As the young master of the Ye family, Ye Diao had seen countless grand scenes, so he was naturally not frightened by such a small scene. He took two steps forward confidently and calmly: "I'm going to perform ventriloquism. Please help me move a screen over."
Everyone was a little surprised. They didn't expect that a rich and noble young man like Ye Diao could perform ventriloquism. They were even more excited about it.
Before taking over the family business, Ye Diao was a dandy young man with fine clothes and high spirits. He often skipped classes to go out and play with his friends. They did not go to brothels and casinos, but to brothels and theaters where all kinds of entertainment were gathered.
The brothels and theaters were fixed entertainment venues in the city. Theaters were tents used for performances, and the brothels were the performance areas in the tents. Railings were used to block the outside to prevent guests from breaking in and disrupting the performances.
In economically developed areas, people no longer have to worry about food and clothing, and tend to pursue spiritual enjoyment, so entertainment naturally flourishes. Fengchi, as one of the most prosperous places in the south, naturally has brothels and theaters.
This place often gathers various folk acrobatics, such as storytelling, singing, dancing, pole walking, sumo, magic tricks, etc. It is extremely lively. No matter whether it is high-ranking officials or ordinary people, they all like to come here whether they have something to do or not.
Ye Diao once heard a ventriloquist performance in which the performer's props were nothing more than a table, a chair, a fan, a wake-up block, and a screen.
However, the ventriloquist, relying solely on his voice, was able to perform a series of realistic and delicate scenes, so real that people believed that those scenes were actually happening. However, when the ventriloquist stopped, everything returned to calm.
After listening to that ventriloquist performance, Ye Diao developed a strong interest in this skill and pestered the ventriloquist to agree to teach him.
After learning from a ventriloquist for a few months, his interest in leaf carving gradually faded. After all, learning any skill is not an easy task. Not only does one need to have talent in this area, but one also needs to put in tremendous effort day after day.
Ye Diao had good talent, but he lacked the perseverance to persist. The ventriloquist saw that he was only interested for a while, so he naturally stopped teaching him and took the opportunity to escape.
Now that he was about to go on stage to perform, Ye Diao remembered the ventriloquism he had learned. He could actually play a few songs, but there was no piano here, and playing the piano was not very down-to-earth and did not fit the current scene. It was better to perform ventriloquism to liven up the atmosphere.
Sitting behind the screen, the leaf diao cleared his throat and began his performance.
After all, he had studied it seriously for several months. Although he gave up later, he would still say a few words from time to time, so the basic skills were still there.
It sounds like that.
When he finished his performance and walked out from behind the screen, the crowd gave him a warm round of applause.
Ye Diao smiled modestly, but he was actually very proud in his heart. He thought that after handing over the burden on his shoulders to his son, he might be able to become a ventriloquist to pass the boring life of his old age.
"Come and draw the lottery." Xue Huan said.
Ye Diao walked to the lottery box, fumbled for a while, and took out a piece of paper. He looked at it and his expression became depressed. "It seems that I can only sleep in the study tonight."
What he said meant that the reward written on the note was definitely not a handbag. Instead of sympathizing with him, everyone started to make a fuss and laughed happily.
Xue Huan asked, "What's written on it?"
Ye Diao handed her the note and said, "Grab a handful of money."
"This reward is not bad. Come on, catch them. All you can get are yours."
Xue Huan opened the big box filled with copper coins. Everyone was stunned when they saw the copper coins inside.
With so much money in front of you, who wouldn’t be tempted?
Ye Diao rolled up his sleeves and walked over. Xue Huan reminded him, "You can only grab it with one hand."
For the first time, Ye Diao hated that his hands were not big enough.
He reached in and pulled out a handful of money. Ye Mao quickly handed him his hat and said, "Dad, hurry up and put it in the hat."
This amount of money was worth at least a few hundred coins, and everyone was jealous.
Ye Diao usually handled thousands or even tens of thousands of taels of silver, so how could he care less about a few hundred coins? But at this moment, he was smiling happily. The joy of grabbing money was something he didn't usually experience.
Under the stimulation of money and things, everyone lost their reserve and rushed to perform and draw prizes. Those who won satisfactory prizes were naturally very happy. Even if the prizes were not so satisfactory, everyone was still happy, after all, these things were free.
And nothing is cheap. Even if it is just a box of pastries, it is from Zhao Ji. One box can be sold for at least several taels of silver, and the supply is in short supply.
So no matter what they draw, everyone is very satisfied.
Even children have a chance to enter the lottery.
The food in the hall is always available, hot and delicious, and you can eat it whenever you are hungry. The atmosphere of the annual meeting is cheerful and lively throughout.
The annual meeting lasted until after nine o'clock in the evening.
Xue Huan arranged for the family's driver to take people back door to door. After all, it was getting late, and they were holding the prizes they had won tonight, so it was not safe to walk at night.
For example, Ye Diao's family came in their own carriage, so there was no need to send them off.
Others slept directly in Zhao's house, such as Zhou Ao and the people from the foundation.
They all have dormitories in this mansion, so they don't have to make another trip.
Xue Huan sent the last guest away and returned to the banquet hall, where the servants were cleaning up the mess left behind.
There were still quite a few copper coins left in the money box. Xue Huan said to Ah Man, who was still finishing up her meal, "Everyone has worked hard today. Ah Man, please share the remaining money in the box with everyone."
The servants cheered, and their fatigue disappeared instantly.
"Thank you, girl!"
Ah Man held food in his mouth and nodded.
She was very happy today. Although she had never been hungry since she followed the girl, today was the first time she had the chance to eat to her heart's content.
And there were so many kinds of food that she didn't know where to start.
This sweet trouble made her happy as if she were in a dream.
Xue Huan called Chen Tian into the study and gave him instructions regarding the New Year gifts.
She will definitely not be here during the Chinese New Year, so we have to prepare in advance.
The next day, Xue Huan went to Ye Diao to divide the money, no, to settle the accounts.
Currently, she has cooperated with the Ye family in four businesses, namely Yingxianlou, Zuifenglou, Shanhai Hotpot Restaurant, and Yeji Ice Cream. By the end of the year, the accounts of these shops have basically been collected, and it is time for her, as a shareholder, to get her dividends.
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