"Dear folks in Suzhou, the swords, guns and sticks we played today are just a drop in the bucket for us. If you want to watch a more exciting show, on the night of the full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, there will be a special performance by our 'Xilai Ren' troupe in the Goulan House. , we sincerely invite everyone to come and watch!”
Gong Lingzhi put away his knife to thank the guests, then took the gong and asked for the reward one by one:
"One tael is never too much, and one penny is never too little. Thank you fellow villagers!"
The performance is indeed good, and the spectators are willing to enjoy it for a pen or two.
Ganoderma keeps its attitude very low, and bows and thanks every time it gets a penny.
"Good work should be rewarded."
Putting ten taels of silver into the gong is undoubtedly the biggest act in the whole event.
Lingzhi's eyes widened, she raised her head and was about to thank her, when a big hand grabbed her wrist and said coldly:
"Did you know that the laws in Suzhou are strict and no performing arts are allowed on the street?"
The one holding the hand is He Qiu, who is doomed to live a lonely life.
It was Song Che who rewarded the money, and he deserved to have a bunch of wives and concubines.
"This official...Brother Song!"
The officer called me politely, but Brother Song called me in surprise.
Lingzhi didn't have time to be happy, so she twitched her hand, and the "official" held her tightly. She could only apologize first: "I have traveled all over the country, I am new to your land, and I don't know the rules. Please forgive me!"
Song Che whispered in He Qiu's ear: "I am a girl, please be gentle."
He Qiu quickly let go of his hand and hummed: "No next time." After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the crowd.
Xu Xiao shook his head, took out a few coins and threw them into the gong. He smiled at Lingzhi and left with He Qiu.
Lingzhi rubbed the red wrist and asked in a low voice: "Brother Song, who is he?"
Song Che smiled and told secretly, "He is a 'local snake' in Suzhou City. Even I have to avoid him."
Lingzhi sneered, "You dress like a human, but you have a heart of stone. It's so unlikable."
Song Che pointed at the crowd that had not dispersed on the street and said with a smile: "Your performance was so wonderful that the spectators blocked the main road. This is not good after all."
"We'll close the stall immediately! People in our business just don't know the rules, otherwise they would definitely abide by them!"
Lingzhi and Erlang and Sanlang, who were also participating in the performance, quickly loaded the sticks and instruments onto the donkey cart, thanked the crowd again and again, and sent them away.
Then she was invited into Song Che's carriage, while Erlang and Sanlang drove the donkey cart behind.
Ganoderma has a sweet mouth and calls everyone "sister". Everyone in the carriage except He Qiu is very happy with her.
"Lingzhi, aren't you Xilai people from a big theatrical troupe? Why are you reduced to performing on the streets?" Lin Yue asked.
Lingzhi lowered his head and spoke a little lonely, "It's no longer a big theater troupe. Since my father's death, the Xilai people's work has plummeted. Many members have left the troupe and found other ways to make a living. Now half of them are gone..."
Shen Wenjun said: "Then you should go to Goulanwashe. It receives thousands of people every day. Tickets and rewards are better than performing on the streets."
Lingzhi shook his head, "The rent in Goulanli is too expensive. It costs money to enclose an open space in Washeli. The rent will double during the three days of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The troupe doesn't have much money left. If we rent it on weekdays, As for the stage, we don’t have enough money to rent it during the holidays, so we went to the streets to perform and plan to save some loose money.”
Speaking of this, she glanced at He Qiu and said in a complaining tone: "Who knew Suzhou city didn't allow street performers? I've been to so many places, but this is the first time I've seen such a ridiculous rule..."
Song Che also squinted at He Qiu and added: "Yes, they are not even allowed to set up stalls."
He Qiu's head was tilted toward the window, but his eyes were tilted toward the inside of the car. He said coldly: "That's complete nonsense——
Washe has always been open to the public free of charge and is exclusively for street performers to make a living. The big theater troupe will be invited to join the hook, how can they ask for rent?
During festivals and festivals, the government will also give performance fees to the theater troupe, and all the ticket money will be collected by the theater troupe. The government will only collect taxes as normal. "
"I'm a little curious. Have you been to Goulan?" Gong Lingzhi asked.
He Qiu hummed: "I disdain to go to that kind of place, and I am not interested in your acrobatic operas."
"Then what qualifications do you have to talk so loudly?"
Gong Lingzhi said: "The house is only open to guests free of charge. For performers, a ten-foot-long circle will be charged 20 yuan in rent, and a small stage in the hook will be charged 500 yuan to a flat fee. All tickets will be replaced by the government. For sale, no matter how much money is sold, 30% will be given to the government, 10% will be given to the spectators, and 10% will be used to pay taxes. What actually falls into the hands of the troupe is only 50% at most."
He Qiu couldn't help but be moved, "Is this really true?"
"If you don't believe me, go to Goulan Washeli and ask around. Any busker can tell you how dark it is here."
Gong Lingzhi added: "I have traveled to so many places, but Suzhou City has the most corrupt officials. They try their best to deduct hard-earned money and even touch female actresses..."
Mr. He had a soft ear and could not hear the word "corrupt official", and his face became more and more ugly.
Song Che squinted and smiled: "Lingzhi, you can't say that. Our Suzhou magistrate is a well-known upright official. He is a Jinshi and is young and promising. He has great ambitions."
"Not at all!"
Gong Lingzhi scolded: "If you ask me, the biggest corrupt official in Suzhou is your prefect. He issued a decree not to allow street performers, but he used various methods to make money in the tiles. His appearance is even uglier than a dog!"
Mr. He not only had soft ears, but also had a skin as thin as a cicada. He pressed his nails hard against the car window, his old face flushed with anger.
"When will you perform on stage?" he asked in a deep voice.
"Of course it's the Mid-Autumn Festival night on August 15th," Lingzhi snorted softly and rubbed his still uncomfortable wrist, "Don't you look down on our acrobatic performers, and you asked what to do during the performance time, do you still want to Come? I may not welcome you."
He Qiu squeezed out a sentence through his teeth, "Wait for me." He jumped out of the carriage angrily.
When He Qiu walked farther away, the people in the car finally couldn't hold back anymore and started laughing, holding their stomachs.
Lingzhi's big eyes were full of doubts, "Why are you laughing?"
Song Che waved his hand, "It's nothing, I just hope that the Mid-Autumn Festival will come soon. That night will be exciting and lively."
"When the time comes, brothers and sisters must bring more people to support them, hehe..."
"sure."
He and Lingzhi agreed to see each other again, and they parted ways at the intersection.
"Hey, husband, have you noticed that Ganoderma lucidum and Master He are quite a match?" Shen Wenjun asked with a smile.
Song Che smiled and said: "He Qiu is a person. If you flatter him, he won't want to see you. He just wants to find an enemy that he can't deal with to dampen his pride."
"There are beautiful flowers and a full moon on August 15th this year. I hope it can also lead to a good marriage."
"Hehehe..."
