Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 442: Blocking is worse than dredging
"think."
Peanut nodded and blurted out a word without thinking, but then he suddenly woke up from his daze. Realizing what he had just said, he turned around hastily, and when he found that it was Zhang Shou standing behind him, his face turned pale and he instinctively stepped back.
Seeing that if the little fool retreated any further, he might break through the curtain and run directly inside to make a scene, Zhang Shou could only grab the man's collar and drag him out in anger. Although he looked weak, he actually got up early every day to jog and practiced a few sword techniques with Ah Liu. He was not weak in body, and Xiao Huasheng was not an expert, so he was easily dragged out by him.
"Sir, no, that's not what I meant..."
Seeing that Xiao Huasheng was so anxious that he was talking incoherently, Zhang Shou used his eyes to signal him to shut up. Then he glanced at Xiao Cheng, who was staring at Xiao Huasheng with a strange look on his face, and said to Yang Hao and Zheng Dang, "You two take Xiao Cheng to buy something to eat. Don't think about saving money. It's rare to come out, and it would be a pity to miss this kind of food event."
As he said this, he untied the purse at his waist, took out a string of coins and threw it over. Ah Liu had just settled the horses, and he was probably taking those random people who had been recruited from who knows where to act as plainclothes, so he, who usually didn't carry money, also put some money in his purse. This heavy string of coins was estimated to be about 100 or 200 coins, enough for these little guys to buy some food.
Seeing Yang Hao took the money, he immediately chatted happily with Zheng Dang, and then the two of them came in front of Xiao Cheng with smiles on their faces, and with a few words, they pulled the confused little guy away. Only then did he let go of his hand, and then clapped his hands lightly, and smiled nonchalantly at the pale little Peanut opposite him.
"It's not a big deal to like watching and listening to operas. Everyone has hobbies in life." But when he saw that Peanut's expression softened a little, he suddenly changed his tone and said, "But if you like singing operas and hope to be an actor on stage and become a famous actor in the future, then you have to think about it. That is definitely not what your salty uncle wants you to do. He will probably want to beat you to death."
Peanut's head had completely drooped. Although a new play had begun to be performed not far away, it seemed extremely far away to him, so far away that it was unattainable.
He sniffed hard, and then said in a voice that was almost like a whisper: "When I was a child, I wanted to learn martial arts, like my uncle, like Uncle Yunhe, who could fight and fight, but my bones and muscles were not born that good, so no matter how much I practiced, it was useless. Later, I wanted to study hard, but I had no talent. I could not even recite the Analects and the Book of Songs with difficulty."
"I can swim, but I'm not very good at it; I can count, but I often make mistakes; I followed Uncle Yunhe to learn how to use the spinning wheel, but I always break the yarn... I only know a few more words than the errand boy, but I can't do anything else. I'm really useless. I can only forget all this when I go to those restaurants and opera troupes to secretly listen to operas in my spare time."
As he was talking, Peanut couldn't help but wipe his eyes: "The reason why I can dress up as a woman is because a sister from a theater troupe I often go to saw that I was young but liked to sneak over, so she suddenly had an idea to put makeup on me and put on her costume, but who knew that Uncle Yunhe would find out."
"I was severely scolded afterwards, and Uncle and Uncle Yunhe never let me go to that kind of place again! But I really like the lyrics, the movements, and the strange stories. Before, in front of the eldest prince..." Peanut's voice suddenly became even lower, so low that only Zhang Shou could hear it, "I also put myself into the women in the play, so that I could deceive him."
I knew that the eldest prince had seen women, how could he be fooled by a man dressed as a woman? It turns out that you have had this talent since you were a child. So, if there is Peking Opera now, you are a natural female role? I think you may have volunteered to deceive the eldest prince before!
Zhang Shou laughed in his heart, then reached out and patted Peanut's head, then hugged his hands and said, "Lao Xianyu and Xian Yunhe have no children or grandchildren. One treats you as a grandson and the other treats you as a son. Of course, they don't want you to sing opera. You know, in the eyes of today's people, even so-called famous actors are still lowly and are the playthings of the powerful."
Peanut bit her lip and whispered, "I know, so I don't want to disappoint them...but I just can't help it. Sir, don't tell Uncle that I just lost myself for a moment. I will never make the same mistake again."
