Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

Two weeks later, the quarterly dance kicked off.On the first day in the dressing room of the theater of "Singing and Dance", I couldn't contain my excitement because Mameha told me that the chairman and Nobuo would come to watch.When putting on makeup, I tucked the president's handkerchief into my shirt and pressed it against my skin. An hour later, I was standing at the side of the stage with the other apprentices, ready to perform the opening dance.We wore uniform red and yellow kimonos with orange and gold obi, and everyone looked like they were shining.The music played, the drums sounded, and the shamisen counted. We stepped onto the stage one by one like a string of beads, stretched our arms, and opened our folding fans.I feel a sense of participation like never before.

Immediately after the opening scene, I went upstairs to change into my kimono.The solo dance I'm going to perform is "Asahi Reflecting the Waves", which shows a young girl bathing in the sea in the morning and falling in love with an enchanted dolphin.I change quickly, and I have a few minutes left to look into the audience.I followed the staccato beat of the drums to the side of the stage, and several other geisha and apprentices were already peering out from the carved slots in the sliding doors.I also went to look, and found that the president and Nobu were sitting together.I knew from the music that Mameha's dance had begun.

Most of the Inoue dances are about a story, and this one, "The Courtier Returns to His Wife," is adapted from a Chinese poem about a courtier who has a long-term love affair with a court lady.One night the courtier's wife hid outside the palace, wondering where her husband was spending his time.At last, early the next morning, she saw her husband and mistress take leave from the bushes, but she fell ill with cold and soon died.I don't know if it was Mameha Mai's beauty or the story, but I looked at her with sadness, feeling that I was the victim of this terrible betrayal.At the end of the dance, sunlight flooded the stage, and Mameha danced her death dance through a forest.I don't know what happened next, I just couldn't bear to watch it, and anyway I should go backstage and prepare for my debut.

As I waited on the side of the stage, I had a strange feeling as if the weight of the entire building was on me, which of course is because grief has always been surprisingly heavy for me.Finally I heard the drums and the shamisen, and the only thing I remember clearly is my surprise at seeing my arms move so skillfully and smoothly.I've practiced this dance so many times that I think I must have mastered it, because despite my mind going blank, I still dance with ease and without nervousness. After "Dance of the Ancient Capital," it finally happened.That day Mameha came to the art museum and told me that my bidding for "Shuiyang" had already started.Then on the third day, my mother asked me to go upstairs to find her.

I had just stepped onto the first step when I heard the door open and the pumpkin suddenly rushed down, like a bucket of water, without touching the ground, and she looked very upset.But when I asked her what happened, she burst into the aisle and ran out. After I walked in, my mother told me that the doctor was coming.I thought she meant Dr. Crab, but a few minutes later, it wasn't Dr. Crab at all, but a much younger man. "That's the girl," said his mother to him. I bowed to the young doctor, who returned the bow. "Ma'am," he said to his mother, "where are we...?"

His mother told him that this room would be fine.When I saw the way she closed the door, I knew something was wrong.She came to loosen my obi first, and then she took off my kimono and made me lie down on the bunk with my slip on. The doctor knelt at my feet, apologized, and rolled up my undergown, exposing my legs.I'm uneasy, is the bidding over?Is this young doctor the winner?What about Doctor Crab and Nobu?I even wondered if my mother was deliberately plotting to sabotage Mameha's plan.The young doctor adjusted the position of my legs and put his hand between my legs. I have found that his hand is as smooth and elegant as the president's.I felt so ashamed, I had nowhere to hide, I just wanted to cover my face.I lay there with my eyes closed, holding my breath.It felt like "how long" had a needle stuck in its throat, auntie opened its mouth, and mother put her finger into its throat.The doctor finally pulled his hand out and covered my gown. "The girl is flawless," he said.

"Oh, that's great news!" Mom replied. After the young silver-haired doctor left, my mother helped me dress and made me sit at the table.Without saying a word, she suddenly grabbed my earlobe and pulled it hard, and I cried out. "Little girl, you are a very valuable thing. I underestimated you. Fortunately, nothing happened. But you must know that I will keep an eye on you in the future. Men want you, they have to pay a lot of money .have you understood?" "Yes, ma'am," I said.Of course, she pulled my ears so hard, I said "yes" to whatever she said.

I was about to resign, but my mother stopped me and said, "I've decided. Your position in the art museum will be changed." I was taken aback and was about to say something, but my mother stopped me. "You and I will hold a ceremony next week. After that, you will be my daughter, just like my own. I have decided to adopt you. One day, the Yiguan will be yours." After hearing this, I was both excited and sad.Excited because she can get rid of Hatsumomo's threat from now on, but sad because of Pumpkin, no wonder she rushed down like that just now, presumably because she got the news.

"Mom," I hesitated, "I'm very happy, but... can I ask, can you adopt Pumpkin and me at the same time?" "Oh, you sort of know the business now, don't you?" she replied, "Do you want to tell me what to do with this art gallery?"