Tangli Fried Snow

Having just recovered from a serious illness, Shirley dared not eat or drink much. She only accompanied Wen Xiaowei to eat some soup and vegetables. She focused on serving Wen Xiaowei his food and drink as if he were her son. She was almost ready to personally feed him the food and wipe his mouth.

Captain Wen had a good appetite. Perhaps because he was often away on campaigns, eating and sleeping outdoors, he rarely got to have such a feast. He ate quickly and in large quantities, and kept glancing at Xue Li.

Sherry was poised and generous, letting him look at her to his heart's content. She hoped he would take a liking to her and take her away. If she really had to serve a fifty-four-year-old man, she would rather jump into the lotus pond.

After Captain Wen had eaten and drunk his fill, Xue Li immediately served him tea.

Wen Xiaowei stared intently at her delicate hands and said, "I've heard you play the guqin quite well."

This is exactly what happened – she was put to good use. Not only was she good at playing, but the music teacher at Baihualou even praised her, saying that her playing was not only technically excellent, but also very expressive.

With light, graceful steps, Xue Li sat down at the zither, looked into his eyes, smiled slightly, and showed him her most beautiful left side of her face. She played a few notes to test the sound and get a feel for it before playing the original owner's best piece, "Phoenix Seeking its Mate."

For a moment, the sound of the zither flowed like a gentle stream, with butterflies and cranes dancing, and like a light drizzle, with rain pattering on banana leaves, a heavenly melody flowing slowly.

The guqin is not something just anyone can play. The most notable figures who can play it are Ji Kang and Ruan Ji, nobles and talented scholars. Or it's something that only those who have left their mark on history, like Zhuge Liang, who used a guqin performance on the city wall to repel Sima Yi's 150,000-strong army.

Sherry's guqin playing is truly exceptional.

There are many people in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion who are proficient in playing the zither and melodies, but they lack sentimentality.

People come here to enjoy themselves, not to be judges giving you a graded exam. Playing the piano is all about creating a mood.

When she played a tender and affectionate piece, she also recited a few lines of poetry: "If love between two people lasts forever, why should they be together every day and night?"

As the song ended, the lingering notes and the sound of the zither still echoed in my ears.

The way Captain Wen looked at her was different again; this time, it carried two words: respect.

He personally got up from his seat and led her back to her previous seat.

"There's one last assessment," he said, uttering a vague and ambiguous statement.

So you've actually come here to be an examiner?

He led her to the couch and placed her small hand somewhere: "I've been fighting all over the place for the past few years, and I'm always on horseback. I'm not quite up to the task. I wonder how good your skills are, Miss Jiaojiao?"

After two and a half years of training, he could grind an iron rod into a needle. Sherry didn't put in much effort. Besides, his equipment was indeed about what she expected—average skill level. He usually used wooden props, and this was his first time in a live match. In just three or four moves, she had him weak in the knees and limbs.

Hot water was served once in the private room.

Aunt Bai appeared at the right moment and knocked on the door: "Captain Wen, I wonder how the young lady is being served? This is her first time meeting guests, so please forgive her if there are any shortcomings in her service."

"Mother, please don't stand on ceremony, come in," Captain Wen called out to the outside.

Aunt Bai entered with a charming smile, first glancing at the two men. The two were dressed impeccably and sitting at the table, but the man's ruddy face and loud tea-drinking voice, along with his disheveled and non-aggressive eyes, betrayed him.

Aunt Bai smiled and bowed, "I wonder if Commander Wen is satisfied?"

"Let's go with her today," Captain Wen said, glancing at her.

Sherry's heart pounded a few times. To hide her overwhelming joy, she lowered her head and drank half a cup of tea.

"Master Wen, you have excellent taste! Jiaojiao is the next top courtesan I've been grooming. She's beautiful, graceful, and somewhat skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She's not inferior to any young lady from a prominent family..."

"Name your price," Captain Wen interrupted her rambling with a serious expression.

Aunt Bai wasn't annoyed. She casually waved her handkerchief a few times to cover her embarrassment, saying, "The minimum is 2000 taels of silver."

You shameless old geezer! Yesterday you said you bought it for 20 taels and that you'd only eat and drink for a maximum of 2 taels a year, but you dare to ask for 2000 taels!

Captain Wen's face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

When Aunt Bai saw his dark expression, her heart skipped a beat. Oh no, she had angered the soldier, and he might just draw his sword! Things were not peaceful lately, and even if a soldier did kill a few people here, no one would hold a grudge once he returned to the camp.

