulu Hall," a young clerk pointed toward a distant, bustling place. Bai Ruozhu’s heart sank—wasn’t that a brothel?
Could they have been taken to a brothel?
This was serious; whether or not anything happened, it would affect the reputation of the two girls.
Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun dared not delay any longer and rushed directly toward Liulu Hall nearby.
Once in front, they saw several girls in kimonos smiling at passersby. As soone entered, a girl imdiately approached and intimately grabbed the person’s arm, clearly indicating that this was indeed a brothel!
Considering Fangzi and Huizi’s reputation, the two dared not make a scene. Bai Ruozhu had to say to a petite girl beside her, "Where is your boss? I have business to discuss with him."
The girl examined Bai Ruozhu up and down, probably finding it odd for a woman to be at a brothel, and unhappily said, "Who are you? Just saying you want to see our boss doesn’t an you’ll see him. The boss isn’t available!"
Bai Ruozhu directly took out a Fusang silver banknote and tossed it to her, saying, "Call your boss, or else when he misses the chance to make money, see how he’ll deal with you!"
Perhaps startled by Bai Ruozhu’s aura, or maybe Bai Ruozhu’s tone was too assertive, or maybe it was simply Bai Ruozhu’s generous hand, the girl quickly pocketed the silver banknote and led them inside.
"Please sit; I’ll go fetch the boss," the girl said, throwing a flirtatious glance at Jiang Yichun before twisting her waist and leaving.
Jiang Yichun’s face grew cold, as if freezing, and he said displeased, "If not for accompanying you, I would never co to a place like this."
"Oh, is that a pledge of loyalty?" Bai Ruozhu raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Yichun gritted his teeth and said, "Not nauseating enough."
Soon, footsteps were heard from outside, and a chubby Fusang man walked in.
As he caught sight of Bai Ruozhu’s appearance, his face broke into a wide smile.
Jiang Yichun cast him a fierce glare and said, "Has anyone sold girls to you today?"
"Are you people from Zhongyuan?" The boss appeared startled. Bai Ruozhu swiftly slashed a dagger across his neck, then spoke in Fusang language, "You should have heard of our identity. We wouldn’t be troubled even if we killed soone, but today we only want to find people. Please cooperate with us for your own convenience."
The boss was so scared he almost cried out, but one nacing look from Jiang Yichun made him swallow any sound he might have made.
"Yes—yes, sir, please command," he stamred.
"I’m asking if anyone sold girls to you today? Where are they?" Bai Ruozhu repeated.
"Yes, there is a countryside girl, now in the backyard," the boss replied.
Bai Ruozhu kicked him hard, "Nonsense; soone clearly saw you receive two girls. Where are they?"
The boss, scared with weak legs, fell to his knees, "I’m really not lying to you; there’s only one countryside girl. Her father sold her to treat his illness, but there haven’t been any others. Though so girls went out today, they’ve been with us for quite so ti."
He didn’t ntion that he wouldn’t let newcors go out.
Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged a glance; had the clerk made a mistake earlier?
They took the boss to the backyard, seeing the girl who had just been sold. The girl was frightened, her forehead slightly injured, and upon seeing the boss, she hid away in terror, clearly having been abused before.
It was said that newcors to such places resisted receiving guests initially; the boss wouldn’t make her do anything, just subjected them to beatings, abuse, and starvation, breaking their will to force them into compliance, sotis leaving them scarred, never daring to betray the boss.
Bai Ruozhu felt so sympathy, pulling out a silver banknote, "Where is her indenture contract? I’m buying her freedom."
"Well..." The boss hesitated, still wanting more profit, but Bai Ruozhu’s dagger moved slightly. He felt a stabbing pain in his neck, followed by liquid flowing down—it was blood!
The boss didn’t dare haggle anymore, and hastily said, "Okay, okay, I’ll go get her indenture contract."
Soon, the boss returned with the girl’s indenture contract. Bai Ruozhu helped the girl up, and led her out of Liulu Hall.
"Alright, you can go ho now. Never end up in such a place again," Bai Ruozhu advised in Fusang language.
Suddenly, the girl knelt down and kowtowed three tis to her.
"Thank you, benefactor, for saving my life, but I can’t go ho. My father sold under the pretense of needing treatnt; actually, he gambled and owed debts, getting beaten for it, and sold to pay off the debts. But he won’t change; sooner or later, he’ll lose it all and sell again. I don’t want to return to such places. Please, benefactor, let stay by your side."
Afraid Bai Ruozhu might refuse, she hurriedly added, "I can do many things, cook, wash clothes. Please, benefactor, shelter ."
Bai Ruozhu felt a bit troubled; she sympathized with the girl, but she wasn’t a saint or a Bai Lianhe, and couldn’t rely keep soone of unknown background near her, especially after the incident with Lingzi.
Thinking it over, she decided she might as well do a full rescue; otherwise, if sold back to a brothel, her efforts would be wasted.
"We’re not Fusang people; we’re leaving soon. I’ll arrange for you to work in my friend’s residence." Bai Ruozhu planned to send her to the Astrologer Family, without requiring special care, letting her do rough tasks, at least ensuring a al for the girl.
"Alright, thank you, benefactor." The girl kowtowed again.
Bai Ruozhu then found a guard, instructing him to bring the girl to the Astrologer Family, while she and Jiang Yichun continued to inquire about Fangzi and Yazi’s whereabouts.
Soon, they ca upon a small night market, where Bai Ruozhu saw a stall selling noodles. She walked over and asked, "Uncle, did you see two young ladies pass by here this afternoon, about this tall?"
Gesturing, she also described the clothing colors and styles of Fangzi and Yaxi.
"This is a night market stall; they don’t co out during the day. What’s the point of asking him?" comnted a custor eating noodles nearby.
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