pick up jade

It's winter, and the streets are quietly desolate.Since the invaders wanted to pretend that everything was peaceful, shops of all sizes reopened.But just having a pavement with an open door can't melt away that depression.People who went in and out to buy things restrained their smiles and voices, and looked at each other with numb faces or meaningful eyes.

The theater is still open under such circumstances, as if it is the only color left in this black and white world.However, Kai is not as lively as it used to be all night long.There is currently a curfew in the city, and the streets are cleared from one to eight o'clock in the evening.Patrols walked across the street in rows. There were invaders, but more were puppet troops.

When Xia Tian just started fighting, the reaction of the literary and art circles was very intense.Some famous actors who often perform all over the country have joined the ranks of anti-Japanese propaganda.Although Yang Qinghan is old, but when people come to mobilize him, he is duty-bound to do this kind of thing.So he followed with his own private scene.Who would have thought that he would never come back after leaving.Information is now cut off from the occupied areas and areas still resisting.

No one expected that the country fell so quickly.

At first everyone still had hope, but when they saw the banners "Celebrate the fall of a certain city" being hung up one after another, everyone's heart sank.

Along with Yang Qinghan, Xiao Yulin was also missing.The news that Yu Dongrong was being chased at the train station that day fell into the ears of everyone.Many people saw Xiao Yulin being shot and dragged onto the train.Wu Lianrui was deeply affected by this, and even cried several times with Xiao Yurong.Because everyone knows that bullets are things that kill people, even if they don't hurt the vitals, the infection is enough to make people feel bad.

Everyone grieved for a few days, and then they received an unsigned letter, and only then did they know that Xiao Yulin and Master Yu Qi had arrived in Jiangcheng safely.Qin Meixiang hurriedly replied, wanting to tell them the news from here, and also asked Yu Dongrong to ask about Yang Qinghan's situation.It's a pity that the letter disappeared after it was sent.

Because of such a hopeless situation, any little joy and beauty became extremely precious things.Perhaps it is precisely because of this that the business of the theater has gradually improved again.

Also in the audience were expatriates and high officials of the occupying forces.Since people buy tickets to watch a play, the theater can't kick them out.So it was still acting, but everyone on and off the stage was in a cold sweat—they could do a massacre of a city, and they could no longer be seen as human beings.

Qin Meixiang didn't think about these things, and when he got on stage, he just sang.Sing colorful, but also sing broken walls.Sing and release the delicate and beautiful, but also sing euphemistic elegy.

Those things in his heart that he couldn't speak to others were all expressed in his clear and melodious voice.At the end of the song, the cheers from below were even stronger than when opera was the hottest in the city.He repeatedly called the curtain call, and the applause below continued for a long time.According to the old rules, this kind of situation would have to go back to the show and sing half and half, but now because of the curfew, this old custom has to be abandoned.

Now that the show is over, he doesn't even dare to take more time to remove his makeup. He often only takes off his hair and costume before rushing home from the back door of the theater.The Japanese military officers were no less interested in him than those who were old and young, warlords and rich merchants—it seemed that if a person was born beautiful, he would always be unable to escape such a fate.

He went home, and occasionally stared in a daze in the mirror.What He Cuixian said back then always echoed in his ears: "Why do you think I sang Daiyu and why did you sing Luzhu? Because Daiyu is me, and Luzhu is you!"

The lottery prizes on the red tray had been delivered many times, but he could not and would not accept them, so he just left them in the backstage of the theater.What used to be gold and jewellery, has now turned into a hot potato, no one dares to take it, and it just piles up in the corner so brilliantly to eat ashes.

This winter was colder than any winter Qin Meixiang had experienced.Once he happened to pass by Xu's mansion, which was now covered with sun flags.He stood at the door for a while longer, and when he returned, he had a fever—every winter he was more miserable.