"Actually, I'm not just here to drink today. Yesterday, my scouts reported that spies from the southern rebels have infiltrated the city. Brothels are always known for their diverse populations..."

"1000 taels." Aunt Bai immediately changed her mind and said, "I bought her for 200 taels and raised her like my own daughter for two years. I served her with music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and provided her with fine clothes and food. She never played cards. I can't lose money, can I?"

"Xu Liang!" Captain Wen shouted.

A burly man entered from outside and respectfully said, "Captain, what are your orders?"

"How is the money shop owner who was involved with spies yesterday?" Captain Wen asked slowly and deliberately.

"I'm barely alive, both my legs are broken," Xu Liang replied respectfully.

Aunt Bai looked like a hen whose trachea had been choked, her face turning red and white in turns.

The two finally agreed on a price of 300 taels.

From now on, Sherry will be under Captain Wen's command.

The two exchanged money for a contract of indenture, and Wen Xiaowei, without even raising his eyelids, asked, "Why is there only a contract of indenture and no slave registration?"

Aunt Bai's eyes flashed with surprise and uncertainty. She chuckled awkwardly a few times and obediently handed over Xue Li's slave status with both hands.

This is a common trick used by brothel madams. That's what happened to Miss Hong; she was redeemed by the master for 5000 taels, enjoyed a few years of peace, but was then threatened by Aunt Bai with her status as a slave, who demanded an extra 1000 taels to buy her back.

Today she ran into her nemesis. A young woman was bought for 300 taels of silver. She was so angry that she felt like she was going to vomit blood. But then she remembered that she almost died of illness two days ago. If she had died, she wouldn't have gotten a single copper coin!

In less than two days, I've already made over 200 cars, so it's a good deal!

Aunt Bai forced out an extremely unpleasant smile. "Jiaojiao, the old rule is that you can't leave through this gate with anything. You come naked and leave naked. That's the rule."

When Shirley saw that Captain Wen had put away both of the forms, she finally felt relieved.

Without saying a word, she took off all her jewelry, her new clothes that she had just worn that day, and even her embroidered shoes, and handed them over to Aunt Xue.

“Mom, thanks to your care and guidance these past two years, I was sick a few days ago and you moved me from the upper room to the lower room. There’s nothing of value left in the house now, except for this set of clothes, which I’m returning to you.” Shirley stared at her intently. “Please keep it.”

Aunt Bai's lips twitched, but she didn't say anything more, only giving her one last cold look.

Sherry was wearing a half-new undergarment, but fortunately it didn't reveal any skin. Officer Wen wrapped his black cloak around her body, and the two left the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Xu Liang then led over a pure black horse.

Shirley had never ridden a horse in either of her lives. She was carried on a horse by Captain Wen, who held her in his arms.

After he mounted the horse, his entire aura seemed to change. He was no longer the thin man who had been sitting in the house. His face was stern and his aura was powerful. He squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the tall horse galloped away.

Sherry was jostled around until she was completely disoriented.

Her buttocks ached from the jolting, the wind whistled past her ears, and a strange masculine scent enveloped her. She had finally escaped the brothel, but she felt a deep sense of uncertainty about the future, which made her heart race with each step of the horse.

She didn't know how much time had passed when she heard a man's "whoosh!" which brought her back to her senses. The horse stopped running and circled twice before coming to a stop. Only then did she realize that the three people and two horses had arrived at a clothing store on the street.

It turned out that Captain Wen had brought her here to buy clothes.

He found a clever waiter and said, "Give this young lady a set of durable and washable clothes that she can wear right now, along with a cotton-padded coat and cotton-padded shoes."

The waiter replied, "Okay!" and looked her up and down a few times before bringing her a set of fine cloth clothes, a floral cotton-padded jacket and trousers, both of ordinary style, but well-made, and indeed very durable and washable.

Captain Wen held it in his hand and examined it carefully for a while. He seemed quite satisfied and said to the waiter, "Wrap it up."

The waiter glanced at the two suspiciously, then quickly wrapped the clothes in a bundle.

"Bring two more sets of clothes for the servants at home," Wen Xiaowei said to the waiter. "Just make them to her measurements."

The waiter agreed and brought over several sets of men's clothing for them to choose from. Wen Xiaowei picked out two sets with the best workmanship and quality, then chose a set of cotton-padded clothes, cotton-padded trousers, and cotton-padded shoes. He picked up an autumn set and said to Jin Xueli, "Go and try it on."

