Chapter 2: The Little Rascal in the Brothel (2)

Ren Tianqi walked to the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, noticing that Erniang did not follow him in, nor did she kneel. Instead, she clasped her hands and muttered: "Deaf Guanyin Bodhisattva, I hope you can hear me today. Please bless me tomorrow to help San Niang deceive some silver, and that San Niang will not go back on her word, but will honestly give me one-tenth of the silver. Namo E Mi Dou Fu, Namo E Mi Dou Fu." After finishing this, he clapped his hands and walked out of the room. Tianqi had observed that Erniang prayed to Buddha every day, yet she always wore a frown and continued to live in great hardship. Therefore, he did not really believe in phrases like 'sincerity brings efficacy' or 'divine protection.' Guanyin was originally a Bodhisattva, omnipotent; if her ears were not deaf, how could Erniang's every prayer go unanswered? Moreover, her name was not particularly auspicious. People perceive with their eyes and listen with their ears, yet she was named Guanyin, which naturally implied an issue with her ears.

Ren Tianqi has always enjoyed lively scenes and is most interested in stories of battles and killings. What he dislikes the most are tedious tales filled with moral lessons, such as those from Buddhist scriptures. Hearing Fan Lijuan say this, he deliberately yawned several times, pretending that his eyelids were about to fight each other, and listlessly said: "Second Mother, I have done quite a lot today, and I am really very tired. Let's save the story about the Buddha selling his flesh to the eagle for money for another day."

Fan Lijuan also knew that Ren Tianqi did not love reading. Shaking her head and sighing, she said, "Alright, today I will tell you a story"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Bao'er understood that he was hinting that if she deceived him again in the future, he would ruin her good fortune, which would significantly diminish her means of making a living. This struck at the very core of her concerns, and she immediately broke into a smile, saying: "Alright, alright, one or two taels of silver is just one or two taels of silver. Good heavens, San Niang cares for you the most, how could she let you suffer any loss?" As she spoke, she took a small ingot of silver from beside her pillow and tossed it into his hand, saying: "This is one tael of patterned silver; take it, it will be enough for you to use for a long time."

Zheng Bao'er laughed and said: "You little rascal, learning to be so difficult at such a young age, I wonder how you'll turn out when you grow up. Alas, it's a pity you're so ugly; otherwise, you could become a pretty boy to charm women, make some money, and that wouldn't be an unworthy path."

Zheng Bao'er felt quite pleased when she heard him say that she had a significant reputation, even making Bai Fangfang wary of her. After pondering for a moment, she suddenly chuckled and said: "Ren Tianqi, you are truly a genuine little rascal. When did you learn to flatter so well? Moreover, you understand my thoughts. This is something I will definitely do, as it doesn't cost any money and only requires some clever words."

So this is how Zheng Bao'er habitually deceives her guests. However, if the blood-stained handkerchief is dry, it will naturally reveal the trick. Therefore, she called Tian Qi to kowtow to Master Shi Er, taking the opportunity to divert his attention. Meanwhile, she quickly bent down to lift the curtain hanging under the bed, wetting a handkerchief in a bowl of blood that had been prepared at the foot of the bed. Then, she pretended to cough loudly, thus feigning a blood-bleeding condition.

However, Fan Lijuan silently sighed in front and said, "Tianqi, walk faster and don't pay attention to them." Ren Tianqi had no choice but to respond with an acknowledgment, quickening his pace, yet his eyes glanced several times towards that house.

After Ren Tianqi was adopted by Bai Fangfang, there were a few courtesans in the courtyard who had left their former lives behind. For over a decade, the ones who remained were Bai Fangfang, Zheng Bao'er, and Fan Lijuan. Among them, Fan Lijuan treated Tianqi the best; she never scolded or hit him, and often inquired about his well-being. This was the only warmth Ren Tianqi had experienced in over ten years.

