Chapter 472 Practice
Lin Yuesha rejected Qingxing's suggestion, because seeking help from the old lady and Lord Yu was the most direct solution at present.
After finally managing to get into the Yu family mansion, the only person who greeted them when they went out to receive them was an old nanny from the inner quarters, who was also the manager of the inner quarters.
"It's getting late, and the old lady has already retired for the night. She instructed that your stage be set up in the garden."
The steward led the group to the back garden, proceeding in complete darkness without even a lantern.
The steward, who frequented the mansion year-round, was familiar with every blade of grass and tree. However, the Qiuyue troupe members were not so fortunate. Carrying their loads, they followed behind, stumbling and falling, occasionally stepping on the bottom of a step and immediately swaying precariously.
Even if Qiuyue Troupe is very popular, it doesn't mean much to the officials. Xiao Qiuyue is good-tempered and didn't say much, but the deputy troupe leader was very unhappy.
"I've performed in so many operas, but I've never seen such neglect."
A group of people came to perform, so at least they should be provided with accommodation. But the manager just left them in the back garden and didn't care. Are they supposed to just let them feed on mosquitoes in the garden?
"It's alright, we have the tools. Let's find a place to light incense and make do for the night."
Tomorrow we'll set up the stage, perform in the evening, and then leave.
Everyone said that the old lady of the Yu family had an eccentric personality, and they were abandoned as soon as they arrived. Xiao Qiuyue wanted to take everyone back and not take on the Yu family's work, but having already accepted the money, he couldn't go back on his promise to help Lin Yuesha.
"Miss Lin, you need to be mentally prepared."
Xiao Qiuyue looked at Lin Yuesha. As an actress, how many times had he been slandered and scorned? He didn't care about these things, but judging from the Yu family's current actions, they were too difficult to deal with.
"The manager just told us to stay in the back garden and not to wander around."
Lin Yuesha sighed. It was an inauspicious start. The Yu family's attitude was indeed bad, and she might not even have a chance to enter the kitchen tomorrow.
Once inside the Yu residence, Lin Yuesha couldn't leave. She regretted not bringing an extra set of clothes to wear, as it was still a bit chilly on a summer night.
Lin Yuesha borrowed a costume from Xiao Qiuyue, draped it over her shoulders, leaned against Qingxing, and closed her eyes in deep thought.
Suddenly, a slight noise came from beside her. Lin Yuesha asked Qingxing, "Did you hear that? There's a woman crying."
"Is there?"
Qingxing was lost in thought and didn't notice anything amiss. She listened carefully for a while, then shook her head.
Apart from the old lady, there are no women in the Yu family. Lord Yu's first wife has passed away, and Young Master Yu is unmarried. He spends all his time with an old nanny, no wonder there are rumors circulating in the capital.
Lin Yuesha sat in the back garden all night, and even with the mosquito-repelling incense, she still suffered a lot and was bitten by many mosquitoes.
The next morning, the opera troupe was still left out in the back garden, without even seeing a manager.
The group was starving. Normally, since they had come to the Yu family to perform, they should at least be given a meal. Even if the Yu family disdained to associate with such low-class people, they should at least be given a plate of cakes.
"Vice-leader, I'm not going to make it. I didn't eat dinner last night. I was notified by the Yu family and rushed over. It's been a whole day."
Without food, there's no energy. Setting up the stage is hard labor. Now that no one from the Yu family has shown up, I don't know what they mean by it.
If you don't like their Qiuyue Troupe, just say so. They don't want to perform for people with eccentric personalities.
“Yes, I’m hungry too. We’re not allowed to go out. This is the inner city of the capital. We have to go a long way to buy a bowl of wontons.”
The rest of Qiuyue's class complained. Little Qiuyue had no choice but to think for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll go talk to the manager. We still have some cakes in the carriage, so everyone can have a bite to eat first."
Today, the matriarch of the Yu family has set up a stage overnight, so a feast must be prepared to entertain the guests. Normally, they wouldn't be allowed to go hungry.
"Young Master Qiuyue, when has the Yu family started to play by the rules?"
The crowd was filled with resentment, and Xiao Qiuyue couldn't say anything to refute it. At least, he had never seen such behavior when he went to the manor to perform.
"Vice-leader, I'll go with you to find the person in charge."
Lin Yuesha volunteered with Qingxing, and the deputy head of the troupe agreed when he learned that Lin Yuesha wanted to get close to the Yu family.
The three headed straight for the main kitchen, only to find that the door from the back garden to the main kitchen was locked, meaning they were trapped in the back garden and couldn't get out.
Is anyone home?
Lin Yuesha banged on the door, her anger rising within her.
We invited people to perform, not to buy livestock. How can you treat people like this? Lin Yuesha spent the whole night in the back garden last night and is still not in good spirits.
Having no other choice but to ask for a favor, Lin Yuesha had to suppress her anger.
"What are you shouting for?"
After a short while, the head maid appeared at the side gate, unlocked the main lock with a key, and asked, "What are you doing?"
“Headmistress, we’ve been here all night and we don’t even have a place to stay, but we’re starving. A bowl of hot soup would be nice.”
The deputy class leader stated the purpose directly; that was the bare minimum. If the Yu family disliked their food, they could deduct the money from the bill.
"Who knows who you are? Of course you can't get into the inner quarters."
The headmistress glanced at the deputy troupe leader and said in a very unpleasant tone, "You leave after your performance. If it weren't for our old lady suddenly wanting to hear a play, she would never have allowed those lowly actors to enter."
The Yu family has been practicing medicine for generations, and the plaque on their gate was a gift from the emperor. How could they allow a bunch of lowlifes to offend them?
Suddenly want to listen to opera?
The deputy troupe leader was furious. Clearly, someone had gone to Cangzhou in advance and spent half a month trying to invite the Qiuyue Troupe. Only then were they moved by that person's sincerity and decided to come to the capital to perform.
Now, in the mouth of the old lady of the Yu family, it has become that they shamelessly came to us on their own initiative, which is unacceptable to the deputy head of the troupe.
"Head Madam, the Qiuyue Troupe has prepared a new play for Madam Yu, and also a generous gift to celebrate her birthday."
Lin Yuesha, worried that the deputy head of the troupe and the head matron would quarrel, preemptively took over the conversation.
"Who is our old lady? Does she need to go to Cangzhou to invite someone to watch a play? It's probably just some sycophant trying to curry favor with our master and please our old lady."
Originally, the old lady wanted to kick the person out, but after thinking it over, she decided to make an exception and let the person stay.
"Madam, please have mercy. I heard you came from Cangzhou. It must have been a difficult journey of three days by water. If you hadn't put on the show, you might not have received the money at all."
The head maid's words were like a slap in the face to Lin Yuesha. Her sincerity in asking for a favor was trampled underfoot and mocked by a servant.
If it weren't for her father's serious illness and the slight hope that Master Yu had, she wouldn't have racked her brains to go to his door to beg for help.
"Will those who ask for favors get what they want?"
Now that the opera troupe has been retained, how do we address the need for people to spend money to curry favor?
"Don't even dream about it. Our old lady only listens to operas because it's not easy for her, and you think you can take advantage of that?"
The Yu family was a family of imperial physicians, and they did not treat lower-class people; this was their rule. Officials of the time who came to the Yu residence to offer gifts were almost always turned away.
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