Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 98 Alas, what a tragedy!
Nothing was said that night. The next day, the wealthy Lu personally arranged a lavish banquet to entertain the entire opera troupe.

Chen Ye was treated as an honored guest and was invited into a private room.

Guan Sihai was also seated at the same time.

Lu, holding a wine glass, had his fat face flushed red with excitement.

"Young Brother Chen, I can't thank you enough! This glass of wine is for you!"

Then drink it all in one gulp.

Chen Ye smiled and drank the wine in his glass.

After several rounds of drinks, the wealthy Lu ordered a heavy box to be brought in and opened it in front of Chen Ye.

The gleaming gold bars were neatly arranged, dazzling the eyes under the lights.

"Brother Chen, here is the agreed-upon one hundred taels of gold, and the land deeds for three shops in the south of the city. Please check them."

In addition, Mr. Lu produced another property deed.

"This is a three-courtyard house in the west of the city, which I'm also giving to you, young man, as a token of my appreciation!"

Guan Sihai watched from the side, his eyelids twitching, thinking to himself that this Lu tycoon was far too generous.

However, Chen Ye only glanced at the property deed before pushing it back.

“I appreciate Mr. Lu’s kindness, but I cannot accept this house.”

Mr. Lu was taken aback. "Why is that?"

“I am just an apprentice in a theatrical troupe now, without any roots or connections. Suddenly moving into such a mansion will only attract unnecessary jealousy and trouble,” Chen Ye said.

After hearing this, Lu was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, his eyes filled with even more approval as he looked at Chen Ye.

At such a young age, he possesses such talent, yet he remains humble and composed, acting with remarkable maturity. This young man is destined for greatness!
"Alright, it was my oversight!" The wealthy Mr. Lu didn't insist and took back the deed. "However, there's no reason to take back what's been given away. I'll keep this house for you for now. Once you become a famous actor, I'll personally deliver it to you. And I believe that day won't be too far off!"

In his opinion, given the skill Chen Ye displayed that night, not to mention his ability to communicate with gods and ghosts, his stage presence and singing style alone would make him famous and established in the industry only a matter of time.

"Then I'll take your kind words, Master Lu." Chen Ye smiled slightly.

"Haha, no problem, no problem! Come on, let's drink!"

The banquet continued, and seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Chen Ye changed the subject: "Master Lu, the matter at your residence is temporarily settled, but the root of the problem has not yet been eliminated."

The smile on Lu Da Hu’s face vanished instantly, his spirits lifted, and a deep-seated hatred flashed in his eyes.

"Young Master Chen, are you referring to the Tianhou Temple?"

The thought of that nun Jingxuan, who had manipulated him and nearly caused his family's ruin, filled him with rage.

"good."

"Young brother, if you want to deal with that group of evil Taoists, just ask if there's anything I, Lu, can do to help you. I, Lu, will definitely do my best to assist you!" Lu patted his chest and said decisively.

"Alright, since Mr. Lu has said that, I'm relieved." Chen Ye also raised his glass in a toast.

After the banquet, the members of the Qingchun Troupe returned to their rooms.

Guan Sihai, however, pulled Chen Ye back, his old face filled with worry.

"Kid, are you really planning to fight the Empress's Palace to the death?"

"That place has been operating in Zhenhaiwei for many years, with thriving incense offerings and deep roots. It's not a place to mess with. We're just actors; we can't fight city hall."

He was afraid that Chen Ye, young and impetuous, would rush headlong into something and end up with nothing but bones.

"Don't worry, Master." Chen Ye looked at him with a reassuring smile on his face. "I know what I'm doing and I won't risk my life."

Seeing that Chen Ye was determined, Guan Sihai could no longer persuade him and could only sigh, "Be careful in everything."

Chen Ye's confidence was not due to recklessness.

That night in the underground grotto of the Tianhou Temple, although the brainwashed women looked fanatical and full of resentment, he saw a fatal flaw in them.

He found Lu the wealthy man and explained the situation to him.

"...So from today onwards, Mr. Lu, you shall publicly declare that the eldest daughter has been frightened and is seriously ill, and that you shall close your doors to visitors and refuse to see anyone in order to take care of your daughter."

Lu, the wealthy man, had no objections and immediately agreed.

The opera troupe began preparing to leave, and Chen Ye was busy with the preparations as well.

He deposited most of the hundred taels of gold into the largest bank in the city, keeping only a small amount for reserve.

