GHLCS Chapter6

When it comes to listening to an opera performance, what happens on stage also happens off stage.

 

Duan Yelin took a sip of tea and felt as if he had not listened to an opera so leisurely for a long time already.

 

Although the actors who performed “Romance of the West Chamber” by Baihua Troupe were all new, but their voices were mellow and melodious, and their singing made people feel itchy in their hearts.

 

The second rhyme was sung, and the matchmaker pulled the small red silk and said, “It’s hard to say anything when I see the Young Lady’s affectionate look. I hope that the Young Lady can find her true love soon and marry a man who is the most talented and learned man in the world. The romantic and gentle man will be together with the Young Lady for a lifetime.”

 

At this time, Gu Fangfei arrived late.

 

She was wearing a fashionable long suspender skirt with a short cape on top, a small flat hat on her head, and a pearl-rimmed handbag in her hand. She sat down opposite Duan Yelin.

 

“Commander Duan, nice to meet you. My name is Gu Fangfei.”

 

Duan Yelin nodded, picked up the teapot, and poured her a cup: “Miss Gu, nice to meet you.”

 

Gu Fangfei took a sip. She had studied abroad for many years and was used to drinking coffee, and not very good at tasting tea. She looked at the stage again. Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying on the stage were in love with each other. The actors with powdered hair and greasy faces were singing something in a low voice. She didn’t quite understand what they were singing, so she immediately turned her head back and looked at Duan Yelin.

 

On the contrary, Duan Yelin watched with great interest and even tapped his index finger to the rhythm of the sound of the jinghu.

 

“Does Miss Gu not like listening to opera?” He asked.

 

“To be honest, I seldom hear it, so I don’t understand it.”

 

“It’s hard for Miss Gu to come and watch the opera with me then. It’s really hard to stay here if you don’t understand anything.”

 

Gu Fangfei looked at Duan Yelin with her clear eyes for a while, then suddenly smiled with her hands covering her mouth. Duan Yelin finally turned his head back: “Miss Gu, what are you laughing at?”

 

“I was laughing at the fact that Commander Duan and I are both ‘in Cao’s camp but our hearts are with Han[mfn]Live in the Cao camp but the heart is with the Han (idiom.) to be somewhere while longing to be somewhere else.[/mfn]‘. They are singing ‘Romance of the West Chamber’ on stage, but the audience is not interested at all. I was very nervous before leaving today, but seeing the Commander like this, I feel much more relieved.”

 

This frank statement made Duan Yelin change his opinion about this young lady. It seemed that Gu Fangfei and Gu Yueshan were not of the same mind. He also smiled and said, “So, Miss Gu came here today because your father ordered you to do so, so you did it with reluctance?”

 

Gu Fangfei waved her hands quickly: “Oh, that’s not what I meant! Actually, I also just wanted to see you myself.” At this point, Gu Fangfei sat up straighter and looked very serious: “In fact… I want to ask the Commander for help for a personal matter, but I have no good reason to contact you, so I can only take this opportunity.”

 

At this point, she paused, seeing that Duan Yelin signaling her to continue with his eyes, she said, “Actually, I am an advocate of new women’s rights. I want to help some women who are eager to be independent from their families to gain a foothold in society, so I opened a cosmetics company and factory in Hezhou City and recruited all female employees. But… but there are always some obstacles. On one hand, the families of some female employees do not agree and often come to the company to make noise. On the other hand, the company is relatively remote, and it is always worrying to see so many girls get off work. I thought about it for a long time and can only think of a way, but I need your help.”

 

To be honest, Gu Fangfei’s words impressed Duan Yelin. He didn’t expect that this delicate-looking young lady would be so ambitious, so he joked, “Me? You’re not going to ask me to send troops to escort your employees to get off work every day, are you?”

 

“Of course not.” Gu Fangfei was amused by Duan Yelin’s joke, “I have my eyes on a building near Xiaotong Guan. If I buy it, with your help, no one will dare to come and act recklessly, and it will be safe to go to and leave after work as well. However…”

 

“However, the buildings near Xiaotong Guan are under strict control of the military. Even if the owner is willing to sell, they dare not sell it without permission either. You want me to help you write a letter so that you can buy this building.” Duan Yelin finished the rest of the words for her.

 

Gu Fangfei smiled gently, then nodded firmly: “Yes, if the Commander is willing to help, I’m willing to pay any amount of money!”

 

Duan Yelin scraped the tea foam with the lid of the teacup and blew: “Miss Gu, do you know that based on the land price there, even if your performance becomes the best in Hezhou City, you may not be able to make back your investment within five or six years? You are losing money on this business.”