"Haha, forget yourself and repeat the same mistakes? You have learned this idiom well. However, you are not as fast as Xiao Cheng in reciting poems on weekdays. I heard that you remembered the long song of everlasting sorrow very clearly. How about this, you recite it once... No, just sing the song of everlasting sorrow to me in the same tune, and today's matter will be written off, how about that?"
Peanut was so happy that his whole face seemed to be glowing: "Are you serious, sir?"
"Of course you take it seriously. Why would I lie to you? It's not a big deal. I'm not an old salted fish or Xian Yunhe who wants his son to be successful. I just like singing opera, right? That's not a big deal. If you like it, just sing it." Zhang Shou said with a smile, "But I've only heard it once. I don't believe you can really sing all 840 words of the whole text."
Peanut didn't pat his chest to say he could do it, but his face showed a determined look. He took a deep breath and then sang softly. If the previous singer's voice was sad and beautiful, then his voice was low and gentle, as if an outsider was lamenting the sad love between Emperor Minghuang of Tang and Yang Guifei. The melody was actually different from the previous singer's.
Perhaps because Xiaohuasheng had only heard it once and didn't remember it clearly, he unconsciously added his own understanding to it, but compared with the original version, it actually had a different kind of rustic flavor. Zhang Shou couldn't help but sigh, people actually have some talent in this area.
Although from Zhang Shou's usual view on love, he actually didn't think that the love between Emperor Minghuang of Tang and Yang Guifei was anything praiseworthy, after all, he didn't have the slightest affection for Emperor Minghuang of Tang, Li Longji, who tried to steal his daughter-in-law and abandoned the woman when the time came. However, when he heard Xiao Huasheng's even somewhat stuttering lyrics, he unconsciously became a little dazed.
He seemed to have transcended time and space and saw Bai Juyi writing this famous work that will be remembered throughout the ages.
It is said that the Song of Everlasting Sorrow is the first erotic poem in history. I wonder if Mr. Bai really believed in the love between Emperor Minghuang of Tang and Yang Guifei when he wrote it, or did he substitute it with his own past love? Otherwise, why would he just brush aside the An Lushan Rebellion, a major event that shook the world, and keep describing that erotic love?
Bai Juyi would never put himself in the shoes of Emperor Minghuang of Tang or Yang Guifei. If he did not have the love that he longed for or ultimately missed, how could he have written such poems?
When Peanut finished singing, Zhang Shou gradually came back to his senses, and then he realized that Peanut actually sang this rare long narrative poem in its entirety with the lyrics. Although he was a little distracted in the middle and didn't listen carefully, and maybe Peanut mumbled the forgotten lyrics, but from what he heard, it was enough to show that Peanut's talent in this area was amazing!
No wonder some people are completely unable to memorize textbooks, but are extremely good at memorizing song lyrics.
It is simply a buried talent! It is better to let things flow naturally than to block them!
Zhang Shou looked at Xiao Huasheng with admiration. Seeing that he was looking at him timidly, he rolled his eyes and said with a smile, "Since Lao Xianyu and Xian Yunhe are obviously unwilling to let you perform on the stage, it is not impossible to think of an alternative solution. For example, you don't go on the stage, but sing your own song behind the curtain. Isn't that the end of it?"
Peanut took a breath in disbelief, then said in surprise and joy, "Really? No, no, I'm just singing along. I can't do it. I haven't learned it before..."
Before Peanut could finish his words, Zhang Shou laughed and said, "You also heard Twelve Rain's "Jinling Yan" just now. Although the plot is good, there are no lyrics. Some people who like to listen to music will naturally find it boring. If we can find a top writer to add one or two short songs and sing them with a unique tune, it will also be a selling point."
As he spoke, he patted Peanut's shoulder and said nonchalantly, "Since your uncle and your uncle Yunhe will both work for me in the future, I can't ask someone to come back and teach you opera. I'll ask Lu Sanlang to find a few people to write a few songs, and you can think about how to sing them. If you sing well, I can recommend you to go to Tingyu Xiaozhu to make a guest appearance occasionally."
"You mean... let me... make up the music myself?"
"Why, are you scared, or do you think you're not good enough? Don't tell me that you just sang the same tune. I heard you sing and then you just sang by yourself."
