Cheng FengTai suddenly said what Shang XiRui was unable to express and this caught Shang XiRui by surprise. The more Cheng FengTai poked at the matter, the more he wanted the *cat to cover up his shit*. Shang XiRui concealed his shameful thoughts so as not to lose face.
He made a fuss and said: " What is there to be jealous of?! Are you kidding me?! There are so many people holding me up. I have to deal with them but they would still come! Yet yous till want to serve me? You don't even understand the opera, what use is it for you?! Get out! Leave! You're an eyesore! " Then Shang XiRui left to eat some dimsum.
Cheng FengTai said: "Why does Shang Lao Ba seems a little unhappy?"
Shang XiRui said sarcastically: " Don't Worry! I am just tooooooo busy, I am soooooo busy. I have to change the costume! "
Cheng FengTai observed Shang XiRui's expression for a while. He didn't think he would be this stiff and smiled: " That's unlikely, in what aspect of the society hasn't Shang Lao Ban seen and didn't benefitted?. Could you even care for a kid! "
After thinking for a while, Cheng FengTai said: "Just lend me La Yue Hong, Xiao Song Zi and Xiao LiZi to provide support. I'm afraid Xiao ZhouZi will have a stage fright. "
Shang XiRui was so angry that the desserts in the bowl couldn't taste sweet anymore.
At this time, another actor who was familiar with the troupe just came to the door and borrowed two actors from Shang Xirui to sing 《Shang Nu Hen》or The regret of a female performer. The only troupe in BeiPing that have the best *Dan* performers is in Shuiyun Tower. Borrowing two actors won't even affect Shuiyun Tower's own plays.
This time, Shang XiRui isn't the same as what he used to be. This isn't the time for him to experiece another *hot water bath* just like in the past. The new play is revolutionary and to be followed by a scum behind his back. He shouldn't let the box office slip.
He has encountered the same thing in the past. During weekdays, he is generous and will surely help his acquaintance by lending one or two actors. However, this time it's different, he simply cannot lend his actors out.
Du Qi before leaving early in the morning said that it's not a concern whether performers of older plays are people who love to sing, or people who simply just sing. However for his playwrights, Du Qi mentions that not everybody can sing it.
There was once when Shang XiRui lent costumes and actors for the performance of 《Lian Xiang Ban》But who knew that the performance of the two protagonists were done so poorly that the original intention of the Du Qi's script was tampered.
Du Qi at that time ran to have a look and then went up backstage after a glance. He scolded Shang XiRui with eyebrows raised and a mouthful of insult and then smashed a big mirror. Since then, Shang XiRui has learned his lesson and dared not do anything more.
******
It's best for Yuan Lan and the others to reject the request. But today, Quan Ha, who's in charge of the actors saw Shang XiRui happened to encounter a heavy heart vomiting blood, suffocating out of anger and said very bluntly: " I can't lend you anyone. Du Qi said that he will not permit me to lend it to others. I advise you not to touch his drama. Once he knows of it, he will definitely not be happy about it. Since he was defied of his instructions, he will write an article on the newspaper about your wrongdoings. "
Cheng FengTai and Yuan Lan both looked at Shang XiRui in surprise. The first time they saw his very sharp argument. * If I say I won't lend you, I won't lend you! * It's like stabbing a person which was unlikely his style.
The person in charge *hit a hard nail* but still wore a polite smile on his face and was extremely sincere when he said: " What Shang Lao Ban said is correct. After all, it's hard to find a simultaneous role with Shang Lao Ban nowadays. Qi Gong Zi or Seventh Master values you a lot and relies on you. Except that you look down on others, that's ought to be! We dare not fight over anything as we are only worthy to have a mouthful of soup behind you. Even if it is only to drink a mouthful of soup, it will all depend whether you are happy or not. "
******
After hearing a few words, Cheng FengTai and Fan Lian's tail bones went numb. This villain has seen enough of their faces. Yuan Lan also curled his lips and shook his neck. Shang XiRui was very helpful, his expression slowed down, tone changed, and said: " You guys really must want to perform, remember to greet the Seventh Master first. I can't persuade him when he is angry. "
After the person in charge gave his word, he left. Shang XiRui looked into the mirror and began to put on makeup. Cheng FengTai threw Zhou XiangYun to Fan Lian and leaned against Shang Xirui. He said: " Shang Lao Ban, you didn't have to talk to him in that way. "
Shang XiRui took in a deep breath: " What did I do? "
Cheng FengTai smiled and said: "You should know better than me the wicked appearances of all the people in your Pear Orchard. Full of hypocrites and small mindedness. A word spoken can lead to a lifetime of hate. "
Shang XiRui wasn't annoyed now. He can see that he couldn't do anything now, caught on his stubbornness and opened fire: " According to you, there is no dignified person in this Pear Orchard? I too am a singer. I am very conscious and careful too? " What Shang XiRui is doing now is just watcing carefully.
