DCFRP Extra 9

TL: Hua

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After hearing what Qi Xiaoyu said, Huang Jue’s face changed again, from a cannibalistic look to a terrified look, and then his eyebrows were raised, and he pointed at Qi Xiaoyu with his gold-plated pipe, cursing,

“Hmph, Commander Xun has only been in Shanghai for a few days. You’re just a humble actor; how can you have the face to say that you hooked up with Commander Xun? You little b*tch, you dare to talk nonsense in front of Director Liu.”

Qi Xiaoyu leaned on the table calmly, crossed his arms, and smiled, “Boss Huang just praised me for being a good seedling. I’m just trying to meet your expectations.”

When he said that, he let out a sneer, and then he set his eyes on the man next to Huang Jue, who was wearing a black police uniform, a police hat, and had two small mustaches: “This must be Director Liu. I just remembered that Adjutant Zhang sent me to the door, and now his car may still be outside on the road due to the crowd. If Director Liu also believes that I’m talking nonsense, why not send someone to chase him? Oh, by the way, Adjutant Zhang drove a black Pontiac car with a license plate number ending in 68. Am I right?”

Qi Xiaoyu looked calm, and what he said was so detailed that no one dared to say a word. Even Qi Fengjian just clenched his cigarette pipe and frowned at his apprentice.

Huang Jue’s eyes flickered between Qi Xiaoyu and Director Liu beside him.

He was afraid of Qi Xiaoyu, afraid that what he said was true, but he couldn’t swallow this anger.

His theater that relies entirely on ticket sales to make money is also a place where he spent money like water. How many employees had to be paid every day? And ticket money for that day also included the guests’ tea, melon seeds, and peanuts for them.

When he thought about the people in the theater rushing up to him to get the money back from his pocket, he was so angry that he trembled all over and almost bit his golden front teeth.

Besides, what Gu Zizhen said just now, that their Red Moon troupe had no choice but to only sing half of the show, wasn’t it a slap in his face and a dismantling of his stage? Are they saying that he deliberately occupied the stage to promote others and violated the rules of the theater? If this matter gets out, will their Huanxi Garden still have a reputation?

Huang Jue’s voice was trembling. “Director Liu, don’t believe this little b*tch’s nonsense. Don’t I know his background? Look at his linen clothes. He has been wearing it for a whole winter. If he really followed Commander Xun, he wouldn’t be in such a state.”

Director Liu looked at Qi Xiaoyu with a thoughtful look.

He could not be sure that what Qi Xiaoyu said was 100% true, but he knew that Qi Xiaoyu said three things accurately. One was the address of the commander’s mansion, the second was that Xun Qian’s adjutant’s surname was indeed Zhang, and the third was that Adjutant Zhang’s license plate number did end with 68.

It wasn’t difficult to know the first thing, but it wasn’t so easy to know the last two things.

Xun Qian had just taken over Shanghai. He had many soldiers and equipment. The officials below were trying every means to find out about his news but only managed to get these little pieces of information.

Qi Xiaoyu, who was a humble actor, knew everything clearly. Just based on these points, it shows that he was not just talking nonsense.

Looking at Qi Xiaoyu himself, even if he was wearing an old robe that was washed white, it couldn’t hide his youthful vitality. His slender figure and delicate skin were like a shining piece of white jade. His every frown and smile made people itch.

If the new commander was into this type, it’s not surprising that he favored this little actor.

Director Liu chuckled twice and asked, “Did you go to the commander’s mansion today?”

Qi Xiaoyu nodded slowly, smiling, “I also met several officials from the Economic Department at the commander’s mansion.”

Director Liu laughed twice again. If he was doubtful about Qi Xiaoyu’s relationship with Commander Xun before, now he was 80% inclined to believe Qi Xiaoyu’s words. Xun Qian has been paying close attention to the economy recently. He heard that people from the Economic Department go to the Commander’s Mansion every day.

He can bully an actor with no background and no backing, but he dares not touch anyone who might be favored by the Commander. In the officialdom, the most important thing is to be able to read people’s expressions.

Of course, even if Qi Xiaoyu and Xun Qian are not so close, he has to leave a way out for himself.

