Chapter 88: Retreat to Advance
Zhu Hao brought Zhu Si and went straight to the bookstore.
Because the show was about to begin, the area around the theater was already packed with people, but no one present knew what would be performed that day.
Yu San saw Zhu Hao coming and hurried forward: "Brother Hao, I just got the news that many people paid a lot of money to invite the opera troupe we invited to perform as a resident, and another troupe wanted to imitate our play... Fortunately, the troupe leader Long was righteous and did not agree."
Zhu Hao laughed and said, "I think that troupe leader Long is not being righteous, he just has good eyesight and knows that only by hanging out with us can we have a living... Who would go to see those old-fashioned plays? If you learn a few plays from me and take them back, I'm afraid you will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life."
Lu Song next to him looked at Zhu Hao with strange eyes, feeling puzzled.
Isn't this a bookstore?
How did it become a theater?
From what you said, you also wrote a play script?
You are really capable! You have already caused a stir in the city by opening a bookstore, and now you have invited a troupe to perform a big show, making Anlu restless?
Zhu Size asked excitedly, "Are you going to listen to an opera? What opera?"
In those days, listening to opera was still a very luxurious thing. Of course, the Prince Xing's Mansion was not one of them. During festivals, the palace would often invite opera troupes to perform at the mansion, so Zhu Si had seen some operas since he was a child.
Zhu Hao said, "I'll arrange a Farewell My Concubine for you later. What do you think?"
Zhu Si asked in confusion : "What is Farewell My Concubine?"
Jing Hong explained: "It should be about the story of Xiang Yu, the King of Chu, who was besieged at Gaixia by the Han army led by Han Xin. Hearing the sound of Chu songs from all sides, he suspected that all Chu had surrendered to Han. He drank with Yu Ji in the camp and said goodbye... Hey Zhu Hao, did you really write this play?"
Children like heroic plays the most. Since Zhu Hao mentioned Farewell My Concubine, he was naturally ready to write this play and officially launch it.
"Of course. Let's take a look at the 'Sun Wukong Defeats the White Bone Demon' that I arranged today... Isn't this more interesting ?"
The heroic drama is certainly attractive, but the story of "Journey to the West" is equally fascinating.
Especially recently, Zhu Hao's storytelling venue has been telling the story of "Journey to the West". For storytelling enthusiasts, it is tailor-made for them to listen to the story and then watch the show.
"Okay, let's go and see..."
Zhu Si couldn't help but rush forward.
Lu Song hastily reminded: "Young Master, there are all kinds of people here, so don't get in the crowd. Just listen to the side."
Yu San smiled and said, "Sir, you are a distinguished person in the palace. We have already arranged seats for you in the private room according to the instructions of the young master... Please move?"
While speaking, Yu San was still looking at Zhu Si.
He had seen Lu Song and Zhu Hao appear together before, and knew that this person was the head guard in the palace. He didn't know his rank, but he was an official and he was a commoner, so he couldn't afford to offend him. But this time, it was obvious that the young boy in front of him with an air of wealth and nobility was the protagonist.
Zhu Hao warned, "Mr. Zhu is a nobleman, he cannot sit with ordinary people to watch the show. If there are other guests in the private room, please ask them to move their seats, and the fee can be appropriately reduced."
Yu San was puzzled.
Instead of making money, you want to drive customers away?
What kind of approach is this?
What he didn't know was that Zhu Hao was giving him a chance.
The Zhu Houcong in front of you is most likely the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty. If you can gain his appreciation, he will grant you an official position as a centurion or a thousand-householder of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Your ancestors' graves will be filled with smoke. Do you understand?
Even though Yu San didn't understand, Zhu Hao was the manager after all, so he could only make arrangements according to Zhu Hao's instructions.
…
…
Soon a private room near the stage was vacated.
After a while, Zhu Si, Zhu Hao, Jing Hong and Lu Song were sitting in a private room which was more than ten feet above the ground and built with solid logs and could accommodate about ten people to listen to the opera.
