Chapter 72

Chapter 72

After settling down at the Opera Troupe, You Nan went out every day.

He visited every place he could possibly go.

You Nan carried a basket with him, filled with small handmade grass-woven and bamboo-woven items—the kind of toys children love.

The basket also contained small handmade boxes and cages, each adorned with flowers as decorations.

South Lane was home to many impoverished families, but there were also some households that were better off.

You Nan didn’t possess the soap-making skills typical of time travelers; he only knew some simple handicrafts. He wanted to repay his debt to the Opera Troupe as soon as possible, save some money for travel expenses to find 007, and also set aside funds for their future living expenses.

During his first two days out, You Nan carefully observed the people walking on the streets.

He quickly identified his target customers.

Parents who were willing to spare a few coins for their children or doted on them enough to spend a little money were his potential clients.

At first, You Nan was clumsy with his crafts, but after making a few, he became more skilled and worked faster.

The flowers he used were vibrant and colorful. According to his own aesthetic sense, he paired them harmoniously, creating bright and appealing arrangements that even the girls in the courtyard admired.

During his stay in the courtyard, the girls grew comfortable around him. Some even asked him for two of his creations.

You Nan gave them freely.

Qing Er also took a liking to them. She followed You Nan, hoping to learn the craft to pass the time and earn some extra money.

You Nan agreed.

The two of them had limited tasks each day and didn’t need to serve others. During the day, Qing Er worked on handicrafts while You Nan intentionally covered his face with dust and went outside the city to gather flowers, pick grasses, and cut bamboo.

Working together, they managed to earn a small profit.

After selling his goods, You Nan would return and give Qing Er her share of the earnings.

At first, Qing Er hesitated to accept the money, but You Nan insisted, "If you don’t take it, I won’t bring you along anymore."

Reluctantly, Qing Er accepted.

You Nan kept half of his earnings for himself and gave the other half to Hang Minyu in the evening, who was often away from the courtyard during the day.

Hang Minyu was surprised. He hadn’t expected You Nan to bounce back so quickly.

In the past, those he had rescued would lie in their rooms for weeks, needing encouragement just to show their faces.

They were often half-dead with despair.

Someone like You Nan, who had regained his will to live and clarity of mind, was rare.

Hang Minyu didn’t hesitate—he took the money directly.

"Good. This will save you a day’s work."

You Nan responded with a smile, his eyes curving happily.

Once this method proved successful, You Nan had a stable source of income. He spent most of his days outside, going wherever crowds gathered.

He often kept his ears open, listening to the conversations around him, hoping to find more clues about 007.

007 was a Russian Blue, a breed not native to the Song State and imported from abroad.

If it appeared on the streets, surely many people would notice and talk about it.

You Nan had walked this street many times before. As he strolled, he sold to the children who recognized him.

While fishing for change from his pocket, he suddenly heard a familiar, tiny, pleading voice.

"You Nan! You Nan!"

The voice was frantic, crying out with shock, joy, and immense grievance.

You Nan immediately recognized it as 007’s voice. He quickly put away his money pouch and scanned his surroundings, carefully checking every corner for the little cat.

Upstairs, 007 had been waiting for him for a long time. Anxiously, it leaned against the windowsill, meowing desperately, "Look up! Up here! I’m on the top floor of the Qichun Pavilion!"

You Nan immediately looked up and saw a tall, imposing building not far away—five stories high.

Squinting against the sunlight, You Nan finally spotted a happy little cat head poking out from a fifth-floor window.

Before he could get a better look, a hand with distinct, bony fingers pushed the familiar feline back inside.

"Don’t lean against the window. Be careful—even nine lives wouldn’t be enough if you fell."

Chen Liangren’s strength far surpassed 007’s. Unable to struggle free, 007 was pinned to the table, its four legs and claws flailing helplessly before it finally gave up.

It placed its hopes on You Nan, who had finally appeared downstairs.

Down below, You Nan had already entered the Qichun Pavilion.

