Chapter 56

The stage is high.

Below the stage are rows of tightly packed seats.

Chu Yueqing took two tickets and went inside to find a seat. She was surprised to see the seat numbers on the tickets: "Is it the usher?"

Her seat was number 27, and Zhou Fengxu's was number 28.

What a coincidence?

Shi Boren looked over and was surprised to see that it was the usher. "Really? We bumped into each other even though we didn't make reservations

. What kind of shitty fate is this?" After he finished speaking,

Chu Yueqing and Zhou Fengxu looked at him.

Chu Yueqing tilted her head: "Friend, can you correct the wording?"

Realizing that he had said something wrong, Shi Boren slapped his lips repeatedly: "Sorry, sorry."

"Don't mind the details."

Shi Boren smiled playfully, stretched out his hand and hooked Gan Yizu's neck, and walked to the back seat with a big swing, "You guys enjoy it slowly, it doesn't matter if Yizu and I sit at the back."

Gan Yizu patted Shi Boren's arm and stammered: "No, I mind a little. The Princess Flower is very famous. I want to discuss changing seats with the people in front."

Gan Yizu's head leaned forward and was pulled back.

"What seat do you want to change!" Shi Boren forced Gan Yizu to sit down, frowning, "The view is better here."

"What view, I see only heads everywhere." Gan Yizu was puzzled.

Until Shi Boren desperately blinked at the backs of a man and a woman in front of him.

"Yes... yes! No! The scenery here is more beautiful." Gan Yizu nodded repeatedly.

Chu Yueqing pointed to the front row, "Then shall we go over there?"

"Go ahead." Shi Boren waved his hand, and after everyone left, he pressed Gan Yizu's head down, "Do you know that Brother Xu has another nickname in the police station?"

Gan Yizu shook his head.

"A love killer." Shi Boren raised his knife with an exaggerated expression, and the knife fell down, "Kill the opposite sex without leaving a single piece of armor, and no one can stick to you."

"You are finally willing to watch a play with a girl, be more conspicuous. "

Gan Yizu gestured OK, "Then... sneak away after the play?"

"You are really conspicuous." Shi Boren also gestured OK.

The two sat down.

Zhou Fengxu chose a seat near the back, and considerately left the seat next to the aisle.

The environment was dark, with only a beam of light on the stage.

The waiting time was rather boring.

Zhou Fengxu glanced to the side: "Do you want to know what this drama is about?"

"Yes." Chu Yueqing became interested. She came in a hurry and didn't even read the introduction of "Flowers of the Imperial Concubine".

So.

With Zhou Fengxu's patient and low voice explaining.

She figured out the story line.

"Flowers of the Imperial Concubine" tells the story of the late Ming Dynasty, when the 15-year-old eldest daughter of the palace, Princess Changping, was ordered by the emperor to choose a son-in-law, and Zhou Shixian, the son of the Grand Coachman, won her heart. Unfortunately, King Cheng Li Zicheng invaded the capital and the Ming Dynasty perished. Emperor Chongzhen killed all the princesses and then hanged himself. ①

Princess Changping was not destined to die, she was rescued and later met Zhou Shixian again. ②

The Qing emperor coerced and lured the two to return to the palace for the sake of the common people. In the midst of national hatred and family feuds, the two pretended to agree, and Princess Changping asked the Qing emperor to bury Chongzhen properly and release the emperor's brother. In the end, she and Zhou Shixian got married under the tree in the Qianqing Palace, and both drank arsenic to commit suicide. ③

"Isn't it a tragedy?" Chu Yueqing sighed.

Because of Guo Fengdan, she became interested in opera, but is it too late to leave now?

"It depends on how you understand it." Zhou Fengxu's eyes were light, "When the country was destroyed, Chongzhen killed his daughter but left his son. Why?"

"He wanted to keep his son for revenge." Chu Yueqing felt it was really unfair.

He killed his daughter because he was worried that his daughter would be humiliated, but he wanted to keep his son's life for revenge.

Who would have thought that his son's life would be saved by his daughter in the end?

Not long after, the sound of chatting could be heard from the side.

"Liang Xiaodie is in this show. I haven't seen her perform in a long time."

"Yes. I grew up watching her. She was a popular leading actress back then. Alas, it's hard to find such a wonderful woman in the opera world nowadays."

