Chapter 108: Yang Mama

Hello everyone, I am Xi Junyu. Honestly, when I was first approached for this interview today, I was reluctant. The interviewer is the newly crowned courtesan of Jin Feng Lou, and she wants to write a biography to commemorate the late madam, Mama Yang, and asked for my perspective on her.

As far as I know, Mama Yang’s original name was Yang Xu. It’s said she also had a courtesy name, but no one knows what it was. She was originally the daughter of an official, but her father was unfortunate with heirs, having only this one daughter. So, he raised her as a boy, giving her both a given name and a courtesy name.

When Yang Xu was thirteen, her father was arranging a marriage for her to a man named Xiao, who was to be a live-in son-in-law. On that day, red lanterns hung high, and the Yang residence was abuzz with activity. Guests offered congratulations at the banquet, and the couple was about to perform the wedding rituals. Suddenly, imperial guards burst in, chaining the man named Xiao and declaring him a Liao noble who had infiltrated the Wu Dynasty with sinister intentions. They also accused the Yang family of harboring rebels and committing treason, thus escalating their crime.

In truth, it was all baseless. The emperor deeply feared the unacknowledged influence of the Yang family because many female generals had emerged from their lineage. Unfortunately, this man named Xiao truly was a descendant of Liao nobility and had, for unknown reasons, ended up in the Central Plains and married into the Yang family. Alas, Yang Xu ultimately fell into the Jin Feng Lou.

Many people sympathized with her back then, including Princess Tianxiang, the late emperor's sister. Although Yang Xu was exceptionally beautiful and remarkably skilled, few dared to disrespect her. There was also a local figure, a tough character named Lei Kuai, who had worked as a pimp at Jin Feng Lou in his youth and received much care from Yang Xu. After he became successful, he made a public declaration: "Bai Hua Xiu is my martial sister, but Yang Xu is my own mother. If you offend my martial sister, I'll ruin you completely. But if you offend my own mother, I will fill your anus with quicklime..."

It just goes to show how debauched men can be. Paradoxically, this only increased Jin Feng Lou's fame. Even the courtesans under Mama Yang's care had diverse styles. There was one named Nie Yunzhu who redeemed herself and now seems to be kept by Boss Ning. Mama Yang was quite pleased with this outcome, believing that girls who left Jin Feng Lou should marry men with a protagonist's aura. For instance, good-for-nothings, abandoned disciples, or house servants—even if they became concubines, their future husbands would surely build a vast empire and treat every woman equally, leading to a happy and joyful life.

However, a later courtesan named Yuan Jin'er caused her great distress. Yuan Jin'er was very attached to Nie Yunzhu, a fact Mama Yang noticed but didn't think much of. Unexpectedly, one day, Mama Yang brought a plate of "Prosperity Eggs" for Jin'er to taste. Jin'er, however, threw both the eggs and the plate downstairs, instantly knocking out Wu Da, the steamed bun vendor next door. When Wu Da woke up, he kept asking if this was the Song Dynasty – clearly disoriented. It was then that Mama Yang realized something was wrong.

Thanks to Mama Yang's wise leadership, the women of Jin Feng Lou had promising lives and all hoped to marry good husbands. Unlike other brothels where despair often led women into the abyss of same-sex relationships, this was Mama Yang's constant pride. She didn't see Jin Feng Lou as a mere brothel but as a women's academy. Here, girls learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; how to attract and serve men; how to deal with mistresses; and how to navigate disputes among women. In short, they received all the education a woman should have in life. If this education ultimately didn't lead to relationships with men, but instead resulted in widespread lesbianism, it would undoubtedly be a disillusionment of her ideals.

Yuan Jin'er eventually ran away by jumping into the water and then secretly made her way to Nie Yunzhu's home. Later, both were taken in by Boss Ning. Nie Yunzhu once inadvertently let slip in a "carefree mature women" chat group at a ladies' club that Ning and Yuan often tormented her in bed, to the point where she sometimes wanted to escape the "hell" of the Su residence. However, when the neighborhood women's federation later investigated, Nie Yunzhu changed her story, claiming she was very happy, that Ning Yi respected her greatly, and that Su Tan'er never deprived her of anything. But when asked about Yuan Jin'er, Nie Yunzhu avoided the question, her expression full of sorrow and resentment.