After finishing all this, Chen Ye started helping the opera troupe move things. Just then, a senior female student ran in and winked at Chen Ye.

"Junior brother, hurry up and go out, someone is looking for you."

Chen Ye was taken aback. Who would come looking for him?
So he stepped outside and saw a woman.

It was Lu Jinghong.

She was wearing a pink dress, and her bright eyes were looking at Chen Ye with curiosity, inquiry, and even a hint of awe.

"What can I do for you, Miss Lu?" Chen Ye asked.

"Can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?" Lu Jinghong chuckled.

"No." With that, Chen Ye turned and left.

This reaction greatly surprised Lu Jinghong, and she quickly said, "Hey, hey, don't go, I have something to do."

Chen Ye stopped in his tracks. "What is it?"

"You saved my whole family this time, I'd like to treat you to a meal."

As he said this, Lu Jinghong's face turned red with nervousness.

This was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to invite a man.

If she was only interested in Chen Ye's appearance before, after witnessing the thrilling events of that night, the boy had become a mysterious enigma in her mind.

She really wanted to explore it further.

Unexpectedly, Chen Ye's answer was also straightforward: "No time."

After saying that, Chen Ye took a step and left without the slightest hesitation.

Lu Jinghong froze on the spot, her face turning pale and then red, her eyes welling up with tears of grievance.

From childhood to adulthood, she has always been the center of attention wherever she goes; she has never received such treatment before.

Strangely, after feeling wronged, she wasn't angry at all; instead, her curiosity grew even stronger, like being tickled by a cat's claw.

"Hmph, if you don't want to eat, then don't eat. What's the big deal?" Lu Jinghong said resentfully, but in her heart she was already planning what excuse she should use to approach Chen Ye next time.

Chen Ye was unaware of Lu Jinghong's thoughts, and didn't care to know.

In his view, the way this pampered young lady felt about him was like a child seeing a new and interesting toy. When it was new, everything was nice, but once the novelty wore off, she would naturally forget about him.

He had neither the time nor the interest to play this childish game with her.

Rather than facing trouble later, it's better to cut ties now and keep your distance.

After moving away from the Lu family and returning to the opera troupe, Tie Dan and his apprentices immediately surrounded him.

"Is the food at the Lu residence delicious?" Tie Dan asked expectantly, practically drooling. "Delicious, it smells amazing! I'll take you there next time," Chen Ye said with a smile, patting Tie Dan's shoulder.

"Really? That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Brother Chen!" Tie Dan called out to Brother Chen from the bottom of his heart.

At the same time, Guan Sihai looked at Chen Ye chatting and laughing with the apprentices and couldn't help but nod in approval.

At this moment, in his eyes, Chen Ye was no longer a junior apprentice, but the pillar of the Qingchun Troupe, a star who was about to become famous in Zhenhaiwei and even the entire Da Shun Kingdom.

We'll arrange for him to make his debut in a while.

Guan Sihai secretly made plans in his mind.

On the other side, Bai Xiaoyu, who had been possessed by Su Lan, also woke up.

Although she was still very weak, when she learned from others that Chen Ye had saved her, she struggled to get up and asked someone to invite Chen Ye to her room.

"Junior brother, thank you so much this time." Bai Xiaoyu looked at the young man in front of her, her eyes filled with gratitude and complicated emotions.

"You're too kind, senior sister. It was nothing." Chen Ye waved his hand. "You should rest well and not think too much about it."

After saying this, to avoid suspicion, Chen Ye did not linger in Bai Xiaoyu's room and turned to leave.

Watching his departing figure, Bai Xiaoyu was filled with mixed emotions.

There was a time when she even had other thoughts about this junior brother because of his handsome appearance.

But now, those thoughts have long since vanished.

Because she knew that this boy was destined to become a world-famous figure, and compared to him, her previous little thoughts were simply childish and laughable.

After leaving the opera troupe, Chen Ye found the three shops that Lu Dahu had given him, according to the address on the land deed.

It must be said that Mr. Lu is a man of principle.

The three shops are located on the busiest street in the south of the city, and they are right next to each other. They are a grain and oil shop, a clothing shop, and a bookstore. Judging from the bustling crowds, their businesses are obviously doing very well.

As evening approached closing time, Chen Ye entered the grain and oil shop. The shopkeeper, who was behind the counter working on an abacus, looked up and saw a handsome young man. He was about to ask him a question.

