You are unlucky and I am tough

Chapter 220: Actor

Cheng Shuang was surprised that a top star from a theater would be invited to perform in the village, but in fact she was taking it for granted.

Here, singing opera is considered a "lowly profession", and people engaged in this industry are called "actors" and are generally discriminated against.

Even someone as famous as Lin Zelan, who had many fans, a high profile, and contacts with some dignitaries and literati, was still considered not worthy of being in the upper class.

Therefore, they would never think that it would be a disrespect or humiliation for a famous actor like Master Rulan to be invited to perform in the village.

In order to save face, Cheng Wanpeng went to Baixiyuan to invite someone. When he asked for Master Lan at the first moment, he also felt that no matter how famous Master Lan was, he was still the boss if he spent money.

If you agree to come and it brings honor to him, he will treat you with respect and address you as Master Lan.

If you disagree, you are a lowly actor who doesn't know what's good for him.

Of course, he didn't know that Lin Zelan didn't want to take his job at first, and only changed her mind and agreed after knowing that they were going to Chengjia Village.

The topic of conversation in the courtyard kept revolving around Master Lan. Everyone, whether they knew him or not, said a few words about him. Those who had heard the opera even described and boasted about him to others with a sense of superiority, until Cheng Wanpeng, who had gone out, came back with his men.

The guests turned their heads one after another, and when they saw the person following Cheng Wanpeng, they forgot to speak and the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

The man was dressed in a long robe, a striking contrast of black and white. The outer robe was stained in black ink, with faint gold embroidery glimpsed at the cuffs. He wore a plain white gown underneath, with red edges snaking along the collar and lapels. He wore a bright red brocade belt around his waist, topped with a red ribbon, tied casually in a knot, the remaining part fluttering in the wind.

That face seemed to be carved by nature, with skin as smooth as white jade, eyebrows like crescent moons and lips as red as cherries, a straight nose and slightly upturned eyes. Every facial feature was exquisite and picturesque, and those eyes were as deep as the night sky, both distant and charming.

His long hair was draped over his shoulders and blown by the wind. At that moment, it seemed that even the wind in the courtyard became lighter because of him.

All the guests in the courtyard, regardless of gender, age or status, were stunned for a moment, unable to believe that there was a man in the world who could be so beautiful.

It's so beautiful that it's hard to tell whether it's male or female.

"My saliva is flowing."

Cheng Shuang was staring at the handsome man who suddenly appeared, and Wei Qinglang's faint voice came from beside her.

She quickly touched the corner of her mouth and found that she had been deceived. She glared at Wei Qinglang fiercely.

Wei Qinglang looked up at the sky, he was so angry. When he saw him come out after changing his clothes just now, he didn't show such a stunned expression.

Everyone else in the Baixiyuan Theater entered through a small side door and went directly to a small courtyard in the back room to prepare for the performance. Cheng Wanpeng deliberately took Lin Zelan through the banquet courtyard, purely to show off to the guests.

He knew very well that Lin Zelan didn't know anyone here and there was no place for him as an "actor" here, but he just wanted to display Lin Zelan like a commodity to seek a sense of superiority.

Deep down, he doesn't care about the dignity and feelings of the "actors".

Watching the guests' reactions, Cheng Wanpeng proudly introduced them, "Everyone, this is Master Lan from the Baixi Garden. Thank you for visiting my humble abode today. I've specially invited Master Lan to sing 'Dragon Following the Moon' for you all."

"Master Lan, I heard you sing Bi Luo Jing Hong at Bai Xi Garden a few days ago. The play was so wonderful, every part of it was truly stunning." A rich young man shouted, waving a fan.

"Then we are in for a treat today."

"That's not right. It should be a feast for the ears as well as the eyes. Master Lan is not only stunningly handsome in the play, but he is also as handsome as Pan An outside of the play."

"Brother Cheng is so considerate that he invited people to his home directly."

Lin Zelan listened to those words with a calm expression, his eyes slightly lowered, not looking at anyone.

After those people finished talking, he raised the corner of his mouth slightly and bowed to the guests in the yard.

"Okay, Mr. Lan, come with me. The yard has been prepared for you." After Cheng Wanpeng gained face, his attitude became better and he made a gesture of invitation.

Actors who came to perform would not be seated as guests, and all the guests thought it was natural for Lin Zelan to show up and leave.

"Why did that beautiful sister leave? Didn't she come here for dinner?" Only Wei Xinyi raised the question.

"It's my brother." Wei Qinglang corrected her, "I have something to do, I'm not here for dinner."

Wei Xinyi opened her mouth wide. "He's so handsome, how could he be my brother?"

