To attract a larger audience to Xiaoxiao’s performance, in addition to the men who had helped spread the word yesterday, the folks at Yixiang Courtyard weren’t idle either. They hired several people to distribute the news on the main streets.
"Lady Xiaofeng from Yixiang Courtyard has a special performance tonight, and all the attendees who address her as ’lady’ will enjoy half-price services," with such promotion, indeed more people came in the evening, slightly more than the previous day, but not to a bustling extent.
This was within Xiaoxiao’s expectations. To become a sensation would require time. Today, she still appeared veiled, offering room for imagination, but her performance had changed. She no longer sang but switched to performing magic tricks instead.
The reason she chose to perform magic tricks was her belief that such performances would arouse everyone’s interest. Of course, Xiaoxiao didn’t know any difficult magic tricks—she had only learned some simple ones online to amuse her young nephew in the modern times.
She hoped it would be enough to fool those people, but Xiaoxiao wasn’t confident deep down and had to bite the bullet and go on.
The most important thing in performing magic tricks was to capture the audience’s attention, get them to focus on one spot. That way, any other small actions she made wouldn’t be noticed.
Xiaoxiao still stood next to the handrail on the second floor. She raised a hand and waved to the crowd, asking, "Everyone, look closely. Is there anything in my hand?"
The people in the hall were really supportive, all focusing intently on Xiaoxiao’s hand and unanimously replying, "No."
Putting on a mysterious air, Xiaoxiao clenched that hand into a fist, then waved the other hand in front of the fist. Suddenly a flower appeared in the clenched hand and was presented before everyone.
This performance indeed captured the audience’s attention, and surprised expressions emerged on their faces. How did she do that?
Seeing the reaction of the crowd, Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. She then produced several other objects, all thanks to the Hundred Treasures Pouch up her sleeve.
For her final act, Xiaoxiao brought out her trump card, miraculously producing a live pigeon, which she then released to fly around the hall.
This act caused the scene to erupt into excitement, and everyone felt their visit was worthwhile. They grew even more intrigued by the mysterious lady on the second floor.
Seeing the reaction, Xiaoxiao hurriedly repeated the message she had conveyed the day before, "Today’s performance is over. Thank you all for coming. I am ’Spicy Skin Oil.’ The evening after the day after tomorrow, after the performance, an auction will be held. The highest bidder will spend springtime moments with me and see my true face."
Xiaoxiao was sending out the message for the second time. Even if the madam was formidable, with so many people present, news was bound to leak. She even glanced at the madam; sure enough, the madam was watching her through gritted teeth. This girl really was going against her, but looking at the lively scene, the madam had to concede.
Indeed, business was booming the next day. Everyone who came stayed and called for a lady.
On the third and fourth days, the place could be described as extraordinarily bustling because Xiaoxiao’s performances were more spectacular one after another. In the end, the ladies were in such high demand that many guests, rather than leaving empty-handed, paid higher than normal prices for their company.
The madam was grinning from ear to ear; business hadn’t been this good in days.
But Xiaoxiao couldn’t muster a smile. The message had been going out for four days now—why had no one come to rescue her yet? Could the madam truly be that formidable, preventing any news from getting out?
If things continued this way, what would happen tomorrow? She was practically selling herself off.