But before he could take more than a few steps, the bouncers at the entrance stopped him.

The bouncers eyed him up and down, noting the patches on his clothes, their expressions filled with disdain.

"Get out of here! Do you think this is a place for someone like you?"

"Scram!"

They shoved him hard, nearly knocking him over.

"I have money," You Nan quickly said.

He pulled out the earnings from his handicraft sales. "Let me in."

"How much money do you even have? A single pot of tea here costs one tael of silver!"

The bouncer’s words made You Nan’s face pale.

One tael was equivalent to a thousand coins, and he had only a hundred in his pouch.

The commotion at the entrance caught the attention of the madam inside. She had taken her eyes off them for just a moment, and these two fools were causing trouble again.

"What’s going on here? How are guests supposed to enter with you all gathered like this?"

The madam walked over, waving them away. "Disperse, all of you!"

You Nan was reluctant, his eyes instinctively drifted upward.

As the two bouncers stepped aside, You Nan, who had been penned in between them, was revealed.

He was short, and with the two bouncers standing together, the madam had initially thought they were slacking off. She hadn't expected there to be another person.

The madam's eyes swept over You Nan's face. Her gaze was sharp; even with a layer of dust on his face, she could see he had good looks.

"Dear guest, what brings you here today?"

The madam greeted him with a smile, though her narrowed eyes held no warmth.

You Nan was cautious, weighing his words: "I just saw a cat perched on the windowsill on the fifth floor, looking like it might fall."

Hearing "cat," the madam knew it was that little master.

She waited for You Nan to continue.

You Nan tentatively asked, "Could you sell that cat to me?"

The madam's face twitched twice.

Well, he had good taste—setting his eyes on the cat gifted to Chen Liangren by a valued patron.

The madam's smile remained unchanged. "I'm sorry, but this cat belongs to one of our ladies here. It's very expensive, imported from abroad. If you really want it, it'll cost at least five hundred taels of silver."

The madam bluffed effortlessly.

You Nan bit his lip, still unwilling to give up.

But seeing the two bouncers closing in on him with fiercer expressions, he couldn't help but take a step back.

"Alright," You Nan said.

He could only hope that 007 was clever enough to escape from this place.

You Nan left Qichun Pavilion.

The madam stood at the door, watching his retreating figure, her eyes narrowed.

She had seen many young ladies and gentlemen; everyone in this establishment was carefully selected and purchased.

But this person carried a vibrant vitality that set him apart from the others.

"If he comes again, find an excuse to detain him in the back."

As soon as the madam spoke, the two bouncers immediately understood her meaning.

"Yes."

If this person came again, he would never leave Qichun Pavilion.

By noon, a young maid from the building carried a tray of snacks upstairs.

She carefully pushed the door open a crack, afraid the little master inside might sneak out. But today, the little master was nowhere to be seen, so the maid breathed a sigh of relief and stepped inside.

As soon as she entered, she saw that the little master had been locked up by Chen Liangren at some point.

Upon seeing her, 007 in the cage grew restless.

The kitten quickly stood up, meowing pitifully, trying to charm its way into being freed from the cage.

"Leave it on the table," Chen Liangren's voice came from the inner room. "Did any strangers visit the building today?"

The maid was clever. She thought carefully and recounted the person from the morning whom the madam had taken a special interest in.

"He said he saw the little master from outside and wanted to come upstairs to buy him."

As she spoke, the maid couldn't help glancing at the kitten.

The madam didn’t allow cats in the building; only Chen Liangren was an exception.

The sisters in the building who loved cats were envious when they found out. They had come to see the kitten and granted its every wish.

Only Chen Liangren was stern enough to lock the little master in a cage.

Chen Liangren acknowledged this. "You may go."

The maid backed out and closed the door.

A figure emerged from behind the screen, and 007 immediately slumped listlessly in the cage, exaggerating its displeasure for Chen Liangren to see.

