Chapter 67
"Lin County Magistrate, I know you have a way, please help me persuade him." Last time, because Lin Shuge described the plot of the play, Lu Yuechuan was inspired and finished writing the script of "Xunxianji" in just a few days.
If County Magistrate Lin could come up with a few more ideas, Lu Yuechuan might be able to write another book in a few days, Xu Bapi thought.
Zhou Du looked at Xu Yu scratching his head with a smile, "I haven't met this Lu Yuechuan yet. He is from a noble family, why is he here writing a book?"
“It is said that he is not interested in a career in politics,” Lin Shuge replied.
He glanced at the backstage and saw that after several actors changed their clothes, they were escorted out by people sent by Xu Yu.
Lin Shuge put down his teacup and said, "I'll mention it to him when I have time, but I've already made an agreement with Han Shanzhang of Bitong Academy, so you have to add one more scene."
"As long as you can convince him to write the next book as soon as possible, I will lend it to you for a few sessions." Xu Yu clasped his hands together and said.
The following days were not as lively as these days because they were paid shows. However, due to the huge success of "Seeking the Immortals", the people in Ganzhou County talked about this play after dinner for a period of time.
The value of several actors skyrocketed, and some wealthy businessmen from other counties wanted to invite them to perform at their homes, but they were unable to get an appointment. It was said that the county magistrate's office also wanted to invite them to perform, but because of their busy schedule, they could only temporarily agree to invite Envoy Wei and arrange it for them later.
Some people with great powers even found out where they lived, and some people with nothing to do waited in front of their door every day just to see them.
Xu Yu had no choice but to arrange another place for them to stay.
A foreigner came here to do business. Hearing the conversation of the people of Ganzhou, he asked curiously, "I have seen Baixi. It's just some acrobatics..."
Before he could finish his words, the people of Ganzhou criticized him to pieces. "What do you know? The Journey to Immortality is not comparable to the acrobatics you mentioned."
"The love between Wuqi and Zimu was so moving that they won the help of the immortals, and finally the lovers got married." This is what fans of the plot said.
The line "Lovers will eventually marry" was blurted out by Lin Shuge accidentally. When Lu Yuechuan heard it, he wanted to add it to the lyrics. Lin Shuge had no choice but to apologize silently, "Master Tang, I didn't mean to plagiarize."
Sure enough, this lyric that has been passed down through the ages can always resonate with people, and now it has become a must-mention for Ganzhou people when they talk about "Xunxianji".
"And Prince Qiao and Queen Mother of the West, how can ordinary people play them?"
"Yes, do you know how the fairy birds in Kunlun Mountain and the ferocious beasts on the roadside make their sounds? Let me tell you, that's the sound made by Ming Youyuquan with his mouth, and he imitates it vividly." This is what the actor's fans said.
The outsider was stunned by what he said, but since he was already there, he paid for the show and went to watch it. Unexpectedly, he became addicted to it. He went to every performance of "A Journey to the Immortal World" and even joined the people of Ganzhou to discuss the plot and actors, despising the outsiders who came later for their lack of knowledge.
Word spread like wildfire, and when Lin Shuge found out, Xu Yu came directly to his door.
"Lin County Magistrate, has Young Master Lu written it?" Xu Yu asked as soon as he entered the room. "Many wealthy businessmen and common people have come to me and said that they have memorized the lyrics of "Xun Xian Ji" and can recite word for word the tribulations that Wu Qi experienced. If they don't perform in the new play, they will perform it themselves."
Lin Shuge was unmoved. Lu Yuechuan had been obsessed with legendary stories recently and had no interest in writing plays, so there was nothing he could do.
"Don't be impatient. It will be time to harvest crops soon. By then, people will have something to do and their enthusiasm will subside." Lin Shuge comforted him.
"It's easy for you to say that. But when will it happen? I can't refuse them now that they have come to me. Besides, not everyone farms." Xu Yu was furious and took a sip of the glass of water on the table.
Moreover, through word of mouth among merchants from other places, all the counties in Dingyuan County had heard that Ganzhou had produced a hundred operas, which were novel and interesting. Recently, many outsiders had come to the county, and some inns and restaurants were unable to accommodate them.
Some businessmen saw the business opportunity and came to Xu Yu for advice, hoping to do the same in their own territory. Xu Yu was generous and told them everything he could, but the script writing still depends on the level of the creator.
For a while, some surrounding counties and prefectures produced many plays imitating "Xun Xian Ji". Although the quality was uneven, the local people still enjoyed them.
Some discerning audiences heard that the original version was in Ganzhou, and traveled thousands of miles to watch it, contributing to the cultural and artistic undertakings of Ganzhou County.
"Hmm? Your water is good, you can take it to the market to sell." Xu Yu stared at the water cup.
"I made sour plum soup. I'll copy the recipe for you later." Lin Shuge said generously.
"Oh, thank you. I'll share the profits with you." Xu Yu took another sip. "No, don't interrupt me. When can you finish writing it? Give me a deadline."
Lin Shuge said silently: "Lu Yuechuan's legendary book is almost finished, why don't you ask someone to print this first?"
Seeing that there was really nothing he could do, Xu Yu could only say, "Please help me urge him again. I'll even double his royalties when the time comes."
He put down the water cup and said, "No, why do I remember that most of the plot was yours? Could it be that you didn't figure out the plot?" Xu Yu stared at him suspiciously.
