pick up jade

After leaving for a few months, returning to the bustling world of mortals from the mountains outside the world, I really feel like a dream.The war was still going on outside, but compared to the beginning, Rongcheng was much more prosperous—it was because more Chinese people poured into the rear.

The locals seem to have a nature for night tours with candles.Despite the soaring food prices and shortage of supplies, the teahouses, gambling houses and theaters on the street are still overcrowded.Especially those casinos with mahjong tables, even when the air defense sirens sounded, people still happily sat around the table, not even bothering to move their buttocks.

All in all, compared to when the Yu family first came here, Rongcheng is now as lively as another Shenjiang.

Yu Dongrong went to Annan to look at the goods.There are only Xiao Yulin and the tenth aunt with the child in Yu's house.Qin Meixiang told her about her visit, and Xiao Yulin was very happy.Boss Zhou's Qinghua Class has absorbed many members from the Performing Arts Association, and now is a good time to flourish.The newly settled residents in the city, in this environment, can still hear the old drama, and feel both comfort and joy.The business of the opera garden gradually boomed.

So without any hesitation, she immediately packed up and took Qin Meixiang to the troupe.

It's a pity that I went over excitedly, but was poured cold water.Qin Meixiang used to sing operas, and his reputation was only in the north, and he seldom traveled to the south to perform.Therefore, most people in the troupe have only heard his name, but have never seen his play.There are also those who know his skills, and they think about Xiao Jiujiu in their hearts.The theatrical troupe is so big, everyone has their own position, if he really comes in, can other people's jobs still be able to hold on.Therefore, he watched with cold eyes and did not speak for him.

Xiao Yulin was full of confidence at first, but gradually realized something was wrong.He was originally smart, and he has learned a lot of ability to read people's hearts after following Yu Dongrong these years.It's just that I understand it, but I can't hold back the tone in my heart: "Whether it's good or not, you have to listen first, don't you?"

Li Wankui looked at him in embarrassment.Boss Zhou is not worth as much as before. Although he can't control the troupe for a while, he is still a very important actor.Jiao'er opened his mouth, and he couldn't lose face at all.

So Qin Meixiang was asked to dress up for a while.Look at his throat, and look at his figure too.

Gongzhong's costumes don't fit well, and the gouache is also second-class.But Qin Meixiang dressed up quickly, and planned to sing the three-legged trial.

Just standing still on the stage, before speaking, the lights suddenly turned on.

The snow-white light enveloped him, but it was not as reassuring as it was on stage before.He just feels cold.

I wanted to shout, I wanted to shout, but I could only desperately suppress the voice in my throat, and clenched my fingers tightly to keep myself from trembling.Because behind that light is a gun, a cannon, and a bloody bayonet.

Everyone in the audience was waiting, but they didn't wait for the people on the stage to speak.Xiao Yulin noticed something was wrong, and said anxiously: "Boss Qin, is it Hu Qin?"

When he made such a sound, it seemed that Qin Meixiang's soul was pulled back a little.The people on the stage finally opened their mouths, but their voices were full of anger and trembling violently.The last tune did not go up, and the sound broke.

The troupe shook their heads.This is also called Jiaoer?Children who have not graduated from the department can sing better than him.

Li Wankui breathed a sigh of relief, and took a meaningful look at Xiao Yulin: "It's not that we don't want to, you know, there is no shortage of people here now."

The people in the audience shook their heads and dispersed, and the lights were turned off.Xiao Yulin jumped onto the stage, saw Qin Meixiang's stunned face, and asked with concern, "Boss Qin, are you okay?"

Qin Meixiang finally looked up at him.That glance is no longer the past, the plain spring hills and the autumn waters, but instead, there is only a kind of dilapidated panic.

Xiao Yulin was stunned for a moment, but soon understood, he hesitated and said, "Is the lamp shaking you?"

Qin Meixiang's shoulders slumped, and her eyes were empty: "... I'm distracted..." He closed his eyes for a while, then opened them again, and finally recovered a little bit of his usual energy: "Is that right? Hold on, it’s hard for you to accompany me on such a trip.”

Xiao Yulin shook his head: "What are you talking about." He comforted: "You have to go on stage if you are not in a hurry. The house is so spacious, and there is nothing lacking. Take care and rest more. When will you be better? When will you come back?" Sing..." He looked at Qin Meixiang cautiously: "When you are well, if you don't mind, I want to sing Farewell My Concubine with you..."

Qin Meixiang forced a smile: "I don't know when I will have this opportunity. You should be busy, I'll be right back."

Xiao Yulin looked at him, a little worried, but he himself was not very good at comforting others.He had no choice but to watch Qin Meixiang leave worriedly.

Qin Meixiang left the theatre, and after walking a few steps, she heard a long whistle.Xu Pingshan turned around from behind the pillar and smiled at him.

So he himself couldn't help laughing: "When did you come here?"

