DCFRP Extra 1

TL: Hua

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The author has something to say: Attention!!!

To avoid sensitive topics, the background is set in the Republic of China! Fictional! Fictional! Fictional!

The years and some specific events will be deliberately messed up! Do not verify!

In addition, I would like to remind my little cuties that Xiaoyu traveled back to the Republic of China when he was 18 years old, while at the beginning of the text, he traveled into the book when he was 23 years old.

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Spring of the 11th year of the Republic of China, Shanghai.

The sycamore trees on both sides of the road have just sprouted new buds, and the fine green is dotted on.

The pigeons that have been locked up in the cage for a whole winter have also flown out, flapping their wings and flying over the roof of the Shikumen house.

The wind in early March is still a little cold, mixed with drizzling rain, which makes it even colder, but it’s much better than winter.

On Aitong Road, at the entrance of the alley, in front of the courtyard of a two-story old house, a boy of 17 or 18 years old, wearing a blue robe that was washed white, was washing something in cold water with his sleeves rolled up.

He was tall and thin.

At the age where young boys were rapidly growing, his robe was obviously a little old and ill-fitting, revealing a thin ankle underneath and a small lotus root-like arm above.

He held a shiny hexagonal silver flower in his left hand and a sponge soaked in water in his right hand, his fingers turning red from the cold, and his trembling hands gently wiped away a small stain on it.

His eyebrows and eyes were sparkling, just like the hexagonal silver flower in his hand.

Next door, next to the low courtyard wall, two middle-aged women were chatting while eating melon seeds under the eaves.

“Have you heard that in two days, a new army will take over Shanghai?”

“A new one? They change so quickly.”

“That’s right. The previous Commander Zhang came only a few months ago and was driven away.”

“Staying for a few days and leaving again this time?”

“I heard it’s different this time. It seems that they are coming from the Northeast. My husband said that this commander’s surname is Xun. He is called the Northeast Tiger. He crossed the Yellow River all the way from the Northeast and had a lot of foreign horses and guns in his hands. It sounds powerful.”

“Hey, whoever comes, it has nothing to do with us ordinary people, right? I just hope there’s less fighting.”

Standing in the yard, Qi Xiaoyu washed the hexagonal flower in his hand while listening to the chat next door; his heart let out a shallow sigh.

Due to the ongoing conflict in Beiping, which caused chaos and unrest, no one dared to come out and listen to the opera. The Red Moon Trope couldn’t stay any longer and fled from Beiping last winter. Unexpectedly, when they first arrived in Shanghai, another warlord came. They hoped that the peace here would last longer.

While he was thinking about this matter, he heard a voice calling him from behind.

“Xiaoyu, come in quickly; Master is looking for you.”

The man who came to call him was about 23 or 24 years old, named Xi Yun, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He usually played the Xiaosheng role and sang opera with him in the Red Moon Troupe. He was Qi Xiaoyu’s senior brother.

“Yes.”

Hearing the words, Qi Xiaoyu hurriedly wrung out the sponge and put it aside. He used his long robe to dry and wrap the hexagonal flower, ran across the yard, and followed Xi Yun inside.

The western-style house they rented has been around for some years, and it’s old and damp inside. After entering through the back door, they have to walk through a long, dark corridor to reach the front hall. This section is dimly lit during the day.

But both of them were young and walked smoothly in the dark.

In the front hall, a group of brothers of different ages was practicing their roles.

Xi Yun looked at this well-behaved and beautiful brother with a doting look, pointed to a half-closed door, and whispered to Qi Xiaoyu, “Master is in a bad mood today; you go in carefully.”

Qi Xiaoyu nodded, then walked to the door with light footsteps, knocked gently, and poked half of his head in first. “Master, do you have something to talk to me about?”

This is the bedroom of Qi Fengjian, the Red Moon Troupe’s master. It’s very simply decorated with a bed, a rattan chair, and a few large boxes for luggage. There is nothing else.

At this time, Qi Fengjian was sitting on the rattan chair with his legs crossed. His cheeks were as sharp as a knife, his face was ashen, his skin was tight, and fine stubble covered half of his face like steel needles.

Seeing Qi Xiaoyu coming in, Qi Fengjian stopped playing with the walnuts in his hand and looked up with his weathered and resolute eyes at the beautiful little apprentice in front of him.

“Tonight, you sing ‘The Lock of Hair’.”

Qi Xiaoyu was picked up and raised by Qi Fengjian from a dilapidated temple. He had been respectful and afraid of Qi Fengjian since he was a child. Facing Qi Fengjian’s request, Qi Xiaoyu always nodded and agreed subconsciously, but then he blinked and asked, “What about Senior Brother Gu? He sings better than me.”