Ren Tianqi listened to Zheng Bao'er agreeing, and he was truly overjoyed, thinking that he had finally made a profit from his one or two silver coins. If in the afternoon the bookstore did not require each room to fetch water, he would have an extra hour or two of rest time, allowing him to wander around the city. With a beaming smile, he said: "Flattering and guessing the guests' thoughts is truly your forte, Third Miss. Naturally, I have learned from you, but I have not mastered it yet."

Fan Lijuan glanced at Zheng Bao'er’s room, slightly furrowing her brow and said, "Tianqi, come to my room first." With that, she turned and walked into a room at the east end, while Ren Tianqi obediently followed behind. As they passed by a room, it was the new courtesan Xia Xiang's chamber. Tonight, a guest was indeed coming to visit her. The room faintly glowed with the light of red candles, and the sounds of Xia Xiang's somewhat affected moans and a man's heavy breathing could be clearly heard.

Zheng Bao'er is immensely grateful, allowing Ren Tianqi to bow to Master Shi Er once more, waving him off to leave. That night, naturally, she was in a "sickly state," exerting all her efforts to engage in passionate love with Master Shi Er in bed, indulging in all manner of flirtation, showcasing her skills in singing and playing instruments, hoping to establish a mutual arrangement, so that this profitable business could be pursued a few more times in the future

In the midst of speaking, he lunged forward, snatching away Zheng Bao'er’s handkerchief. It was evident that the pure white handkerchief was already soaked with fresh blood, damp and glistening, which was precisely the blood that had just been coughed up.

Ren Tianqi walked out of San Niang's room, somewhat annoyed, and saw a woman standing in the courtyard. She was wearing a somewhat new, plain white gauze shirt, tied with an eight-radiated Xiang skirt. Under the serene moonlight, the woman appeared to be in her thirties, with her hair simply styled in a cloud bun. Although her features were merely average, her figure was slender, and with her gentle gaze and soft expression, she evoked a sense of familiarity at first sight

Ren Tianqi smiled and said, "Child wishes to ask San Niang to inform Da Niang that in the afternoon, Old Wang will take care of fetching water from the well for each household, as he has plenty of strength. This way, the child can have some time to rest."

Ren Tianqi responded in a muffled voice, having lifted the thick curtain and entered the inner room. The room was not large; at the far wall stood a Buddhist altar, housing a wooden statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, exquisitely carved. The statue was adorned with jewels, its features dignified and plump, holding a pure vase with a willow branch inserted in it, exuding a solemn and benevolent presence. Beneath the altar, two oil lamps were lit, and there was also a kneeling mat.

Ren Tianqi, by nature, had little affinity for the study of books. Upon hearing that Fan Lijuan was going to test him, he felt a sense of unease. He quickly said, "Second Mother, I have a bit of a headache today. The characters I learned yesterday are deeply embedded in my mind and I can't seem to extract them for the time being. It would be better for me to listen to your stories instead."

The woman had been waiting for Ren Tianqi. Upon seeing him come out, she approached and said, "Tianqi, you have finally come out." Her voice was soft and gentle.

Zheng Bao'er, seeing that it was about time, wiped her tears and said: "Sir Shi, please do not be angry; I have accepted it, haven't I?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Tianqi felt a sudden jolt in his heart and thought to himself, "Oh no, this is a big problem. San Niang doesn't even want to give that one or two silver coins, and it might end up like last time when she just gave me a sugar figurine and considered everything settled." Although he was young, his intelligence was not inferior to that of an ordinary adult. He quickly had a clever idea and chuckled, "Indeed, indeed, San Niang has suffered a great loss. I might as well not keep this silver; I will dedicate it all to San Niang instead."

At this moment, Ren Tianqi's face was buried in Zheng Bao'er’s bosom, feeling soft and pleasantly plump. Remembering the events of last night, he was suddenly lost in thought, unable to help but fumble around on her chest, taking the opportunity to indulge himself. Zheng Bao'er quickly noticed this and silently cursed him in her heart, yet she dared not show it on her face. Tears streamed down like pearls, resembling a rain-soaked pear blossom, and she occasionally caressed Ren Tianqi's back, saying, "Good child, my good child, mother cannot be without you."

