I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 639 - 522 From now on, I dare not look at Guanyin_2

Chapter 639: 522 From now on, I dare not look at Guanyin_2

She seemed to treat the village deputy director with even more courtesy than how she treated Secretary Zhang.

"Haha, young? I’ve been old for a while now, and in a few more years, I plan to retire."

"Old Ma, you can’t just drop the burden so early. If you retire, who is going to manage our theater?"

Secretary Zhang teased.

A group of people exchanged pleasantries at the doorway before entering the theater.

"Pei Zhi, you haven’t been here for a long time, have you?"

Secretary Zhang asked.

The others tactfully walked on either side of the two of them.

Lan Peizhi nodded lightly.

Revisiting the old place.

Yet everything had changed.

The theater was decorated with lights, much more spacious than in the past.

Looks from all directions focused on her, with much speculation.

As the most successful person to emerge from the village, nearly everyone had heard her name, but that didn’t mean they had all seen her.

And many still remembered her from twenty years ago.

"Is that the Lan Family girl? So pretty? I can hardly recognize her."

"Who is to say otherwise, tsk, such bearing, I can hardly believe she’s from our village."

"How did Wu Guangjiang manage to have such an excellent daughter?"

Amidst the murmuring crowd, one person remained exceptionally calm, not peering at the woman who had transformed but sitting comfortably in his seat, patiently waiting for the performance to begin.

"Yong Wen bro."

Suddenly.

A shout rang out.

Martial Saint had already made his way over.

"I knew you’d definitely come."

The young man wore a self-satisfied expression as if he had known all along.

"Why aren’t you sitting with your sister and the others?"

Shang Yong Wen asked,

"Too many people, it feels uncomfortable."

Martial Saint sat down next to him, "Yong Wen bro, my sister was going to visit you the other day, but you weren’t home."

"I’ve been quite busy recently, only getting home late in the evening."

"Yong Wen bro, the shrimp market is good this year, you should make a good earning, right?"

Martial Saint asked with a hint of cunning.

Shang Yong Wen smiled.

"Only okay, I’d say."

Martial Saint rolled his eyes.

"Don’t be so modest, I’m not going to ask you for a red envelope. I might just ask you for some shrimp to eat."

"If you want to eat shrimp, just come to my house to get some, I’ll definitely have enough."

"Hehe, you said it; my sister used to love eating shrimp."

Shang Yong Wen smiled without a word.

"I’m not even sure if that guy can act. With so many people, if he screws up the performance, that would be embarrassing for our family."

"That guy?"

"Jiang Chen. My sister’s friend, Yong Wen bro, you met him a few days ago."

"He’s in the performance?"

Shang Yong Wen was surprised.

"Yeah. Old Ma was just being polite and he actually dared to agree."

Shang Yong Wen had gotten used to the young man’s personality but still admonished, "Watch your language. Show some manners. If your sister finds out, she’ll definitely take you to task."

Martial Saint pursed his lips.

Shang Yong Wen looked toward the stage.

"Yong Wen bro, did you and my sister perform on this stage back in the day?"

"Yeah, but it wasn’t nearly this lively back then."

"Yong Wen bro, find a time to talk to my sister, get her to perform again? My parents always say how amazing she was at acting when she was younger, and I want to see it."

Martial Saint cajoled.

Shang Yong Wen shook his head with a smile.

"Yong Wen bro."

Martial Saint clutched his arm, the young man knew how to wheedle.

"Forget about that idea."

"Why?"

Martial Saint appeared puzzled.

"My sister is not a child anymore, neither am I. Even if I were willing, she wouldn’t be."

"Who says she wouldn’t? I could persuade her."

Shang Yongwen just smiled wryly.

"Then you’re really asking for a beating."

Seeing that most people had arrived, Secretary Zhang took the stage. He didn’t beat around the bush but simply said a few words before announcing the start of the performance.

Of course, there would be more than one act.

Aside from the young people who had been hastily gathered, the village theater also had its own troupe that normally dealt with the village’s weddings and funerals.

Expecting high artistic quality was asking too much, but everyone put their heart and soul into the performance, and the villagers showed their support with constant applause.

However, Martial Saint seemed disinterested, sitting in his chair, nodding off.

