In a small village outside Hangyu City, a few families stuck their heads out of the window, their eyes full of sympathy and helplessness.
The Yuan Family had been quarreling for a long time. At first, it was because of the death of Fu Lai's mother. Then, it was because of Yuan Tianjia's business failure. Every time, the unlucky one was the young and innocent Fu Lai. After that, he was either covered in wounds or beaten until he fainted from crying. They, the neighbors, could only take advantage of Fu Lai's father's absence to secretly take care of that pitiful child.
"Brat, why are you crying? I haven't even whipped you, and you're already crying like this. Cry, cry, cry! You only know how to cry. Damn it, I'm so poor today. It must be because of your crying.”After a series of curses, there was the sound of a child crying and the whipping of a whip.
Yuan Fulai hugged himself with both hands, curled up his thin body and hid in a corner, allowing the whip to hit the wall as hard as it could. Even though the wall shared his pain, his fair body was already covered in blood.
" Father, don't hit me…don't…" It was so painful, so painful that he couldn't tell where the whip had landed on his body.
Yuan Tianjia didn't listen to his son's pleas at all. Just the whipping alone couldn't solve the frustration in his heart.
"You're still crying like a woman. What else can you do besides crying? " You don't know how to farm or beg. Why would I raise you…" The voice suddenly stopped, and the whip stopped in mid-air. Its bloodshot eyes stared at Yuan Fulai, who had turned around and was at a loss.
"Father?" Yuan Fulai did not dare to put down his hands and stand up, afraid that his father's whip would soon fall again.
"Right! How could I forget? Not only do you have the same temperament as a woman, but even your face is similar to a woman's. I can sell you to the people of Love Sleeve Square!”It was said that as long as the quality of the goods was good, the price of Love Sleeve Shop would not be small. How could he forget the greatest use of his son?
Love Sleeve Shop?
Yuan Fulai didn't know what Love Sleeves Lane was, but when he heard that his father wanted to sell him to someone else, his heart instantly fell to the bottom of the valley.
"Father, don't! Don't sell Fu 'er, Fu' er will listen to your father obediently. Don't sell Fu 'er.”Her petite body forgot to protect herself. She rushed to her father and knelt down, begging with tears streaming down her face.
"Do you think you can just say it? I need money, and you can only help me this little. Let's go!" Yuan Tianjia effortlessly pulled up his son who was kneeling on the ground. He ignored the fact that his injured body was still bleeding and pulled his slender hand towards Hangzhou City.
"Father, don't! Please, I don't want to!" Her other hand tugged at the big palm that was holding her wrist tightly. She used all her strength to push away the thick black fingers and pulled her body back. She was unwilling to let her father pull her to sell.
How could a six-year-old child compare to the burly man in strength? Everyone in the village saw the poor child with tears streaming down his face as he was dragged away by his father to be sold.
Eight years later, Hangzhou City
Speaking of Zhu Yutang! In the north, even a three-year-old child would know about it. Especially since the Helian family, the tycoon of the northern frontier, inexplicably declined, the Zhu family's reputation grew even greater.
Zhu Yutang was currently in charge of the Zhu family. Zhu Yutang's father had passed away many years ago, and the huge Zhu family was taken over by the Old Madam alone. It was only when Zhu Yutang turned eighteen four years ago that he changed hands to manage the family.
At first, many people thought that the old madam was not in power and the successor was too young, so they were worried that the Zhu family might decline. In less than half a year, Zhu Yutang had broken this theory. Not only did he not ruin the business, but he had also raised the Zhu family's reputation to the same level as the famous Murong family. Some people even felt that it was a pity that the businesses of the two families were different. Otherwise, they would have been able to see a brilliant battle between dragons and tigers.
"Yutang! Aren't you afraid that Old Madam will be angry if you come to Jiangnan Flower Street so openly?”Liu Qingsheng, who had been forced by Zhu Yutang to come over, fanned his face repeatedly, afraid that someone would recognize them.