He took a towel, went to the well in the yard to draw water and wash his face and feet, then returned to bed and fell asleep immediately. As for the matters of tomorrow, he was already well aware of them, and there was no need for any rehearsal.

After a good night's sleep, before dawn the next day, Ren Tianqi got up. Old Wang, the turtle man, was responsible for cooking breakfast for the prostitutes, while he had to take care of chores like chopping firewood and fetching water. Throughout the year, except for three days of rest during the Lunar New Year, every day was a repetition of this routine. However, he knew that today he had to feign misery in front of Zheng Bao'er’s guests, so he still wore that old outfit from the past

Ren Tianqi knew it was his turn to appear, so he tousled his hair a bit more and walked in. He saw Zheng Bao'er, who looked sickly, sitting beside a middle-aged man of medium build, dressed in a royal blue silk long gown, at the head of the bed. Zheng Bao'er had her delicate brows furrowed, her face full of sorrow, her fragrant shoulders trembling, and tears streaming down her face. The gentleman, Shi Er, was gently comforting her by caressing her shoulder and speaking softly.

Fan Lijuan frowned and said, "What is so enjoyable about those stories of fighting and killing? I would rather tell you the story of Zhou Chu's reformation."

Zheng Bao'er had long known that Master Shi Er was a person of a very soft heart; otherwise, he would not have set up this situation. However, she did not expect him to be so generous as to give her a jade pendant worth twenty taels of silver, which was already enough for an ordinary family to use for a year. She was truly overjoyed in her heart, yet she did not dare to show any expression on her face. Pushing aside Ren Tianqi, she did not reach out to take it, but instead spoke in a very delicate voice: "No, Master Shi Er, this cannot be. You have already spent quite a bit of silver on me these days; how can I allow you to spend so much more?"

At that moment, Zheng Bao'er suddenly began to cough, and it became increasingly uncontrollable and louder. She took out a handkerchief to cover her mouth. After a long while, the coughing finally ceased, and Zheng Bao'er, looking somewhat flustered, hid the handkerchief behind her. However, Ren Tianqi inadvertently caught sight of it and exclaimed, "Mom, what is that on your handkerchief"

Ren Tianqi could not afford to indulge in the visual feast, so he closed the door and said softly: "Third Sister, how did I perform in yesterday's play?"

Zheng Bao'er looked at Ren Tianqi with a face full of affection, inviting him to sit beside her, and embraced him, saying: "Good child, with you caring for your mother like this, I would be content even if I were to die." As she spoke, she began to cough weakly, then smiled bitterly at the gentleman Shi Er beside her, saying: "This is the little Ming I told you about, who has been filial and obedient since childhood. Unfortunately, he has contracted a strange illness. I called a doctor to take a look, and he said it is treatable, but in such a small place as ours, it is not feasible. Once I save enough money, I will take him to the capital to find a renowned physician." She then added: "Little Ming, this is your Uncle Shi, who has been very good to your mother. He will be leaving tomorrow, so you should bow to him."

Zheng Bao'er opened her eyes, remaining still, and said: "Little brat, stop with the nonsense. You're really impatient, can't even wait half a moment. As soon as that Gu leaves, you come to collect money. Fine, I'll give you one or two taels of silver, but it will be the end of you, you little rascal."

Ren Tianqi, upon seeing this woman, displayed a somewhat diminished expression of cunning and said: "Second Mistress, why are you standing here?" His demeanor was much more respectful compared to when he was with Bai Fangfang and Zheng Bao'er

Ren Tianqi understood that Zheng Bao'er was being unreasonable and did not want to give him so much silver. He initially wanted to throw a tantrum, but suddenly recalled what the old lady had said about how a good man does not suffer losses in front of him, and that one's arms cannot twist the thigh. He immediately suppressed his anger, but then heard Zheng Bao'er muttering to herself: "The more I think about it, the more I feel at a disadvantage. For an ugly creature like you to lay hands on me, I should actually charge more; that would be the proper deal."

