After visiting her maternal grandfather's house and receiving a pile of gifts, Qingyin returned home happily.
Aside from Lin's parents, who looked dejected after being scolded, Qingyin's group encountered no problems whatsoever.
But things going smoothly is never guaranteed; unexpected events can happen at any time.
When Qingyin went out shopping with Lin Wanyu as usual, she encountered an accident.
A Peking Opera troupe suddenly appeared on Donglin Street in the capital, making the street unusually lively. Lin Wanyu didn't like listening to opera, but she loved joining in the fun. Upon hearing the news, she quickly went to Yunjin Pavilion to find Qingyin to go to Donglin Street to watch the opera.
Qingyin had been idle in the house for a while, and when she heard that a large fire troupe was coming from outside, she became interested.
They left the Lin residence together with Lin Wanyu.
Sure enough, this newly arrived Peking Opera troupe in the capital is quite famous.
Qingyin looked at the outdoor stage, which was probably set up for a theatrical performance, and was amazed by the crowds gathered around it. As expected of a popular troupe, probably half of the people in the capital had come to see this play.
Looking at the bustling crowd, Lin Wanyu was clearly excited. "Sister, this theater troupe is really popular! There are so many people here!"
Qingyin nodded. "Indeed, there are quite a lot of people. There must be a big shot among them."
"Mmm," Lin Wanyu stared at the front with bright eyes, clearly eager to try the spot where she could see the stage more clearly. However, she still remembered the psychological trauma of being separated from her sister in the crowd last time, so she managed to stay calm.
Seeing the expectation on her face, Qingyin smiled and said, "Wanyu, go ahead. Xianglian and I will just stay here and watch."
"Then I'll go?" Lin Wanyu's eyes lit up.
Qingyin smiled and nodded.
Lin Wanyu jumped up happily, "Then you wait here, sister, I'll squeeze to the front and tell you the exciting parts of the document again." With that, the girl walked briskly forward.
Qingyin hurriedly instructed, "Slow down, bring the guards with you."
The girl waved her hand dismissively, indicating that she had heard her.
Qingyin found it amusing, but after carefully observing the distance between herself and the deliberately elevated arena, she pondered for a moment. There was a platform not far away, and she figured she could roughly see the performance from there.
After exchanging a few words with Xiang Lian beside him, the group headed towards a slightly higher platform.
Before long, Qingyin walked up to the higher platform and looked towards the arena. Sure enough, she could see it more clearly.
The theater troupe also began making preparations.
As Qingyin watched the people bring out one complicated and intricate tool after another, she widened her eyes slightly and examined them more closely.
"Dear audience members, if you have money, please support us financially; if you don't, please show your support by being here. Our Lihuayuan Opera Troupe will be performing The Legend of the White Snake today. We hope you enjoy watching and listening!" On the stage, the man in the hempen jacket introduced the performance, drawing cheers from the audience.
"Good! Well said!" The onlookers applauded enthusiastically, looking at the stage with curiosity as the performance was about to begin.
Seeing the expectant looks on the faces of the people below, the middle-aged man from the opera troupe smiled and said in a passionate voice, "Very well, then I will not disturb your enjoyment today. Now, let our Legend of the White Snake begin!"
As the man's voice stopped, music began to play.
A woman dressed as the White Snake Lady walked up and vividly portrayed the story of a white snake becoming a spirit.
...
Qingyin watched the drama in the distance, listening to the White Snake character's singing, and nodded repeatedly.
No wonder this theater troupe dares to open its doors directly on the street; they really have the skills. I reckon after this performance, the Pear Garden Theater Troupe will probably see a surge in business.
Qingyin was so focused on what she was seeing that she didn't notice a seven or eight-year-old beggar in the crowd, looking left and right as if searching for his target.
Xiaoqi hadn't eaten for four days. Looking thin and frail, she touched her empty stomach and looked at the men around her carrying snacks with obvious longing in her eyes.
His name is Xiao Qi, formerly known as Gou Dan. He loved to eat as long as he could remember, which led to his misfortune. When he went to the market with his parents, he lingered a little longer because the malt candy sold at the street corner was too tempting. The next second, he was kidnapped.
When he opened his eyes, it was a blur of darkness and light. He didn't know how many days and nights had passed. All Gou Dan remembered was that he was very hungry. He was so hungry that he even wanted to stuff the worms crawling out of the ground into his mouth.
Unfortunately, the insect was slapped to the ground by the fierce-looking man as soon as it reached the left side; it was starving to death.
In a semi-conscious state, he saw the man about to sell him. He didn't want to, he was in pain, and he wanted to go back to his parents.
But he was so hungry that he had no strength left and couldn't climb.
Later, the man gave him a rotten steamed bun, which Gou Dan stuffed into his mouth with all his might, and the burning sensation in his stomach finally subsided.
The next day, Gou Dan learned that the man was going to sell him to a lonely, crippled old man to be his son.
Gou Dan knew his chance to escape had come. That night, while the man was asleep, he secretly ran away, running for his life.
Afraid that the man would chase after him, he rolled around on the ground and smeared mud on his face, getting himself all dirty. Gou Dan thought that if his parents were here, they probably wouldn't recognize their gluttonous son.
Dog Egg thought to himself, looking at the unfamiliar street and the disdainful eyes of the people around him, he was lost and confused. He had run away from that man. What could an eight-year-old boy like him do?
Before meeting the old beggar, Gou Dan had tried working and begging in nice shops, but those people would kick or beat him. Gou Dan was pushed to the ground, looking as pathetic as a stray dog.
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