Lin Shuge coughed dryly. Lu Yuechuan insisted on asking him to help him come up with the plot, but he was so busy recently that he had no time to do this.
Lu Yuechuan said that he would not write if there was no plot, but Lin Shuge did not believe his nonsense. If the great talent Lu could not write, who else could write?
The two of them just stood there in a stalemate. Anyway, the people of Ganzhou are still talking about "Xunxianji" with great interest, and its popularity will not decrease for a while.
On the contrary, the legendary story Lin Shuge read Lu Yuechuan's manuscript and found it to be really well written. If a part of it was printed out to test the waters, it would surely have a good effect.
"You...Lin Huai..." Xu Yu spoke without thinking.
"Hmm?" Lin Shuge glanced at him lightly.
"Lin County Magistrate, you were the one who asked me to do this. We are now on the same side. What good will it do you if I am drowned in the spit of the people of Ganzhou?" Xu Yu was furious.
"Okay, okay. I'm just too busy at the county office to take care of it. You arrange the legendary book first, and I'll think of the plot as soon as I'm free." Lin Shuge patted him on the shoulder.
"Really? Why do I feel like your tone is exactly the same as when you coaxed Xiaobai?"
“…”
Lin Shuge was speechless for a moment.
Before Xu Yu was about to go berserk, he immediately promised to work with Lu Yuechuan to think of the plot and story, and to make sure the script for the second play was released as soon as possible.
Just like the scumbag who swore and swore in modern times, he finally coaxed Xu Yu away.
I just wanted to take a short break, but unexpectedly another creditor showed up.
Dean Han was very respectful and even bowed to him, but his expression was not pleasant at all, even darker than the expression on Master Li's face who was following behind him.
Without waiting for Lin Shuge to speak, Han Shanzhang got straight to the point and asked, "I wonder what's going on with the play that County Magistrate Lin promised? Has the script been written? Or has the play been arranged? When can we go to Bitong Academy to perform it?"
Lin Shuge looked up at the sky in silence, and could only make excuses that he had rehearsed too many plays during this period and had not yet scheduled the Bitong Academy.
Master Li said anxiously, "It's not in line yet? The dean has already said it, and the students are already eagerly waiting for the show to begin."
Everyone has been waiting with great enthusiasm during this period. If it weren't for this benefit, I don't know how many students would have run away.
At that time, Principal Han promised the students that as long as they supervised each other and no one sneaked out, he would invite actors to the academy to perform a completely different show that no one outside had ever seen.
The students were indeed very excited, and they even spontaneously formed a monitoring group. There were people patrolling outside the school building every day, for fear that someone would be unable to hold back and sneak out, thus ruining the entire academy.
When President Han saw this scene, he was very pleased and looked forward to seeing County Magistrate Lin bringing a troupe of actors to the academy for a performance. However, he waited and waited, but there was no news.
I can only go to their house and ask for an explanation.
Lin Shuge felt a little guilty and promised him that the script had been written, but the actors were too busy and had not rehearsed yet. He would go to Bitong Academy as soon as the rehearsal was over to ensure a visual feast for all the teachers and students.
Once there is a first time, there will be a second time. With the experience of fooling Xu Yu just now, Lin Shuge started to tell lies one after another, which made Han Shanzhang and Master Li very excited, as if they had seen a live performance of Confucius teaching his students.
Finally getting rid of Mr. Han and Master Li, Lin Shuge felt exhausted. Fortunately, Confucius had not yet been deified in this era, otherwise blasphemy against the ancient sage would have been a serious crime, let alone performing Confucius-related plays in the academy.
He closed the gate and fed the hungry cat some minced meat and goat milk. Xiaobai had been ignored by him for a long time, and he ate the food in big mouthfuls while rubbing against him.
Lin Shuge was so cute that he was bleeding. He stroked the cat's furry head and thought about how the script should be rehearsed so that it would be solemn but not too preachy and would disgust the students who naturally didn't like preaching.
If it really doesn't work, let Lu Yuechuan work hard these few days and finish the notebook as soon as possible.
After Xiaobai finished eating, he kept acting like a spoiled child. He picked Xiaobai up and stroked it from head to tail, then threw a ball of yarn to it and let it play by itself.
Just as I was about to go into the kitchen to cook a dish for myself, I heard a few gurgling sounds. Lin Shuge looked up and saw a pigeon swooping down from the sky. After seeing him, it landed by the window.
Lin Shuge quickly added millet grains and clean water to it, took Xie Chen's letter from its legs, and went back to his room to read it.
Xie Chen's letter this time consisted of only a few sentences, which only talked about his recent situation. He was training soldiers most of the time and occasionally went out to keep watch. He also said that the border was quiet and desolate at night, with the moon hanging in the sky, and the scenery was excellent. He wanted to see it with Lin Shuge if he had the chance.
Lin Shuge finished reading it in a few seconds, picked up his pen and wrote back, sharing with him some interesting things that happened in Ganzhou recently, including the incident where Lin Qingyuan skipped class to watch a play and was caught by him and punished to write a self-criticism, which he also told Xie Chen about.
After writing the letter, he ate hurriedly and went to discuss the book with Lu Yuechuan. The one from the county could be put aside for now, but the one from Bitong Academy could not be delayed any longer.
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