Chapter 119: Wandering Hearts and Cheap Desires

Seventy Silver Taels were equal to Liu Liwa’s salary for over thirty years at Intoxication Pavilion. His salary was two Qian of silver per month. If he lived frugally, one Qian of silver—equivalent to one hundred Wen—was enough for a family of three to live for a month. With one Wen, he could buy one meat bun. That meant Liu Liwa’s monthly basic salary could buy two hundred meat buns, which was enough to fill his stomach. He belonged to the working class.

By comparison, these ordinary girls belonged to the middle class, making them mid-to-high-income white-collar workers. The girls on the second and third floors were considered golden-collar workers. As for people like Wu Liniang, Brother Chun, and Lord Zeng, they were millionaires. Miss Zhao was a billionaire. Young Master Ye was a second-generation heir, while Wen Jun came from an official family…

Although this era was far removed from the future, the social structure had not changed much at its core!

Spending seventy Silver Taels on a single meal was indeed extravagant for those present, but everyone enjoyed it thoroughly. Some of the dishes were things many of them had never heard of or seen before, thanks to the worldly knowledge of the Leftover Warriors, who were used to luxury and knew how to spend money!

The meal bought with seventy Silver Taels was exactly as Liu Liwa had requested: there wasn’t a single green leaf in sight, only meat dishes. Everyone, regardless of gender, ate until their mouths were greasy and their teeth felt oily. During the meal, Liu Liwa deliberately steered the conversation toward their lives in the Pleasure House over the years. The girls, who were as close as sisters, slowly began to reminisce about their shared memories.

The lunch lasted until dusk. When the food ran out, the other girls chipped in to buy more. When the wine ran out, they sneaked into the back kitchen to steal more. The atmosphere was incredibly lively. The joys and sorrows, laughter and tears the sisters had shared over the years all came together in that moment, and every little memory from the past surfaced in their minds.

The girls grew more excited as they talked, and more of them joined in. Many girls from the second and third floors opened their doors and peeked down, sharing in their happiness. Even Wu Liniang and Shen Zuijin from the Fourth Floor were watching. The lively atmosphere felt like a New Year celebration. Some of the drunk girls even gathered together, lit three incense sticks, and vowed to become sworn sisters. The scene was bustling and joyous.

Naturally, many girls gathered around Liu Liwa, plying him with alcohol. If they had no other skills, persuading others to drink and drinking themselves were their specialties. Many of them asked Liu Liwa about his past and why he always came up with so many new tricks. Liu Liwa nearly couldn’t handle the girls’ enthusiasm and almost revealed Furong and Yufeng’s names.

As the night grew darker, the unprecedented feast at the Pleasure House continued in full swing. The girls drank more and more, growing closer and closer, as if they had endless things to talk about. If they kept drinking like this, they might even start a rebellion. In the end, Shen Zuijin came downstairs, walked around, and went to the Backyard to collect the clothes she had washed that morning. She didn’t say a word, but her presence was commanding, and the girls immediately toned down their behavior. They also realized that it was almost time to open for business, and the moment that would decide Cuiping’s fate had arrived.

At this point, everyone calmed down, but Cuiping and Liu Liwa had somehow disappeared without anyone noticing. When the first guests arrived and the pair still hadn’t shown up, some girls began to wonder if Liu Liwa had run off with Cuiping.

Time passed, and more and more guests arrived. Since Liu Liwa was absent, Shen Zuijin temporarily assigned Yang Xiaosi to greet the guests. The customers were still the usual regulars—influential and wealthy figures from the city. During the day, they checked their grain stores and counted their silver; at night, they scolded their wives and visited the Pleasure House. Their lives were full.

In the past, when these guests arrived, they would head straight to the second or third floor. If they stopped on the first floor, it was either to eat or to listen to Miss Liuyun sing. They never sought out any of the first-floor girls.

But now, even though Miss Liuyun was past her prime, the guests were more eager to sit on the first floor after entering. They would order a pot of wine and a few small dishes, waiting for Liu Liwa to come out and tell stories or come up with new tricks and games. The men who visited the Pleasure House in this era were not like the young men of later times, who came to fulfill needs or for social obligations. The men of this era were successful in their careers, with land, houses, wives, and concubines. They came here purely for entertainment or to seek excitement, and only entered a room when the mood struck them.

So, it was no surprise that in just a few days, they had become enamored with Liu Liwa’s new ideas.

Today was no different. The regulars arrived as always, totaling over twenty people, forming a powerful spending group at the Pleasure House. Yang Xiaosi served them with ease, bringing out fine wine and delicious food, along with the girls they requested. Before long, Lord Zeng and Brother Chun also arrived. Although their wives, concubines, and maids had all worn Miss Zhao’s revolutionary clothing the day before, giving them a taste of novelty, home flowers could never compare to wild ones. This fully demonstrated that habits like self-pleasure, visiting brothels, and indulging in vices were all addictive!

Especially Brother Chun, who was full of energy, naturally wouldn’t waste his youth and vitality at home. A man must be frivolous in his youth, after all. He pulled Yang Xiaosi over and asked loudly, “Hey, why haven’t I seen Liu the Stingy? Does he have any new tricks today?”

“That’s right, that’s right! Is today for storytelling or the fairy maiden contest?” Lord Zeng chimed in.

As soon as they spoke, the other guests joined in, showcasing Liu Liwa’s immense popularity. Yang Xiaosi felt a pang of bitterness. Just a few days ago, Liu Liwa had to curry favor with him just to get a full meal. Now, Liu Liwa’s fame surpassed even that of the top girls. How could Yang Xiaosi possibly know what Liu Liwa was up to?

“Today, we’re playing ‘Exotic Style’!” Just as Yang Xiaosi was at a loss, a clear voice rang out, immediately capturing everyone’s attention. Liu Liwa emerged unhurriedly from a room on the first floor. The moment he appeared, the “wolves” in the room erupted, their cheers rising like waves, just like their hearts—wandering and cheap. Liu Liwa was indeed more popular than the top girls now. For a man to be so welcomed by the “wolves,” one might mistake the Pleasure House for a male brothel.

Amid the cheers of the wolves, Liu Liwa walked forward slowly, as if dancing gracefully. He blew out the lamps in the hall one by one, leaving only the large lantern hanging above the staircase, like a spotlight on a stage. The area below was shrouded in dimness, instantly creating an ambiguous atmosphere. Everyone couldn’t help but recall the scene when the fairy maidens descended, each holding a lantern, fresh and thrilling.

But this time, after Liu Liwa let out a sharp whistle, what appeared before everyone was an incredibly alluring, endlessly captivating jade-like body.