Fan Lijuan hurriedly said: "Don't speak carelessly; whether Guanyin Bodhisattva manifests is a matter of fate." After saying this, she smiled and continued: "Tianqi, come here. I have some free time, so I made you a complete outfit. Come and try it on."

Such sounds had been familiar to Si Kong since childhood, but for some reason, ever since he saw Zheng Bao'er’s bosom tonight, he felt something was off all over. As these sounds entered his ears, he began to feel parched and his steps gradually slowed down, wishing that Xia Xiang would call out a few more times, her voice a little louder.

At this moment, Ren Tianqi is unable to distinguish between good and evil, and he secretly thinks: "It doesn't matter if one turns bad; the key is whether one can make a fortune. Third Sister is much wealthier than Second Sister, so in the future, I should learn more from Third Sister."

Ren Tianqi agreed and said goodnight to Erniang, then walked out of the room. Upon reaching his own room, he found it to be a small space right next to the woodshed. Aside from a small bed, there was no room for anything else.

Ren Tianqi was taken aback and said, "That's not right, San Niang. That Gu surname person clearly stated that the jade pendant given to you is worth twenty taels of silver, so the commission should naturally be two taels of silver. Why is it only one tael?"

Ren Tianqi had been watching the movements inside the house from the yard. After a while, he heard Zheng Bao'er calling from inside the house: "Xiao Ming, Xiao Ming, come in for a moment"

It turns out that Fan Lijuan was originally the daughter of a poor scholar from Shanxi. Her father had been ill for many years and could not afford treatment. In desperation, he sold his fifteen-year-old daughter to a merchant as a concubine. Due to her gentle and docile nature, as well as her knowledge of poetry and literature, she won the merchant's favor. However, she became the target of jealousy from the merchant's legitimate wife. Taking advantage of the merchant's absence on business, the wife sold Fan Lijuan to another person, sending her to a brothel. After several transfers, she eventually arrived at "Chun Manyuan" in Hezhou, where her character was quite different from that of Bai and Zheng and other courtesans.

Ren Tianqi said: "Let’s talk about the ambush of ten sides that Han Xin used to defeat the King of Chu. "

Ren Tianqi understood that although Erniang was a courtesan, she was honest and despised deceit. Once she took things seriously, his own one-tenth of the benefit could easily go down the drain. He would never admit it; after all, he was not worried about blushing from lying. He quickly said, "No, no, San Niang asked me to go to 'Hongzhuangzhai' tomorrow to buy rouge for her."

Ren Tianqi exclaimed, "This matter concerning the surname Zhou has been discussed several times already; my ears are about to develop calluses from listening so much"

Ren Tianqi said: "Since Second Sister has given her instructions, I certainly do not dare to entertain any improper thoughts. That is with utmost sincerity; Guanyin Bodhisattva will surely be moved and manifest her divine presence."

Then the second official, completely unaware that he had been taken for a ride, laughed heartily as he patted Zheng Bao'er on the shoulder and said: "That's right, that's right, Bao'er, just like that. It's just that I have almost used up what I brought this time. Next time I come, I will definitely bring you more."

Upon arriving at Fan Lijuan's room, the furnishings inside were quite similar to those in Zheng Bao'er’s place, except that it seemed to have an additional room, which was densely separated by thick curtains.

Fan Lijuan then felt relieved, nodding and saying: "That's good. Tianqi, growing up in such an environment, with your aunt and third aunt being like that... Second aunt is truly worried that you might turn out bad. What will happen when you grow up in the future"

Upon arriving outside, Fan Lijuan approached holding a set of clothes and a pair of shoes, saying: "Tianqi, do you sincerely worship the Buddha?"

