Chapter 7

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Arriving at Iron Ox Town, it was already dusk.

The small town was built by the mountains and water, with a street running through it. The shops and houses on the slopes were staggered and gradually lit up, presenting a unique scene.

However, when Wujiu stood in the courtyard of Ruyi Tavern, he was still somewhat depressed.

Sometimes, being unclear in speech can lead to misfortune.

A jade cup shattered for no reason, and he was saddled with a huge debt. A hundred gold pieces, worth over a thousand taels of silver, even if a person were broken into pieces and sold, they couldn't afford such a price. Fortunately, Liao Cai was relatively generous. Although he kept complaining about the preciousness of the jade cup, he didn't insist on compensation but invited Wujiu to continue the journey. In that situation, it was hard to refuse. Thus, he followed along to this place.

Ruyi Tavern was at the eastern end of the town, with a three-sided, two-story building along the street, enclosing a courtyard of several dozen feet. On one side, there was a gate with an oiled paper lantern hanging, inscribed with the black characters "Ruyi." Standing in the courtyard, the smell of horse stables, kitchen fumes, and an indescribable fragrance of powder rushed over, making one feel dizzy and disoriented. In the distance, the sounds of stringed instruments and wanton laughter could be heard.

Wujiu, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, guessed and couldn't help but say, "Brother Liao, I think I should find another place!"

Liao Cai led the group into the courtyard and whispered to the welcoming attendant. After a moment, he walked away without turning his head, gesturing to a row of houses in the corner of the courtyard: "Rest here temporarily, and there will be arrangements later!"

Wujiu wanted to argue, but two burly attendants ran over, blocking him from behind with unfriendly expressions, clearly intending to force him to stay.

Xing'er and Zao'er looked around, their faces showing confusion.

Wujiu couldn't leave even if he wanted to. He frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to protect the two girls, tightened the bundle on his back, and led them to the small house, trying to be friendly with the leading attendant: "I didn't expect Brother Liao to be the manager of Ruyi Pavilion, truly hard to refuse such hospitality! What is your name, brother..."

The attendant introduced himself as Wang Gui and said coldly, "Hmph, that's not the manager, but the steward of Ruyi Pavilion!"

Ruyi Tavern had become Ruyi Pavilion. Liao Cai had become the steward. What would happen next, it seemed, would not be as wished!

Wujiu, however, was not worried and took the opportunity to chat with the three attendants.

Besides the leading Wang Gui, the other two were also in their twenties, named Shunzi and Qianwang, which sounded auspicious, but they were all rough and surly, not looking like good people.

"Creak"

The door of the small house opened, and a wave of heat and dampness hit them.

Wujiu smiled bitterly and led the two children into the room. The oil lamp was just lit, and the door closed with a "bang."

In the dim light, the small room was piled with wooden boxes, wine jars, and oil cans.

This was clearly not a place to rest but a storage room.

Wujiu looked at the closed door, paused for a moment, then found a wooden box to sit on, put down his bundle, and seeing Xing'er and Zao'er huddled together, comforted them, "Steward Liao is a relative of yours, he won't harm you..."

The two girls' faces were streaked with sweat and dirt, still looking anxious. Xing'er timidly said, "Sir, we were bought, not relatives of Steward Liao..."

Well, it seems we've run into human traffickers.

But why would Ruyi Pavilion lock me here?

Wujiu was not at all tense, but smiled at the two pitiful children and said, "Your elders at home were really wrong! Even if life is hard, they shouldn't sell their children..."

Xing'er and Zao'er lowered their heads, looking even more pitiful and helpless.

Wujiu didn't want to say more, sighed inwardly, and started looking around, sniffing the air. He opened a wooden box, and inside were persimmon cakes, each covered with white frost, exuding a sweet aroma. He opened another box, and inside were fried fruits. He chuckled, grabbed the persimmon cakes and fruits, and stuffed them into his mouth, calling out, "Xing'er, Zao'er, don't be shy, eat up..."

The two sisters blinked, standing still, not daring to move.

Wujiu, however, acted as if he were at home, eating and rummaging through the boxes, muttering to himself, "Daring to imprison me, hmpf..."

At that moment, the door opened wide.

Liao Cai, with two attendants, walked into the room and was stunned. The neatly arranged boxes had been opened, and the food inside was scattered everywhere, with someone climbing on the boxes to reach higher. It seemed he wouldn't stop until the storage room was completely turned upside down.

Wujiu, hearing the commotion, slowly climbed down from the boxes, his mouth still full, and mumbled, "Resting here is quite good... no worries about food and drink, just lacking tea..."

Liao Cai's face was dark, suppressing his anger, "Mr. Wu, such behavior is a disgrace to your status as a scholar!"

Wujiu wiped his mouth, his voice becoming clearer, "When I act as a scholar, I am always polite..." He brushed off the fruit crumbs on his clothes and asked, "But why did you lock me here, Brother Liao?"

