Chapter 36 Preparing to Reopen the Flower House
Lu Ming helped Lu Yunyang back and entered the house. Lu Ming looked puzzled.
"Master, this is a great idea. If Miss Jiang agrees, it will be a way for her to make a fortune, and for us we can earn more money. It's a win-win situation."
Lu Yunyang pinched his brows and said quietly, "Have you ever thought about the future? If we fail, I don't want her to be implicated by me..."
Lu Ming said indignantly: "I believe that the master will succeed..."
Lu Yunyang was in a particularly heavy mood: "Even if we succeed, our journey is full of thorns. You have been with me since childhood, and we are friends in life and death. How can she be innocent? I don't want her to suffer with me..."
Lu Ming was speechless for a long time before he asked, "Miss Jiang is different from Mudan and the others, right?"
Same? No, Jiang Jiu is his wife.
Peony and Begonia were just poor women whom he rescued.
That's all.
Back in the room, Lu Yunyang leaned back on the beauty couch and resumed his unrestrained and carefree appearance as a nobleman.
When Jiang Jiu came in, he saw him like this and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
In fact, Lu Yunyang was very handsome, eight feet tall, with a graceful demeanor and a figure like a dragon and a phoenix. He seemed to be born to be surrounded by beautiful women, to have fine clothes and food, and to be cynical about the world.
It's a pity that she is poor and can't afford to support Lu Yunyang, a playboy.
"Lu Yunyang, I don't have to be your subordinate. As long as we are in a cooperative relationship, rebuilding Hua Man Lou will definitely make a lot of money in Su City. We can just share the profits then."
Rebuilding Hua Man Lou? Lu Yunyang's heart moved slightly. He sat up straight, picked up a piece of snack on the table, and stuffed it into his mouth.
While he was appreciating it carefully, his mind was also spinning rapidly, calculating his gains and losses.
"Okay, you tell me the rules."
Brothels in ancient times were not entirely low-class. Both brothels and casinos were legitimate businesses approved by the imperial court.
But brothels are divided into different grades. The most elegant ones are those that only sell art but not bodies, such as singing and dancing houses, such as Hua Man Lou and Hong Xiu Zhao.
The same is true when I come to Sioux City.
"The reputations of the courtesan Nichang of Hua Man Lou and my Chuyu are already well known. Now that they have come to Sucheng, they should not be buried. Moreover, the combined effect of the two will be even more outstanding."
Lu Yunyang thought so and said, "When are you going to open the business?"
Jiang Jiu had already thought of a countermeasure in his mind.
"It would be even better if the two of them could perform at the Ninth Prince's Dragon Boat Festival, and then wait about 20 days to choose an auspicious time to open the business."
Lu Yunyang was a little confused: "If you want to choose a place, then you can do it, but why do you have to wait 20 days?"
Jiang Jiu smiled slightly, full of confidence.
"Because 20 days is a hurdle. If it's too early, the two will lose their mystery. If it's too late, everyone will forget about them. 20 days is just right. During this time, we will do a good job of publicity and whet people's appetite. I believe that the opening day will be even more popular than Xiangxian."
I don’t know why, but Lu Yunyang looked up at Jiang Jiu at this moment, full of confidence, as if he was sure of victory, and his whole body was glowing.
Lu Yunyang's eyes were moving, his brows were smiling, and tenderness was filled in his eyes.
"Okay, this is a good idea. There are only a few days left before the Dragon Boat Festival. Just make sure you can make it in time. I will go to King Qi and tell him that I can definitely make them famous in Su City."
The Dragon Boat Festival is held in Suzhou every year with great enthusiasm, including dragon boat racing, flower street tours, stilt walking, and land boat racing. The city gates are not closed for three days before and after the fifth day of May, so everyone can have fun in the city all night long.
The sun was shining brightly and the weather had begun to warm up. Lu Yunyang stood in the study, watching Jiang Jiu and the others rehearsing in the yard, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.
"Master, the imperial court has sent out gifts for the Dragon Boat Festival. You should write a letter in reply."
"Master, I have already found out that the owner of the boat has not yet appeared. According to their shopkeeper, they need a token and a message. They will only tell you the specifics after they meet the owner. They are unwilling to reveal more."
"Master, Master, Master..."
Lu Ming shouted several times before he finally woke up the fascinated Lu Yunyang.
"Master, did you hear what I just reported to you?"
Lu Yunyang touched his nose and asked, "What did you just say?"
Lu Ming's face was filled with speechlessness, and he repeated what he had just said.
Lu Yunyang said impatiently, "Why do you have to ask me about these trivial matters? Just hand it over to Mr. Gu. As for the token of the boat, find out more and get back to me."
This time, Lu Ming did not leave immediately after receiving the order. He looked in the direction Lu Yunyang was looking and clicked his tongue twice.
"Everyone says that Nichang dances well. In my opinion, Miss Jiang's dance is more charming. Her every frown and smile seems to captivate the heart. It's really beautiful..."
Before he finished speaking, Lu Yunyang picked up a book and put it in front of Lu Ming.
"It looks good, but it's not something you should see. Get lost..."
Lu Ming curled his lips, shrugged, and ran away from the window.
In the yard, Jiang Jiu was demonstrating the moves to Nichang. With the advantage of having learned classical dance for ten years when he was a child, he could still give some pointers on some of the moves.
However, Jiang Jiu's body is naturally graceful and charming, and her movements are all natural, soft and natural. In comparison, Ni Chang is really a little behind.
"Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival Banquet at Prince Qi's Mansion. Let's stop rehearsing here today. Go back and practice it carefully. Then go over it again tomorrow morning and that'll be all."
Jiang Jiu asked Xia Zhi to bring a drawing of the clothes prepared for Chu Yu and Ni Chang to dance.
"Come with me to get some clothes and change them. If anything doesn't fit, change it as soon as possible."
Two quarters of an hour later, Jiang Jiu's carriage took the three of them to the best clothing shop in Su City. Chu Yu was wearing green and Ni Chang was wearing bright red. Green and red is a classic combination.
And the clothes that Lu Yunyang made for Jiang Jiu were also finished.
Because Jiang Jiu's fabrics were relatively expensive, the shopkeeper put them inside. When he went to get the clothes, Jiang Jiu and others were waiting outside.
There was a noisy sound outside.
"It's only ten taels of silver. How can I not afford it? I spent my own money. What does it have to do with you? It's just a courtesy. Don't be too excessive."
Familiar voice, familiar face, Jiang Jiu saw Jiang Mingyue's hysterical noise on the street.
The person standing opposite her was Chang Zhili. This was the first time Jiang Jiu saw him. He was thin and had an ordinary look, not ugly, but the kind you would never find in a crowd.
Chang Zhili was obviously full of anger but he had no courage to express it. He just gently advised: "Ten taels of silver is indeed a lot. It is enough for our annual living expenses. Why do we have to make a set of clothes? Your original clothes are so beautiful, why can't you wear them?"
Jiang Mingyue was angry: "Those are old clothes, old clothes. I am the daughter of a county magistrate. I finally have the opportunity to attend the banquet of the prefect's wife, and you let me wear old clothes..."
Chang Zhili obviously didn't understand: "What's wrong with wearing old clothes? I also wear old clothes. Besides, the prefect advocates frugality and dislikes extravagance. Maybe I can win his favor by wearing this."
Jiang Mingyue snorted coldly: "To gain the favor of the prefect? Who do you think you are? If it weren't for the fact that my father is the county magistrate, you can't even enter the prefect's house..."