During the Tianqi period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a Shanxi merchant named Qiao Qingyuan (a pseudonym) who made a living by selling herbal medicines. Because he had been away from home for a long time, he naturally couldn't avoid going to brothels. Over time, he became close with Hu Ji, a famous prostitute in a county dozens of miles away from Luoyang City. He often had sex with her and spent money on her without hesitation. Hu Ji could sing and dance, and she could also improvise musical plays, making her the most talented prostitute in the brothel. Although Qiao Qingyuan was a businessman, he was tall and handsome, and he always kept his promises, showing affection and righteousness. Naturally, he was deeply favored by Hu Ji. Whenever Qiao Qingyuan came to the county, Hu Ji's room would be his only place to stay. Every time Hu Ji served him, she used all her skills to make him feel drunk and forget about returning home. Qiao Qingyuan was very attached to Hu Ji, and every year he generously gave her six or seven hundred taels of silver.