Because he was ill, he had a reason to stay behind closed doors.He hugged Brother Nan and taught him how to play the huqin and pipa hand in hand.Nan Geer's warm little person has now become Qin Meixiang's greatest comfort.Another consolation was Xiao Yurong. Qin Meixiang taught him many plays that Yang Qinghan had no time to pass on, and finally taught him her own unique play Green Pearl Falling from a Building.

The more Xiao Yurong learned, the more she felt something was wrong.There is an old saying in their line of work—it is better to give ten acres of land than to teach an opera.It is the same principle as teaching apprentices and starving the master to death.Everyone needs something in the bottom of the box.But seeing the momentum, Qin Meixiang didn't plan to keep anything for herself.

Xiao Yurong felt flustered: "Brother, don't let your mind get it wrong. Don't care what's going on outside, we have to live well and sing well." He knew what Qin Meixiang had experienced in these years, and he also knew that those devils and Coveted by traitors.Everyone who sings opera knows the sayings of opera prophecy, and he is also afraid that Qin Meixiang's life should be Lu Zhu's.

Instead, Qin Meixiang comforted him: "Where did you think you were? It's just that the master is not here, so I taught him everything that should be taught to you... so that when he comes back to take the school exam, he won't be able to see that you haven't entered the country, so he's not here anymore. It's time to raise the whip."

Xiao Yurong hesitated to speak, but couldn't find anything to refute or comfort.So I had to redouble my study silently.

What Qin Meixiang didn't say was that Dongyang people had sent him several times to invite him to sing in operas.

Send away the preoccupied Xiao Yurong.The Qin residence soon ushered in an unexpected visitor: Prince Rui.

In the past few days, I try to finish writing the transition as soon as possible, alas.

Qin Meixiang was holding Brother Nan in her arms to correct a few Danjiao's fingerings. When she saw someone coming, she lowered her eyes and said softly, "Go out with Madam Xu and buy some kidney bean cakes. Just say I want to eat it."

Brother Nan obediently got to the ground and ran out.

Prince Rui looked at him with his hands behind his back: "Oh, the rumors outside are true—you really raised a clown."

Qin Meixiang said lightly: "It's just a superficial appearance. After a hundred years, everyone will be a handful of bones."

He has always been polite to everyone, and it has never happened that he choked people to death when he opened his mouth.Prince Rui hesitated for a while, then said in a coy tone, "Long time no see, I'm here to see you."

Qin Meixiang raised her head and looked at him with a leisurely demeanor: "What's so interesting about me, Zuo is just singing my plays honestly and doing my part."

Hearing what he said, Prince Rui showed a smile of unknown meaning: "Since Boss Qin said that singing is your duty, Commander Yazaki and General Kuroda have come to invite you to sing an opera over and over again. What are you doing?" Not going..." He changed his tone and said word by word: "As you said yourself, singing is your duty."

Qin Meixiang said lightly: "The seat spends money, and I work hard. This is my duty. If they buy tickets to listen to the show like others, I will naturally sing. But I want to celebrate their achievements and donate to their charity performances." Airplanes and cannons..." He smiled coldly: "This is something outside of duty. Besides, plays are sung for people to listen to." He raised his head and looked at Rui with snow-like eyes. Prince: "You said, is this the truth?"

Lord Rui's face darkened.After a long while, I slowly opened my mouth: "I came to persuade you with good intentions. The most important thing to be a human being is to know the current affairs. You don't have to carry your guns with your stick. You actors don't understand the current situation. Now the battle will be defeated, but peace may not be chaotic .We are all behind others, why should we hurt ourselves by hitting a stone with an egg. After all, peace is the most important thing. Now that people are willing to appreciate you, they also have good intentions..."

Qin Meixiang said calmly: "How much profit can you share if you sell me to them? I guess you can wait to pick up a bone after they have eaten my meat." He smiled slightly: "Liyuan is It's so big, Yang Yinxian asked you to sell it to the big assistant, and now it's in full swing..."

Prince Rui let out a cheer: "Xiang Guaner, how can you compare yourself with him..."

