Chapter 1: The Little Rascal in the Brothel (1)

Ren Tianqi blinked and said, "Madam, you must not speak carelessly. Which of your eyes saw me cheating? Be careful, or I will go to the county office to beat the drum and seek justice."

Zheng Bao'er scolded him again and said: "Alright, after the matter is accomplished, I will give you thirty copper coins. For a little child like you, this is already a lot of money, enough to buy dozens of sugar figurines. That should be sufficient, right"

Ren Tianqi, hearing San Niang's agreement, knew that the silver would not be little. He immediately broke into a broad smile and said: "It won't fail, it won't fail. Tonight, I will practice in front of the mirror a thousand times, ten thousand times. By then, I will surely move your guest to the point where he can't help but soften his heart. San Niang, you must swindle him out of a good sum."

Zheng Bao'er knew that the person coming tomorrow was the wealthiest among the guests who had visited "Spring Full Garden" in recent years. If he were truly deceived, the money would certainly not be little, and he felt pleased in his heart. He waved his left hand and said: "Get lost, get lost, you little bastard, go practice in front of the mirror."

Bai Fangfang snorted and suddenly remembered something. She twisted his left ear and said, "You little brat, didn’t I ask you to clean the dishes used by the guests tonight? How come you slipped out so quickly? Are you trying to be lazy? Let me tell you, I took you in out of kindness back then, you unknown little wretch, ugly creature. I never intended for you to eat for free. If you’re not going to work, then get lost.

Crossing the threshold and turning past a screen painted with mandarin ducks playing in the water, one enters a large room. In the center of the room is a table and benches for placing food and drink, surrounded by several large chairs with a glossy red lacquer finish. There is also a dressing table inlaid with a copper mirror, and at the far end, a large bed with three sides carved in intricate designs, draped with a red canopy. To the side, there is a clothes rack with a towel draped over it, and beneath it sits a copper basin for washing.

Ren Tianqi, upon hearing that there was a benefit, quickly sat down in the large chair and said: "Third Lady, if there is any good thing, I will definitely ensure it is done properly and without fail."

As he spoke, he hurriedly walked out of the room, while behind him, Zheng Bao'er’s laughter echoed: "You little rascal, always boasting. Don’t even mention beautiful girls; if there’s a girl willing to follow you willingly, San Niang will definitely spend a fortune to give you a grand gift"

Ren Tianqi still smiled and said: "This is all taught to me by San Niang. If I still can't learn it, San Niang might scold me."

On that large bed lay a woman who appeared to be around twenty-seven years old, with disheveled hair, willow-like brows, and apricot-shaped eyes. Her lips were slightly full, and a faint black mole adorned her lower side. She was barefoot, dressed in a green sheer spring gown, beneath which was a pale moon-white bodice embroidered with peonies, revealing her fair and smooth skin. However, she was quite unrestrained; the strap of her bodice had loosened on one side, exposing a large portion of her left breast, which was curvaceous and round like a ball, and even whiter and more delicate than the skin on the rest of her body, truly enticing. This was Zheng Bao'er, the third daughter from "Spring Full Garden" by Tian Qi.

At this moment, Ren Tianqi is thirteen years old. Growing up in the unique environment of a brothel, his mental maturity surpasses that of an ordinary boy. Upon hearing Bai Fangfang's words, he immediately comprehended the situation, stuck out his tongue, and thought to himself: "The taste of stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork is not good at all; fortunately, the madam reminded me." However, his mouth was unwilling to concede, and he said: "Fine, even if that foul bitch Ma Huajiao has ancestors who burned high-footed Buddhas, I won't curse her; let's just say she has had a stroke of bad luck."

Zheng Bao'er smiled and said: "You are quite the clever little one. This matter is not difficult to handle. Listen carefully, tomorrow I have a former guest coming. He has never seen you, and I will tell him you are my son who is seriously ill. I need a large sum of money to treat you, so at that time, you should act a bit pitiful."

The boy named Ren Tianqi forcefully broke free from Bai Fangfang's hand and said: "Aunt, you and San Niang often curse like this in the courtyard, what's so impressive about it? Moreover, you've been cursing outside for so long without any consequences; those people across the way must be afraid of you"

Ren Tianqi is already thirteen years old, a time when youth is blossoming. In an instant, witnessing such a marvelous scene is truly dizzying; his throat suddenly feels parched as if it might burst into flames. His pair of agile eyes seem to be enchanted, firmly fixated on Zheng Bao'er’s left breast, while an intense heat surges in his lower abdomen.

On that night, Bai Fangfang noticed that there were not many guests at "Chun Manyuan," which made her quite unhappy. She then left the courtyard and headed towards the bustling "Juyanfang," loudly cursing, "stinking goods, rotten whores." The several courtesans and pimps standing outside were well aware that Bai Fangfang was notoriously difficult to provoke in the entire city. Having been accustomed to such insults in recent years, they merely glanced over a few more times without any reaction. As Bai Fangfang found her exchange with a certain scholar uninteresting, she turned to head back inside.

