Hearing the sound of arrows hitting the pot, Xu Qi'an's mouth widened uncontrollably. He took off the black cloth and pointed to the gold and silver ingots on the stall, saying, "Haha, old Taoist, these are all mine."

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The old Taoist looked at him calmly and wrapped up the gold and silver ingots. Then he pointed to the topmost Bodhi bead bracelet and jade mirror on the stall and said with a smile, "Young master, choose one."

Xu Qi'an said in a negotiating tone, "Old Taoist, I don't want these, I just want silver."

The old Taoist heartlessly refused, "Rules are rules."

After a pause, he added, "These two items are rare treasures that cannot be compared to ordinary things. Young master, don't let gold and silver blind your eyes."

"No, I just want these ordinary things..." Xu Qi'an asked, "Treasures? What are their uses?"

"I don't know," the old Taoist said, "I only know that they are waiting for someone with fate." The old Taoist looked like a bachelor.

Xu Qi'an suspected that the old Taoist was trying to deceive him, but he had no evidence. Considering his inexplicable luck, he hesitated.

Whether they were treasures or not, who could say for sure? Silver was more practical.

At this time, a soldier walked over and said, "Young master, my master would like your help."

Xu Qi'an turned his head and looked at the luxurious carriage not far away. "What does your master want?"

"That Bodhi bead bracelet," the soldier said, looking at Xu Qi'an, "My master is willing to pay sixty taels of gold."

So my good luck is here... Xu Qi'an smiled kindly, "Thank you for not abandoning me, deal."

He asked the soldier to take out a silver coin and exchanged it for three arrows.

"My master says you can try more times, and we will pay for the silver. If you fail, it doesn't matter..." Before he finished speaking, he saw Xu Qi'an, who had covered his eyes, throwing out the arrows.

Boom boom boom... The three arrows hit the pot accurately.

The passers-by were amazed again.

The soldier looked at Xu Qi'an with respect in his eyes.

If once was luck, twice meant that the other party was not an ordinary person. This seemingly ordinary young man, dressed like a scholar, was definitely a master.

Xu Qi'an was extremely pleased to receive sixty taels of gold. He took off the black cloth and saw the curtain of the luxurious carriage fall down in the distance.

...He didn't know who was in the car, so he didn't dare to look more. He turned around, bowed to the soldier, and said, "I am honored to have fulfilled my mission."

The soldier bowed respectfully in return and then returned to the carriage. In a moment, he came back with a bulging money bag.

Xu Qi'an took the money bag and took the jade mirror from the old Taoist. He watched the carriage leave and then happily weighed the heavy money bag.

It was probably about three or four catties, too heavy to carry around his waist.

"No, I have to exchange it for silver notes. Carrying such heavy gold around is too stupid..." Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look back, but the old Taoist and the stall were gone, leaving the place clean.

Xu Qi'an stood on the roadside in silence for half a day.

...Xu Qi'an went to the money exchange and exchanged his gold for four silver bills worth 100 taels, one silver bill worth 50 taels, and three silver bills worth 10 taels each.

Gold was not part of the currency system, so it needed to be exchanged for an equivalent amount of silver, and then the money exchange would issue a silver bill.

The exchange rate for gold and silver was 1:8, so 60 taels of gold was equivalent to 480 taels of silver.

With 480 taels of silver, he had more than enough to fan Auntie's pretty face... Why did he always think of fanning Auntie with silver bills every time he earned money? The original owner's resentment towards Auntie was too strong... In addition, this amount of silver could only buy a small courtyard in the inner city... If he wanted a three-story mansion, he needed at least 10,000 taels of silver. Xu Qi'an was a bit distressed.

Whether in this world or the previous one, housing prices were always a despair-inducing matter.

"480 taels should be enough to redeem a lower-class courtesan in the brothel, but it's not cost-effective."

"Look, with 480 taels, I can visit multiple courtesans for months. But to redeem one, I would have to spend all my money and also be responsible for her expenses. If she accidentally got pregnant, it would be another big expense. And with my current salary, I can only afford to support one wife, I can't afford the boring life of being surrounded by rich women. Besides, I won't redeem any courtesans. That would be misusing public funds."

