I Came From Heaven [Transmigration/Time-Travel] - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Looking at the table laden with dishes—chicken, duck, fish, everything—I finally understood the mysterious smile on Miss Handan’s face. I sighed, Holy cow, they are deliberately trying to extort me!

She reached for the wine pot, pulled back her long sleeve, and poured a cup for me:

“Since you are here, why not make the best of it? Young Master, why don’t you enjoy yourself properly?”

Easy for her to say. If I touched any of this stuff, I would probably be signing my life away! It was time to pull a Liu Xiahui—sitting steadfastly, unmoved by temptation! I maintained my posture, allowing Handan to offer the wine diligently, but refusing to open my mouth. Feeling frustrated, she gracefully shifted her body and straddled my lap, hooking one arm around my neck and bringing the wine to my lips:

“If Handan doesn’t serve well, Mama will scold me. You wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation as the top courtesan, would you?”

The top courtesan! Of course, they sent me the most expensive thing! I turned my head away, refusing to drink. Handan lightly pushed my shoulder, her voice filled with pitiful sorrow:

“This wine is the best vintage in our establishment. It would be a shame to come here and not have a sip.”

“You just want me to fall into a trap, don’t you? I won’t let you succeed.”

“What are you saying, Young Master? I’m just kindly reminding you. Even if you don’t eat these dishes, don’t drink this fine wine, and don’t ask me for entertainment, you’ll still have to leave money to resolve this trouble. After you step out of this door, whether you live or die, well, that’s hard to say.”

Handan’s words made me realize the gravity of the situation. I patted her back:

“You should get off first.”

Perhaps my attitude was unlike those who would pay a fortune for her smile. Handan rolled her eyes, put the wine cup down, and looked disgruntled. I stood up and looked at the table of fine dishes. The anxiety in my heart sent waves of anger rushing to my head. I seriously wanted to post a geo-tagged moment on my social media telling everyone I was currently soliciting a courtesan!

“What should I do now?”

I stared at Handan calmly, my tone lacking the earlier casualness. Handan smiled and pointed at my backpack:

“I see your attire is not that of a local person. It’s quite strange.”

“You have good eyesight, Miss. I am indeed not from Da Xuan.”

“This meal won’t be cheap. If you have money, it’s easy—everyone completes this business happily. If you don’t have money, things get difficult. Do you think Mama would open Chun Sheng Lou in this area without some real capability? Since you’re not a local, it’s even easier for her. If you were a girl, you’d probably have to pay with your body. Since you’re a man, Mama will make you stay here at Chun Sheng Lou and work as a laborer. I estimate this meal alone must cost several dozen taels of silver.”

Several dozen taels? Are you kidding me? I probably couldn’t even sell my kidney for that right now! I simply put on a tough guy act and slammed the table:

“I don’t have money!”

“If you don’t have money, why did you dare to come in?”

With that, Handan directly opened the door, ready to call people up. I immediately grabbed her arm:

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Handan closed the door again, looking like she was waiting for my show to begin. I could only sigh:

“I’m going to die anyway, right? Let’s eat first. Together, together. Consider it my treat.”

My remark made Handan burst into laughter. She even reached up and rubbed my head:

“You’re facing death and still haven’t forgotten to eat your money’s worth. You’re truly adorable.”

I grabbed the wine cup on the table and downed it in one go. So spicy! I squinted my eyes, grimacing. Beer is definitely better! Handan sat beside me, resting her head in her hand, watching me quietly. She seemed less interested in the delicacies on the table and more curious about me:

“Do you have any plans?”

“Huh?”

“I guess Mama will send people in to collect your money soon.”

“Look at my thin arms and legs. Do I look like someone who can fight? I walked into a rigged shop; I can only accept my fate.”

“Listen to my advice. Women especially like kind words. Even if our men put a knife to your throat, a smiling face and saying something pleasing is more effective than struggling and cursing.”

“Sijie is educated.”

Speak of the devil and she appears. I hadn’t even finished a chicken drumstick when ‘Bao Xia Ju’ stormed in with her people. She raised her head imperiously:

“I wonder if this Young Master enjoyed his meal and if our Handan pleased him enough.”

It was obvious to anyone that she was here to collect the money. I glanced at Handan, then reluctantly stood up and walked over to the madam, bravely blurting out three words:

“I have no money.”

“With your pauper appearance, I’d be surprised if you did. Since you don’t have money, tell me, what do you intend to do now?”

The madam grabbed the melon seeds from the table and leisurely peeled them one by one. I stroked my chin, ultimately choosing the path of surrender. Waaah! I cried:

“Auntie Bao Xia Ju, I was wrong! I truly hit you accidentally just now! I didn’t mean it, and it wasn’t intentional. I didn’t order the dishes or the girl, and you shoved all this onto me. What can I do?”

The madam threw the melon seed shells in her hand at my face and shoved me:

“Stop the nonsense! Do you think this is your home, where you can come and go as you please? No money? If you don’t have money, don’t even think about leaving today. You two, lock him up first!”

Upon receiving the order, the attendants behind the madam seized my shoulders and held me firmly. Handan sat on the side, watching my humiliation with an air of calm indifference. Perhaps they were all accustomed to people dining and dashing; I might just be the most pitiful one.

And so, I was taken by the attendants to the back storage room. They violently shoved me inside, scoffing and mocking my misfortune, before slamming the door shut and locking it.

The storage room was pitch black, and the air was filled with the smell of damp mold. The otherwise clean clothes Shui Xin had given me were now covered in dust. Although I tried to sit calmly in the corner, forcing myself to stay alert, the dark and oppressive environment gradually allowed the fear in my heart to creep into my mind. What should I do next?

But then I thought about it again: I’ve been locked up by this ‘Bao Xia Ju.’ She can’t do much to me immediately; killing me won’t get her money back. According to Miss Handan, it’s an undeniable fact that I’ll be kept here to work as a laborer. However, I absolutely cannot let anyone here know that I’m actually a woman. Words can be hurtful, so I must be careful, otherwise… I’m a good child who has kept my purity for over twenty years! I can’t imagine the terrible consequences.

Nevertheless, a misfortune might turn out to be a blessing. Thinking about it again, Hmm? Did I just inexplicably find a place to stay?

Ji Sijie, can you possibly be any more optimistic? This place is not a joke!

I hugged my backpack. Although the silver Shui Xin gave me was substantial, I wasn’t sure if it was enough to cover the debt, given the prices here. But I’m a person who dislikes being taken advantage of. Since they deliberately tried to extort me, I’ll quietly endure it. Asking for money? No way!!!

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