Although he also liked to shop in the flower street and had the same hobby as Zhu Yutang, he liked the lower officials more than the courtesans. However, he had always come here secretly in the past. After all, it would be terrible if his mother found out.
The atmosphere in the north was not as good as in the south. If people knew about playing petty officials, one's life could be said to be half over. Therefore, although there were many big shots from the north who played with small officials in Hangzhou Flower Street, most of them came secretly without telling their parents and wives. There were also many people who were used to the alleys.
The word 'alley' was only understood by those who were in the know. Those who didn't know would only know that it was an open male brothel. Many veterans who were afraid that their secrets would be exposed would ask the middleman to introduce them to a small official who was usually no different from a normal teenager. In fact, he was a kept man who had fun in his own house. Because these officials lived in alleys, they were called alleys.
"Everyone knows about me. How can I hide it from my mother? She only asked me not to go too far and to bring Little Guan home.”Zhu Yutang said indifferently. His handsome face had the boorish look of a northerner, and his well-shaped facial features were full of masculinity. As for his figure, he was tall and slender. There were not many people who were taller than him in the north, let alone in the south. Standing on the famous flower street, he was taller than everyone else by a head.
This was also the reason why Liu Qingsheng was dodging. The people who visited Flower Street all followed an unwritten rule. Even the girls and officials who sold their bodies in Flower Street knew that the whereabouts and identity of the guests could not be easily revealed. This was related to whether the guests would come again. However, Zhu Yutang's identity was too prominent, and his height and appearance could not be hidden from those who were interested. In addition, he had a title that even the northerners recognized!! It was difficult for Princess Lian Xiu not to become famous by his side.
However, every time she thought about it, she felt that it was unfair.
They both liked to play the role of a small official, so why did no one object to Yutang doing it?
"Have we arrived at the place you mentioned?”Zhu Yutang patted his good friend's shoulder hard, almost sending him flying ten miles away.
For the past four years, for the sake of his family's business, he could only wander around the flower streets in the north. It was not easy for the dust to settle. Naturally, he should come to this big city famous for its small officials. That was why he dragged Liu Qingsheng along.
Liu Qingsheng was an expert at playing with small officials. He had visited most of the brothels and heard that it was rare to see the four small officials of Hangzhou's Love Sleeve Square, so he asked him to lead the way.
"Just turn around the corner. Don't you see a group of people there? I heard that there is an even better courtesan than the four minor officials in Love Sleeve Square, but I haven't had the chance to meet her. This time, I brought you here. You must spend a lot of money to let me have a chance to meet this new official.”
At this point, the two of them had already arrived at the crowded entrance of Love Sleeve Square. A customer at the entrance heard Liu Qingsheng's words and immediately turned his head with a smile.
"You're talking about the Tears Girl, right? Then what a coincidence! The granny in the workshop said that Lei Ji was going to open her chrysanthemum today! That was why there were so many people. Everyone hoped to be able to bid for the first night of Lei Ji.”
"Lei Ji?"
"That's right! It's the person you mentioned! Lei Ji had just turned fourteen, and it was said that he was supposed to open his bud at the age of twelve, but the nanny was reluctant to let him stay for two more years. However, everyone knew that it was just a trick. Previously, they only opened their buds after they had earned enough money. When everyone knew the name of the Tears Girl, the number of bidders became even more impressive.”
Zhu Yutang was not very interested. He preferred a boyish official. A young man could be called a tearful girl, so he must have the same feminine charm as most of the officials. He had already seen a pretty official at the door, but the rouge on his face was disgusting.
"Thank you for informing me, brother.”Zhu Yutang didn't want to listen anymore. He pulled Liu Qingsheng's hand and walked through the door.
"Ah! Isn't this Young Master Liu? It's been a year since we last met, and you've become much more handsome. Is this handsome man beside you your friend?”The nanny of Love Sleeve Shop was a beautiful man. He was about 20 years old, but he was still attractive. Unfortunately, his face was painted with the rouge that Zhu Yutang hated.
