Chapter 239: Hipa
“Everyone is very busy but no one has time to play house with you.” Luo Zhi’er twitched her mustache, roughening her voice and shouting loudly.
Mei Lan was intimidated by her aura and momentarily stunned.
“Mei Lan young woman, you are already sixteen years old. This is your last chance. Do you think you’ll be able to make a comeback if you miss Young Master Jiang?”
A courtesan’s age is fixed at sixteen. After this year, she would have no chance.
Mei Lan trembled all over, let out a light laugh, and suddenly revealed a hint of coquettishness on her face. “Luo Erye, Mei Lan has been taught!”
Shattered bones and rebirth—shattering her illusions of self-esteem was rebirth.
This would probably also sever that sliver of affection for Jiang Shaoqing, after all, Jiang Shaoqing had taken a liking to her initially because of this.
The courtesan exam has three subjects: appearance, literature poetry and painting, silk and bamboo song and dance.
For appearance, the figure and posture must naturally be excellent, with a beautiful face, fair skin, slender soft waist, glossy black hair, down to the teeth and every pore on the face being bright and clean. Her features look quite good upon close inspection.
Mei Lan’s face might have some small scratches from previous injuries, and her hair needs more conditioning. As long as she applies a bit of modern makeup, she will absolutely stun everyone. Judging by the recovery of her wounds, Jiang Shaoqing has put effort into this aspect.
For zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, she has been immersed in it since childhood. With a little focus, her knowledge would naturally be deeper than that of other women from lower classes in the brothel.
But for safety’s sake, she still gave her a few millennial poetic masterpieces passed down from the modern era to memorize in case of need!
As for silk and bamboo song and dance, her specialty is dance. After watching her perform the Jing Hong Dance, Luo Zhi’er offered no comment.
Her dance posture was as light as an elf, every turn exuding elegance, every bend and stretch full of resilience.
There was a hint of pride in Mei Lan’s eyes—this was her strong suit. In Yangzhou, she was number one, with no one second.
But Luo Erye’s eyes always seemed to sense something off, not quite there. Mei Lan was unconvinced by her lack of shock or praise.
She raised her hand, struck a pose, and began dancing the Niaoshang Feather Garment Dance, her movements full of liveliness and vitality…
Like a beautiful butterfly dancing among flowers, every step and every turn conveying a profound beauty.
She finished the dance in one go, stopped panting, and looked at Luo Zhi’er, still awaiting her praise!
Instead, the other two young masters showed unmistakable admiration in their eyes.
Jiang Shaoqing had seen these two dances and was very satisfied. Previously, there was no coquettishness in her eyes, but now she seemed reborn, like a fairy in a painting.
Luo Zhi’er said indifferently, “Mei Lan young woman, do all the girls in Gui Xiang Lou have their own unique characteristics?”
“Naturally.” Mei Lan’s tone clearly showed her defiance toward her; she was now at odds with her.
“Then do you think the characteristics on her body can sustain the attraction of the same guest for long?”
“Heh, men in the world are fickle, let alone men who come to places like brothels for entertainment. They will soon be drawn to fresh flesh. How long can it last?” Mei Lan was not afraid to offend; she saw things very clearly in this place.
“Then, if one increases their own attractiveness and charm, wouldn’t that extend the time they are favored and frequented a bit longer?”
“Luo Erye, please enlighten me.”
“For example, your strength is dancing, but the Jing Hong Dance and Feather Garment Niaoshang Dance you dance were choreographed by others…”
“Because they are very famous, many people have danced them, so they lack novelty. But if you dance a new style of dance that you choreograph yourself, wouldn’t it cause even more of a sensation?”
“This…”
She wasn’t incapable of choreographing her own; it was just that time was short, and it needed to be novel in style, something that could make one famous at a glance. That was too difficult. She had been exposed to this style since childhood—how much more novel could it be?
“Furthermore, if a woman’s personality and makeup are ever-changing, she can be elegant yet seductive, and occasionally pure and ethereal, unpredictable. These different traits appearing on the same person, each being the real you at different times—isn’t that more attractive?”
Several people brightened up at the same time, the two men especially shocked and suspicious. How did a village woman understand men so well?
Fortunately, she was a fatty. What if her appearance were beautiful? Wouldn’t she toy with men in the palm of her hand?
“Any difficulties?”
“Mei Lan agrees with Luo Erye’s view, but Mei Lan currently lacks this trait and cannot choreograph the dance Luo Erye mentioned!”
“You can practice and imitate the trait. You have an environmental advantage—observe the excellent traits that attract guests in every woman in Gui Xiang Lou, and apply them to yourself; that becomes you. As for the dance, it’s also very simple!”
