A dream of Yangzhou that takes ten years to awaken

Author: Nan Gong Bo / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: "Singing gets better the more you sing," she said sadly, "but people become less worth looking at." She smiled bitterly. "Oh, Axia, don't say that." She leaned against him, sighed softly, then suddenly turned, took the wine pot, and drank several mouthfuls directly from the spout. "Axia," Du Mu said with a regretful yet heartfelt tone, "I no longer have the passion I once had." His voice was low and mumbled, a self-indulgent outpouring of emotions. "Axia—" he called her name softly again. She took another sip of wine, then suddenly turned and kissed his mouth. This was like adding oil to fire. He drank the remaining wine from her mouth. She laughed, her body twisted in excitement and satisfaction at having stirred up his passion. But passion lasts only a moment. He exhaled and said leisurely, "Axia, we've both drunk wine, but its taste is like this—I've never experienced it before." "Lying to me—" she twisted her head, "Scholar, do you think I can believe you?" "Why would I lie to you?" "Perhaps you wouldn't, but I don't believe it," she said. "On the ten-li long street, you were a famous person." "That was a false reputation that misled me. My reality is different from the legend," Du Mu said, sitting up straight but still holding her. "On the ten-li long street, I knew many people. Our relationships with them, like the one I had with you before today, were just about drinking and singing." She blinked in confusion, unable to believe it. "Scholar," she whispered, "I'm" "Axia, look at how you're babbling—" Du Mu laughed and her lightly. "Is this a big deal?" "Of course, I know; but I heard people say—oh, someone admitted to being intimate with you." He smiled faintly, "How intimate?" Axia's cheeks grew redder. She cupped Du Mu's face with both hands and kissed him slowly, "Like mandarin ducks, nesting together." "Hmm, that's just hearsay," he said, deliberately dampening the rising passion and melting the excitement in his heart. "Du Scholar—" she stepped out of his embrace, "I'll sing another song for you." They drank and listened to music again. Du Mu admired the woman, like fine wine, as he wasted his time in the splendid night. The splendid night, the ten-li long street, was filled with music and singing. The splendid night, Du Mu was slightly tipsy, and Axia was slightly tipsy too. The madam came, but Axia chased her away. He asked, "Why aren't you going on your date?" "Tonight, I'm only with you," she said. "Stay as long as you like, and I'll stay as long as you like—Du Scholar, it seems you must leave after midnight." "Because I have to work tomorrow morning." High-class courtesans on the ten-li long street never walked in the streets in the morning; officials in blue robes, though not explicitly forbidden, would still be reprimanded for walking in the market. After Niushengru's appointment, though officials were given more freedom, no one walked in the market on their own. Therefore, when Du Mu and Shanshan appeared in the market, they attracted the attention of the crowd. People looked at them with amazed and delighted gazes—him, handsome and elegant like a jade tree in the wind; her, beautiful and charming like a lotus blooming in water. Moreover, they both seemed carefree, radiating joy and ease, often gazing at each other with affection. Thus, the pedestrians on the street stopped to watch them. People were amazed and sighed, some whispering, "They're like immortals!" This pair of immortals strolled through the market, and people cleared a path for them. Shops and stalls even stopped their business. A dozen or so people followed behind them. They bought beef and mutton from a butcher shop and a young hen from a chicken stall, waiting nearby to be slaughtered and plucked. Twenty or thirty people stood watching them. "I'm a little nervous!" Shanshan whispered, "If I'd known this would happen, I shouldn't have come out with you." "What's there to be afraid of? Don't be so timid—" he said softly. "It's not about being timid or generous," she whispered again. "If more and more people gather, how will we get out?" "If we can't get out, we'll just stay here," Du Mu smiled lightly. "Shanshan, I'm proud of you." "Don't say that," she lowered her head shyly. "Don't look at me like that either—" she said, blushing. Then he looked away lightly at the chicken stall. The crowd around them grew larger, and Shanshan urged impatiently, "Please hurry—" The owner of the chicken stall was also staring at her greedily, but Shanshan seemed not to hear, just murmuring vaguely. Then Du Mu took over, "Please hurry." "Oh, yes, yes!" the stall owner said, wiping his mouth. "Shanshan," Du Mu whispered in her ear, "that person's eyes are like a greedy dog's." "You're rude—don't say that, or people will feel embarrassed if they hear