Chapter 14: How could an upright official like me end up in a place like this?
Everyone was frightened and immediately knelt down, bowing and apologizing.
“I’m sorry, top scholar. I didn’t know it was you!”
“I was wrong. Please forgive me, sir!”
“I won’t dare to do it again in the future!”
“I’ll let it go this time since you didn’t know any better. But don’t talk bad about me behind my back in the future, or else…” Lin Beifan squinted his eyes.
“Or else what?” Everyone trembled in fear.
“Or else I’ll do it too!”
Everyone: “…..”
“Okay, I’m leaving!” Lin Beifan patted his buttocks and left.
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. The top scholar they had secretly criticized had just left without punishing them?
He let them off so easily?
Lin Beifan continued to wander around, not taking the incident seriously after experiencing the public outrage in his previous life. Even if they criticized him harshly, it wouldn’t faze him in the slightest.
Unknowingly, he arrived in front of a luxurious and bustling building.
Many young and beautiful girls with charming figures stood in front of the building, waving and attracting customers with their extreme enthusiasm.
Many well-dressed men smiled and put their arms around the girls’ waists, walking into the building.
Upon closer inspection, the three characters “Hundred Flowers Brothel” were hanging above the building!
Lin Beifan lost his composure: “Holy crap! Isn’t this a brothel? How could an upright official like me end up in a place like this?”
He glanced around, then slipped away when no one was watching.
However, even after crossing through time and space, Murphy’s Law continued to apply.
The more you try to avoid something, the more likely it is to happen.
At that moment, the madam saw Lin Beifan and her eyes lit up. She approached him with a big smile and said, “Isn’t this the new top scholar Lin Beifan? Since you’re here, come in and have a seat! All the girls here admire you so much!”
Grabbing Lin Beifan’s hand, she didn’t want him to leave.
Lin Beifan coughed, “Madam, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m not the top scholar, I’m Wu Dalang, the guy who sells pancakes!”
“How could I be mistaken?” The madam said. “I’ve seen the top scholar from afar before, and a person as outstanding as you, with such refined and charming demeanor, belongs to this one and only category. I would recognize you even if you turned to ashes!”
Lin Beifan smiled brightly as he listened, “I love hearing this kind of talk.”
However, I am a principled person and I will never give in so easily.
Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, “But I don’t have money and can’t afford to spend!”
The madam still held onto Lin Beifan and exclaimed eagerly, “Mister Scholar, it is our honor to have you visit our Hundred Flowers Brothel. How could we charge you? Mister Scholar, don’t refuse, come on in!”
At this moment, six young and beautiful girls walked out of the Baihua brothel, smiling and greeting Lin Beifan.
Lin Beifan coughed and said, “I didn’t plan to go in, but you have invited me seven times. If I refuse again, I would not know how to show my appreciation. Lead the way.”
The madam and the girls were delighted and happily sent Lin Beifan inside, shouting, “Mister Scholar is here!”
Under the welcome of the girls, Lin Beifan walked into the Hundred Flowers Brothel and found that although it was still daytime, it was already packed with people, with teasing and playful noises filling the air.
Lin Beifan couldn’t help but sigh, “The brothel is full because people’s hearts are lonely.”
Everyone shouted in agreement, “That’s right! If it weren’t for unbearable loneliness, who would want to come here?”
“Yes! If I go back home, I would have to face an old tigress, so I prefer to come here and spend money to relieve my loneliness!”
“The girls here are beautiful and have sweet voices. I love this place!”
“That’s right. Mister Scholar understands my heart. Hahaha!”
With just one sentence, Lin Beifen was brought closer to the prostitutes.
At this moment, the madam had someone bring over writing materials and smilingly said, “Scholar Lin, please offer a poem!”
This was equivalent to Lin Beifen’s “payment” for services rendered.
Lin Beifen’s spirits lifted and he picked up the brush writing quickly and eloquently. Everyone gathered around and recited the poem, applauding madly afterwards.
One scholar praised Lin’s ability to capture the emotions of the prostitutes so masterfully with just a few words. The women present were all touched and gazed at Lin with affectionate eyes.
In that moment, Lin Beifen was the most handsome man in the brothel.
1.
Murphy’s law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” It is a humorous take on the idea that anything that can be misinterpreted or misunderstood will be. The law is often invoked to express the idea that things will not always go according to plan, and that seemingly impossible scenarios can and will happen.
