Chapter 41: Mei Niang's East House

  "Wah...... Wa!" A burst of exclamation sounded among Yuwen Hongtai and others.

  "My goodness gracious, how can there be such a beautiful woman in this world?" Yuwen Hongtai's eyes were already wide with wonder, his mouth agape as if drool was about to drip from the corner.

  "This simple outfit is already stunning... breathtaking, breathtaking!" Yin Yang and others whispered in unison.

  The young girl and several other women then kowtowed: "We've seen the master of the house."

  Qin Mubai just smiled.

  Wu Mei Niang, I knew it was you!

  The master of the number one wine shop in the world, turned out to be Wu Mei Niang. At this moment, she was dressed in a typical young nobleman's attire - a large cloak, brocade robe, golden crown holding her hair, with a face that didn't need powder but was as smooth as jade, red lips painted with rouge, and an air of superiority that surpassed everyone else by a notch. As soon as Bo Yi stepped into the room, it seemed to brighten up several degrees.

  With a swaggering gait, Wu Meiniang strode in with her hands clasped behind her back, surveying the room with an air of nonchalance and haughtiness. She walked straight up to Qin Mubai, bowed with a masculine gesture, and said: "Greetings, Master Qin! Our humble abode is honored by your presence. Since you have personally taught our little demon the art of music, she must be the greatest pipa master in all the land. We are willing to offer her a handsome sum to perform here; what do you say, Master Qin?"

  "Whatever." Qin Mu Bai knew that this little girl was up to something again, with a sly glint in her eye as she concocted some new scheme. He casually responded with a single word, not following along with what she said.

  That little demon was shocked and delighted, hastily running over to kneel down on the ground: "This humble woman thanks Master Dong for his great kindness, thanks Qin Gongzi for his great kindness!"

  "Thanks, but I don't need to, thanks to Master Qin instead!" Wu Meiniang said with a relaxed smile, "Master Qin's high disciple must be in great demand everywhere, who knows if the Emperor finds out, he might even want to invite you into the palace as a musician. Our humble shop can support a great Buddha like you, that's our honor!"

  Everyone was surprised when they heard this: How strange! The host's words are all sharp, as if he has an ulterior motive.

  "Master, please don't say that..." Yao'er said timidly and nervously, "I wouldn't dare to hope to become Master Qin's apprentice. As long as you're not disgusted with me, I'd be happy to stay here and do chores like washing dishes and sweeping the floor, as long as there's food to eat..."

  "That won't do!" Wu Meiniang suddenly said loudly, "Even if you're willing, Qin Gongzi would be heartbroken and angry, how can our small shop withstand it? - You few, don't hurry to invite the young lady down, change into beautiful clothes, and serve in the fragrant warm room?"

  "Yes, sir." The other women didn't dare say another word and obediently followed You'er as she walked away.

  Qin Mu Bai slanted his eyes at Wu Mei Niang, who remained silent until the women left, then said: "Mei Niang, what do you mean?"

  "What's the matter!" Wu Meiniang snorted in disdain, clapping her hands behind her back and pacing around with a sly smile. "The little beauty you like, of course I have to sympathize with you! Otherwise, if it gets out, people will think that I, the legitimate wife, am narrow-minded!"

  "Wow! So she's Wu Meiniang! She's Qin Sange's wife who didn't pass the door!" Yuwen Hongtai and others exclaimed in shock, "This number one wine house is actually opened by Wu Meiniang, how come we didn't know earlier?"

  "Hurry up and pay your respects to the sister-in-law!" Yin Yang shouted loudly, a group of men fell down in unison - "Pay your respects to the sister-in-law!"

  "Please, all you generals and brothers, dispense with the formalities!" Wu Mei Niang said with a smile, "I haven't even entered the family yet, so I don't count as your sister-in-law. However, from now on, you can consider this place your home, feel free to come and play or stay whenever you want. As for expenses, don't worry about it. If you have money, give some, if not, just put it on Qin San Ge's tab. He's the most generous person around!"

  "Hmm... Hehe, haha! Thank you, sister!" Yuwen Hongtai and the others burst out laughing. Their gaze towards Wu Meiniang also changed - from previous envy and admiration, to a respectful and reverent look, not daring to look directly at her.

  "This has come, and the wine house has added some free and good bodyguards and background. " Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled secretly, but sat quietly without saying much, listening to these people making a fuss for half a day, before saying: "Meiniang, are you done with the excitement?"

  "It's done!" Wu Mei Niang lightly jumped and turned around, smiling brightly at Qin Mu Bai, "What instructions does husband have?"

  "Let's talk somewhere else."

  "Let's go!" Wu Mei Niang didn't say another word, and with Yuwen Hongtai and others bidding farewell, she led Qin Mubai to a quiet daughter's boudoir.

  "Husband, why did you take so long to come see me?" Wu Mei Niang looked at Qin Mu Bai with a strange smile, blinking her big eyes and teasingly laughed, "I almost died thinking of you! As a woman running such a large shop by myself, not even having a man to help me out, you're really heartless!"

  "Are you still trying to tease me with such a pretentious attitude when there's no one else around?" Qin Mu Bai smiled and said, "When did you open up such a big store, I've never heard of it before?"

