Although some people in our industry indulge in this extravagant fantastic life, others do it with tears in their eyes, and I'm the lucky one. I am the one who sells skills rather than our bodies in our industry. I sell my skill and make money through my craft and intelligence.
虽然我们这个行业有的人也醉生梦死地卖笑卖唱，但是也有人是含着泪来卖笑卖唱，而我属于那种幸运的，至少在我们这个行业，我是卖技不卖身，是清清白白地靠手艺和头脑去赚钱的。
But not every girl is as lucky as I am. Some lack some beauty, and some lack some intelligence. It's rare to preserve our honor as I do in our industry.
但是不是每个女孩子都如我这般幸运，有的缺了点美貌，有的缺了点聪明，总之在我们这个行业能有我这样的结果的少之又少。
Some praise my beauty and say I am the same as the divine beauty in their dreams. My beauty saved me from poverty so that I could be reborn and be able to study music, chess, poem, painting, read and write, but it also harms me now.
别人夸我天资国色，如同梦里的仙子那般漂亮，这副容貌既救了我，让我得以脱离贫穷，脱胎换骨、习得琴棋诗画、读书识字，可是现在于我又何尝不是一害呢？
If my looks were ordinary, I could find a beautiful place to live the rest of my life with the money I have now, but a beauty like myself, even if I left the entertainment parlor with no one there to protect me, I am just a weak woman, no matter how intelligent I am, and too beautiful. A beautiful face can bring forth misfortune, and beauty can harm us.
Trouble will find you even if you don't create any problems. I must have the ability to protect myself before I leave. Otherwise, everything is empty talk.
若我生得普通，以我现在手上的金钱，完全可以找一处山水如画之地过完此生。可是我这样的相貌即使离了这风尘之地，无人相护，哪怕我再聪明，我也不过是一介弱女子，而且太过漂亮，红颜招惹是非，美貌带来祸害。即使你不去招惹麻烦，麻烦也会来找你，离开之前自己必须要有保护自己的能力，否则一切都是空谈。
I never thought I'd marry someone, though I was surrounded by these young masters every day, singing and dancing to please them. There are countless examples like Du Shiniang Sinks the Hundred Treasure Boxes in our industry, but many are less famous than her. That's why their stories are not well-known.
虽然我每日都周旋在那些富贵公子们身边卖笑卖唱，但是我从来没有奢想过从这些公子哥儿们中选一人托付终身，杜十娘怒沉百宝箱这样的例子在我们这个行业数不胜数，只是很多名气太小不为世人所知罢了。
Since ancient times, a princess marries a prince, and a lady from a renowned family marries a young master from a well-known family. The Noble and wealthy families are good at using diplomatic marriage to join hands or get what they lack, using the resources they have in their hands to exchange the resources they do not have but need.
自古公主嫁王子，名门许世家，那些高门大户，世家名门最善于联姻联手和交换，用自己手里所掌握的资源去换取别人手里那些自己没有但想要得到的资源。
The more prosperous and powerful their families are, the better they are at exchanging resources. Only the lower class who will believe and try their best rely on luck.
家业越大，门第越高的人越擅长资源交换，唯有底层人才会相信并且钻破脑袋去寻求所谓的“运气”。
However, nothing in the world is free. If you are looking for free and rely only on luck, you can only get the things below your status or be cheated.
但是世间从来就没有绝对免费的东西，若自己一心追求免费，依靠运气，那么就只能得到和自己条件不对等的资源和力量，或者被骗。
A person's value is self-awareness, and I am aware of that very well.
人贵在自知，而我很有自知之明。
An entertainment parlor is a place for bad men and women. How can you possibly meet someone who truly loves you?
歌伎坊这个圈子只适合坏男人和坏女人，这个圈子里怎么可能让你遇到自己的真命天子和一个真心爱自己的人？
God has been good to me. I thought I was the one who had ideals and ambition. And I will pursue the best within my qualifications and abilities.
上天已经很眷顾我了，你自认为自己是一个有理想有抱负的女人，我会在我的条件和能力之内去追求最好。