In the play “The Lock of Hair,” his senior brother Gu Zizhen used to sing the role of Huadan, Xue Xiangling.

Gu Zizhen was 26 years old and became famous for singing this play. He sang very well and received a full house of applause every time.

Chi Fengjian casually plated the walnuts and said in a deep voice as if impatient, “Your senior brother Gu is sick.”

Qi Xiaoyu pursed his lips and said in a wronged voice, “I saw Senior Brother Gu warming up his voice this morning.”

He could tell that his master was impatient, but he knew that if he acted like a spoiled child, his master would not be really angry.

Sure enough, Chi Fengjian was not very angry, but he was unwilling to explain to him, “Don’t worry about it. General Hu is coming to watch the show tonight, so you should prepare well.”

“Oh.” Qi Xiaoyu agreed, retreated obediently, and closed the door.

Outside, Xi Yun was still waiting for him. When he saw him come out, he took his hand and asked, “What is Master looking for you for?”

Qi Xiaoyu pursed his lips. “Master asked me to sing Xue Xiangling tonight.”

Xi Yun said happily, “That’s good.”

But seeing that Qi Xiaoyu didn’t look very happy, he comforted him, “This is your first time singing Xue Xiangling on stage, right? Don’t worry. Senior Brother is there. Just sing as usual.”

Qi Xiaoyu still pursed his lips. “I’m not afraid to sing; it’s the master who said Senior Brother Gu is sick so he won’t go on stage, but I saw Senior Brother Gu warming up his voice this morning.”

Xi Yun was also confused. “Zizhen is indeed fine. But he seemed to be a little uncomfortable again in the afternoon and stayed upstairs with Senior Sister all afternoon, not coming down… Did he suddenly get sick? Let’s go to the room later to see him.”

Xi Yun shook his head. “What else did the master say?”

Qi Xiaoyu frowned. “Master also said that General Hu would come to watch the show and asked us to prepare well.”

Now, Xi Yun also frowned. “He is coming again?”

The warlord who occupied Shanghai before was a commander named Zhang. Hu Haibing was a subordinate of this Commander Zhang. Commander Zhang left, but Hu Haibing stayed. With the help of the soldiers and guns in his hands, he lived a life of luxury and did whatever he wanted in Shanghai.

Although they were unwilling, they had no choice. First, they had just arrived in Shanghai, and their foundation was not stable. After using the silver in their hands to escape, rent a house, and daily expenses, there was nothing left. They had to work hard to sing opera to survive.

Second, in front of such a person with military power, the opera troupe really had no room for resistance.

Xi Yun sighed and patted Qi Xiaoyu on the shoulder. “Then let’s listen to Master and prepare first.”

****

The Red Moon Troupe came to Shanghai and signed to perform in Huanxi Garden.

Huanxi Garden is next to Yu Garden. The whole street is full of teahouses and wine shops. There is a large flow of people, and it is very lively. At night, it’s even more prosperous.

At six o’clock in the evening, the aroma of the wine shop filled the whole street.

Huanxi Garden was already crowded with people. Although the Red Moon Troupe had just come to Shanghai, it had a great reputation in the capital before. Especially Gu Zizhen, Xia Yi, and Xi Yun; they were all well-known actors, so every time they went on stage, they had no worries about selling tickets.

In the whole theater, only the tea table in the middle was empty, which seemed to be reserved for important people.

Backstage, Qi Xiaoyu, Xi Yun, and the others who were going to perform today had already put on their makeup and were singing.

Qi Fengjian was busy running around, dealing with various things.

While everyone was busy, suddenly, the curtain of the backstage was lifted, and a man and a woman walked in.

The man was slender, also wearing a blue robe, with side-parted bangs and handsome eyebrows. He was Gu Zizhen, the senior brother of the Red Moon Troupe.

The woman was beautiful and gentle, with a long braid on each ear. She was Qi Wanrou, the daughter of Qi Fengjian.

After Gu Zizhen hurried in, he walked straight to Qi Xiaoyu, grabbed Qi Xiaoyu’s hand, and pulled him up from his seat, then turned to Qi Fengjian and said, “Master, Xiaoyu can’t go up; I’ll go up.”

Qi Fengjian’s face sank when he saw him coming in. “Nonsense, Xiaoyu’s name is posted outside; why are you going up?”

Gu Zizhen looked anxious. “But that bastard came for me; Xiaoyu can’t go up.”

Qi Fengjian, “Knowing that the bastard, the old pervert, came for you, how can you go out?”

He also said to Qi Wanrou, who was following Gu Zizhen, “Wanrou, I told you to watch Zizhen carefully; why did you bring him here to make trouble?”

