Lin Jue thought about Xie Yingying's words carefully, and suddenly an idea flashed in his mind.
"Miss Yingying, you just talked about the Oiran Competition, but I don't know what the specific situation is."
"The Oiran Competition? That's a competition in the flower world in Hangzhou. Every year on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th, each brothel selects the best to compete on the West Lake. The winner is the Oiran. This is the most important name in the flower world.
, if any family can win the title of oiran, their business will be booming. Even if they only win the second or third place, it will be enough to make the building famous and the value of the building will rise. In the 20 years since the establishment of Wangyue Building, I have been a frequent visitor to the oiran ladies.
"
Lin Jue said: "If your Wangyue Tower can win the Oiran this year, will it improve the current situation?"
Xie Yingying was stunned and shook her head: "How easy is it? Is it so easy for the oiran to get it?"
"I mean what if."
"Is this... If we can really win the Oiran, it will naturally be greatly improved. It should be noted that the Oiran is not only a name, but also a symbol of status in the flower world. At that time, celebrities from the southeast gathered here, and their influence was extraordinary. All parties in the Great Zhou Dynasty
When celebrities come to Hangzhou, they will most likely be willing to patronize this building. Prince Liang's palace has little influence on these people. Even if they send people to cause trouble, they will be more restrained. If they cause trouble in the brothel where the courtesan's wife is, someone will come forward to accuse them. "
"That's it. Since it's so useful, why not do it? Miss Yingying should compete. Isn't this a good opportunity to change the status quo?"
"Mr. Lin, this is not easy. I am afraid that in this year's Oiran competition, either Wanhua Tower or Qunfang Pavilion will win. Or they may take the top three. In short, I, Wangyue Tower, have no chance." Xie Yingying said softly.
He shook his head.
"The result has been decided before it even begins? Is there something shady about it?" Lin Jue said with a smile.
"There is no shady story. The people who appraise and criticize are all famous people and scholars of today. Senior officials from both Zhejiang Road and the Hangzhou Prefecture will come to sit here. There has been no doubt about fairness over the years. However, the young master does not know something. To participate in the Oiran Competition, you must
We must have adequate preparations and excellent conditions. Otherwise, I might not even be able to enter the main competition.”
Lin Jue became more and more interested in this matter. In his previous life, he knew about the oiran competition in Hangzhou City, but he did not care about it. The family rules were strict, and he had never even been to a brothel, so how could he know the secrets involved?
.But at this moment, Lin Jue's interest increased greatly, and he wanted to know what was going on.
"If we have nothing to do, let's just have a casual chat. Please tell me, what are the conditions for this oiran competition?" Lin Jue asked.
"Since Young Master Lin asked, the slave family will talk to Young Master Lin. The so-called Oiran Competition, to put it bluntly, is about both sex and art. Sex is just one item, and the slave family is confident that they will not be inferior to others. However, this artist is a
It is really difficult to compete without help from many aspects. Before the Oiran Competition every year, each family will invest a lot of money and manpower to prepare for the title of Oiran. Those who participate in the Oiran competition need to work hard to practice their skills and musical instrument playing skills.
, the training of singing and dancing skills is extremely hard. In addition to the participating houses needing to pay a large amount of money as a means of ostentation, each house spends a lot of money to hire experts in the industry to join in to create a new dance score and a new song.
Only with the help of highly skilled musicians can we teach people something new on that day, and then we can hope to win the first prize." Xie Yingying explained in a low voice.
Lin Jue nodded slightly. The brothel at this time was not as vulgar as the later generations from which he traveled. The purpose of later generations spending money to buy sex was to vent their animal desires, but here the emphasis is on appreciating skills and gaining both spiritual and physical benefits.
Satisfied. So at this time, the brothel girls could not just spread their legs and sell meat. They had to learn musical instruments and dance from an early age. They also had to be able to read, write, write poems and lyrics. Only in this way can they have spiritual communication with their customers.
, will give guests a double sense of pleasure.
Of course, there are also customers who come only for flesh and lust, and there are also prostitutes who only sell meat but have no skills. But they are not the mainstream, and even in the flower world, they have a low status and a meager income. Those who can truly win the admiration of everyone and earn a lot of money
Those who are expensive are those women with skills. The literati, celebrities, officials and wealthy families who visit brothels do not lack women. What they lack is women who know how to please themselves and can communicate spiritually. Therefore, these women who have poems and books in their belly are
It is not surprising that brothel girls who are good at singing and dancing can attract them. This is one of the reasons why many literati officials like to take brothel girls as concubines regardless of their dirty reputation.
"Musicians and dancers are not the most difficult people to recruit. The most difficult thing is literary talent. Although women in the flower world know some poetry and are usually immersed in it, they will fill in their own short words and sing. But in the Oiran Competition,
On such an occasion, whoever can invite famous artists at that time to write lyrics and poems for themselves will greatly increase the weight of winning the Oiran Competition. The lyrics are passed down, and the music is based on the lyrics. Although this Oiran Competition is a grand event in the flower world, in fact
It can also be regarded as a grand event in the literary world. Every year, celebrities and scholars gather here to compete with each other in poetry. Every year, talented people become famous all over the world because of the Oiran Competition. The reason why celebrities and scholars are attracted to participate in the notarization, the court
The government is also involved, so this may be the reason."
