The next day, Yang Ruoning went to the girls' courtyard as arranged.
Beneath the large locust tree in the courtyard, several young girls sat gathered, listening to a woman in her thirties, dressed in flamboyant attire, lecturing them. This woman was Mama Hua, who managed all the girls in the establishment and specialized in training those not yet of age for their "comb-pinning" ceremony. Here, a fourteen-year-old girl was considered an adult, and upon reaching her fourteenth birthday, the girls in the establishment could receive guests, a rite known as "comb-pinning." Fan Lou was one of the most renowned establishments in the capital, and its girls were famous among the noble circles for their beauty and talent. Thus, the day of a girl's comb-pinning was also the liveliest day for Fan Lou, and indeed, for the entire capital. Ordinary people could come to feast their eyes and broaden their horizons, while the wealthy could bid for the right to be the first guest. It was said that the highest bidder for Hui Niang's comb-pinning was eighteen-year-old Luo Yuan, who ultimately paid several thousand gold for it.
Presently, the young girls before her had not yet reached the age for comb-pinning, appearing to be only eleven or twelve. They wore pigtails and had faces full of childish innocence.
The wine from the previous night had a potent aftereffect, and she had no memory of returning to her room to sleep. Upon opening her eyes that day, it was already past lunchtime. She hastily tidied herself up and rushed over, but she was still late. Feeling a bit apologetic, she pulled over a chair and sat down near the entrance.
Mama Hua glanced at Yang Ruoning, her expression conveying dissatisfaction with her tardiness, and then continued her lecture. During the first half of the lesson that day, Mama Hua demonstrated etiquette. Yang Ruoning found this part quite interesting; after all, learning etiquette might prove useful in the future.
The latter half of the lesson, however, was dedicated to virtue.
Mama Hua stated that their most important task was to learn calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, and other arts, so that they might attract men's admiration in the future and have a chance to capture a guest's heart.
Mama Hua emphasized the importance of preserving their physical purity to be offered to the guest who would spend a fortune on them on the day of their comb-pinning.
Mama Hua gave an example: "Look, last year, so-and-so from our establishment went to so-and-so's mansion and became the seventh concubine of so-and-so master. You should aim for her."
Mama Hua further cited, "Consider Hui Niang. She became famous overnight on her comb-pinning day. General Luo Yuan spent a fortune for her, and he remains infatuated with her to this day. Truly, she is the envy of all women in the capital."
Yang Ruoning stared at Mama Hua's spittle-flying face, her mind wandering as she listened. She first thought of Hui Niang. If what Mama Hua said was true, then Luo Yuan truly had feelings for Hui Niang. Could Luo Yuan's beloved be Hui Niang? But according to Luo Yuan's words that day, he was determined to marry his beloved, and yet the prophesied empress was not Hui Niang.
Yang Ruoning then considered that it had been over a month, and no one had come looking for her based on the lost item notice. Was the woman in the photograph not here? If she were in the capital, had she not seen her notice? Yang Ruoning wondered if she should try a different approach. After all, the lost item notices posted on street corners were unlikely to be seen by women confined to their inner chambers. In recent days, she had noticed that Bianliang had publications similar to "newspapers," issued weekly, and they had a considerable readership in Bianliang City. She considered whether she should try to place her lost item notice in one of these publications.
Yang Ruoning was lost in thought for quite some time until a young girl nudged her. She snapped back to reality, realizing the lesson had concluded and everyone was getting up to leave. She, too, hastily stood and hurried away.
It was only around two or three in the afternoon, with several hours remaining before her evening shift. Yang Ruoning decided to go and check out the shop that published the newspaper.
Calling it a small shop would be inaccurate. The newspaper publisher was a three-story building with dozens of workers responsible for copying and distribution, several writers responsible for gathering all sorts of "news" from Bianliang City, and a number of other general laborers. Whenever Yang Ruoning passed by, the lobby was always bustling with people. Perhaps it was due to the extremely hot summer afternoon, but when Yang Ruoning stepped into the lobby, there were only a few sleepy workers present.
