Tangli Fried Snow

The soldier folded and twisted the pear in the blankets like a paper crane, and she also took some initiative until the two of them danced like paper cranes, feeling as if they were floating on air.

The cold night turned hot.

………………

Sherry time-traveled.

She woke up to find herself transformed into a teenage girl, lying in a luxurious brothel. Her head was throbbing, and her eyelids felt incredibly heavy.

Aunt Bai was certain that Chunliu wouldn't survive the night, and complained indignantly, "That short-lived wretched girl, wasting two years of my cultivation, she died of illness before she was even deflowered! She ate and drank my food these past few years, and I haven't earned back a single penny of her bonus. This little slut cost me a full twenty taels of silver to buy her! If it weren't for her beauty, and my intention to make her the head of the brothel... a full twenty taels of silver wasted..." Her voice faded into the distance.

They even removed the servants and medicine, leaving her alone in this dark and damp room to wait for death.

The poor girl had obviously died; otherwise, how could he, a fine young man of his country, have transmigrated here?

I was originally a bright and promising female college student from a wealthy family with loving parents. The greatest hardship I have ever suffered in my life has been the hardship of studying.

I finally got into a 211 university and I'm studying my favorite major, fashion design. It's not too much to ask to go on a trip with my classmates and go hiking during the winter break, right?

Who knew I'd be so unlucky? All three of my classmates climbed over that little steep slope, but I don't know which foot slipped and I fell down...

When I woke up, I had traveled through time. My whole body ached, and I was incredibly thirsty. I used all my strength to barely open my eyes. The whole room was as cold as an icebox, and there was no one there. There wasn't even a drop of water left overnight, let alone hot water.

Weakness, doubt, fear, cold, and hunger seemed to be threatening to devour her.

She vaguely knew that she was teetering on the brink of life and death, and that she had to live! This thought was stronger than anything else.

Her body was alternating between hot and cold, and she felt as if her soul was being tormented by pain.

After an unknown amount of time, an idea flashed through her mind.

If only I still had my backpack, it would have contained water, compressed biscuits, first-aid supplies, snacks...

One second she was wallowing in self-pity, and the next second the Arc'teryx backpack appeared beside her.

Sherry was startled. Was she the chosen one? Did she possess a cheat system? Or a spatial ability?

She seemed to have regained her strength, enough to take her medicine, drink water, and eat something.

After taking her medicine, she used the last of her strength to pack her backpack into some unknown place before finally falling into a deep sleep...

The next day, before dawn, Aunt Bai sent several pimps over to "take care of" his funeral arrangements.

A short, stout man rushed to the front, wrapping her body in a blanket while touching her breasts and buttocks with his hands, muttering filthy things: "Tsk tsk, what a pity, the bud died before it even bloomed."

Another lewd voice rang out: "Just throw him into a mass grave like that? What a waste. A few days ago, some servant from so-and-so's family came to inquire about this fresh body. It's a pity I heard his master was killed by the rebels..."

"Is it necrophilia?" Sherry couldn't help but interject.

"Almost... Ahhhhh!" The groping slave yelled, and with a tremor of his hand, he threw away the half-rolled-up blanket along with the pear.

"It's a zombie! It's a zombie! Quick, call for help!" The group of people were so frightened that they ran away in a panic.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Aunt Bai, the only female boss in the brothel with a brain, arrived at her room with a large group of people.

Sydney is much better now. Although she is still a little weak from recovering from a serious illness, she still has the strength to sit up, get dressed, and fix her hair.

When Aunt Bai saw her sitting on the bed, looking at her with sparkling eyes, she knew that this little vixen was lucky and had survived a near-death experience.

Before she could speak, she laughed, letting out a affected giggle. Then, waving the handkerchief in her hand, she said, "Oh dear, Jiaojiao, it's so good that you're awake! You scared me to death last night! You're my precious darling. I recited scriptures for you all night long, and I didn't sleep a wink. Look, I've even gotten two more wrinkles on my face!" She then pretended to rub the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief.

Watching her affected performance, Shirley really wanted to call her a Best Actress.

She smiled slightly and grabbed her hand: "Aunt Bai, I knew you loved me the most." Come on, let's have a little acting showdown. "It seems the scriptures you recited had a miraculous effect. I went to the King of Hell's palace twice, and the little devils didn't dare to take me."

"As long as you get well, I'll go to Qingliang Mountain to fulfill my vow to the Bodhisattva on the first day of next month!" Aunt Bai smiled sincerely.

"Chunliu! Come here!" She got up and called out to the outside.