Who would have thought that Ren Tianqi would still shake his head, deliberately expressing concern on his face as he said: "San Niang, what if that guest only gives you twenty more copper coins? Wouldn't you be at a loss? I wouldn't feel right about it. Let's do it this way: after the matter is accomplished, you can just give me a small share of one percent. That way, I can feel a bit better about my conscience."

Brothels, referred to as "yaozi" in the north and "yanhuajian" in the south, originated during the Spring and Autumn period when Guan Zhong, a minister of the State of Qi, established a service with seven hundred women. He charged the nobles and merchants of the state for nightly access, using the proceeds to support the military needs of Qi's dominance. Over time, this practice spread widely and became increasingly popular.

Zheng Bao'er saw Ren Tianqi preparing to leave and knew that without him, she truly could not say it was a sure thing. She quickly added, "Alright, alright, you little rascal, I admit you are impressive. One success is one success. However, if this fails and I can't get any money, just wait and see how I will deal with you"

Ren Tianqi has not once teamed up with Zheng Bao'er to deceive customers out of their money. Upon hearing this, he knew what to do and immediately replied with a playful smile: "Third Lady, you need to clarify what benefits you will provide me. Last time, I helped you obtain seven taels of silver from Liu the Cobbler, and you promised me a reward, but all I received was a sugar figurine. I suffered a significant loss from that. It would be better to be more cautious this time."

Ren Tianqi was mocked by her, and his face instantly turned bright red. Fortunately, his face was already covered in red spots, so he did not appear too embarrassed. He said, "Who says no one will marry me? When I grow up, I will definitely marry the most beautiful woman in the world and show her to you all"

When Zheng Bao'er saw Ren Tianqi walk in, she straightened her posture, causing her belly band to slide down even further, nearly exposing her two grapes. Zheng Bao'er did not bother to cover up, pointing to the nearest large chair and saying, "You little rascal, you only just arrived. Sit there properly; I have something to assign to you. If you handle it well, there will naturally be benefits for you."

Zheng Bao'er had been a prostitute for over ten years, her body seen by countless men. Upon seeing Ren Tianqi in this state, she not only felt no shame but instead bit her lip and laughed, saying: "You little rascal, it seems you're growing into a little lecher. It's just a pity, with so many red spots on your face, any woman would be scared at first glance. No one would want to marry you. It looks like you'll have to earn more money in this lifetime. If you really can't hold back your desires, just visit a brothel. After all, you're familiar with the trade and won't be taken for a fool. If you choose one of the girls from our establishment, the madam might even give you a big discount, hehe."

However, just last year, the proprietress of "Juyanfang," Ma Huajiao, acquired "Qunfangge" to the south and ambitiously expanded westward. Directly opposite "Chunmanyuan," she opened the largest brothel in the city, categorizing the courtesans into three tiers. The top-tier courtesans practiced the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as singing and dancing. The middle-tier courtesans had a basic understanding of literature and could engage in conversation with guests, while the lower-tier courtesans were purely for the carnal pleasures of the guests, lacking any charm or interest. Nevertheless, they were still pleasing to the eye, all around the age of twenty. The pricing was comparable to that of "Chunmanyuan," which immediately snatched away a considerable amount of business from it. This led the proprietress of "Chunmanyuan," Bai Fangfang, to frequently stand at her own gate, cursing at the entrance of "Juyanfang" to vent her frustrations.

At that moment, a small figure suddenly burst out from the gate of "Spring in Full Bloom." It was a boy dressed in a worn-out short gown made of coarse cloth, over which he wore a tattered sky-blue jacket. On his feet were a pair of black cloth shoes that were nearly worn through. The boy had a face covered in red spots, and apart from a pair of exceptionally agile and clear big eyes, his features were completely obscured by the red spots, evoking a sense of aversion at first glance.

Upon entering the first room on the left in the courtyard, one finds the chamber of the courtesan Zheng Bao'er, known as "Chun Manyuan." Although Zheng Bao'er is already in her thirties, she still possesses a fair amount of beauty, with skin more delicate and fair than that of ordinary women. Notably, she is exceptionally skilled in charming expressions and graceful demeanor, captivating some unsuspecting patrons to the point of infatuation, leading them to believe that she exclusively favors them. Consequently, she attracts the most returning clients, making her the most popular courtesan in "Chun Manyuan," with the highest fees for her services.

Ren Tianqi, as a child, would often feel extremely envious and jealous whenever he saw little children nestled in their parents' arms, asking for this and that. As he grew a little older, just thinking about this issue would give him a headache. Now, upon hearing Bai Fangfang mention her background again, a wave of turmoil surged within him, and he quickly said: "Aunt, just now San Niang asked me to go to her room, I am going now." As soon as he finished speaking, he took off running.