Chen Ye took out the land deed and placed it on the table, then smiled slightly, "Please call everyone over, I have something to say."

The shopkeeper immediately understood what was going on when he saw the land deed on the table.

They received a notice from the wealthy Mr. Lu yesterday, saying that the new owner was coming and that they should serve him well and not show him the slightest disrespect.

But no one expected that the new owner would be so young.

However, he dared not delay and quickly called over the people from the other two shops as well.

The guys stared at the incredibly handsome young man before them, their faces filled with astonishment.

"Bring me the account books for the last three months so I can take a look," Chen Ye said, getting straight to the point without beating around the bush.

The shopkeepers exchanged glances, and although they were somewhat skeptical, they still respectfully presented the account books.

They didn't think this young upstart could figure anything out.

However, Chen Ye only flipped through a few pages casually before pointing to a certain spot in the ledger with his finger.

"The number here does not match the number recorded on the second sheet."

"The damage here is a bit too much."

He asked a series of precise questions, which made the shopkeepers break out in a cold sweat, their backs soaked with sweat.

Although their tricks were minor, they were still there. They thought they were foolproof, but the boy saw through them at a glance!
In an instant, no one dared to underestimate them in the slightest.

“Master Dong…we…”

"Alright." Chen Ye waved his hand, interrupting them. "Past events will be forgiven, but from today onwards, if anyone dares to tamper with the accounts again, don't blame me for turning my back on them."

He certainly knew the principle that "too much purity leaves no fish," and that a little embezzlement was inevitable. As long as it wasn't excessive, he could turn a blind eye.

If we rashly replace them, the newcomers may not necessarily be cleaner or more capable than these veterans.

Therefore, giving a reprimand followed by a reward is the proper way to manage subordinates.

"This shop is mine, and it's also your livelihood. Everyone work hard, and I won't treat you unfairly when it comes to the year-end bonus."

After a combination of kindness and severity, the shopkeepers and employees were immediately convinced and bowed deeply to Chen Ye.

"Thank you, boss!"

After establishing his initial authority, Chen Ye had his employees prepare a room for him on the second floor of the backyard of the three shops.

This place is originally for living, and you can enter and exit independently through the back door, which is quiet and convenient.

After everyone had left, Chen Ye pinched his nose and placed a package on the table.

This is a set of women's clothing and cosmetics that he bought from the market during the day.

Although he was reluctant, Chen Ye understood that this was an essential step in order to infiltrate the Tianhou Palace without alerting the enemy.

Damn it, I've really sacrificed too much for this.

Thinking of this, Chen Ye sighed, then closed the doors and windows and prepared to go to sleep.

He had already informed Guan Sihai before coming that he didn't need to go back to the opera troupe tonight, so he could rest assured.

Early the next morning.

As soon as dawn broke, Chen Ye got up.

He looked in the bronze mirror and carefully applied the rouge and powder to his face.

His movements were very practiced, after all, this was his livelihood, but Chen Ye's feelings were extremely complicated.

As the eyebrows and eyes were outlined and the lipstick was applied, the handsome young man in the mirror gradually disappeared, replaced by a woman of unparalleled beauty and aloof temperament.

After changing into that simple and elegant dress and activating his "Powder and Colors" skill, his entire demeanor and charm underwent a complete transformation.

Every smile and frown exudes charm, yet carries a sense of aloofness that keeps strangers at bay, stirring the heart while making one hesitant to easily profane her.

Chen Ye remained silent for a long time after looking at himself in the mirror.

"What a terrible thing..."

Chen Ye muttered a complaint under his breath and pushed open the door to leave.

Without alerting anyone, he quietly left through the back door, hired a rickshaw at the street corner, and headed straight for the Tin Hau Temple.

Today, the Tianhou Temple remains a popular place of worship.

Countless women and young ladies came and went, their faces filled with piety, treating this place as their only spiritual refuge.

As soon as Chen Ye got out of the car, he instantly attracted countless eyes.

Because his appearance was so outstanding and his temperament so unique, it was hard for him not to attract attention.

There were even a few self-proclaimed charming young men who, waving folding fans, tried to approach and strike up a conversation.

Chen Ye, of course, paid no attention to them. He walked straight through the crowd and into the main hall, where he found the female Taoist boy who was leading the way.

When the young female Taoist saw him, a hint of amazement flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her respect and said in a low voice, "Honored guest, please follow me."

(End of this chapter)