Chapter 1: The Miserable Transmigration

  From a personal perspective, people are equal. However, in reality, no one can deny that there is a distinction between people and the existence of hierarchical differences. This hierarchical distinction comes from the significant differences in wealth, status, and social status. As for how to distinguish these differences, there are clues to follow.

  The simplest and most direct way is to find this distinction from the topics that everyone talks about. For example, as soon as they start talking, it's about today's price increase or decrease of vegetables and rice, which should be ordinary civilians. As soon as they start talking, it's about what song was sung by which flower dan in the theater yesterday, and how good their figure and singing skills were, which should be a small well-off family with good conditions.

  If they were talking about which brothel had produced a certain famous courtesan, and how skilled she was in bed, that would be a rich old man. But if you want to be considered a wealthy family with reputation and status in Shuntian Prefecture, then the topics of conversation should be these.

  "Oh dear Mr. Zhang, it's been a long time! What have you been busy with lately?"

  "Hey, Mr. Li, it's been a while since we last met. Lately I've been quite idle, nothing much has happened."

  "Oh, does Mr. Zhang know about the Qunfang Pavilion in Shuntian Prefecture?"

  "I know, I've been there a few times, and the girls inside are pretty good."

  "Oh, did Old Master go see the fairy-like T-stage show held by that group of beauties a few days ago?"

  "What's a T-stage show?"

  "Oh, so Old Zhang didn't go after all. What a pity." With a hint of disdain and a self-satisfied expression. "Old Zhang, you have no idea, that T-stage show was really... wow...". He shook his head in rapture, then waved his hand and said: "Sigh, I don't know how to describe the scene to someone who hasn't been there, it's really... wow..."

  "Oh, so Mr. Li also went to the Fairy Descending on the T-Stage Show at Qunfang Pavilion? What a coincidence, I was there that day too."

  Old Master Ma, who was listening on the side, also chimed in.

  Mr. Li turned his head and immediately bowed along with Mr. Zhang: "So it's Mr. Ma."

  Mr. Li suddenly felt like he had met a kindred spirit: "So Mr. Ma was there that day too, I was so caught up in watching the performance on stage that I didn't even notice him, how rude of me."

  "It doesn't matter, that day's performance was so wonderful, I was also fully focused and didn't think of anything else, haha..."

  "By the way, I don't know if you've got your hands on that 'Victoria's Secret' invitation for the show in the back?"

  Mr. Li's face suddenly showed a difficult expression, "Alas, to be honest. Now the Victoria's secret invitation letter on the market in Shuntian Prefecture has been fried to one hundred and two per sheet, and it is still hard to find one. I am now helping me to get it everywhere. Mr. Ma asked like this, isn't Mr. Ma already got the invitation letter?"

  "Cough, cough..." Old Master Ma had a pleased expression on his face as he took out the exquisite purple invitation with intricate patterns from his pocket: "A few days ago, I asked someone to help me ask around, and unexpectedly got one, it's quite lucky."

  "Wow, Mr. Ma is really something else! He managed to get his hands on this hard-to-get invitation card. Truly impressive." Mr. Li looked at Mr. Ma with a mixture of admiration and envy, giving him a thumbs up.

  But Zhang Lao Ye, who was originally in charge, had already become a passerby and was ignored.

  Ignored Old Zhang secretly vowed in his heart that no matter how much silver he spent, he had to get an invitation card for that what's-it-called Virginia, and at the same time figure out what the heck a fairy descending onto the T-stage show was all about.

  Thus, Victoria's secret instantly became the hottest topic in Shuntian Prefecture. At this moment, Chunyilou, the old rival of Qunfang Pavilion, began to lose its composure.

  The last time Li's mother rushed to the Qunfang Pavilion to make trouble, she ended up being so angry with Jiang Xia that one Buddha was born and two Buddhas ascended to heaven, and she even returned with her tail between her legs.

  Now, since the fairy from the Qingfang Pavilion appeared on the T-stage show, the business of the Qingfang Pavilion has increased exponentially, and every night the business is booming. After seeing the girls from the Qingfang Pavilion, looking at the girls from the Chunyi Building is simply a group of mediocre women. Spending the same amount of money, finding a "fairy" or finding a mediocre woman, even a fool knows how to choose.

  Previously digging up my daughter is one thing, now it's even affecting my business. After enduring for several days, Li Mama couldn't take it anymore and that night she went to find her big brother Li Qianshun.

  Li Qianshun was a eighth-rank official in the Shuntian Prefecture, serving as a secretary responsible for administrative and civil affairs. Generally speaking, secretaries were ninth or lower ninth rank officials, but since Shuntian Prefecture was the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Li Qianshun's rank was elevated to eighth rank.

  In terms of authority, Li Qianshun indeed has the power to manage the Guanfang Pavilion and can even be said to be the master of the Guanfang Pavilion. However, generally speaking, officials understand that the person behind someone who can open a large brothel in Shuntian Prefecture must have an unassailable network of relationships.

  However, Li Qianshun was a bit different. He was not only an eighth-rank official but also a subordinate of Huang Deshun, the vice prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

  As the highest local administrative organ of the capital, the position of the prefect was particularly prominent, with a rank of Zheng San Pin, two to three ranks higher than the usual governor. It was usually held by a minister of the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of War. The Zheng San Pin yamen used copper seals, but Shuntian Prefecture used silver seals, equivalent to the regional military governors and provincial governors.