“No wonder. He must have appreciated your talent. If you have any problems in the future, you are welcome to come to the police department to find me, Liu, at any time.”

Director Liu first praised Qi Xiaoyu and tried to build a relationship, then straightened his clothes, turned around, and patted Huang Jue on the shoulder, “Thank you, Boss Huang, for inviting us to watch the show for free today.”

After saying that, he turned around to leave. Compared to someone who might have a relationship with Xun Qian, Huang Jue really had no weight. If he wanted to promote his new sweetheart, Bai Shuixian, he could do it in another theater, but he couldn’t offend Xun Qian.

Huang Jue was so scared when he heard the word “free” coming out of Director Liu’s mouth that his eyes almost popped out.

He didn’t have time to care about Qi Xiaoyu and quickly turned around to follow the other person. “Director Liu, Director Liu, you can’t believe this little bitch’s words. This free thing is all made up by them.”

“Haha, what’s wrong? Boss Huang doesn’t want to invite me to watch the show?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Inviting you is, of course, not a problem, but outside…”

Huang Jue’s panicked pleading gradually faded away, and the singing and harmony of King Overlord and Yu Ji came in with the drums and applause.

As soon as the people left, Qi Xiaoyu immediately left the table, stood up straight, put his hands down in front of him, and looked at Qi Fengjian obediently with a pair of big eyes.

Qi Fengjian shook the long pipe in his hand with no expression on his face. Only the beard covering half of his face protruded like a steel needle. “Say what you said just now again.”

Qi Xiaoyu licked the corner of his mouth and silently took a step back. He hadn’t been beaten for a long time, but he remembered the feeling clearly. He felt pain just thinking about it.

When the apprentices who hadn’t been on stage saw this, they hurried forward. Some of them grabbed Qi Fengjian, and some stood in front of Qi Xiaoyu, “Master, don’t hit Xiaoyu.”

On the stage, Farewell My Concubine was sung to the end.

Amidst the applause and cheers, Gu Zizhen, Xi Yun, and others bowed and left the stage.

But after the show ended, the audience refused to leave, crowding around Huang Jue to ask for a refund.

The commotion outside was quite big.

The people in the Red Moon Troupe laughed while packing up their things and preparing to go back home.

Qi Fengjian lifted the curtain and walked out, smoking alone outside.

Seeing that their master was no longer backstage, the apprentices all came over, crowding around Qi Xiaoyu.

“Xiaoyu, is what you just said to the master true? Can we really sing at the Laurel Stage?”

“Xiaoyu, is the matter between you and that Commander Xun really as you said?”

“What does Commander Xun look like? Is he good to you? In the future…”

“Ahem.” Gu Zizhen had taken off the crown on his head, pulled away the people surrounding Qi Xiaoyu, and said with a stern face, “Don’t surround Xiaoyu. Go and clean up your things quickly. We won’t come back here again, so if you’re missing something, you have to pay for it yourself.”

“Oh.” The crowd dispersed in a huff and continued to pack up their things with a lot of gossip in their hearts. After Gu Zizhen drove them away, he walked to Qi Xiaoyu, pointed outside, and asked softly,

“Did Master hit you?”

Qi Xiaoyu, who was putting back the clothes that were messed up by Huang Jue earlier, raised his arm. “I was hit with a cigarette pipe, but I’m fine.”

He smiled, “Master couldn’t bear to really hit me.”

Gu Zizhen also lowered his head and smiled. He wanted to ask something else but ultimately chose not to. He just stood opposite Qi Xiaoyu. The two listened to the quarrels and noises outside as if they were watching a play while sorting things together.

That night, the Red Moon Troupe apprentices left the chaotic Huanxi Garden and returned to Aitong Road. There was no conversation all night.

The next morning, someone really came to the door.

Yesterday, Xun Qian had called to discuss cooperation, so the people from the Laurel Stage didn’t dare to delay for a moment and arrived at the door of the troupe at a quarter after eight in the morning.

It was time for the troupe apprentices to have morning classes. Everyone lined up in a row, some doing horse stances, some doing splits. When they heard the knock on the door, Qi Fengjian drove everyone back to the room and took the guests to the living room to discuss the matter.

Not long after, all the apprentices were called back.