"I'm at his age, and I don't have what he's capable of." Qin Meixiang looked at him with a half-smile: "You said it yourself."

With such a smile and such words, it seems that he is jealous.Prince Rui hadn't seen him like this for many years, and now his face showed some self-satisfied covetousness: "You know how I treated you in the past..."

Qin Meixiang still smiled: "Yes, I dare not forget one day. I'm thirsty after talking for a long time. Let me make you a cup of tea." After speaking, he poured tea into the water, and poured a bag of powder into it smoothly. in the teapot.

Prince Rui looked at him suspiciously: "You... What did you pour into the tea?"

Qin Meixiang shared the tea, and handed over one cup with her orchid fingers raised, with a smile on her face: "What are you talking about. Come, let's drink tea."

Where did Prince Rui dare to drink, he immediately sternly shouted: "Qin Meixiang, don't play tricks!"

Qin Meixiang still had that half-annoyed smile: "Look, you keep saying it's good for me, why don't you even dare to drink a cup of tea for me..." He said and handed the tea over.

Prince Rui's face turned green and pale, and he took a few steps back to avoid it.However, he was not reconciled to leaving like this, and finally tore off that bit of skin: "Today is different. The person named Xu is about to fill in the trenches, I advise you to think about it earlier. "After that, he snorted coldly and was about to go out.

Qin Meixiang whispered: "Wait, what did you say?"

"I said I advise you to... Forget it, let's wait and see."

The teacup fell to the ground and rolled a few times, but it didn't break.Qin Meixiang cleaned things up by herself, poured out all the leftover tea, and washed the cups and teapot many times.Then he just sat there, watching the intermittent radio, and didn't even eat dinner.

In the early morning of the second day, Mama Xu was sweeping the snow in the courtyard, and she was shocked when she saw Qin Meixiang dressed properly, "Master Xiang, it's so early in the morning, where are you going?"

Qin Meixiang was carrying a leather bag, and said softly, "Go out and meet some friends."

When the deed of selling his life was placed in front of Xiao Yurong's eyes, he almost thought he was dreaming.But this is not a dream, there are bright red handprints on the paper of Qian Qi Erqing.He looked at Qin Meixiang in surprise: "Brother, what is going on?"

Qin Meixiang looked at him firmly: "I have three things to ask of you. Please see that we are in the same school, and you must agree to me."

Xiao Yurong saw his solemnity, and forced herself to restrain herself: "As long as I can do my best, I will never be stingy."

"First thing, please go to Wufu class to take a class."

Xiao Yurong nodded: "I've been looking forward to this in my dreams."

"Second, please take good care of Brother Nan with Zhiying."

Xiao Yurong became a little uneasy: "Brother, what are you going to do?"

"The third item is the imprint of Yuji's old shop on Gulou Street. You keep it. This is a bridge money."

Xiao Yurong panicked completely: "Brother, what are you going to do? You gave me everything, what about you?"

Qin Meixiang smiled: "I'm leaving here."

He looked towards the flower hall, and Xiao Douzi was playing the piano face to face with Tong Nan, and Xiao Douzi stretched out his hand from time to time to correct Nan Ge'er's fingering.Two children, one big and one small, were talking softly, and the continuous sound of the piano rang intermittently.

"Let the old Dou and the little Douzi follow you." He said softly, "Their pianos are in line with our style of play. You can use the outfits that are in my home and backstage at the theater." He looked aside Wu Zhiying with a concerned expression: "From now on, Guaner Rong will depend entirely on you to take care of her."

"Boss Qin." Wu Zhiying said: "Your great kindness to our husband and wife is hard to repay, brother Rong and I, so no matter what you ask, we will do our best... But you have to be with us. To be clear, where are you going and when will you come back? Let us all have a clear idea." She paused: "The hard days will pass, I know they are making things difficult for you right now, but you must Think about it..."

"It's just because I want to open up." Qin Meixiang looked at the plum blossoms in the yard, and a kind of peaceful firmness gradually appeared on his face.