640: 523 On and Off the Stage (Slight Chill from the Wind) 640: 523 On and Off the Stage (Slight Chill from the Wind) After about three hours, the performance ended successfully.
In addition to the perforrs, so of the village’s most respected elders and village officials held a banquet.
The location was A-Fu Restaurant, not far from the village theater.
True to its na, the owner had the word “fortune” in his na and had been running this restaurant in the village for decades, unwaveringly.
From his pri to his twilight years.
From two people to two people.
“Pei Zhi, that performance of The Butterfly Lovers just now reminded of the one you and Yong Wen did back in the day.”
The restaurant wasn’t large, with only four tables, all of which were now fully occupied.
Such liveliness was rare in the countryside.
Owner Deng Fu ca over to propose a toast.
“Old Deng, why are you serving dishes?
Where’s A-Xiang, that kid?”
Wu Guangjiang asked.
The Lan Family naturally sat at the sa table with Zhang, the party secretary, and Ma, the college dean, among other village officials.
“He’s cooking up a storm; he’s been busy all afternoon.
I’m getting on in years, so I can only do these odd jobs.”
“That A-Xiang kid is good, his cooking is better than yours.
At least you’ve got soone to carry on your legacy,” Zhang, the party secretary, said with a smile.
“Uncle Fu, where’s Aunt Zhao?”
As she drank with Deng Fu, Lan Peizhi stood up on her own initiative.
Years ago, when she perford at the village theater, she would often eat at this restaurant with her colleagues since going ho for als was inconvenient.
Deng Fu rarely charged them; most of the ti, he provided the als for free.
“She left us last year.”
Lan Peizhi’s gaze beca slightly more intense.
“It was the old heart condition, her heart was weak.
She had never really experienced great fortune in her lifeti, but at least she didn’t suffer much in the end.”
Owner Deng Fu’s smile was serene.
Zhang and the others fell silent.
Lan Peizhi quietly sipped her drink.
Ti flies, things change and people move on.
“By the way, why didn’t I see that Yong Wen lad?”
Owner Deng Fu changed the subject.
“He’s gone back,” explained Dean Ma.
“Gone back?”
Deng Fu was surprised, “The village hasn’t been this lively in a long ti.
How could that boy be absent?”
“Brother Yong Wen has been busy harvesting shrimp lately, very busy.”
The kid Martial Saint mumbled, showing so bias in favor of Shang Yongwen.
Deng Fu muttered to himself and didn’t dwell on the topic, instead turning to look over at the table with the day’s perforrs.
“Pei Zhi, I hear that young man is your friend?”
Lan Peizhi glanced over at the table.
It was also quite lively, as it was full of young people without many restraints.
They were toasting freely, laughing and joking, and the straightforward Tian Xue was even draping her arm over Jiang Chen’s shoulder.
“Hmm.”
“He’s really talented.
I’ve seen The Butterfly Lovers countless tis, but the changes they made to the play today were truly exquisite.”
Owner Deng Fu praised highly, having enjoyed the full performance earlier.
Lan Peizhi neither agreed nor disagreed.
“Kid, how old are you this year?”
The young perforrs were all very polite, and when the ti seed right, they successively offered toasts to the village elders.
Jiang Chen noticed Tian Xue’s grandmother, a kind-looking elderly woman whose gaze towards him was especially warm.
“Twenty…”
Jiang Chen nearly blurted out his real age before catching himself in ti, “Twenty-eight.”
“You’re twenty-eight?”
Before the grandmother could react, Tian Xue couldn’t help but express her surprise.
She had always thought he was about her age.
“Hmm.”
Jiang Chen nodded without changing his expression, as he had lied to the Lan Family and thus had to stick with his lie to the end.
“Everyone says I look younger than I am.”
“Twenty-eight is not that old,” mused Tian Xue’s grandmother, then she asked, “Got a girlfriend?”
At this point, Jiang Chen obviously couldn’t tell the truth and could only shake his head humbly in a junior’s deanor.
Seeing this, Tian Xue’s grandmother smiled even more kindly, deepening the wrinkles on her face a bit more.
“You and Xiao Xue have such good chemistry, you should keep in touch.
Having one more friend is always a good thing.”
“Grandma!”
Tian Xue could clearly understand the old woman’s implication, instantly flushing red with embarrassnt.
She was calm and composed while acting, but at that mont, she felt too shy to even look at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen, unable to respond, could only smile and stay silent.
“Don’t mind it, ha.
My grandma is like this.
Every ti I co back, she pushes to find a boyfriend,” Tian Xue whispered after they moved away from the table.
“It’s fine.”
Jiang Chen smiled carelessly.
“Are you really twenty-eight years old?”
“Want to see my ID?”
Tian Xue shook her head, her eyes still fixed curiously on his face that seed more and more…
pleasant to look at.
As soone who worked in dia, Tian Xue really had a knack for socializing.
Even when dealing with the village’s officials, she was adept, but she beca sowhat reserved when faced with Lan Peizhi, her presence noticeably diminished and her speech slightly stuttered.
“Lan-, Lan Auntie, I’m Tian Xue.”
Jiang Chen watched from the side, secretly finding it interesting.
But that was normal.
In all the world,
how many could remain composed in the presence of the “Blood Bodhisattva”?
“You did well.”
Lan Peizhi spoke softly.
“Thank you for the complint, Lan Auntie,” Tian Xue said, blushing as she quickly expressed her gratitude.
After the perforrs offered their toasts to the village officials, Lan Peizhi said to Jiang Chen, “Don’t go after dinner.”
Jiang Chen looked at her in surprise.
Where could he go?
But Jiang Chen didn’t ask further and silently nodded in agreent.
Realizing that Lan Peizhi might have sothing to discuss with him, Jiang Chen controlled his drinking.
His alcohol tolerance wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either, and he didn’t want to get too drunk and make a fool of himself.
“Pei Zhi, here’s the food and drink you asked for.”
“Thank you, Uncle Fu.”
“No problem.”
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