The weather has turned hot recently, and the sycamore trees have turned green in an instant.

Xi Yun wasn’t very happy with the morning exercises since the weather was hot. He fanned himself but still felt hot, so he tied his jacket around his waist. Just as he finished, he heard Qi Fengjian calling them back.

He was the first to rush back to the living room, looking towards the door, “Master, how come the discussion finished so quickly? It took less than a cup of tea.”

The other apprentices also gathered around and looked towards the door, only to see the shadows of two rickshaws.

Qi Fengjian hit Xi Yun on the arm with his cigarette pipe. He asked him to call Qi Wanrou over with a sullen face and then pointed to the open space in front of the hall.

The apprentices understood and immediately stood in three rows according to their height.

Qi Fengjian looked at the apprentices in the hall, his cheeks tightly clenched, then coughed and said word by word,

“This morning, just now, we have already negotiated with the people from the Laurel Stage. We will sing there for a year first, and if we sing well, we will renew the contract.”

The apprentices cheered immediately after hearing the confirmed news.

Someone turned to Qi Xiaoyu and shouted, “Xiaoyu, you are awesome.”

But before they could cheer, they heard Qi Fengjian scold them heavily.

“But before we go on stage, there are a few things I need to make clear. You must listen carefully and remember them in your heart.”

Hearing this, everyone stood up straight and didn’t dare to make any other moves.

Qi Fengjian put his cigarette pipe behind his back. “First, the Laurel Stage is one of the best stages in Shanghai. For them to be willing to cooperate with us with the shared profits of 50-50, don’t think it’s because they appreciated you guys…”

He paused here and glanced at Qi Xiaoyu, who was standing upright, “They are just giving Xiaoyu some face. Therefore, in the first year of singing, we are only allowed to take 20% of the money, and the other 30% must be sent to the Commander’s Mansion.”

Everyone looked at Qi Fengjian and silently calculated in their hearts that although the ticket price of the Laurel Stage was higher, if they only took 20%, it would not be much different from the current income, but no one dared to speak.

Qi Fengjian continued, “This little money means nothing to some people, but we must be sensible and abide by the rules. No matter when, don’t think about getting free benefits from others. There is no such thing as a free meal in this world.”

Everyone said in unison, “Yes.”

“So you should tighten your purse strings in the future, live frugally this year, and don’t think that you can enjoy yourself as much as you want when you go to the Laurel Stage.”

Everyone said in unison, “Yes.”

Qi Fengjian’s eyes swept over the apprentices in the hall one by one. “Second, since they have given you the opportunity to go up, you can’t make the Red Moon Troupe lose face.”

Everyone said again, “Yes.”

“The first show will be held this Sunday, so there are still four days left. In these four days, you have to rehearse the play even if you don’t eat or sleep. One minute on stage is ten years of hard work behind the stage. Only when you practice hard can you make no mistake.”

Everyone, “Yes.”

“This weekend, we will start singing in the afternoon and sing three plays in total.”

Qi Fengjian’s steel-like eyes swept over, first pointing to Gu Zizhen and Xi Yun, “You two prepare for Farewell My Concubine.”

Gu Zizhen and Xi Yun immediately agreed.

Qi Fengjian picked out a few people from the team: “Ankang, Xiaoqing, and Dongsheng, you should practice the Gathering of Heroes well.”

Those who were called agreed one after another.

Finally, Qi Fengjian pointed his pipe at Qi Xiaoyu, “Xiaoyu, you sing The Drunken Concubine.”

Qi Xiaoyu’s heart skipped a beat, and he also agreed.

After Qi Fengjian assigned the tasks, he reprimanded everyone again before letting them disperse, have breakfast, and then go to training.

During breakfast, everyone was more excited than usual.

Although Qi Fengjian looked unusually serious, the joy of being able to perform on the Laurel Stage overshadowed everything else.

And they were used to Qi Fengjian scolding them like this. After the scolding, they felt like they could train even harder for the stage.

Everyone discussed Sunday’s performance at the table, each with their own roles. Although it was the same simple meal, it had different tastes today.

Someone bumped Qi Xiaoyu with his arm. “Xiaoyu, since you’re singing The Drunken Concubine, Master will definitely focus on training you.”

 

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