Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 136 Life is like a play
Who was Li Linfu? He would never give up his career for a woman; he didn't hesitate at all.

In his view, this was a sure-fire way to make money.

Because this matter is of utmost importance to him.

Although he had served as an official in the court for many years thanks to his family's influence, those were all sinecure positions where he had nothing to do and few people knew him. This opportunity was something he had worked hard to create through his own talent, and he had to complete this task flawlessly.

Wang Xi was completely unaware of this and kept it on his mind. The next day, when he arrived at the academy, he immediately asked Li Jieman, "What did your father say?"

Li Jie said, "My father originally intended for you to speak to His Majesty yourself, but Li Linfu happened to be there at the time, and he seemed to have other ideas."

"Li Linfu?"

"Ah."

Li Jie nodded.

Wang Xi then asked, "What are your thoughts?"

Li Jieman shook his head and said, "I'm not quite sure about that. Uncle Li gave my dad a look, and my dad sent me away."

Just then, Wang Shuang suddenly ran over, "Brother Que, Xiaoman, it's best if you're here."

Wang Xi asked, "What is it?"

Wang Shuang whispered, "Just now, Teacher suddenly came to Lao Tao and said she was willing to perform at the charity gala."

"what?"

Wang Xi was taken aback.

Li Jieman immediately said, "It must have been Uncle Li's idea."

Wang Xi couldn't help but frown.

Li Jieman said in a low voice, "Brother Que, you're talking about the teacher and that Uncle Li."

"Shut up!"

Wang Xi glared at him, then asked Wang Shuang, "Where is Lao Tao now?"

Wang Shuang said, "In the back hall."

"Let's go! Let's go take a look."

Upon entering the back hall, they saw Hongxiu and Tao Mo sitting inside, while Huangfu Sengnian stood to the side.

"Teacher, I heard you've agreed to perform at the charity gala again?" Wang Xi asked, full of curiosity.

Hongxiu nodded slightly.

Wang Xi said, "Why is this? Is someone forcing you, teacher? Please don't be afraid, teacher. I will speak to His Majesty about this matter and will ensure that you are not wronged in the slightest."

Hongxiu hurriedly said, "Please don't, this is all of my own free will."

"The students don't believe it."

After saying this, Wang Xi turned to his teacher and said, "Teacher, if you don't explain it clearly, I won't be able to perform it."

Although this wasn't a pre-planned script, they had worked together for so many days that they had developed a tacit understanding. Tao Mo understood and nodded, then turned to Hongxiu and said, "Hongniangzi, I understand perfectly why you refused yesterday, so I didn't want to force you. Why did you suddenly change your mind? Was someone coercing you?"

Hongxiu glanced at Wang Xi, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Since you asked, I will tell you the truth. The reason is very simple. Li Zhongyun came to ask me for help yesterday, and I owed Li Zhongyun a favor before, so I will repay him for it."

Tao Mo stroked his beard and nodded: "I see."

Yu Guang glanced at Wang Xi and asked, "Brother, what should we do next?"
Wang Xi said, "Teacher, do you owe him money? If so, I can lend you some. Since you are unwilling, there is no need for you to suffer such injustice. In fact, this play does not necessarily have to be performed by you."

Hongxiu smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but this has nothing to do with money. I am doing this willingly and do not feel wronged at all."

Wang Xi couldn't help but glance at Hongxiu, who showed no sign of helplessness, but rather a hint of happiness.

It's hard not to find it strange. What the teacher said coincides with what Xiaoman said. It must be Li Linfu who persuaded her. Logically speaking, even if she agreed, she should have been filled with helplessness. How come she seems quite happy?

Could it be that she deliberately refused yesterday in order to make this exchange with Li Linfu and repay this favor?

"Wang Xiaoque! Wang Xiaoque!"

"what?"

Coming to his senses, Wang Xi looked at Hongxiu with a bewildered expression.

Hongxiu looked at him with a slightly guilty expression, "What are you thinking about?"

"It's nothing." Wang Xi shook his head and added, "I was just worried that the teacher might have been wronged."

Hongxiu smiled and said, "Don't worry, your teacher hasn't suffered any injustice. It was all of my own free will. Would you like to act in this play with me?"

Wang Xi was taken aback, then nodded and smiled, "Of course I'm willing! This student is certainly willing!"

"That's good!"

Hongxiu nodded, then asked Tao Mo, "Sir, will it be a performance of Dream of the Red Chamber?"

Tao Mo stroked his beard. "Regarding this matter, I thought about it last night. This charity gala is mainly for foreign guests. I have traveled all over the world and seen the customs and culture of the Western Regions and Tibet. They are quite different from those of the Central Plains. I'm afraid they won't understand Dream of the Red Chamber."

Hongxiu nodded and said, "Hongxiu agrees with this point."

Tao Mo then said, "So we need to come up with another story. I wonder what Hong Niangzi thinks about this?"

Hongxiu shook her head and said, "To be honest, sir, I have absolutely no clue about this."

She is skilled in music and dance, but storytelling is not her forte.

Tao Mo then looked at Wang Xi and the others.

Several people shook their heads repeatedly.

Li Jieman scratched his head and said, "This student is dull-witted and doesn't understand what you're talking about, sir."

This fat guy's acting skills are getting better and better.

After seeing this, Hongxiu asked Tao Mo, "Sir, do you have a solution?"

Tao Mo stroked his beard and said, "I have thought of a way."

Hongxiu hurriedly asked, "What method?"

Tao Mo said, "Although the culture of the Central Plains is very different from that of our neighbors, even the understanding of filial piety is different, but there is one thing that is the same."

Hongxiu asked, "What?"

Tao Mo said, "It's love." "Love?"