There were many guards gathered under and around the wooden frame, most of them standing at the stairs and around the attic, and some of them disguised as spectators. The people in the front had a chair and could enjoy fruits and snacks, the people in the middle sat on long benches, and the people in the back could only stand. However, no one's mind was on listening to the opera, and they looked around to prevent anyone from causing trouble.
But after the opening ceremony...
The southern opera performed on the stage was so attractive. In order to eat Tang Monk's flesh, the White Bone Demon transformed into a village girl delivering food to the mountain, an old woman and an old man offering incense to the mountain, but was discovered by the flaming eyes of Sun Wukong. He beat the demon three times, but was misunderstood and driven away by Tang Monk...
At first, the guards could still pay attention to the attic and turn their heads from time to time, but later their eyes were all fixed on the stage and they were reluctant to move their eyes away.
Lu Song was one of the few who remained alert. Seeing Zhu Si staring at the stage without blinking, he had an idea and hurriedly got up and went downstairs, shouting at his men who were guarding the surroundings: "What are you looking at? Keep a close eye on them and see if there is anyone suspicious. Don't forget your identity!"
One of his closest subordinates smiled and said, "Lu Dianzhang, are you being too cautious? This place is only one street away from the palace. All we need to do is shout and the brothers will come. Is it necessary to be so cautious?"
Lu Song shouted with a dark face: "If something happens, do you want to keep your head?"
This threat had almost no deterrent effect, but with Lu Song's presence, these guards had to give up watching the show and focus their attention again on observing suspicious people. But after looking around, they found that no one was paying attention to the attic while the show was going on.
The guards cursed inwardly, and although they pretended to be alert, all their attention was focused on the stage that they kept glancing at.
An hour later, as Sun Wukong on the stage somersaulted away under the pressure of Tang Monk, the show finally ended amid the audience's thunderous cheers.
The troupe's leader, Long, walked onto the stage and said, "Everyone, this afternoon's show is over. Please come back in the evening."
The audience naturally didn't want to leave, and they all clamored for another show. The storyteller came up and said loudly: "The next story I'm going to tell is mainly about the plot after the three fights with the White Bone Demon in Journey to the West. You can stay and continue listening."
Compared with drama, storytelling may be lacking in expressiveness, but for old listeners, the content of storytelling is much richer than that of the stage, can arouse more imagination, and can still make people addicted to it.
"Let's go, let's go!"
For ordinary people, they spend two or three cents to listen to a play, and when they have satisfied their fascination, they can do whatever they want and consciously leave the venue to those storytelling fans.
Zhu Si hurriedly said: "Zhu Hao, I haven't seen enough."
Zhu Hao said, "Next time, I'll take you to the flower and bird market and see if there are any rabbits for sale."
"Huh? That's so boring? Can't you let me watch it again?"
Zhu Si was as stubborn as ever.
At this time, Lu Song went up to the attic and advised, "Young Master, you can't stay here for long. A large number of people have poured in from outside. Who knows if there are any bad guys hiding among them?"
Zhu Si was dissatisfied: "You keep saying bad guys, bad guys. Are there so many bad guys in the world? I'm just watching a show, and there are bad guys who are against me?"
Zhu Hao spread his hands: "It's alright if you don't want to, I don't have any plans for the next play... At worst, the troupe will stage a new play and let you watch it first. If you're still so persistent, I can only leave first."
Although Zhu Si was stubborn, he knew that since he was out with Zhu Hao today, he should follow the host's wishes. Besides, Zhu Hao promised to put on a show for him alone next time, so he could only endure it.
The group went downstairs, and Boss Long came over and said, "Dear guests, are you satisfied with what you saw? Are there any..."
This is to ask for reward!
Yu San hurried forward and shouted, "Are you going to die, Boss Long? These people are the nobles in the palace, don't cause trouble."