Yang Ruoning explained her purpose, and a worker went inside. Shortly thereafter, a stout man with a small goatee, his hair streaked with white amidst black, and slightly sallow eyes emerged. The worker introduced him, "This is Manager Wang, who is in charge here. Auntie, you can tell the manager what you need."
Manager Wang stroked his goatee and surveyed Yang Ruoning up and down dismissively. "Auntie, the young waiter mentioned you wish to post a notice with us. Are you looking for a lost item?"
"Yes," Yang Ruoning quickly took out her lost item notice. "Just like this."
Manager Wang took it and glanced at it. "What is this thing?"
Yang Ruoning replied, "It's nothing valuable. But it's quite important to me; it belonged to my deceased brother, so I must find it."
Upon hearing this, Manager Wang immediately returned the drawing to Yang Ruoning. "Our 'Jinghua Weekly,' the foremost publication in Bianliang, specializes in reporting the strange anecdotes and trade dealings of the capital each week. We have never published such lost item notices." With that, he waved for the waiter to escort her out.
Yang Ruoning frowned. She was illiterate. Although she had not read the newspaper's content, she had heard about it from Susu. She knew that this publication had no content restrictions, so why did Manager Wang refuse outright? As Yang Ruoning lowered her head and tucked the lost item notice into her clothes, she noticed her own coarse cloth attire, stained with indelible grease marks, and suddenly understood.
She raised her head and immediately called out to Manager Wang. "Manager Wang, how much would it cost to publish my item?"
"How much? I fear Auntie could never afford it."
Although she was truly penniless at the moment and couldn't afford it, Manager Wang's judgmental and condescending attitude irked her.
She pouted and gritted her teeth, "Why don't you tell me the price first? Perhaps I can afford it?"
Manager Wang scanned her from head to toe again, a cold sneer on his face. "Forty taels of silver. Can you afford that?"
Yang Ruoning felt her left eyelid twitch. Forty taels of silver. This was truly an exorbitant demand. She wanted to point at his nose and call him an "asshole" and walk away, but she also knew that this newspaper had the widest readership in the capital. Although the price was somewhat outrageous, if she wanted to find the item quickly, she really had no other option but to come here.
Yang Ruoning took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "Does it have to be silver? Can other things be used?"
"That depends on what the item is," Manager Wang replied casually, uninterested.
Yang Ruoning touched the jade pendant that Qing Ye had given her, hidden in her clothes. She wasn't sure if she should give this jade pendant to him. Qing Ye's jade pendant seemed quite valuable and should be worth forty taels of silver; however, this was not her possession, and giving it away like this...
Manager Wang, seeing her hesitant expression, was convinced his judgment was correct: this auntie was indeed overestimating herself. He gave Yang Ruoning a disdainful look, sneered, and turned to go inside.
Yang Ruoning called out to him. "Is this item acceptable?" Yang Ruoning walked over, dangling the jade pendant, and asked.
Manager Wang took the jade pendant, rubbed it with his hand, and examined it for a long time. Then he looked up at Yang Ruoning with a smile, his tone immediately shifting to an exceedingly cordial one. "Yes, yes, of course, it is."
Yang Ruoning looked at Manager Wang, somewhat speechless. She pouted and asked, "How long can it be published?"
"How long does Auntie wish to have it published?"
"Um... I'm not sure... How long can this let me publish it?" Yang Ruoning asked, referring to the jade pendant.
"Heh heh, Auntie, it can be published for as long as you like, no problem."
Manager Wang's words made Yang Ruoning suspicious. As long as she liked? Was this jade pendant that valuable? Had she lost out?
Alas, forget it. At worst, she could go back and get a few more vases to give to Qing Ye. So she said, "Then keep publishing it indefinitely. I'll let you know when it's time to stop."
Manager Wang smiled, his facial wrinkles bunching up. "Alright, we'll expedite its release this week for you."