It didn’t want to look at this person. He was terrible—not letting it go down to meet You Nan, and even locking it up for fear it would run away.

It was so infuriating!

Chen Liangren sat at the table, speaking to the cat pretending to be clueless in the cage. "So you wanted to go down and see that person."

He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. "It’s your first meeting, yet you’re so eager to get to each other. It truly surprises me."

He leisurely finished his tea and poured the excess cold water from the teapot into 007’s cup. "Wait until next time. Next time, he might be with you."

"Perhaps if he behaves, he might even come upstairs to see you often."

Chen Liangren’s tone was unchanged—neither displeased nor gloating.

The cat sent by Fu Lingtan and the person who came for the cat today were not worth his attention.

Hearing this, 007 immediately perked up.

No way!

Currently, male courtesans had no status. If You Nan really came here, the original persona's second mission would fail immediately.

The original persona wanted to become a person of high status and power, but how could a male courtesan rise to such a position?

Chen Liangren noticed the cat seemed to understand his words, responding with soft meows as if apologizing.

He pretended not to see.

Chen Liangren scraped the food he didn’t like from his plate into the kitten’s bowl. "Eat."

The kitten had no interest and no appetite.

Its little paw tentatively reached for the lock outside the cage right in front of Chen Liangren.

The intention was very clear.

He wanted him to open the door for it.

Chen Liangren turned around and went back into the inner room directly. 007 had made a mistake today and needed to be taught a lesson.

.

You Nan returned to the Opera Troupe distractedly.

He knew where 007 was, but there was simply no way for him to bring it back.

They had made it very clear: either pay the money or fight them.

You Nan was a tasker, and if a tasker died in a mini-world, it meant actual death—no do-overs.

You Nan couldn’t possibly pick a fight with them; he could only try to make money fast. As long as he was alive, there’d be more opportunities later.

007 was his only partner in this world.

There was no way You Nan would leave it behind.

Five hundred taels of silver was a ridiculous amount, and You Nan couldn’t afford it, but right now, he was stuck.

Without 007, he wouldn’t know the worldline—how could he do his task then?

You Nan had been out all day and returned with something on his mind. He wasn’t hungry for dinner and only managed half a bowl of porridge before he couldn’t eat anymore. The remaining half ended up in Hang Minyu’s stomach.

You Nan’s odd behavior was quickly picked up on by the others.

After spending these days with You Nan, Hang Youxuan and the others had really liked him.

They saw none of the bad habits most guys have in him.

Having been in this profession for a long time, the smell of their work, mixed with the scent of rouge, clung to them, seeping deep into their bones. Sometimes, when talking with You Nan, they would unintentionally take things too far without meaning to.

But You Nan was considerate—he would pretend not to understand, avoiding such topics so they wouldn’t feel awkward.

Hang Youxuan and the others gradually realized that You Nan, like their homeroom teacher, wasn’t into women.

They went to Hang Minyu and asked him to see what was wrong.

Hang Minyu put down You Nan’s bowl, his good-looking face just as cold as always. "If you want to know, go ask him yourselves. Don’t always dump stuff on other people."

"Homeroom teacher, it’s just that we’re too embarrassed. After all, he’s even shyer around girls than we are. It’d be better if you asked."

If they went themselves, You Nan would probably end up making them feel better instead.

Hang Minyu didn’t reply. He looked them over and said, "If you don’t want to rest, go clean up this table and the kitchen."

The girls’ excitement died down, and they replied grumpily, "Okay."

Even though it was still light out, You Nan was already lying in bed.

"Knock, knock, knock." Someone rapped on his door. You Nan immediately snapped to attention, sat up, and called out, "Who is it?"

"It’s me," said Hang Minyu from outside the door. "Can I come in?"

You Nan kicked off the blanket and hurried to grab the coat and pants hanging on a nearby chair. "Just a moment."

Before his words even faded, the door creaked open from the outside.

Hang Minyu’s eyes met You Nan’s, who was only wearing a white undergarment.

