Returning to the county opera troupe in 77

The news of Zhu Zheng's suspension spread throughout the entire theater troupe compound the next day after a night of fermentation.

Early in the morning, when it should have been time to get up and practice, there was not a single person in the courtyard stretching their legs or swinging their sleeves.

The troupe's actors and staff gathered in small groups in the front yard, in the corners and along the corridors, their heads huddled together, occasionally turning their heads to look in a certain direction in the backyard.

"Have you all heard? Secretary Zhu was suspended from his duties yesterday!" Ma Dongmei lowered her voice and gestured mysteriously with her chin toward the second-floor office. "I heard it was Jia the coward who filed the complaint."

"It's been all over the place since early morning, how could we not have heard?" He Jianshe craned his neck to chime in, "If you ask me, Secretary Zhu is actually a good person. Look at how long he's been with the troupe, and he's already done a lot of practical things for us."

"That's right! Among the bachelors in our group, who cares whether you're married or not? Only Secretary Zhu is concerned about arranging matchmaking events for us."

Guo Jufu, with his sleeves tucked in, also curled his lip, his tone seemingly indignant on Zhu Zheng's behalf: "In my opinion, it's just that old Jia is narrow-minded. He seizes on any flaw in Secretary Zhu and tries to crush it to death."

He Jianshe's gaze shifted to Lin Datou, who was standing silently to the side, and he nudged him with his elbow: "Datou, do you have any inside information?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Datou immediately recoiled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, waving his hands frantically, "Don't talk nonsense! What inside information could I possibly have!"

After saying that, he hurriedly added, "I had no involvement in reporting Secretary Zhu."

"Hey! What are you getting so worked up about? Did we say you were meddling?" Ma Dongmei glanced at Lin Datou up and down, a half-smile on her face: "You're just making a fool of yourself by protesting."

He Jianshe and Guo Jufu couldn't help but look at him, revealing meaningful expressions. Lin Datou's face flushed red, and he stiffened his neck and cursed, "Heaven and earth bear witness! Secretary Zhu helped my nephew find a job inspecting the yard. Even if I, Lin Datou, am not a human being, I cannot do such a despicable thing as repaying kindness with enmity!"

Chen Xiangdong, carrying a thermos full of water, walked past them without stopping, showing no intention of getting involved in the gossip.

Although Zhu Zheng has not been with the troupe for long, it is clear from the conversation between He Jianshe and the others that Old Zhu has indeed won over many people during this period.

Zhu Zhengkuo's words to him last night, "The one who laughs last laughs best," still seem to echo in his ears.

That wasn't just bragging or empty boasting; it was more like a prior disclosure.

A person like Zhu Zhengkuo would never put himself in the spotlight before he has prepared a way out.

His current suspension is probably only temporary, and it won't be long before an unexpected reversal occurs.

Chen Xiangdong was carrying a thermos towards the theater when he heard the sound of a bicycle bell behind him. He turned around and saw Qiao Haizhu straddling the bicycle seat with one foot on the ground, looking at him with a smile.

"Hey, Teacher Qiao's back from his morning run?" Chen Xiangdong glanced behind Qiao Haizhu and saw Lou Jingru and Song Linfeng leading a group of students, panting as they ran towards them.

"Are you going to deliver hot water to those three old bastards?" Qiao Haizhu glanced at the thermos in Chen Xiangdong's hand, then turned to look at the theater across the courtyard from the troupe, and sarcastically squeezed out a sentence: "You're quite filial, aren't you? Did those three old bastards take you as their godson? You bring them hot water every day?"

Is this bastard here to cause trouble?

"What's wrong?" Chen Xiangdong frowned and looked up at Qiao Haizhu. "Can't I bring them water?"

Qiao Haizhu parked the bicycle, climbed onto the kickstand, and looked Chen Xiangdong up and down: "Okay, why not? I'm just curious, what kind of spell did those three old bastards cast on you to make you serve them like this every day?"

Chen Xiangdong suddenly felt a pang of fear. Could it be that his apprenticeship to learn opera had been discovered?

He remained expressionless, placed the thermos next to his feet, and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Just say what you want to say, don't beat around the bush."

Qiao Haizhu leaned closer, lowering his voice even further: "Getting so close to those unpopular people, be careful they don't drag you down with them one day!"

Hearing this, Chen Xiangdong calmed down. It seemed that the matter of becoming an apprentice had not been discovered. Qiao Haizhu, that cowardly scoundrel, was just being a jerk to disgust him.

He raised an eyebrow and sneered, "You sure know how to slap labels on people! What, it's been so long, and you want to copy those 'Qiao Family Gang' schemes? Framing and labeling people?"

"You!" Upon hearing this, Qiao Haizhu's expression immediately changed.

He stiffened his neck and glared, "Don't talk nonsense! You can't just say things like that!"

Seeing that he was getting a little agitated, Chen Xiangdong casually crossed his arms and said, "You're allowed to talk about others, but others aren't allowed to talk about you?"

Qiao Haizhu's face flushed red and then turned pale: "I...I was doing that for your own good!"

"For my own good?" Chen Xiangdong almost laughed in exasperation. "Come on! Do you need to worry about my affairs?"

After saying that, he squatted down, picked up the thermos, and walked towards the theater, leaving Qiao Haizhu with only the back of his head, without even turning his head: "If you have nothing better to do, go out and run a few more laps. I'm a full-time employee of the troupe, not some trainee you can train at will. Don't bother me if you don't have something to do!"

"Hey! You coward!"

Qiao Haizhu, who had been rebuffed, glared at him, wanting to argue further, but Chen Xiangdong had already strode into the theater.

In Fang Zhengsheng's small room, three old men were huddled together, whispering amongst themselves. Seeing Chen Xiangdong push the door open and enter, Fang Zhengsheng was the first to look up and ask, "Kid, is it true that Secretary Zhu has been suspended from his duties pending investigation?"

Han Zhengkui and Feng Zhengxiao also looked over at the same time.

Chen Xiangdong put the thermos in the corner, straightened up, and patted the dust off his hands: "Yeah, I was suspended yesterday evening."

Fang Zhengsheng and the other two frowned immediately. Feng Zhengxiao asked, "Is it because of those two old opera excerpts?"

Chen Xiangdong nodded: "Jia Dafang personally went to the Education Bureau to submit the complaint; we don't know how long the review will take."

Han Zhengkui lowered his eyebrows slightly and sighed, "This is all because of us..."

Fang Zhengsheng and Feng Zhengxiao also became somewhat depressed. The room was quiet for a moment, and scenes from ten years ago resurfaced in their minds.

The old play had been suspended for so many years, and it finally got a chance to return to the stage. But before it could truly see the light of day, Zhu Zhengkuo, who was the one who spoke up for them, was imprisoned.

The three men felt increasingly uneasy and depressed.

Seeing this, Chen Xiangdong moved a stool from the corner and sat down: "Three masters, let's not rush to take responsibility. Since Secretary Zhu dared to let us perform old plays on stage, he expected this to happen."

"Hmm?" The three of them turned their gazes to Chen Xiangdong's face again. Fang Zhengsheng's eyelids twitched: "Kid, you mean...?"

Chen Xiangdong grinned: "I saw Secretary Zhu last night. Guess what he told me?"

The three men exchanged bewildered glances. Feng Zhengxiao urged, "You coward, are you still keeping us in suspense? Speak up!"

"Hehe..." Chen Xiangdong leaned forward on the table and said mysteriously, "The one who laughs first may not win; the one who laughs last is the real winner."

The three old men were stunned for a moment, then each began to ponder the meaning of those words...