"Next, we present to you the tale of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. Please welcome them."

Only then did Martial Saint perk up, he sat upright and stared at the stage expectantly.

Shang Yongwen’s gaze remained calm.

In the best seat, sitting with Secretary Zhang, Lan Peizhi showed no expression.

Accompanied by the sound of string music.

A woman in ancient dress emerged, none other than Tian Xue.

The story of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo was almost known to all, and even though it started with a solo act, Tian Xue wasn’t nervous at all. With an excellent performance, she portrayed a clever and beautiful talented lady who could embroider, cut phoenix patterns, and loved to write and read.

Then a maid appeared on stage to suggest an idea to the young mistress who wished to study abroad.

Dressing as a man.

Tian Xue’s Zhu Yingtai dressed up as a handsome and dashing young man, her maid disguised as a pageboy, she convincingly persuaded her parents, packed her bags, and set off for the academy abroad.

"It’s so hot, let’s take a break."

After a distance, Zhu Yingtai rested in a small pavilion by the road, and at that moment, the male lead made his shining entrance.

Another scholar and pageboy appeared from behind the curtain, the one holding a fan, wearing a blue scholar’s robe, was none other than Jiang Chen, if not he.

The corners of Lan Peizhi’s mouth subtly curled up.

"Damn, I didn’t see it coming. He looks pretty cool in these clothes."

Martial Saint muttered.

Shang Yongwen quietly watched beside him.

"Fellow student, are you also traveling to the academy to study?"

"Could it be that you are too?"

In the pavilion.

The two struck up a conversation, exchanged names, and got along famously. As the story progressed, they swore brotherhood to each other.

"Brother Liang is two years older than me, from now on, just call me Yingtai, your junior brother."

The two happily continued their journey together.

The rehearsals over the past few days had clearly paid off. Their coordination was near perfect; while not flawless, it was indeed a significant improvement over the previous acts.

Additionally, the effort put into costumes, makeup, and props was apparent, all meticulously purchased online by Tian Xue, easily engaging the villagers in the performance.

Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo successfully entered the academy to study, and by chance, were seated at the same desk. Spending days and nights together, it was only natural that they became best friends.

"Peizhi, they almost reach the level you and Yong Wen had back then," Secretary Zhang commended.

Lan Peizhi remained silent.

"Brother Liang, I tend to move around in my sleep, so I used my bookcase to separate our beds, so I wouldn’t disturb your rest."

Because Zhu Yingtai was well prepared, even though they shared a room, Liang Shanbo never discovered her true gender.

The plot developed smoothly, following lines nearly identical to those from years before, but the cast had changed. This caused some of the elders in the village, including Secretary Zhang, to feel a sense of deja vu.

"If Yingtai is not born to a daughter, why then is there a trace of earrings on her ears?"

It was during a certain classroom scene that the narrative deviated from many years past.

One had to admit.

Tian Xue was indeed a meticulous and responsible person, and considering her own pierced ears, she had made subtle and reasonable changes to the script.

"There’s a reason for the earring marks; why does Brother Liang doubt?"

Zhu Yingtai, holding a book, replied calmly and confidently, "In the village, there are many temple fairs where I am often asked to portray Guanyin."

She lifted her head, glancing at Jiang Chen, "Brother Liang, when writing essays, one must concentrate. You’re not concerned with your future but with hairpins and skirts instead."

That look was inexpressible.

Jiang Chen’s performance was exquisite as well. It was at this point that he should have started suspecting Zhu Yingtai’s gender, yet he dared not confirm it. The paradoxical emotions were accurately portrayed on his face, enabling the villagers to easily empathize.

"Henceforth, I dare not gaze upon Guanyin."

The voice came from the sound system.

As if it were the inner thoughts of Liang Shanbo, who was fixated on Zhu Yingtai at this moment.

The previous lines were all crafted by Tian Xue, but this one was an addition by Jiang Chen.

Everyone unanimously felt that it was a stroke of genius, the touch that brought the final piece to life.

"I told you this guy was an actor."

Martial Saint whispered to himself.

Shang Yongwen, who had once played the same character in the same story on this stage, looked expressionless while the reflections of the stage lights glinted in his eyes, showing neither joy nor sorrow.