Fan Lijuan said, "This story may be useful to you in the future; listening to it a few more times won't hurt." Upon seeing Ren Tianqi's impatient expression, she continued, "Alright, I won't talk about Zhou Chu's reformation today; instead, let me tell you the story of how the Buddha cut his flesh to feed an eagle."

Fan Lijuan looked at Ren Tianqi's joyful expression and felt happy in her heart as well. However, upon seeing the redness all over his face, she thought about the many hardships and difficulties this child would inevitably face in the future, which brought a deep pang of sorrow. Fearing that Ren Tianqi might see through her thoughts, she forced a smile and said, "It's nothing. As long as you behave and study well, your second mother will give you an even better set when the New Year's Eve comes. If you're tired, you can go to sleep now."

At that moment, Tianqi threw himself into Zheng Bao'er’s arms, crying out loudly: "Mom, Mom, I don’t want to be treated, I don’t want to be treated, I just want you to be well. If you die, what will I do? The people outside will bully me." Zheng Bao'er, holding Tianqi, also cried out: "Child, my unfortunate child." The two "mother and son" wept bitterly, and the scene was truly one of unparalleled sorrow and despair.

Ren Tianqi sighed and said: "Third Lady, it is not right for me to ask for money, nor is it right for me to refuse it. You truly put me in a difficult position. In fact, it is nothing much. The next time you go to cry and shed tears to someone like Master Ma Er or Master Zhao Er, I will definitely come to your room to hand you a handkerchief and offer some comfort to you, Third Lady."

Zheng Bao'er suddenly sat up in bed and said: "Pah, what twenty taels of silver? If this broken jade pendant is worth ten taels of silver, I would be laughing secretly. Moreover, even if it were worth that much, how should we account for the fact that you were rubbing it against my chest last night? My tofu is not something that can be taken for free."

When the official Shi Er saw Zheng Bao'er in this state, he was also greatly astonished and hurriedly stood up, saying: "Bao'er, Bao'er, what is wrong? Do you need to find a doctor to take a look?"

On the morning of the second day, Mr. Shi Er took his leave and set off back to Suzhou, leaving Tian Qi preoccupied with his share of silver. As soon as he stepped out of the room, he slipped into Zheng Bao'er’s chamber, only to find her hair disheveled, lazily lying on the bed, her clothes in disarray, with a large portion of her snow-white body exposed beyond the brocade quilt. Her eyes were half-closed, and a satisfied smile lingered on her face.

Zheng Bao'er said: "Speak quickly if you have something to say, and let it out if you have something to release. I spent the whole night with that surname Gu, and now my back is sore and I'm extremely tired."

Zheng Bao'er weakly waved her hand and said: "Master Shi, I am fine, it’s just an old ailment. It will get better with time. It doesn’t matter if I suffer, but I need to save money for Xiao Ming's treatment. He is still so young and will need to get married and have children in the future. His illness must be treated without fail"

Fan Lijuan glanced at his appearance and, not wanting him to be too tired, said: "Alright, you should go inside and pay your respects to Guanyin Bodhisattva before going to sleep. Remember, you must be sincere; otherwise, the Bodhisattva will not bless you"

Seeing that Zheng Bao'er was momentarily speechless, Ren Tianqi continued: "I know that San Niang will definitely agree to this. Among all in the courtyard, your influence is the greatest, and your business is the best. If it weren't for you, our 'Chun Manyuan' would have long been closed for good. The matron will certainly give you some leeway and will listen to your words. Moreover, this won't cost a single penny; it only requires you to use your persuasive skills, San Niang."

When the second official saw Zheng Bao'er looking so timid, his spirits soared even higher. He quickly shoved the jade pendant into her hand and said, "Bao'er, why are you still saying such things to me? Quickly take it, quickly take it. If you refuse, I might just get angry with you."

