Lai Zhen had come to deliver a message. Hong Chu was free today—better to act than to pick another date—so they would meet tonight at Xiangman Tower.
Li Feng asked Lai Zhen, “Does no one in your household keep him in check?”
Lai Zhen lifted his chin arrogantly. “In our family, the eldest young master makes the decisions.”
Li Feng: “…”
Fine, then. Off to the pleasure house they would go.
Since a guest had come, he had to be kept for tea. Lu Yang had good tea on hand, so he brewed a pot for Lai Zhen. There were no pastries prepared at home, but a few buns from the morning were still left. Feeling them, he found they were still warm, so he brought them out to make do.
Lai Zhen was not picky. Drinking tea and eating buns, he said, “My young master has reserved the whole place. It is fine if you bring a few more people. The more the merrier.”
Shun Ge’er immediately cut in, “Me! Can I go too?”
Lai Zhen looked him over. “Are you Boss Li’s younger brother?”
Shun Ge’er shook his head. “No. I do not know him.”
Lu Yang, Lu Liu, and Li Feng: “…”
“If you are not his brother, then you are not my young master’s guest,” Lai Zhen said. “You are not invited.”
Shun Ge’er instantly changed his tune. “Yes, yes, I am his brother. His own younger brother!”
“My young master said Boss Li’s younger brother is not allowed,” Lai Zhen replied. “He still wants to live a few more years.”
Shun Ge’er: “…”
Lu Yang and Lu Liu burst out laughing, and Li Feng added insult to injury by smacking Shun Ge’er on the head.
“You unfilial brat. Denying your own brother over some stinking men.”
Shun Ge’er clutched his head, stamping his feet in grievance. Ah!
The news that they were going to a pleasure house that night shocked the four elders deeply.
Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian stared at the two boys, able only to say, “Is this really appropriate?”
Zhao Peilan said nothing in front of others, but later quietly asked Lu Yang, “Does A Yan know?”
Chen Guizhi looked around and asked, “Would it be inappropriate if I went?”
That single question shifted the focus at once. Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian were left speechless, four eyes fixed straight on her.
Zhao Peilan hurriedly pulled her aside. “No, no. If you leave, what are we supposed to do?”
Chen Guizhi had only said it in jest. That afternoon everyone gathered together, listening as Li Feng and Lu Yang described what Xiangman Tower was like inside—the furnishings, the number of people, the way they dressed, their temperaments.
It was rare to have dealings with such people. Lu Liu and Shun Ge’er listened with great interest.
Lu Liu had once gone to a teahouse to hear storytelling and had heard that such people could save up silver to redeem themselves.
So he asked curiously, “Can they really save money? I thought they were sold. Can they save their own silver?”
“They can,” Lu Yang said. “Everyone needs something to hope for. If they have a favored patron, that patron might help redeem them.”
Before they set out that evening, Lu Liu emptied his purse and tucked a few copper coins inside.
This was all silver Da Feng had earned. He could not spend it on other men.
Watching him count the coins and hearing his words, Li Feng felt greatly comforted.
They would not eat dinner at home—they were going to dine at Xiangman Tower.
When Xie Yan returned and heard about it, he hurriedly changed clothes, hooked his arm through Lu Yang’s, and declared that if they would not bring him along, he would follow anyway. As they walked, he kept muttering, “Such a pity about the two bowls of soup. Are we coming home tonight? If we do, we can still drink the soup.”
Whether they would return depended on whether Hong Chu enjoyed himself.
Of the four, only Lu Liu had never been to the flower district. As soon as they entered the street, he clung tightly to Li Feng’s arm, eyes darting everywhere. Red lanterns hung all around.
These lanterns were smaller than the ones he usually saw. Each bore a single character of the establishment’s name. From upstairs, people tossed down handkerchiefs and sachets; downstairs, others stood openly soliciting customers—quite literally pulling them inside. If one’s refusal was not firm enough, one might simply be kept for the night.
Lu Liu exclaimed “Wow” the entire way. When they reached Xiangman Tower, he stood at the entrance staring for a long while.
