If Magpies Paid
Scrubbing plates and pans were bad enough, but doing so in the winter taught me the pains of frostbite. Bending my fingers hurt more than I dared admit.
Even though I said nothing, Nian Zhen and Hong pooled money together to buy me medicine. I nearly cried tears of gratitude.
Though Mama was someone I could hate, the courtesans acted as a community and entity. They protected each other from harm, distracting men for each other when they got too handsy.
The thought that these women could band together and count on each other kept me alive. Even if I was alone, I could count on them.
I counted down the days. There were 50 left from the supposed 60.
Winter had set in, though the first snow had not fallen. Every breath would be followed by a puff of white mist in the air.
As I entered the courtyard to pour dirty water from the kitchen away, the cold winds assaulted me and dug deep into my bones. The sun had already set, so it was time to open the doors to guests.