"Is this the last show?"

"After all, she is old, and it's time for her to leave."

Finally, a faint sigh was heard.

"Liang Xiaodie is old too. I wonder if anyone still remembers Guo Fengdan back then?"

The old man who was talking was sitting not far away. His beard was completely white. He squinted his presbyopic eyes as if he saw Guo Fengdan performing on the stage again.

Some young people questioned: "Liang Xiaodie is a professor in the art world, but you have never heard of Guo Fengdan."

The old man shook his head: "Guo Fengdan is Liang Xiaodie's teacher. If the tragedy had not happened, with her understanding and love of Cantonese opera, her achievements would never be lower than Liang Xiaodie's today."

As he said this, the old man sighed deeply, "God's will is playing tricks on people."

Someone asked: "Grandpa, who are you? How do you know so much about Guo Fengdan and Liang Xiaodie?"

"The past is no match for the beginning of a good show." The old man shook his head.

As the sound of scratching sounded.

The big show started.

Everyone's eyes were once again focused on the stage.

More than half of the seats in the venue were empty. Most of the spectators were grandparents, and there were two or three young people who came with their elderly. The opera was performed on the stage, and they were idly looking around while chewing gum and crossing their legs.

In short, they could

watch anything

except the actors on the stage.

Zhou Fengxu was different. He could not stretch his long legs, so he bent them slightly. His hands were resting lightly on the chair without doing anything else, tapping with the sound of the instruments, his eyes fixed on the stage, and he was fully engaged.

Chu Yueqing could see that Zhou Fengxu didn't watch many operas.

But his good family education made him respect the actors' efforts.

Chu Yueqing withdrew her gaze and began to watch the play seriously.

Before she knew it, it was the last scene.

This scene was called Xiang Yao, and it was about the princess and her husband committing suicide for love.

Princess Changping and Zhou Shixian stood under the tree in their bridal capes and robes, each holding a glass of wine.

Princess Changping took the wine and cried, "The country no longer belongs to the Zhu family, the style and appearance have changed with the clothes of foreign countries."

Zhou Shixian, "The loyal ones shed their blood to protect their country with loyalty. They fought against the Qing Dynasty and saved the people. It's a pity that a group of traitors sold out the country, and the Han Dynasty was controlled and suffered misfortune."

...

Princess Changping: "The flowers in the palace are sad and look forward to their lover, and weep for the emperor's daughter's misfortune."

Zhou Shixian, "The prince consort has a strong heart to sacrifice his life for the country."

Princess Changping looked at the poisoned wine in the cup and drank it all in one gulp, "Swallowing arsenic with tears."

Zhou Shixian followed her to drink, "Awakening the national spirit."

Princess Changping's wine glass fell to the ground. The poison had taken effect. She staggered and hugged her prince consort, slowly sat down, and leaned on his chest.

"The lovebirds cling to each other, like old trees intertwined, never to be separated."

Together: "In the Han Dynasty, there were loyal ministers, who once raised their arms to restore the country and wipe out the hatred of the deceased."

The two of them locked their necks and closed their eyes.

Chu Yueqing was deeply shocked by the ending.

After the actors bowed, many audience members rushed to the stage to present flowers.

However, the flowers were not given to the actress who played Princess Changping, but to an old lady.

The old lady wore a jeweled hair crown and had kind eyes. She waved her hand to thank the agent for helping her and accepted the flowers from the audience before leaving the stage.

The applause was thunderous.

The old grandfather walked up to Liang Xiaodie with a cane and handed her a large bouquet of flowers, "Congratulations to Professor Liang on your retirement. You are a man of integrity and have lived up to the reputation of the opera world. If my father were still alive, he would be proud of you."

Mrs. Liang took the flowers and smiled, "I hope the old owner knows that Xiaodie has not brought shame to the opera world."

Her eyes were blurry, and she looked back at the stage. She seemed to see Guo Fengdan taking her to learn singing on the stage, holding her hand and walking around the stage step by step.

After the tragedy happened in the Guo family, she vowed to do well in the path of singing opera.

In the blink of an eye, several decades have passed.

She has reached the age of retirement.

Old memories flooded into Mrs. Liang's mind, and tears welled up in her eyes, "If Sister Dandan was still here, she would definitely... definitely do better than me."

