You are unlucky and I am tough

Chapter 215: Emotionless Puppet

Zhu Shaoyuan was in high spirits because he did well in the exam. He had booked a private room in Taibai Tower in advance and took Lin Zelan to have dinner in Taibai Tower. After the meal, he personally accompanied him back to Baixi Garden.

Zhu Shaoyuan has booked a big show at Baixi Garden today. The business of Baixi Garden has been getting better since Lin Zelan came. Today it is even more lively. Most of the people are students of literature. They heard that Master Zhu ordered the show and came to show their support.

Zhu Yongsi and his entourage went to the front yard and sat down to wait, while Zhu Shaoyuan followed Lin Zelan to the backstage.

The backstage of the theater was in a mess. The actors were busy preparing for the evening show, putting on makeup, arranging costumes, practicing singing, and preparing props.

Lin Zelan was the top star in Baixiyuan and had a separate room, so she brought people into the room.

The room was decorated simply and elegantly. In addition to the dressing table and costumes, there were several paintings and calligraphy hanging on the wall and a chessboard on the table.

Zhu Shaoyuan sat down in front of the chessboard, picked up a piece, and began playing chess. Lin Zelan walked behind the screen, changed into her costume, and sat in front of the bronze mirror to put on her makeup.

Tonight we will sing "The Pen Falls with a Startling Aura". This play tells the story of a brilliant talent who relies on his own talent to pass the imperial examinations, but is framed by the powerful and deprived of his fame. In the end, he uses his unyielding will to clear himself, become a prime minister, and leave his name in history.

This play has a dramatic plot and profound meaning, and is deeply loved by scholars and literati. It is one of Lin Zelan's famous works.

Zhu Shaoyuan set up a complicated chess game on the chessboard, then stopped and walked towards the dressing table.

The person in front of the dressing table was drawing her eyebrows in front of the mirror. He leaned over and gently covered the hand.

Lin Zelan pulled her hand out with a cold expression, and the eyebrow pencil fell into the other person's hand.

"Mr. Lan, besides playing chess, do you also like painting?" Zhu Shaoyuan took an eyebrow pencil and drew his eyebrows in front of the mirror.

"I guess so." Lin Zelan looked at the person in the mirror expressionlessly.

"I have a few treasured paintings by famous artists at home. I'll bring them to you someday."

"it is good."

"You're so cold, smile a little."

Lin Zelan slowly turned her head and looked at him. "I told you that you are the son of the prefect, and I am just an actor. If you want to give me something, then give it to me and I will accept it. If you want to listen to an opera, then I will sing for you. If you want me to accompany you for dinner, tea, boating, flower viewing, and chess, then I will accompany you. I dare not offend you, but... you have the right to decide whether to laugh or not, right?"

Zhu Shaoyuan's eyes darkened. "Look at what you're saying. Hasn't Master Lan ever inquired about me? It's true that my father is the prefect, but I never use my power to bully others."

"I know. Otherwise, do you think you can enter my room?" Lin Zelan continued to look at the mirror, like an emotionless puppet. "I wish your reputation will spread far and wide, but I still dare not refuse you. Who knows if you will be unhappy? I dare not take risks. This feeling of being helpless is really annoying."

Zhu Shaoyuan chuckled, holding his shoulders with both hands and moving closer, "After the show tonight, I'm going to Master Zheng's pleasure boat. Do you want to come with me?"

"Don't you have a retest tomorrow? Don't you need to review?"

"One night of study won't determine anything. I never do last-minute cramming." Zhu Shaoyuan leaned close to his ear and said, "If you don't want to go, you can refuse. It's okay."

"No, I'll go."

"Are you really willing to go?" Zhu Shaoyuan raised the corner of his mouth.

Lin Zelan stared at the mirror motionlessly, "Guess?"

In the front yard, the sound of gongs and drums could be heard, and the play on the stage was reaching its climax.

There are many liberal arts students who don't believe in cramming at the last minute. At this moment, they are drinking tea, watching the show, and chatting and laughing in the audience.

Zhao Xiuwen and Cheng Mingli were also among them.

"Brother Zhao." This was Cheng Mingli's first time watching a play in the theater. He looked around awkwardly, "Didn't we agree to go back and review? We have the all-important retest tomorrow. Wouldn't it be a bad idea for us to come and watch a play? Or maybe we should just go back."

Zhao Xiuwen gestured for him to look around. "Look at the people sitting here. More than half are students who will be taking the retest tomorrow. The imperial examination is not a one-day job. You are too tense right now. What you need most is to relax."

"But the opera on this stage isn't that good, and the actresses aren't very good-looking either." Cheng Mingli scratched his head, "I can't believe you're someone who enjoys watching operas, Brother Zhao."

"Don't worry, there will be someone who looks good and sings well later."

