Chapter 126: The Big Brother Blacksmith

The sharp blade stabbed into Wang Meng’s hand, yet no blood sprayed out as expected. There were no cries of pain or angry roars. Wang Meng grasped the scissors firmly and gave a light pull. Xiuzhu was no match for him. The scissors landed easily in his palm. He flung them aside casually, his hand unharmed. This left Liu Liwa blinking and stunned—was this invulnerability?

Wang Meng ignored the stares. He glared at the distraught Xiuzhu. “The Madam said she gives you three days. Today is day two. If you can’t pay the Silver Taels or aren’t bought out from this place, I’ll throw you out immediately. Also, if you want to die? I’ll take you outside to die. Don’t affect Intoxication Pavilion.”

These cold, unfeeling words stabbed the hearts of the girls deeply. They feared the same fate would befall them someday. Trapped between impossible survival and an impossible escape.

Yet facing the terrifying Wang Meng, the girls dared not speak their anger. They only watched him with icy glares. Wang Meng treated them as if they were invisible, focusing solely on Liu Liwa. His voice was cold. “The Madam says, if you don’t want to see her die? Then keep performing your act to reverse the Divine Miracle.”

Finished, Wang Meng turned and strode away, rather coolly. Liu Liwa and the girls, however, ground their teeth. This damn exploiter! Ignoring a veteran worker! Firing her just like that! And ignoring if they lived or died!

Liu Liwa truly wanted to organize a great strike. Have all the girls agree. Get some chicken blood, dog blood, pig blood. Claim their Auntie was visiting all together. Make Intoxication Pavilion close for at least seven days…

But Liu Liwa knew it wasn’t practical. Intoxication Pavilion could survive a few days without earnings. Yet the girls still needed Silver Taels to buy themselves out.

Once Wang Meng left, the pressure eased off the girls. Xiuzhu, frightened half to death, quietly got off the bed. She picked the scissors from the floor. She held them tight against her chest, ready to live or die with them.

Liu Liwa watched her. This woman seemed mentally off… but not suicidal? Because Wang Meng’s glare froze her in fear just now. Someone wishing for death wouldn’t be afraid.

“Brother Xiaoqi! Please help Xiuzhu! She’s so pitiful!” Cuiping, beside Liu Liwa, suddenly spoke. Wang Meng had mentioned even the Madam watched Liu Liwa’s “miracle”. Cuiping was the prime example. So they naturally believed if he helped one, he could help another.

Once Cuiping spoke, other girls begged Liu Liwa too. Find a way! Help Xiuzhu! But Liu Liwa wasn’t a superman. Or a savior. How many tricks did he have? Besides? Xiuzhu never asked anyone for help! Liu Liwa was crazy? Doing this hard, thankless task?

Succeed? Get nothing. Fail? Wu Liniang and the others would make him miserable…

“I see why she clings to that scissors!” A girl close to Xiuzhu declared. Everyone looked. She held a piece of paper. Seeing Xiuzhu babbling alone, she darted to Liu Liwa. Whispered, “Xiuzhu’s probably lovesick sick.”

Lovesick? Everyone was stunned. Girls in this prostitution house rarely let men touch their hearts. Men who came here weren’t good ones. They never felt real feelings. Even if affection grew? Men wouldn’t claim them. Or give happiness.

So, after stepping inside, most gave up dreams of love. Only Silver Taels ruled. Yet Xiuzhu was lovesick? People found it hard to believe.

Liu Liwa took the paper. Spreading it for all, they saw messy writing: “Give sister Xiuzhu these scissors. Scissors bear witness. Spring comes warm, flowers bloom. Red bridal sedan chair arrives to fetch my sister…”

It made no sense. Awkward, off-rhythm. The handwriting bended and twisted. Its author clearly barely knew his letters. Yet dared write love poetry?

“Who wrote this for Xiuzhu?” Cuiping asked.

“Right, who sends scissors as a symbol of love? Way too cheap!” Miss Yanhong giggled.

“I know!” One girl exclaimed. “These are for Xiuzhu. Sent by Wang Erdao. The blacksmith at the West Street Smithy.”

All eyes locked on her. Liu Liwa puzzled, “How do you know?”

She snatched another paper from the floor. Also crooked writing: “Family blacksmiths for eight gens. Steelwork skill flows through me. My heart is steel, firm as iron. Only my sister fills my thoughts…”

Yeah… hard times, him. Writing poems was tough for a blacksmith.

Miss Yanhong pinched her chin, detective-like: “Seems Xiuzhu and Wang Erdao loved each other. Swore heart and soul. Wang Erdao vowed to wed her with a red sedan chair. Fool Xiuzhu truly waited, loving scissors like gold beads. But Xiuzhu faces eviction now! Where’s Wang Erdao? Thrown out, she remains in the Lowly Status Register. Wang Erdao still can’t wed her then!”

Before her analysis went further… Xiuzhu sprang up, crazed. Clutching the scissors so hard they nearly stabbed her. She howled wildly: “Second Knife Brother will come! He said a grand sedan chair would bear me home! He will come! Only saving Silver Taels now!”

Seeing her madness, all stopped talking. Liu Liwa saw it too. This wasn’t lovesickness. It was madness! Yet showed deep love for that blacksmith Wang Erdao. Deep belief in his promise. Waiting faithfully for him to claim her.

But why hadn’t he come? Was he lying from the start? Was a blacksmith too poor for five hundred tael silver? Or… did Wang Erdao plan a dramatic hero entry? Waiting until the final day?

Liu Liwa chose to believe Wang Erdao savored a grand entrance. Not deception. Xiuzhu’s heart, soul—everything—hung on this man. Nearly insane with it. If he tricked this tragic girl? Utterly heartless!

Xiuzhu snatched the “love letters” like a wild thing. Held them and the scissors to her chest. Climbed back onto the bed. Slumped there, motionless… waiting. Clinging to a last shred of hope… Yet her look? It seemed she knew the truth…