Chapter 4- Chaotic Flowers Confuse the Eye
Though located in the north, Tong’an’s summers were, surprisingly, frequented by rain.
Lu Cang sat in front of the desk in the four-sided courtyard house, watching the drip-dropping eaves. His mood had pretty much hit rock-bottom. He had already stayed in Tong’an for more than two months. When he had first arrived in Tong’an from Hangzhou, he had never imagined he would stay for so long, so he hadn’t much money on his person.
As of now, he had already written to Hangzhou telling them to bring him money, but meanwhile, before the money arrived, it was still prudent to spend a bit thriftier.
Because of this, Lu Cang had moved to the house near Yue Long Bridge. However, though he saved the inn money…
Living here…
Horrid memories were everywhere. That bed needn’t be mentioned; but why, even while strolling along the halls, gazing at the flowers, trees, and grass in yard, and sitting in the western auxiliary hall used for dining, were those filthy, depraved images emerging in his mind?
All this… could only be blamed on that freakish man’s extreme state of mutation! Remembering how last time, when the two of them ate together, Jing suddenly unleashed a surge of savage instinct and pressed him flat onto the table, Lu Cang’s face, once again, uncontrollably flushed red…
The only place left was the study…
He gave a bitter, humourless laugh at the fact that he slept on the floor though there was a bed (that bed would make him develop insomnia) and ate out instead of using the kitchen (though he had little money). This only served to darken his gloomy mood.
So bored…
Seemingly the heavens’ response to Lu Cang’s silent cries, the “knock knock” sound of someone rapping on the door broke through the quiet courtyard’s atmosphere out of the blue.
Lu Cang rose to his feet, puzzled. Jing never knocked when he visited…
Who could it be?
Lu Cang cautiously opened the door, and upon the sight of the man standing outside, all of his gloom immediately spread into a smile.
“Third Brother!”
He quickly caught the visitor in an embrace. The excitement of seeing one of his brothers from the mountain made Lu Cang forget that his visitor was wearing a straw rain cape[1] dripping with water. When he released his Third Brother, his own robes had also been soaked through.
But Lu Cang didn’t think much of it. He let go of his exhausted sworn brother[2] and helped him lead his horse into the yard.
“Third Brother, how come it’s you who came? It would’ve been fine to just have sent Xiao Sang.” Xiao Sang was Lu Cang’s personal attendant. Lu Cang, who was ever so intent on preserving his reputation, feared Xiao Sang would find out about the embarrassing situation between him and Jing, so he didn’t bring Xiao Sang with him to Tong’an.
This Mt. Lu Cang’s third-in-command was named Cao Xin, third in order of seniority, though he was really three years older than Big Brother Lu Cang. He was forthright in conduct, valued loyalty, and got along with Lu Cang the best out of all the others.
Seeing Lu Cang’s extreme excitement upon seeing him, Cao Xin flashed a sincere smile. “Big Brother hasn’t been back to the Stronghold for these past few months. You’ve made us really worried, so Second Brother told me to come see Big Brother in the capital and help out where I can…”
“Hehe…” After taking care of the horse, Cao Xin took off the rain cape, sat down in the study, and laughed stupidly before speaking. “Actually, it’s also because I’ve long since heard of the capital’s grandeur and wanted to come enjoy myself.”
“Hehehe…” He laughed dumbly a few more times, but Cao Xin soon found that after the initial thrill, Lu Cang had since then kept to a silent frown. Thinking Lu Cang was displeased that he was staying so long, the smile instantly disappeared from Cao Xin’s face. “Big Brother, is it inconvenient for me to stay…”
“No, no…what’re you talking about…” Lu Cang quickly mustered a smile and continued, “I was just lost in a moment of homesickness and got a bit melancholy. That’s all…” He looked down a slight bit, images of the glorious days being King at Mt. Lu Cang flashing through his head. Then, thinking of the tragic misfortunes in the capital, unavoidable sentimentality spouted up in his stomach.
Seeing that Lu Cang spoke endearingly, Cao Xin was also able to put down a huge boulder that had weighed down his heart. He had originally thought Big Brother was enjoying himself so much in the capital that Big Brother didn’t miss home at all. However, now it seemed as if it was only business that tripped him up; he really did want to return to the Stronghold after all.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you, Third Brother?” Lu Cang stood up and asked, sensing that the atmosphere was growing a bit emotional.
“Ah…no need, Big Brother…I brought provisions[3]…” Cao Xin hurriedly rose to his feet, afraid of troubling his Big Brother.
“How could I let you eat that stuff? Come, come, come, my treat. Let us go to the capital’s number one restaurant for a drink!” When Lu Cang considered how he had been in the capital for more than two months and hadn’t even a good tour around the city, he decided that this was a good opportunity for him to go out and escape some of the gloom. And thus, his spirits were also aroused.
At this, Cao Xin began to smile. The smile turned into bashfulness, which appeared exceedingly queer on that large, rough face.
