Chapter 22: Madam Zhuang Closing the Shop

In a private room of the Autumn Water Cloth Shop, besides the shopkeeper Qiu, there was a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar’s linen robe, wearing a scholar’s cap, with a short beard and a shrewd expression.

When Autumn Water saw An Chunfeng arrive punctually, a pleased smile appeared on her face. She invited her to sit and introduced the two.

The middle-aged man’s surname was Song; he was a litigation specialist who wrote legal petitions for others. Skilled in literary devices and rhetoric, with him penning the documents, the business details discussed by the two women would be flawless.

An Chunfeng’s impression of shopkeeper Qiu improved even more. She had worried that women from brothels would only think about how to please men, but to her surprise, they were so careful and meticulous.

Returning to the matter at hand, the three sat down to discuss their cooperation.

Lawyer Song had thought it would be an ordinary contract, but to his surprise, he ended up writing all day. Even lunch was a simple snack eaten at the cloth shop.

From the initial lace ribbons to silk nightgowns, then to underwear and underpants—these were things Song had never even heard of. Despite his wide knowledge, he blushed with embarrassment.

But the two women spoke with flushed faces and bright eyes.

The contract became longer and more detailed with each revision, repeatedly rewritten.

Fortunately, Song was an old acquaintance of Autumn Water’s, frequently acting as her ghostwriter and a devoted subordinate. His patience was endless; he neither grew annoyed nor impatient, even offering guidance when the two women discussed contract details.

By the time the sunset dyed the sky, An Chunfeng returned to Pear Blossom Alley.

She had not slept that day but looked radiant. Even in the food box she carried, she had added a flask of wine, specially requested from the tavern.

Originally, Autumn Water wanted her to stay at the cloth shop to celebrate with drinks, but An Chunfeng declined. After a sleepless day and night, she needed to rest at home.

Standing at the courtyard gate, still excited and elated, An Chunfeng set down her box and took out a copper key to open the door...

“Madam, you’re unfamiliar! Where did you come from?” a strange voice called from behind.

An Chunfeng frowned slightly. It was broad daylight, and she was deep in thought—how could she be so careless as to not notice someone standing right behind her?

She didn’t answer immediately but stepped aside, turning her back to the courtyard wall by the door, then glanced down the alley.

The narrow alley held two burly men standing guard. Behind them, a middle-aged woman in a silver-gray silk dress, with a face full of scars and a dry tobacco pipe clenched at the corner of her mouth, strolled leisurely out of Madam Lu’s black lacquered door.

Beside her followed a young man with rosy lips and white teeth, a flawless complexion, holding a sweat towel.

Who were these people? None looked kind.

An Chunfeng narrowed her eyes, steadying her voice: “Where I come from is unimportant. I don’t know who you are,I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.