"Don't underestimate yourself." A crisp voice came.

Old lady Liang raised her eyes in surprise.

Standing not far away was a young girl, she had a good demeanor and a faint smile on her fair face.

"Xiao Diedie, Dandan once said that she had seen you sing opera, and she was very proud of your good singing."

She saw it too.

It was indeed a good singing.

Chu Yueqing waved to the old lady, then turned and went to the exit.

Zhou Fengxu looked at the old lady, then at her, "The little girl back then?"

"Yes." Chu Yueqing retracted her gaze, smiled at the grandpas and grandmas walking out.

"Let's go too."

"Xiao Diedie, Xiao Diedie."

Old lady Liang trembled and repeated, this is... this is a nickname that only sister Dandan would occasionally call.

She burst into tears, and she was no longer able to chase the girl.

Perhaps, sister Dandan really saw her performance.

Otherwise… otherwise, how can this title come from?

“Opera is getting worse year by year.”

The old grandfather sighed: “When the old audiences who love to watch opera die and there are more young people, where will opera go?”

Old Mrs. Liang smiled absentmindedly, “Just do your best.”

A little granddaughter was born in the family recently. As soon as she was born, she would grab her opera robe. For some reason, Old Mrs. Liang could always see the shadow of Guo Fengdan in her face.

After chatting, Old Mrs. Liang sighed: “In the future, there will be someone to carry on the family business.”

The old grandfather laughed heartily and clasped his hands together, “Then I must congratulate you. My grandson is also singing opera. When your granddaughter grows up, let them act in the opera.”

“Of course.” Old Mrs. Liang was helped off the stage.

"No matter what, Cantonese opera must find a way to develop."

At night, the Fang family villa was brightly lit, and the lights shone into the water of the swimming pool, making it glow. The parking lot was full of luxury cars, and the lawn was crowded with upper-class people.

Fang Jingguo was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling, and he was mingling among the wealthy families with a glass of wine in his hand.

The man was wearing a white tuxedo, with his hair slightly covering his eyebrows. His elegant temperament and handsome face attracted the attention of many ladies.

Even Fang Jiajia, who was accompanying Xu Conglu, was absent-minded and couldn't help but glance at him again and again.

Qiao Xing took a plate of peanuts and ate them one by one while sitting by the pool. Seeing that her brother attracted a lot of attention, she complained, "Brother, can you please stand by?"

"Why?" Qiao Ziyuan smiled, "You should know that people are born with the right to appreciate beauty."

Qiao Xing shuddered, "Do they appreciate beauty? I don't know if they are simple or you are simple, and you can devour people to the last drop in a minute."

As he spoke ,

Qiao Xing put the plate of peanuts she brought from the kitchen on the ground and sighed at the starry sky.

"Alas, the vulgar woman is not even as good as a finger of the goddess sister."

"Won't the goddess sister who misses you go to see it?" Qiao Ziyuan was also very interested in Master Chu who saved his life. He heard from his parents and brother that he was able to stand on his own at a very young age and had strong magic power.

What a pity.

After he woke up, the company was in chaos, so he could only deal with the company's affairs first.

Speaking of which, he had not visited Master Chu in person.

Qiao Ziyuan also squatted down, "Find a time, brother will go with you."

He just reached out to touch Qiao Xing's head, but was quickly pushed away by Qiao Xing.

"She is very busy."

Qiao Xing straightened her messed up hair, "You thought it was you? You have time to stand by the pool and let people admire you. If I had known it would be like this, I would never have come."

Qiao Xing was really angry.

Qiao Ziyuan asked him to help, and he thought it was a big favor, but it turned out that he came to help him ward off peach blossoms.

Qiao Ziyuan smiled, "If you don't help me, who will?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Jiajia brought some fruit over. When Qiao Ziyuan looked at her, she blushed with embarrassment, "Qiao... Young Master Qiao, eat... eat some fruit."

"Thank you. Fruit is too cold, and my parents told us not to eat it." Qiao Ziyuan smiled.

Fang Jiajia's face turned even redder. Thinking of the rumors, she hurriedly tried to hand the fruit to the servant, but the servant was entertaining guests far away and didn't see her move. Fang

Jiajia danced for a long time, feeling very embarrassed: "I'm sorry, you're not in good health... I... I forgot."

