How obsessed are men with virility? So much so that they could drive a species to extinction.
One day, a carriage stopped in front of Zhao Mutou’s shop. Rumor had it that a wealthy lord had spent hundreds of taels of silver to buy his secret remedy. Within days, Zhao Mutou took the money and returned to his hometown to build a house, leaving his neighbors green with envy.
Gradually, a certain medicinal wine began appearing in pleasure houses. Legend claimed it was made by steeping stones formed from the spilled essence of a flood dragon, promising boundless stamina and unyielding vigor. The price, of course, was exorbitant—an unthinkable sum for commoners, but for noble families, it was merely a status symbol. Cheap alternatives were beneath their notice.
The wine burned sharply on the tongue, its pungent herbal aroma filling the nostrils. A single cup warmed the belly, convincing drinkers of its potency. The cautious even hired physicians to taste it, and when they confirmed its warming and restorative properties, confidence in the wine grew.
Some taverns tried to cash in, blending fine herbs into their own brews, but none could replicate that fiery bite. Their attempts fell flat, leaving them no choice but to abandon the endeavor.
Whispers spread that Censor Liu, now retired in the city, had drunk this wine and miraculously impregnated his eighteenth concubine. Overnight, the wine became priceless, its reputation soaring beyond reach.
"Third Young Master, here are last month’s account books!" Xu Jingru, dressed as a servant boy, bowed as she presented the ledger.
Now living with her younger brother on Lu Chao’s estate, she no longer feared being sold off to some elderly man or leaving her brother vulnerable to abuse. Lu Chao’s generosity had filled out their cheeks in just a few months.
"Business is better than expected," Lu Chao remarked, scanning the figures. Indeed, men placed far too much importance on "performance."
"Qiu, keep digging the underground passages on the estate. Don’t skimp on silver. And stock up on grain—just don’t buy too much at once to avoid drawing attention."
Xu Jingru had adopted the name Qiu for convenience.
Though war had yet to break out, Lu Chao sensed it was coming. Perhaps it was his fear of death that drove him to prepare an escape route—one he kept hidden even from Lady Lu.
"Young Master, are things turning for the worse?" Qiu swallowed nervously. Her father, a seasoned merchant, had raised her with a worldly perspective, unlike sheltered noble girls. She knew what war meant.
"Not yet, but I prefer to be cautious. Don’t worry too much. As for the new servants, aside from Shi Liu, arrange the rest as you see fit."
Having earned enough, Lu Chao had bought five servants—four men and one woman—from a slaver.
Shi Liu was his first pick: plain-faced, unremarkable next to the striking criminal slave from the capital, and honest to a fault. When the slaver lashed the criminal slave, Shi Liu couldn’t bear to watch, unlike the others who remained indifferent.
The slaver explained that Shi Liu, already twenty, had sold himself to spare his starving parents. At his age, he was a hard sell—too old, too costly to feed, and a flight risk.
Lu Chao bought him without hassle, then selected a few diligent workers for the estate. The defiant, beautiful criminal slave? He didn’t even glance—far too expensive.
Qiu and Shi Liu made a good pair: one managed production, the other sales, each keeping the other in check. Lu Chao trusted this balance. The first rule of control? Limit authority. Give one person unchecked power, and corruption follows. A blade without a sheath will eventually cut its wielder.