Noticing Cao Xin’s strange expression, Lu Cang promptly asked, “What’s wrong, Third Brother? Is there somewhere else you want to go?”
“Hehehe…” He pulled another bout of his trademark laughter, then said, “I’ve long since heard of the astounding beauty of the girls from the capital’s Tonghua House. This time, coming to the capital…hehehe…I sort of wanted an eye-opener…”
Ah, so he wanted to visit the capital’s prostitutes…Lu Cang’s brows knitted into a frown. His brothers from Mt. Lu Cang had always been indulgent in women. They even went as far as to capturing potential Ladies of the Stronghold from the foot of the mountain day in and day out for the Big Brother whom they thought disliked women.
And the results…drum roll[4]! Helped him captured the God of Misfortune[5].
Truth be told, it wasn’t that he didn’t like beautiful women; his expectations were just a tad higher. Seeing that it was difficult for Third Brother to come to the capital this once, Lu Cang found it truly hard to deny him this one favour. So, he could only sigh and say, “Then I’ll listen to you. We’ll eat at Tonghua Tower, then afterwards we’ll go to Tonghua House!”
“Yay! Big Brother is so awesome!” Cao Xin laughed like a child, and even pulled Lu Cang into a bear hug.
Lu Cang smiled helplessly. In actuality, Lu Cang was a little tired. One time, after an episode of intense intimacy, Jing had forced him to accept the so-called “three rules of contract,” one of which was he couldn’t play with women.
Lu Cang’s rebellious side had once again begun to stir, and his interest in this little adventure along with it.
Fuck him! Who was that pig anyway?! Why should I listen to him?!
I’d rather take my chances and if my luck is really that bad! So bad that I’ll meet that ever-present ghost of a freak even if it’s to see some prostitutes!
I—just—don’t—believe—it!!!
With the intention in mind to challenge Jing’s authority, which had been indestructible so far, Lu Cang led Cao Xin in the direction of Tonghua House agitatedly.
Speaking of Tonghua Tower, now that’s a place no one in the capital doesn’t know about.
As the entertainment centre for government and palace officials, it not only offered all the services of a restaurant, opera house, brothel, circus, cabaret, bathhouse, and other similar amusements, it even offered stadiums for poem competitions, martial arts contests, and the like.
Of course, the most famous of all this was still Tonghua House, rumoured to have three thousand beautiful prostitutes. It was said that not only the honoured chief prostitutes, the Twelve Celestial Flowers (all twelve equally goddess-like), but even each and every one of the most unpopular and low-tiered Flower Maidens were worth seeing.
Though Lu Cang was already mentally prepared, after eating with Cao Xin and as he stood in front the Tonghua House building modelled after the imperial palace’s spaciousness and luxury, he still suffered a tremendous shock.
What kind of brothel was this? It was quite clearly a ducal manor! It seemed as if the rumour that the behind-the-scenes owner of Tonghua Tower was the man who had enough power to sway the whole nation, Duke Tongxin, might not be just wind from an empty tunnel.
“Two sirs, which floor’s room would you like?” The procuress perched near the door, spotting the two’s tolerably well-dressed appearance, eagerly came up to greet them.
When they were dining a moment ago, Cao Xin had told Lu Cang that this time he had brought up to the ten thousands of silver liang[6] for Lu Cang. Originally they had thought Lu Cang was in urgent need of money for something important, but who knew that it was only for daily spending.
With ample money in his pockets, Lu Cang’s tone grew involuntarily bold.
“Are any of the girls of the Celestial Flowers available...”
The procuress showed a disbelieving expression. “Guest, if you want a Celestial Flower, that’s one hundred liang per hour...”
Lu Cang did a rough estimation in his head. So, having two girls overnight, that would be at most twenty hours. It’s difficult to come this once; spending two thousand liang for an eye-opener is reasonable.
“Pick two pretty ones. We brothers are going to have a great time tonight!” Lu Cang, having done his math, immediately put on the appearance of a particularly wealthy customer as he watched the procuress’s face light up and glow.
“Wah, Xiao Lan, Xiao Ju! Quickly come and bring the two high officials[7] to a Celestial Flower Room!” the procuress shouted at the top of her lungs. Sensing the envious gazes all fall on the two of them one by one, Lu Cang finally felt, for the first time in the past two months, as if all his bad luck and misfortune were swept away at once.
Merrily following after Lu Cang into the courtyard decorated so extravagantly it was intimidating, Cao Xin had become so excited he could barely speak. “Big...Big, Big, Big...Brother, spending this much money...this much money...is it really alright? Really alright...”
Annoyed to the point he couldn’t bear it anymore, Lu Cang turned around and answered, “Be quiet! This amount of money, what does it matter? Just wait until I get back to Hangzhou...hehe...we’ll get it all back in one go!” His eyes glowed in golden resplendence, as if he could already see some Jiangnan tycoon crying and snivelling in agony under his mighty prowess.
But Cao Xin stood there staring, dumbstruck for a moment before he uttered bluntly, “Big, Big, Big...Brother, why is it that this time I come, it seems that you’re more...more...you’ve become...become prettier than before...”