"I think the girl is much better now. You can come back and take care of her for a few more days. You must take good care of my precious daughter. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you responsible." After saying that, he told Xue Li to rest well and then left.

Only a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl named Chunliu remained to serve him.

Chunliu was a woman of few words, with the demure demeanor of a submissive wife. She brought Xueli water and food, and even helped her with urination and defecation. When Xueli went to sleep, she would put a hot water bottle in her bed, showing meticulous care.

Sherry secretly took the medicine a few more times and rested well for two days, gradually regaining her strength.

On the third day, Aunt Bai came early in the morning again. She first came to her bedside and looked her over carefully before saying, "You look much better, and your eyes are full of energy. You're really getting better. Thank God, Jiaojiao, you have a wonderful day today."

"Can you get out of bed?" She changed the subject, her eyes full of calculation. "A soldier came today, insisting on finding a respectable woman. But we don't have any respectable women here, do we?"

Aunt Bai waved her handkerchief almost to the sky, her mouth never stopping: "She has to be young and easy to bear children. You know, here we have old people and young children, and the right age and innocent people, after thinking about it, there's only you!"

Are you out of your mind? I've only just recovered from a serious illness, and you're already asking me to entertain clients?

"Aunt Bai, I feel so weak that I'm afraid I'll have trouble even getting out of bed, let alone serving the soldier." Shirley revealed a frail and delicate appearance, like Daiyu from the classic novel.

Aunt Bai immediately gave a reproachful look and patted Xue Li's hand: "Don't worry, it's not like he wants you to drink with guests or work as a prostitute. It's just that he wants you to go out and meet someone. He insists on finding a decent woman today, and if I don't, he'll kill me with his sword! Not only will he kill me, but he'll kill everyone here, he's very vicious!"

"Kill them all, that would be best. It would be so much cleaner!" Sherry couldn't help but think to herself.

She shifted her position slightly forward and gently persuaded her, "Just go and see her, it'll only take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and you can just exchange a few words."

I'm not going. Anyone who goes is a fool. Soldiers should be looking for decent women, not brothels. They're probably not smart, maybe even insane.

Shirley thought for a moment and said gently, "Aunt Bai, I'm afraid my sickly appearance will tarnish the reputation of our Hundred Flowers Pavilion. If that military officer sees me like this, and it gets out that we're sending sickly people out to meet guests, people might gossip about us and ruin our reputation. Don't you think so?"

"Look at what you're saying, as if I don't care about you and let you go out to social events while you're sick." Aunt Bai countered, "If you want to look good, wear mourning clothes. Rough men like delicate and charming young women, and those uncouth men also like to pretend to be cultured. You go to meet them, have a cup of tea, maybe play a little tune, and then find an opportunity to take your leave. You won't be tired, you'll save face for them, and I can finish my task. Isn't that a win-win situation?"

Sherry wasn't buying it and refused outright, saying, "The girls in the building are all prettier than me. They are all incredibly talented, and their piano skills are superb. They are all a hundred times better than me. Besides, my health really isn't suitable for receiving guests."

Aunt Bai's smile gradually faded, and a chilling glint flashed in her eyes: "Jiaojiao, don't be so stubborn. He's a military officer in the Northern Army, with a distinguished record of military achievements and over a thousand soldiers under his command. He says he wants a respectable woman. Do you think I'd dare to offer him those down-and-out women? Not only will you go, but you'll also have to use all the skills you've learned from me over the years to serve him well and keep him happy. If you dare to make him unhappy, you should know that we're all interconnected. If I'm not doing well, Baihualou won't be doing well either, and neither will you."

She stood up, her back to Shirley, her voice full of threat: "If you don't go to see Commander Wen today, I'll have Master Xu from town put up a sign for you tomorrow. He's wanted to 'marry' you for a long time. Commander Wen is twenty-four years old, and Master Xu is fifty-four. You have a moment to think about which one you choose."

"Chunliu~, help the young lady comb her hair and change her clothes!" Aunt Bai gave some instructions to Chunliu, who was waiting at the door, and then swayed away.

Sherry rolled her eyes for a long time but couldn't come up with a good idea. It seemed she could only take it one step at a time.

Chunliu came in with her head bowed and eyes downcast, picking out clothes for her, changing her shoes, and doing her hair and makeup. She was a bit slow-witted, but her hands were very skillful. The person in the mirror had a pretty face, but she was too thin and her complexion was pale and lifeless. Chunliu styled her hair into a snake-like bun, with her hair piled on top of her head, parted in the middle with bangs, which perfectly modified her face shape and made her look taller.