Cheng FengTai thought that he is not being watchful and instead being insecure! With a smile, he said: " How can it be! Isn't Yu Qing noble! Although Du Qi is in odds with me, he must be a gentleman too. "
Yu Qing is not a proper actor, Du Qi is not an actor at all. In the end, Cheng FengTai couldn't pick two upright minds in their business. He shook Shang XiRui's shoulder with one hand and smiled: "Especially Shang Lao Ban, the most dignified of them all! " Shang XiRui then bit him.
*******
On the day of the event, Cheng FengTai got up at 8:30 AM, got up and continuously yawned plenty of times and began to search for clothes. Today he is in the position of a dramatist . He usually watches Shang XiRuis events and he always wears long robes and those mandarin jackets of the Qing Dynasty, giving exquisite faces and full of parlance. He has to dress outright today.
Er Nai Nai was shocked when she entered the door, and pulled him out of the chest: " What are you looking for! Look at your mess! It's like a wolf's nest! "
Cheng FengTai said: " I'm looking for a Chang Shan *Chinese traditional male tunic* to wear. "
Er Nai Nai directed the servant to fold the clothes. She scolded him: " When did you ever have a Chang Shan made? You dress like a foreign devil all day long!"
Cheng FengTai scratched the back of his head and thought for a moment. He came up with an idea and asked a servant to send a message: " Go and tell the gardeners and cooks at home, those who have a decent gown to quickly bring one to Er Ye to wear. I shall give a reward! "
The servant knew that their Er Ye is someone who always wanders around, so she didn't dare to respond rashly. She just looked at Er Nai Nai with her eyes.
Cheng FengTai sighed: " Hurry up! My words are of no use right? "
The maid smiled and acknowledged but still didn't move until Er Nai Nai lifted her chin before rushing out. The servants in the house heard that Er Ye offered a reward for a decent Chang Shan. Although they didn't know the purpose, they still actively contributed their only good clothes.
When Lao Ge's wife heard this, her eyes brimming with the money in sight. She went through the chest and took out an old navy blue cloud pattern gown made by Rui FuXiang. Lao Ge followed Cheng FengTai for many years. He was also dressed in suits and leather shoes. There was no gown on the table. This one was originally intended to be sent home as grave clothes for her father-in-law.
Lao Ge stopped her anxiously: " It spells unlucky! "
Old Ge's wife glared at her husband and said: " What's unlucky! You may get a fortune if you rush and send it to him! He is a fake foreign devil, what does he know about this! "
She put the clothes in Lao Ge's hands: " You send it quickly! Don't let anyone get ahead! "
Lao Ge did not dare to disobey the words of the matriarch, sweating on his forehead, he took the clothes to Cheng FengTai. As expected, Cheng Fengtai was a man of good fortune and longevity. Among the silk and satin, he took the piece at a glance. He took a look in the mirror and the piece matched his face. He immediately asked for the money to be rewarded immediately.
Lao Ge didn't dare to take the money and worried: " Er Ye, I'm afraid this size is a bit unfitting."
Cheng FengTai glanced at him: " Really?"
He tried it on once more. Er Nai Nai called him and Lao Ge was relieved thinking the the issue will be resolved, but Er Nai Nai said: " Take off that shirt first! Gui Hua, wait for Er Ye to change clothes!"
The are are servants like Lao Ge outside the second floor. With this Er Nai Nai will never act intimately with Cheng FengTai.
Cheng FengTai was served by a maid. All the grape buttons have finally all been buttoned. Cheng FengTai was looking happily in the mirror. Everyone thought that the second master has never seen the world. Wearing a silk gown can make him look very pleasing.