Cheng Shuang smiled, "Have you ever seen a sister who is nearly eight feet tall?" (1.8 meters)

Wei Xinyi scratched her head and thought for a moment, "Uh...I don't think so."

Everyone else also laughed, but Zhao Xiuwen remained calm, showing no sign of acquaintance with Mr. Lan.

The banquet hadn't started yet, and after Master Lan's topic was over, the guests continued chatting.

The sun at noon is warm, and it feels comfortable and relaxing when it shines on people. The scenery in the courtyard of the old scholar's house is also quite nice.

In the center of the courtyard is a rockery with rugged rocks and gurgling water. Several koi are swimming leisurely in the pond. Several young ladies from an unknown family are gathering by the pond to feed the fish.

The crabapple trees that were transplanted from somewhere were in full bloom. The pink and white petals danced in the wind, and there was a faint fragrance of flowers in the air.

Wei Xinyi kept looking towards the pond, and Cheng Shuang knew she couldn't sit still. She was afraid to slap her on the head. "Go ahead if you want to feed the fish. But be careful not to get too close or you'll fall into the water."

After Wei Xinyi ran away, Cheng Shuang remembered that Zhao Xiuwen and Qin Suyue didn't know each other yet, so she introduced them to each other.

Then she asked Zhao Xiuwen, "Mr. Zhao, I wonder how many days it will take for the examination results to be posted?"

"Seven days." Zhao Xiuwen said, "As long as there are no unexpected events, the results will be posted ten days after the exam."

"Then in seven days, we will change our name to Zhao Xiucai." Wei Qinglang said with a smile.

“Whether it can make the list is still unknown.”

"We have great confidence in you," Cheng Shuang said. "You will definitely get what you wish for. We plan to go and see the excitement and share in the celebration when the notice is posted."

"Then I'll take advantage of Madam Wei's good wishes." Zhao Xiuwen raised his teacup.

He was confident of being among the top 120 in the college entrance examination. His pressure came from whether he could take the first place in one fell swoop.

He has to make a big splash to get into the sight of those people.

As they were talking, Cheng Jinxiu came over and ignored everyone else, staring only at Wei Qinglang.

"Brother Qinglang, the three porcelain pieces you gave to our family are so beautiful." Cheng Jinxiu was holding a strand of hair in her hand, with a shy look on her face.

Cheng Shuang rolled her eyes and thought to herself, I bought the things.

"It's just a housewarming party. I didn't expect you to take it so seriously." Cheng Jinxiu didn't get annoyed when Wei Qinglang didn't respond, and continued, "My grandfather just came over and asked me to treat you well. How about I take you around the garden?"

Wei Qinglang frowned and looked at her with a look that asked, "Do you know what you are saying?"

Cheng Jinxiu quickly added, "Of course I'm not talking about the two of us, I mean Sister Shuang as well."

Cheng Shuang blinked and pointed at herself, wanting to say, "Can you see me?"

Even if I jump up to you and do a somersault, you will only see men.

"No need." Wei Qinglang said calmly, "Those bottles are not worth much, there is no need to treat us specially."

"Those are three pieces of white porcelain. You must have put in a lot of effort to get them, and you just gave them to my family like that." Cheng Jinxiu lowered her head and whispered, "Isn't it my duty to treat you well?"

"You think too much."

Wei Qinglang was a little impatient. "We just dug up those things in the mountains. We dug up quite a lot. There was too much to store at home, so we just took a few as gifts."

Cheng Jinxiu's mouth froze. "Brother Qinglang, you really know how to joke."

"If you don't believe me, forget it." Wei Qinglang stood up and looked at Cheng Shuang. "Manager Chang is over there. I'm going to find him."

After Cheng Shuang nodded, he turned around and left.

It was still early for the banquet to start, and Cheng Shuang could no longer sit still, so she pulled Qin Suyue up and said, "Let's go, Sister Qin. I'll take you for a walk around the village."

"Then let's go to the soap workshop first." Qin Suyue suggested.

"Okay, go to the workshop first and I'll teach you how to make soap."

After everyone left, Zhao Xiuwen also stood up, nodded indifferently at Cheng Jinxiu, turned and walked away.

Seeing everyone at the table leaving, Cheng Jinxiu almost died of anger, and at the same time, she was muttering in her heart, what did Cheng Shuang mean by making soap?

Soap was a hot commodity in the city. She had her servants search for several days before she bought ten bars of floral soap. She kept two for herself and had just given the rest to the young ladies.

Cheng Jinxiu found Qian Xifeng with doubts and asked her what Cheng Shuang meant by making soap and soap workshop.