Chapter 23

### Chapter 23: A Different Journey

As the lid was opened, a clear mirror came into view, and Yingniang's breathing became labored. This kind of object had never been seen in Dengzhou City before. She had heard that the Franks from the West had brought such mirrors to the south, but she had never seen one. A few days ago, it was said that Mrs. Zhang had shown one of these mirrors at a gathering, and it immediately became the focus of the entire event. Dengzhou City was not large, and the content of the gathering of wealthy women quickly reached Yingniang's ears.

A mirror that could clearly reflect even a hair, a perfume that left a lasting fragrance and could repel mosquitoes and flies, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and soap—each item was described as almost magical.

Yingniang had long been envious. Now, as a legendary mirror appeared before her, her hand naturally trembled. Could a mirror of just three inches square be worth a thousand taels of silver? After trembling for a while, Yingniang finally managed to steady her breathing.

At this moment, Chen Xie calmly took a bottle from the box. It was long, with one end larger than the other, and had a unique shape. A pale green liquid was inside the transparent glass bottle.

"Take a look at this!" Chen Xie unscrewed the cap, and a strong fragrance wafted out. This was far more intense than any powder or rouge. "Hold out your hand!" Chen Xie said with a smile. Yingniang hesitated for a moment, then extended her slender, delicate hand. One drop, two drops, three drops—her palm felt cool, and the sensation traveled up her arm.

"Rub your hands together gently, and pat them lightly on your neck. Yes, close your eyes, pause for a moment, and then open them." Chen Xie's voice was like magic, and Yingniang followed his instructions without any resistance. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the irresistible fragrance, and the feeling was truly wonderful. If she had had a bottle of this perfume back then, the guests would have gone crazy, and becoming the top courtesan would have been a matter of a smile.

"Alright, you can open your eyes now." Chen Xie's voice sounded, and Yingniang, as if controlled, did not hesitate. When she opened her eyes, Chen Xie pointed to the soap in the box and said, "This is bath soap, this is toothpaste, this is a toothbrush, and this is shampoo."

After a moment of dizziness, Yingniang finally came to her senses and looked at Chen Xie with a bitter smile. "Young Master Sihua, you are truly taking the lives of us women. No woman can resist these things."

Chen Xie chuckled. "Why would I want the lives of women? I just want their silver."

"Ha! Young Master Sihua, those words from your mouth are truly refreshingly honest."

Chen Xie knew the deal was done. In the Chunxiang Building, Yingniang was the one who made the decisions. As for Wan Yu, a girl of fourteen or fifteen, she was no match for Yingniang.

"I have prepared two sets of these items. One is for Miss Wan Yu, and the other is for you to keep. The cost of reserving the Chunxiang Building will not be short a single copper coin. The only thing I need is for the girls here to cooperate and undergo some targeted training according to my requirements."

Wan Yu, who arrived late, indeed walked with the grace of a willow swaying in the wind. However, in Chen Xie's eyes, this was not a good thing. Her body was in a sub-healthy state, her cheeks were painted with rouge, and her chest was flat due to tight binding. In the Ming Dynasty, women with large chests were not the mainstream. She was at most 1.55 meters tall, which was average, and her legs and figure were not visible under her long dress. In Chen Xie's view, the only redeeming feature of this famous courtesan of Dengzhou was her large, expressive eyes. The rest did not align with modern aesthetic standards.

Tall, long-legged, and curvaceous—these were Chen Xie's preferences. Unfortunately, he had not seen a single such woman in the Ming Dynasty.

After a sufficiently reserved greeting, Wan Yu walked lightly to Yingniang's side, her eyes constantly darting to the two closed makeup boxes. Yingniang's expression had already revealed a lot, and Wan Yu, being perceptive, had noticed this.

Wan Yu had long heard of the Short-Haired Doctor's reputation. She had always wanted to meet him. When she saw a boy with a bright, sunny smile standing before her, like a neighbor's little brother, her heart, at just fourteen, began to race. If it were just an ordinary boy, it would not have had this effect. The aura of the doctor was the key.

"Daughter, these are the gifts Young Master Sihua has given you. Open them and take a look," Yingniang said, having been completely won over. She would not set any obstacles for Chen Xie, as the task was not difficult and the reward was generous. Not helping would be foolish.

Following Yingniang's instructions, Wan Yu opened the makeup box and let out a surprised "Ah." She carefully examined each item, then looked at herself in the mirror. Turning to Chen Xie, she performed a deep bow. "These gifts are too heavy!"

