nucmednet Chapter 12 Opportunities to Make Money
Chapter 12 Opportunities to Make Money
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Liu Ye couldn't help but hold her small hand and stroke her delicate hand a few times with his fingers.
Suwen's cheeks flushed red. She tried to pull away gently, but couldn't, and let him hold her.
Liu Ye coughed and said, "Miss Suwen, I'm here to help you. She's just a courtesan, don't worry, I've got it covered."
Seeing how easily he spoke, Suwen was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, young master. Could you write a few poems for me?"
The participants in the Qinhuai Flower Festival were mainly literati and scholars. If one could obtain a few exquisite poems before the competition began and then adapt them into songs and dances, it would surely win the favor of these scholars and increase one's chances of winning. The Four Beauties of Qinhuai, having the advantage of being on home turf, had already gone to visit local literary talents to request poems.
Suwen also wanted to request a poem, but all the famous local talents had been invited by the Four Beauties of Jinling. Being unfamiliar with the area, she could only worry helplessly.
Liu Ye was slightly taken aback and said, "Poetry? I don't know any!"
Su Wen felt a chill in his heart, but still smiled and said, "It doesn't matter if you can't write lyrics, young master, you can compose music."
A good piece of music can also enhance her beauty.
Liu Ye shook his head again and said, "I'm sorry, I can't compose music either. I haven't read many books."
Suwen's expression changed slightly. She withdrew her small hand and said somewhat displeasedly, "Young master claims to have a way to make me win the championship. Are you perhaps just making fun of me?"
At this point, her tone turned cold.
Liu Ye chuckled silently. What a jerk! Just a moment ago he acted like he didn't care what anyone did, now he's changed his tune faster than flipping a book. Fine, fine, let's just consider it a deal!
He slowly poured himself a glass of wine and drank it down.
Suwen frowned slightly and waved her sleeve, saying, "If you only want to drink, please forgive me for being unable to accompany you."
After saying that, he stood up and, with Ziyi's help, prepared to leave.
At this moment, Liu Ye spoke up. He said, "If you walk out the door, young lady, you might miss your only chance to win the championship."
Su Wen's body trembled, and she slowly turned her head. Seeing Liu Ye's calm expression, she became even more unsure of what to do.
Liu Ye chuckled and said, "Some things aren't as simple as you think. If I gave you a good poem and a good melody, what would be your chances of winning the competition?"
Suwen gritted her teeth and said, "It's about fifty-fifty!" Actually, she was already praising the result.
Liu Ye smiled faintly and said, "In my opinion, Miss Suwen doesn't even own a single CD."
Su Wen was startled, but before she could answer, Zi Yi beside her snorted and said, "Miss, in my opinion, this man is just a charlatan. He's talking nonsense."
Liu Ye gave a cold laugh and said, "Whether I say it or not is up to me, whether you listen or not is up to you."
Suwen stared into his eyes and said, "Tell me what you have to say!"
Liu Ye laughed and said, "I say you have three disadvantages, Miss. First, this Qinhuai Flower Festival is organized by several local brothel owners, so the rules here will naturally favor their own people. As an outsider, you are at a disadvantage in this respect. Second, the location chosen is the Qinhuai River, which is their territory. As an outsider, you are at a disadvantage in this respect."
Third, being located along the Qinhuai River, the participants were mostly locals. Compared to outsiders, these people were more inclined to support their own people. This was the third reason for the young lady's downfall.
He stood up and said, word by word, "The timing, location, and popular support are all against you, Miss. How can we talk about victory?"
Suwen's heart trembled. This person's words were sharp and to the point, leaving her speechless.
After a long while, Su Wen came to Su Ze, gave a sincere curtsy, and asked, "Young Master, do you have a solution?"
Liu Ye said thoughtfully, "There is a way, but..."
Suwen gritted her teeth and said, "If there is anything you need, young master, I will do my best to comply."
She was willing to go all out for this top courtesan.
Seeing Liu Ye's eyes sweep over her, Su Wen stammered, "This humble servant is a withered branch and a broken willow..."
Liu Ye waved his hand and said, "You're overthinking it. I'm not interested in you at all."
Hearing this, Suwen breathed a sigh of relief. She had always been chaste and still a virgin. If he had made any improper demands, she really wouldn't know what to do. But hearing his straightforward refusal, she felt a little resentful.
This guy actually looks down on me.
Liu Ye tapped his finger on the table and said, "I'm helping you, and I don't expect anything in return. You just need to promise to split all the money I earn within three years after winning the championship with me, fifty-fifty."
