Chapter 117: Defying Fate

Cuiping looked at Shen Zuijin’s cold eyes, her heart sank into despair. She collapsed to the ground, wailing uncontrollably.

Liu Liwa somewhat understood how she felt. Being short of one hundred and thirty Silver Taels was like scoring fifty-nine on a test—you were stuck in hell but had one hand already touching the gates of heaven, struggling painfully.

Miss Cuiping had a pleasant personality. In daily life, she laughed and chatted with everyone, and she was well-liked. Seeing her in such a miserable state, many of the sisters who usually got along well with her wanted to help, but they were powerless. The younger girls had time but no savings, while those around her age had opportunities, but they were about to face the same fate as her.

Liu Liwa had one hundred and thirty Silver Taels. Just yesterday, he had gotten no less than one thousand Silver Taels from Young Master Ye. He had split the money and stored it in different banks. At that moment, he had one hundred and fifty Silver Notes on him, but he couldn’t take them out. It was a bottomless pit. If he helped Miss Cuiping now, other girls whose time was due would also ask for his help. When you help others, you’re a good person, but if one day he ran out of resources and couldn’t help anymore, how would others see him?

Liu Liwa shook his head and chose to remain silent.

“Fate is decided by heaven. I’ll give you three more days to settle this quickly. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless.” Facing a sea of tears, Wu Liniang remained cold-hearted. She stood up and coldly tossed out these words, then handed the ledger to the fierce-looking Wang Meng beside her, signaling that if the girls didn’t comply willingly, Wang Meng and his men would enforce it.

After speaking, Wu Liniang turned to leave. But as soon as she stepped onto the stairs, she turned back. Her gaze, whether intentional or not, fell on Liu Liwa. She said lightly, “Starting today, for the next three days, the girls on the second and third floors are not to come downstairs to snatch customers. Give the sisters on the first floor a chance. I want to see how they plan to defy fate within three days!”

Liu Liwa saw her disdainful look and felt a surge of anger. This woman had a twisted mind, giving three days to watch the girls struggle in desperation. And by looking at him, she seemed to have noticed his compassion. By stopping the second and third-floor girls from interfering, she wanted to see how he would help these girls escape their fate.

Was this a challenge? Liu Liwa gritted his teeth, sprang to his feet, and startled everyone around him. No one knew what he was about to do. Wu Liniang also paused, slightly taken aback, and watched him…

Liu Liwa turned gracefully, bent over, and pointed his rear toward Wu Liniang. He slapped it hard twice. He was reminding her of the bet between them. If he slapped himself this fiercely, he wouldn’t go easy when it was her turn to be spanked!

A blush flashed across Wu Liniang’s face. She narrowed her eyes slightly, let out a cold laugh, and turned to go upstairs. However, her walking posture seemed a bit stiff, as if she had been constipated for a long time and finally felt some relief…

No one understood the meaning behind Liu Liwa’s crude gesture, but they interpreted Wu Liniang’s decision as an act of mercy. The girls on the second and third floors did not object. Some genuinely sympathized with their first-floor sisters and wanted to give them a chance, while others were simply waiting to see the drama unfold.

With the three leaders gone, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more somber. Liu Liwa realized that the girls to be dismissed were all from the first floor. There were only two: Miss Cuiping, who was crying on the floor, and Miss Xiuzhu, who stood frozen in the crowd, utterly terrified.

Although there were only two this year, according to Miss Yanhong, next year would be a major event. At that time, eighteen girls on the first floor alone would reach the age of twenty-eight and would all be dismissed. It would be the largest purge in the history of Intoxication Pavilion.

The contrast was stark. Liu Liwa was startled. Upon closer inquiry, he learned that many years ago, a severe drought had struck the surrounding counties, causing many to starve to death. To survive, many families sold their children. At that time, various Pleasure Houses took in numerous girls of suitable age, which was why they would all reach their term next year.

Liu Liwa was speechless. Fate was truly terrifying!

Looking around, some girls were crying even more bitterly than Cuiping. Though Cuiping was caught in this wave, at least she had over three hundred Silver Taels. But these other girls were plain and unremarkable. At Intoxication Pavilion, they were merely passing time, waiting for death. Their business was slow, and redemption was hopeless. If they left Intoxication Pavilion, they would likely freeze or starve to death.

For Cuiping and Xiuzhu, the situation was painful, but for the eighteen girls due next year, it was even more torturous. For them, it was like being sentenced to death with a one-year reprieve, while watching other prisoners be executed. The psychological torment was unbearable.

The girls from the second and third floors left, and the servants and attendants also dispersed. Only the dozens of first-floor girls remained in the hall, their hearts heavy with shared sorrow. Fate had bound them together like a rope, with some at the front and others at the back.

Liu Liwa stood up and sighed softly, preparing to leave. The atmosphere made him uncomfortable. But at that moment, Cuiping, who had been sobbing on the floor, suddenly leaped up. Tears streaming down her face, she rushed over like the wind, knelt before Liu Liwa, and gripped his ankles tightly, crying out, “Brother Xiaoqi, save me! I beg you, you must save me!”

Everyone, including Liu Liwa, was stunned. He instinctively touched his chest. Did Miss Cuiping know he had hidden Silver Notes?

Miss Cuiping looked up, her tears falling like rain. “Brother Xiaoqi, I know you are knowledgeable and talented. If not for your recent storytelling and having us dress as celestial maidens, I wouldn’t have the over three hundred Silver Taels I have now. I’m only short of a little over one hundred Silver Taels to redeem myself. Please help me again. I’ll dress as a celestial maiden, a demon, or a ghost—whatever you want me to do. As long as I can gather five hundred Silver Taels, I’ll be free. I beg you, I know you must have ways to attract customers. Please…”

Miss Cuiping pleaded desperately, her tears soaking Liu Liwa’s robe. Many of the girls nearby were astonished. So her three hundred Silver Taels were earned recently. Probably some generous patron had a great time and paid handsomely. But what was even more surprising was Liu Liwa’s creativity. It seemed simple—just using words—but it sparked the interest and novelty-seeking of seasoned patrons. Even big shots like Brother Chun and Lord Zeng had joined in. If they had a good time, earning enough for redemption in one go wouldn’t be strange.

No one had paid much attention before, but with Miss Cuiping revealing it under such circumstances, Liu Liwa’s uniqueness became even more apparent.

He smugly touched his hair, thinking to himself, “Knowledge changes fate, creativity changes life!”