The first thing Ye Qing saw upon entering the Cuiwei Boat was a wide, circular stage that looked like it was carved out of jade. A woman was playing her pipa on it. Dining tables and chairs arrayed around the stage, and the customers were all listening to her performance intently.1

Every time she plucked a string, it sounded like someone was striking a bead against the frame of a jade abacus; crisp and melodious. Every customer listening to her performance looked intoxicated even though some of them weren’t drinking.0

Before Ye Qing came in, he had imagined that the atmosphere would not be too different from a restaurant or a brothel[1]. He also expected to be welcomed by cute, scantily dressed girls who were all too eager to inquire about his well-being and discuss the mysteries of life one way or another.4

But that was not the case with the Cuiwei Boat. The girls were lightly dressed, but they exposed very little skin. Their behavior and mannerisms were extremely refined and elegant as well.0

Even the customers were perfectly silent. They were all giving their full attention to the performance. The atmosphere was comfortable and calming to say the least.0

It was at this moment a female attendant walked up to them and whispered, “Would you like to dine in the main hall or the guest rooms, dear...0