TFWYH – Chapter 430 The Imperial Merchant Su Family

“Miss, are you telling the truth? That’s the only requirement?”

“As long as we master just one of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, or song, that’s enough? You’re not lying to us?”

“Miss, I can do it! I’m skilled not only in music but also painting. My father used to be the magistrate of Zhetai Town. I learned these things when I was young—does that mean I won’t have to receive clients?”

…

The girls spoke all at once, excitement overflowing as they looked at Yuan Yuan with hopeful eyes, waiting for her promise.

Yuan Yuan waited until they quieted down before speaking.

“You will still need to receive guests—we are running a brothel after all. But this kind of ‘receiving guests’ is different. You will simply accompany them by drinking wine, dancing, or discussing literature and knowledge.

“So you must study seriously. Show the guests your learning and talent. Let them see your brilliance so that they can no longer treat you like ordinary brothel women—and even learn to respect you.”

She paused, ignoring the girls’ stunned expressions, and continued:

“Of course, once you’ve saved enough money, you may redeem yourselves. When that time comes, I won’t interfere with whether you stay or leave.”

Hearing this, the girls finally let out deep breaths of relief.

Some of them even burst into tears.

They had been so afraid—terrified.

The thought of becoming women shared by countless men, their beauty and bodies consumed by strangers, had made them want to die.

But now, this Sister Yuan Yuan had promised they would not be forced into that fate.

In the future, whether they sold their skills or their bodies would be their own choice. More importantly, they could earn money to buy back their freedom.

Even after regaining their freedom, they could preserve their purity.

And if luck favored them, they might still marry into respectable families someday.

For a time, the girls all thanked Yuan Yuan repeatedly, promising to work hard and earn enough money as soon as possible to redeem themselves.

Yuan Yuan smiled and comforted them a little longer.

Just then, the brothel attendant ran upstairs and knocked on the door.

“Sister Xianglan, a young master surnamed Su has arrived. He says he’s looking for Miss Yuan Yuan!”

Xianglan froze briefly and instinctively looked at Yuan Yuan.

Yuan Yuan frowned slightly, a flash of impatience passing through her eyes.

“Xianglan, explain things carefully to them. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Alright.”

Yuan Yuan then left the private room to meet Su Yangyu.

After she left, Xianglan looked at the curious girls and smiled.

“Do you want to know who this Young Master Su is?”

The girls shook their heads blankly.

Xianglan said, “He’s the eldest son of the former Imperial Merchant Su family. He’s very fond of Sister Yuan Yuan and has tried countless times to take her as a concubine—but he’s been rejected every time.”

The girls gasped sharply.

The Imperial Merchant Su family!

Who hadn’t heard of that name?

Even if they were former imperial merchants, their wealth still far surpassed ordinary families.

If someone married into such a family, wouldn’t they live in luxury?

But…

“Such a good marriage proposal—why would Sister Yuan Yuan refuse it?”

“Because of certain reasons…” Xianglan shook her head without elaborating. Seeing their confusion, she changed the subject instead.

“What I want to tell you is this: Sister Yuan Yuan possesses both beauty and talent—she excels in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song. Naturally, the people who gather around her are equally outstanding.

“In simple terms, only flowers attract butterflies. If you’re like dung, then you’ll only attract flies. Do you understand what I mean?”

The girls nodded. Some half understood, while others fell into deep thought.

Xianglan was very satisfied with their reaction.

That line, in fact, was something she had once heard Tang Wan say when she visited Yuan Yuan and found Tang Wan there as well.