Volume One: Odd Jobs in Changshui County Chapter Seventy-Three: Debts Owed by the House of Supreme Delight

“Lord Zhou and Lord Wang, is it?”
The woman massaging Lu Jiuzhang’s shoulders thought for a long while but could not recall any two officials in the Demon Execution Bureau by those names.
Could they be mere servants?
But servants would never set foot in such a place; a single night’s expenses would surpass their monthly wages.
Yet anyone with a bit of renown in the Bureau should have crossed her ears.
“I’ve heard there’s an official named Lu Jiuzhang in the Demon Execution Bureau—young and promising, a scholar of distinction, promoted to Demon Guard. Does Lord Wang know him?”
She inquired.
Is she looking for me?
It seemed this young lady admired him quite a bit.
Lu Jiuzhang regretted it; had he known, he wouldn’t have used Wang Yunshan’s name. Wasn’t this digging his own grave?
“We’re acquainted,” Lu Jiuzhang replied.
“Would Lord Wang invite Lord Lu to come here and listen to some music? If Lord Lu were to grace us, I’d pay for both your expenses, only hoping he’d compose a poem for me.”
The woman behind him was elated.
Last month, Lu Jiuzhang had rebuked Lord Wang in the county office, leaving behind the stirring words, ‘Your salaries and stipends are drawn from the people’s fat and marrow; it is easy to oppress the common folk, but Heaven is hard to deceive.’ Many young women had their hearts set aflutter by him.
If she could befriend Lord Lu and have him write her a poem, perhaps she, too, could become famous throughout the pleasure quarters!
From her words, it seemed there was a chance to enjoy this place for free.
Lu Jiuzhang regretted it even more!
Fortunately, this time Zhou Cheng was footing the bill; otherwise, Lu Jiuzhang would have slapped himself twice.
“Next time I see Lord Lu, I’ll mention it to him,” Lu Jiuzhang nodded.
Zhou Cheng, beside him, had no idea why Lu Jiuzhang acted this way; most of the time he sat with eyes closed, resting.
Lu Jiuzhang, however, chatted happily with the girl.
“Lord Lu, is your friend here for the first time?” the masseuse asked.
“Indeed,” Lu Jiuzhang nodded.
“When you’ve seen many people, you can tell—your companion seems a bit reserved, so I guessed it’s his first visit,” she explained.
These girls in the pleasure houses had witnessed much of the world’s coldness and warmth. Most came from poor families, sold here by their parents.
Bullied and trained, they gradually worked their way to the front halls to attract guests.
Their lives were full of hardship, and Lu Jiuzhang—an official of the Demon Execution Bureau earning ten or twenty taels a month—should show them some kindness, look after them now and then.
Men as good as he were rare these days!
“If it’s both our first times, shouldn’t you charge less? After all, you’re taking our ‘firsts’—it’s lucky we don’t ask you to take responsibility,” Lu Jiuzhang joked.
“Oh, Lord Lu, how could we decide such matters? We’re just stuck here. Of all the trades, we’re at the bottom—our status the lowest,”
The girl protested, pressing a bit harder.

“Haha, just kidding. Would we ever short you on silver?”
Lu Jiuzhang smiled.
Seeing Zhou Cheng bored, he told the girl to pour wine and drink with them.
...
Late into the night, neither knew how much they had drunk.
Both were ninth-rank martial artists; ordinary wine no longer intoxicated them, only made them pleasantly tipsy.
As the hours passed, the girls grew anxious. “Lords, why not rest in my quarters tonight? Just behind here. It’s small, but everything you need is there.”
“I’ll personally serve you—guaranteed satisfaction!”
Lu Jiuzhang glanced at Zhou Cheng; he didn’t like staying over, preferring only music and company.
He wondered what Zhou Cheng would decide.
“Let’s go home. I’m not used to sleeping out,” Zhou Cheng said.
“Uh... Lord, our girls at the Joy Pavilion rarely go out. If you want us to leave with you, it costs extra!” The girl clearly misunderstood, thinking Zhou Cheng wanted to take her away.
“Then you needn’t leave. We’re heading off on our own,”
Zhou Cheng replied.
“This...”
The girl was distressed; just listening to music earned little—they needed to serve at night to make real money.
She looked plaintive, “Did I do something wrong to anger you, Lord?”
“So you don’t wish to stay with me!”
She spoke as tears welled up, quickly streaming down her face.
The sight unsettled Zhou Cheng.
“Brother Lu, what should we do?”
Zhou Cheng, tipsy, slipped up in his speech.
Luckily it was late, and the girl, sleepy, didn’t notice.
“Brother Zhou, I’m heading home. You enjoy yourself here,” Lu Jiuzhang laughed. “And don’t forget tomorrow’s early shift, Lord Zhou.”
He only came for music and company, nothing more.
“That won’t do! I’ll go, too.”
Ignoring the girl’s pitiful look, Zhou Cheng hurried after Lu Jiuzhang.
At the door, they needed to pay.
The madam’s memory was sharp. “Not staying the night, gentlemen? Our Joy Pavilion is the best in Changshui County. If you don’t spend the night, you’ll surely regret it!”
She spared no effort in promoting her establishment.
“Settle the bill,”
Lu Jiuzhang said directly.
“Twelve taels in total; who will pay?” the madam smiled.

What?
Twelve taels?
So expensive?
The Red Lotus House never charged more than one tael for a visit.
This was charging meat prices for vegetables!
Utterly extortionate!
Zhou Cheng’s face changed; he’d heard it was pricey here, but how pricey could it be?
Twelve taels!
A commoner’s annual expenses were barely two or three taels.
That was for city folk; those outside the city spent even less.
“Brother Zhou, not enough silver?”
Lu Jiuzhang’s heart sank.
He hadn’t brought much silver either.
Since Zhou Cheng was treating, Lu Jiuzhang never worried.
Who could have guessed Zhou Cheng didn’t bring enough?
“I’m not used to carrying silver. I thought it would cost just a few taels—didn’t expect twelve,” Zhou Cheng said, flustered.
Lu Jiuzhang had never seen Zhou Cheng so unsettled.
He’d just told the girl they’d never short her on silver, only to find themselves unable to pay!
“Well, gentlemen, can’t pay up?”
Seeing their strange expressions, the madam changed her tone. “We don’t allow debts here at Joy Pavilion.”
“No, no—we’ll leave our swords here as collateral and pay tomorrow, is that alright?”
Lu Jiuzhang asked.
“Ha, you think that works? Do you know whose property the Joy Pavilion is? Forget your Demon Execution Bureau—even the magistrate’s men wouldn’t dare owe us.”
“Leave your swords? Who knows if they’re worth anything? Could just be scrap metal.”
The madam mocked them, “Or are your clothes fake, too? Pretending to be Demon Execution Bureau officials to scam us out of food, drink, and girls!”
“I’ve seen plenty like you!”
How contemptuous!
Zhou Cheng was furious. “Wretch! A true man is honest—how could we owe you this paltry sum?”
It was humiliating, being insulted by a madam in public like this.
“Well, if you can’t pay, what’s wrong with a few words? Not allowed to speak? Want to hit me? Go ahead, try it!”