Cheng FengTai pointed at Lao Ge. The maid squeezed the reward into his hand and Lao Ge wanted to escape. Cheng FengTai asked: " Are you reluctant or is it not enough? "
Lao Ge reluctantly accepted it and just retreated. Fan Lian came in and facing Lao Ge, he put up a big thumb, pointing outwards, and said with a smile: " Go and bring the car out then wait for us. I won't be bringing my car and instead ride in yours. The street t grandson's place is too messy. So, I stopped there are and looked back to touch some flowers. "
Cheng FengTai looked at him, his mood was too good, so he snorted coldly: " My car is also a good car! It's so good to be a tram for you! "
Fan Lian turned his head to look at him, his eyes lit up and he forgot to bicker. He whispered to him: " Brother-in-law! This is good! It's a new outfit! But don't tell me! This body, really... really reminds me of my father! "
Fan Lian's father is also Er Nai Nai's father and she couldn't help but look at Cheng FengTai as well. Everyday for the past 10 years, she has never thought of Cheng FengTai looking like his father.
Cheng FengTai learned to take advantage of the humor and said: "Why don't you immediately call me Dad? "
Fan Lian said in awe: " It's really like my father's appearance in the picture on the wall! "
Cheng FengTai didn't understand what he meant. Fan Lian pulled his sleeve with one hand, saw the navy blue cloud pattern on it. He shook his head more in admiration: " This body is really impressive, it looks like a funeral. Let me take a photo of you wearing it. Sooner or later there will be a day you will really need it. "
Cheng FengTai understood it, he was angry, laughed at and being mocked. He held Fan Lian down and kicked him. Er Nai Nai was able to avoid giving such taboo remarks and scolded angrily: "What are you talking about! Coming here with a mouthful of nonsense! "
Fan Lian didn't dare to joke anymore, and turned away: "Brother-in-law, do you know what's missing? You're still missing a pair of cloth shoes. No one wears a Chang Shan with leather shoes."
With his reminder, Cheng FengTai was going to collect cloth shoes again. Fan Lian hurriedly stopped him: " Come on, That place where you sometimes spend money, remove powder and hairpins! We have to go first..."
He thought of his sister and swallowed the three characters Shuiyun Tower alive, and said: " You have to pick up Zhou XiangYun first! " said to her sister with a smile: " Eldest sister, we'll be leaving first, we're on some serious business! "
Er Nai Nai raised her mouth and didn't bother to care about their shenanigans.
Cheng FengTai stepped on leather shoes and donning a Chang Shan. In the end, he couldn't make up an authentic Chinese dress. But because he felt very good about himself, Fan Lian was forced on the road to admit that he was also handsome in a Chang Shan.
Fan Lian insisted that he was more like those who were lying in their coffin in funerals, if there's a movement, he was like a fake corpse. This made Lao Ge's old sweat be heard. Cheng FengTai didn't get angry with him and said with a smile: "You don't know how to appreciate it. You'll know when you let the expert comment later. "
********
When he arrived in Shuiyun Tower in such outfit, it really attracted unanimous praise from everyone. Yuan Lan, Shi Jiu and several seniors all praised Cheng FengTai's demeanor in wearing a Chang Shan than in a suit saying that the color is indeed beautiful.
One person who understood the atmosphere pulled Shang XiRui over and pushed to Cheng FengTai with hands clasped: " Take a look at these two people, they are dressed up. One is Pan An and another one is Song Yu! What a good match seeing them standing together! "
Cheng FengTai was very happy to hear that and lowered his head to Shang XiRui's ear and asked: " Shang Lao Ban, How is my outfit? Is it good? "
******
Shang XiRui was a little happy to be praised and Cheng FengTai wearing this type of outfit makes him look really pleasing to the eye! Originally, *Marry a chicken and follow a chicken, marry a dog as a dog* however married to a *pig killer* after following the heart!
Cheng FengTai in order to get along with Shang XiRui, has to dress up in harmony with his clothes from the inside out in order to be called "his man"! Just as he was about to say something like a compliment, Zhou XiangYun had already dressed up as Wang ZhaoJun and came over with makeup.
