Chapter forty

This was the day Caihong could go out of the house to stroll in the market. The girl felt fresh when she left the cage. Her face was full of light like the flower bud about to bloom. However, she had to be careful as she could not disclose her identity as one of the daughters of Yang.

In the trading site, the place that the younger girl liked to visit was the embroidery store.

While she was viewing the craft, the beautiful flower of Wan Hau Lou appeared with a maid beside her.

"Young lady Yang," Yang Ying said.

"Miss Yang Ying, hello," Caihong said.

"It's a coincidence." Yang Ying smiled. "Do you come to buy food?"

"No." Caihong shook her head. "I just came to buy some stuff for myself. What about you?"

"I came to buy some vegetables for Wan Hau Lou."

"Here there are vegetable stores." Caihong pointed to the opposite stores.

"I usually bought from those stores," Yang Ying said and walked to the stalls that were about a few meters from the knitting store.

"Are their vegetables good?"

"It's like other stores."

"Then why do you buy them?"

"Because the owners of these stalls hire the land from young lady Wu's family."

Caihong shrank her eyes, "Just because of this reason?"

The pretty hostess didn't reply yet, just smiled at the female asker. She chose the green plants from the stall, then she left duty to her maid, and strolled with the daughter of the rich.

"Father of young lady Wu has rented his lands to the poor farmers. Though the price was low, they had to earn to pay and to support their families. Those farmers come to sell their vegetables here. Young lady Wu is a regular customer of Wan Hau Lou and she has helped us a lot. We want to pay for her kindness, so we help buy the vegetables from the farmers that hire the lands from her family. Within such a way, the farmers will have money to pay for the lands and young lady Wu's house will get money as well."

Hearing that the lady who liked to disturb her helped the shelter of courtesan, Caihong was surprised. However, it was interesting news, and to eliminate the doubt, she agreed to have tea with the female entertainer at a store on the street and listen to her narration.

"When Wan Hau Lou arrived in the city, there were a few guests. We worked hard to promote for many months to get famous. Then a lot of guests came to us. It is good for the women in the house but also it is bad. You know clearly that being a geisha is priceless. The men who come usually think that they pay us, so they can do whatever they want. They scold us when we cannot do what they want us to do, some hit us when we refuse to follow them. Though we have guards, we cannot stop them. But since young lady Wu showed up, those men don't have a grudge to treat us badly anymore. Young lady Wu is a good person. She helps us, protects us, she never looks down on us, she sees us as a human like others. My other sisters and I can have a better life, thanks to her."

"I don't want to believe that," Caihong said.

"Young lady Wu is the daughter of the high ranking governor. Of course she is a little bit aggressive, but she is a straightforward person. She speaks and acts honestly, perhaps this is a reason you think she is rude and bad, but her heart is very good."

"I can't find what you said over her body, even a small piece."

"It's true. She is a caring and sweet person, but she doesn't like to show. If you get closer to her, you will perceive that she is not like what your eyes see."

"Just this is enough; I don't want to get close to her."

Yang Ying showed a low voice of chuckle as she heard the words of the second daughter of Yang.

At that time, a maid of the Yang house came to the girl and said, "Second miss, do you buy your stuff already?"

"I bought the embroidery stuff already, but I haven't bought soil for my flowers yet," Caihong stated.

"Money that the eldest madam gave remains very little, and we have to buy more food, so you have to buy the soil next time."

"Okay." Caihong nodded her head.

It was a little bit strange for Yang Ying to see the maid holding the money and commanding their master's daughter; nonetheless, about this matter she didn't think she should ask.

After the maid left, the female entertainer asked the second offspring of Yang, "Young lady Yang, you know how to do embroidery, don't you?"

"Yes, but not skillful. My wet nurse taught me."

"I see." Yang Ying wagged her head. She was silent for a few seconds, then stated, "Last night young lady Wu came to Wan Hau Lou. She drank a lot."

"Wu Lantian drank a lot of wine?"

"Yes."

Strange! Hearing that, the heart of the girly seemed to be a little bit worried.

"Do you know why?" She hurriedly asked.

"I don't know." Yang Ying shook her head. "I did not dare to ask because she did not like anyone to question her. She drank, then she left."

"Um." Caihong swung her head slightly.

At that time, the maid of Yang Ying came to tell, "Miss, the guard from Wan Hau Lou informed that doctor Ming had arrived."

"Um." Yang Ying wagged her head then turned to Caihong, "Young lady Yang, I have to go now. See you next time."

"Yes. See you."

After the female friend went away, Caihong finished her tea then went to join her house's maids.