Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-Four

Mameha returned to town the next day and heard that my mother had decided to adopt me. She was not as happy as I expected. "The bidding between Dr. Crab and Nobu is exactly what I wanted," she said to me, "and it will end up being a lot of money. As soon as I found out about it, I heard that Mrs. Nitta is going to adopt you. I really can't change it." Happy!" That's what she said, but over the years I've slowly learned that's not the truth.First off, the bidding wasn't between Dr. Crab and Yeon at all, but Dr. Crab and Baron.I can't imagine how Mameha felt about it, but I figured it must be the reason why she was suddenly so cold to me for a while, so she didn't tell me the truth.

I don't mean to say that Yan has no involvement in this matter, he did compete aggressively for my "Shui Yang", but after a few days the price exceeded 8,000, and he stopped.Maybe he quit because the price was too high.From the beginning, Mameha knew that Nobu could beat anyone if he wanted to.The problem is, Mameha didn't expect that Nobuo wasn't very interested in my Mizuage.A few months ago, if you recall, Mameha had said that no man would develop a relationship with a fifteen-year-old apprentice if it wasn't for the intention of "Mizuage".She also told me that time, "Don't think it's your words that attracted him." I don't know if her assertion about my words is correct, but it's not my "Shui Yang" that attracts Nobu.

As for Dr. Crab, if someone like Yan took a "Shui Yang" away from him, he might choose the ancient method of suicide.Of course, he didn't know that the opponent was the Baron, so he thought it was Nobu, and the hostess of the Ichilitei Tea House was determined to keep him a secret, trying to raise the price as much as possible.In the end, Dr. Crab agreed to pay 11,500 yen for my "Mizuyo".This was the highest price in the history of "Mizuyo" in Gion at that time, and it may also be the highest in other geisha districts in Japan.You must know that at that time, a geisha was only four yuan per hour to accompany a guest, and an exquisite kimono cost about fifteen hundred yuan.It may not sound like much, but it is far more than a worker's annual income.

Needless to say, that's why my mother wanted to adopt me.In addition to paying off my debts in the art hall, my "Shuiyang" fee has more than enough.If Mom didn't adopt me, some of the money would go to me, and you can imagine how Mom felt about that.After I became the daughter of Yiguan, my debts were written off, but all my income also belonged to Yiguan, not only my "shuiyang" expenses, but also all future income. The adoption ceremony took place the following week.My first name has been changed to Sayuri, and now my last name has also been changed.In the drunk house on the sea cliff, I am Chiyo Sakamoto, and now I am Sayuri Nitta.

In the life of a geisha, "Mizuage" is of course the most important event.My "shuiyang" happened in early July 1935, when I was fifteen years old.In the afternoon, Dr. Crab and I drank sake in a ceremony that united us.The reason for this ceremony is that although "Shui Yang" only lasts for a short time, Dr. Crab is the benefactor of my "Shui Yang" in this life, not having other privileges.The ceremony was held at the Ichiritei Tea House, with mother, aunt and Mameha present.The hostess of the Ichiritei tea house also participated in the ceremony, as well as my dresser, Mr. Betsukiya.Dressers always participate in such ceremonies and represent the interests of the geisha side.I wear my most formal apprentice outfit: a black robe with five prints and a red slip robe, a hue that signifies new beginnings.

I can't tell, I don't know the way, but after "Shui Yang", the world is really different for me.Pumpkin hasn't experienced "shuiyang" yet, and even though she's older than me, I somehow find her ignorant and childish.Mother and aunt, as well as Hatsumomo and Mameha, of course are all from here. After "Shui Yang", the apprentices have to change their hairstyles, and the bottom of the bun is tied with a red ribbon instead of a patterned ribbon.There was a time when I was walking down the street, or in the aisles of the elementary school, paying little attention to anything but which apprentices wore red and which had patterned ones.For those who have experienced "Shui Yang", I have a new kind of respect. For those who have not experienced it, I feel that I am more knowledgeable than them.

Before my "Mizuage", I don't think my mother cared at all whether Hatsumomo caused me trouble in Gion, but now that I have a high price tag, she took the initiative to ask Hatsumomo to stop causing trouble for me.My life has been difficult since my mother's illness, but for the time being, everything is going smoothly.I'm not saying that I never feel tired and disappointed, in fact, I often feel tired.It is not easy for a woman to make a living in Gion.But getting rid of Hatsumomo's threat is always much easier.Also in the art house, life is almost full of fun.As an adopted daughter, I can eat whenever I want.It turned out that it was my turn to pick the kimono after the pumpkin was picked.I didn't care about Hatsumomo's resentment, but it pained me a lot when Pumpkin passed me in the art hall with the sadness in her eyes, and when we were face to face she didn't look at me.