Chapter 515: To Puff Oneself Up at One’s Own Cost
At the mention of the rehearsal, Liu Qirui immediately perked up.
He changed from his embarrassment and said excitedly.
“It’s all been set up. We’ve been rehearsing for the past few days. This is a lyric book I wrote myself. What do you think?”
Yu Niaoniao took the lyrics book and flipped through it. Even though she did not understand opera, she felt that these words were very exciting. This made her look forward to the entire show even more.
“Not bad. You wrote well. I didn’t expect you to be so talented.” In his field of expertise, Liu Qirui appeared very confident.
“I studied for a few years when I was young. Although I didn’t get a scholarship, I gained a lot from writing lyrics and composing.”
Liu Sixing suggested, “Since the boss is here, why don’t you sit down and watch us rehearse? You can give us some pointers.”
Yu Niaoniao had the same intention and agreed immediately. “I wouldn’t dare to give you pointers. I’ll just take it as joining in the fun.”
Liu Sixing immediately said, “Then I’ll go dress up now.”
Yu Niaoniao was quite surprised.
“You can act too?”
Liu Sixing chuckled. “I’ve traveled everywhere with my father since I was young and spent every day in the theater. I’ve learned a lot from you. If I don’t sing well, I hope you can forgive me.”
Under Liu Qirui’s arrangements, the curtain was pulled open, revealing that the background was not the usual big white cloth, but a background map depicting mountains and rivers. Not only that, but there were also many mountain rocks, flowers, and trees on the stage. This made the audience know at a glance that the story happened on the mountain path.
Accompanied by the drumbeat, Duke Lang, played by Ye Yin, appeared on the stage with his subordinates.
Because it was just a rehearsal, he was not wearing a full outfit. He had only painted his face. Fortunately, he was handsome, to begin with, and this made him look elegant.
Then, the Princess Consort played by Liu Sixing appeared and helped Ye Yin capture human traffickers to fight with the spies.
Their movements were beautiful and pleasing to the eye.
Especially when the actors playing the rebels went on stage and fought the couple, the drums and gongs became even more intense and hurried. Red flames appeared in the background behind them, and smoke overflowed from both sides of the stage.
It was as if they were really on the battlefield. Yu Niaoniao felt extremely immersed in the audience.
Her heart couldn’t help but beat faster and her palms sweat.
When all the bad people fell, the two protagonists won a complete victory. The background was changed to a prosperous street market. The kidnapped women were reunited with their families and cried tears of joy. The commoners cheered.
The curtain fell, and the play came to an end.
Due to the limited time, they could only act for this part, but it was already enough to satisfy Yu Niaoniao.
Whether it was the actors’ singing voice, their control of the rhythm, or the art design of the stage, they were all very good.
Yu Niaoniao praised sincerely, “It’s well arranged. When do you plan to officially stage it?”
After receiving the approval of their boss, Liu Qirui and Liu Sixing were very happy.
Liu Sixing jumped down from the stage happily and smiled. “We’ve chosen a few days and were waiting for you to come back and make a decision.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Oh?”
They chose a total of three days. They were three days later, ten days later, and the sixth of next month.
Yu Niaoniao thought for a moment. “Isn’t three days too rushed?”
Liu Qirui said, “No, we’ve prepared everything we should. We can hold the opening ceremony at any time.”
Yu Niaoniao naturally hoped to let the new scene play out quickly, so she made a decision on the spot.
“In three days, then.”
Liu Qirui said, “Then we’ll hold the opening ceremony in three days. Boss, you must be there on time. At that time, you’ll have to host the opening ceremony.”
However, Yu Niaoniao said, “It’s not convenient for me to show my face in front of others. You can host the opening ceremony.”
Liu Qirui nodded obediently.
“Then I’ll accept it respectfully and take the limelight for you.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “You’ve spent most of the money I left, right?”
Liu Qirui was a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry, it’s indeed finished.”
Liu Sixing knew her father’s personality. He was not good with words. In order not to be misunderstood, Liu Sixing quickly explained on behalf of her father.
“We’re already doing our best to save money. However, just renting this garden cost two thousand taels of silver.’
“In addition, we had to buy costumes and props and hire waiters and musicians. The silver poured out like water”
“Now, in order to save money, we only eat two breakfasts a day, each with steamed buns and pickles. We haven’t seen meat in five months.”
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she became. Her voice lowered.
Liu Qirui secretly tugged at his daughter a few times to stop, but it was useless. She still said everything she wanted to say.
He was so embarrassed that he did not know what to do. He said dryly, “Boss, Sixing isn’t complaining to you. Don’t be angry. Anyway, the garden will open in two days. At that time, with income, our lives will be better.”
Yu Niaoniao was not angry. She also knew that it was very expensive to support such a large opera troupe.
It was not easy for them to last with three thousand taels until now.
Yu Niaoniao took out a silver ingot from her purse and placed it on the table.
“It takes a lot of effort for you to rehearse. You can’t just eat two meals a day.
Take this money to buy some rice, grains, and vegetables.”
“It’s not feasible to be extravagant, but you cannot save what needs to be spent.
Don’t worry, I still have money here. I won’t starve you.”
Liu Qirui hurriedly declined. “How can that do? How can I let you spend money again?”
Liu Sixing looked at Yu Niaoniao with stars in her eyes.
They were both women. How could the boss be so generous?!
She really hoped to become a woman who kept her word like her boss.
Yu Niaoniao said, “Alright, there’s still a long way to go. There’s no need to be so polite to me. Continue working. I’ll go back first.”
Seeing that she was about to get up and leave, the Liu father and daughter hurriedly asked her to stay.
“Why don’t you stay for a meal before leaving?”
Yu Niaoniao smiled. “I eat a lot. I’m afraid I’ll eat all the food you have left.” With that, she walked out.
Seeing that they could not stop her, the Liu father and daughter could only send her out.
After leaving Qirui Garden, Yu Niaoniao rode the donkey back the way she had come.
She let out a long sigh, very worried.
Just now, she had acted especially generous in front of the Liu father and daughter, as if she really had an endless mountain of gold and silver in her hands, but in fact, she did not have many taels of silver left in her pocket.
She had to deliberately to puff herself up at her own cost so that the Liu father and daughter could hold the opening ceremony more thoughtfully.
She touched her shriveled purse. She was poor now. She had to earn money quickly.
After returning to the Langjun Imperial Palace, Yu Niaoniao plunged into the study and began to write furiously, penning down all the recipes she remembered.
She did not come out of the study until it was dark.
In the end, it was only when Granny Xiu Yan personally brought dinner to the study that she felt hungry belatedly.
She finished her meal quickly and returned to writing the recipe.
Writing a few more recipes would earn him more money.
For a small sum of money, charge!
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