Her roommate, however, did not give up. She would occasionally tell Li Shuyu the benefits of working at a club. For example, in addition to the hour wages, there were also bottle fees and lots of tips. She could make upwards of 50 yuan a night. As for her worries, her roommate reassured her that their club was a legitimate place and that nobody could take you out as long as you were not willing to go with them. She had never gone out with anyone since she started working here. All she needed to do was to drink a little from time to time. Li Shuyu had never seen her back late or drunk. Most importantly, she had seen her roommate coming home with hundreds of yuan from time to time.
Truth was, she was tempted. As such, when her roommate asked her again this year, she agreed to give it a try.
The first day was exactly like her roommate had told her. The club was very legitimate. The customers only come to sing or listen to the music and all she needed to do was to deliver beverages to them. She would receive a lot of tips when she would occasionally help with opening up a bottle of wine. A few days later, her manager spoke with her and told her that she would need to sign a temporary contract if she wanted to continue working here. She was being very careful and read through the contract. The contract was very simple with no traps that she could spot, which was why she had signed up. Lo and behold, there was another sheet of paper under the contract.
Shu Yan got it after she listened to the story. This was not a legitimate shop at all. Its whole purpose was to lure in young and naïve college girls. They would start with delivering beverages at the beginning but, as time go on, they would be pushed further and further until there was no turning back.
âThis is illegal. Let my daughter go now or I am going to call the police.â Aunty threw her arms around her daughter, her eyes beet red.
âIllegal? How did we break the law? Maâam, I urged you to watch what you are saying. Everything was listed out in the contract and your daughter was the one who signed it. How exactly did we break the law?â said the woman fearlessly.
âI didnât know that Wang Xiaosan* had been doing so well and even opening up this kind of shops now,â said Hu Ruixue as she walked inside with a smile.
The woman was taken aback a little when she heard Hu Ruixueâs words. Wang was their bossâs surname. Third boss was the third child at home and those from the older generations back home used to refer to him as Xiaosan. As the term Xiaosan had more and more negative connotation in recent years, their boss hated that term more and more. With the exception of the elders at home or a few that were ranked higher than him, nobody else would refer to him as Xiaosan, or even any terms with the word san in it.
âYou know our boss?â The woman became respectful all of a sudden?
âOh, you mean Wang Xiaosan? Weâve met a few times in the past. Where is he? Have him come speak to me.â
The more Hu Ruixue seemed disrespectful toward Wang Xiaosan, the more respectful the other woman was toward her. She would find out soon enough whether Hu Ruixue was just bluffing soon enough. She wouldnât even need to do anything and her boss would take care of this person who dared referred to him as Xiaosan.
A man in a floral shirt showed up not too long after and immediately started to smile when he saw Hu Ruixue. âSister Ruixue, what are you doing here?â
âWang Xiaosan, does your brother know that this is what you do?â Hu Ruixue glanced over at him and looked away quickly, as though she didnât want to dirty her eyes.
Wang Xiaosan maintained the same smile. There must be some misunderstanding. I am running a legitimate club here. I donât do anything illegal.â
âThen can you explain this to me?â Hu Ruixue lifted her chin and directed at Li Shuyu.
He glanced over at Li Shuyu, then at the woman next to her. Waving, he gestured the woman to approach him.
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Translatorâs notes:
âLittle Third Wangâ. San = Third. âLittle Thirdâ is used as a derogatory term for the third person in a relationship, especially the woman who the man is cheating on his wife with.