"Thin Horse" naturally did not refer to an actual horse.
Although they were rural wealthy landowners, they still knew what a "Thin Horse" was.
These were beautiful girls from poor families, bought by wealthy merchants who specialized in this trade. The merchants invested in raising and training them, teaching them singing, dancing, the lute, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Once the girls grew up, they would be sold to rich men as concubines or sent to brothels for a handsome profit.
"Thin Horses" were divided into various ranks. Top-tier "Thin Horses" were taught to play the lute and flute, compose poetry, write calligraphy, and paint. They were also skilled in playing Go, Shuanglu backgammon, and dominoes, learning every kind of pleasing trick. Such "Thin Horses" were extremely expensive, easily fetching prices upwards of five thousand taels of silver.
Some "Thin Horses" were even taught Martial Arts.
