Next day, Lu Wei goes out wearing coarse cotton clothes, in a dull shade, her hair half tied with a ribbon and drop earrings. Nothing expensive or outstanding. She went out the southern gate of the Lu Residence, which is closest to her quarters. The eastern gate is the main gate and the western gate is the back gate which is extremely busy today. Lots of commotion, due to the marriage date arriving soon. Wagons going in and out of the mansion.
Lu Wei carried a scroll cover and also wore a hat as she went out to the street. She was going to the business street of the inner city of Dongling capital. It was the busiest and also, a shady street. On one street, there is hoards of restaurants, eatery and pavilions. On the other side divided by plots of buildings, is another street that has courtesans, prostitute and entertainment houses. Connecting these two streets is a plot in between. A huge three storey building housing three different businesses in one structural building. On the left side is a restaurant, centre is a lodging house and on the right side is the courtesans house. From the outside the structure does not look connected.
Lu Wei entered the restaurant and went to the counter to book a private room. "Owner, I want the room on the east wing, 'third floor-lotus', " said Lu Wei.
Shop owner : "Yes, young lady this way."
She went up to the third floor, and the owner opened the room for her, saying "lady, would you like to order anything?"
Lu Wei : "No, not today. Thank you, shop owner."
She enters the room and the shop owner closes the door behind. The room wasn't anything special it was a private room with a table and a sitting arrangement to host guests to a lovely meal. The only thing that sets this room apart is that this room has a connecting room. The third floor is adjoined to the lodging house and the courtesans house. So you can enter the restaurant and go to the courtesans house without people prying into your business and spreading unsightly rumours and engulfing in gossip. She went to the left side of room, behind the partition, that leads to outside of the room. Connected to a long corridor, leading to a different room. When she opened the door, she was greet by a courtesan.
Courtesan : "Aya! Only twelve days are left for the wedding! And now you arrive. I thought you forgot these lanes. Every since the marriage decree, not a sound from your end."
Lu Wei : "Madame, are you upset with me?"
Courtesan directing her towards the table to take a seat. She poured tea for Lu Wei and herself. The table was already filled with lots of desserts and snacks. And raised a plate of mung bean cake towards Lu Wei. For Madame knows what Lu Wei's likes and dislikes are. Mung bean cake was Lu Wei's favourite. The madame here is Fu Rong, a courtesan and owner of the Mei'ren courtesan house. She is also the biggest sponsor and mediator, selling Lu Wei's artworks.
Lu Wei : "Madame my visit was a little tardy because I was finishing this."
Lu Wei brought out the scroll cover, opened it and took out the silk scroll painting. It was wider then her usual style. She got up to unravel it on another table that was empty. It was a beautiful horizontal painting of a tea estate of the Wuyi mountains.
Madame Rong : "Wei Wei!.. this is marvellous!"
As Madame Rong takes a closer look she was astonished by the detailing. Wei was an expert in that area. Miniature details was something she enjoyed doing, most people find it time consuming and requires too much effort. It is indeed a work that takes years. But Wei Wei did this in eight months! A feat indeed. She took an alias name and Madame Rong sold her paintings to the rich and noble at higher prices, to which she charged commission. Madame Rong was also Lu Wei's bank, Wei never took the money home, she was frisked once at the Lu mansion and punished for stealing. The only one Lu Wei ever trust was Madame Rong.
Madame Rong : "Dear, its not your usual vertical style, and besides how does one display horizontal scroll painting? Most noble houses have windows all four walls so this will be difficult to display.
Lu Wei : "That is their lookout. Have you noticed something new in the painting?"
Madame Rong inspects it again with extensive attention and exclaimed, "GOLD!"
"How?… Gold!?", said Madame Rong with her mouth open.
Lu Wei : "I crushed gold and added its dust in binder and used as pigment."
"Excellent! This will fetch such a hefty prize!," said Madame Rong with eyes that widen more then the usual.
Lu Wei : "Great, (with a sigh of relief). It should be enough to pay from my dowry?"
"Dowry? And what IS! the Lu family doing?" said Madame Rong with contempt.
Lu Wei : "Attire and sedan."
Madame Rong: "Commoners do MORE THAN THAT!"
Lu Wei : "I'll rather leave the responsibility of my dowry with you, Madame Rong."
Madame Rong: (proudly) "Don't worry leave it to me I'll fill up ten boxes"
"Two" corrected Lu Wei.
"Two!?" Questioned Madame Rong
"Two," confirmed Lu Wei.
Madame Rong: "That! is lesser than a poor man's dowry. You might as well carry a cloth bag as dowry," said sarcastically.
Lu Wei : "Just two is enough. I have two dowry boxes, you can fill it up."
Madame Rong: "Where did those two boxes come from?"
Lu Wei : "My father craved it when I was eight."
There was a very specific object, Wei Xuan, Lu Wei's father began making when his little daughter was just eight years old. Despite his amputated left arm, he put his heart, soul and extreme labour into making a set of high ornate box. For his daughter to use as her dowry, when she gets married. It took him two years to complete two huge ornate boxes. It was made with camphor wood, he saved everything he could to afford this type of wood. Camphor wood is especially good for storing clothes as it does not attract insects. He carved it delicately, depicting mythical mountains of Kunlun. There wasn't one spot that did not include the cravings, it was luxury on its own. That was the last item that her father ever made, and he left this world when little Wei Wei was ten.
Madame Rong: "Therefore you only require enough dowry to fill the two dowry boxes left by your father?"
Lu Wei : "Yes"
Madame Rong: "Alright. I'll do my best. Give you, no reason to be disappointed. "
Lu Wei : "Madame… Less extravagant please. " As Wei pleads with soft gaze convincing Madame Rong. Madame loves flashy, expensive, one of a kind items that turn heads. It was her style, she always stood out for her hairstyle, makeup, clothes and jewellery. She was luxury, seeing her pass by was itself a treat. But it wasn't Lu Wei's style.
After a pause Madame Rong said, "Fine, I'll match your taste."
Lu Wei : "Thank you, Madame."
Madame Rong : "When shall I send my men to pick the boxes? "
Lu Wei : "Day after tomorrow."
Madame Rong: "Alright I'll send my men over at the southern gate of the Lu residence."
Lu Wei : "Thank you very much Madame for your handwork."
Madame Rong points back to their set tea table, to continue chatting.