“Welcome, esteemed guest, you must be tired! Please, come in, come in!”
As Li Wannian was deep in thought, a Madam waddled her large rear towards him.
Before Li Wannian could react, he was already inside the Spring House.
This was a two-story wooden building; the first floor was a large hall for drinking, and the second floor had various small rooms, not very soundproof ones at that.
“May I ask the price?”
Li Wannian finally reacted and remembered to inquire about the price.
“It depends on your requirements, esteemed guest. If you just want to touch, it’s a hundred copper coins. If you want to sleep, it starts at three hundred! Drinks are extra!”
The Madam said so.
“Oh, I want to sleep!”
Li Wannian directly took out three hundred copper coins. In this era, three hundred copper coins could only buy one dou of rice, which is about twelve and a half jin. In his previous life, a dozen jin of rice was nothing, but one couldn't compare the current agricultural productivity with the modern world. In this world, one dou of rice could sustain a person for a month, and three dou of rice could help a person survive the lean season.
“Then please take a look at these young ladies, which one do you fancy!”
The Madam pointed to the made-up young ladies standing on both sides. To be honest, they were quite pretty. This could only prove the destitution of the people in this country; otherwise, why would these women be reduced to such a state?
“Her, then!”
Li Wannian chose a woman who didn't look too old. Of course, the women here were all quite young.
“Xiao Yan, take the guest to the room!”
“Yes!”
Led by Xiao Yan, Li Wannian arrived at a small room. On the floor of the room was a basin of clear water, with a towel draped over the edge of the wooden basin.
After arriving in the room, the woman began to squat down and clean herself. Since there was no curtain, everything was under Li Wannian's gaze.
After the cleaning was finished, they got down to business.
“Esteemed guest, you only have the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, so please hurry!”
“Damn it!”
Hearing Xiao Yan say that, Li Wannian felt he had been scammed, but it was too late to go back on his word now, so he could only focus on efficiency.
.......
After finishing in a rush, Li Wannian kept an eye on the changes in the family tree, but unfortunately, there were no changes.
Obviously, this method couldn't increase any skills, but the three hundred copper coins still had to be paid. However, this price displeased him; it was clearly a one-hundred-copper-coin service, yet it cost him three hundred. No wonder no one came in to spend!
However, the red stain on the bedsheet caught his attention. This left him utterly bewildered. You could say this Madam had no conscience, yet she arranged a virgin for him. But to say she had a conscience, he only got to enjoy it for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
At this moment, Xiao Yan's face was flushed: “Esteemed guest, please don't feel it's unlucky, this matter is my fault!”
“Why do you say that?”
Li Wannian was a bit confused; this was also his first time, and he lacked experience.
“In our line of work, guests who enjoy the first time often feel it will bring bad luck, so there are almost no virgins in our profession!”
Xiao Yan explained while cleaning with clear water. Soon, the clear water became cloudy.
Li Wannian suddenly thought of the official marriage escort. In fact, many of them were already married, or even had children, and these farmers didn't care about the women's purity at all. It seemed they all believed that the first blood represented bad luck.
“So that's how it is. Work hard!”
Li Wannian still had important matters, so he had to take his leave.
“Esteemed guest, wait!”
Xiao Yan, without even pulling up her underpants, knelt before him, tears in her eyes!
“What is the meaning of this, young lady?”
Li Wannian had already guessed her intentions.
“Esteemed guest, I was sold here by my family. I don't want to do this. If you don't mind, please redeem me. I'm very cheap!”
Xiao Yan debased herself.
But Li Wannian didn't rush to agree. Instead, he asked, “How cheap?”
“My family sold me for five taels of silver. If you are willing, esteemed guest, you can redeem me for ten taels of silver!”
Li Wannian frowned slightly. He certainly had enough money, but spending it on someone useless to him made him hesitate.
When Wang Ritian heard this, five taels of silver was only about a dozen dou of millet. Yet, even so, Xiao Yan's family still sold her.
“But what can you do for me?”
It wasn't that Li Wannian was heartless, but in this world, survival was the absolute truth. One more person meant one more mouth to feed. He didn't need to be overly benevolent when his own strength was insufficient. Between people, all that was needed was fair exchange.
“I can farm, and I can start fires, wash clothes, and cook. I can also make clothes and shoes!”
Xiao Yan's words didn't move Li Wannian. Instead, he said, “Can you make armor?”
“Yes, my grandfather used to make armor for the government!”
When Xiao Yan said this, Li Wannian was somewhat surprised. He had only asked casually because he was about to go to the battlefield, and weapons and armor were needed. For ordinary people, privately possessing armor was a capital offense, but it was allowed to bring one's own weapons to the battlefield.
And he was about to go to the battlefield, so armor was indispensable. The armor of the severely wounded woman was not suitable for him; he had to have new armor made.
“Good! Come with me to see the Madam!”
Li Wannian took Xiao Yan to the Madam.
“Esteemed guest, you took more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, so it will be four hundred copper coins!”
Right after the consumption, the Madam looked like someone who only cared about money.
“I want this woman. I can redeem her for three taels of silver!”
When Li Wannian said this, the Madam was very surprised but felt the price was not right: “I spent ten taels of silver to buy her. If you buy her back for three taels of silver, wouldn't I lose seven taels?”
“Your business is so bad, yet you dare to spend ten taels of silver to buy a girl. As far as I know, the war ahead is not going well, and Ping'an County will soon be deserted. Are you still thinking of making money with a group of girls?”
The Madam naturally knew about the war situation Li Wannian mentioned. Their place was well-informed, and she also planned to make a quick buck and leave. At that time, these women would need to be arranged for.
“Our Great Liang's military strength is formidable; nothing will go wrong. But if you want to buy her, three taels of silver won't do. It must be at least nine taels of silver!”
“Six taels!”
“No, at least nine taels!”
“Then forget it!”
Li Wannian turned around and left directly.
“Oh, oh, esteemed guest, seven taels and four hundred copper coins. If you think that's acceptable, you can take her!”
The Madam had even calculated the cost of this recent consumption.
“Bring the deed of sale!”
Li Wannian was literate; he wouldn't pay without the deed of sale.
The Madam quickly brought it. Li Wannian re-signed and fingerprinted the deed of sale, then paid the money.
“Congratulations, esteemed guest, for acquiring a beautiful maiden!”
As soon as the Madam finished speaking, the family tree in Li Wannian's mind changed again.
Patriarch: Li Wannian
Martial Prowess: 5 (equivalent to the combat power of five adults)
Spouses: Lin Wanxian, Lin Wanyan, Lin Wanqing, Zhang Xiaoyan
Talent: Twenty Zhang Treasure Hunt
Estimated Lifespan: Sixty
Offspring: None
His martial prowess actually increased!!!