Chapter 78: Zizhan
The one speaking was a richly dressed middle-aged fat man. Just by looking at the expensive ornaments all over his body, one could tell he was very wealthy. Now being rejected by a zither player, he couldn’t keep face.
As soon as Zhong Chushan finished speaking, the several middle-aged men next to Master Zhou showed mocking expressions and deliberately said unpleasant words to provoke, making Master Zhou even more unable to get off the stage.
Master Zhou slapped the table and loudly said: “If you play a melody, I’ll give you one hundred taels of silver.”
Zhou Wangshu hadn’t reacted to these words yet when Su Yaoguang from the Peony Pavilion next to him clicked her tongue and enviously said: “Play one melody and earn one hundred taels. Why didn’t I learn this skill back then?”
After all, she had been the Top Scholar’s wife for several years, spending all her time every day on how to do makeup, how to please men, yet not knowing to learn some talent to rely on. What a miscalculation.
Most importantly, these talents earn money easily.
Zhou Wangshu heard Su Yaoguang’s words clearly.
Although he didn’t see her appearance, it wasn’t hard to imagine her money grubber look.
If he didn’t want to expose his identity, he would have earned this one hundred taels of silver. After all, he knew better than anyone how important silver was. Unfortunately, once there was a first time, there would be a second. If anyone came here to throw silver at him, his identity would eventually be exposed. He must earn money low-key now; he couldn’t earn that dangerous silver.
“Distinguished guest, it’s not that Zi Zhan is unwilling to celebrate your mother’s birthday. It’s just that Zi Zhan set a rule before and can’t break his word and get fat. How about this: today Zi Zhan will play a melody for your father, considering it an early birthday celebration for him. Since the distinguished guest is so filial, I will gift the distinguished guest a ‘Bodhi Heart Sutra’ composed by the Buddhist Holy Monk ‘Silent’ Master, to add fortune and longevity for your father.”
After that gentle voice finished speaking, the calming Buddhist zither melody flowed into everyone’s hearts like a stream. Master Zhou sat down, his originally furious expression calming down.
Su Yaoguang drifted away with the zither music, as if seeing her former unwilling self facing death. This melody reminded her of many past events.
“Cousin, what’s wrong with you?” Jia Chunni asked.
Su Yaoguang then realized she was already in tears.
She wiped her tears and said: “It’s nothing, just too moved.”
Jia Chunni said sentimentally: “I just remembered those days of starving, being beaten and scolded by Grandma, my dad, and Second Aunt Su. But strangely, later those memories seemed less important, like those people were unrelated strangers, no need to keep them in mind.”
“This melody can soothe the heart; as expected from the Holy Monk.”
When the melody ended, everyone was dazed for a long time. Until the shopkeeper spoke up, breaking the eerie silence.
“Distinguished guests, Zi Zhan Young Master has finished today’s performance. Please continue enjoying the other songs and dances.”
“Shopkeeper, I have fifty taels here. Help me pass it to that Zi Zhan Young Master. The melody he played for my old lady was good. Although my old lady didn’t hear it, we must accept this good fortune.”
The shopkeeper smilingly agreed and generously said: “Today, all alcoholic beverages for Yuanwai are half off, as an early congratulations from our small shop to the Old Madam.”
This customer disturbance ended just like that, handled perfectly without offending the customers or harming the day’s business.
Su Yaoguang stood at the doorway and saw the shopkeeper deliver Master Zhou’s silver to the dormitory room next door. When he came out, she waved to the shopkeeper: “Shopkeeper…”
The shopkeeper walked over and smilingly said: “What instructions does the customer have?”
“I want to talk business with you.” Su Yaoguang said, “Just now I saw the young ladies in your shop; each one is beautiful like a fairy, but compared to other dance halls, they still fall a bit short.”
“The distinguished guest means…”
Su Yaoguang removed her veiled hat, revealing her exquisite makeup.
She also removed Jia Chunni’s veiled hat.
Jia Chunni had also done makeup, but it was completely different from hers.
“What do you think of our makeup?”
The shopkeeper looked at the two and said: “The two young ladies’ makeup is very unique; it can be said to be stunning. I’ve never seen such makeup before.”
“I know other makeup styles that can give the young ladies in your shop a style different from other dance halls. I’ll teach you these makeup techniques: two taels of silver per style. Want it or not?”
Jia Chunni looked at Su Yaoguang with adoring eyes.
Cousin is too amazing!
She originally thought she came here for amusement and had felt sorry for the three hundred copper coins spent on pastries and one hundred copper coins on tea earlier. Turns out she was wrong; Cousin is a money-making genius.
The shopkeeper looked at Su Yaoguang, hesitating again and again. At this time, Chen Buyu’s voice came from the dormitory room next door: “Agree to her.”
“Young owner, two taels per makeup style. From what this young lady means, there are probably no fewer than five styles; that’s tens of taels of silver.” The shopkeeper said to Chen Buyu.
“Can’t a dance hall as big as ours afford tens of taels of silver?” Chen Buyu said disdainfully, “What this young master wants is uniqueness. Since there’s something unique, why not agree?”
“The young owner is truly generous. With a young owner like you, the dance hall will surely become famous and the most prosperous here.”
Su Yaoguang followed the shopkeeper to the backstage. As soon as she left, Chen Buyu said: “Brother Wangshu, your young wife is really interesting.”
“We should go back.” Zhong Chushan reminded Zhou Wangshu.
Zhou Wangshu wasn’t in a hurry and said: “Wait a bit more.”
“You want to see your family’s young wife?” Zhong Chushan asked. “Then don’t hide; just meet her directly. Once you meet her sooner, we can return to the academy sooner.”
“Won’t meet.” Zhou Wangshu said. “Selling makeup techniques is secondary; her main purpose should be to sell cosmetics. In a bit, take all the silver I earned and buy the cosmetics she has, consider it as me giving her all the silver.”
The shopkeeper came over and said that after Su Yaoguang did makeup for the dancers, the dancers were very interested in her cosmetics, and already eight dancers had ordered her products.
“Order three sets in the dance hall’s name for the dancers who need to perform on stage, and two sets in my personal name to send to my mom and my sister.” Chen Buyu said.
Zhong Chushan said: “Order one set for me too!”
Zhou Wangshu didn’t leave in a hurry but waited until Su Yaoguang and her cousin left before packing up and leaving.
He stood by the window, looking at Su Yaoguang’s joyful figure.
Her courage is really big; to earn money, she dares to venture into any place and earn any money.
However, if not for this personality, she wouldn’t have risked saving him when he was dying. He owed her a life and would repay her one day. For now, let him borrow her place to hide from disaster a bit longer!
Older sister? If that’s what she wants, it’s not impossible. After he gets revenge and luckily survives, he’ll recognize her as sister and let her enjoy glory and wealth.
