spoiled brat

Chapter 39, Section 38: Against the Current (Part 8)

Although it was dark and unclear at night, Xiao Duo had just caught a glimpse of several girls' faces by the moonlight. Their looks were no less than Zhao Zhao's. What should he do?
Zhao Zhao isn't blind, so he naturally saw it clearly.

She was older than her and had blossomed into a more charming and alluring woman. Having spent a lot of time in the pleasure quarters, her every move exuded a seductive charm, far surpassing that of a naive young woman who had never been with a man.

She wanted to back out, but she really wanted to go. One reason was to find out about her benefactor's condition, and the other was to fly to a higher place to broaden her horizons and see if she could make some connections for the future.

Feeling annoyed, she kicked at the pebbles on the ground as she walked: "Xiao Duo, you're an old pimp, what do you think Manager Sun's criteria are for choosing people?"

When Xiao Duo was young, she did odd jobs in the front building. Later, when she became stronger, she would always carry the girls to the mansions of various masters. She was indeed more deeply immersed in the ways of the world than Zhao Zhao: "Well... Manager Sun mostly considers things from a man's perspective—when men buy women, they simply buy short or long, shallow or deep."

Zhao Zhao listened to his eloquent explanation and smiled, "Good job, Xiao Duo, tell me more."

Xiao Duo secretly looked down on fools who were led around by women, but after Zhao Zhao praised him with her words, he couldn't help but feel elated, his face burning and ears turning red.
"Oh dear... buying something short and shallow, to put it bluntly, is just buying something to put on the bed. It just needs to look good, be gentle, and have some talent for amusing people. That's a low-class approach. Which of the men who can make a fortune are fools? They won't pay too high a price for a few shivers of pleasure."

What are the meanings behind "buying long" and "buying deep"?

"That's quite a big deal. You know about the 'slim horses' of Yangzhou, right? First-class slim horses are exceptionally talented and adept at winning hearts; second-class slim horses can manage accounts and housekeeping, and are useful even after getting out of bed; third-class slim horses are low-class and can only flatter ignorant nouveau riche, making a living for a few years before being discarded before they grow old and lose their beauty."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhao rolled her eyes and pondered for a moment, then said with unwavering determination:

"Goodness, just you wait and see, Manager Sun will definitely choose me!"

With that, Zhao Zhao smiled and hopped away with light, agile steps.

Xiao Duo stared blankly at her, her back, her white dress, her wide sleeves, all blending into the hazy background, like a butterfly fluttering in the night, impossible to catch no matter what.

"You little brat, Zhao Zhao." Xiao Duo's voice was barely audible, filled with barely suppressed grievance. "You have to ask me about something like this... Do you really expect me to send you to a man's bed in the future?"

He opened his palm, where there was once a burn mark. At that time, Zhao Zhao looked at him with heartache and said, "How can I ever repay you like this?"

He shamelessly claimed that he didn't need to pay it back.

Is it really true that I don't have to pay it back?

Xiao Duo felt a surge of heat in his heart, a heat that teased him like a cat's tail. He stared at Zhao Zhao's retreating figure, digging his fingernails into his palm until blood seeped out, but he dared not stop.

*
No matter how fiercely they scolded Zhao Zhao last night, as soon as it's light, the girls are all back to their gentle, charming, and beautiful selves.

They stood guard in front of the inn, each huddled together, talking and fantasizing about what would happen if they were chosen:
"Prefect Xu has such a big reputation! Everyone within hundreds of miles with even a little bit of influence has to attend his banquet. If any young master takes a liking to him, he'll be transformed into a phoenix on a branch!"

Another girl covered her mouth with a round fan and chuckled, "Why are you thinking about those gentlemen and young masters? This isn't Southern Zhili; the officials here are all minor officials, and the rich are all just moderately wealthy..."

"Oh my, you're so carefree! Anyone who didn't know better would think you needed a phoenix or a dragon's offspring to satisfy your hunger!"

"Since I'm already just fantasizing, can't I at least dream about having sons and grandsons?"

Yun'er glanced at them and scoffed, "You haven't even ascended to heaven yet, and you're already thinking about becoming immortals." She turned to look at Zhao Zhao.

Zhao Zhao wore a bright red dress today, which made her face look even whiter and more like jade. Her cat-like eyes were beautiful and sharp, with a charming red mole at the corner of her eye. She was beautiful and charming, but also had a bit of pride and unruliness.

Logically speaking, Zhao Zhao, at her age, should dress gently and elegantly, leaving Steward Sun with the impression of a little rabbit.

Yun'er didn't understand why she was like this, and didn't ask too many questions. She pointed to the moon zither in Zhao Zhao's arms, frowned and asked with concern, "Zhao Zhao, Mother Yu doesn't allow you to play the moon zither, so why did you bring it again?"

Zhao Zhao lightly stroked the strings of the zither, the sound of which was both gentle and sharp, perfectly matching her attire and making her appear as radiant as a drop of blood on the cold gleam of a knife.

She smiled, her eyes slightly upturned: "Sister Yun'er, the most beautiful scenery is at the most dangerous peak."

Yun'er was puzzled and was about to ask a few questions when the sound of gongs and drums rang out above her head.

An old woman was standing on the balcony of the third floor of the inn, holding a gong in her hand. She was banging it and shouting, "Line up! Line up! The person in charge is coming!"

Hearing the sound, the girls who had been huddled together scattered and desperately pushed their way to the front of the building, craning their necks towards the balcony, trying their best to put on their brightest and most charming smiles, and shouting:

"Grandma Sun! Grandma Sun!"

They were packed together, and soon they started arguing because their feet were being stepped on.

The old woman banging the gong turned cold, struck it with a thunderous bang, and shouted:

"Stand up straight! If anyone gets trampled to death, my steward will never stay in this unlucky place again!"

These words immediately calmed the previously boiling-water-like atmosphere.

The women shoved and jostled each other to stand in a neat row, each secretly inching forward as they asked the old woman, "May I ask when Grandma Sun will arrive?"

The old woman turned and looked into the room, saying irritably, "Didn't you hear that? All the gods and Buddhas are waiting for your arrival, Grandma Sun! Get out of bed now!"

The person inside didn't say anything in response, but the old woman raised an eyebrow, stormed into the room with a gong raised in a menacing manner, and began banging it loudly.
"Get up! The sun is so strong, and you're making people wait for you in the sun? How can they do business if their faces are sunburned!"

After a moment, a middle-aged woman came out of the house, stood on the balcony tidying her messy hair, and said with a smile, "Sorry to keep you waiting, sorry to keep you waiting..."

As soon as Steward Sun appeared, the crowd became excited again, waving handkerchiefs and shouting "Grandma Sun!" Unexpectedly, a plump woman walked out from behind Steward Sun, the bright sun making the pipe in her hand gleam.

Who else could this be but Yu's mother?
Zhao Zhao was surprised and tugged at Yun'er's sleeve: "Yesterday I tried to sneak in and slip some money but I couldn't. Madam Yu is really good at this. She climbed right into Steward Sun's bed."

"Do you think that old fox, Madam Yu, has lived her life for nothing?" Yun'er laughed. "There isn't a single manager of any of the brothels in this area who isn't on good terms with her."

Manager Sun was in charge of the Yunzhou Music Bureau. He moved between officials and merchants and had dealt with all sorts of people. He was a more cunning fox than even Mother Yu.

(End of this chapter)