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The next day, the west compound was completely torn down.
Su Biluo had Moonglow buy roasted cakes, a cold noodle dish called liangpi, and dumplings, enough to feed the construction workers, and had Vivid make copies of a flyer advertising “Neverland”.
She wanted to build a 21st century entertainment center in the small nation of Northern Mo.
There would be good food, accomodations, everything an entertainment center should have, in an unprecedented modern style, including karaoke, pop songs and hot dancing; it would completely rout the traditional pleasure quarters with their chattering courtesans.
The entertainment center was completed in two months.
It caused a sensation throughout the entire capital. The commoners were curious at the bright lanterns and twinkling lights of the general estate’s entertainment center, and the high officials and other eminent persons within the capital couldn’t wait to go in and have a look.
During the two months “Neverland” was being built, Su Biluo went out on the streets and recruited the prettiest, leggiest, liveliest, cheeriest, easiest girls and created a “Neverland Cabaret Troupe” and trained them rigorously day and night.
The cabaret troupe quickly mastered the shuffle and several modern pop songs. Su Biluo concentrated on training them in hot songs and dances, upbeat songs with exciting moves to tanatlize the customers when they opened for business.
Ancient people had never seen anything like this. The conservative dances at Dustwind Gardens could no longer satisfy the young masters of the rich and powerful families who were after something new. Once Neverland opened, customers flooded in and the profits increased by the day. Dustwind Gardens, on the other hand, was already looking like a ghost town.
“Unbelievable! Unbelievable!”
The day the place opened, Mo Zichen furtively watched a performance and flew into a rage. He grabbed Su Biluo by the back of her collar and hauled her back to the east compound to deal with her.
“What kind of awful place did you open? Those girls have their chests and backs exposed, what a scandal! I’m a dignified Grand General of the Nation. Even if I’m desperate for money, you can’t raise it by opening a brothel.”
“What brothel? It’s just a cabaret. You’re worrying too much.”
“Hmph, just wait. Before long the emperor will get wind of this and will issue an imperial edict to have your Neverland shut down!” Mo Zichen’s rage caused his younger brothers and sister to come out.
Mo Ziqian agreed. “Yes, sister-in-law, you went a little too far. Even though us Mo siblings aren’t really sticklers, there’s still some things we would never do. You’d better close this place.”
Mo Zi’an arched his brow, the corners of his mouth lifted in a hint of a cynical smile. “Actually, I have a different view. Big Brother, Second Brother, the way I see it, why can the common people open a brothel, but the Office of the Grand General can’t? Dustwind Gardens isn’t in accord with the law, yet they tout it with great fanfare right under the emperor’s nose? Furthermore, we have a good reason. Aren’t we doing it to raise money for the Mo Family Army? This is a court matter to start with. The nation’s running a deficit. If we help the court raise money, why would the emperor prohibit us?”
Mo Ziling was lovably innocent. She nodded, her big blank eyes wide. “That’s right. Third Brother makes a good point. Big Brother, the emperor always listens to you; he’s not likely to be against it.”
“Hmph,” Su Biluo sneered. “Mo Zichen, some grand general you are. You have less guts then a girl. Zi’an and Ziling are right. Even if we did open a brothel, with your status as general before the emperor, if you reason with him, the emperor would surely be lenient. The national treasury is in debt. Let the emperor produce some silver himself if he’s got the skill. As for the commoners, if you draw your sword, who would dare say anything to you?”
Mo Zichen’s handsome face was blank; he couldn’t think of a retort.
Su Biluo fixed her eyes on him, her attitude neither overbearing nor servile, her tone even.
“Besides, ‘Neverland’ is not a brothel. Inside you can dance your heart out, drink your fill and sing all you want and gamble a little, but no filthy, perverse stuff is allowed at all. Therefore, today’s booming business is because of the novelty of the place. After a while the regular customers of Dustwind Gardens will go back there, and those who prefer Neverland will stay here.
“I’m not as optimistic as you all, so don’t get your hopes up. The money Neverland will make will only be enough for the general estates’ daily expenses. If we really want to make big money we’ll have to find some other trade. Instead of getting upset with me over Neverland, General, you ought to save your energy and ask me about my other big business venture.”
The Courtyard 