From: Zhang Jihe

The closest "nomineeful term" to modern China must be the extremely famous "Bada Hutong" in Beijing. That particular place has shaped the social form since Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, and it is no wonder that people like Hu Shi, Lao She, Yu Dafu and others have left their own opinions on the "Eight Hutongs".

Yes, the "Eight Hutongs" are equivalent to the blatant "Fireworks Willow Lane" in the Qing Dynasty. Although the imperial court did not support it unscrupulously, however, that mixed place did give birth to groups of fireworks women." The most famous are Sai Jinhua, or Xiao Fengxian and others. Obviously, these women were women of good families who had been forced to sell themselves.

So, what areas in Beijing are included in the "Eight Hutongs"? It is probably north of Xizhu Shikou Street and south of Tieshu Xiejie, and from west to east: Baishun Hutong, Rouge Hutong, Hanjiatan, Shaanxi Lane, Shishi Hutong, Wang Guangfu Xiejie, Zhujia Hutong and Li Shamao Hutong.

Beijingers who have gone through ups and downs know that in the area of "Bada Hutong", it is often said that "Dachawei". The so-called "tea wai" means that the female ticket holder personally or sends someone to the female branch to name the female branch girl, or drink tea and chat with the female branch girl, or listen to the female branch girl who is good at singing and singing a song. Female ticket guests enter the door, as usual by the old bustard or female branch girl personally serve tea, by the female branch of the girl personally bring out the dried and fresh fruits, the jargon is called "pretending to be dry and wet", the vulgar point is also called "respecting melon seeds", before leaving, put a dollar "tea money" in the fruit plate, give the female branch a dollar, this is called "plate money". Of course, if you are willing to give more, it will make the female ticket customer more magnificent. In fact, this is a means for female ticket customers to "contact their feelings" with female branch women, and it is also the process for female ticket customers to choose female branch girls.

At that time, in the first and second class women's branches, many female branch girls were very emotional, chatting about talents, singing songs, and drinking tea, and only then would they go to the room with female ticket customers to "do things". is more particular, and even arranges a place where female ticket holders and female branch girls can talk about "personal feelings". Of course, it is by no means to let them fall in love, after all, the "old bustard" cannot lose money. In the higher women's branch, you must go through many times to "play tea", "call the bureau" or "eat flowers and wine" to cultivate an emotional foundation before you can "stay overnight".

It should be said that "out". "Out" means that the female ticket holder calls the female branch girl to her home or restaurant to accompany the wine, and the price is one to three yuan each time, but there are also many rich families, in order to show their financial resources, they will give the female branch girl more money. Of course, "out" is not just to take people away, there is also a thing called "bureau ticket", that is, a strip called a female branch girl, similar to the current receipt, or a white slip. In short, let the female ticket ticket holder leave something evidence for the female branch.

Regular customers "call the bureau", do not have to pay at the time, but by the women's branch of the account room according to the bureau ticket written on the account, called the "bureau account", every year before the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the New Year's settlement, called "clear bureau account". If it is time to settle the bill, the female ticket customer does not pay the money by going out or other excuses, it is called "drifting account". In the circle of female ticket passengers, if you always encounter a "drifting account", it is very shameless.

The so-called "out" of the female branch, in addition to the agreement in advance, is generally the female ticket guest to the hotel to book a banquet, and then, fill in the "bureau ticket" provided by the hotel, and send someone to send it to each female branch. The women's branch received the "bureau ticket", if the female branch girl was at home, she immediately sent a sedan chair to send people over, and the high-grade female branch girl also brought the maid who served her, which is called "following the bureau". The higher the value, the more people in the female branch follow the game, and they have their own special sedan chairs and sedan chair drivers, which is also a symbol of identity and status in the circle.