"That's right! You have to put in more effort to take care of him. Our Yutang is a wealthy man in the north.”If one wanted to get the best service in a place like this, they had to show off their most powerful signboard.
As expected of an experienced expert, the nanny of Love Sleeves Lane understood Zhu Yutang's identity as soon as she heard him, and her eyes lit up. "So it's Young Master Zhu, who is as famous as the Murong family. It just so happens that our four small officials are free today because of the bidding. Or do the two young masters want to participate in our Lian 'er's bidding?”
"You mean Lei Ji?"
"That's right! Tears Lady was a title given by outsiders, and Lian 'er was her real name. How was it? Are you also interested in our Lian 'er?”
Liu Qingsheng was about to nod when Zhu Yutang waved his hand away. "No need. Just call your four most famous officials over. I'm not interested in prostitutes.”
No way!
Liu Qingsheng muttered in his heart, which one likes male pets and doesn't like prostitutes? Who knew how many courtesans this kid played with in the north? He clearly didn't like the custom of the southern gigolos using rouge, so he didn't have the pleasure of seeing them.
"Since Young Master says so, I will immediately arrange it for you. An!" The granny reached out her hand to call Gui Nu, who was waiting at the side.
"Yes, sir!"
"Help Young Master Zhu and Young Master Liu arrange the best Drunken Wind Pavilion here and invite the four officials over immediately.”
"Granny, are you talking about the four officials?”That would cost a lot of money! He had been in the Pavilion of Love Sleeves for three years, but he had never seen anyone who could buy four officials at the same time in one night.
"That's right. Hurry up and go. Don't neglect the two guests.”
"Yes, yes!" He had already explained it so clearly. If he still did not understand, he would be an idiot. A guest who could invite the four officials must have a lot of tips to earn.
Zhu Yutang and the other man were already used to their money-grubbing personalities. They followed the overly polite Gui Nu without much emotion and headed towards the Drunken Wind Pavilion. Their four eyes did not forget to pay attention to the small officials around them, looking for a good partner.
The moon was high in the sky, and the brothel, which should have been more noisy, suddenly felt much quieter. In fact, the surroundings were still noisy. It was only after the Lei Ji bidding ended that it felt relatively quiet.
Zhu Yutang was very satisfied with his visit to Love Sleeve Shop. The four minor officials were all quite good-looking. They did not need any makeup to hide their beauty, and they were not particularly delicate. Their unique temperament made people feel like they were walking on the edge, allowing him to have a good taste of the special customs of the minor officials in the south.
It was no wonder that the small officials in the south were so famous. There was really a reason for it.
"Yutang, you haven't said which one of us you want tonight!”Hong Yu poured a glass of wine for Zhu Yutang.
The quiet little building near Drunken Wind Pavilion suddenly became noisy. Not only did Zhu Yutang and Liu Qingsheng frown in disappointment, but even the four minor officials regained their senses and revealed puzzled expressions.
"What's wrong now?" Liu Qingsheng was more familiar with this place, so he naturally knew that the small building was the place where only the most popular officials of Love Sleeve Square could live. The environment should be beautiful and quiet, so why was it so noisy now?
"I'm not sure either." Hong Yu frowned worriedly. He knew that was where Lian 'er lived. It should be time for Lian' er to spend the night with the person who bought her. Something must have happened to cause such an argument.
"Are you worried?" Zhu Yutang noticed that Hong Yu wasn't the only one who was worried. The other three officials also looked worried.
"That's where Lian 'er lives." Meng Xuan replied.
"Are you very concerned about him?" Logically speaking, shouldn't peers avoid each other? Why did these four officials look as if they were worried about their families getting hurt?
Hong Yu understood his thoughts. "Lian 'er is different from us. He shouldn't stay here. He's not suitable for this kind of place.”He wanted to go over and take a look.
