The grand flower carriage was like a moving stage. Tang Xiao Bei sat in the centre, playing the pipa, flanked by two women performing on the guzheng and flute, while others danced with flowing sleeves.
It felt much like a modern celebrity concert.
“It’s so lively outside!” Xiao E stood on a stool, poking her head out the window. “Brother-in-law, let’s go join the fun!”
“The courtesan contest will be held on a boat on the river. The carriages are circling the city first before heading there. We’ll go after lunch,” Jin Feng said, ruffling Xiao E’s hair. “Going now would just mean chasing the carriages all over town.”
“Really?” Xiao E grabbed his arm excitedly. “Then let’s go, brother-in-law!”
She hadn’t had her fill of fun these past few days and was thrilled at the prospect, her eyes sparkling.
“No way!” Jin Feng had no interest in running around the city with her.
“Please, brother-in-law, take me! I’m begging you!” Xiao E deployed her usual tactic, pestering him relentlessly.
“Alright, alright, stop nagging,” Jin Feng relented, exasperated. Seeing the old soldiers lingering by the window, reluctantly watching the carriages depart, he called out, “Tie Chui, arrange for two men to take Xiao E out for a stroll.”
“Sir, I’ll take Miss Xiao E,” Tie Chui volunteered quickly, knowing Jin Feng had no plans to go out that morning.
“Fine, but be back for lunch,” Jin Feng reminded, handing Xiao E over to Tie Chui.
After a poor night’s sleep, Jin Feng yawned and went back for a nap once they left.
He slept until noon, when Guan Xiaorou woke him.
Xiao E had returned, proudly showing off a stick of candied hawthorn. “Brother-in-law, look! I bought candied hawthorn. Try it, it’s delicious!”
“No thanks, you keep it,” Jin Feng said, stretching and getting out of bed.
Dakang’s sugar-making was crude, and candied hawthorn always had an odd taste he couldn’t stomach.
After lunch, the group headed to the riverside.
To avoid being mobbed, Jin Feng had Tie Chui bring the carriage, and he, Guan Xiaorou, and the others hid inside.
The riverside area was cordoned off by the authorities for the contest. Entry cost three copper coins per person, ten for a carriage.
Even then, prime spots required extra payment.
Despite the cost, countless people flocked to watch, with the queue stretching dozens of metres ahead of Jin Feng’s group.
“The authorities are really invested in this contest. They’ve sent plenty of guards to keep order,” Jin Feng remarked, glancing outside.
“Of course. The county organises the contest and takes seventy percent of the profits. Naturally, they’re thorough,” Qing Mulan said with a smirk.
“The contest makes money?” Guan Xiaorou asked. “How?”
“Contestants perform one by one, and supporters buy flowers to give them. The one with the most flowers wins the title of courtesan,” Qing Mulan explained. “The flowers are supplied by the authorities, one tael of silver each.”
“What flowers are that expensive?”
“Just ordinary wildflowers. How else would the authorities profit?” Qing Mulan laughed. “I’m not sure about Guangyuan, but in Xichuan, the authorities make at least a few thousand taels each year. If a wealthy patron gets involved, it could be tens of thousands.”
“That’s incredible!” Guan Xiaorou gasped. “Tens of thousands of taels could last a lifetime!”
“For one person, maybe. But to sustain a prefecture, it’s not much,” Qing Mulan replied.
As they chatted, they reached the entrance.
Chunfeng Tower had reserved a spot for Jin Feng. A servant waiting at the entrance spotted Tie Chui and hurried over.
Glancing around and not seeing Jin Feng, he anxiously asked, “Brother Tie Chui, where’s Mr. Jin?”
“In the carriage,” Tie Chui nodded toward it.
Relieved, the servant led them to a flat riverside spot.
The area was close to the water, just ten metres from the contest boat, one of the best viewing spots.
Chunfeng Tower had high hopes for this year’s contest, sparing no expense to secure the location.
Behind the spot were temporary tents.
As Jin Feng stepped out of the carriage, he saw Chunfeng Tower’s madam leading a group of women out of one tent.
“Oh, Mr. Jin, you’re finally here!” the madam greeted warmly. “The girls have been missing you terribly, pestering me about when you’d arrive!”
Without prompting, the women crowded around Jin Feng.
Fortunately, they knew this wasn’t Chunfeng Tower and kept things tame, merely greeting him.
“Sir, you’re quite popular,” Qing Mulan teased, lifting the carriage curtain.
Jin Feng glanced nervously at Guan Xiaorou.
Thankfully, she didn’t seem upset, instead curiously observing the women alongside Runniang.
Only Tang Dongdong, from the moment the curtain lifted, locked eyes with Tang Xiao Bei, standing beside the madam.
Qing Mulan noticed Tang Dongdong tremble, her eyes welling up.
Tang Xiao Bei, however, only gave her sister a deep look before forcing herself to turn away.
Qing Mulan discreetly pinched Tang Dongdong and smiled. “Sir, are these Chunfeng Tower’s women? Which one is the famous Miss Xiao Bei?”
Though Dakang’s culture was male-dominated, exceptions existed, with some households led by strong women.
A few years ago in Guangyuan, a wealthy merchant married the prefect’s niece, who, backed by her powerful family, ruled the household.
Once, when the merchant visited a brothel, she stormed in with guards and killed two women accompanying him.
Seeing female passengers in the carriage, the women instinctively stepped back, wary of trouble.
When Qing Mulan asked about Tang Xiao Bei, even the madam’s eyes flashed with panic.
With years in the brothel business, the madam’s knack for reading people was unmatched. Qing Mulan’s clothes and jade pendant screamed wealth, and her confident tone showed she didn’t take Chunfeng Tower seriously.
In an instant, the madam judged that this woman was not someone they could afford to offend.
As she scrambled for a way to defuse the situation, Jin Feng spoke up.
“Alright, since Mulan asked, let me introduce everyone.”
