"What I said is not just to placate their excuses, I truly intend to make Flower House a place where all the blossoms can shine together and not just one star stands out," Xin He said with a smile.
Ah Lian was startled slightly and seemed somewhat surprised, then she said with interest, "If Miss truly has the ability, I would highly admire her."
Xin He laughed, "Beauty should be multifaceted. There is no need to compete. The maximization of benefit can only be attained when all flowers bloom together. I invited Miss Ah Lian because I could not find a girl with a more charming temperament than her. Here, we have the innocent, the sweet, the seductive, the aloof – all sorts of beauty – but your type is what we lack. Thus, you do not have to worry about being outshone by the other girls. You are not in the same category; there is no comparison."
The beauty of Ah Lian is mature and sophisticated. It is a beauty that can only be gained from years of experience, personal cultivation, and growth of life experiences. Her eyes, though seeming bright and captivating, have seen the many facets of the world. This kind of beauty is not something that young girls can possess.
Ah Lian smiled, "If you say so, then I believe you."
In about ten days, the Oiran competition will begin, which is also when the Flower House will start its business, and it would be your premiere in Lian’an Town. The girls in the house are all practicing hard for this competition. You may not have enough time to prepare a new program, so I thought it would be suitable for you to perform the ’Drunken Imperial Concubine’," Xin He suggested.
"After all, ’Drunken Imperial Concubine’ is already famous, yet it has only been slightly heard of within Lian’an Town. Nobody has really seen it. Hence, when the news that the capital’s number one courtesan, Miss Ah Lian, is going to perform ’Drunken Imperial Concubine’ is released, I fear that the Flower House will be jam-packed on the day of the Oiran competition."
Ah Lian listened to Xin He’s plan and found it reasonable so she nodded in agreement, "We will do as you suggest."
"Alright then, please get comfortable. I’ll have Madam Chen come in and give you a proper introduction to the Flower House. She knows more about it than I do, considering that I have just recently taken over this establishment around half a month ago," Xin He said as she stood up.
"Alright."
When Xin He exited the room, she saw Madam Chen waiting outside. Madam Chen approached with a grinning face and asked, "Does the owner have any instructions?"
"Treat Miss Ah Lian well and don’t neglect her," Xin He instructed.
Xin He was not worried about Madam Chen’s negligence at all. Judging by her obsequious attitude, it was clear how thrilled she was about Ah Lian’s arrival. Having the capital’s number one courtesan residing in Flower House, it was certain to be a big hit.
"Of course! You can count on me, owner! I’m keeping an eye on everything here!" Madam Chen nodded repeatedly, grinning from ear to ear. Her eyes shone as she looked at Ah Lian, as if Ah Lian was a money tree.
Xin He entrusted Ah Lian to Madam Chen, and then went to see the other girls who were rehearsing. She had taught them all these novel performances. The girls had trouble understanding some parts and could only ask her. She visited every day to help them solve problems.
When Xin He went out, she noticed the girls were still whispering among themselves. It seemed that the arrival of the capital’s top courtesan had caused quite a stir among them.
"The owner is really capable, even being able to invite the top courtesan from the capital. How could she willingly give up the fame and fortune of the capital to come to such a remote small town?" Hua Rao, the most outgoing and talkative, couldn’t help but ask Xin He as soon as she saw her.
Xin He smiled, "The wise never focus on immediate interests. They always have a long-term view. Miss Ah Lian has this wisdom. It depends if you girls have it too."
Upon hearing this, Hua Rao’s eyes lit up. She suddenly felt full of hope. For some reason, she always easily believed in what the owner said.
"If you have any problem, come to me in the upstairs quiet room, and I’ll solve them one by one," Xin He turned and went upstairs.
The Flower House had reserved a quiet room specifically for her to work in.
As soon as the girls heard this, they lost interest in other matters and got back to practicing their arts.
After all, the Oiran competition in just over ten days would be their most important opportunity. Initially, they were somewhat skeptical. But now, seeing such a big figure as Miss Ah Lian being invited by their owner to add prestige to the event, they felt more assured and motivated.
Xin He diligently solved their problems. After about an hour, she finally had some time to rest and catch her breath.
Shulan brought a cup of tea to Xin He, "Madam has labored this entire afternoon. Working so hard every day will wear down your health. If sir knew, he would certainly blame us servants."
Xin He sighed, "But there is no way around it. There are too many things to do. As time gets closer, and we haven’t prepared our program, we will have to have at least two dress rehearsals. With everything still not ready, I cannot be at ease."
"What’s a dress rehearsal?" Shulan asked in confusion.
Xin He laughed, "It’s a practice before the performance. You’ll know when the time comes."
Shulan said with a smile, "As your maid, I always learn a lot from you."
In a somewhat helpless tone, Xin He said, "But right now, with such a tight schedule, I am still one person short."
"Even after Miss Ah Lian’s coming, you are still one short?" Shulan quickly asked.
"Actually, being short one person isn’t a big issue. After all, we already have the other types of girls. Their characters are even more amazing than this missing one. Even if we don’t have one, the impact wouldn’t be significant."
Shulan sighed, "Since it’s not too influential, Madam need not be too concerned. As long as this Oiran competition can meet Madam’s expectations, being short of one person won’t affect the bigger picture. It’s only the icing on the cake. Why should we make it hard on ourselves? Madam is already exhausted."
Xin He took a sip of tea. She still seemed deep in thought. Although being short one person might not be a major issue, it bothered her. She always aimed at achieving perfection, and this shortfall felt like a thorn in her side.
Suddenly, Xin He furrowed her brows, "Why is this tea hot?"
Shulan apologized with a laugh, "Sir specifically instructed before he left that Madam cannot drink too much cold tea. Although it’s quite hot now, Madam’s health isn’t good. You must take good care."
However, Xin He put down the teacup and grumbled, "I’ve been working the whole day and they won’t even let me have some cold tea. Shulan, you’re my maid, how come you always listen to his instructions?"
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