 

“This is not a losing business. If we can make all the women in Hezhou City become self-reliant, this will be the most profitable business!” Gu Fangfei’s voice suddenly became a little louder, her tone was firm, and her eyes were as bright as stars.

 

Duan Yelin found it very interesting that such a kind-hearted woman didn’t look like someone that was trained by an old-fashioned person like the president of the Chamber of Commerce.

 

He was silent for a moment, then turned his head and saw a familiar figure walking in and heading to the second floor. His eyes flashed, and he said to Gu Fangfei in a sly tone, “Miss Gu, I can consider this favor. But before that, I would like to ask you to act out a play.”

 

On the stage, Zhang Sheng was already saying embarrassing words to Cui Yingying: “You have so much intelligence hidden in your heart. You are really worthy of being called Yingying. My Lady, let us confess our love to each other and exchange our feelings across the wall until dawn.”

 

When Xu Hang sat down, the audience was cheering. He sat in a private room on the second floor, and the hall on the first floor was clearly visible. He didn’t even need to deliberately look, and he saw Duan Yelin chatting and laughing with a woman.

 

Not only was he smiling, but Duan Yelin also used a handkerchief to wipe the dirt off the woman’s hands. He held her hand and didn’t let go for a long time.

 

Duan Yelin rarely accompanied women. At least in the past four years, Xu Hang had never seen one, and it seemed that he had never heard of one either. But thinking about it carefully, he had never been involved in Duan Yelin’s life. He always did his own things. Duan Yelin would come when he wanted to, and he would not ask too much or say too much.

 

It turned out that he was much more patient when he was with women. Xu Hang only glanced at her, and when the waiter came up to pour tea, he withdrew his gaze, watched the tea leaves float up and down, and then listened to the opera seriously.

 

Qiao Song stood in the corner, looking at the expressions of the two masters, wondering in his heart if the commander wanted to make Young Master Xu jealous. But looking at Young Master Xu’s expression, let alone jealous, he was afraid that even the rice for making vinegar[mfn]Vinegar was referring to being jealous[/mfn] had not been planted yet.

 

If he is not jealous, he is afraid that the commander will be in trouble tonight.

 

Duan Yelin seemed to be chatting and laughing with Gu Fangfei, but he had his hands clenched tightly under the table. He used the shiny surface of the copper kettle beside the table to reflect the figure of Xu Hang on the second floor. Xu Hang was sipping tea, listening to opera, eating fruit, and even swaying to the tune with his eyes slightly closed. The calmer he was, the more turbulent Duan Yelin’s heart became.

 

The tea had gone cold, so Duan Yelin picked it up and gulped it down, only then did he feel a little calmer.

 

When the entire play of Romance of the West Chamber was finished and the actors took their bows, Xu Hang did not even glance at Duan Yelin again and naturally there’s no jealous expression or action.

 

Qiao Song saw that Duan Yelin’s hand had already made a mark on the rattan chair, and his heart skipped a beat.

 

At this moment, Xu Hang, who was on the second floor, finally made some movement.

 

He stood up, took out his money pouch from his bosom, threw all the money in it into the hands of the green-robed actress who was holding the reward plate on the stage, and said, “I haven’t heard enough, sing it again.”

 

The uncles who usually go to the opera sometimes give money for their good singing and sometimes book the whole venue because they want to go to listen again, but it is rare to see someone paying so many people to go to see opera like this.

 

Therefore, when this move was made, many people glanced towards the second floor, only to see a thin figure. Recognizing him as Young Master Xu, they whispered in private: “It turns out that this Young Master Xu is also a fan of opera.”

 

The graceful woman in a green on the stage picked up the pouch, opened it, and took a look. It was indeed heavy. After all, he was from a wealthy family. Even the pouch did not smell like copper, but rather fragrant.

 

The green-robed woman bowed in the direction of Xu Hang, and someone started playing a tune backstage, and another play of “Romance of the West Chamber” continued.

 

Qiao Song looked in the direction of Duan Yelin. His face was already dark, and he was probably about to explode.

 

How could he not be angry? Xu Hang’s intention was obviously to tell Duan Yelin—you wanted to invite me to watch an opera; I watched it, and I will return the favor. If you want to continue singing, then I will continue watching[mfn]Basically, if DYL wants to continue acting, then he will continue to watch it[/mfn].

 

Gu Fangfei couldn’t help but take a look at the second floor. She had met more people abroad, so of course she wasn’t too surprised. It was only until this moment that she understood the purpose of Duan Yelin asking her to act in this play.

