Chapter 239: A Twist of Fate
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Sister Shu Yao, why aren’t you eating?” Lu Chao Chao clutched a duck leg in her tiny hand.
Zhou Shu Yao silently let her tears fall.
“Why are you crying?”
“Tears of joy… Tears of joy. I’m just so happy about this Hundred Duck Banquet…” Zhou Shu Yao sobbed as she devoured two bowls of rice.
Lu Chao Chao’s mouth was covered in oil, and Yu Shu wiped it clean for her.
“Save some bones for Windchaser,” she said, glancing at the leftovers.
“Blessings should be shared!” Lu Chao Chao pointed at the bones she had already gnawed clean.
Yu Qin shot a glance but said nothing. Zhou Shu Yao, however, was more blunt: “Even a dog wouldn’t eat those bones.” Not a scrap of meat remained.
She had even chewed the bones until they splintered, sucking out every last drop of marrow.
The dry, brittle fragments held no flavor or moisture.
Even a dog would shake its head at them.
Lu Chao Chao’s little face turned red. She snuck a peek at the bone fragments, realizing even the fatty bits were gone.
“Th-then let’s take the leftovers home instead.”
[Perfect, I can have a midnight snack too.]
Yu Shu saw through her scheme immediately and had an entire fresh table of the Hundred Duck Banquet packed to take home.
“Windchaser shouldn’t eat too much salt. Please have the kitchen prepare a simple broth for him,” Yu Shu instructed carefully.
“Add some scallions… Smells nice…” Lu Chao Chao added earnestly.
Seeing everyone looking at her, the little girl straightened up seriously. “Windchaser likes it.”
The brothel madam, still adorned with a decorative flower in her hair, gazed tearfully at Zhou Shu Yao.
Plain Cloud Hall was a place for male courtesans.
Zhou Shu Yao was a frequent visitor, though she had a guilty conscience and never dared indulge—only admired them from afar.
Now, as their eyes met, both women were misty-eyed.
Before they could speak, a voice at the door interrupted.
“Huh? Since when did this place become a restaurant?” someone outside asked curiously.
“New management? I could’ve sworn…”
Lu Chao Chao’s short legs hurried to the entrance. “Come try it! Their whole-duck banquet is super tasty!”
“Really? You’re not lying?”
Lu Chao Chao was exceptionally adorable, the kind of child who made people turn heads when she walked the streets.
Now, seeing her so enthusiastically promoting the restaurant, many were drawn inside.
“Madam—uh, I mean, Boss, bring us a full-duck feast!”
“Shopkeeper, serve us what this little girl recommends!”
As if Lu Chao Chao had a knack for attracting wealth, just a few moments of her presence at the entrance brought in a steady stream of customers.
The brothel madam was stunned.
The restaurant quickly filled with people coming and going.
“Shopkeeper, what are you standing around for? Serve the food!”
“Even your waiters here are especially good-looking…”
“Pleasing to the eye, indeed…”
Some customers even began commenting seriously on the male courtesans.
The courtesans were dumbfounded.
“Oh-oh, coming right up!” The brothel madam quickly removed the flower from her hair and hurried over to take orders.
“The ambiance here is lovely. I’ve never seen such a refined restaurant before…” patrons remarked as they observed the decor.
“Damn it, I was lied to! People kept saying this place was improper, but look—it’s a proper restaurant!”
“A perfectly legitimate establishment!”
The brothel madam wiped her sweat away nervously.
“Shopkeeper, do you still have open tables?” More curious onlookers peered inside.
Perhaps it was a herd mentality, but seeing the lively crowd inside, many passersby began lining up at the door.
Lu Chao Chao, ever the diligent little hostess, even set up small stools outside.
“Uncles and grandpas, take a seat.”
“Aunties and grannies, please sit.”
The little girl, sweet and innocent, spoke with the demeanor of a tiny adult, charming the crowd until their eyes sparkled with affection.
She even tottered around serving water.
The brothel madam had no time to think—she was overwhelmed with work.
Even the usually delicate courtesans, who moved like willows in the wind, were now bustling back and forth, serving guests with surprising energy.
“Little brother, bring out some melon seeds and snacks to attract more business!” Lu Chao Chao commanded with unexpected business acumen.
Well, it wasn’t so much business acumen as it was just her love for food.
One of the male courtesans hesitated before silently bringing out a large platter of fruit and nuts.
The restaurant was now packed, and a long queue stretched outside.
Zhou Shu Yao had long since run out of tears to cry. [My beautiful courtesan hall!!]
But…
Usually, the courtesans wore smiles that never reached their eyes. But today…
Though they were busy, their steps were light, their expressions spirited, and their gazes alive with genuine joy.
As the endless flow of customers continued, Lu Chao Chao stood outside.
“Business is so good!”
“A restaurant this delicious should be shared with everyone!”
Lu Chao Chao beamed with satisfaction.
Zhou Shu Yao, sweating from the commotion, squeezed through the crowd and pulled the brothel madam aside. The older woman’s eyes were practically shining.
“Aunt Lin, I…” She wanted to say she was sorry.
But the brothel madam clapped her hands excitedly. “Shu Yao, you’re such a good person!”
“You visit Plain Cloud Hall every day to see the boys but never touch them.”
“You’re truly kind.”
“Shu Yao, running a restaurant is so much more profitable than a courtesan hall!!” The brothel madam nearly jumped in delight.
“When I opened Plain Cloud Hall, people always joked about the ‘Whole Duck Banquet.’ So I thought, why not hire some chefs skilled in duck dishes? Who knew it would bring such great fortune?”
The elegant atmosphere, the handsome waiters, and the divine duck cuisine—
It all attracted waves of customers.
“Tsk, who doesn’t want to live with dignity? They wear fine clothes, but the moment they step outside, who doesn’t spit at them?”
“No, even inside these walls—how many truly see them as human? They were mere playthings, pets for amusement. Their smiles masked their sorrow.”
“I’m no saint, but if there’s a way to make money with dignity, isn’t that better?”
The brothel madam patted Zhou Shu Yao with a genuine smile.
Tsk, running Plain Cloud Hall meant getting the place smashed up at least once a month.
Running a respectable Whole Duck Banquet restaurant? That was clean money.
She checked the accounts and grinned from ear to ear. “Business is booming… I’m making more than I ever did as a brothel madam…”
Lu Chao Chao, standing outside, blinked. “Huh…?”
Countless strands of golden light flowed into her body, filling her with warmth.
“Golden merit light…”
“I got merit just from eating?” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes widened.
The little girl had no idea she had changed countless fates.
In the past, the top courtesan at Plain Cloud Hall had met a tragic end. The entire hall was burned to the ground.
Now, they had a new path.
A life of servitude was humiliating.
Earning a living with their own hands—though tiring—was clean and dignified.
Lu Chao Chao’s long lashes fluttered, sunlight making her skin glow.
“Sister Shu Yao, why aren’t you leaving yet?”
Zhou Shu Yao glanced at Plain Cloud Hall. “Beautiful people are always worth admiring.”
“That’s not even beautiful.”
“Not as handsome as my big brother.”
“Big Brother’s carriage! Big Brother! Big Brother!” Lu Chao Chao waved toward the approaching vehicle.
Zhou Shu Yao shook her head. Of course, one would think their own family was the best.
A two-year-old—what did she know about beauty?
The carriage slowly drew closer…