Chapter 21: The Flower Maiden

An Chunfeng could now weave ten strips of lace a day, but she did not hand them all over. Once she completed her daily quota of five, she would spend her time contemplating new lace patterns and tucking away the surplus samples.

It could not be helped; she was never a weaver who spent her days with a crochet hook. It had merely been a hobby for a time, and she felt as though she had already exhausted every pattern her mind could conjure.

Over the past few days, Shopkeeper Qiu had brought up the subject of her crochet technique, hinting at a desire to purchase it, though he was still testing the waters. An Chunfeng was in no hurry to respond to his overtures; one must cast a long line to catch a big fish.

She currently had three taels of silver in her purse. A rough calculation suggested that if she continued to turn in five lace strips daily, she would have a surplus of ten taels after expenses at the end of the month. Once she sold her technique for a good price, she would find a way to inquire about her child.

It was noon again. An Chunfeng stood at her door, food box in hand. Today, she had tried a different eatery and purchased steamed lotus root with stuffed centers. According to the proprietor, the lotus root and the lotus seeds inside were fresh from this year’s harvest, simmered with fox nuts to create a refreshing and savory broth. It sounded promising, but since she had never tried this shop before, it was worth a gamble.

As she contemplated the delicacy and reached for her lock, her ears pricked up. She turned abruptly to see a black-lacquered door not far away left slightly ajar, from which a man darted out.

He was a middle-aged man with his collar half-open and his trousers loose. As he walked, he looked back and laughed, "Mistress Lu, I must head out for a delivery tomorrow. Wait for me to return in a few days so I can spoil you properly. Keep the doors locked and don't let anyone else sweet-talk you."

The reply was an embroidered shoe hurled at him, striking him squarely in the chest. The man, unbothered, picked it up, sniffed it, and tucked it into his tunic.

Turning around, he caught sight of An Chunfeng standing at her door. He paused, baring a mouthful of yellow teeth in a lecherous grin. "This lady looks familiar. Have we met somewhere before, my dear?"

Such crude solicitation was nauseating. An Chunfeng’s face turned cold. "We met in the underworld; I was the one who killed you. If you want to die again, feel free to provoke me."

The man with the yellow teeth blinked. "Oho, I was just making conversation. I didn't realize you had such a sharp tongue, little lady."

Before he could continue, a woman came charging out of the black-lacquered door, cursing, "Huang San, you wretched dog, give me back my shoe!"

Seeing An Chunfeng, the woman paused and immediately put on a smile. "Oh, who is this? If it isn't our new neighbor! They say a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor, yet you haven't greeted the sisters around here even after half a month!"

An Chunfeng glanced at her. She had a face caked in fading powder, was in her twenties, and possessed a certain charm with her arched eyebrows. Beneath a cheap pink gauze robe, she wore a leek-green bodice, and her hair was loosely pinned at the nape of her neck, exuding a lazy, seductive air.

"We aren't close, no greetings necessary."

An Chunfeng was not in the least bit polite. She coldly removed the bronze lock from her gate, stepped inside, and shut the two of them out.

She had already guessed the identities of this pair of illicit lovers. An Chunfeng often lay awake at night, and since her home faced the street, she had long since become familiar with the goings-on of the neighborhood. Qipan Street was not just home to ordinary families; it was also full of flower-girls who traded in private. Some took on occasional guests, while others were kept by long-term patrons, living humble lives in the deep alleys.

Mistress Lu, who had been eager to strike up a friendship, felt slighted by being ignored. She stomped her feet in frustration but could do nothing about the closed door. Instead, she grabbed Huang San by the ear and spat, "Look at you, a greedy cat who can't resist a scrap of meat! If you dare to mess around, don't think about crossing my threshold again!"

Huang San yelped in pain, clutching his ear and begging, "Mistress Lu, my dear lady, with you here, how could I ever have eyes for anyone else?"

"Hmph! You’d better not!" Seeing that Huang San was being compliant, she gave his ear one last twist before letting go. "Listen well: if you don't bring money for powder next time, you won't be allowed into my bed!"

"I know, I know," Huang San mumbled. "I must go, or the caravan leader will lose his temper!" With that, he took off without looking back.

Mistress Lu stood with her hands on her hips for a moment, then remembered her shoe was still in his possession. She chased after him, shouting, "Huang San, you bastard, give me back my shoe!"

Huang San, who had been hoping to boast about his conquest, found comfort in the shoe he had snatched and had no intention of returning it. The more Mistress Lu yelled, the faster he ran, disappearing into the main street and leaving her cursing in his wake.

As Mistress Lu slammed her door shut in a huff, Pear Blossom Alley returned to its quiet state.

An Chunfeng sat in her parlor, loosened her robes, and kicked off her shoes to savor her meal. Since it was not yet autumn, the lotus root lacked the soft, powdery texture of a later harvest, but it was fragrant and refreshing—a true delight to eat on a scorching summer day.

She felt fortunate; Qipan Street was indeed a place of former prosperity, and the food here was excellent, and above all, fresh.

After finishing her meal, she prepared for her usual nap. Yet, as she lay down, she found herself unable to sleep. Though she felt groggy and exhausted, her mind remained crystal clear. She gave no further thought to the illicit lovers, focusing instead on her meeting with Shopkeeper Qiu at the fabric store the following morning.

It was time to finalize the sale of her crochet technique. What was a fair price for each pattern? Should she enter into a profit-sharing partnership with Shopkeeper Qiu, or sell the technique outright?

Had she arrived in the Great Liang Dynasty only recently, she would have opted for a clean, one-time payment. But after several days of dealing with Shopkeeper Qiu and learning more about the industry, she felt that a partnership might not be a bad approach—it would also make it easier to introduce her lingerie business later.

An Chunfeng now understood the status of the women like Qiu, Shui, Xing, and Niang. To be honest, as long as they didn't flaunt themselves or act seductively in front of her, she held no prejudice against these courtesans. In the modern world, those in such professions were generally volunteers, following their own choices and careers. In the ancient world, however, the vast majority were forced into it, and calling them tragic figures was no exaggeration.

Yet, every social class held its entrenched biases. To be of the "lowly" caste was to be at the very bottom of society, an unchangeable fact in the Great Liang Dynasty. For An Chunfeng, treating them as ordinary human beings was the greatest respect she could offer.

Doing business with these women could be profitable, but it came with trade-offs. Although she, a widow, was hardly of high status, she was at least a commoner. If she grew too close to courtesans, misunderstandings would be inevitable, which might damage her reputation.

An Chunfeng did not care much about potential misunderstandings. She sought neither fame nor marriage; by keeping a low profile and having money, she could live a good life.

At this moment, she felt even more grateful that her child was not with her. Whether it was the lingering memory of her predecessor or the bond formed by the golden lock, An Chunfeng had subconsciously come to regard the child she had distanced herself from as her own.

The night passed, and for once, An Chunfeng left the house early, heading to the Qiushui Fabric Store as agreed.