Chapter 45

In the south of Songjiang Prefecture, there is a very famous alley called Huaxiang. Despite its name, it is not because the alley is filled with flowers, but because it is the most famous pleasure district in Songjiang Prefecture, where over 90% of the brothels in the city are concentrated. Every dusk, Huaxiang is lit up with red lights and green wine, drunk patrons and prostitutes standing by the doors flirt with each other, and the air is filled with the scent of lust, showcasing the prosperity and decadence of human society.

Speaking of brothels, there are actually two types. One is the kind often seen on TV, officially registered with the government, akin to having a business license, but they have to pay taxes to the government. The other is called "home service," where the prostitutes either provide services at the client's home or receive clients at their own place. They do the same work as brothels but avoid some of the government's restrictions. However, these "home services" usually have some kind of backing, big or small, otherwise, they would have been shut down by the authorities long ago.

Huaxiang is an east-west alley. At the eastern end of the alley, there is a very large and uniquely named "home service" called "Bieyuan." The reason for this name is that Bieyuan's business model is very distinctive, and it is the first of its kind among all the brothels in Songjiang Prefecture.

There is a group of people who have some wealth but, for various reasons, need a woman in their lives. However, they find ordinary prostitutes too dirty. To meet the needs of these people, Bieyuan was established.

Bieyuan is a vast mansion, divided into many small courtyards, totaling dozens. Each courtyard has a young woman, and these women do not need to receive clients every day. Instead, after entering Bieyuan, they are supported by a specific client. When this client visits their courtyard, the women take care of them wholeheartedly, just like a married couple. When the client is not there, the women live their own lives, and Bieyuan does not allow them to receive other clients. Their living expenses are provided by Bieyuan.

Of course, supporting a woman in Bieyuan is not cheap. Each client has to pay an annual fee, called "annual silver," which varies based on the woman's appearance and living standards. The minimum is several dozen taels of silver per year, and the highest can reach several hundred taels. Although this price seems high, it includes the daily expenses of the woman and Bieyuan's income.

Generally, the women in Bieyuan are much luckier than those in other brothels. They do not have to receive different clients every day, and their lives are more relaxed. Some clients even request that the women do not use contraception. When these women become pregnant, they are often redeemed and taken home as concubines, thus completely escaping their lowly status.

Even if some women do not get pregnant, living with one client for a long time can naturally lead to the development of feelings. In the end, they can also be redeemed by their patrons, so compared to ordinary prostitutes, they have a better chance of escaping their suffering.

However, not all the women in Bieyuan are so lucky. After all, this is a brothel, not a charity. In a secluded courtyard in the southeast corner of Bieyuan, a woman in a simple dress and wooden hairpin is desperately pleading to an old woman.

"Mother, please, for the sake of my years of filial piety and the child in my womb, do not sell me!" The woman, ignoring the cold of winter, kneels on the ground and pleads bitterly.

According to Bieyuan's rules, if a client stops paying for the woman they support, the woman's fate is very tragic. To squeeze out the last bit of value from them, these women will be sold to other brothels in Huaxiang, where they will become ordinary prostitutes, often the lowest rank due to their age, with no hope of a better future.

The woman kneeling on the ground looks to be around 27 or 28 years old, with a pretty face, but at her age, she is already considered old in a place like Bieyuan. Her waist is somewhat thick, indicating that she is at least two or three months pregnant. Given her condition, even if her client does not want to redeem her, Bieyuan should take good care of her. However, she is kneeling on the cold ground, which is puzzling.

"Hmph, don't blame me for being heartless, Su Niang. Your patron hasn't visited for months and probably won't come back. The money he gave can only support you until the end of the month, which is just a few days away. Bieyuan is not a place to support idlers. When the time comes, everything will be handled according to the rules!" The madam of Bieyuan, heavily made up, shows no sympathy. Although the women in Bieyuan call her "mother," she does not consider them her daughters. In her eyes, they are merely tools for making money, with no emotional attachment.