  For example, Cui Zhengyi, who is currently serving as the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, is also serving as a vice minister in the Ministry of Rites. As a result, he is already busy with the affairs of the Ministry of Rites on a daily basis, so most of the time, Huang Deshun is managing the affairs of Shuntian Prefecture.

  Hwang Deok-sun was able to serve under Choi Jeong-yul, so he is naturally Choi Jeong-yul's person. So, if you count it, Lee Gwan-sun is also a person of the same vein as Choi Jeong-yul. Of course, there are also those who rely on Choi Jeong-yul above him, but for now, let's not discuss that in detail.

  The Ming dynasty was very strict in punishing officials for corruption and bribery, but at the same time, it gave officials a very meager salary. Therefore, most of the time, officials would find other ways to make money.

  For example, Li Qianshun's sister opened Chunyilou with the support of Huang Deshun. So let Li Qianshun open Guifangge to atone for his sins, he won't be too afraid, after all, there is Huang Deshun on top, and it will never be his turn to suffer.

  That night, Li's mother invited Li Qianshun to Chunyilou, where they first had a big feast, and then arranged for the top courtesan of Chunyilou to accompany him for the night. The next morning, after Li Qianshun got up, Li's mother found him to discuss the matter of Qunfang Pavilion affecting Chunyilou's business.

  Among them, Li's mother also mentioned Jiang Xia.

  Because she was really afraid that she had gotten Jiang Xia killed, so she specially sent someone to investigate the situation. Only then did she find out that Jiang Xia was just playing with her, and from then on she remembered that disgusting name, Jiang Xia!

  Li Qianshun had an idea after listening to Li's mother, this group of Fangge was indeed a bit excessive in making money, since it was so, then they had to be taught a lesson, and Jiang Xia was the best person to teach them.

  At noon, a group of girls in the Qunfang Pavilion surrounded Jiang Xia, listening intently to his story.

  In the Huafang Pavilion, Jiang Xia was very popular among the people. Firstly, he specially invited two bookkeepers, one to handle the various documents and accounts of the Huafang Pavilion, and the other to provide free letter-writing services for the employees' family letters. Secondly, he set rules for the girls in the Huafang Pavilion, those who had been there for five years could apply to be redeemed by buying back their contracts at the original price.

  Generally speaking, girls want to buy back their body price, they have to multiply several times, but Jiang Xia's regulation immediately made many girls see the hope of redeeming themselves. Then Jiang Xia also improved the treatment of workers in the group, including food and accommodation benefits, setting up holidays and other benefits. Finally, Jiang Xia won people's hearts because he never had a boss's airs, was humorous and handsome, and could tell stories.

  Jiang Xia would often tell stories to the girls at noon when he had nothing better to do, such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and so on. Now Jiang Xia is telling "Hamlet", also known as "The Prince's Revenge".

  Just as things were getting interesting, a group of yamen runners suddenly walked into the entrance of the Fragrant Pavilion. As soon as they entered, they loudly shouted: "Which one of you is Jiang Xia?"

  Jiang Xia turned his head and subconsciously replied: "It's me."

  "Hah, I didn't expect to run into you so soon. Well, come with me and let's take a trip to the yamen." Several constables walked over and grabbed Jiang Xia's arm, saying.

  Jiang Xia suddenly shook off the bailiff's hand and frowned, saying: "Don't reach out to grab me, I'm serving the public and upholding the law, what right do you have to grab me?"

  The yamen runner who was holding Jiang Xia's arm suddenly became angry, glaring at him from head to toe and saying: "Hey, you little scoundrel, you're quite bold. The officer wants to take you to the yamen, do you dare not go?"

  Jiang Xia disdainfully glanced at the policeman, from his past life to now, his impression of the police had never been good. Especially these few policemen with such arrogant attitudes, it was clear that they were not here for good intentions.

  Jiang Xia remained seated in his original position and said, "If you want to capture me, you should at least provide a reason. Without any cause or justification, do you think the Great Ming Dynasty has no laws? Or perhaps you believe that you yourself are the law?"

  "You little brat, sharp tongue and quick mouth, huh? Well, let me take you back to the yamen and give you a few slaps on the board, and then I'll give you ten or so slaps in the face. Let's see if you still dare to be so sharp-tongued! Take him away!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, two bailiffs rushed towards Jiang Xia.

  Jiang Xia's body was agile, and with a slight movement, he dodged to the side. The two bailiffs pounced on empty air, and the bailiff who had spoken earlier immediately drew out the knife from his waist and said: "This little scoundrel dares to resist arrest, take him down."

  As soon as these yamen runners drew their knives, Jiang Xia knew that things were a bit different. He stepped on the bench with his right foot and exerted some force, and the bench immediately jumped into Jiang Xia's hands.

  At this moment, Han Yu led a dozen guards from the Qunfang Pavilion and rushed over, shouting loudly: "What do you think the Qunfang Pavilion is? How dare you draw your swords here? Who gave you the guts?"

  As he spoke, Han Yu and the dozen or so guards suddenly drew their large knives and confronted the constables, who immediately became intimidated since there were only six of them against over a dozen of Han Yu's men.

  PS: Thanks to the efforts of many book friends, we have entered the top ten new book charts since the beginning of this week. Brothers, let's keep working hard and get close to those top-level gods together...