Xie Yingying whispered softly, and Lin Jue greatly agreed with her words. An oiran competition can attract famous scholars and court officials to participate, but of course it is not just to cheer for these brothel girls. Although the scribes of this dynasty have always regarded visiting brothels as a kind of thing.
Romantic behavior is a matter of elegance. But after all, a brothel is still a brothel, and the women in the brothel are despised by many people. Many people secretly despise it. For example, the Lin family where Lin Jue lives strictly prohibits children from entering or leaving the fireworks area according to the family rules.
Land. But if the prosperous age of brothels is connected with the literary world, that would be another matter. This dynasty attaches great importance to the rule of literature, and the land of brothels and fireworks is an excellent carrier for the spread of poetry. It is like a good product needs good products.
Advertising is the same as building fame, and the two are almost a perfect combination. It is not surprising that celebrities and scholars participated in it. Because at this event, not only can you appreciate the grace of famous prostitutes, but also more good poems can emerge
good words.
"Has your building made preparations for this?"
"To be honest, sir, I, Wangyuelou, have no intention of participating in the Oiran Competition this year."
"Why is that? Are you not allowed to participate?"
"That's not true. Nearly seventy brothels in Hangzhou are eligible. All they need to do is pay the registration fee. The reason why our brothel has not signed up so far is that after discussing with our mother, we thought that we had no chance of winning, and even the official
You may not be able to make it to Saidu.”
"Why do you say that?"
"...Because we can't hire good musicians to compose music, or dancers to choreograph, and more importantly, no well-known scribes are willing to compose new poems and lyrics for us." Xie Yingying said sadly.
"Why is that? Because of financial constraints?"
"It has nothing to do with money. Although Wangyue Tower is in a tight depression right now, my mother and I still have some savings. The registration fee of fifty taels, the remuneration for hiring musicians, dancers, and scribes, and even the entire participation in the Oiran Competition is not enough.
We can still get more than five hundred taels. But even if we have money, no one is willing to help us."
Lin Jue suddenly realized, and said in deep thought: "Needless to say, it's because of King Liang. No one wants to offend King Liang, so no one wants to help you."
"That's right." Xie Yingying sighed.
Lin Jue pondered, and the scene was silent for a moment. Outside the back window, the sun was shining brightly, butterflies were flying, and the breeze blew through the flowers and trees, making a rustling sound.
"Maybe... I can help you." Lin Jue suddenly said.
Xie Yingying was startled and looked at Lin Jue with phoenix eyes: "Master Lin wants to help us? How?"
Lin Jue smiled and said: "I haven't thought about it for the moment, but I think I can help you. I, Lin Jue, am not a famous person, nor am I famous. But I can still write a few poems. But these alone may not be enough.
.I am thinking that if I want to help you, I must let you win the title of Oiran. Or at least you must be ranked among the top three. Only then will the current situation of your building be improved."
Xie Yingying was very suspicious. Mr. Lin thought that just writing a few poems could be used to participate in the Oiran Competition. That was really fanciful. The Oiran Competition was comparable to an imperial examination. Dozens of brothels invited experts to join in order to win the first three times.
Mr. Lin still didn't understand the cruelty of it. However, Lin Jue was his benefactor, so naturally he couldn't say these words.
Lin Juewu was silent in his thoughts and said: "Well... I have to think about not only the poems, but also the composition and dance. Since I have to spend hundreds of taels of silver to participate in the competition, I must not return empty-handed. This
It takes a few days to think carefully about it, and you can't make a hasty decision at once. By the way, is there a deadline for the registration of this oiran?"
"As of July 18th, one month before the competition." Xie Yingying couldn't bear to go against Lin Jue's words and replied softly. She found it incredible that Lin Jue said that the poems, dances and music were included together. She felt vaguely in her heart that this was
This benefactor seemed unreliable. Lin Jue nodded and said: "Well, before July 18th, I will come again and make a final decision. If you decide to participate by then, I can help you if necessary.
.”
Xie Yingying said hurriedly: "Young Master Lin actually doesn't have to be like this. Yingying doesn't want to involve you in this troublesome matter. By helping us, aren't you trying to offend Prince Liang?"
Lin Jue smiled and said: "I don't show up, how do they know it's me? I'm just an unknown person. When the time comes, you have to say that you did everything yourself. This is also a good gimmick. What is skill?
?What does it mean to ask famous people to help you throughout the process? If you tell those famous people that you do all the music, lyrics and dance yourself, what kind of perception would that be?"
Xie Yingying's eyes lit up. Mr. Lin's proposal was a new idea. If she did all the lyrics, music, and dance herself, wouldn't it create the image of a truly talented woman? However, Xie Yingying was only excited for a moment and then became depressed. Everything depends on whether the lyrics, music, and dance are good.
Otherwise, not only is it not a gimmick, but it is embarrassing. It will ruin your own image.
But at this moment, I can't decide. In fact, whether I will participate or not is undecided, so why worry too much.
"Thank you, sir. I'll make a decision then. Anyway, there are still more than ten days. Mom and I will think about it again." Such an answer was actually perfunctory.
Lin Jue didn't hear the perfunctory meaning. He stood up with a smile and said, "That's it, it's time for me to leave."
Xie Yingying hurriedly got up to see them off, Lin Jue said goodbye to Xie Danhong and Xie Yingying, and left quickly with Lu Wu.
