Chapter 478: 0292 What Is Seen and Heard (Two-in-One)_2
Residential area?
No wonder the atmosphere here is completely different from the Flower Moon Building.
Xu Chang’an followed Zhu Pingniang all the way, passing a few courtyards, seeing many women coming out of the courtyards heading toward the North City District. Most of them had plain looks, and it was clear that some of them didn’t have their clothes on properly.
This drowsy look gave Xu Chang’an the illusion that they were on their way to "work".
Even on some paths within the courtyards, there were Li Hua cats lying on the soft grass, sunbathing with their bellies exposed, occasionally receiving the affection of passing girls.
This area is really peaceful, with a few courtesans walking together. After seeing him, they gave a shallow smile... but didn’t come up to chat.
Although it was unclear why this famous young man suddenly came to where they lived, with Zhu Pingniang leading the way, no one carelessly came up to bother.
No... there is someone, after all.
"Ms. Zhu!!!"
A little girl, around ten years old, wearing a lotus-patterned skirt and looking very cute, came running over from a distance, not even glancing at Xu Chang’an, and hugged Zhu Pingniang’s waist.
"Ms. Zhu..."
"You little rascal, how many times have I told you..." Zhu Pingniang’s charming eyes showed a hint of helplessness. She took off her cloud shoulder shawl and put it around the little girl’s neck, chiding, "The weather has been unpredictable lately, be careful not to catch a cold."
"Got it." The little girl nuzzled against Zhu Pingniang’s stomach, smiling happily.
"So, what is it?" Zhu Pingniang asked.
"... This." The little girl clumsily pulled out a piece of yellow paper from her bosom and said, "My mom asked me to choose a name for myself... I don’t know how."
Xu Chang’an blinked at the scene.
Stage name...?
It means that once a woman enters a brothel, she abandons her family name and adopts a nice "nickname."
But this little girl is only ten years old and already needs a stage name and to enter the brothel?
"Hmph." However, Zhu Pingniang tapped her head and scolded, "You’re just going to serve tea and present fruit platters at the building, what do you need a stage name for?"
"Mom said so too... but sooner or later, I’ll need it." The little girl covered her head, her big eyes sparkling brightly. She circled around Zhu Pingniang, "Ms. Xue has agreed to teach me to play the zither... In the future, I will definitely become a Singing Master like Ms. Xue."
"Become a Singing Master, and then what?" Zhu Pingniang asked.
The little girl thought for a moment and said, "Make money."
"Your mom doesn’t lack silver." Zhu Pingniang shook her head. Her mother was once a renowned artiste in the Flower Moon Building, and the silver she saved... is enough to last several lifetimes; there’s no need for her to become an Artiste-Courtesan.
"I want to earn silver... for Ms. Zhu. That’s what the sisters all say." The little girl hugged Zhu Pingniang’s waist again, a sweet smile at the corners of her mouth.
Listening to her words, Xu Chang’an was left in a daze.
It was evident that Zhu Pingniang was not seeing such a scene for the first time. She pinched the little girl’s cheeks, scolding, "Look at your ambitions..."
She took the yellow paper, glanced at the stage names on it, then folded it up and put it away in her bosom.
"Ms. Zhu, the name... my stage name..."
"These don’t sound nice. I’ll think of a good one for you later."
"Oh."
Hearing Zhu Pingniang’s words, the little girl became obedient, then had time to notice Xu Chang’an beside Zhu Pingniang. After a sneaky glance, she hid behind Zhu Pingniang, appearing a bit scared.
"Little girl, go tell your mom I’ll be visiting her shortly," Zhu Pingniang said with a smile.
"Eh?" The little girl blinked, then bounced up from the ground, spinning excitedly.
"Mom... Ms. Zhu, I’ll head back now."
The little girl ran back home.
——
Once she was out of sight, Zhu Pingniang looked at Xu Chang’an, who had been silent, and asked with a hint of suggestion, "How was it?"
"I... don’t understand." Xu Chang’an shook his head.
The peace of the garden and the little girl’s "dream" of entering the brothel made Xu Chang’an want to say something, but he didn’t know what to say... his feelings were somewhat complicated.
"Didn’t expect you to understand." Zhu Pingniang stretched lazily, the little white flowers on her head reflecting faint light. "Chang’an, I’ll show you around the Flower Moon Building—take a good look."
"...?" A question mark appeared over Xu Chang’an’s head.
Although the Li Hua cats sunbathing in the garden just now were very cute, and he wanted to pet them... but what was there to see?