In front of a copper mirror in the room, Ren Tianqi, with a beaming smile, jumped to Fan Lijuan's side and said, "Thank you, Second Mother, thank you, Second Mother, you are the most caring for me. Every time, it is you who makes new clothes for me. The money from the First Mother and the Third Mother is better than yours, but they never take care of me." This statement was indeed true. In Sichuan, a courtesan receives a share of the commission from each client, while Fan Lijuan, by nature, is dignified and does not resort to deceitful flattery during her interactions with clients, which inevitably makes her less appealing. As a result, she has the fewest clients in 'Chun Manyuan,' and her income is naturally not high.

Fan Lijuan first had Ren Tianqi sit by the table in the room, poured him a glass of water, and then sat down herself, gazing at him and saying: "Tianqi, has your third aunt made you partner with her again to swindle money from the guests"

Ren Tianqi nearly fainted upon hearing her bring up this account, feeling both anxious and angry. "Fine, if you want to calculate it, let’s do it. A guest outside pays only two hundred copper coins for a night, and you still want to ask me for one tael of silver."

Ren Tianqi secretly found it amusing. He had partnered with Zheng Bao'er more than once, so there was naturally no need for her to teach him. Approaching Zheng Bao'er, he said: "Mother, what is it that you need from me? Mother, why are you crying again? You just cried yesterday. If this continues, you will harm your health with all this crying." As he spoke, he blinked his eyes, as if he too was about to cry.

Hearing this, Zheng Bao'er first felt a surge of joy in her heart, but then she thought to herself: "No, something's not right; the sun is rising from the west. This little rascal is not the type to be so generous and willing to suffer a loss; he must have ulterior motives." She then said: "You little brat, what exactly are you trying to pull?"

Fan Lijuan noticed that Ren Tianqi was silent, yet his eyes sparkled, leading her to believe he was contemplating her words. She smiled slightly and said, "In fact, it doesn't matter what kind of environment one lives in. Even the sages have said, 'There are no distinctions in teaching.' As long as you are willing to put in the effort, there is no telling what you might achieve in the future. By the way, do you remember the characters I taught you yesterday? Let Erniang test you."

Ren Tianqi, upon hearing that there were new clothes to wear, hurried over and changed into them. Although they were still made of coarse cloth and shoes, they were much more splendid than what he had worn before

In the midst of busyness, as evening arrived, the guest that Zheng Bao'er had been waiting for indeed came. He was a man from Suzhou, named Shi Er Guanjin. In the past, he had frequented Zheng Bao'er, and this time he had come to Hezhou Prefecture on business, recalling her and returning to enjoy her company once more. He had already visited several nights, yet he had never paid attention to Tian Qi.

Ren Tianqi quickly stood up and knelt respectfully in front of the official Shi Er, bowing three times with great reverence. Official Shi Er wanted to help him up, but upon seeing the terrifying red spots on his face, he was unsure of what kind of illness it was and whether it might be contagious. He quickly withdrew his hand and simply said, "This... this, Bao'er, you are a very good child, very good, and you understand etiquette well"

When the second official saw the tragic state of the mother and child, he was also moved. He clasped his hands behind his back and let out a long sigh, saying, "How pitiful, how pitiful." He took off a smooth, pure white jade pendant that was hanging from his belt and handed it to Zheng Bao'er, saying, "Bao'er, our meeting is indeed fated. You are a pitiful person, but unfortunately, I cannot help you much. This jade pendant cost me twenty taels of silver. Take it for now; it may help you in times of need."

Ren Tianqi ultimately suffered a loss of one or two taels of silver, feeling a great pain in his heart. His thoughts flashed like lightning as he pondered how to recover it. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he said: "I still wish to ask Third Lady for a favor."

Zheng Bao'er coldly smiled and said: "If I want someone to patronize me, the price will naturally be a bit cheaper. However, if I do not wish for someone to patronize me, then the price will be quite different. One or two taels of silver, I would still find that insufficient."