...

At dusk, Xu Qi'an arrived at the famous Official Brothel Sector in the capital city, which was located in an alley.

As the lanterns were lit, various carriages were parked outside the alley, and the sound of silk and bamboo music and beautiful singing could be heard from the courtyards.

He knew that the beautiful nightlife had begun.

Walking on the roads that intersected the alley, Xu Qi'an recalled the cultural essence he learned from Captain Wang.

A normal brothel was a two or three-story building with one or two annexes, which was considered quite high-end.

The Official Brothel Sector did not have such high buildings because it did not need them. All the courtyards in this alley belonged to the Official Brothel Sector.

State-owned enterprises were so rich and powerful.

There was a threshold for entering the Official Brothel Sector. Ordinary people could not afford to consume here, not because of any regulations, but because the minimum consumption fee was five taels of silver.

This was not for sleeping with the girls, but for the table fee.

Five taels of silver was equivalent to several months' income for ordinary people, and it had to be from a well-off family.

Therefore, the main customers of the Official Brothel Sector were three types of people:

First, wealthy merchants and nobles.

This type of customer was the most willing to spend money because they had a low social status in normal times and had a fanatical obsession with sleeping with officials' wives.

Second, officials.

For them, the Official Brothel Sector was a place to drink tea and socialize after work. As long as there were social events, they liked to come to the Official Brothel Sector.

It is worth mentioning that officials from the Ministry of Rites could enjoy free services because the Official Brothel Sector was under their jurisdiction.

Third, scholars.

This type of person was more refined than wealthy merchants and nobles, liked to recite poetry and make rhymes, and was easier to serve than officials. Therefore, they were most favored by the courtesans in the Official Brothel Sector.

The courtesans in the Official Brothel Sector were also divided into three types:

First, officials' wives.

These women were the most pitiful, forced to fall into the dust and be humiliated.

Second, women captured in war.Let's not talk about distant history. Taking the Battle of Shanhaiguan twenty years ago as an example, the Western countries and Great Feng were the victors. They took countless women from the north and southern border and sent them to the official brothel sectors in various states and prefectures to become prostitutes.

III. Prostitutes recruited by the official brothel sector.

These women voluntarily became honorable seafood merchants, contributing to Great Feng's abalone business and their spirits are commendable.

"It's true that you're never too old to learn. Wang Catcher is my teacher..." Xu Qi'an sighed with emotion and finally found his target for visiting the official brothel sector.

He stopped outside a courtyard, and the plaque on the gate read "Shadow Plum Blossom Pavilion."

The gate was wide open, and two bright red lanterns hung on it. The courtyard was filled with plum trees, and the branches were adorned with blooming flowers.

A sixteen or seventeen-year-old gatekeeper stood at the gate, scrutinizing Xu Qi'an with his eyes.

He also had another well-known title.

"I am Yang Ling, a scholar from Changle County. I have long heard of the famous Fu Xiang and came to visit." Xu Qi'an imitated the manner of a scholar and spoke politely to the gatekeeper.

Shadow Plum Blossom Pavilion was the residence of the courtesan Fu Xiang.

The table fee here was ten taels of silver, twice as expensive as ordinary courtyards.

The courtesans of the official brothel sector were divided into four grades based on their talents, charm, skills, and looks, with a total of twelve courtesans.

Fu Xiang belonged to the first grade and was known for her poetry and music skills.

"Ten taels of silver." The gatekeeper, who was used to dealing with wealthy gentlemen, had a cold attitude. After taking Xu Qi'an's silver, he let him into the courtyard.

Xu Qi'an felt happy in his heart. Laughter and music could be heard in the courtyard, and the tea party had already started. However, since the gatekeeper let him in, it meant that it was not a private party, but a public gathering.

There are two modes of play for those who come out to play, one is a private party, and the other is a public gathering.

If it's the former, Xu Qi'an is destined to be in vain today.