Yangzhou was home to many salt merchants, many of whom were known for their extravagant spending. Suwen was Yangzhou's top courtesan, earning a substantial income of twenty to thirty thousand taels a year. If she won the title of "Queen of Courtesans," her income could double, reaching at least seventy to eighty thousand taels annually.
Splitting the profits with Liu Ye over three years would amount to over ten thousand taels of silver, no small sum. However, for the sake of the title of courtesan, Su Wen gritted her teeth and nodded, saying, "Alright, I agree."
Liu Ye squinted and said, "Words are no proof; let's put it in writing!"
Suwen immediately asked Ziyi to bring paper and pen, and wrote a written agreement on the spot, signing and affixing her fingerprint immediately.
Liu Ye blew on the ink to dry it and said with a smile, "From today onwards, I am your agent."
After these few days in the brothel, Liu Ye, young and handsome, and spending lavishly, quickly became a popular guest among the women.
What girl wouldn't be passionate, especially when she encounters a young, charming, and wealthy young master from a prominent family? How could they not be crazy about him?
Liu Ye became a celebrity in the brothel.
Although this fellow lingered in the front hall, he rarely sought out Miss Suwen. Miss Suwen harbored some resentment, but facing this benefactor who could help her, she dared not neglect him. She greeted him with a smile every day, using all her charm to please him. Several times she tried to inquire about the competition, but Liu Ye simply remained silent.
With the competition date fast approaching, Liu Ye made no move, continuing to squander money in the lobby and live a life of extravagance and debauchery.
Miss Suwen couldn't sit still any longer. She prepared a banquet in her small building and sent Ziyi to invite Suze.
She really went all out for this competition to become the top courtesan.
She agreed to any demanding conditions as long as Liu Ye could make her famous, showing a willingness to gamble everything.
After a while, Liu Ye arrived.
Suwen immediately went to greet him, smiling and saying, "Young Master Liu, you've arrived."
Liu Ye nodded, took a closer look at Su Wen, and noticed that she looked a little different than usual, as if she had dressed up carefully.
"Miss Suwen, what brings you to me so late?"
Liu Ye felt a little puzzled and couldn't help but ask.
Suwen was a famous courtesan. Once the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) arrived, the small courtyard would close its doors for rest, and even Su Tong himself could not do so.
This is rather unusual.
Suwen smiled faintly and said, "It's nothing, I just wanted to have a drink and chat with you, sir."
Liu Ye smiled and said, "Really? That's quite a coincidence. I just asked the madam in the front hall to help me find a girl to accompany me for drinks."
During this time, this guy lived in a brothel. Anyway, he had plenty of money now and had become familiar with the madam in the front hall.
As long as he asked, the madam would try her best to satisfy him.
Living in the same courtyard, Suwen had heard some things about Liu Ye.
There's nothing wrong with a man being a womanizer.
But this guy promised to take the title of courtesan, so why hasn't he made a move yet? The two of them did sign a contract.
Liu Ye wasn't in a hurry, but Su Wen couldn't hold back any longer.
Upon hearing that this fellow frequented brothels, Suwen retorted angrily, "Young Master Liu, you actually find those vulgar beauties attractive?"
Liu Ye smiled slightly and said, "Judging from Miss Suwen's words, I can come to see you anytime?"
Suwen smiled and said, "As long as you are willing to come, I will naturally welcome you with open arms. Do you perhaps think that I am inferior to those vulgar beauties?"
Liu Ye exclaimed, "In that case, I won't stand on ceremony! I'm feeling a bit tired anyway."
Then he got up and went to Suwen's boudoir, took a sniff, and exclaimed, "So fragrant, so fragrant!"
He plopped down on the bed and lay down fully clothed.
Suwen was dumbfounded.
She was just being polite; she never expected him to take it seriously.
She moved with light, quick steps to the bedside. Suwen, both annoyed and amused, exclaimed, "Young Master Liu, Young Master Liu!"
Liu Ye rolled over, blinked, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Su Wen retorted, "Young Master Liu, they've already prepared wine and dishes!"
Liu Ye muttered to himself, "I've drunk about enough, and I'm getting a little tired."
He closed his eyes as he spoke, and after a while, he began to snore.
This bastard!
Suwen was a little annoyed. She had originally wanted to ask him about the competition, but she didn't expect that he would come and not even drink a drop of wine before climbing into bed and going to sleep.
She's been in the industry for so long and she's never slept with a man in bed?
This guy is definitely the first one.
Despite Su Wen's strong dissatisfaction, he couldn't say anything, since his future was in their hands.
Besides, sleeping in her bed won't cost me anything.
Shaking her head, Suwen gently took off his shoes and covered him with a brocade quilt.
After doing all this, she returned to the living room.