Xu Pingshan didn't speak, and walked slowly with his arms around his shoulders.Qin Meixiang struggled a bit, but she didn't break free, so she let him go.This place is so different from Yandu, Shenjiang, and many places they have traveled.The streets were bustling with gentlemen in suits and leather shoes, young people in common clothes and long gowns, and many businessmen in foreign costumes.A Taoist priest with a bun is humming a bamboo qin tune, a young flower seller is flirting with customers on the street, a horse team of Kham people slowly passes by the crowd... People walk and shop, just like this Many strange people are as uncommon as the cloudy sky and clouds here.No one will take a second look at them.

The two sat in a tea house that looked quite quiet.On the front stage, someone was talking about a martial arts story.They waited for a long time before seeing the tea waiter slowly coming upstairs.It was an unattractive Shu man, short in stature, with a lazy look on his face, and he didn't seem to pay much attention to the guests.Although it looks like this on the surface, the hands are not vague at all. In one hand, there is a long-mouthed brass kettle, and the bamboo tea lotus is hooked on the fingers; There are always more than 40 items in the lid and the bowl, which is not twenty catties, but there are still more than ten catties.Such a large stack would be difficult for others to hold in his arms, but he held it with one hand so loosely and precariously, as if he was carrying a light gadget.

However, no matter how lightly he seems to lift weights, others will always tremble in fear, fearing that his breath will be rough and the things in this person's hands will crash to the ground.

The tea waiter walked up to them and yelled, "Whose tea?"

Several tables of new guests responded one after another.He looked around, and suddenly the hand holding the tea set moved, and the tea boats hooked by the bottom finger flew from the heads of the guests to the bamboo tables one after another, one in front of each person, no more, no less.Before everyone could recover from the tea boat circling on the table, the tea bowls fell one by one, with a soft and crisp sound, and landed on the tea boat impartially.The same goes for the bowl cover.

The tea waiter didn't ask the guests what to drink, and distributed dry tea from the bamboo tea lotus to everyone's cups, no more, no less, just enough to finish all the tea leaves.Then he picked up the brass kettle, and turned the large pot filled with boiling water back and forth a few times in his hand, a line of silver poured from the top and fell into the cup, swirling the tea leaves in the cup.If so many times, they filled the teacups in front of everyone with water.Only then did he stretch out his ring finger, and like a flower, he lifted the tea lids next to the tea bowl one by one, letting the lids gently fall on the teacup.

The tea was poured down like this, but the table was clean, not even a drop of water splashed out.

This tea skill is dazzling.Qin Meixiang came back to her senses, and softly praised: "It's really a unique skill."

The tea waiter had finished his work and was about to leave. Hearing this, he raised his head and glanced at Qin Meixiang: "Is there any special skill or not, just begging for food..."

There are many strange people in the Jianghu, Qin Meixiang listened to his speech, and felt a little more kind in her heart: "You are too modest, whose craftsmanship is not just for food."

The tea waiter listened, smiled knowingly, and went with the pot.

Qin Meixiang lifted the lid of the tea.The tea in the hands of the guest next to him was ordinary tea, but the two cups he and Xu Pingshan had were Mengding jade leaves.The two were wondering, Wang Dequan walked up to them holding the teacup, and said with a bright smile: "Uncle Qin, Second Master Qin, are you all right?"

Xu Pingshan glanced at Qin Meixiang, and saw a tinge of red on his face, and the corners of his mouth curled up: "Tofu, are you alright?"

"Okay, okay." Wang Dequan sat down: "I won't see you for a while, you two look at it, it's much better than that time. Where do you get high now?"

Qin Meixiang smiled: "Borrowing at a friend's house. It's just that the livelihood has not been settled yet..."

Wang Dequan patted his thigh: "Hey, this is easy. The streets are full of teahouses. If you hold your pipa, stand anywhere and open your voice, won't you make a living?"

Qin Meixiang smiled in embarrassment: "To tell you the truth, I have learned Pihuang Opera since I was a child, and singing is not my specialty."

Wang Dequan didn't seem to be surprised: "I'll just talk about it, and sing well... But you're new here, and it's not easy to take a class. You have to get a little popular first, and then talk about other things..."

Xu Pingshan had already seen the clues, and took a sip of tea leisurely: "Thank you for treating us brothers to a cup of good tea... Team leader Wang is now resident in this teahouse?"

Wang Dequan wasn't flustered by what he said, "The boundary of the old man is always reassuring." This is an admission, and the Wang family class is now stationed here to perform.

Qin Meixiang owed Wang's family a huge favor, and she made up her mind when she heard the words: "If you don't mind, I'll sing for you here for a few days..."

Wang's troupe leader was a little disappointed when he heard the words. He wanted to persuade Qin Meixiang to join Wang's class, but how could he sing for a few days?But it's better to gain some popularity than nothing, so I changed my mind and became really happy: "That would be the best."

Qin Meixiang smiled: "It's better to hit the sun than to choose the day, please borrow your pipa."

