Chapter 827: Chapter 827: Cui Sanniang’s Dream
At that time, the Pavilion of Numerous Fragrances was the one competing with the Drunken Fairy Tower. The two establishments were at odds with each other, but due to Water Fairy, the Drunken Fairy Tower could firmly outshine the Pavilion of Numerous Fragrances.
Back then, everyone flocked to the Drunken Fairy Tower to catch a glimpse of Water Fairy. Those young masters had to fawn over her, and no one who saw her would call her anything but Mother Cui!
Cui Sanniang understood deeply that when someone is popular, there will always be others with ulterior motives, and that the waves of the Yangtze River push forward endlessly. In their line of work, the girls thrived on youth and would be popular for only a few years before newcomers replaced them.
It was precisely because Cui Sanniang understood these principles well that she was very strict when Water Fairy was in the spotlight, managing everything from clothing and food to travel and social interactions. Even Water Fairy’s daily makeup and attire had to be approved by her, all to maintain Water Fairy’s popularity.
It was her excessive dominance that caused the downfall; she assumed Water Fairy’s contract was in her hands, and because it was for Water Fairy’s own good, she believed Water Fairy would obediently follow her. Under her strict supervision, no storms could arise, but she didn’t anticipate that this would provoke Water Fairy’s defiance and dissatisfaction.
After refusing Water Fairy’s request to meet a certain gentleman, Water Fairy began acting strange, throwing fits and refusing to see anyone for several days. On the last day, Cui Sanniang harshly reprimanded Water Fairy and locked her up, thinking she would come to her senses by night. But unexpectedly, Water Fairy had already committed suicide by swallowing gold, leaving only a letter full of resentment.
Soon, rumors spread everywhere about how Mother Cui of the Drunken Fairy Tower had driven Water Fairy, the popular Oiran, to death by being harsh and ruthless. Those young masters who had been there for Water Fairy, to stand up for her, started causing trouble for the Drunken Fairy Tower.
Those were young masters from powerful families. How could Cui Sanniang withstand such pressure? With everyone kicking her when she was down, the Drunken Fairy Tower quickly fell from grace. The girls in the tower began leaving one by one. Due to her usually strict management, not one of them spoke kindly of her once they left.
Cui Sanniang ended up with a bad reputation for harshness and driving girls to death. No girl in Yangzhou City dared to follow her anymore, and the forces backing her no longer supported her seeing her as useless. Not long after, Cui Sanniang faced a bleak end, packing up and leaving in disgrace. If it weren’t for some connections she had maintained over the years, she might have lost her life.
If it weren’t for the events that followed, Cui Sanniang might never have returned to the brothel industry in her lifetime until she later discovered by chance that everything that happened at the Drunken Fairy Tower was orchestrated by someone behind the scenes, and that person was the madam of the Pavilion of Numerous Fragrances!
That gentleman Water Fairy first asked to meet was sent by the Pavilion of Numerous Fragrances. Greedy as she was, seeing the gentleman’s cultured and generous demeanor, she allowed Water Fairy to meet him several times.
Unexpectedly, after a few meetings, Water Fairy fell for him, often exchanging letters with the gentleman without Cui Sanniang’s knowledge. In the letters, she expressed her frustrations from being controlled and her longing for the gentleman, whom Cui Sanniang suspected was sowing discord through the correspondence.
Before Water Fairy’s suicide, the gentleman sent a letter saying Mother Cui was too controlling, making it impossible to see Water Fairy, and there was no hope in this life. This prompted Water Fairy to lose her temper with her, and after receiving a decisive reply from that gentleman via letter, she couldn’t bear it anymore, developed deep resentment towards Cui Sanniang, and ultimately took her life.
Good job, Pavilion of Numerous Fragrances!
After discovering this, how could Cui Sanniang be willing to let it go? She had been ruthless her entire life, only to be harmed so miserably. She longed to level the Pavilion of Numerous Fragrances, with a burning desire to make a comeback and trample them beneath her feet, avenging the wrongs of the past.
So, with the savings she had accumulated over the years, she secretly opened a Flower Building in Yangzhou Prefecture, engaging in the flesh trade to survive among the major brothels, though she dared not use her name, Cui Sanniang.
Due to the oppression from the major brothels, the Flower Building conducted the lowest level of business, dealing with the lowest quality goods, resulting in a vicious cycle where the girls weren’t good, so business didn’t thrive, and without thriving business, better girls couldn’t be bought. Life was tough without much capital.
To sustain the Flower Building’s business and to elevate the business to a higher level, Cui Sanniang gritted her teeth and collaborated with Second Master Liu, engaging in cost-free schemes, partly to bring in new girls for the building and partly to find promising talents to help her rise again.
However, despite searching for a long time, she couldn’t find anyone satisfactory. Those who looked good often had a petty demeanor, or were overly timid, making them unsuitable to stand out.
She knew men all too well. Such girls couldn’t capture a man’s heart and would only bore and disinterest them, earning nothing in the enchanting, fragrance-filled Yangzhou, let alone reviving the brothel enterprise.
Until she met Xiao Lian Hua, making Cui Sanniang’s eyes light up. The young girl was lively, with an innocent and naïve charm hiding an undertone of allure, and carried herself with grace, capable of managing the scene.
Her experienced eyes grew more satisfied with Xiao Lian Hua, firmly believing that after her training, this little girl would surely bring about great fortune in the future, enabling her to return to the peak, so naturally, she wouldn’t let Second Master Liu lay a hand on her, not even a hair.
Having learned from past lessons, Cui Sanniang knew well not to be overly harsh with the girls. Being amiable to win them over and combining kindness with authority was the right way, just like the madam at the Pavilion of Numerous Fragrances—appearing cordial led to longevity. Letting the girls harbor resentment would eventually lead to backlash.
Therefore, once she made up her mind, she treated Xiao Lian Hua exceptionally well all along, never speaking harshly, and even when Xiao Lian Hua called her "Shaded Eyes Lady," she tolerated it.
For those with value, she was, of course, willing to use kind words, especially since Xiao Lian Hua’s contract hadn’t yet been secured, and Xiao Lian Hua behaved excellently and showed dependency on her, never thinking of escape while sober.
She inquired and found out that Xiao Lian Hua had nowhere to go and no home to return to. Such a little girl, if she didn’t want to end up on the streets starving, would have to rely on them in the future.
So she felt very at ease. When Xiao Lian Hua followed her every step, curiously asking what she was doing, she was patient, of course, though this was another source of vexation.
The young girl was full of energy. Every time they got off the carriage to rest, while she prepared meals, the young girl would follow her, doing everything with her, and even kindly offered to help, which made her feel a touch of fondness. But when the young girl wanted to follow her even when she was attending to her private matters, it became a bit of a nuisance for Cui Sanniang.
Being more of a hindrance each time was even more troubling, and every time the young girl would obediently admit her mistakes. After a few occurrences, Cui Sanniang firmly refused to let her help. A young lady from a wealthy family, with ten fingers that never touched spring water, wasn’t one to do chores, and Cui Sanniang could understand this.
As a result, she couldn’t drug these girls’ food anymore, but these girls, having been conditioned along the way, no longer had the will to resist. Coupled with Second Master Liu’s persuasion, the need for drugs to keep them awake was eliminated.