Originally, she was only fifteen years old, 160 cm tall, and weighed just over 90 kg. She was a thin, sickly, and pale little beauty. But after Chunliu dressed her up, she was instantly transformed into a youthful, beautiful, and lively girl.

Chunliu was a master of makeup, and the clothes she chose were also very suitable. She gave her a set of rosy red satin coat and picked out a moon-white skirt. The skirt was embroidered with a thousand golden hibiscus petals, which was both dignified and charming, perfectly matching the image of a virtuous young girl who was to serve in the army.

The girl in the mirror had applied rouge; her skin was like solidified cream, more beautiful than a flower. With every glance, she had "amber hidden in her phoenix eyes and a cherry-red lip."

Chunliu was also surprised and looked Xueli up and down. She had served the girl for two years and only knew that she was beautiful, but she had never seen her so lively. Her appearance had not changed, but her eyes were so bright and lively that they seemed to be hiding light. If she hadn't been with her every day, she would have suspected that the girl was a different person.

Led by the teapot (prisoner), Shirley went to Chunxiang Pavilion. She had only ever played the zither for guests and had no experience meeting guests alone. Now, she felt like a completely different person, and her heart was pounding with anxiety.

After walking through a long corridor, she arrived at a waterside pavilion. It was autumn, and lotus flowers bloomed everywhere, their green seedpods peeking through the water—a truly delightful sight. However, she was too tense to appreciate the scenery.

After passing through two more arched doorways, you will arrive at a private room.

The large teapot sang a line inside: "Miss Jiaojiao has arrived, let's open the tickets and set up a banquet!"

Upon hearing the noise, the servant inside quickly opened the door, invited Xue Li in, and then busied himself setting out wine and dishes with a large teapot.

Inside sat a man with a handsome, angular face, striking features, a bronze complexion, tightly pursed lips, and sharp, narrow eyes that stared at her like an eagle, giving off an overwhelming sense of pressure.

She is short and stocky, probably only 172 cm tall. Being short is good. Based on the original owner's experience of staying here for more than two years, short people tend to have smaller "tools". If she is 15 years old, she will be forced to serve others. It is best to marry someone older, busy with work, with small "tools", and who doesn't like to make a fuss.

Sherry greeted him with a polite bow, displaying the demeanor of a well-bred young lady. She moved gracefully to his side and said, "Greetings, Commandant Wen."

"Sit," said Captain Wen, or rather, he uttered a single word.

Sherry readily sat down, poured him a cup of tea, and handed it to him. He took the teacup but didn't drink it. Instead, he held the teacup and carefully examined her.

"how old are you?"

"It's fifteen."

"Where are you from?"

I really didn't know that. The original owner was sold into this place at the age of 13. She was sick when she arrived. If it weren't for her beauty, literacy, and ability to play the guqin, she would have been forced into prostitution long ago. Fortunately, the top courtesan, Hong Guniang, caught the eye of the master, who wanted to redeem her. At that time, the Hundred Flowers Brothel was short of top courtesans, so Aunt Bai led the entire brothel to kneel before her, begging her to stay for another two years. Hong Guniang reluctantly stayed for two more years and even brought out a younger sister, Bai Yun, to succeed her.

Aunt Bai then realized that she needed to cultivate key talents early on to prevent her most popular girl from being forcibly bought away, which would disrupt her business. She had taken a liking to the original owner's appearance and talent and had been preparing a big move for the past two years to promote her as the next top courtesan.

Sherry racked her brains for a long time but still couldn't remember where the original owner's home was. She could only try to recall, and then, surprisingly, she began to tell the truth: "I only remember that my family was very wealthy when I was little, and we always had good food and clothes. From the age of six or seven, we started going hungry, and in the winter, we were so cold we couldn't sleep. Later, I was sold around, and finally, at the age of thirteen, I was sold here. I only remember that there were two stone lions at the entrance of my original home, and my nanny carried me and let me ride on them many times..."

The person opposite her gave her a complicated look. Sherry suddenly realized that she should be showing her professionalism and saying that she had a poor mother, a sick father, and a good-for-nothing brother, and asking the customer to take pity on her.

That's incredibly unprofessional!

Sherry immediately perked up, took the initiative to clink glasses with Captain Wen, and said with a smile, "Where we come from is not important anymore, the most important thing is where we are going, isn't it?"

Commander Wen, seemingly lost in thought, shared a cup of tea with her.

The teapot came to the rescue just in time. He prepared a sumptuous feast, and several maids brought in exquisite dishes one after another. Although there were only two people, a total of eight dishes were served, including chicken, duck, fish, meat, seasonal vegetables, and most notably, a plate of braised venison.