Auntie understood the young folks, and seeing that Long Aixi’s eyes were always on Xia Dabao, she knew he must have feelings for the lady. So, she suggested they go out for some fun after dinner, even giving them two theatre tickets to go and listen to an opera.
Xia Dabao was naturally overjoyed; she had always enjoyed watching operas, and now that she had the opportunity, she was even more eager to see one.
…
The theatre was also a Tea House, serving the famous people of Capital City. Ordinary folks couldn’t afford to enter, and the prices were quite high. Fortunately, Xia Dabao and her pany had tickets, allowing them not only entry but also a spot on the second floor.
The tickets only provided entry into the garden; they had to buy their own snacks. Long Aixi ordered two plates of fried peanuts, some Dim Sum, and a pot of tea, and then they sat down.
Xia Dabao sipped tea while leaning on the railing, watching the opera below.
As she watched, she became engrossed.
The opera told the tale of a General surnamed Nan who, in order to protect his country, parted from his beloved wife. In the end, he died on the battlefield, and his wife, unwilling to live in the world alone, leapt off a cliff to her death.
By the end, Xia Dabao was in tears.
Long Aixi, being a boy, wasn’t too concerned with these romantic tales. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from Xia Dabao’s eyes. She turned to him and said blankly, “I wonder if the people in these operas ever truly existed?”
Long Aixi nodded, “Some of them did. Didn’t my mother used to serve General Hu Xi? She told me many such stories, some even more heroic than this one. But some stories may not have been as tragic; they were embellished by later generations to make for a sensational opera.”
Xia Dabao nodded.
She heard that the next play would be a light-hearted one, so she wanted to listen to it as well.
She glanced down again but happened to see two people enter, leaving her stunned.
Noticing this, Long Aixi followed Xia Dabao’s gaze downward, and just happened to see Pang Yanyan and Long Aixi.
How could those two have e as well?
Pang Yanyan too picked a spot upstairs, directly opposite Long Aixi’s, with the theatre’s open center between them. Because it was quite a distance, it was hard to make out details below.
Only when Pang Yanyan and Tian Xiaobei were seated did Xia Dabao retract her gaze, poured herself another cup of tea, and drank it all in one go.
Long Aixi poured another cup for Xia Dabao; since it was chrysanthemum tea, drinking more wouldn’t hurt.
“ing to Capital City this time was really the right move,” Xia Dabao scoffed and peeled a few peanuts to eat.
Long Aixi didn’t react much, only casting a glance at Pang Yanyan’s side, where she too had ordered some snacks, and Tian Xiaobei was pouring her a cup of tea.
The next opera below started, a cheerful one. Pang Yanyan, who was fun-loving and lively, was occasionally so amused by the show that she laughed out loud, her laughter carrying over to their side.
Suddenly, Xia Dabao wasn’t in the mood for the opera anymore. She turned to Long Aixi, “Xiao’ai, this opera isn’t very good, let’s leave, shall we?”
But Long Aixi disagreed, “I think it’s quite nice. If you don’t find it good, it’s because you’re not really listening to this one, are you? You’re focused on the other one across the way, right?”
“…” Xia Dabao knew Long Aixi meant that her attention was on Tian Xiaobei. But hadn’t she said she was going to let go of Tian Xiaobei? If she left now, wouldn’t it mean she still cared about him?
Well then, she might as well stay and listen.
Since it was an opera, there was no need to watch anymore; she merely focused on listening intently.
User Comments
0 comments from readers