mtlumby2d Chapter 243 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Time to Return 14
Chapter 243 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Time to Return 14
Chapter 243 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Time to Return 14 Caixia stood by the Paramount Ballroom and waved to Shen Shuwan, who was rushing over: "Shuwan, over here~"
The few ordinary words, spoken in her voice, carried a touch of coquettish tenderness, so soft they seemed to drip with water.
People passing by were drawn by the sound and slowed down to look in the direction of the noise.
Unexpectedly, he saw that Caixia's appearance was not particularly outstanding, and he sighed in disappointment, glancing in the direction she was waving.
Shen Shuwan paused, then awkwardly brushed her bangs aside, covering most of her face.
His drab attire and deliberately hunched posture immediately killed any desire to investigate, causing people to turn their attention away in disappointment.
Shen Shuwan then quickly walked to Caixia's side: "Sorry, Sister Caixia, I kept you waiting. I was a bit busy today and finished work late."
Caixia pulled her to the side, saying, "It's okay, I haven't been here long either."
Shen Shuwan took out an oil paper from her bosom, opened it, and split the meat bun in half: "The proprietress gave it to me out of kindness, let's each have half."
Actually, it was just an excuse. Although the proprietress was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, she couldn't bear to give away meat buns for free.
This was something she conjured from the lunchbox left by the system before she left this morning.
Worried that having too many would cause unnecessary trouble, I only took out one.
Caixia stared at the meat bun and swallowed hard: "Well, let's forget about it."
These days, meat is a rare commodity.
People like her spend most of their earnings on household expenses, and they are reluctant to buy anything for themselves even once a year.
Caixia glanced at it twice, then forcibly looked away. But the next second, something was placed in her palm.
Shen Shuwan stuffed the larger half into her hand: "Take it, I should thank you for being willing to take me with you."
Although the steamed buns were cold, the aroma of meat still wafted into her nose, and Caixia reluctantly accepted them.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Don't worry, I have some connections with the casino manager, so I can charge you a discount."
Shen Shuwan smiled and said, "Then I'll leave it to you~"
I met Caixia by chance some time ago.
Shen Shuwan helped her out of the predicament, and the two gradually began to interact.
A few days ago, the girl who used to sell cigarettes with Caixia found another place to go.
Since most of the cigarette vendors on the second floor were in groups, it was easy for someone to be bullied if they went it alone. So Caixia thought of Shen Shuwan and invited her to join them.
The first floor of the Paramount Ballroom is a dance hall, and the next two floors are casinos.
Compared to the dance hall, the business upstairs is naturally better.
Shen Shuwan hadn't considered moving upstairs before, mainly because of safety concerns and a lack of money.
In addition to the commission from each cigarette sale, there is also an extra fee for going upstairs.
There's no fixed amount for this fee; how much or how little you pay depends entirely on the manager's mood.
If I didn't know anyone there, I'd probably have to pay out of my own pocket to go up there.
However, this concern is no longer present.
Shen Shuwan followed closely behind Cai Die, watching her greet the manager with a smile and exchange a few pleasantries. She only had to pay three coins to get in smoothly.
The manager weighed the money in his hand, and seeing that Shen Shuwan looked unfamiliar, he casually mentioned, "You all know the rules, right? Don't offend our distinguished guest."
"Of course, Tiger, I'll keep an eye on her. Let's go up now."
Caixia smiled and led Shen Shuwan to the side as they walked upstairs, whispering in her ear as they went:
"This amount of money is only enough for us to move around on the second and third floors. Above that, there are private rooms for VIPs, which are not easily accessible."
"If you go up there on your own, being stopped and punished is the least of your worries. If you run into some big shots with bad tempers, they won't care whether you trespassed by mistake or not; they'll treat you as an assassin. In that case, I won't be able to save you."
Shen Shuwan quickly assured her, "Don't worry, Sister Caixia, I definitely won't go up there."
In the blink of an eye, the two reached the stairwell between the second and third floors. Caixia stopped and pointed inside:
"Let's sell cigarettes on the second floor."
"Although the stakes are higher on the third floor and the customers are more generous, they don't care about our cheap goods. The third floor actually earns less than the second floor."