Sherry blinked a few times, grabbed her clothes and quickly changed, tied her hair into a bun, and put on a pair of black multi-layered sole shoes.

When she came out, she was surprised to find that Officer Wen had thoughtfully bought her some hair ties, wooden hairpins, headscarves, handkerchiefs, sweat towels, menstrual belts, and other supplies. He was such a considerate and good man.

After changing into men's clothing and a different hairstyle, she instantly transformed into a clever young servant. However, due to her delicate and beautiful features, it was still immediately obvious that she was a pretty girl.

Captain Wen was very satisfied. After paying for the goods, the three of them mounted their horses and galloped out of the city.

This time, the run took a full half hour.

Sherry felt her inner thighs were chafed raw before she finally arrived at a military camp outside the city.

There were about a few hundred tan tents standing there. The soldiers on guard at the entrance immediately stood at attention and let him pass when they saw that he was a captain.

The three of them arrived without any hindrance at a large tent to the north.

Captain Wen and Xu Liang dismounted, but Xue Li was stiff all over and her buttocks ached so much that she couldn't get off the horse at all. Captain Wen had to carry her down himself.

She moved her sore and numb legs before following him into the tent.

“Women are not allowed in military camps in principle.” His words made her extremely uneasy.

He sat on the cot, smiling as he gestured for her to sit beside him. "The lieutenant general here is my uncle; I've already spoken to him."

Sherry breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

“My mother has been sick for three years and is about to pass away. Her biggest wish is to hold her grandson before she dies. However, after I got married, I followed the army to fight everywhere and never stayed at home for more than a few months. My wife has never had any children. Because I was riding horses and fighting every day, living in the open, my body was not as strong as when I was young. Sometimes I would rush home for one night and even had to give up halfway through our marriage. Now that I am twenty-four years old, I still do not have any children. So I plan to buy a concubine to live with me secretly for a while.”

He held her hand and said, "The battle is at a stalemate recently. You can stay here for a maximum of half a month. After half a month, the army will set off and pass by my house. I will let you stay at my house. If you get pregnant, you can stay at home and prepare for childbirth. If you don't get pregnant, I will bring you to live with me for a while until you are pregnant."

You've essentially bought a surrogate mother.

"Then why not have the legal wife come and stay for a few days?" Sherry couldn't help but ask.

“It’s not allowed to bring your wife to live in the military camp. She’s already twenty-five, too old. She has to take care of my mother and manage the household, so she can’t leave. I’ve already made a deal with her: if you get pregnant, I’ll let her pretend to be pregnant, and I’ll put the first child you have in her name.”

You are quite frank.

“Whether you give birth to a boy or a girl, they will all be my eldest daughter-in-law’s children in the eyes of the public. They are all my legitimate children.” Captain Wen added, “As long as you have more children, I will leave you a son to rely on.”

Thank you so much! Thank you to your whole family.

So you mean you want me to keep having your babies? With the medical level in ancient times, it's hard to say whether I could even have my first child.

Sherry was speechless. She couldn't show it on her face yet.

"Mmm," she replied softly.

She was merely a tool he bought to continue the family line; young, clean, and skilled, she could help him achieve his goal of having a son as quickly as possible to please his mother.

It was evening, and Captain Wen only gave a few casual instructions before leaving, probably to attend to official business.

Sherry was alone in his tent.

Nothing much to do, just reflecting on life.

She needs to set a life goal for herself, otherwise, she won't survive the year. At 15, she's been constantly pregnant and giving birth, suffering difficult labors, massive bleeding, and infections; even a simple cold could kill her.

The first goal, of course, is to survive. Leaving the brothel and shedding the identity of a prostitute is a good thing.

I met a nice man—rich and not a pervert—that's good.

But it's not good to keep having children.

She needed to earn some money to survive, get her indenture, and escape as soon as possible, regardless of whether she was pregnant or not. She needed to find a safe place where she could make a living with the food recipes, soap recipes, winemaking techniques, and all sorts of strange and wonderful modern gadgets in her head. She could earn her own money and spend it all by herself, and control her own destiny. That would be truly wonderful!

It wasn't until the moon came out that night that Captain Wen returned. He was shivering as he reached into her bed, making her shiver. No wonder they say women are there to warm the bed for men; now it's a reality.

He took off his clothes, revealing a body of hard, iron-like muscles, and crawled into her bed. His chest and abdominal muscles were well-developed. Hmm, that's pretty good.

The chill was quickly replaced by heat.