 

“Commander Duan…” She spoke carefully, “So the Commander can also be so emotional sometimes.”

 

Duan Yelin said, “I’ve made you laugh.”

 

Gu Fangfei shook her head slightly and smiled: “That’s nothing, but the ‘audience’ doesn’t seem to buy it. If the Commander wants to deal with your affairs, why don’t I go to Xiaotong Guan to visit you in person another day?”

 

Duan Yelin nodded slightly, then put the bill on the table, said “excuse me”, and impatiently went upstairs.

 

Xu Hang was sitting there and heard a rapid and life-threatening sound of footsteps coming from outside the private room, and then someone broke through the door! The next moment, he was twisted around, and what rushed into his eyes was Duan Yelin’s furious face.

 

He also stared back at him coldly.

 

Afterwards, Duan Yelin smiled without any warmth, pulled Xu Hang behind the screen, and put his arm around Xu Hang’s shoulders: “Xu Shaotang, you did it on purpose!”

 

Shaotang is Xu Hang’s courtesy name. Duan Yelin only calls him by his full name when he is angry.

 

Xu Hang slapped Duan Yelin’s hand away and pretended not to understand: “What are you crazy about again?”

 

Duan Yelin took a step forward, pinched his earlobe, and then lingered on his face with the back of his hand. Xu Hang’s face was slightly stiff, but he didn’t move. Duan Yelin chuckled and asked again, “You always know how to anger me in one go, and if you anger me, you will be the one who suffers. I just don’t understand; after four years, why haven’t you learned to be smarter?”

 

“Since you know I’m not smart, then stop testing me.”

 

“Where are you not smart? It’s just that you’re too smart.”

 

As he spoke, his voice became lower and he suddenly stretched out his hand to grab his neck: “It was me who saved you in the beginning, but now you are acting like this. Haven’t I ever told you that you have to be mine from body to soul? Even if you can’t do it, you still have to learn to do it!”

 

Xu Hang did not resist at all and allowed Duan Yelin to grab him. In fact, Duan Yelin did not use much force either. Only after Duan Yelin finished speaking did Xu Hang sneer: “The Commander asked me to come, so I came. You asked me to listen to the opera, so I listened. Since you like it, I will continue the play for you. Whatever you want to do in these years, I will let you do it whether I am willing or not, and this is still not enough. What else do you want?”

 

He acted like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water. Every word of his was like a match, lighting Duan Yelin’s heart. By the time the last word was spoken, it was like a raging fire.

 

Originally, he wanted to anger Xu Hang today. As a result, the person who should have been angry didn’t get angry, and the person who shouldn’t have been angry almost fainted from anger.

 

The veins on Duan Yelin’s hands popped up, then he loosened his hand and supported the back of Xu Hang’s head instead: “Alright, alright, alright, since you are so obedient, then I will do whatever I want.”

 

Pushing him against the screen means he is about to do something wrong.

 

Xu Hang knew that Duan Yelin was someone who did not care about time and place, but Xu Hang was different. In Xiaotong Guan or Jinyan Tang, no matter what Duan Yelin wanted to do, Xu Hang could do nothing. But outside, if Duan Yelin made a move, Xu Hang would struggle violently.

 

Duan Yelin knew Xu Hang’s taboos, and he was willing to listen to him and not mess around outside. But today, he was obviously going to make this exception.

 

Xu Hang avoided Duan Yelin’s lips, because he turned his head away, so all the kisses fell on his ears, it was burning hot. Duan Yelin’s unshaved stubble made Xu Hang frown.

 

He grabbed Duan Yelin’s arms and tried to push him away, but only the screen was shaken. Xu Hang lowered his voice and shouted, “Duan Yelin! Duan Yelin, let go!”

 

He didn’t dare to yell too loudly, for fear that someone outside would hear him. Duan Yelin knew what he was thinking and wanted to bully him this way. He pinched his chin, pushed his lips and tongue in, and teased him with the root of his tongue, causing him to whimper and choke in his throat.

 

However, just as Duan Yelin was about to pull Xu Hang’s Changshan[mfn]A changshan is a traditional Chinese robe for men.[/mfn], a commotion broke out on the stage below, interrupting his “good deed”.

 

“Oh my! Someone is going to die, someone is going to die!”

 

“What’s going on?!”

 

Looking over the railing below, they saw the green-robed woman on the stage suddenly fall to the ground, her whole body twitching, her face swollen, and her mouth wide open as if she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t look like Young Lady Yingying at all, she looked like a female ghost struggling for her life!