Mama Yang, who was then the vice-chairperson of the women's federation and one of the investigators present, naturally knew what Yuan Jin'er had done. Upon returning to Jin Feng Lou, she fell ill with anger. She lamented that Jin Feng Lou, originally meant to transform "black chickens into golden phoenixes," had now become "foxtail weeds blooming into lilies." She declared that the world had changed, and each generation was worse than the last, utter chaos.

As the steward of the Su household, I never married, a reason most readers are likely aware of. Thus, when I had nothing to do, I would visit Jin Feng Lou for a drink, or as later generations would say, "to frequent a bar." Several women tried to engage me, but I had no interest in such ordinary beauties. However, when Mama Yang came to greet me, I would invite her to sit and chat. Over time, we became friends, transcending age and gender.

Jin Feng Lou gradually became a landmark in the city, growing larger and larger. Princess Tianxiang had already departed with Lei Kuai to the ancient continent in search of immortal fate and divine miracles, effectively removing Mama Yang's long-standing patron. Fortunately, the establishment's reputation was strong, and Nie Yunzhu, out of old ties, occasionally asked her godfather to keep an eye on things. This ensured that petty criminals dared not overstep their bounds or cause trouble at Jin Feng Lou. However, Mama Yang deeply knew that the good days for her girls were coming to an end.

As the true leader of the establishment, she put on a strong front for the girls, only allowing herself to vent her grievances when she was with me. I once told her that lesbian love was also a form of love, and as long as it caused no harm, it shouldn't be criticized. But she became quite angry, saying that the harmony of yin and yang has been the way of heaven since ancient times, and the joyous union of men and women is an achievement for all ages, vital for the continued survival of humanity on this planet. I remember asking her what a "planet" was then, but she brushed off the question. Later, she said in a desolate tone, "If we lived in an era of gender equality, or even female supremacy, lesbian love wouldn't be an issue. But this is the Wu Dynasty, a world ruled by scholar-officials. They can engage in 'broken sleeves' (homosexual relationships) and consider it an elegant affair, but women cannot follow suit! Ning Yi and I are alike, so he can understand, but if other girls think all men are that generous, they'll be in for a terrible fate!" She repeatedly emphasized: "Love, especially lesbian love, has no future. It's a bubble, an illusion, a dewdrop, a sandy wall..." In short, it was utter nonsense to her.

Many years have passed since Mama Yang departed; she must be enjoying bliss in another world, perhaps the one she always yearned for—a world of gender equality, or even female supremacy. Jin Feng Lou has been designated a cultural heritage site, protected by the government. Its annual maintenance costs are deducted from the Su family's "Golden Phoenix Fund," of which I am the chairman. Each year, we spend more on it than the Wu Dynasty pays in annual tribute to the Liao and Jin states. Yet, we have no regrets. We all deeply miss Yang Xu, Mama Yang.

I was reluctant to give this interview because memories are always heavy, and that heaviness presses out sorrow. For a long time, I thought I loved the Young Mistress. For a period, I secretly plotted against and tried to harm Young Master Ning, feeling quite lost inside. It was Mama Yang who silently listened to all my confessions and comforted me. Though she didn't support my actions, she also didn't expose me. Eventually, I found it meaningless and pledged my loyalty to Young Master Ning. I should have known then that I had already let go of my feelings for the Young Mistress, and someone else had quietly taken residence in my heart.

But that year, during the war between Liao and Jin, I went to the front lines for business and was gone for three years. When I returned, Yang Xu, Mama Yang Xu, was already dead!

I don't blame Jin'er now, but when I first heard of Mama Yang's death, I bought two catties of arsenic. However, I later came to understand. Yang Xu was exhausted, body and soul, by Jin Feng Lou, and perhaps this was a form of rest for her. I scattered those two catties of arsenic over Yang Xu's grave, and to this day, no weeds grow there.

Just a few days ago, Jin'er even brought her daughter to pay respects to her. Our Young Master is a great demon king; he can even make lesbians pregnant. However, as far as I know, their daughter always likes to dress up as a boy and then tease the maidservants, demanding to eat rouge. Haha, I know this must be Mama Yang seeking revenge. So, I no longer blame Jin'er; Mama Yang will deal with her herself.

Yang Xu, old Xi will soon be coming to find you. Over there, is loneliness the color of snowflakes too?