Since the place was reserved, no one was soliciting at the door. Two attendants waited outside. After Lu Yang presented the calling card, they were invited upstairs.
Xie Yan and Li Feng could not go up and had to remain seated in the main hall on the first floor.
Only one table had been set there, with two round stools prepared for Li Feng and Xie Yan.
Reluctantly, Lu Liu released Li Feng’s arm and immediately attached himself to his brother instead, clutching Lu Yang’s arm tightly.
In a private room upstairs, Hong Chu was already listening to a song.
He sat cross-legged on a cushion. A long table stood before him, enough for three people.
Seeing this, Lu Liu knew he should not cling to his brother. If he sat pressed against him, it would place his brother in the center, and that might displease Hong Chu.
So the brothers took seats at either end, placing Hong Chu in the middle.
After they were seated, Hong Chu clapped his hands. Six people entered from outside.
“The ones you ordered,” he said.
“I ordered them for you,” Lu Yang replied. “There are all kinds—strong, slender, refined, rough. Some can sing and play instruments, some can dance, and some can perform sword dances. What do you like?”
Seeing Lu Yang’s generous manner, Hong Chu said, “Then have them strip and dance. I heard Steward Hong say that men watch dances like that.”
Lu Yang had no objection.
Lu Liu had never seen such a thing before. Holding his teacup, his little face flushed red.
Lu Yang leaned over and teased him with a question. He broke into a grin at once—clearly excited.
So Lu Yang instructed, “Dance while you undress. Do not take it all off at once, and do not focus only on dancing. Let your expressions be more vivid. Do not be obsequious—be seductive. You understand?”
They understood. But their usual patrons were men; facing several young gentlemen, they were unexpectedly shy.
The reservation had been made days in advance, and word had spread throughout the establishment. Even so, when they came on stage, they were still astonished.
That astonishment lent them a touch of coyness, which happened to suit the mood.
Lu Yang said to Hong Chu, “I came a few days ago. There was not much to it. Those men drink wine, listen to music, receive a few flattering words, and are overcome with lust, pawing and embracing before heading off to do their business. There is nothing interesting about that.”
Hong Chu was not yet married and had only seen a few illustrated booklets.
Seeing how much men enjoyed sensuality, he had assumed it must be interesting.
Lu Yang smiled. “Different interests, different tastes. Compared to rushing into passion, I prefer watching people try to please me.”
Hong Chu clinked cups with him. “So do I.”
They both looked at Lu Liu, who held his teacup, watching with relish.
The dancers’ bodies were supple. As their waists swayed, garments slipped halfway down. There were six of them, moving in coordination, shifting positions, clasping hands, tugging at one another’s clothing. One layer fell, then another.
As they danced, they gradually entered the rhythm. Every gesture gained flavor. Whatever kind of man it was, once he swayed, he became enchanting.
In the mountain stronghold, Lu Liu had seen men of all kinds. Lately, while running their stall, most customers had been men as well. But he had never seen men wear such expressions. He found it fascinating.
Hong Chu turned to him and asked, “Little Lu Furen, which one do you like? Shall I call him to keep you company?”
Blushing, Lu Liu sipped his tea and politely declined.
“I will just watch. I have never seen this before. Heh heh.”
He could not tear his eyes away, smiling until his eyes curved into crescents.
Hong Chu glanced at him and saw that his gaze was full of pure appreciation, as though he were watching an opera. He could not help but laugh.
Before coming, Hong Chu had thought to himself that he could not do anything too outrageous. If he did so today, he might not be allowed out tomorrow. He had also thought that coming once would not be very interesting. After all, young gentlemen were different from men, bound by many more restraints.
Lu Yang set down his wine cup, stood, and held out his hand to pull him up.
“Can you dance? Let us dance too.”
Hong Chu arched a brow. “Like this?”
Lu Yang shook his head. “Of course not. Just for fun.”
Raised in a great family, Hong Chu was somewhat like Lu Yang in temperament, though less outgoing. In a place like this, he had enough dominance but lacked a certain boldness, and so he was not fully enjoying himself.
Lu Yang pulled him up. Hand in hand, the two of them hopped and twisted about at random.