Hongxiu was taken aback.

Tao Mo nodded and said, "Whether it is the Western Regions, or Tibet, Korea, or even Japan, there are stories of love between men and women."

Wang Xi nodded happily and said, "Teacher is absolutely right, absolutely right."

Hongxiu glanced at Wang Xi, and seeing his expression, she was both amused and annoyed. She then turned to Tao Mo and asked, "Is this the only way, sir?"

Tao Mo nodded and said, "That's all I can think of for now. If you have any other ideas, please feel free to bring them up."

Hongxiu had no other thoughts. After thinking it over, she realized that Tao Mo's words made a lot of sense.

That seems to be the case.

Seeing that Tao Mo remained silent and everyone was watching her, Hongxiu quickly said, "Hongxiu thinks this method is feasible, but it's already very close to New Year's Day. Is it still possible to rewrite the story?"

Tao Mo stroked his beard and said, "Your Highness is holding this charity gala to promote the culture of our Great Tang Dynasty. I believe that we should look for love stories in folk tales or ancient books, so as to better reflect the culture of our Great Tang Dynasty."

After saying that, he suddenly asked Hongxiu, "Has Hongniangzi ever read a book called 'Ten Roads and Four Barbarian Regions'?"

"Seen."

Hongxiu nodded, then suddenly asked, "Sir, are you perhaps planning to adapt the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai from the Eastern Jin Dynasty into a traditional opera?"

Tao Mo smiled and nodded, "What does Miss Hong think?"

Hongxiu said, "The story recorded in the book is only a hundred words long. It would be difficult to adapt it."

The story is recorded in the book in just three lines, no more. This is why Dream of the Red Chamber has such a great impact on everyone. It is because the story is so long that it breaks people's stereotypes about stories.

"Don't laugh at me, Matchmaker, but actually, I'm not very good at matters of love either." Tao Mo then looked at Huangfu Sengnian beside him, "Just consider this as homework assigned to them."

Li Jie hurriedly replied, "This is something my student excels at."

Wang Xi said shyly, "I'm not good at it."

Li Jie said irritably, "Of course you're not good at it; all you know how to do is pay money to get things done."

"???"

Wang Xi's lips twitched a few times. "Brother, what did you say yesterday?"

Li Jieman immediately realized he had misspoke and quickly gave Wang Xi two apologetic looks, something he was really used to.

Hongxiu simply pursed her lips slightly.

Needless to say, everyone in Pingkangfang knows their character, but after spending these days together, Hongxiu's opinion of them has changed quite a bit.

After settling the matter, Tao Mo slipped away. Although he didn't need to worry about the story itself, he needed to be thoroughly familiar with it, which was tantamount to adding extra homework for him during the winter break.

Li Jieman and the others also wisely left.

"Teacher, are you really doing this voluntarily?" Wang Xi asked with concern.

Seeing the sincerity in his tone, Hongxiu's expression softened slightly, and she nodded, saying, "It really was the teacher's own choice."

Wang Xi said, "But the teacher was clearly unwilling yesterday."

Hongxiu pondered for a moment, then said, "Do you know what is the hardest thing to repay in this world?"

Wang Xi shook his head, feigning ignorance.

"That is the debt of gratitude."

Hongxiu sighed softly, "Teacher really doesn't want to perform on stage anymore, but if it can repay a debt of gratitude, it's nothing compared to that."

Wang Xi asked, "So, you mean the teacher and Uncle Li are now even?"

Hongxiu smiled and nodded.

This was actually a hint to Wang Xi that he wanted to take this opportunity to sever ties with Li Linfu.

Wang Xi observed this and thought to himself, "Just as I thought. This woman is smarter than I imagined. This is for the best."

Hongxiu suddenly looked slightly guilty and said, "Teacher should thank you."

Wang Xi asked in surprise, "Thank us for what?"

Hongxiu said, "Actually, what the teacher did was very selfish, but not only were you not angry with the teacher, you were also very tolerant of him. The teacher is really grateful."

Her tone was filled with guilt and emotion, because she knew very well that she had taken advantage of the Nameless Academy in this matter, so she did not want to hide it from Wang Xi and the others, but she could not say it outright.

Little did Wang Xi know that he was very happy to see this, and said nonchalantly, "Compared to the teacher's tolerance for the student, what is the student's tolerance? The teacher should not take it to heart."

Hongxiu glanced at him and smiled, "To be honest, you didn't have a very good impression on your teacher before, but after spending these days together, your teacher's opinion of you has changed a lot."

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "It's all because of the teacher."

Hongxiu rolled her eyes at him slightly and said, "No matter what, the teacher has ulterior motives in this matter, so you have to perform well and try to raise more funds. That way, the teacher will feel better."

"Of course."

Wang Xi suddenly had a sudden thought, "Teacher, do you know about an actor's self-cultivation?"

Hongxiu asked, "Self-cultivation?"

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Eight words: life is like a play, and a play is like life."

Hongxiu whispered, "Life is like a play, and a play is like life."

"Exactly."

Wang Xi said, "This time, the teacher and student are acting out a love story. If you want to act well, the teacher should forget about the teacher-student relationship and treat the student as a lover. Only in this way can the performance be realistic."

Upon hearing this, Hongxiu immediately spat and said, "I just praised you, and you've already shown your true colors. Stop trying to play these little tricks in front of your teacher. I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going back now."

He then got up and went outside.

"Teacher, I'm talking about the play, the play!"

"It won't work in the play either."

Hongxiu's voice came from outside the door.

Wang Xi was not discouraged. He chuckled and said, "That's not up to you. Just wait and see. Once I've written this story in a way that breaks your heart, I don't believe you won't be tempted."

(End of this chapter)