Mei Lan was unconvinced inside. She felt Luo Erye was right, but he was too boastful. Even if right, learning dance wasn’t easy when she had practiced since childhood.
Hah! Ever-changing, unpredictable traits—for now, she hadn’t seen any young woman so versatile. The procuress had a bit of it, but it didn’t attract guests at all.
“Time is tight. Even if Mei Lan could choreograph something satisfactory, it would be close to the Flower God Festival by then. Even if Young Master Jiang has the means to invite a famous dance master to teach, it might not be in time.”
Jiang Shaoqing nodded as well.
“Let this second master think…”
Luo Zhi’er stroked her little mustache, pacing back and forth in the room. She looked at the space, suddenly moved the tables and stools aside, took off her jacket and tied it around her waist, then wore her hat backwards on her head in an odd way.
Fortunately, she was dressed as a man today, with loose clothes. The pant legs were wide and comfortable, though her chest was tightly bound.
“Mei Lan, watch closely. A woman can be seductive, or very cool! Explosive! Arrogant!!!”
Before anyone could react, she began jumping and dancing crisply and neatly, to a song “never say goodbye”.
She sang the lyrics from her mouth, using hands, feet, and whole body in sync with the song’s movements.
“you never say goodbye, shout dong press mang ha ni, wu du kao ni wo jia, ta xi sing ga kai ji man, ong chu su nao gai sao, ong tong ge dai sing ga, ha su ba gai ao nen, nai jia xi mi wo, don’t you let me go, baby
don’t you let me go down!”
When she finished, everyone was greatly shocked and hadn’t reacted yet. What happened? What was this? Such strange lyrics, such a dance… impossible to look away from…
Though Luo Zhi’er was fat, her strength was sufficient, making her movements smooth and attractive.
After a while, Mei Lan slowly spoke, “Young master, what dance is this?”
“Call it hipa for now.”
“Hipa?”
Such a strange name.
“Right!”
“Luo Erye, you, you have made Mei Lan willingly concede defeat!”
“Heh, small feat. Can you dance this type?” Luo Zhi’er scratched behind her ear.
“Mei Lan can learn.”
“Young Master Jiang, Young Master Ye, what do you think?”
“Excellent!” The two said in unison, the shock in their eyes not yet faded.
This was something she came up with by messing around at home when bored?
“Good! I’ll teach you then.”
“Like this: right jump, left jump, back jump, at attention, right foot step back, left foot step back, then forward, lift leg to the left, slide step backward…”
Mei Lan young woman learned very seriously. Luo Zhi’er wrote the lyrics for her, but the clothes weren’t suitable, and her style was exactly like Luo Zhi’er’s.
Luo Zhi’er was roguish and casual; even a random pose was cool.
But Mei Lan’s movements were too elegant and ladylike, lacking that arrogant vibe. She was starting to get discouraged…
“Luo Erye, Mei Lan seems unable…”
“Mei Lan, don’t get discouraged. Just imagine yourself as a street thug, a good-for-nothing little hooligan. You’re very cool, fearless of heaven and earth. I’m the best, old lady! Though our bodies are confined to this land of fireworks, our thoughts and souls are free!”
“Good!”
The next dances gradually captured that feeling.
Mei Lan had practiced dance since childhood, so in just over an hour, she had memorized the movements pretty well.
Next was to familiarize with the movements and lyrics, and continue finding that feeling—this was what she needed to do recently!
Luo Zhi’er watched her dance, eyes fixed on her chest, in contemplation. Mei Lan turned red then pale with anger—this Luo Erye couldn’t change the fact that he was a lecher…
Before leaving, she had Mei Lan fetch paper and pen, drew a bustier on the paper, and handed it to Jiang Shaoqing. “Brother Jiang, measure Mei Lan young woman’s size. Take this to the clothing workshop to have it made.”
Jiang Shaoqing took it and glanced, nearly spraying the tea in his mouth onto Ye Beiyao. Ye Beiyao leaned in curiously, then instantly blushed from face to ears.
Luo Zhi’er saw their worldly reaction and felt contempt.
If this weren’t a feudal conservative ancient society, she could even help him put on a bikini show.
Glancing at the clueless tea-spraying Jiang Shaoqing and the dumbstruck Ye Beiyao, the two silly boys were stunned just by the drawing.
Thinking of that blood-boiling Victoria’s Secret show, displaying women’s healthy, confident, sunny, great figures to the fullest!
If they saw that, they would nosebleed for sure.
Who made this an evil feudal society, causing that kid Jiang Shaoqing to miss out on a valuable money-making livelihood.