Hang Minyu jumped back like he’d been burned. The man looked away quickly, took a step back, and closed the door. "Call me again after you’ve put on decent clothes."

Watching his quick exit, You Nan suddenly remembered something.

In ancient times, undergarments (xiè yī) were seen similarly to modern underwear—personal clothing not meant to be seen, almost equivalent to being naked.

A faint blush spread across You Nan’s cheeks.

He hadn’t meant to.

You Nan got dressed and opened the door, but Hang Minyu was no longer outside.

Not knowing why the other had called for him, You Nan stood by the door for a moment, thinking, then decided to go to Hang Minyu’s bedroom.

"Homeroom teacher?" You Nan knocked.

"Come in," the man replied from inside.

It was You Nan’s first time entering Hang Minyu’s room. The man’s space was twice the size of his, fully furnished with everything one might need.

On the desk, a stick of sandalwood incense burned slowly.

You Nan sat down across from Hang Minyu. "Homeroom teacher, what did you want to see me about earlier?"

Hang Minyu didn’t look up; he was writing.

You Nan glanced at the man’s handwriting—the strokes were smooth, not harsh, much like the man himself.

Hang Minyu loaded his brush with ink. "Did something happen when you went out today? It seems tough to handle."

You Nan was stunned, surprised, and looked at him.

Hang Minyu finished the page, set down his brush, and placed it aside to dry before meeting You Nan’s eyes. "It’s written all over your face. No need for me to guess."

You Nan’s lips curved slightly. "It’s like you always know what’s on my mind, homeroom teacher."

"Just a coincidence," Hang Minyu replied shortly, as if unwilling to say more.

You Nan lowered his gaze and looked at what the other was copying—the script of the Song State, different from the simplified characters he had learned in real life.

He stared at the words but didn’t recognize a single one. He was pretty much illiterate here.

"Actually, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about earning more money."

You Nan’s voice was quiet.

Hearing this, Hang Minyu assumed You Nan wanted to repay him quickly so he could leave.

He massaged his temples. "Eight hundred coins. Give me eight hundred coins in total, and you can go."

You Nan immediately knew Hang Minyu had misunderstood.

He wanted to explain but didn’t know how to bring up the matter of 007 and the five hundred taels.

You Nan’s lips moved, but he closed them again.

He might as well let it seem that way.

Hang Minyu said, "If you want to leave early, just say so. No need to come back looking so upset. The girls thought you’d been treated badly today and asked me to ask you about it."

Younan's hands, resting on his knees, instinctively clutched his clothes, "The girls are all good people."

"If there's nothing else, you may leave now." Hang Minyu dismissed him.

Seeing that Hang Minyu had other matters to attend to, Younan stood up and left so as not to disturb him further.

The girls said they were having Hang Minyu ask, but they were still concerned. As soon as Younan returned to the doorway, he saw all of them gathered there; even Qing Er had come.

"What are you all doing here?" Younan knew they cared about him and smiled at them, "We’ll be opening soon."

"No rush." Hang Youxuan asked, "What happened to you today?"

Younan repeated to the girls what he had told Hang Minyu.

"Want to earn money? There is a way."

A girl who rarely spoke suddenly spoke up.

Her tone was calm, "The taste for male companions is popular in the capital now. If you're willing, Mr. You, you could earn quite a bit of money."

At these words, the other girls were stunned, all turning to look at her.

Younan also looked at her.

He didn’t know her name, only that Qing Er called her Sister Huan'er.

Qing Er had said that all the sisters had their hardships.

Sister Huan'er had been sent away by her husband, forced to become a pawned-off wife—treated as goods, used to bear children for the creditor to pay off debts. Once her husband repaid the money, she could return.

"Sister Huan'er couldn't bear the humiliation and threw herself into the river. The madam and the other sisters found her downstream."

That’s what Qing Er had told Younan.

