Chapter 100: The High-IQ Second Generation

That thriftless woman!

Liu Liwa gnashed his teeth. She was clearly a super second generation who could solve everything with silver taels. Why did she have to take such a roundabout way and make a big fuss about self-sacrifice? Brother worked at a pleasure house, and his daily job was to look at legs. Although her legs were a bit fairer and longer than other girls’, what other tricks did she have?

“Miss, couldn’t you just give me the money you used to tear your skirt? Why go through all this trouble?” Liu Liwa said weakly.

“That won’t do,” Zhao Jiabi said firmly. “I do have silver taels on me, but I took them from home. Since I’ve run away from home to start my own business, I can no longer use my family’s money. That’s my principle and my backbone. Although the girls paid last night, and I originally planned to share with you, we have the opening ceremony soon, followed by a banquet, so naturally I can’t give you any. Right now, I’m just a penniless woman. The only resource I can use is myself. So…”

As she spoke, Zhao Jiabi lifted her slightly revealed leg. The hem of her skirt fell away, revealing fair, smooth, tender, delicate, slender, and radiant skin.

Liu Liwa stared at her leg, swallowing hard, and said with solemn respect, “On behalf of myself, I express my highest respect and utmost admiration for your principled stance and your spirit of making rational use of available resources. But Miss, you are a pure and noble young lady from a good family. Aren’t you afraid that doing this might damage your reputation if word gets out?”

Zhao Jiabi smiled faintly and glanced around the empty alley. “Is there anyone else here? Was there anyone else who saw yesterday? Or are you planning to tell? I have a chance to marry into the imperial family and become an imperial concubine or even the empress. If you spread rumors, at worst I could claim that you harassed me, that you forced yourself on me. But you…”

Seeing the proud, smug look on the young lady’s face, Liu Liwa broke out in a cold sweat, his face turning pale. Only now did he see her true nature—ruthless! So he had fallen into her trap from the very beginning. This woman was indeed not simple. He had naively thought that, as a time traveler, he had so-called superiority over this era. But in reality, everything in the world depends on human effort. Human wisdom knows no bounds of time or space. Even the most high-tech products are invented by people. You can underestimate anything, but never underestimate any person!

“So? What have you decided? Will you help me or not? Hurry up and answer—my leg is going numb, and someone could come by at any moment,” the young lady said cheerfully, still holding up her leg.

Liu Liwa now felt like slapping himself hard. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and no such thing as a free look at a woman’s legs! Even brothers in later eras, when staring at girls in short skirts and stockings in the summer, had to watch out for their hot-tempered boyfriends.

“Miss, why me?” Liu Liwa asked coldly. “Why did you choose me?”

“Because you were a tailor in your past life!” the young lady said with a laugh.

Liu Liwa was shocked again. That was something he had jokingly said to Young Master Ye. How did she know? Then the young lady recounted in detail everything he had done recently at Intoxication Pavilion. She started from the time he impulsively helped Miss Liuyun, told Lanlan’s story, analyzed Third Miss Zhao’s personality traits and dating preferences for Young Master Ye, to advising Wen Jun and designing the Photobook Series. She laid out every detail as if she were reciting Liu Liwa’s autobiography, leaving him drenched in cold sweat.

No need to say more—it was definitely that second-generation scion Ye Zecong and that imperial loyalist Wen Jun who had betrayed him. In fact, anyone who paid a little attention to Liu Liwa’s recent actions would notice that he was unusual and extraordinary.

“What do you want me to do?” Liu Liwa, now at her mercy, had no choice but to compromise. This also served as a reminder to himself: never underestimate anyone again, especially women.

“It’s very simple. You don’t need to be nervous or hold a grudge against me,” the young lady said, retracting her beautiful leg. The innocent demeanor, bright spring-like smile, and sharp, empress-like expression were all gone. She looked just as she had when Liu Liwa first met her—a smiling face radiating such powerful self-confidence that it could infect those around her, as if any problem in her hands was a trivial matter. “I’ve said it before: I came to Linyu County because I ran away from home. Opening a clothing boutique is my way of starting my own business. All of this is because I don’t want to marry into the imperial family. But first, I need to prove to my father that, even though I’m a daughter, I have the ability to manage the Zhao Family’s business. If I inherit the family business, naturally I won’t have to marry into the imperial family. Also, I might as well tell you: in my generation, the Zhao Family only has three daughters. But the family’s vast farmlands remain. If I marry into the imperial family, the ancestral property passed down through generations will eventually go to the Ministry of Revenue!”

Hmph, so this woman had it all figured out from the start. How ridiculous that he had smugly worried on her behalf yesterday. A shrewd woman was truly terrifying. Liu Liwa wanted to run even more. He knew this young lady had recognized his value and wouldn’t let him go until he gave her something. So he simply said, “For the opening ceremony later, set up a platform at the shop entrance. Make it two meters wide and five meters long—a narrow, elongated shape. Have the girls inside wear the clothes that best match their respective figures. After setting off firecrackers and when the invited merchants and gentry have arrived, let the girls take turns stepping onto the platform, showing off their figures as much as possible, which will also display the dresses they’re wearing. That should have an effect. As for the details, you’ll need to discuss them with the girls. If they perform well, the effect will be even better.”

Liu Liwa briefly explained his idea of using a “Model Team” for the show. Miss Zhao’s intelligence was almost frightening. After a brief moment of thought, she immediately grasped the essence. She gave Liu Liwa a meaningful look, smiled, and walked back into the shop. Standing outside, Liu Liwa heard her say, “Ladies, are you satisfied with these dresses? Since you all like them so much, and today is our grand opening, we’ve decided to offer a buy-one-get-one-free deal. That means each of you can pick one more dress. Also, please change into your new dresses and help me with a small favor later!”

After she finished speaking, the girls responded joyfully, cheering and jumping with excitement. The starting price of these dresses was over fifteen silver taels, and the prettier styles with higher-quality materials cost even more. Even the well-paid pleasure house girls could hardly afford them. Now that they could get one for free and choose any they wanted, they were naturally overjoyed. As for helping with a small favor—since they were just pleasure house girls who only accompanied men, and the madam was a woman—they assumed it wouldn’t be too complicated. So they agreed at once and happily went to pick their favorite dresses.