Chapter 31: True Masculinity

After finishing the high, medium, and low vocal exercises, Liu Liwa thought about striking while the iron was hot and delving deeper into teaching. He wanted to teach Xiao Xinying to try a wild style using her unique Little Loli clear voice, but he worried he couldn’t handle it himself. Even Qin Wan’er beside them blushed deeply as she listened.

Outside in the courtyard, everyone had already woken up and started their busy day. The men were carrying water and chopping wood, while the women were still washing clothes and cleaning chamber pots. Yang Xiaosi’s shouts could be heard from time to time.

No matter what the results of this practice session were, even if Meng Xinying had the potential and talent to become a super star, she currently had no opportunity to showcase herself. Soon, she and Qin Wan’er had to go receive personal training from the Madam. But judging by how much importance was placed on them, they were being groomed in the direction of Flower Queens. After all, not to mention the two girls’ individual specialties, just their appearances alone were top-tier and one in ten thousand.

However, Liu Liwa successfully developed Meng Xinying’s singing skills actually to give them hope and build their confidence, letting them know that a way out always existed, and they had to fight for it themselves.

There wasn’t much more to say because Yang Xiaosi was already urging them from outside. The two girls were reluctant but had to helplessly accept reality for now.

Due to his cold and his close relationship with foreman Yang Xiaosi, Liu Liwa was approved to rest and recover in his room. He received unanimous approval from the high-level boss and the Hall Manager. They had all seen Liu Liwa’s ‘special talent’ earlier. This uniquely gifted outlier should have as little contact as possible with the girls of Intoxication Pavilion, or it could cause negative effects—the girls might lose interest in other guests.

Liu Liwa hadn’t slept all night and had a bit of a cold. While the two girls were away, he could finally experience the comfort of an ancient bed. Though it wasn’t as good as a Simmons mattress, it was definitely more comfortable than an Eight Immortals table.

Lying in bed, he couldn’t fall asleep right away. He pondered how to let the Little Loli showcase her talents. The main issue was that he had no status at Intoxication Pavilion and couldn’t get a word in. The evening song and dance programs were all decided personally by the Madam Wu Liniang and Hall Manager Shen Zuijin. Even if Miss Liuyun didn’t perform, they would send someone like Miss Mingyue or Miss Gouweibao to go on stage.

Liu Liwa’s most urgent task now was to improve his own status, so he could have a say in front of the Madam, offer suggestions, and eventually have real authority to arrange programs and schedule performances himself.

That meant he needed to at least become an assistant Hall Manager, but how easy was that? Like yesterday, his storytelling earned so many tips, yet no one mentioned giving him a share, not even a word of praise. It was like a tenant farmer growing grain for a landlord—the landlord wouldn’t think you were creating value for him but would believe he provided you with a chance to survive. So everything you did was expected, but if you asked for a bonus, time off, or a share, you’d better memorize the labor law first!

Therefore, hoping to gain the leader’s attention by silently contributing at the lowest level was nothing but a pipe dream. Those who really got promoted or transferred were people close to the leader or those who shared the leader’s aspirations.

Liu Liwa now needed an opportunity, a proof that Intoxication Pavilion couldn’t do without him, to make the Madam realize his importance. But Intoxication Pavilion was a Pleasure House. Who ever heard of a Pleasure House going out of business because it lost one Brothel Steward?

Thinking and thinking, Liu Liwa fell asleep. He didn’t know how much time had passed when suddenly water droplets fell on his face. They felt cool. He scratched his face and woke up very unwillingly. Opening his eyes, he suddenly saw a tear-streaked, delicate face next to him.

He moved slightly, startling the beauty beside him. The woman, soft as water, hurriedly wiped the tears from her face, yet she remained as lovely as a dew-kissed cherry blossom. However, her voice was like sandpaper scraping rust, making one’s scalp tingle: “You’re awake.”

Liu Liwa sat up, looked at Miss Liuyun, and then at his surroundings. It was his damp little room, with sunlight streaming in through the window. It seemed he had slept for a while. But why was Miss Liuyun here?

Liuyun saw what he was thinking. Her beautiful eyes welled up with tears again. She didn’t know why she came here, why she sat by this man’s bedside to cry and tell him her troubles. Maybe it was because last night, in a moment of difficulty, he saved her, making her feel dependent? Or perhaps it was that long talk through the night that restored her confidence, making her feel an inexplicable trust in this man? Or maybe it was because his smile was bright and warmed her heart?

Miss Liuyun couldn’t understand her own feelings now. Looking at him, her tears gushed like a spring, and she sobbed uncontrollably. Liu Liwa felt awkward. This dim little room, no one around, a lone man and a lone woman—and he was used to sleeping naked. A woman sat beside him, crying sadly. If others saw this scene, it would be a crime punishable by drowning in a pig cage!

The more Liu Liwa worried, the sadder Miss Liuyun cried. He grew so anxious he scratched his head and ears, not knowing what to do. Most crucially, whenever he woke up, he always felt the need to go to the bathroom to pee. He was still holding it in now, and under the covers, he was stark naked and dared not get up. He was caught in a dilemma.

After a long while, Miss Liuyun finally cried enough. With extreme sorrow, she said, “They want me to entertain a guest.”

“What?” Liu Liwa sprang up. The covers slipped off, revealing his upper body. Miss Liuyun, in her sorrow, didn’t seem to notice. She just kept wiping her tears and said, “Just now, the Madam personally told me to bring lunch to Young Master Ye in the Celestial Room at noon, and then… she wants me to stay and accompany him. I… I don’t want to…”

Liu Liwa’s head spun. Just moments ago, he was thinking about how to gain power at Intoxication Pavilion, arrange performances, and be in charge of planning. As long as Intoxication Pavilion made money, no girl would have to unwillingly entertain guests. His idea was completely opposite to later times—in later times, most actresses had to entertain guests before they could get roles. Here, only by getting roles could they avoid entertaining guests. This clearly showed that society was progressing!

But now, Miss Liuyun’s situation showed the similarity of societies. Regardless of later times or now, whether they performed or not, in the end, they all had to entertain guests!

Miss Liuyun, miserable and helpless, stood before him, crying as if rain were pouring down. Her weeping broke Liu Liwa’s heart. Although he wasn’t very familiar with Miss Liuyun and there was no private relationship between them, ask any man in the world: when such a pure, ethereal, fairy-like woman cries in front of you, saying she has to entertain a guest, any man would feel it was a pity and do everything in his power to help her. Moreover, when a man helps a woman, there’s always a bit of fantasy and purpose—hoping that by doing this thing well, something might happen between him and this woman. At the very least, it could bring them closer emotionally. Even back in school days, when the class flower wanted to borrow an eraser, many little boys would rush to lend theirs. This was true masculinity.