In the end, Shang XiRui couldn't help but gambled. He refused to lend them the makeup and professional hairstylist to the event. Both actors would only leave after applying makeup and combing their hair.
Shang XiRui saw Zhou XiangYun looking shyly at Cheng FengTai. Calling him Er Ye in a bashful manner. Shang XiRui was so angry that he couldn't vent out, so angry that he also can't make out of Cheng FengTai's clothes anymore.
How can't he see how completely irritable I am. Turning his head and looking at Zhou XiangYun from head to to and back, seeing that Zhou Xiangyun was wearing the outfit he had exchanged in the past. Shang XiRui said coldly: " You don't look like a prince in a dragon robe! "
After speaking, he turned and walked away.
******
These words were taken in by two people.
Zhou XiangYun felt a big blow and took a small step back. He felt that Shang Xirui really doesn't care for him anymore. Cheng FengTai was also hit hard and straightened up.
Fan Lian whispered: " Oho, who is he attacking? "
Cheng FengTai came to realized who he was attacking. He found that Shang XiRui was behaving strangely. Hiding a knife behind his smile, *pointing at mulberry and cursing at the locust tree*, consistent to the style of the other actors in the Pear Orchard.
It turns out that the vigorous spirit of the actors comes from jealousy and resentment and Shang XiRui is no exception when it comes to things that really matter to him. Cheng FengTai saw that the time was running out. It's already too late to explain things to him, so he had to yell at him with a smile: " Shang Lao Ban, we're leaving, I'll go to you later! "
Shang XiRui treated it as if he hasn't heard anything.
*******
As soon as Cheng FengTai left, Shang Xirui began to move restlessly. He didn't vent out on others, just went up and down, kicking and beating the air. His face was long and weary. Afterwards, he rolled up his sleeves and took a red tasseled spear and practiced in the background making the actors scared to death.
After another hour, Yang BaoLi fell down in his eyes. His EGGS AND ASS were caught by the tip of the red tasseled spear, making him run around the room crying that his master was bullying him.
Yuan Lan couldn't bear the noise and smiled: " Boss, it's Xiao ZhouZi's first time to sing in an event. You look complacent. "
Shang Xirui was negligent and didn't recognize that this was an embarrassing remark. Yuan Lan said again: " I think you should go and take a look, don't let that Xiao ZhouZi bring shame to Shuiyin Tower. Director Sun's new house is not far from here just a few steps away."
Shang XiRui let go of the red spear and adjusted his clothes and rolled down his sleeves: "I feel a little worried, This kid has always been a disgrace. "
Yuan Lan said: " Then why don't you quickly go and take a look! "
Yang BaoLi clutched his EGGS AND ASS and persuaded behind him to go out: " Boss, go and see if XIao ZhouZi had sang poorly! "
Shang XiRui, in this manner, was pushed out of the backstage by them willfully. Off to Sun's Mansion!
***********************************************************************************************
Here are some Chinese idioms or description for you to understand the chapter more... Enjoy! ^^
- 猫儿盖屎 *cat to cover up his shit* is used as a metaphor for irresponsible work, sloppy skin, and incomplete appearance.
- 满坑满谷 *Full of pits and valleys* which means all over the place or in every nook and cranny
- traditional Chinese: 點心; simplified Chinese: 点心 - the story used 点心 which means dim sum but can also mean snack at the same time. Depending on which region you are at.
- 狗血喷头 *spraying dog blood on the head of the demon* which means continuous downpour of abuse
- 碰"硬"钉子 "hit a nail" Hit a nail in English idiomatic expression is different to that of the Chinese expression. Hit a nail in Chinese would mean strongly rejected or severely reprimanded.
- 福寿双全 " Happiness and longevity are both complete." or it means to enjoy both happiness and longevity
- 指桑骂槐 "to point at the mulberry tree and curse the locust tree" or to scold indirectly; to make indirect accusations
- 嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗 Originally was "嫁乞随乞，嫁叟随叟" which meant married beggars to beggars, married old men to old men" means that even if a woman marries a beggar or an older person, she has to live with her for life. With the changes of the time, this saying has turned into a chicken or a dog.
- 杀猪 or butcher, pig killer which meant Generally, two or more people work together to design a trap to lure others into the bait and then use a certain method to jointly deceive to achieve the goal. Those who are deceived are the so-called "pigs".