Chapter 22: Lending a Hand 助

"No one here owed you money. Can you stop pulling such a long face? We''re in business now. Business, understand? We have to smile, and no one will want you if you''re like that. How are we doing business? Do you still think that you are a noble lady?

Do you even know what kind of place this is? I am the boss here, and you should listen to me and do everything being told. Otherwise, don''t blame me for being ruthless."

“我们这可没人欠你钱，你这整天摆着一张丧气脸给谁看呢？我们是打开门做生意的，做生意，你懂吗？要笑脸迎人，你这样谁会要你？我们还怎么做生意？你以为你还是千金小姐呀？也不看看这里是什么地方，进了这里妈妈我说的话才算数。你应该听我的，按我说的做。不听话就休怪妈妈我心狠手辣了。”

When she returned to the entertainment parlor, she saw a new girl being beaten and scolded by their boss.

她回到歌伎坊后就遇到了妈妈在打骂一个新来不久的姑娘。

Though the girl shivered with beatings and abuse, her teeth were still clenched, and she was the kind of unyielding girl she had seldom seen.

那姑娘虽然被打骂得浑身，瑟瑟发抖，可是依然咬着牙齿，这是一个性格坚韧刚烈的姑娘，这样的女子在这里并不常见。

What a tough, proud, and fearless girl she is in the face of challenges.

It was hard for her to move after seeing this because she saw something of herself in this girl.

这是一个有着天生傲骨的姑娘，此情此景，她脚步再难移动。原因无他，因为她在这个陌生的姑娘身上看到了自己的影子。

At least the girl in front of her had the courage to fight back, but she wasn''t even capable of an act like that back then.

眼前的这姑娘至少来了这地方还能鼓起勇气去反抗，可是当年她来之时是连反抗都没有的人。

At least, this girl’s fate is better than she was, and she would certainly live better than she had if she had overcome this difficulty.

这姑娘至少比她命好，若是过了这一个坎，未来一定会比她过得好。

She doesn’t think she is a good or nosy person, but she can’t help but lend a hand to girls like herself.

她自认不是个良善的人，也不是一个喜欢多管闲事的人，可是她就是忍不住去帮助这些和自己相似的人。

They have her character and her will to fight, her unyielding, her enduring, her helplessness, and her despair.

她们有着和她自己相同的心性，有着自己的斗志，有着自己的不屈，有着自己的隐忍，有着自己的无奈，也有着自己的绝望。

She has no family and no sisters, but her sisters are everywhere.

她没有家人，也没