121. A Multitude of Beauties

Gazing upon the picturesque scenery of Jiangnan in spring, one could not help but feel the beauty of life. Qu Buping could not refrain from remarking, "Before such magnificent mountains and rivers, trivial matters of romance or grievances of the martial arts world seem like mere child's play. It is a true waste to squander one's energy on such things. No wonder the ancients said, 'A man of ambition should set his sights on the world.'"

Chu Xiaoyu chimed in, "Indeed. Looking at these beautiful landscapes makes one feel the satisfaction and splendor of existence. Truly, to wander freely while taking in such vistas is a beautiful indulgence."

Qu Buping continued, "They say the land is so enchanting that countless heroes throughout history have fallen for it. Once a man of vision sees such beauty, he can cast everything else aside, longing only to possess the realm."

Xiao Yun'er disagreed, "You are mistaken. The world is vast, and there are so many beautiful mountains and rivers; what is the point of one person possessing it all? Even if you lived to be a hundred, you could never finish seeing it all."

Qu Buping chided him with a laugh, "Are you trying to be difficult? We are to share both fortune and misfortune from now on—after all, we are sworn brothers, aren't we? How about we make it official?" He looked at Xiao Yun'er with a mischievous grin.

Xiao Yun'er laughed, "Fine by me! But we must find a comfortable place to hold the ceremony."

Chu Xiaoyu added, "Exactly. Back in the day, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei swore their oath in the peach orchard, which eventually led to Liu Bei’s imperial hegemony and Guan Yu’s eternal reputation for loyalty. Since the peach blossoms are in full bloom this third lunar month, we should find a fine spot to drink, celebrate, and swear our brotherhood among the trees. Who knows? Perhaps we too might carve out our own empire in the martial world."

Qu Buping chuckled, "Why 'who knows'? Xiaoyu, you lack confidence. With the three of us, becoming overlords of the martial world is a certainty. It won't be long before we are the ones laughing at the world."

Xiao Yun'er was skeptical, "Brother Qu, you're bragging again."

Qu Buping replied, "I am not. If only that woman, Long Lengyue, would give us a chance..." He sighed. "Alas! Truly, heaven is blind!"

Xiao Yun'er chimed in with a whimsical idea, "Brother Qu, why don't you try currying favor with me? Who knows, maybe I could get my lady to help you."

As the three bantered, they walked along the most bustling street in Yangzhou. It was the third month, the height of spring; the flowers were in bloom, and the women on the streets wore floral dresses and embroidered shoes. Having shed their clumsy winter garments, these beauty-loving women were dressed in soft, ethereal spring attire.

The prosperous city of Yangzhou was filled with beauties—each slender, graceful, and elegant. Their vibrant, colorful clothing was far more delicate and stylish than the attire of women in the Northwest.

Because the Northwest was harsh and cold, many girls there were weathered by the sun and wind, leaving their skin dark and rough. Furthermore, due to the poverty of the region, they lacked the finery and accessories of their southern counterparts. Seeing so many beauties for the first time, the three men were left wide-eyed. Xiao Yun'er could not help but exclaim, "Who would have thought the young women here would be so beautiful?"

Qu Buping asked curiously, "Isn't your wife a beauty too? Surely the women here aren't necessarily more beautiful than her."

Xiao Yun'er gave a bitter laugh, "Alas, my brothers, to tell you the truth, I feel a bit afraid when I see the Ninth Young Lady now, so I can hardly appreciate her beauty."

Qu Buping laughed, "That is an honest admission. As the old saying goes, a wife is not as good as a mistress, a mistress is not as good as a secret lover, and a secret lover is not as good as one you cannot attain. Some men are truly strange; they do not cherish the beautiful and gentle wives they have at home, yet they go to brothels to seek women who are not even half as lovely. Isn't that bizarre?"

Xiao Yun'er retorted, "Brother Qu, don't lecture me. It is not yet certain if the Ninth Young Lady will even be my wife. Even if she is a beautiful wife, it is hard to say if she will be gentle."

As the three chatted and joked, they noticed the brightly adorned courtesans on the street, busy beckoning potential customers.

Although these women were merely acting the part of the enchantress for the sake of coin, the soft, melodic Wu dialect they spoke and the amorous glances they cast toward Qu and Chu left the men feeling a restless, impulsive urge.

Seeing some men walk inside with beaming faces and others emerge looking thoroughly satisfied, Qu Buping reached into his pocket and sighed, "My brothers, now I know what is truly the most adorable thing in the world."

Xiaoyu reached into his own pocket at nearly the same time and replied, "Who doesn't know that? Aside from life itself, it is, of course, silver. Anyone who knows how to spend it understands that silver is the dearest and most adorable thing of all."