Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1135 Brother Long, you've gone to so much trouble.

Once everyone had arrived, Manager Han came over and asked if the performance could begin.

She also has a small theater here, not very big, seating about seventy or eighty people, and the stage is only about ten square meters. It was converted from a bathhouse that had been used for performing arts, and there really wasn't enough space to squeeze in any more, so she had to make do with it.

Xiao Wei checked the time; it was already past ten o'clock. Usually, the performance would have ended long ago by then.

The performers are all gig workers, paid per show. Few bathhouses can afford to support their artists alone, and you can't keep the same show every day if you don't change the program frequently. So the fact that they're still able to start at this hour can only mean that Brother Long paid them and coordinated the time with other venues.

The absence of one artist affects not just one event, but a whole chain of events. Brother Long really made a huge sacrifice for face today.

When everyone heard that there was another performance, they were very interested and rushed into the small theater.

This kind of entertainment is nothing special, similar to nightclubs in later times. They sing songs, and two or three people dress up to make a fool of themselves and amuse everyone. Occasionally, they perform some kind of kung fu skill or a small magic trick. It's all just small entertainment.

The actors weren't particularly professional actors; they were just people trying to make a living, earning a few dozen or a hundred yuan per performance and constantly moving between different venues all night.

Living is not easy for anyone.

Once everyone was seated, the lights dimmed, and a gong sounded on stage.

Beibei was startled, patting her little chest and laughing, "That was so loud! It startled me!"

Chen Hui said, "So he's going to sing? Brother Long, you're amazing! Where did you find this on the spot? You don't usually perform this, do you?"

They really are singing. It's a two-person comedy routine.

Errenzhuan is a local opera from Northeast China, which appeared much earlier than Peking Opera and Pingju. After the Manchus entered the Central Plains, Errenzhuan followed them to North China, and only then did Peking Opera, Pingju, and Dagu (a type of storytelling performance) emerge.

Errenzhuan isn't about two people making lewd jokes and exaggerating on stage; it's real singing, it's opera, not a skit. Later, too many people messed it up, especially in the 90s when small theaters and nightclubs became popular, and Errenzhuan was reduced to just making ugly faces and telling lewd jokes.

There was no way around it; if you sang seriously, nobody listened, and you couldn't make any money. The entire 90s was a dark age for traditional culture.

So, those who look down on Errenzhuan (a traditional Chinese folk art form) and call it low-class, vulgar, and tasteless should ask those so-called successful upper-class people who put on airs and act pretentious in nightclubs and entertainment centers why they insist on watching low-class and vulgar things.

Go and see how many national first-class actors there were in Errenzhuan (a traditional Chinese folk art form).

The actors that Brother Long found were clearly from a professional troupe; their voices were stunning from the moment they opened their mouths.

There was no need to act ugly or silly; instead, she wore proper costumes and standard makeup, and then she started singing.

This is where Brother Long or Manager Han's thoughtfulness lies.

Although Errenzhuan has been completely lost in the city, it is still a traditional performance in the countryside and the most popular entertainment during the off-season. The only thing that can compare with it is showing movies.

These relatives and friends from the county and villages probably thought this was how the show was supposed to go, so they watched intently, cheering loudly and clapping enthusiastically.

Acting and performing crosstalk require not only good actors, but also good audiences.

The audience cheers, and the performers come alive on stage; two good things combined make for a great performance. This is what every artist hopes for most.

Brother Long quietly entered and sat down next to Xiao Wei: "Are you alright?"

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, I didn't expect that. Thank you for your trouble."

Brother Long said, "It's nothing, as long as you're satisfied."

Chen Hui asked, "How much would it cost to hire such a formal performance?"

Brother Long said, "It's not much. Usually, a half-hour performance for two people costs eighty yuan. Today, I found four or five singers to come, and with the gongs, drums, and other equipment, it only cost five hundred yuan in total. It sounds pretty good. Real skill."

There are so few good singers these days, nobody listens anymore. Now it's all just using Errenzhuan as a front for rubbish. I was going to give them some extra money later, and surprisingly, they sang really well; you could tell they'd been performing since childhood.

One scene of Pigsy digging into the ground is hilarious, and the next scene of The Romance of the Western Chamber begins; the actors certainly put in a lot of effort.

There was originally supposed to be a scene of water being splashed in front of a horse, but Xiaowei's mother canceled it. Today is Xiaowei's wedding, so the scene was no longer appropriate. Instead, Liang Saijin rolled out noodles.

A few small hats were interspersed in the middle, and the whole performance was arranged perfectly.

Xiao Wei said to Brother Long, "After the performance, give me some money, five thousand, and then we'll settle the score."

Brother Long said, "That's too much, no need. These days, hiring one for one night would only cost seven or eight hundred yuan."

Xiao Wei said, "Take it. It wasn't easy for anyone to get out here."

……

It was already past midnight when the opera ended, and the children were mostly asleep.

Everyone got off, changed their clothes, and got on the bus to go back.

Manager Han arranged for people to clear the place and tidy up, so everyone can sleep today and doesn't have to stay up all night.

Several actors went to Brother Long's office to settle their bill.

"Brother Long, you weren't exaggerating, were you? Are you satisfied?"

Brother Long nodded: "Sure, absolutely. You guys really made me proud today, I'll remember that." He took out a thousand yuan and threw it on the table: "I'll treat you to drinks, you've done me a huge favor today."

"Thank you, thank you, Brother Long, you're so generous. Just let me know if you need anything in the future, I definitely won't let you down." The actors were all quite happy. Five hundred was already a lot, and this was doubled. They could take a day off tomorrow.

Brother Long took out another wad of cash: "This is from the owner who booked the whole place today. You guys can split it. You've met some good people." He tossed the money over.

The actors looked at each other, none of them daring to reach out.

Brother Long said, "Take it, go back and rest for a couple of days. They gave you five thousand, not a penny less."

The one in the lead thought for a moment, picked up the money, and said, "Since it's a tip from the boss, we'll take it. Brother Long, you've helped us out, so we can't let it go to waste. We'll take two thousand, and you can use the other three thousand to buy cigarettes."

Several actors nearby nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, Brother Long, you've gone to so much trouble, buy yourself a pack of cigarettes."

Brother Long waved his hand: "Alright, no need for this. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't dare touch a single penny they offered you, understand? You've met some really good people, a whole family of good people. Go on, go back and have some fun. Just come back to perform and put in some effort next time."

The actors thanked him profusely and left with the money. Two actresses wiped away tears as they walked away. Brother Long shook his head, lit a cigarette, and began to think.

Manager Han walked in: "What are you thinking about?"

Brother Long said, "Xiao Wei and his friends are planning to open a large bathhouse on Sanhao Street next year. They said they'd let us invest and help manage it. The location is a bit out of the way, and I'm not sure what to do."

Manager Han glanced at Brother Long: "Are you stupid?"

One chapter finished. Next up is the gentle and refined fourteenth chapter. Please add my new book, *Old Tales of Maple City*, to your favorites and recommend it.

(End of this chapter)