Secret of a Thousand Beauties Read Online Free PDF

I added, “My mother knew how to embroider, too, but how well I have no idea. She died when I was very small.”
    “Good. So you think you can learn fast?”
    Good that my mother had died young? I was disappointed that this beautiful, older woman was not interested in my family or my life, only how quickly I could bring in money.
    But I answered eagerly, “Don’t worry, Aunty. I’m a fast learner. So, will you teach me?”
    She remained silent as Purple put another pork morsel into my bowl under the jealous eyes of Leilei.
    We busied ourselves picking up the food, putting it into our mouths, and sipping the fragrant Dragon Well tea.
    Minutes later, Aunty put down her chopsticks and, her eyes suddenly fierce, said, “But don’t think that I’ll teach you just like that. You have to baishi, you know?”
    I nodded. Of course I’d heard of baishi, “kowtowing to the master”—the ceremony cementing the relationship between teacher and a student. However, if the student does something to offend the teacher, she’ll be kicked out. I’d also heard that for the rest of her life, whatever the student earns, she has to give some to her teacher.
    Aunty cast me a suspicious look. “Since you’re a runaway bride, do you think you’ll have anything for your baishi ceremony?”
    Part of the ceremony was the exchange of gifts between the new student and her teacher to commemorate the relationship.
    “Sorry, Aunty Peony, I . . . don’t think so.”
    Purple immediately came to my rescue. “Aunty, what about her wedding gown?”
    “You think so? A wedding gown from a ghost husband’s family? But I’ll accept it if it’s your only possession.”
    Of course I’d taken the precious Soo embroidery from the wedding gifts, but I was not going to let them know about this. Because it might be my lifesaver in the future. If my luck turned bad again, hopefully I could sell it for some cash. Anyway, I was more than happy to get rid of my wedding gown, which reminded me of nothing but misery. I hoped from now on that I wouldn’t have anything to do with my old life, my mean aunt, my dead-in-the-womb husband, and my pathetic, greedy Popo, the one whose dead son was my ghost “husband.”
    “All right. Purple, you better help prepare for the baishi ceremony. Since you went through it yourself a few years ago, you don’t need me to tell you what to do, right?”
    “Don’t worry, Aunty Peony; I’ll have everything ready soon.”
    I wondered why Aunty Peony was in such a hurry, since I was still a stranger in this household.
    Staring at her beautiful but haughty face, I felt too intimidated to ask.

3
    Along the River during the Qingming Festival
    T hree days later, Purple lent me her embroidered pink top and pants with matching shoes for the baishi ceremony. I still couldn’t believe my good luck that just a few days after my escape, I was wearing new clothes and having a new life!
    Purple, Leilei, Little Doll, and I all gathered in the living room in front of the small altar. Fruit, flowers, tea, and an incense burner had been placed in front of the white Guan Yin statue. Next to the Goddess of Compassion was a small portrait of an elderly woman.
    Soon Aunty Peony descended from her room and went to sit on a high-back chair with her back to the altar. To my surprise, she was elaborately made up and wearing a red silk gown lavishly embroidered with birds and flowers. Her hair was pulled back and tied up in a tight bun, highlighting her beautiful, mysterious face.
    When everything was in its proper place, Purple told me to kneel in front of Aunty Peony. Leilei poured a cup of tea and Little Doll lit the three incense sticks in the bronze burner. Soon the room was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, pleasing my nostrils and soothing my heightened nerves.
    Aunty Peony spoke, her tone as serious as if she were conducting a funeral service. “I don’t often take on students. But since Heaven decided to bring you to me just