Wang Dequan led him to the backstage, but there was no pipa, only Yueqin.Qin Meixiang didn't care at all: "That's the same." She took it and fiddled with it a little, adjusted the strings, and went to the stage with her arms in her arms.

The teahouse is an old teahouse, and there are old local tea lovers underneath.Have a cup of tea and just pass the time.So those who doze off, those who doze off, those who eat melon seeds eat melon seeds.Qin Meixiang went up like this, many people didn't even bother to raise their eyelids.

He didn't care about it, tried the tune, opened his mouth lightly, and sang a spring song: "A few apricots on the red snow wall, counting the screens on the green hills, how clear can one spring be? Drunk should not wake up..."

At first, everything was as usual, but at some point, those who set up the Longmen Formation gradually became silent, those who chewed melon seeds raised their hands and didn’t know how to put the melon seeds into their mouths, and those who dozed off woke up in a daze... the whole building was quiet .

At the end of the song, the sound of the piano rang out leisurely, and then fell silent.The spring warbler chirps outside the building, but there seems to be a lingering sound inside the building.

Xu Pingshan watched quietly with his deep eyes, and took the lead in clapping his hands below.Qin Meixiang looked back, the fear and sadness in the theater just now had been swept away before she knew it.

Whispering started below, and if you have a good letter, ask for your name immediately.Qin Meixiang reported her family name.People asked him to play another song, and he didn't shirk it.After singing five or six pieces in a row, it ended with applause.The shopkeeper of the teahouse greeted him personally, and wanted to give him two taels of good tea.Qin Meixiang thanked him politely, but didn't take it—he just wanted to repay Wang Dequan's kindness for saving him from the chaos.

In this way, even if they are stationed here.I don't sing too much every day, just five or six ditties.There are both elegant and vulgar, and every day is different.Gradually, the reputation spread like wildfire, and more and more tea customers came here attracted by the name, and the tea waiter who was so skilled was no longer daring to play pot.Because of this convenience, Wang Jiaban was able to show his face in front of more guests, and his reputation gradually spread.

Seeing that it was almost done, Qin Meixiang rented an outfit, dressed up and sang a couple of plays, including Pi Huang Opera and Nanqu.Nowadays, the guests are no longer just native-born locals. There are many tea drinkers from the north who understand opera, so they volunteered to talk about opera to those locals.In fact, it doesn't need to be said, as long as everyone is not blind or deaf, he can see that Boss Qin is good.Some local celebrities sighed while listening: ten miles of Chunhua are not as good as Boss Qin's pair of Qiushuijian pupils.

I sang like this for about a month, and then the stairs of the teahouse were crushed because of the crowd.Fortunately no one was hurt.But once the rumors spread outside, that's not the case.Everyone said: Jinxiu tea garden has come to a stunning actor, in order to see him, the spectators crowded the teahouse down.

With such a resounding reputation, colleagues naturally had to take a look.Xiao Yulin was leaning against the wall in the theatre, looking at Li Wankui who looked confused and frustrated, he felt a kind of joy that won all the applause: "How?"

Li Wankui sighed: "There is no one to play with him yet, if one day he finds someone, it will be fine."

Boss Zhou said sternly: "Boss Qin and I have a long history, as long as you nod, he will be the backbone of Qinghua."

Ever since Li Wankui heard Qin Meixiang's play in the teahouse, his heart itch.It's just that after a lot of experience, I always have a little doubt: "Since he is so good, why did he sing like that when he came back?"

The smile on Xiao Yulin's face disappeared.He knew in his heart that Boss Qin must have come all the way here because he was frightened by the miserable situation on the road.There are people who don't feel pain in their backs when they stand and talk, and they probably want to blame Qin Meixiang for her timidity.But Xiao Yulin knew that was not the case.Others think so, just because they haven't seen it with their own eyes.Before He Chunban entered the city, he was performing arts in the area of ​​Ludi, where he encountered defeated soldiers who had been defeated.Once in hell, even if a person lives with all his body and tail, blood and flesh in his heart are unavoidable.

With such thoughts in his mind, he walked home after the play at night, but saw that the house was brightly lit, instead of just a small lantern lit as usual.

There was laughter in the house.The door opened with a creak, and Young Master Yu Qi looked from inside with a smile.

Boss Zhou seemed to have a spring under his feet, he jumped in front of Yu Dongrong in two steps, and picked him up.

Young Master Yu Qi's face turned pale, and he said angrily, "What kind of words are you talking about! You won't grow up!"

Xiao Yulin happily put him down and scratched the hedgehog's head.In the room, Xu Pingshan blanched the vegetables silently, while Qin Meixiang poured wine with her head down.Although the two didn't say anything, they had a forced smile on their faces.Mrs. Miao was also on the table, and she didn't dare to look up at them at all, obviously because she was shocked.

With a bit of embarrassment on his face, Yu Dongrong sat back and silently stroked the hot pot with his chopsticks.Xiao Yulin stood next to him winkingly, took out the largest piece of hairy belly from the pot, and put it on Yu Dongrong's oil dish.