"It's okay." Qiao Ziyuan smiled and quietly kicked Qiao Xing.

Qiao Xing stood up resignedly, took Fang Jiajia's fruit plate, picked up a toothpick casually, poked an apple, and frowned when he saw clearly what it was.

Qiao Xing glanced at Fang Jiajia's faintly expectant eyes.

"Is it delicious? I cut it myself." Fang Jiajia's eyes were full of expectation. She naturally knew Qiao Xing's identity, and couldn't help but want to win his favor. If anyone else dared to take the fruit she prepared for Qiao Ziyuan, she would definitely be angry.

Qiao Xing's face was full of doubts.

Cutting it yourself, what does it have to do with whether it tastes good?

He still maintained his composure and put it into his mouth, chewing mechanically.

"It tastes okay." Qiao Xing glanced at the smiling Qiao Ziyuan and secretly complained, "Smiling fox, you are the good guy and I am the bad guy."

"Qiao Xiao Shao, what did you say?" Fang Jiajia didn't hear clearly.

Qiao Xing changed to a loud voice: "If you have nothing to do, can you please leave? My brother likes quietness."

As soon as he said this.

Many people looked towards the swimming pool.

Fang Jiajia had never been driven away so bluntly, and she was very embarrassed.

"My dad... Daddy said."

Fang Jiajia bit her lower lip in embarrassment, looking at Qiao Ziyuan with a pitiful expression. "The Fang family will

cooperate

with the Qiao family. Let me find a chance to learn more from... from Brother Ziyuan."

Qiao Ziyuan was still smiling, but his warm eyes were already cold.

Qiao Xing couldn't pretend anymore and became increasingly impatient: "The cooperation has not been confirmed yet. My brother needs a rest now, and you don't want the cooperation to go down the drain, right?"

The threatening words came out.

Fang Jiajia could only leave in despair.

Xu Conglu was slowly turning the red wine glass in the distance. A lady from a certain group was accompanying her. Seeing Fang Jiajia actually trying to please Qiao Ziyuan,

the lady couldn't help but sneer.

"The Fang family is not afraid of being choked. They even dare to think about stepping into the Qiao family's door. No wonder the Qiao family doesn't give her a good face. However..."

The young lady changed the subject, "Young Master Qiao has a really good temper. Even when Fang Jiajia is entangled like this, he doesn't get angry and smiles gently. No wonder so many girls have a crush on him."

The Xu family and the Qiao family are old friends.

Xu Conglu naturally knows Qiao Ziyuan's temper. He can smile at you like a spring breeze and then stab you.

What a pity.

People with such a personality are soft-hearted to themselves.

Otherwise, the previous assassination would not have happened.

"I advise you not to put your hope on the Qiao family and change your target."

Xu Conglu looked back at the girl, shaking the red wine glass, "This is advice."

The young lady was touched in the heart, her face turned red, and she had to leave in a hurry.

Fang Jiajia ran into the room and lay on the bed crying.

Tian Yu'e saw her daughter enter the room, smiled and interrupted the guests who were chatting, "Sorry, I'll go see what happened."

and opened the door.

Seeing Fang Jiajia buried in the quilt, Tian Yu'e pulled up the quilt and asked softly, "Let me see which crying face it is?"

"Mommy." Fang Jiajia threw herself into Tian Yu'e's arms and cried, "The two brothers of the Qiao family are not polite at all. I kindly brought them some fruit, but Qiao Xing chased me away." "

So it's this matter." Tian Yu'e breathed a sigh of relief and brushed away her daughter's wet hair. "They are from the Qiao family!"

"There are many people who want to marry into the Qiao family. The two young masters of the Qiao family have already seen a lot of storms. How could they be moved by a small plate of fruit from you? Even Daddy has to speak in a low voice to the eldest son of the Qiao family."

Tian Yu'e saw further.

The Qiao family is one of the most wealthy families in Hong Kong.

If her daughter can marry into the Qiao family, it will be a real change of life.

"All the young masters of wealthy families have such tempers. You have to keep insisting and keep warming up Young Master Qiao. Now that the Fang family and the Qiao family have cooperated, you can ask your dad to take you to Qiao's enterprise more often. Just make more soup and cook more rice, and slowly move people with warmth. You have to be more patient with such men."

Fang Jiajia has always been pursued by others. She has never tried to pursue others. And it's so difficult to try.