She paused, then added, "However, some people go to the third floor to find a 'good place.' Like Yan'er, who was with me before, she was taken in by a gentleman on the third floor. I don't know what her future will be like, but it won't be worse than it is now."
Mentioning Yan'er, a hint of disdain flashed across Caixia's face, but a hidden jealousy lurked deep in her eyes: "If you were good-looking, you could also..."
Shen Shuwan dodged her hand that was trying to lift her bangs and quickly waved her hand: "No need, no need, I'm not good-looking, Sister Caixia, is there anything else I need to be careful about?"
Caixia didn't insist and composed herself: "There's nothing else. Let's stay here. If anything happens, we can help each other out."
"it is good."
As soon as Shen Shuwan approached a table, she was taken aback by the content of their conversation.
The middle-aged man wearing a melon-shaped hat glanced at the cards in his hand and said casually, "I heard that Master Huo is looking for someone lately? Who has offended him?"
The man opposite him pushed up his glasses, revealing heavy dark circles under his eyes, and said, "You didn't know? Just a few days ago, he was ambushed."
Another man in a gray cloth robe said, "I know about this. I have a relative who works for the Huo family. He said it was the Third Young Master who did it?"
The man in the melon-shaped hat asked, "Which Third Young Master?"
The old man in the long robe and mandarin jacket said, "Who else could it be? It's the son of the sixth concubine who was the most beloved by the late Master Huo. He even studied abroad. If he hadn't been abroad at the time, who knows who the Huo family would have belonged to!"
"Everyone knows the Huo family's current status is entirely due to the methods of this man. Even if the Third Young Master Huo had returned back then, it would have been the same—useless." The man in the gray robe scoffed, "Useless!"
The man in the melon-hat looked puzzled: "Now that you mention it, I do have a vague recollection, but I seem to remember that the Third Young Master and Master Huo were quite close, right? He even shielded him from that before..."
He held up his thumb and forefinger, making a "gun" shape: "If you're deliberately trying to gain trust by doing this, aren't you being too hard on yourself?"
The bespectacled man glanced at Shen Shuwan and gestured for her to smoke.
Shen Shuwan quickly handed her a cigarette and continued listening while she lit it.
The man in the melon-shaped hat also shouted, "I'll have one too!"
"Okay, I'm coming," Shen Shuwan replied.
The bespectacled man continued, "If we don't go all out, how could Master Huo possibly believe him and take him to so many important occasions!"
“That’s right.” The man in the gray robe whispered, “You don’t know, Master Huo was almost sold when he was a child, supposedly by his sixth concubine.”
"If I hadn't shielded him from that blow, he and his mother would probably have been dealt with by Master Huo long ago."
Shen Shuwan continued to offer cigarettes to the other two, secretly anxious.
Why are they getting so off-topic? Who exactly is Patriarch Huo looking for?
Her words that day may have been slightly offensive, but he probably won't hold a grudge.
Finally, as Shen Shuwan lit a cigarette for the old man in the long robe and mandarin jacket, the man in the melon-hat finally asked the question that she was concerned about: "Wait, what does all this talk have to do with him looking for someone? Who is he looking for?"
The man in the gray cloth robe said, "He said he was his savior, and his name was something like Shen."
"Shen Gui," the bespectacled man continued.
“Yes, Shen Gui. That name sounds unfamiliar. I guess he’s one of the people in our circle,” said the man in the gray robe.
The old man in the long robe and mandarin jacket threw down a card: "Who cares who he is? If he saves Master Huo, he'll be a big shot in Hong Kong from now on."
The other three burst into laughter.
"Haha, that's true."
"That's the truth."
Having heard what she wanted, Shen Shuwan left satisfied.
As long as she doesn't cause trouble, that's fine; she doesn't want to be someone superior to others.
She wouldn't have approached such an important figure as the head of the Huo family if it weren't for wanting to go home.
Fortunately, the name she left that day was a false one, and the person who went to Runfeng Trading Company to deliver the message was a beggar she had specially paid a copper coin to hire.
They should have a hard time finding her.
Hopefully, the Huo family head will keep his word.
She just wanted to get home as soon as possible.