Chapter 141: Exhausted

Miss Zhao naturally understood what Liu Liwa meant. She thought it over and realized it truly had benefits with no downsides. As a forward-thinking designer, she did not care about others’ opinions or gossip. Besides, given her status and position, if others hired women from the Lowly Status Register, they would be condemned, but if she hired them, it was considered a good deed and accumulating merit.

So, after some thought, Miss Zhao decided to sign an agreement with Liu Liwa. Liu Liwa drafted it, and Miss Zhao wrote it down. The main content was: seven girls who would turn twenty-seven that year would be selected from Intoxication Pavilion to work for Miss Zhao. For that year, Miss Zhao would not pay the girls any salary. But next year, when the girls turned twenty-eight and were dismissed by Intoxication Pavilion, Miss Zhao must take in three of the girls and provide proper arrangements for three years. During those three years, the girls could work for Miss Zhao as employees, with a salary not lower than that of regular tailors, along with food and lodging. Whether to renew the contract after three years would be decided through mutual discussion.

Additionally, there was an extra clause in the agreement, strongly requested by Liu Liwa: during the three-year contract period, Miss Zhao should try to arrange for the seven girls to work alongside male staff. Whether it was shopkeepers, servants, tailors, or even the ape-like Zhao Zhong and Zhao Cheng, the goal was to create as many opportunities as possible for the girls to date and form relationships.

Just like how Liu Liwa was willing to trust Wang Erdao, he firmly believed that people were emotional beings. Once emotions were built, things like status, background, or origins wouldn’t matter.

“Are you a good person or a gambler?” Miss Zhao found it harder to figure out Liu Liwa’s nature. Although he was doing good deeds, he placed too much hope in human nature. After all, no matter how the world changed, the deepest-seated belief in people’s hearts remained: if one doesn’t look out for oneself, heaven and earth will condemn them. Some people lacked emotions and humanity, like Wang Erdao. It was hard to tell how he would treat Miss Xiuzhu a few years from now. Now, with seven more girls pushed forward, who knew what kind of experiences they would have?

Two copies of the employment contract were made. Miss Zhao carefully put hers away and left, promising to send someone to pick up the girls the next day. As soon as Miss Zhao left, the girls who had been eavesdropping rushed out. Seven of them knelt in front of Liu Liwa, crying and saying, “Thank you, Brother Xiaoqi, for helping us. We will never forget your great kindness.”

Huh? Liu Liwa was stunned. He looked at the other girls and saw gratitude in their eyes. He hadn’t realized they had witnessed the whole scene. Now, he felt unsure what to do because there were more than ten girls who would turn twenty-eight next year, and he could only help seven. He wondered what the others thought.

But why were there exactly seven girls kneeling before him?

Liu Liwa quickly helped the girls up. Among them was the tall and familiar Miss Yanhong. Seeing Liu Liwa’s confusion, Yanhong said, “Thank you, Brother Xiaoqi, for your kindness and loyalty, for finding ways to help us escape our suffering. But don’t worry, we sisters have already discussed it. Although more than ten sisters will be dismissed for being overage next year, the others can almost save enough Silver Taels to buy their freedom after one more year. For us, it’s either starvation on the streets, so the sisters generously gave this chance to us seven…”

As she spoke, Yanhong and the other six sisters burst into tears. The other kind-hearted girls also had teary eyes. Then, the girls hugged each other and cried together, creating a touching and tear-jerking scene.

Liu Liwa smiled, feeling deeply comforted. This scene was exactly what he had always believed in: trusting human nature and emotions.

“Alright, alright, no need to be so emotional. I believe suffering is only temporary. As long as we hold onto hope and stay firm in our beliefs, tomorrow is always unknown and beautiful.” Liu Liwa clapped his hands to encourage them. “But for now, we have work to do. From now on, you seven will be professional models at Miss Zhao’s Clothing Boutique. This job may seem easy, but it’s actually tough. As the saying goes, ten minutes on the runway takes ten years of practice off it. You must practice diligently, not embarrass me, and do Miss Zhao proud.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Xiaoqi,” Miss Yanhong stepped forward. Her tall figure, intentionally on tiptoes, made her slightly taller than Liu Xiaoqi. She placed a slender arm on his shoulder, her fragrance enveloping him. She whispered coyly in his ear, “You’ve been so kind and loyal helping us find a way out. How could we embarrass you? We’d rather kiss your face than let you down…”

With that, Miss Yanhong boldly and enthusiastically planted a kiss on Liu Liwa’s cheek. The other girls, not wanting to be left out, swarmed forward, each giving him a kiss. Liu Liwa felt like he had just escaped from the spider demons’ cave—alluring yet somewhat frightening.

Only then did he truly feel the atmosphere of Intoxication Pavilion: open, passionate, and fiery. I LIKE IT!

They cried for a while, laughed for a while, and fooled around for a while. Sisterly bonds, gratitude, and friendship were all present here.

“Alright, let’s start special training now. We might have to go into action tomorrow.” Most of the girls left, leaving only the seven selected ones, led by Yanhong. Each was tall but average-looking. Years in the Pleasure House had cultivated bold and fiery personalities, so Liu Liwa didn’t hold back and began the modeling guidance directly: “Hey, Yanhong, I’m telling you to swing your hips, swing your hips, understand? Not wiggle your butt…”

“But I don’t know the difference between swinging hips and wiggling butt,” Miss Yanhong said coyly.

“Swinging hips uses force from the connection between upper and lower body, swinging rhythmically. Wiggling butt is just weak lower body movement, wiggling wildly… Forget it, explaining won’t work. I’ll press your butt, and you try again!”

“Hey, Yancui, I said push out your chest, not arch your back and straighten your spine. Alright, alright, I know you can’t push out your chest. Let me support it a bit for you…”

“Hey, Caixia, do you have arthritis or are you born bow-legged? Can’t you keep your legs together? What, you don’t know how to keep your legs together? What? Your clients liked you wide open? Oh, sorry, I forgot your profession… Start practicing now, try to keep your legs together. Imagine there’s a piece of paper between them. What? You can’t feel it? Fine, just clamp my hand then…”

Oh my, though the seven girls had alluring experience, they were really not cut out for modeling. It exhausted Liu Liwa, having to press their butts, support their chests, and have his hand clamped. His Divine Weapon stayed erect the whole time. So tiring!