A Misty Night, With A Crystal-Clear Moon - Chapter 10
Chapter 10: The Moon-Gazing Tower
Yu Linglong first found a guesthouse to stay in, but they had little money. Everything required payment—food, lodging—and they couldn’t stay in a guesthouse forever. Due to the stress over Lang Ping’s fate, Linglong was already feverish, and the added anxiety made her ill. Cui Xin was thoroughly exhausted, constantly running out to buy medicine and find a doctor. It seemed they were about to be left stranded on the streets once more.
Linglong stayed in the guesthouse all day, leaving Cui Xin to manage everything outside. One day, Cui Xin rushed back, her face beaming with joy. Seeing this, Linglong couldn’t help but ask, “That’s rare. What could make you happy in times like these?”
“Of course, I’m happy, Miss! I found a job! It’s at a restaurant, hiring a cleaning maid. It includes board and lodging! The pay isn’t much, but at least we don’t have to worry about food anymore.”
“Board and lodging? And pay?”
“Yes, it’s called the Moon-Gazing Tower (Wangyue Lou). The exterior looks quite grand, and Miss, don’t worry, it’s not any kind of disreputable place.”
Linglong thought for a moment. “I’ll go with you. That way, we can save even more money.”
“How can you do that, Miss? You are a lady of high birth; how can you endure it? The food there is probably poor, and the accommodation even worse.”
“What ‘lady of high birth’? From the moment the Yu residence was gone, there was no longer a Miss Yu. I am now just like you—an ordinary person living for survival.”
“Miss, stop talking so dishearteningly. No matter where you go, you will always be the noble Miss. Don’t worry, I can apply to get a month’s salary in advance. We can rent a room, and then you won’t have to stay in this guesthouse.”
“If I go with you, we save the money for rent. Enough, stop trying to dissuade me. If you can do it, I certainly can too.”
Cui Xin ultimately couldn’t talk Linglong out of it. The next day, the two arrived at the Moon-Gazing Tower. The manager of the Moon-Gazing Tower, Shopkeeper Li, carefully examined Yu Linglong and Cui Xin through his spectacles.
“What are your names?”
“Cui Xin.”
Linglong thought for a moment and said, “Yu’er.”
“How old are you?”
“Fifteen.” Yu Linglong deliberately made herself sound younger.
“Let me see your hands.”
Both extended their hands. Shopkeeper Li looked at Linglong’s hands. “Your hands are so soft and delicate. It’s clear you aren’t from a life of hardship. I don’t think you can handle this work.”
“How does the shopkeeper know I cannot do it without seeing me try? The world is always most afraid of the determined person. Since I am determined, I can naturally do it.”
Shopkeeper Li was taken aback, finding the young woman’s words quite reasonable. But he was still uneasy.
“Saying and doing are naturally different. Saying is easy, but doing can be difficult.”
“That is true, and the logic stands. But not everyone in this world is someone who can talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. Why don’t you hire me first? If you find me unsuitable, you can simply dismiss me. You won’t suffer any loss.”
Shopkeeper Li increasingly felt this young woman was extraordinary. Few people in all of Shanghai could speak with such confidence. Her background must not be simple. If he hired her, he worried she might bring trouble later. Yet, seeing her current distress, he felt immense pity.
Linglong noticed his hesitation and guessed seven or eight tenths of his concerns. She asked, “Is the shopkeeper hesitating because he fears I will cause trouble?”
Shopkeeper Li was startled that she had hit upon his thoughts. Linglong continued, “What trouble can a weak girl like me bring you? Besides, my sister and I have lost both our parents and have no relatives in Shanghai. I implore the shopkeeper to give us a chance at life.” Linglong deliberately sounded pathetic. She knew that the most potent weapon a woman could use against a man was pity. Especially since the man before her already felt sympathetic toward her.
After hearing her plea, Shopkeeper Li could not bear to refuse. He said, “Alright, alright. I will hire both of you. However, you must adhere strictly to the rules of the house and not slight any of the customers.”
Linglong replied happily, “Absolutely.”