"Are you talking about the Mr. Lan with the sign hanging at the door?" Cheng Mingli asked curiously, "Brother Zhao, do you know this person?"

Zhao Xiuwen shook his head. "I don't recognize him. Isn't the purpose of watching a play to be enjoyable?"

Cheng Mingli thought it made sense. He had always been a good student. He hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Forget it. Since we're here, I'll stop reading tonight and relax."

He raised his hand and called out, "Hey, bring me a pot of scented tea and two snacks."

Zhao Xiuwen laughed, "That's right."

After the play on the stage was over, Zhu Shaoyuan also came out and sat in the main seat in the audience.

"Brother is here, have some tea." Zhu Yongsi poured a cup of tea and handed it over.

After a while, tonight's big play "The Pen Falls and the Startling Swan" began, and various female roles took the stage one after another.

Finally, amid the roar of gongs and drums, the much-anticipated Master Lan also walked gracefully from behind the scenes to the front of the stage.

Once on the stage, Lin Zelan's eyes were no longer cold, but rather bright and lively like peach blossoms blooming in spring.

Zhu Shaoyuan leaned on the stool and looked at the people on the stage with a satisfied look on his lips.

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On the other hand, Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang found the craftsmen, gave them the drawings and deposit, and asked them to start work as soon as possible and come back for inspection in half a month. After that, the two of them took off their disguises and went to Chongwenguan to pick up their two younger brothers and bring them home.

Students in Chongwenguan have three days off every month. Unless there are special circumstances, the whole school takes the day off together.

It was almost sunset when the carriage returned to the village. A group of children in the village were catching grasshoppers and digging earthworms on the grass by the river to feed the chickens and ducks. Wei Xinyi was there too. When she saw the carriage coming back, she picked up her backpack and ran home.

While running, he turned around and shouted, "I'm going back first, my brother is back."

When the little kids in the village saw the carriage, they ran after it and said they wanted to go and take a look too.

As soon as Cheng Chen and Cheng Xu got off the car, they were surrounded by a group of friends, who chattered and asked them what the private schools in the provincial capital were like and whether the teachers in the city were very strict.

"The private school is huge. It took us many days to walk around and find our way."

"The teacher who taught us was very old, with white hair and beard. His legs and feet were not good, but his eyesight was very good. Anyone who was caught not studying seriously was punished by standing in the corner and being spanked."

"You have to get up early every day and attend early classes to memorize your lessons."

"Someone is watching while you eat, so you can't waste food."

The two little ones were sharing everything they knew with their friends. As they were making noise, a few children suddenly surrounded Cheng Shuang and asked, "Sister-in-law Wei San, can we continue to come to you for lessons?"

Cheng Shuang was stunned by the question and scratched his head. "I'll get back to you guys in a few days, okay? I've been busy lately."

Since they were not rejected, the children thought they could still attend the class and jumped for joy.

Wei Qinglang looked at the children's joy and stood beside Cheng Shuang. "Actually, every household in the village has some money now. We can talk to the village head and ask the county magistrate to apply for permission to build a school in the village. As long as the paperwork is approved, we can build the school and hire a teacher."

Cheng Shuang snapped her fingers and said, "That's a good idea."

She had felt sorry for the children in the village who could not read a single word, and since she had nothing to do, she taught them for a few months. She did not really want to be a female teacher, but seeing the eager eyes of these children, she could not say no.

After the group of children dispersed, the two younger ones were surrounded in the yard by their family again. They hadn't seen each other for almost a month, and they were asking about their well-being.

Wu Junniang also pulled her son, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, to her side and talked in a low voice. Seeing that her son had become whiter, more energetic, and seemed to have grown taller, her eyes were full of relief.

After Cheng Shuang saw the mother and son finished talking, she asked Song Qi to go find his father. In addition to delivering goods, Song Gaoshan has been helping to supervise the workers digging a pond at the foot of the mountain.

Song Qi responded and ran away.

He Zhou, who was recuperating in the room, was unable to get out of bed. When he heard the noise, he leaned against the head of the bed and stretched his neck to look outside.

It was naturally impossible to hide the fact that there was an extra person in the family. Wei Nanxing brought his two younger brothers into the room to visit He Zhou, and told them to pretend that they didn't know about it and not to tell anyone.

It’s not that He Zhou is embarrassed to be seen recuperating in their house, but he is afraid that the He family will send people out to look for him, which will cause trouble for the village.

Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang went out for a day. Their family didn't know where they went and didn't ask much. Cheng Guqiu took his two nephews' things back to their rooms and put them away. Then he took something out of the main room and handed it to Wei Qinglang.

"Isn't the big house across the street finished? Mr. Cheng came back with some of his family members today and said he would hold a housewarming party in two days. He sent this here."

"No wonder I just saw someone across from the door." Cheng Shuang leaned over to take a look. It turned out to be an invitation, inviting them to a housewarming party.