A master of comedy!

Chapter 25 The Tale of the Black Basin

Looking at Old Xu's gray hair, his fingers covered in mud and cracks, and his red-rimmed eyes.

Zhou Sheng didn't know how to explain it to him.

Perhaps, for that Magistrate Zhu, leaving the poor with no way to survive was his path to officialdom.

After three years of clearing the magistrate's office, he received one hundred thousand snowflakes and silver.

If we don't exploit the people to the bone and squeeze them dry, where will we get the money to bribe officials and win favors?
The most tragic thing is that even though Uncle Xu was filled with resentment and transformed into an evil corpse, he was still unable to take revenge.

Because Magistrate Zhu's mansion also housed a tyrannical soldier, even without Zhou Sheng, he would soon be discovered by that soldier and torn to pieces.

She could not take revenge as a human, and she could not take revenge as a ghost either.

"This old man is old enough to have lived long enough. My life is worthless, and I don't care about dying. But my poor Cuicui was violated and killed before she was even married!"

"Dr. Yu, Xiao Zhou, this old man is useless, I can only beg you, please... get justice for that child!"

Tears streamed down his face as he spoke, and he knelt down and kowtowed deeply.

Zhou Sheng tried to help him up, but Yu Zhensheng pressed his arm down.

"Only after you accept this bow can he leave in peace."

Upon hearing his master's voice, Zhou Sheng felt a slight tremor in his heart, as if he understood something. He stopped trying to stop him and silently accepted the kowtow from the elderly man.

After this bow, it seemed that Old Man Xu's lingering soul finally breathed its last and began to show signs of dissipating.

Watching the disappearing figure, Zhou Sheng suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

Uncle Xu never complained about his innocence from beginning to end. He seemed to genuinely believe that his life was worthless and that his death was not worth regretting. He was only heartbroken for Cuicui, whom he had raised since she was a child.

But Zhou Sheng clearly remembered that Uncle Xu was a very good person. When he was practicing his voice, he agreed that it would cost ten coins a day for an hour of practice, but Uncle Xu always went overtime, just to make sure his voice was in the best condition.

He would even come over on his agreed days off, offering to help Zhou Sheng practice his singing for free, simply because he liked his beautiful voice and didn't want to delay him.

Such a kind and gentle elder should not have died like this.

"Uncle Xu, I'll take on your task."

As Old Xu's ghost gradually dissipated, Zhou Sheng suddenly spoke, his voice firm and his gaze sharp.

"Not only for the innocent and wrongfully killed Cui Cui, but also for you."

"In this world, there is only one kind of person whose life is cheap: those who do evil and commit crimes. It is definitely not you."

A person who earns a living through their own skills and labor, a person who selflessly raises an abandoned child, is truly precious.

"Uncle Xu, you're giving me something in return. Please ask me to perform a ghost opera."

Zhou Sheng forced a smile.

"There are rules in our line of work. If you take something from someone, you have to finish the job. Anything is acceptable."

Old Xu was taken aback. He looked at the young man's clean eyes and resolute face, which seemed to be no different from the boy he was twelve years ago.

"Xiao Zhou, I have nothing to leave behind, so I'll sing for you one last time."

"it is good."

Yu Zhensheng took out his erhu from home and handed it to Lao Xu.

"What a fine instrument!"

Old Xu, who had played the erhu his whole life, praised it endlessly after just a light touch. The tears of blood in his eyes disappeared, replaced by an almost devout focus.

The bow hair is loosely attached to the outer string, and the ring finger trembles slightly in mid-air.

"Bang...bang...bang..."

The three muffled sounds resembled the watchman's clapper.

Then, the middle finger is used to pluck the string and produce a mournful sound, like weeping, longing, resentment, or lamentation.

The familiar melody immediately told Zhou Sheng which play it was.

Before she could speak, her eyes were brimming with tears. "I respectfully address you as 'Grandpa,' please listen carefully."

"I live in Taipingzhuang, Nanyang. My surname is Liu, my given name is An, and my courtesy name is Shichang..."

The Story of the Black Basin.

Zhou Sheng began to sing, his voice low but deep and resonant, like clouds obscuring the moon, or ripples on water. Old Xu immediately played even more enthusiastically, his eyes half-closed, his head swaying slightly, completely absorbed in the music.

"Selling silk and returning home, the Zhao couple, greedy for money, murdered us. Master and servant lost their lives. We beg you, sir, to do justice!"

In the final line, Zhou Sheng brought out the full potential of his vibrato and sustained notes, perfectly blending with Old Xu's melodious and clear piano music, creating a natural and seamless effect.

At this moment, a radiant light appeared in Old Xu's eyes, as if he were completely immersed in another world, forgetting all the troubles and pains of reality.

He laughed out loud without thinking.

And then, in that state of mind, the music abruptly stopped.

Snapped!
The precious erhu fell to the ground, its bowstrings vibrating.

Zhou Sheng also stopped singing, his eyes lowered, and he remained silent.

Although the Luo Shu in his mind was shining brightly and had accumulated a lot of energy, he felt no joy at all.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"It costs ten coins for a singing session, Uncle Xu. I don't have any money to give you this time, so I'll just sing you a shady opera instead."

"I hope you'll like it when it's released."

Yu Zhensheng sat in his chair, not intervening at all from beginning to end. Watching his disciple's every word and action, a ripple flashed in his eyes.

I don't know whether to feel gratified or have mixed feelings.

This child looks so much like him.

Hopefully, he won't repeat his mistakes in the future.

"Danshan, what do you plan to do?"

he asked aloud.

“Master, I plan to go to the Zhu residence again. I need to find out the whole story and also get a better understanding of the Zhu family.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhensheng nodded slightly.

"Not bad, you've made some progress."

"Then tell me, how do you plan to enter the Zhu residence?"

Zhou Sheng thought for a moment and said, "Aren't you treating the magistrate's wife? As your apprentice, it would be only natural for me to accompany you to the Zhu residence for a second consultation."

"What about the rampant soldiers? How do we deal with them?"

Yu Zhensheng said calmly, "Let's make this clear first. Since you agreed to perform the 'yin opera,' you'll have to handle this yourself. I won't help you stop the 'mad soldiers.'"

Jade is not cut, not a device.

My apprentice is very talented, no less than I was back then; the only thing he lacks is experience.

So over the years, after Zhou Sheng successfully cultivated his Taoist skills, he also began to intentionally let him handle some things on his own, so that he could hone his skills.

Only in this way can one have a better chance of surviving the upcoming Ghost Festival performance and completing the apprenticeship.

Zhou Sheng looked up at the rising sun outside the window, his eyes flashing.

“Master, you once said that we who perform yin operas must also know how to take advantage of the right time, place, and people. Although the mad soldiers are fierce, they still dare not go out when the yang energy is strongest at noon.”

"That would be the best time to investigate the Zhu residence!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhensheng finally showed a satisfied smile, but he did not praise him, only saying something indifferently.

"Now that the plan has been made, we can proceed with it."

He stretched and then walked to the water tank in the corner of the room, where he reached out and teased the goldfish with his finger.

"Shallow water fish cannot raise sea dragons, and caged birds cannot become eagles soaring in the clouds."

"Danshan, go ahead and do it."

"Even if something really happens, don't be afraid, your master..."

"We'll help you collect your body."

Zhou Sheng: "..."

(End of this chapter)