it," she said. After that, they bought scallions, ginger, garlic, and other ingredients, all carried by Du Mu. They still walked side by side. The people on the street continued to follow them. "Shanshan, if we were a married couple, we could go to the market every day." "Once is fun, but too many times would get boring." "Now, I find it endlessly interesting," Du Mu lightly waved the vegetables in his hand. "Shanshan, this is the first time I've been to the market in my life." "Oh—" she smiled contentedly. In her childhood, she had many experiences in the market, but of course, this was the first time it was like this. "Shanshan, every place has its own kind of joy," Du Mu said with great enthusiasm. "Before today, I never thought the market had any joy." She replied vaguely; in this regard, she couldn't agree with Du Mu's perspective. She knew that the real market and the real lives of common people had no joy—only the heavy burden of life and the harsh reality of existence. However, she didn't want to speak of her own experiences at this moment. She was a courtesan who relied on her looks, and she didn't want to dampen anyone's spirits. Although her relationship with Du Mu had reached the stage of friendship, habits made her reserved in every way. They returned home leisurely. Shanshan gave the meat and other food to the maids to wash and cut in the kitchen, then ordered someone to start a fire in the garden. Next, she changed into a new set of clothes. She wore shorts that reached her knees and a cloth apron tied around her waist, light green in color. The shorts were dark blue, and her top was a black and green embroidered robe. Then, they quietly leaned against each other. Shanshan, seemingly knowing they would be intimate, didn't return immediately. After a while, she whispered, "This money, I have to repay, but our sisters can't earn that much in a year. I think we'll need eight months to a year—Du Mu, you'll have to find a way to manage during that time." "Mm, let's talk about it tomorrow," Du Mu said, never worrying about tomorrow. Though he was troubled about how to repay the debt, he had no idea how to start; but he thought worrying was useless. "Du Mu, tomorrow's problems should be settled today. I understand your situation well—your salary isn't enough to repay the debt," she said, stroking his cheek. "Du Mu, don't be angry with me for saying this?" "I'm not afraid of shame—official salary isn't enough to repay the debt, but let's not worry about it now—it's just pointless." At this moment, Manman quietly entered and saw them entwined. She giggled, and Du Mu quickly let go of her. "You little thing—" Shanshan scolded playfully, brushing her hair back. Her cheeks were flushed, and her sorrowful expression had vanished. Manman stuck out her tongue and turned to Du Mu. "Brother-in-law, I thought you weren't shy." "Why wouldn't I be shy?" Du Mu looked at her playful and carefree demeanor and asked cautiously. "That's just my inspiration," she said mysteriously, stepping between them. "Should I go out again?" "You little thing, don't show off in front of me," Shanshan said. With Du Mu's help, their problem was resolved smoothly, but the madam had other plans. With Shanshan and Manman settled, there was still more to do. They were free from the madam's exploitation, but what about after that? It wasn't easy to start a new life away from here. Renting a decent house on the ten-li long street, buying furniture and supplies, and hiring people would require a large sum of money—more than their sisters could afford. Moreover, after repaying the debt, they would be left with nothing. If they left the madam immediately, they would even struggle to make a living. Neither of them wanted to continue as courtesans, but they had no other way out. Thus, Manman suggested to her sister, "We should get out of this business for now—it's unlikely. Starting our own business or forming a troupe isn't possible. Even if it were, it wouldn't be good for our future. I think sister should stop working, and I'll continue." She paused and said, "It seems Du Mu will come to marry you soon." Shanshan fell silent, deep in thought, and didn't answer. "Shanshan, if I do it alone, it will take over a year to repay the debt. If I'm lucky, I can earn enough in a year," she said. "Sister, that won't work—" she sighed softly. "All our plans should wait until we've repaid the debt. I can't let you do it alone." "But what about your relationship with Du Mu?" "Manman," she said, troubled, sighing heavily. "Du Mu may be sincere to me, but I still don't feel sure about this person. He might really take me back, but he's never mentioned it directly, so I can't be certain." "Sister, let me ask him," Manman said seriously. "I think Du Mu is honest and sincere enough—what people say about him and the reality don't match." Shanshan looked at her sister but just replied vaguely.