Liao Cai, unwilling to waste words, took out a piece of paper and a pen, and said coldly, "You destroyed my jade cup and can't afford to pay. Please sign this document and sell yourself into slavery!" He couldn't help but sneer, "Considering you are a scholar, I will give you a job as an accountant!"

This sudden change was not without reason. On his way back, Liao Cai unexpectedly met Wujiu, mistaking him for a weak and destitute scholar, and thus conceived a wicked plan. He managed to succeed without much effort. After all, Ruyi Pavilion's accountant was at home sick, and they needed someone who could read and write.

Liao Cai added smugly, "You owe me a hundred gold pieces, which you cannot deny. Otherwise, I will break your legs!" As he spoke, Wang Gui and Qianwang stepped forward and rolled up their sleeves.

Wujiu glanced at the document in Liao Cai's hand and the two menacing attendants, and quickly raised his hand, "Wait... If Brother Liao wants an accountant, just say so, no need for such tricks..."

Liao Cai's dark face twitched, his smile becoming even colder, "Ruyi Pavilion is a brothel and never hires outsiders as accountants. Only household slaves can be easily controlled!"

In the dim light, the faces of those nearby showed different expressions. Xing'er and Zao'er huddled in the corner, not daring to speak, while Liao Cai and the two attendants became even more domineering.

Wujiu felt the heat in the storage room and couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead.

As expected, Ruyi Pavilion was a brothel. The so-called accountant was just a pimp. It seemed Xing'er and Zao'er had fallen into a worse situation!

What a wicked Liao Cai, with premeditated plans. I have no grudge against you, yet you dare to scheme against me...

Wujiu's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said, "Since Brother Liao is willing to provide me with a living, why be so tricky? I was worried about where to stay, and this is just right..." He grabbed the paper and pen, wrote quickly, and handed it back, saying with relief, "I hope Brother Liao will take good care of me in the future. If there are any beautiful girls, please introduce me, as they say, 'the one closest to the water gets the moon first,' hehe..."

He laughed excitedly, showing a somewhat dissolute demeanor.

Liao Cai thought he would need to use force to achieve his goal, but this scholar was not only timid but also a lazy and dissolute man. He looked at the document and sneered, "Very well, take your bundle and follow me..."

Wujiu saw Liao Cai and the others leave, grabbed his bundle, and was about to follow, but saw Xing'er and Zao'er huddled together, looking helpless. He paused, raised a finger to his lips, and smiled reassuringly before walking out. As he reached the courtyard, Wang Gui casually locked the storage room.

Liao Cai led the way, and in a moment, they were under the eaves of a nearby building. He gestured to a half-open door, "Mr. Wu, you will stay with Wang Gui. After tonight, you will meet the manager..." He then left with Qianwang.

Wang Gui walked over, kicked open the door, and said impatiently, "Come in..."

Wujiu looked back at Liao Cai's retreating figure, glanced at the storage room, and smiled, "Sharing a room with Brother Wang is a great honor!"

Wang Gui ignored him, looking arrogant.

Wujiu slowly entered the room, and another strange smell hit his nose. He staggered, and Wang Gui brushed past him, flopping onto a wooden bed, crossing his legs and resting his head on his arms, coldly watching.

The room had two wooden beds, looking spacious, but the bright candlelight revealed a messy and dirty environment, with clothes, shoes, and bedding scattered everywhere, emitting an indescribable sour smell.

This was not a place for humans but a pigsty!

Wujiu saw the scene and secretly gritted his teeth. Helpless, he walked to the empty bed, put down his bundle, and asked, "Brother Wang, can you show me where to wash up?" He had been traveling all day, feeling sweaty and smelly, and even in this uncertain situation, he wanted to be clean.

Wang Gui rolled his eyes and lazily replied, "Scholars are so particular. I only know where to defecate and urinate..."

Hmph, let's adapt to the local customs!

Wujiu nodded and smiled bitterly, tidied up the bed a bit, and noticed a pair of eyes watching him, clearly a guard. He lay down to rest, and in a daze, someone called from the door, "Mr. Wu, the manager wants to see you..."

Wasn't it agreed to meet the manager tomorrow? Why the change of plans?

Wujiu looked at Liao Cai standing at the door, feeling puzzled, but didn't ask more, slowly walked out, and then asked, "My bundle..."

Wang Gui followed, not letting him out of his sight, "Your few belongings, even if thrown on the street, no one would pick them up..."

Wujiu shrugged and smiled awkwardly at Liao Cai. The latter snorted and walked away with his hands behind his back. Wujiu hurriedly followed, looking around.

After walking about ten feet down the corridor, there was a turning staircase. Climbing the wooden stairs, passing by lit doors, various strange sounds filled his ears, making his heart race. As the sounds gradually faded, the corridor ended...

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