At this, Lu Cang jerked to a stop. Cao Xin was immediately scared into silence, only brave enough to continue hurrying behind Lu Cang, his neck shrunk back in fear.
Lu Cang didn’t betray any emotion on the surface, but a sky-crashing tsunami had been triggered by those words. Pretty? Pretty!
Me? Me, a black road[8] leader?!
Having been unexpectedly described as such by a subordinate, he really felt as if he was on the brink of tears now. “Handsome” and “capable” were all common words of praise he received, but pretty? “Pretty” had always been used to describe women...
Wah! It was definitely that freak’s fault! Just why...after he had been topped by that freak, he was being described as “pretty?!”
[1] Straw rain cape (蓑衣)- a type of cape made of straw or palm bark people back in the day used to wear as a raincoat. Same basic science as a thatched roof.
[2] Sworn brothers- in ancient China, people oftentimes go through a short ceremony with one other person (can be more than one) to become sworn siblings (yes, there are sworn brother-sisters). Sworn siblings aren’t of blood relation, but during the ceremony, sworn siblings kowtow to the heavens and promise to uphold the code of brotherhood (the basic idea of the code is unwavering loyalty and trust). What you usually see in kung-fu dramas, etc, is that they say something like “Though we aren’t born on the same day of the same month of the same year, we wish to die on the same day of the same month of the same year” when they go through the ceremony. Sworn brothers treat each other as if they were real brothers, and sometimes a lot better than real brothers. For someone like Lu Cang, who’s in a gang of brothers, they’re pretty much all ready to throw their lives on the line for each other and remain loyal to each other no matter what happens. It can really be described as a bond thicker than blood.
[3] Provisions (干粮)- the literal translation would be “dry grain.” In ancient China, they usually brought something like (you never would’ve guessed...) dried grain, etc for journeys.
[4] Drum roll- originally, the text here was 锵锵锵 (qiang, qiang ,qiang), the onomatopoeia used for the sound of striking on a cymbal. In traditional Chinese opera/plays they always use the cymbal to signal the entrance of someone or to indicate the rhythm of speech, etc (I’m not really sure, since I’m not that into Chinese opera).
[5][5] God of Misfortune- The original text used here 瘟神 refers to a type of demonic spirit that kills people by spreading plagues. However, it can also be used sarcastically to describe a villainous person (*cough* Jing *cough*).
[6]Liang ( 两)- Liang, normally in silver (though if you’re super rich you can give someone gold, which is worth a helluvah lot more), was the ancient Chinese unit of monetary measurement. It’s actually a measurement of weight (1 liang=around 50 grams), so 1 silver liang is very different from one gold liang. But when they just say “liang” they mean silver, and 100 silver liang is already a LOT for commoners. Them bandits must be very, very rich... xD
[7] Officials (官人)- right here, she calls them 官人, which usually means government official (or, it’s how some people address their husbands that is clearly not the case here.) During the Song Dynasty, 官人is also how they addressed men in general, but since the word 大 (big, great) is used here to describe 官人, I’m assuming the author intends it to mean “high official.” This is not because she mistakes them for actual government officials, but because in ancient China (actually, it’s also pretty true today, but no one addresses each other this way anymore) government officials were extremely rich and powerful (corruption...), so if you call someone 官人, it’s a way to butter them up. It’s like saying “you’re so wealthy and mighty I bet you’re a high official.” And also, they’re in the capital city, so calling rich people who go to expensive brothels “high official” is probably like a 50-50 hit or miss.
[8] Black road/white road- it’s time for...more jianghu jargon! In jianghu, there’s a difference between what they call the white road (白道) and the black road (黑道). The white road people are like the “official” sects, as in Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Kunlun, etc, etc, etc. They claim to keep the balance of power and help people in need (but...they don’t always do a good job). The black roaders are the shadier bunch, who’s usually depicted as selfish, conniving, and without morals. Usual black roaders are described to be devoted to strange, evil martial art techniques, or poison techniques and other cruel things. I actually disagree with how Lu Cang calls himself a “black road leader,” since he quite obviously belongs to green woods (绿林), which is the general category for robber/bandit gangs/maybe thieves. The green woods are sort of like...grey area, in my opinion, since quite a lot of those people have a strong sense of justice for the poor.
[9] Young Master (公子)- Polite way of addressing a young man with the appearance of being of middle to upper class.
[10] Yue Wei (月薇)- Yue means moon. Wei is short for qiang wei (蔷薇) a type of flower of the rose family found in warmer places in Asia. Latin name: rosa multiflora
[11] Just has to mention what needn’t be mentioned- the original text here was “真是哪壶不开提哪壶”, which literally means “he just has to pick the teapot that doesn’t open.” It’s a self-explanatory metaphor.
[12] Spring night- in Chinese, depending on the context, “spring” frequently refers to something of sexual nature. For instance, aphrodisiacs in ancient China were called “spring drug/medicine.”
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