Either married as a merchant's concubine, or sent to the Fireworks Willow Alley
Speaking of Yangzhou beauties, the famous Yangzhou "skinny horse" must be mentioned. There is a common saying "Marry Ma Ma" that is still circulated orally among Yangzhou people, which means marrying a wife. This horse evolved from the word thin horse.
In ancient times, Yangzhou was the settlement of salt merchants from Huainan, Huaibei and Huaihe. The salt merchants were the richest people at that time, and their luxurious life was comparable to that of the royal family. Since the Ming Dynasty, a large number of young women have appeared in Yangzhou who have been specially trained to be married to wealthy businessmen as concubines. These women regard thinness as their beauty, and are all slim and emaciated, so they are regarded as It is called "Yangzhou thin horse". The poor families in Yangzhou city and surrounding rural areas who had no food and clothing had to sell their already thin daughters to work as lean horses to survive those days of embarrassment and helplessness.
The "skinny horses" were bought to Yangzhou by conspirators. After several years of training, they were first taught to cope with the situation and behave dignified or graceful, and then they were taught to learn calligraphy, painting, music, chess, singing and dancing. Zhang Dalai of the Qing Dynasty explained in "Houjia Ji": People in Yangzhou often bought little girls from poor families, taught them how to write, write, sing and dance, and then sold them as maids and concubines, earning as much as a thousand gold, and they were called "skinny horses".
There is an extremely strict appraisal process for selecting thin horses, and the most important thing for merchants is the evaluation of the thin horse’s small feet. There is also a very detailed method for identifying this "three-inch golden lotus", and people have also formulated seven standards for this: "thin, small, pointed, curved, fragrant, soft, and straight".
In the Qing Dynasty, there were businessmen in Yangzhou who specialized in the "thin horse" industry chain. They provide one-stop service from purchasing to training to finding buyers, and even hold weddings for thin horses and buyers. Historical records indicate that the "thin horses" bought from Yangzhou had formal education and were full of skills. They were able to serve in the hall and in the kitchen. They were gentle, courteous and frugal, and rarely messed with other wives and concubines in the owner's home. He doesn't get angry and doesn't get jealous, which is very reassuring to the men.
Some people actually feel the benefits of Yangzhou's "thin horses" and go to Yangzhou to buy them again and again. At that time, raising thin horses was not a shameful thing. Because thin horses were profitable, some merchants also raised young women. If they met a generous buyer, they could make thousands of gold. Naturally it happens.
The beauties known as "Skinny Horses" either followed their buyers to the vast world outside Yangzhou, or they stayed in their hometown to find suitable families to marry. But not all "skinny horses" can successfully marry into wealthy families. Finally, some of the remaining "skinny horses" had to be sent to Fireworks Willow Alley. On the banks of the Qinhuai River, most of the "Yangbang" singing girls are from "skinny horses". And those "skinny horses" who are "lucky" to be taken as concubines by wealthy officials, businessmen, and noble princes do not necessarily live a happy life from then on. Some people say that Yangzhou Shou Ma is a history of blood and tears of Yangzhou beauties.