After a pause, Yang Chuxia added, "After all, this kind of mutual assistance between relatives is something someone like you will never understand."
Procuress Baiās face turned from green to white with each sentence from Yang Xiaochuan and Yang Chuxia, but her expression quickly returned to normal.
"Well, since thatās the case, letās talk about Ms.Hongās situation." Procuress Bai took out the servitude contract again and pointed to a man beside her, "This man is in charge of the dentist association in the county. He can confirm that Ms.Hongās contract is legitimate, and the government records and dentist associationās ledger have documented it. So, what do you propose we do with Ms.Hong?"
"I also have Ms.Hongās servitude contract, and Iāve also checked the records at the dentist association for Ms.Hongās sales over the years. What do you suggest?" Yang Chuxia spoke up after she was finished, "Oh right, last time didnāt you, Procuress Bai, say you would go to the government office? Then letās go to the government office, and by the way, we can also check why, when Ms.Hong was clearly redeemed from the Fancy Red Pavilion by an official back then. Logically, the contract would have been returned upon payment, yet the Fancy Red Pavilion has produced another copy. Could it be that the contract from back then was a fake?"
Hearing this, Procuress Baiās face stiffened, but being an old fox, she quickly replied, "Iām not aware of any official youāre referring to. All I know is that we at the Fancy Red Pavilion have Ms.Hong, a runaway prostitute. You tell me, what should we do?"
"I donāt care what you are aware or unaware of, but you canāt take anyone from my family. Feel free to go to the government office if you wish," said Yang Chuxia, seeing that she offered no solution and kept beating around the bush, and immediately called for her people, "Show the guests out! From now on, if anyone from the Fancy Red Pavilion comes again, thereās no need to invite them in. Just chase them away."
Yang Chuxia was certain that these people would not go to the government office, otherwise they wouldnāt have come a second time.
"You..." Procuress Bai was infuriated. How could this family be so obstinate?
She had always felt that even if the Yang Family was wealthy, they were just a landowning family. Facing an establishment like the Fancy Red Pavilion, they were supposed to be somewhat weaker in position.
Once they were threatened a bit more, wouldnāt they obediently hand over the silver?
After getting the silver, as for Ms.Hong, they wouldnāt let her off easily. She had plenty of ways to force her compliance.
Actually, she never intended to make trouble for Ms.Hong. After all, what right did a woman who married a farmer have to trouble them?
Recently, however, her master had issued an order, commanding the girls of the Fancy Red Pavilion to find ways to enter the Yang Family of Wangquan Town. Thatās when she recalled the encounter with Ms.Hong.
Who would have thought that Ms.Hong would be unwilling to help her? Angry, she found Ms.Hongās servitude contract and brought people to their door. Her purpose was simple: one, to get silver; two, to ensure you cannot hold your head high in your husbandās family. You dare not obey me, and Iāll make your life difficult with your in-laws. Do you think they would still treat you well once they find out you were once a prostitute?
Once the silver was in hand, she would have someone forge a fake servitude contract and destroy it. After a few days, she would take out the real contract stored at the Fancy Red Pavilion and confront Ms.Hong with it. By then, if Ms.Hong were as disrespected by her in-laws as she supposed, and harboring resentment, with the additional threat to her life, she wouldnāt be afraid Ms.Hong would refuse her demands.
For the girls who left the Fancy Red Pavilion, those who might be useful in the future but were unwilling to obey, all were dealt with this way. Like the family in the county from two years ago, heh, not only did they give up the silver, but they also lost face. In the end, didnāt they still obediently do their bidding?