"You." Zhu Pingniang tapped Xu Chang’an’s head just like she did the little girl and said, "Do I need to explain everything to you?"
"Chang’an is foolish," Xu Chang’an said, seeing Zhu Pingniang tilt her head, her slender fingers pointing at the little flowers on her head.
"This is what you put on for me on her behalf... She’s usually busy and doesn’t know how I live here," Zhu Pingniang squinted her eyes. "Silly boy, do you understand now?"
"Understood." Xu Chang’an nodded.
So... it’s so he could look at the brothel on behalf of Li Zhibai.
Indeed, when Li Zhibai mentioned Zhu Pingniang back then, she seemed puzzled. Apparently, she didn’t know what was going on with Zhu Pingniang and the Flower Moon Building.
He had become the messenger for his elders.
"Take a good look around here and go back to tell her." Zhu Pingniang lifted her embroidered shoes. "Come on, let’s have some tea."
Since Xu Chang’an already became a witness, he naturally had no objections.
——
Zhu Pingniang took Xu Chang’an to a delicate tea house. Upon entering the private room, she sat by the window, in a spot where she could see outside at a glance.
Then, a woman dressed as a Female Shopkeeper came in with a pot of tea, and beside her was the little girl who previously sought a stage name.
With a glance from the Female Shopkeeper, the little girl turned around somewhat aggrievedly and left.
"Ms. Zhu, Young Master Xu." The Female Shopkeeper finally saluted, poured them tea, during which the steam of hot tea wafted around.
As Xu Chang’an looked over, he thought that it’s not for nothing that she was a girl from the Flower Moon Building. The Female Shopkeeper wore a deep blue long dress, a scarlet waist sash tied around her waist, and shoulder-length hair pinned up at the back of her head.
Though there were slight lines at the corners of her eyes, she still possessed a traditional, serene beauty.
"Don’t mind him, I came to chat with you." Zhu Pingniang smiled, taking a small sip, satisfied as she swallowed. "Your little shop has been open for so many years... relying on this tea, haven’t you made quite a bit of silver from the girls?"
The Female Shopkeeper also smiled and said, "The amount of silver coins is just a figure of speech; as long as the sisters enjoy drinking, my shop will stay open."
"Mm." Zhu Pingniang responded, then said with slight exasperation, "How are you teaching the kids? Asking them to pick a stage name surprised me."
"Sister," the Female Shopkeeper said earnestly, "you’re the one who gave me my name."
"Everyone has a name, that’s the tradition, and it has nothing to do with me." Zhu Pingniang reminded her.
Listening nearby, Xu Chang’an was suddenly reminded of himself and Miss Yun.
Yes, a name is indeed very important to a person.
A name is used to refer to oneself when communicating with others. If one has no experience or necessity to communicate with others, there’s no need to use a name.
So, being given a name is something that can be remembered for a lifetime by anyone.
"Does Ni Zi want to enter the building, and you’re not happy?" the Female Shopkeeper asked.
"It’s none of my business." Zhu Pingniang said while sipping her tea: "How you teach the kids is your matter. At least, as long as I’m here, this Beisang City will remain peaceful."
The Female Shopkeeper was taken aback by her words, realizing that Zhu Pingniang was in a particularly chatty mood today; she glanced at Xu Chang’an, who was quietly drinking tea, wondering if it had to do with this young man.
Is Ms. Zhu... interested in a man?
She recognized Xu Chang’an, but he seemed a bit too young.
The Female Shopkeeper lowered her eyes and then felt it was time to praise their flawless Miss Zhu in front of Xu Chang’an.
The Female Shopkeeper followed up with, "Ever since you arrived, this Beisang City has improved. Without you... I couldn’t imagine what life would be like now."
"Hm?" Zhu Pingniang blinked.
The topic... how did it turn to herself?
But that’s fine too.
Being praised makes her happy.
After all, the girls she brought up at least know better than Xu Chang’an, who, after listening to music, only knows how to exclaim "nice" like a foolish boy.
Moreover, Zhu Pingniang wanted Xu Chang’an to praise her in front of Li Zhibai.
The findings from the "investigation" of a student are more credible than her boasting to Li Zhibai directly.
So, Zhu Pingniang winked at the Female Shopkeeper, signaling that she had done well, encouraging her to continue.
"..."
The Female Shopkeeper received the signal and thought she must have done the right thing.
It’s nothing for a woman to want to be praised in front of her beloved.
But still, there’s that old saying.
My Ms. Zhu...
The young man you fancy, isn’t he a bit too young?