After recovering, Huan'er had nowhere to go. Perhaps having narrowly escaped death, she accepted her fate—seeing her body as mere goods, something worthless, and thinking that earning money was better than nothing. So she stayed at the Opera Troupe to be with the other sisters.

As Younan recalled these fragments about Huan'er, another voice sounded nearby.

"Huan'er! What are you saying!" a woman beside her exclaimed.

Huan'er didn’t see anything wrong with it; she was still trapped in her past life.

"There's good money in this kind of work. If I’d started earlier, I could have earned more and protected my child."

Huan'er's words silenced all the girls present.

Younan also remembered Qing Er telling him with regret that when Sister Huan'er was rescued, she had been pregnant, but while she survived, the child did not.

Younan clenched his hand at his side; he had no intention of doing such a thing.

"I know Sister Huan'er means well, but I’d rather save money slowly."

Huan'er wasn’t angry, "It’s just a suggestion. All us girls at the Opera Troupe live this kind of life."

Younan didn’t know how to respond.

This world eats people alive and spits out the bones.

A voice suddenly came from behind, "What’s everyone crowding here for? Break it up."

Hang Minyu had come out at some point.

At the sight of him, the girls scattered like birds and beasts, vanishing in an instant.

Younan turned around, his eyes were drawn to the clothes in Hang Minyu’s hands.

The garment was brightly colored, with tassels hanging from the hem.

"Come, help me carry this trunk to the back street." Hang Minyu spoke up.

Younan followed without another word and heard him add, "After this trip, stay with me until evening. I’ll give you ten wen when we return."

Younan softly agreed, a wave of warmth spread through his heart.

He could tell that Hang Minyu, though not good with words, had a kind heart. Knowing Younan wanted money, the man didn’t say it outright, but his actions were already helping.

Hang Minyu had always taken the headdresses and costumes alone to perform at events, but this time he brought Younan along and offered payment.

Anyone could see what the man meant.

Younan took note of this unspoken kindness.

The headdresses and clothes weren’t heavy, but the trunk was made of solid wood and was quite heavy.

Younan could handle the weight, but as soon as he lifted the trunk, Hang Minyu took it from him.

Hang Minyu appeared refined and handsome, but with one strong lift, he hefted the trunk.

Younan’s eyes widened.

Hang Minyu glanced back at him, "Aren’t you coming?"

Younan hurried to follow.

The two of them went out together to the back street.

The back street was bustling; many had heard there would be a good show tonight and had gathered there waiting.

As soon as Hang Minyu and Younan arrived, they met an errand boy waiting for them.

The boy recognized Hang Minyu, having dealt with him many times before.

He breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Hang Minyu, "Manager Hang, you’re finally here! We’ve been waiting on you!"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Younan’s face, "And this is?"

Hang Minyu answered without hesitation, "My new apprentice."

The boy was surprised, looking Younan up and down. Before he could get a better look, Hang Minyu stepped in to block his view.

The boy quickly smiled at Hang Minyu, "Ah, I was just curious. Manager Hang, you’re such a master—so many in our opera troupe want to learn from you. I didn’t expect you to take on an apprentice so discreetly. It’s just... isn’t he a bit too old?"

He looks about fifteen or sixteen.

In this profession, training starts young, usually by six or seven at the latest. Who starts teaching at fifteen or sixteen?

Hang Minyu didn’t seem bothered, "It’s fine. I’ll teach what I can; whether he learns is up to him."

The servant was instantly filled with envy and quickly flattered Hang Minyu, hoping to catch his eye and get taken under his wing as well. "You're truly a remarkable teacher," he praised.

You Nan, following behind Hang Minyu, his eyes went wide as he gazed at the man's back, his heartbeat quickening uncontrollably.

"What are you standing there for? Come on!"

Noticing You Nan lagging behind, Hang Minyu, while holding the box with one hand, reached out and grabbed You Nan's wrist right through his clothes.

Hang Minyu's body temperature was high, and You Nan's wrist trembled, like he'd been burned even through the fabric.