Hearing this, Boss Long was shocked and quickly stepped back.
Zhu Size seemed to be inspired, his eyes lit up, he looked at Zhu Hao and then at Boss Long, his eyes rolling around.
Zhu Hao guessed it immediately. This kid probably wanted to go back and beg his father or Yuan Zonggao to invite a troupe to perform at the palace so that he could watch as long as he wanted.
Given Prince Xing's doting on Zhu Si, he would most likely agree.
As they walked out of the theater, Zhu Hao reminded them, "The play they sang was written by me. Without my script, they are just a makeshift troupe that can't even perform on stage. Usually, there should be famous actors in the troupe invited back by the palace... Lu Dianzhang, is that right?"
Lu Song frowned.
You kid actually spoke to me?
Lu Song looked at Zhu Si and suddenly understood why Zhu Hao said that. He immediately joined in: "The level of this troupe is indeed not good, but the script is good. If Master Zhu can give such a good script to a big troupe in the future, the effect will definitely be much better than it is now."
Zhu Si said excitedly: "Then let my father find a troupe... Zhu Hao, you will be responsible for writing the script for them, okay?"
Zhu Hao said, "I still have to make money from writing plays. If I write plays for irrelevant troupes...if they learn the plays and go to other places to perform, what good will it do me?"
"My……"
With Zhu Si's brain, he really couldn't think of a compromise.
But this was an inspiration for Lu Song.
Lu Song felt that after he returned, he could tell Yuan Zonggao that the prince liked to listen to operas, and Zhu Hao could write operas, so it would be better to let Zhu Hao write them and then find someone to sing them. That way, the prince wouldn't have to think about running outside every day.
But would letting the Crown Prince listen to opera go against King Xing's cultivation of the Crown Prince...
Lu Song couldn't figure it out, and Zhu Hao had already said that there was no benefit in writing a play for others... Lu Song had to consider whether he should say this, and even if he did, how to say it.
…
…
There were many interesting things in the Flower and Bird Market. Zhu Si forced himself to cheer up and stopped in front of each stall. But after all, he used to come here often to play when he and his sister sneaked out of the palace, so most of the things were not new to him.
He jumped and skipped along the way and seemed to be in high spirits, but in fact Zhu Si's mind was on the previous scene of "The Monkey King Defeats the White Bone Demon Three Times".
Zhu Hao was still concluding: "…the singing style is not very good. Southern opera is like this, soft and weak, not as high-pitched and vigorous as Qinqiang. If a separate troupe is trained to sing the new opera I created, the effect will definitely be very different."
Lu Song glared at Zhu Hao, as if ordering him to shut up.
You obviously don't want Zhu Si to watch more plays, nor do you want to write a script for the palace to find a troupe to perform, so why do you keep trying to attract the prince's attention?
Aren't you just looking for trouble?
But what Lu Song didn't understand was that if Zhu Hao really didn't intend to let Zhu Si get in touch with drama, he wouldn't have taken him to watch opera.
For Zhu Hao, this is a step forward.
It's not easy to support a troupe by yourself, but if the palace supports it... is it difficult? Then the troupe can be used by me, and occasionally help me make money... it's really great.
But you can't just take advantage of the Prince's Palace for free, so you need some tricks to make the palace's opera troupe your own.
Zhu Houcong will sooner or later become the owner of the Prince Xing's Mansion, and even the ruler of the world. Isn't the most important condition for making the prince's mansion or the court profit for themselves to make Zhu Houcong fall in love with these things?
"Zhu Hao, when will you write a new play?" Zhu Si asked somewhat obsessively.
Zhu Hao said, "I have already written a part of it. I will show it to you when I get back. But you can't be like Jing Hong, who was so engrossed in reading that he didn't even want to read the book. If I do that, my time in the palace as a companion won't be long."
Zhu Si excitedly shook his head: "No, no, of course I know the truth of knowing when to stop. Lu Dianzhang, I'm tired, let's go home!"