Upon hearing his scolding, Bai Fangfang was startled, her heart racing. She quickly covered his mouth and whispered angrily, "Ren Tianqi, you little bastard, how dare you speak like that? Do you want to throw your life away?"

In Hezhou City, there are three brothels, all of which have been established for over ten years. They are "Juyanfang," "Qunfangge," and "Chunmanyuan," each occupying the most prosperous eastern, southern, and western parts of the city, respectively. Among them, "Juyanfang" is the largest in scale, has the most patrons, and boasts the most beautiful courtesans, with prices that are naturally the highest. In contrast, "Chunmanyuan" is the smallest, with only seven or eight courtesans, most of whom have passed their prime and are aging and unattractive. Although there are three or four younger courtesans, their looks are also mediocre and unremarkable. However, "Chunmanyuan" is known for its consistently low and reasonable prices. Many of the fishermen, boatmen, and peddlers in Hezhou City, who are often without wives, do not have the means to visit places like "Juyanfang" and "Qunfangge." When they find themselves in moments of loneliness, they gather a few coins to indulge at "Chunmanyuan." As for "Qunfangge," it lies somewhere in between the two. Thus, each of the three establishments conducts its own business, and they have coexisted peacefully over the years.

Hearing this, Zheng Bao'er couldn't help but grit her teeth and curse, "Little bastard, you've actually learned to haggle."

Bai Fangfang fiercely twisted Ren Tianqi's face and said: "You little bastard, how have I taught you? One should not allow others to bully them, but also be smart and understand the importance of adapting to circumstances. A wise man does not suffer immediate losses. I can curse on my own turf without naming names, and naturally, the people from 'Juyanfang' have no right to interfere with me. But you, shouting the name of that bitch Ma Huajiao so loudly, with so many people outside, those gigolos are bound to worry about being scolded by her and will definitely come after you. Right now, that bitch Ma Huajiao is doing well in business, and all the dignitaries and wealthy merchants in the city have connections with her. We cannot compete with her. A few curses are enough; do you really want to go against her? If she doesn't come after you, she can easily find an excuse to notify the authorities, and you, little bastard, will end up in the yamen facing punishment. I would have to spend my hard-earned money to bail you out"

Ren Tianqi, accustomed to being scolded, smiled and said, "Auntie, I certainly did not slack off. It was Old Wang and I who were gambling on the dice, and as a result, Old Wang lost and helped me wash the dishes. After all, you said to clean the dishes and the *books*, but you never specified that I had to do it myself." Old Wang, on the other hand, was a turtle man who had only come to this 'Spring Full Garden' two years ago. He was honest and few of words; although he was not very good at entertaining guests, he was strong and willing to do any dirty or hard work without fussing over the pay, which made Bai Fangfang feel she was getting a great deal.

The young man rushed out and saw that Bai Fangfang was about to finish her scolding. He cleared his throat slightly and began to shout loudly: "Damn it, Ma Huajiao, you shameless harlot who has been ridden by thousands and trampled by tens of thousands, covered all over with festering sores like mulberries! You must have been knocked senseless by some filthy bastard, coming here to steal our business. You truly are a worthless person who doesn't even care about your dignity..." Although the boy was small, he was putting all his effort into shouting, with the veins on his neck bulging, his voice carrying far and wide, not at all inferior to Bai Fangfang's scolding. Outside the door of "Juyanfang," several tall men who had previously shown no reaction were now rubbing their hands and rolling up their sleeves, pointing and gesturing at the young man.

Little did anyone know that the straps of her bodice were already loose; with such a wave of her hand, they immediately slipped off completely, exposing her snow-white left breast in its entirety. It trembled like delicate skin, and the nipple at the peak had already turned a shade of dark purple.

The city of Hezhou in the twenty-eighth year of the Kaiyuan era during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang

Zheng Bao'er suddenly screamed: "Ren Tianqi, you little bastard, you little bastard, how can you have such a big appetite, asking me for one-tenth of my silver, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Bai Fangfang sighed deeply and said, "Alas, I don't know who gave birth to such a cunning little rascal like you, but I can imagine they must not be good people. Otherwise, you wouldn't have anything valuable like gold locks or gold rings, except for that red character 'Ren' on your chest. I have truly suffered a great loss here."

Ren Tianqi sighed and stood up, saying: "Then forget it. Anyway, San Niang has plenty of skills; she can easily coax the guests into handing over their shiny silver without my help. If I were to get a share, it wouldn't be worth it. Forget it, forget it. I will just go to sleep. Tomorrow, there are many tasks that Da Niang has arranged for me, and if I can't finish them, I will surely be scolded."

Bai Fangfang listened to Tian Qi's words, and with a disdainful "Hmph," she released him, then gave him a heavy tap on the head, saying, "You can fool that honest old Wang, but do you think you can fool me? Everyone knows your tricks; you must have cheated again, right?"