Thinking of Qiao Xing's straightforward way of chasing people away, she felt wronged again with red eyes, "But, everyone says that Young Master Qiao never gave any woman a chance."

"Silly." Tian Yu'e grabbed Fang Jiajia's hand, "It shows that Qiao Ziyuan has good self-control! If you can take him down and become the eldest lady of the Qiao family, and then control Ziyuan's heart, you won't have to worry about him cheating on you after marriage." "

Is... is that so?" Fang Jiajia wiped her tears and was half-believing and half-doubting.

"That's it." Tian Yu'e carefully asked the Qiao brothers about their reactions, and when she learned that Qiao Xing had eaten the apple, she smiled and became even happier.

"Qiao Xing is willing to eat fruit, which means he recognizes you. Don't forget to bring something for Qiao Xing when you visit Qiao Ziyuan in the future? Did you hear that? As the saying goes, a person who eats someone's food will be soft-hearted and a person who takes someone's money will be short-handed. If Qiao Xing is coaxed, won't she be able to say more good things to Qiao Ziyuan?"

Fang Jiajia suddenly realized.

She stopped crying and started laughing instead. She even imagined the day when she would marry into the Qiao family's mansion, "Mommy! When I marry into the Qiao family in the future, I will definitely buy you a lot of mansions to thank you."

"As long as the children live well, what kind of mansion does mommy need?" Tian Yu'e reminded, "Don't just take care of your own affairs. When big brother comes back, you should also help him and Conglu."

Tian Yu'e has made a good plan.

She hopes that her daughter can marry well and her son can find a powerful in-law.

After searching for a long time, Xu Conglu has a good family background and is an only daughter. No one is more suitable for big brother than her.

Fang Jiajia was a little embarrassed: "Let's not talk about this for now. Xu...Conglu has been weird recently. When I asked her to go out to play, she didn't talk to me much."

Ever since the fact that she was an illegitimate daughter was exposed.

Xu Conglu used to have a bit of good face towards her, but it disappeared directly.

Originally thought Xu Conglu would ignore her, when she went to deliver the invitations, he came again.

Fang Jiajia couldn't figure out what Xu Conglu was thinking.

"Don't think too much." Tian Yu'e comforted her, "Women need someone who understands their feelings. Your elder brother is handsome and has just returned from studying in the UK. He will definitely catch Xu Conglu's eye."

"Let's wait and see what the opportunity is. Let your elder brother take her home."

Fang Jiajia nodded.

Anyway, she will also benefit from having a daughter of a wealthy family as her sister-in-law.

Fang Jingguo pushed the door open. He had just finished accompanying a business friend. Recently, the company's fortunes have been getting better and better, and the stock value has doubled. Not only that, the Qiao family also got the land that was so difficult to get.

People are in high spirits when they are happy.

It was not until the end of the family dinner that he suddenly remembered why he hadn't met the two sisters of the Chu family yet?

His future plans would not work without two daughters!

Fang Jingguo looked anxious: "Yu'e, help me call Xia Yueqing and Xiaoyi, it's almost over, why haven't they shown up yet?"

"I knew they didn't have the courage to come." Fang Jiajia snorted, "They are wearing tattered clothes and look poor, so they won't ruin the newly bought mansion. It's better if they don't come!"

Fang Jingguo scolded: "Shut up, don't let others know that you don't get along with your sisters!"

Tian Yu'e naturally knew Fang Jingguo's intention, and after comforting Fang Jiajia, she stood up, "Wait, I'll make a call."

"It's my negligence, I should have sent a car to pick up the two sisters earlier."

Fang Jingguo was moved: "I really have a good wife."

"There's no way. Who let them keep your blood? I treat them the same as Jiajia." Tian Yu'e smiled hypocritically and thought to herself.

She would not ask someone to pick up the Chu sisters.

She wanted everyone to see the Chu sisters' desolation, and then lend a helping hand, to show the generosity and kindness of the Fang family mistress.

Tian Yu'e was just about to make a phone call when

the newly hired servant's voice came in.

"Madam, the eldest lady is back! The eldest lady is back!"

"The eldest lady?" Tian Yu'e's smile collapsed in an instant.

Her eyes were blazing with anger.

The eldest lady? ?

Jia Jia is the only lady in the Fang family!