Zhang Lanlan never imagined she would meet Lu Dagang in a guest room at Chunxiang Lou.
Hadn't he been sold to the black kiln? How was he still alive? And he had actually come to the capital!
Their eyes met, and Zhang Lanlan froze in shock. Her face twitched involuntarily a few times before her shocked expression slowly gave way to a look of vulnerability. She cried out, "Brother Dagang!" and immediately threw herself into Lu Dagang's arms, tears streaming down her face. "Brother Dagang, save me! I... I was sold to a brothel, sob..."
Lu Dagang let her hold him, suppressing the disgust in his heart. He whispered, "How can I save you?"
"Tonight, when they're asleep, take me and escape! As long as you take me out, I'll marry you, sleep with you, and bear you a son," Zhang Lanlan whispered seductively in his ear.
Lu Dagang sneered inwardly, but on the outside, he feigned hurt and sadness, questioning her sorrowfully, "Lanlan, now that you're in trouble, you remember my goodness? Before, I loved you so much, saving all the best for you, but why did you sell me to the black kiln? You almost got me killed, and when I finally escaped, I broke a leg. You... you hurt me too much."
A flicker of panic crossed Zhang Lanlan's face, but she quickly regained her composure and cried miserably, "Brother Dagang, it wasn't me! Wu Kaigui forced me! He said if I didn't sell you, he'd have people beat you to death. I... I had no choice. Brother Dagang, please forgive me, I was really forced by him!"
This lying, cheap woman! This stinking bitch!
Lu Dagang clenched his fists, desperately suppressing the urge to crush her under his feet.
"The brothel doesn't close until the middle of the night. In the middle of the night, pack your things and wait for me at the back door. I'll pick the lock. But we can't escape penniless. Do you have any way to get some silver?"
Zhang Lanlan thought of the jewelry she had seen in the madam's room. She had to find a way to get her hands on it.
Tonight, when the madam and the prostitutes were downstairs entertaining guests, it would be a good opportunity.
In the middle of the night, Chunxiang Lou was silent.
Zhang Lanlan, carrying her belongings, tiptoed to the backyard. She hid behind a large tree, waiting for Lu Dagang, but he never came.
Just as she was about to lose hope and climb over the courtyard wall to escape herself, Lu Dagang arrived. He stood not far away, holding a lantern, and called out, "Lanlan."
But Zhang Lanlan heard a mocking tone in that single word, "Lanlan."
Zhang Lanlan stopped in her tracks, just as she was about to rush into his arms.
A moment later, many lights lit up behind Lu Dagang. The madam, along with over a dozen thugs from Chunxiang Lou, stood beside him.
"Brother Dagang, what is this?" Zhang Lanlan instinctively recoiled.
Lu Dagang coldly retorted, "Who is your Brother Dagang? Don't you dare drag me into this! You cheap woman, you actually tried to seduce me and wanted me to help you escape! You also stole the madam's jewelry, saying that if I took you away, half of the jewelry would be mine. If I fall for your tricks again, I'm a stupid dog!"
The madam's lips curled, and she said sternly, "Good! You little slut, you're really bold enough to steal from this mother! You're not afraid of death! Guards! Disfigure her face and throw her into the wood shed to do hard labor!"
"No, no, Madam! It was Lu Dagang, that crippled cripple, who incited me! He wanted to let me go!" Zhang Lanlan trembled, pointing at Lu Dagang, and shouted hoarsely.
No one listened to Zhang Lanlan's hysterical cries. Two burly men stepped forward, took out their daggers, and slashed viciously at Zhang Lanlan's face, one after another.
Zhang Lanlan screamed, writhing on the ground in pain.
The madam looked at Lu Dagang. "You performed a great service today. Your monthly wages will be increased by five copper coins. Also, keep an eye on this little slut for me and don't let her escape."
Lu Dagang bowed in response. "Yes, Boss."
The madam told everyone to return to rest.
Lu Dagang dragged Zhang Lanlan and threw her into the wood shed.
Zhang Lanlan's face was covered in blood, and she cowered, trembling all over.
Lu Dagang, limping, approached her and said with a sinister grin, "Zhang Lanlan, do you know why you were sold to the brothel?"
Zhang Lanlan, curled into a ball, her teeth chattering, couldn't say a word.
"It was me! It was me and Liu Shi who set you up! I've been watching you for two months, haha..." Lu Dagang burst into maniacal laughter. "But can you blame me? You're a stinking bitch! Worse than a prostitute!"
Zhang Lanlan's bloody face stared intently at Lu Dagang with bloodshot eyes.
"You cheap woman, I, Lu Dagang, was once a dog by your side, a dog so loyal, but how did you treat me, you stinking bitch? Huh?" Lu Dagang kicked Zhang Lanlan.
If it weren't for the agreement with Lu Ye's wife that still had a month to go, he would have decapitated Zhang Lanlan right then and there.
After kicking Zhang Lanlan a few more times, Lu Dagang turned to leave, but Zhang Lanlan's plea came from behind him: "Brother Dagang, I know... before, you were the best to me... it was my blindness that made me overlook you. I... I'm sorry. Please, forgive me, I... I was wrong, I was really wrong! Sob..."
Lu Dagang turned back, a cold smile on his face. "Zhang Lanlan, you really are a promiscuous, stinking bitch, and you still have the nerve to beg me? Do you know that because of you, I broke a leg, and I wandered around Qingcheng begging, becoming the most despicable beggar. Do you know who saved me?"
"Who... who?" Zhang Lanlan asked, her voice trembling.
Lu Dagang turned and walked to her side, squatting down, staring at Zhang Lanlan as if watching a good show, and said mockingly, "It was Lu Ye, whom you loved to death, and Lu Ye's wife, whom you hated with all your might.
They heard I was looking for you for revenge, so they fed me and gave me drink, and brought me all the way to the capital. Without them, you wouldn't be in this situation today.
Before we parted, to support my revenge, Lu Ye's wife even funded me with 10 taels of silver. Seeing your current wretched and ugly state, she must be very happy."
Zhang Lanlan's upper and lower teeth clicked together uncontrollably, her whole body shaking like withered leaves in a cold wind.
Lu Dagang, seeing this, was very satisfied and continued, "The Lu Ye family has a very large business in the capital. Lu Ye's wife has given birth to four very smart and cute babies, and she has become more and more beautiful, ten thousand times more beautiful than you!
Moreover, she has a group of servants attending to her, and everyone likes and respects her.
And look at you, tsk tsk, ugly, poor, and cheap! So pathetic and down-and-out! You're a lowly whore and a bitch in everyone's eyes!
Didn't you always look down on Lu Ye's wife? Didn't you often call her a low-class slave? I think you're not even fit to carry her shoes!"