His words piqued their curiosity.
"Let's go and take a look. It's not a good idea to continue arguing like this.”
The four officials were waiting for him to say this. Without any explanation, they immediately led people to the Tear Pavilion next to the Drunken Wind Pavilion to take a look.
Upon arriving at the Tear-Hiding Pavilion, Zhu Yutang immediately understood where the name 'Tearful Lady' came from.
A young man with half-removed clothes was holding a dagger with both hands. Blood was flowing continuously from the inside of his snow-white legs under his clothes. What was even more shocking was the bloody wound on his wrist. Blood dripped out continuously, staining the floor and the white unlined garment on his body.
If this scene was already shocking enough, what made it difficult for people to look away was the tearful face.
The words " devastatingly beautiful " were not enough to describe this young man's beauty. What was rare was the temperament that came from his body that matched his appearance. It was clean, pure, and extremely pitiful. The tears that fell from her eyes were different from the way ordinary people cried. They were like broken pearls rolling down one by one.
No wonder the four minor officials of Love Sleeve Lane and the four beauties of the Nightless Brothel could not compare to him. His appearance and temperament could not even be compared to the three thousand beauties in the harem. Zhu Yutang was willing to break his sleeves for such a person.
Lian 'er held the dagger tightly and faced everyone who wanted to get close to her. She was already numb to the pain in her body. Other than not wanting anyone to get close to her, she had no other thoughts.
He had told the nanny that he would not sell his body. He had said it a long time ago. Why did she still treat him like this?
When his father sold him here, he tried to escape, but the horrible whipping that followed after he escaped made him realize the fate of being betrayed by his own father. He could only tell himself that at least his father could use that sum of money to live a good life. So he told the nanny that as long as he didn't sell himself, he would do anything. He could learn dancing, singing, music, poetry, anything.
Granny promised him, how could she lie to him, how could she?
"Ming Yan, what kind of deal is this? I've already paid a thousand gold taels, but what do I get in return? Is this how you educate your child?”A slightly blessed man angrily scolded the nanny of Love Sleeve Workshop and reached out to the servant who had followed him to bandage his arm that had been cut by Lian 'er's dagger.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault. I didn't educate Lian properly. This is his first time, so it's only natural that he's afraid. Please forgive him.”As Ming Yan apologized to the man, she winked at Gui Nu, who was relatively strong in Love Sleeve Lane.
The people from Love Sleeve Shop had seen the same look too many times. The strong Gui Nu immediately surrounded Lian 'er, wanting to snatch the dagger from her hand. Hong Yu and the other three also carefully moved forward, hoping to help prevent others from hurting Lian 'er. It didn't matter even if they had to offend the nanny.
Although Lian 'er was young, her eyes were red from crying. However, he had also stayed in Love Sleeves Lane for eight years. How could he not know Ming Yan's intentions? After all, he was beaten half to death under the same gaze back then!
"Lian 'er, don't!"
Seeing Lian 'er suddenly raise her dagger and slash her slender neck without hesitation, Hong Yu and the others could not help but scream. As the knife cut a red mark on her fair neck, they could not bear to see it and closed their eyes.
The dagger was only able to draw a red line the length of his pinky finger. Zhu Yutang knew what the little thing would do when he saw him raise the dagger. Although he was a step late, the wound that he had just cut was an inch deep. Then, he immediately pulled away and only pulled up an extremely thin red thread behind him.
Lian 'er stared blankly at the tall man who had stopped her from committing suicide. The tears that fell from her cheeks seeped into the terrifying wound on her neck and fused with her blood, bringing with it a burning pain.
"Why?" Why was a stranger unwilling to let him go?
Zhu Yutang was shocked as he reached out to press down on the blood that was flowing out of his neck. At the same time, he realized that the wound on his wrist was also gushing out blood.