Chen Xie chuckled. "Not at all. In the future, whenever new goods from America arrive, I will need Miss Wan Yu's help. Try them out first, then promote them. All new items will be free." As he said this, Chen Xie, who had not yet fully turned to the dark side, felt a bit guilty. Using these modern items, which were not worth much, to deceive a young girl was indeed a bit low.

However, Yingniang and Wan Yu did not think this way. These items were treasures that could not be bought with money in the Ming Dynasty. Yingniang's only concern was whether this young man had designs on Wan Yu. After careful observation, the result was surprising. Chen Xie only gave Wan Yu a cursory glance but looked at Yingniang with a spark in his eyes.

How to explain this? Yingniang was confused. A young girl was glanced at, while an old, faded woman could capture a handsome man's attention. This was quite颠覆.

In Chen Xie's mind, Yingniang was indeed more attractive than Wan Yu. One was an unopened girl, the other a mature and alluring woman. The choice was obvious. The skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting that attracted people in the Ming Dynasty did not have much of a market with Chen Xie.

Having achieved his goal, Chen Xie left, leaving the two women sitting in silence. No customer in the pleasure quarters was like Chen Xie. Wealthy men would come, drink, call for girls, and then go to bed with their chosen one. Scholars would come, drink tea, listen to music, or play a game with Wan Yu. Chen Xie did none of this. He simply presented the two makeup boxes, won easily, and left.

At least, you could stay for a cup of tea or a song, right? Don't these women have any appeal to you?

They definitely had appeal, but Chen Xie's mind was elsewhere. After this deal, he had many preparations to make—setting up the exhibition, training the girls, and so on. The people of the Ming Dynasty were not adept at modern marketing concepts, and even Chen Xie only knew a bit of the surface. It was enough to fool the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Wan Yu was still a bit better. The young girl was fascinated by the good things and played with them lovingly. Yingniang, however, was more conflicted. She felt something was not quite right. Thinking back on the entire process, she found nothing wrong. If there was anything unusual, it was that her usual lines were not used. Phrases like "Do you have a favorite girl?" "Are you here for tea or a feast?" "Miss Wan Yu hasn't risen yet" were completely useless. The deal was almost done, and Wan Yu, who arrived late, had little room to contribute.

Yingniang, who prided herself on her extensive experience, realized for the first time that there were indeed customers who came to the pleasure quarters not to find girls.

"Mother, are these really for me?" Wan Yu finally spoke, her voice timid. Her hands never left the makeup box, revealing her desire to take it home. But she was too shy to be direct and could not bear to let go.

Yingniang sighed with a bitter smile. "Daughter, these are gifts for you. How could they not be yours? Over the years, I have treated you well, never lacking in food or clothing. I have never kept the gifts given by customers. Speaking of this Short-Haired Doctor, I was so focused on getting you benefits that I forgot to mention another important matter. When he comes again, remember to tell him."

"What is it?" Wan Yu was happy to confirm that the gifts were hers. She ignored the other words and clung to the box, which was a bit heavy but not too much.

Yingniang sighed. "Daughter, many of the girls in this building fall ill as they age. This time, I do not plan to charge the doctor for his services. One should not be too greedy. Tell him to treat the girls in the building for free. You must say this, do you understand why?"

Wan Yu shook her head in confusion. Yingniang sighed. "Daughter, this Short-Haired Doctor is a kind-hearted man. Haven't you heard that he treated a case of intestinal abscess without charging a single coin? This is a fatal disease, and ordinary doctors are helpless. I think this Short-Haired Doctor not only has excellent medical skills but also has rare and valuable items. His wealth is probably piled up like a mountain. If you get closer to him, you will benefit in the future. I see that he is not very interested in women, so why not appeal to his kindness? Tell him that you persuaded me to let him treat the girls for free."

Wan Yu understood and quickly stood up. "Thank you, Mother!" Yingniang waved her hand, her eyes flickering. "It's only right!" In fact, she had forgotten to mention it earlier. Just the mirrors in the two makeup boxes were enough to cover the cost of reserving the Chunxiang Building for ten to fifteen days. Chen Xie was not someone who could be approached through normal means. It was better to forgo a few hundred taels of silver and form a good relationship with this eccentric Short-Haired Doctor. It would also help her establish a kind-hearted image.

As for telling Chen Xie, was it important? Only a naive girl like Wan Yu would be fooled by her.

Just as they were talking, Wan Yu let out a cry of surprise. It turned out that there was another layer in the box, which opened with a push, revealing a collection of sparkling jewelry.

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**End of Chapter 23**