C34 (1/2)
The stage was set on a small frozen pond in a small garden.
On the opposite side of the makeshift stage was a row of handfuls of summer modified from an upside-down room, now hung with plywood curtains, hung or rolled, and inside rose burning red fire trays, roasting melons and beans and other things. A few divan beds were spread out in swallows' wings, and in front of them were fruit trays, tea-cups, and on either side of them was a pot of lotus leaves in the shape of a pinch of enamel. A few children who came with the elders were playing in the house. From time to time, sounds of laughter could be heard.
Madam Qiao carefully supported Old Lady Li as she took her seat before politely calling for everyone to enter. After a moment of politeness, the two ladies who were familiar with each other were invited to take their seats. Née Qin, who wanted to chat with Madam Cao, could only squeeze in next to her and sit on a long collapse with Madam Qiao's younger brother's wife, Madame Huang.
A slender man dressed in a white dress walked in with his head lowered. He cupped his hands in a salute as he handed over a golden thread. ”Ladies, please enjoy the show.”
In the west wing, someone glanced through the screen before saying excitedly, ”It's Yan Qing from the Yan Clan class!”
Hearing that it was the Yan Clan class that had come to the concert today, a few naughty girls couldn't help but feel excited. They went close to the screen and squeezed their heads together, asking, ”Where is it? ”Where?”
Jiang Shu, who had just arrived at the capital, did not understand what was going on, so she asked Huang Yi, who was sitting beside her, curiously, ”Who is this Yan Qing?”
”This Yan Qing, she is the pillar of the Yan Clan class. Not only does she look like a talent, but she also sings very well in that show.” Huang Yi, who had a similar expression of excitement, said to Jiang Shu, ”Every year, the people who invite them to the concert will have to line up in advance. This is also the banquet invitation from Jiang Ge's hometown, so they had no choice but to give this face.
Hearing Huang Yi's words, Jiang Shu's heart itched. She wanted to go to the screen to take a peek at Yan Qing, but there were already quite a few people crowded in front of the screen, and there was no place for her to step on.
The ladies in the outer room studied the golden thread for a while before they heard someone say, ”Let's order some literary scenes …” The martial arts scene was a mess. If it wasn't over, then it was over. It was hard to tell what was being sung … ”
”'Records of the Raccoons', 'Book of Pearls', 'Peony Pavilion' …” Then, one of the madams read it out loud, ”Hey, which movie would you like to hear?”
”Anything, anything.” Someone laughed and said.
”Then let's go to 'Peony Pavilion',” the lady who held the theater list grinned at Yan Qing and handed it back to him, ”Everyone says that Boss Yan's female attire is gorgeous. We will have a feast for your eyes today!”
”Madam, you are too kind.” Yan Qing received the golden post with both hands as she humbly accepted it, but her attitude was neither humble nor haughty.
This caused the girls on the other side of the screen to exclaim in low voices.
Yan Qing, who was dressed in the attire of Du Liniang, stepped onto the stage with a flurry of gongs and drums. As soon as he appeared, the lively Old Lady Li shouted, ”Reward!”
Someone carried five big, shining ingots onto a tea tray that was painted gold with red lacquer.
Jiang Wan was speechless.
Each of the ingots was at least twenty taels, and the tray was worth a hundred taels.
Upon seeing this scene, Madam Cao's face darkened so much that water could drip out of it.
On the side, née Qin's face was full of concern as she asked, ”Madam Cao, what happened to you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? ”
Madam Qin's words attracted everyone's attention. Only then did they realize that Madam Cao's complexion was extremely terrible.