Chapter 2: Live a Happy Life

After turning 10, I went to the entertainment parlor. While I recognized that the entertainment parlor was not a healthy environment for women, it was still far better than doing labor work all day.

10岁后，我去了歌伎坊，因为我很清楚，歌伎坊虽然不是良家女子该呆的地方，可是至少比终日操劳着干体力活，脏活，累活要好很多。

Moreover, the entertainment parlor is much better than the prostitute''s house. At least we are selling skills rather than our bodies.

更何况歌伎坊比风月场所还是要好得多，至少我们是卖艺不卖身。

The girls from the entertainment parlor all come from low-income families.

歌伎坊的姑娘们都是穷苦人家的孩子。

We can''t bear the hardships and hopelessness of people experiencing poverty; there is no better choice. That''s why we are here to learn how to sing and dance.

我们都是因为吃不了穷苦的苦和贫穷所带来的绝望，而又没有其它更好的选择，才来这学唱歌跳舞的。

Who wouldn''t want a clean background if we had any choices? It would be better if we were elegant ladies from renowned families.

若人生有选择，谁不愿意自己是清清白白的身世？最好是大家闺秀，名门淑媛。

But I have nothing to do with something like this in this lifetime.

可是这些东西与我今生无缘。

I am struggling with the need for food and clothing because I was born into a low-income family. Starving is a horrible memory for me. I must live a good life in the future.

我出身贫寒，正在温饱边缘徘徊，饥饿对于我来说是一段可怕的回忆，未来我一定要过上好日子。

How does a girl like me make a good living?

像我这样的姑娘如何过上好日子？

Through family love, romantic love is even more ridiculous to someone like me. I like to attach myself to those in power and rise to the top of the world so that all the hard work in my life will not be in vain.

亲情早已看破，爱情对于我这种人来说更觉可笑，我这辈子就喜欢攀龙附凤必踏青云上天梯，如此我这辈子所吃的苦才不白费。

My income was better after I came to the entertainment parlor, and I was finally allowed to study.

也正是进入了歌伎坊，我有了相对高点的收入，并且得到了自己梦寐以求的学习的机会。

My skills are better since I worked harder and sweated more than others. As a result, I continued to mature every day.

我学的技艺都比一般人要好，我背后付出了比别人更多的汗水，更多的泪水和辛劳，就这样我一天天地长大。