"Hong Yu, hurry! Tear a few long strips of cloth for me. Qingsheng, help me take out the snow cream!”Damn it, why can't the blood stop?
The two of them immediately did as they were told. One of them hurriedly tore the cloth, while the other took out precious snow cream from Zhu Yutang's arms. He opened it and applied it on Lian 'er's serious wound.
As Zhu Yutang healed Lian 'er's wounds, his straight and thick eyebrows furrowed tighter and tighter.
The blood that kept seeping out from his fingers panicked his usually calm heart. The wound seemed to be on his heart, not on Lian 'er's body.
"Why?" Lian 'er asked the same question again. The wounds on her body did not seem to hurt at all. Her empty eyes stared straight at Zhu Yutang.
"Because you can't die."
His affirmative tone made Lian 'er inexplicably calm. Her tearful eyes were still staring at him, waiting for him to continue, waiting for him to continue sending words that could calm his mind.
"From today onwards, I will protect you. You don't have to worry about anyone hurting you because I will protect you.”Zhu Yutang had never made such a solemn and sincere promise before. He really wanted to protect this child, wanted to collect all the tears in his eyes, and wanted to see Lian 'er, who was always crying, smile worry-free.
He didn't know if he had ever dreamed of receiving such a promise, but hearing his promise, Lian 'er immediately closed her eyes. He knew that even if he didn't have a dream in the past, he had one now.
When he opened his eyes again, the tears were still there, but they were no longer empty.
"Really?"
"It's true."
Lian 'er's lips weakly curled up into a faint smile, but it was enough to make her heart palpitate. "Don't lie to me!" Don't lie to me anymore. He can't stand lying to me again and again.
"No, no," He carefully carried Lian 'er, whose wounds were already bandaged, into his arms. He wouldn't lie to him. He definitely wouldn't lie to him.
After receiving his promise, Lian 'er closed her eyes in peace and let the darkness engulf her mind. He was so tired that he could not hold on any longer.
Seeing that he was finally willing to yield to his weak body, Zhu Yutang's heart was in so much pain that he could not control himself. How could such a small body have such powerful strength to resist the surrounding strength and his own pain?
"Do you want to buy Lian 'er?" Hong Yu tugged at Zhu Yutang's sleeve.
"Yes, I want to buy him and bring him back to the North. That way, no one will hurt him. Do you want to go together? I think Lian 'er will need you to stay by his side and take care of him.”He wanted his Tears Girl to no longer be sad.
Hong Yu, Meng Xuan, Yan Ting, and Ying Ying were all stunned. How much money would it cost to buy the Lei Ji and the four minor officials of Love Sleeve Lane?
"Can we go together?"
They had long wanted to leave. They had long wanted to leave this kind of empty life. The officials who supported them were always just talking. No one was really willing to buy them and give them a stable life.
"Of course you can." When he left the pavilion with Lian 'er, his gaze was still fixed on Ming Yan, who was completely stunned on the spot. He wouldn't mind giving out that sum of money. It was nothing to him, but he wouldn't let Ming Yan, who treated Lian 'er and the others in such a way, have the chance to spend that sum of money.
After getting a definite answer, Hong Yu and the other three looked at each other in bewilderment. After a long time, even Hong Yu, who was the strongest, slowly shed a tear from her beautiful almond eyes. The other three were also crying and laughing. They did not care that it was very embarrassing for a man to cry in a ball, even if they were small officials.
Liu Qingsheng's eyes darted around. He sighed as he dragged Hong Yu and the others to catch up with Zhu Yutang. "Did Yutang buy one or five of them?”
Hearing his words, the four of them laughed out loud. Even Zhu Yutang, who was walking at the front, smiled.
He lowered his head and stared at the pale face of Lian 'er, who was sleeping in his arms. There was still a drop of tear hanging under his long eyelashes, like a crystal pearl embedded in the corner of his eye. It was very beautiful under the light of the lamp.
His tearful girl! specific
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