"Mother, Su Niang understands Bieyuan's rules. I have no complaints about being sold, but please let me give birth to the child in my womb. Otherwise, with my large belly, I won't fetch a good price. I beg you!" Su Niang's voice is hoarse as she bangs her head on the ground, pleading bitterly. As a woman of the night, she has long accepted her fate, but for the sake of her child, she does not want to be sold to another brothel at this time.

"Hmph, the child in your womb is easy to deal with. Since your client has no money to see you, I'll send you some medicine in a few days to get rid of the child!" The madam has a heart of stone, and Su Niang's attempt to move her with the child is futile.

Hearing that the madam wants to abort her child, Su Niang's face turns pale. She has been in Bieyuan for almost ten years and has always wanted a child. First, to use the child to escape this place, and second, as a woman of the night, having a child is not easy. For example, ordinary prostitutes are given medicine when they enter the brothel and can never get pregnant again.

Thinking that this might be her only chance to have a child, Su Niang's maternal instincts flare up again. Supporting herself with her knees, she crawls a few steps and grabs the madam's leg, pleading, "Mother, I beg you, please don't abort my child! Please don't!"

The madam, with a heart of stone, is annoyed by Su Niang's pleading. She kicks Su Niang away and turns to leave without a backward glance. However, just as she is about to step out, she stops and says, "Don't blame me for not giving you a chance. Write a letter, and I'll have it delivered to your patron. If he still refuses to redeem you, hah!"

The madam then leaves the courtyard. Su Niang sits on the ground, tears streaming down her face. She knows something about her patron, having heard that his family is in trouble. Even if he wants to redeem her, he probably lacks the means.

Despite knowing her patron's situation, this is her last chance. She quickly wipes away her tears, stands up, and returns to her room to write a letter. She originally could not read or write, but her patron, who treated her well, taught her to read and write in his free time. She never thought she would use this skill at such a critical moment.

As Su Niang writes the letter to her child's father, the madam leaves her courtyard and heads to another part of Bieyuan. When she enters the main hall of the courtyard, she sees a pale, thin young man flirting with a beautiful woman. The table in front of them is set with food and drink, but they have barely touched it, clearly more focused on each other's bodies.

The madam immediately puts on a fawning smile and says to the young man, "Young Master Song, I have done as you asked. Su Niang is writing a letter to that old man. Once he receives it, you can wait for the show to begin!"

If Zhou Chong were here, he would recognize the pale, thin young man as the Second Young Master Song, with whom he has had several confrontations. Hearing the madam's words, the young man raises his head and gives her a light glance. "Oh? Are you sure he will come when he receives the letter?"

"Rest assured, Young Master Song. That old man has supported Su Niang for almost ten years, and they have a good relationship. He has always wanted a child, but Su Niang has been unable to conceive. Now that she is finally pregnant, he will surely come running when he receives the news!" The madam pats her sagging chest, guaranteeing it.

"Sir, Su Niang and that old man have a very good relationship. He has never married because of her, and all the women in Bieyuan know this. Given his age, if he knows Su Niang is pregnant, he will crawl here even if you break his legs!" The beautiful woman in Song's arms also vouches for it.

"Good! If this works, it's all thanks to our Xing Niang. If I can get my revenge, I will reward you generously!" Song says, reaching out to touch the woman's exposed chest, causing her to coo in delight.

Song's knowledge of Su Niang's situation is thanks to the beautiful woman in his arms, Xing Niang. After learning about it, he immediately thought of a way to get back at Zhou Chong.

"Cough, Young Master Song, what about..." At this moment, the madam coughs inappropriately, a sycophantic smile on her face.

Seeing this, Song understands her meaning. He reaches into his pocket, takes out a piece of silver, and tosses it to her. "Fine, this is your reward for today. Get out of here and don't be a nuisance!"

"Yes, yes, enjoy your time with Xing Niang. I won't disturb you!" The madam catches the silver, her face breaking into a broad smile, her wrinkles pushing the powder off her face, making Song feel nauseous and find the young Xing Niang even more beautiful.

PS: With guests at home during the Spring Festival, I finally managed to find time to post a chapter. Please vote and follow!