Seeing that Peanut's face turned red with embarrassment and hesitantly seemed to want to explain something, Zhang Shou smiled and said, "But you can't say that you changed it randomly. The tune is very interesting. At least it fits the scene and sounds good, so I suggest you try it. If you can't figure it out, I can give you a reference then."
Peking opera, Yue opera, Pingtan… Although he could not be considered a person who watched a lot of operas, he could still sing a few lines. As for what Peanut could create in a secondary way, what did it matter? Just like he said just now, he did not intend to train him to be a famous actor!
Even though Zhang Shou's words were not a promise at all and were just an empty suggestion, Peanut was so happy that he almost trembled all over and felt that Zhang Shou was the best person in the world.
Therefore, he nodded his head almost like a chicken pecking at rice, and when Zhang Shou said the next sentence, he was stunned again.
"Oh, right, the Song of Everlasting Regret has 840 words in total. You can recite it almost exactly after just listening to it once. Although it is the lyrics that count, why not write some lyrics yourself for the things you can't remember when you study? First, it's easy to remember, and second, it's easy to memorize. If it's really useful, maybe you can pass it on to other students in the future. Don't you agree?"
Peanut had only seen teachers who held a ruler and scolded people with a stern face - because most private school teachers in the private schools could not deter naughty children without doing so, and would only waste their limited time in the endless process of disciplining students. Therefore, facing Zhang Shou's patient guidance, he felt moved and agreed, and immediately nodded again with a happy expression.
"I will listen to you, sir!"
What a gullible boy!
Zhang Shou saw that Peanut was so grateful that he wanted to burn incense and pray to Buddha. Thinking of the boy's two relatives who were too arbitrary, he couldn't help but shed a tear of sympathy for Peanut's childhood. Although he seemed to have enough food and clothing, he was raised by two elders who were not related by blood, and there were too many expectations placed on him. No wonder Peanut was under great pressure.
Now that the conversation was out of the question, he smiled and consoled her, "Okay, come with me to the teahouse, where you can not only listen to opera, but also watch it. But you have to be alert, don't be so obvious, and don't lose your mind when you listen to the opera like you did just now, not even noticing what's happening elsewhere. I almost thought you were kidnapped just now."
Xiao Huasheng's face immediately turned red to the roots of his neck, and he felt so ashamed that he could only nod his head repeatedly. So, when he followed Zhang Shou into the Xinglong Tea House, he tried his best to resist the temptation of the stringed instruments and the temptation of the fairy music, until he went up to the second floor and saw Lu Sanlang, who was sitting at the table by the window, coming to greet him. Only then did he look in the direction of the person with some envy.
You should be able to see the performances on the stage over there, right?
Zhang Shou and Lu Sanlang exchanged a few words, and then he saw the heads of the association and businessmen scattered around the tables were about to come over. Seeing this, he stretched out his hand to stop them and said, "I am just a spectator today, no, to be more precise, a diner, so please let me go and let me enjoy this meal leisurely and relaxed."
Mr. Hua Si, who had already stood up, glanced at Yu Huishou at the next table, and seeing that he had also sat back down in dismay, he happily sat down, but his eyes were always following Zhang Shou. Sure enough, with Zhang Shou's move, the originally noisy second floor of the teahouse suddenly became silent. Everyone watched Zhang Shou walk over and start a cordial conversation with Weinan Bo Zhang Kang and Liu Zhiyuan and Lu Sanlang, who were sitting at the table by the window.
What they were actually discussing was which dish and how to cook it better!
As the chefs below heard the news and brought in the freshly baked delicacies, soon the table, which was already filled with a lot of food, was now completely full. Even Xiao Huasheng was stuffed with a paper bag of Huangqiao sesame cakes by the obedient waiter.
Even though Lu Sanlang urged them to eat and drink, and he himself showed a huge appetite, Zhang Shou had not eaten lunch, and Liu Zhiyuan and Zhang Kang were not young and had big appetites, but the four of them ate at the same time, and the table was still empty, and new dishes with good color, aroma and taste were served. Seeing that they would never finish eating, Zhang Shou had to lean downstairs and call out.
"A-Liu, where are you? Come up and eat!"
