CHAPTER 772: CHAPTER 753: PRE-DEPOSITED SILVER TAELS

Lin Yi had already figured it out; a single night’s expenditure at Drunken Spring House wasn’t high, with the top courtesan costing only 100 Silver Taels for one night. But there was only one such top courtesan.

The service quality of the girls wasn’t great, and many patrons were unwilling to give tips.

The old madam looked at Lin Yi’s unfamiliar face and suddenly asked, "Young Master, is this your first visit?"

Lin Yi nodded; it was his first visit, and he had already gathered quite a bit of information about this Drunken Spring House.

The old madam offered a meager commission, and the girls had to work hard just for food and clothing.

The patrons who came to spend were numerous, but because the restaurant was old-fashioned—heaven forbid they change a table even after ten years—the price for receiving guests was very low.

Of course, the old madam was making a killing and was extremely harsh on the girls.

In order to retain Lin Yi, the old madam even had all the girls of Drunken Spring House come out for him to choose from, but naturally, Lin Yi didn’t take a fancy to any of them.

Not willing to give up, the old madam even resorted to getting the girls drunk, urging them to use all their wiles.

Lin Yi quickly intervened, "How about this, I will definitely spend here in the future, so I can prepay 8000 Silver Taels."

"Based on 100 Silver Taels per visit, subtract 100 Silver Taels each time I come, how about that?"

The old madam’s face bloomed into a smile instantaneously; receiving 8000 Silver Taels was better than anything else.

"Alright, Young Master, to show the sincerity of Drunken Spring House, I’ll give you 10 free visits."

Lin Yi was taken aback, not expecting the old madam to have a conscience, offering vouchers with a recharge. Such marketing was indeed ahead of its time.

’Cough cough, this old madam indeed has a knack for business, just too oppressive with the employees.’

"Good, then Young Master will make the prepayment."

Before Lin Yi finished speaking, the old madam’s hand reached out for the silver note again.

Lin Yi promptly took back the silver note and said earnestly,

"To ensure I can choose a girl myself each time so I can enjoy myself, this money can’t be given directly to you; we need a money house to act as a guarantor."

Hearing this, the old madam was unhappy; how could the silver so close at hand be handed over to a money house?

But Lin Yi explained it was to prevent the old madam from absconding and also in case he one day decided not to spend and caused a fuss about a refund.

So having the money house safeguard it, if Lin Yi breached the agreement and didn’t want to spend anymore, whatever remained of the 8000 Silver Taels belonged entirely to the old madam. Even if Lin Yi didn’t spend all 8000 within a year, it would still belong to the old madam.

If Lin Yi continued to patronize, the old madam could simply retrieve 100 Silver Taels from the money house each time.

The old madam pondered for a moment, feeling this was feasible; once predeposited, the 8000 Silver Taels wouldn’t escape.

"Agreed, I promise you! It’s a deal."

No sooner had the old madam agreed, an attendant with a face brimming with surprise hurriedly came over and whispered to the old madam.

After listening, the old madam was overjoyed.

"Young Master, you’re not allowed to go back on your word, oh. Today we’ve got a new girl; come on, bring the new girl up."

Lin Yi’s eyes nearly popped out when he saw that familiar and stunningly beautiful face.

This must be Ouyan Qian’s first appearance in front of everyone in You Country since she set foot here, presenting as a lady.

"Mm, she will be the one tonight, I am very satisfied."

"Someone, take these 8000 Silver Taels to the money house for safekeeping. Additionally, these 300 Silver Taels are the service fee for the money house."

Having said that, Lin Yi strode off, carrying away his new bride.

At night, Ouyang Qian woke up in a daze.

"You’re lying on my hair!"

Lin Yi shifted his body, and after a moment of tumultuous passion, he also came to his senses.

Upon learning that Ouyang Qian signed away her life to Drunken Spring Pavilion for a mere price of 100 Silver Taels, Lin Yi was almost furious enough to leap out of bed.

"Just 100 taels to sell my new wife, this, this is too much of a swindle."

He had thought that the life-selling contract would be worth thousands of taels, yet with just a paltry one hundred taels, a girl’s entire latter life was soldered within Drunken Spring Pavilion.

According to the news Ouyang Qian got, these girls all felt very inferior, and one very consistent point was that they all had terrible birth dates.

In ancient terms, they were considered to have thin fates.

Thus, no one wanted to marry them, they were deemed unfortunates.

From birth, they grew up amidst the sighs of their parents, and as soon as they turned sixteen, they would be sold by their families to Drunken Spring Pavilion for 100 taels of Silver.

Because Drunken Spring Pavilion was their only option.

Looking at these miserable girls, Lin Yi couldn’t help but sigh, once one bows to fate, it becomes very difficult to carve out one’s path.

"How many girls are there in total in Drunken Spring Pavilion?"

"50, among them 18 can no longer entertain guests and have turned to menial tasks, two are ill, they can only get three to five taels of Silver from the madam each month."

Ouyang Qian’s trip was not in vain, as when daylight broke, Sun Pinglai would bring the Government Officials over for investigation.

"Prince Consort, I’m so tired, I can’t get out of bed, it’s all your fault!"

"Alright, alright, it’s all my fault, then rest well today."

And so, Lin Yi let Ouyang Qian rest alone, while he himself went out before dawn.

The streets at dawn were already eerily quiet.

Only the lights of Drunken Spring Pavilion were lit, as were those of Yichun House, Huai Spring House, and others.

Lin Yi took a stroll and found that their business was even worse than Drunken Spring Pavilion’s.

’This shouldn’t be, in ancient times, brothels should be thriving, why is it the opposite in Gan County?’

Just as Lin Yi was unable to figure it out, the Shopkeeper of Yichun House, sighing heavily, came out with a gourd wine bottle.

"Ah, had I known that selling alcohol could be so profitable, I might as well have opened a tavern, this damn Yichun House has made me lose all my capital!"

Hearing this, Lin Yi seized the opportunity to approach and after listening to the Shopkeeper’s complaints, decided to make him an offer.

"Shopkeeper, how about I exchange a small tavern for this Yichun House of yours?"

The Shopkeeper’s interest was piqued instantly. He was not a greedy man, as long as the tavern was a quarter the size of a new one with a way to procure supplies, he would be happy.

"Deal! Then it’s settled."

The Shopkeeper, fearing Lin Yi would change his mind, immediately took out pen and paper to sign and seal the deal.

Lin Yi was also very straightforward, promising to help the Shopkeeper build a small tavern and to recommend channels for procuring alcohol.

[Ding ding ding, host has successfully purchased a batch of high-quality wooden flooring and 50 bags of cement, paying 1 million Heavenly Bead Coins]

"Tomorrow morning, I will arrange for someone to build a small tavern at your Yichun House."

To avoid repeating the style of other taverns, Lin Yi specifically chose wooden flooring, presumably for distinction.

A bunch of building materials mysteriously appeared behind Yichun House, and the Shopkeeper felt as if he were dreaming.

"Shopkeeper, go tell the girls to tidy up, tonight someone will come to take them to a new place to live."

The Shopkeeper nodded happily, who would have thought that being unable to sleep in the middle of the night, he would meet an Honored Lady right outside his door.

... End of Chapter ...