  "I'm just a weak and delicate woman, how could I have the ability to open such a big store in the expensive land of Chang'an West City?" Wu Mei Niang walked back and forth with her hands behind her back, not even giving Qin Mu Bai a direct glance, saying to herself, "However, my own husband doesn't take care of his wife, but instead there are other men who are eager to help and support me."

  "What does it mean?"

  "That's what I mean."

  "Is the shop given by Zheng Fengxuan to you?"

  "To be specific, it's Zheng Fengji's son, the young master of the Zheng family, Zheng Anshun." Wu Meiniang raised her face and said with a somewhat provocative tone.

  "Hmm!" Qin Mu Bai smiled lightly, disapprovingly. "Mei Niang, isn't Zheng An Shun young, wealthy, elegant and quite the romantic?"

  "Really? How did you know?"

  "I guessed it." Qin Mu Bai smiled and said, "Because if you didn't create such a character to provoke me, it wouldn't be your style or habit."

  "Boring!" Wu Meiniang pouted, somewhat annoyed that her scheme had been exposed. She snorted and said, "It's true that Zheng Anshun helped me with the shop, but it wasn't a gift. I actively sought out Zheng Fengzhi and asked for it. I told him that I didn't want any of the profits from selling wine, just this one wine house instead. And then, I also requested that I be allowed to sell Qin Xian wine here. Then, I found your good disciple, Zeng Shu's student, and asked him to help me train a few musicians. Think about it, his pipa skills were taught by you, so how could he refuse when I sent someone to learn from him? And that's how the most unique 'Number One Wine in the World' wine house was established. All of these beautiful women are either people I bought or invited from various places, and it would be hard to find an ugly one among them."

  "Is this liquor only for men?"

  "Wrong!" Wu Meiniang suddenly shouted loudly, "There is no flower wine to drink here. No matter who it is, don't even think about laying a hand on the women here, otherwise I won't give him any face and will drive him out immediately. Even if he's a royal relative, it's best for him to restrain himself when he comes here. I'd rather risk having my family ruined than let these people get away with it."

  "What one has in one's mouth is not as good as what one cannot get, Mei Niang you are quite good at teasing men's appetite, indeed a good move." Qin Mu Bai smiled and said, "This wine house will definitely make a lot of money, no doubt about it."

  "I dislike the moral character of men, but this way I can definitely make money. I just want to turn this wine shop into the first one in Chang'an." Wu Mei Niang smiled with a hint of pride, "Let the Emperor know my great name 'The First Wine Under Heaven', and then he will be disgusted by me, Wu Mei Niang, this businesswoman. Isn't this our plan?"

  "Haha, looks like you're carrying a lot of resentment!" Qin Mu Bai laughed.

  "What grievances do I dare to have?" Wu Meiniang rolled her eyes and played with a teacup, saying, "This is a man's world. Women are ultimately appendages of men. I just can't understand why men can have beautiful wives and concubines at home, but outside they can be promiscuous and flirtatious, lingering in places where music and dance fill the air, sleeping with different women every night? While women must guard their virtue for their husbands, and if they slightly overstep, they will be punished by both morality and law?"

  Qin Mubai couldn't help but furrow his brow: "What do you want to say?"

  "Hmph, I'm saying, are men human and women not? What makes women unable to have three thousand admirers and a crowd of handsome men swarming around them?" Wu Mei Niang burst into an evil laughter.

  "Then why don't you try?" Qin Mu Bai shook her head with a mixture of laughter and tears, thinking to herself: Is this the ideal of Her Majesty the Queen when she was young? Or has she had such a rebellious personality since childhood?

  "You said it, I'll try." Wu Meiniang retorted with a mischievous smile, looking at Qin Mubai with a self-satisfied expression. "That Zheng Anshun is not bad. He's handsome, gentle and kind, and knowledgeable, much more interesting than you, a man full of evil intentions."

  Qin Mubai knew she was intentionally provoking him, trying to get a rise out of him and make fun of him. So he still didn't take it seriously and calmly said: "I dare bet that before you even start, Zheng Anshun will already be defeated. Even if Zheng Fengzhuo is the richest man in Chang'an, with countless connections among the nobles and a relationship with the emperor, he won't be able to stop it."

  Wu Meiniang's small face trembled slightly, and she turned a bit pale. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking in a stubborn tone: "Yes, you're now someone great, a high-ranking official. A commander of the imperial guard, a favorite of the emperor! You even had the son of Wei Zhengde beaten up. What qualifications does a mere merchant's son have to touch your woman, huh?"

  "It's not a matter of whether or not he has the qualifications." Qin Mu Bai slightly raised the corner of his mouth, with a faintly cold and solemn smile. "He doesn't even have the guts to think about it. Don't believe me? Go ask him yourself? Other men are all the same. So, no matter which man you use to try to provoke me, it's useless."

  "How boring, you only say these things when we meet! Even if we're not a couple, can't we be friends? Why do you have to be like an enemy?" Wu Meiniang couldn't argue anymore, stomped her foot and said angrily, "Will saying something nice kill you?"