Qi Wanrou Rou twisted her clothes with her fingers, as if struggling, “Dad, how about no one sings tonight? That Hu Haibing is not a human being at all. Senior Brother Gu and Xiaoyu can’t go.”

Qi Fengjian scolded, “Do you think singing is a joke? If we don’t sing, should we just let everyone starve?”

Gu Zizhen, “We still shouldn’t let Xioayu go up. Xiaoyu is prettier than me. What if he falls in love with Xiaoyu?”

Qi Xiaoyu, who was sitting next to him, heard the key points in just a few words: “Don’t say anything; I’ll go. Senior Brother, listen, the gongs and drums outside have already started. It’s too late for you to change clothes now.”

Gu Zizhen gritted his teeth. “It’s fine even if I’m late. You can’t go.”

The gongs and drums and applause outside started.

Others looked at this scene and didn’t know whether to go on stage.

Xi Yun said, “This… this” twice and didn’t know what to do.

The people from the theater rushed in and glared at them. “Master Qi, what are you doing? General Hu has arrived outside, and the guests are full. Why don’t you go on stage? Are you going to cancel the show?”

Qi Xiaoyu looked up at Qi Fengjian.

Qi Fengjian understood.

Then, Qi Fengjian stopped Gu Zizhen. Qi Xiaoyu slipped out of Gu Zizhen’s hand and lifted the curtain leading to the stage.

****

Everyone on and off the stage was extremely nervous during the play.

Only the applause and cheers were no less than in the past. Although Qi Xiaoyu was singing Xue Xiangling from “The Lock of Hair” for the first time on stage, he had listened to Gu Zizhen’s performance and sung it before, so it was not a problem to get started.

It was precisely because he sang well that Gu Zizhen was even more anxious. He didn’t know how many times he turned around backstage, and he didn’t know how many times he talked to Qi Wanrou, “Look at Xiaoyu. Who won’t be charmed by him? Not to mention that old pervert. If he’s taken by that old pervert tonight, it’s me who’s done him a disservice.”

Qi Wanrou was also anxious. “Don’t blame yourself. Let’s find a solution together.” She pulled Qi Fengjian’s sleeve again. “Dad, what should we do? Look at that old pervert’s eyes; he won’t let Xiaoyu go.”

Qi Fengjian was holding a pipe and kept smoking; his eyes went back and forth between Qi Xiaoyu and Hu Haibing. He ignored Qi Wanrou and waited until the singing was over before saying to Gu Zizhen, “After the singing, you take Xiaoyu away immediately. I will take care of the rest.”

“Yes.”

Gu Zizhen remembered Qi Fengjian’s words, and when he saw Qi Xiaoyu leaving the stage, he pulled Qi Xiaoyu over and wanted to leave without waiting for him to remove his makeup and change clothes.

But it was too late. The entrance was blocked by several soldiers.

Hu Haibing is not tall, but he is very sturdy. His military uniform cannot be fastened, and his clothes are open to reveal his round belly, but a gun was clearly inserted in his waist. He walked in with a crowd of people around him as if showing off, clapping his hands, “The Red Moon Troupe is really full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; each one is a treasure.”

Seeing this scene, everyone else in the theater ran away, leaving only the Red Moon Troupe in the backstage.

Seeing that he could not leave, Qi Fengjian stood in front and protected several apprentices behind him, “General Hu, you’re too kind.”

Qi Xiaoyu and Gu Zizhen pulled Qi Wanrou behind them at the same time.

Hu Haibing laughed twice and walked around him to look at Gu Zizhen and Qi Xiaoyu, “Oh, Mr. Gu is here too. I said I wanted to invite Mr. Gu to perform today, but why did Master Qi say he was sick?”

Qi Fengjian, “He is indeed sick, so that’s why he didn’t go on stage. I will take him to see a doctor now. General Hu, please be kind and make way for us.”

Hu Haibing laughed twice, “Master Qi, don’t play this kind of game with me. I’ve been here several times, and each time I was never stingy with the reward. You have to let me take one of these two back today.”

Qi Fengjian still didn’t move.

Then someone took out a gun.

Chi Fengjian looked up. “I heard that a commander named Xun will come to Shanghai soon. General Hu was originally a subordinate of Commander Zhang. At this moment, General Hu’s behavior is a bit…”

Hu Haibing didn’t wait for Chi Fengjian to finish and laughed at the sky, “What kind of person is that surnamed Xun? You think I’m afraid of him? Besides, would he fight with me for two mere actors? Master Qi, you’re getting old and are no longer clear-headed.

Since you are unwilling to discuss this properly, then… Come on, let’s invite Mr. Gu and Mr. Qi to come together.”

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