chapter one; first chapter
in session; in progress; under way; open
not knowing what's what; being unable to make heads or tails
wedding hall; marriage hall; wedding place; wedding location
orchid; Netherlands; Holland
place hidden from view; cover; shelter; hiding place
Christmas cake; unmarried woman above the age of 25
to palm off; to force a sale
prosperity; flourishing; thriving
pretty girl who attracts customers to come inside a shop
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
tending a store; salesperson; sales clerk; shop assistant
deserted (esp. store, market, town, streets); quiet; inactive (business, trade, etc.); slack; idle; free
ability to attract customers
all right; very well; okay; I got it
careful; scrupulous; thorough; conscientious; elaborate; deliberate
to have a comeback for every remark; to be always ready with excuses; to contradict everything
advance warning; previous notice; announcement; herald; harbinger; forerunner
the ancients; ancient people
device; equipment; machinery; apparatus
prattle; broken language; halting language; baby talk; imperfect speech; smattering
Mara; demon king who attempted to hinder Gautama Buddha from attaining enlightenment; obstacle to enlightenment; penis
female private parts; female genitals
nightmare; incubus; succubus; demon appearing in a dream
to change clothes (on someone else, e.g. child, doll); to change the wallpaper or skin (of a smart phone, etc.)
social game; social network game
charges; billing; paying for items in online games
free (of charge); gratuitous
exploitation; bleeding dry; squeezing dry; milking (e.g. a cow's teat); extracting (a liquid) through squeezing
to dig up; to dig out; to pick (nose, teeth); to clean out (ears)
to temper thoroughly; to train well