Chapter 154 - Time To Be Honest

Qing Chen did not know what to feel when they entered the restaurant. Clearly, the sign by the door said they were open. Surprisingly enough, there really were people dining in small tables at the floor. The whole place smelled old and he felt like it would collapse any second. He expected worse and for it to be dirty. But the floor was clean and it looked like everything get regularly wiped down.

The only sketchy thing about it, was that most of the tables were inside of rooms made out of wall partitions. The general area had tables and chairs. A stage was set, though he was honestly expecting a pole, there was none. 

There was something disturbing his gut. There was something wrong in this place. 

A slim woman, no more than twenty, by the door asked them, "Private?"

Wuming nodded. "Yeah, send us your best waitress."

The girl smiled and led them to a room. The ceiling was low and Qing Chen was sure there was another floor above judging from the structure. He didn't see any stairs. They were handed a laminated menu and his brothers end up ordering more than they thought they could eat.

Qing Chen didn't feel like eating. Not in a place like this. Who knows what happened in these chairs… in this table? He shivered just thinking about it.

"What? This place too icky for you?" Wuming grinned.

"I'm just not a fan of the environment." 

Enigma used to have a lot of brothels around the city with motels attached to them just like this one. One of the first things he did when he took his seat was abolish the prostitution. The girls could dance all they want, strip until their n.a.k.e.d, but they have to take the other business elsewhere.

Which got him thinking now, even though Qing Lok was doing random inspections of those places, surely some of their patroners would offer money the girls would not be able to refuse.

He noted to make his secretary file for an upgrade in healthcare with their employees. The least he could do was make sure they were protected and safe.

When the food started arriving, he turned to the waitress and said, "Please call your manager. We have some things to ask about the place."

The girl looked confused. "Sorry?"

"Tell them… the Qings are here."

**

The manager of Auntie's House was still sleeping at the floor above. She had strictly ordered her employees to not wake her up in the middle of the day. She was managing a brothel, not a restaurant.

But there was an insistent knocking on the door and she flipped the covers off her body and opened it. "What do you want?!"

It was their newest girl, looking terrified and confused. Her small eyes looked even smaller and would not meet hers. "I'm sorry, Auntie. But some men are here. They said to call for you."

"Who are those entitled dogs?" They had a lot of bossy customers who thought just because they were paying for service meant that they own them. Well, they were wrong. "Tell them to come back tonight." She was already closing the door and almost had it shut when the girl spoke again.

"They said they are Qings."

Her hand froze on the knob. She pulled the door open again. "Who?"

"The Qings… they look rich. Their limousine was parked at the roadside."

Auntie sighed. She knew they would come. "Tell them I'll be right down."

**

Qing Chen's brothers were on their third heaping of rice and sweet and sour pork and steamed chicken when there was a soft knock on their door. "Come in."

The screen slid to the side and in came a woman who looked like she was in her mid-thirties. Her body was curvaceous under the tight dress that did not look like it was meant for lunch. Her entire face was painted beautifully and her red lips smiled. "What can I do for you, boys?"

"Do you serve duck in this place?" Wuming asked. "I didn't think the food would be delicious. No offense."

The woman at the door studied him for a minute. "A lot of men get surprised with what this place can offer. We can do a lot of services for you. Most of the girls are still sleeping but I think I could wake some of them up. If you would just wait—"

"We're not looking for that kind of service, ma'am," said Qing Chen. "If you would just sit down?"

The woman looked reluctant to join their table but did so anyways. Qing Chen eyed Wuming, 'I hope you're right about this'. Wuming only nodded back at him.

When the woman finally sat down, she looked around the table and took a bit of chicken with her long fingernails. "What now?"

"Are you the owner of this place?" asked Qing Chen. "Are you Auntie?"

"I don't own the place," she said. "But I AM Auntie."

"Do you have a girl named Ma Min working for you?"

Auntie focused her eyes on an old painting at the wall. It was older than all of them combined. "The other girl told me you are Qings. Is that why you came this far? For Ma Min?"

So she knew Ma Min. Wuming sent a thanks for his mind for recalling this place.

"Is she here?" Qing Chen asked. "We would like to see her."

Auntie sighed. "Ma Min is not here. Not have been for a long time. Why do you even want her?"

He ignored the question. "When was the last time you've seen her?"

"Earlier this year."

Wuming interrupted. "Hold a moment." He fished something out of his back pocket and something shined in his hand. A kunai knife. Without hesitation, he threw the blade to the screen wall and they heard a yelp from the other side. "It's time to be honest, or the next knife goes through you."