Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The day I finished my apprenticeship was also the day Sister Hua officially retired.

It was a bright, sunny morning, and Golden Sand Beach Club had just closed for the night.

Sister Hua led me, dressed to the nines, through the front entrance of Golden Sand Beach.

Facing the doors was a reception wall with dark gray patterns worked into it. On it were only two brush-written characters, bold and vigorous.

I read them under my breath. “Slut?”

This club sure was direct.

Sister Hua covered her mouth and laughed. “Read it from left to right.”

“Woman-slut?”

“Open and honest.”

I raised a hand and scratched at my brow, hiding my reddening face. “Oh. So that one was ‘open.'”

Seeing how embarrassed I was, Sister Hua burst into giggles.

“I’m teasing you! The person who wrote those characters died ages ago. No one knows whether it says ‘open and honest’ or ‘slut.’ Read it however you like.”

I nodded. “Maybe it means being open and honest about being a slut.”

Sister Hua laughed even louder. “Now you’re learning.”

Past the reception wall was an extremely spacious hall. In the most prominent spot stood an altar, and enshrined on it was a pink-and-gold skeleton.

It was the skeleton of a woman.

Gold had been cast over the bones, and a layer of pink diamond dust had been sprinkled across the surface of the gold.

Every joint was linked with clasps of pure gold.

The skeleton propped up its chin and lay on its side atop the altar, its left leg slightly bent, its right arm hanging down naturally. It had no flesh, and yet there was a different sort of allure to it.

“This is the Golden Body of Madam Malangfu.”

Sister Hua took four sticks of incense from the offering table to the side, lit them, knelt, and began muttering prayers.

“Madam Malangfu, please bless me. Don’t let my seaside villa turn into an unfinished project. Let my three husbands get along peacefully. And don’t let me deal into anyone’s winning hand at mahjong.”

I really envied how carefree she was.

I hoped that when I reached sixty, I would have that kind of good fortune too.

After she finished praying for her own matters, she took another four sticks of incense and handed them to me.

“Madam Malangfu was a saint who used her own body to enlighten ordinary people. Her story is carved beneath the altar. Take a good look.”

The story came from Hai Lu Sui Shi, written by Ye Tinggui of the Northern Song dynasty.

It said that on a stretch of Golden Sand Beach, there was a beautiful woman named Malangfu who willingly shared pleasure with anyone and everyone.

Anyone who joined with her in intimacy would never again commit evil because of wicked desire.

Later, Malangfu died and became an immortal.

I was curious. “Isn’t putting a skeleton in a pleasure house a little unlucky?”

Sister Hua laughed at me for not knowing quality when I saw it. “What you see is a skeleton. What other people see is gold. Who would ever think gold is unlucky?”

True.

No matter how terrifying or disgusting something was, as long as it was made of gold, it became beautiful.

Sister Hua said enshrining Madam Malangfu in the hall served other purposes too.

First, it suggested that Golden Sand Beach was not in the business of selling flesh. The love between men and women here was all cultivation that could cleanse karmic obstacles. If it was for the sake of accumulating merit, then no amount of money was too much.

Second, it was meant to enlighten girls like us. We were not to look down on ourselves. We had to learn from Malangfu and use great love to satisfy our customers.

“Think about it. We help our customers vent their stress. Once they’re in a good mood, contracts that can be signed get signed, deals that should go through go through, and promotions that can happen happen.

“One little shudder can bring joy to so many people, right?

“And those who benefit will pass that joy on to their families, their friends, even strangers.

“The work we do is about transmitting positive emotions to the world and making society more harmonious.”

I listened and nodded again and again.

I lit the incense and bowed four times with utmost sincerity.

As for why it had to be four bows, Sister Hua did not know either. She only said that was the rule.

After I finished bowing, Sister Hua handed me a thick stack of documents.

“Once you sign these, you’ll be officially employed.”

I picked up the pen without looking at the agreements.

They were nothing more than contracts of indenture dressed up in legal language.

All I needed to do was sign.

If I showed even a hint of hesitation, it would be letting Sister Hua down.

I was terrified she would suddenly turn cold and decide she did not want me anymore.

Besides, I had no choice.

“Don’t worry, Sister Hua. I’ll work hard and make you proud!”

She burst out laughing. “Make me proud? It’s not like I’m asking you to win glory for the country.”