"Exactly, if it’s not explained clearly, we dare not go!"
"Please don’t bla us, it’s the rule."
Soone spoke, and others chid in.
Li Yan and his group were also intrigued, but just cracked the door open a bit, standing behind it to listen.
This matter, indeed, is a rule.
Even when a regular troupe goes to perform, one can’t agree recklessly; certain things must be clarified.
This line of work is after all on the lower tier, one must learn to protect oneself, especially those wandering the pugilistic world, with even more taboos, a mont’s inattention could spell trouble.
For example, whatever taboos the host has must be clarified beforehand.
If the host is an official, the costus must avoid matching their official robes, an emperor can’t appear on stage...
If the host has a nickna, any similar words in the script must be avoided, if unavoidable, that scene must be deleted. If soone has a bad reputation, avoid performing anything like Bao Qingtian...
Even which drama is to be perford must be determined.
For instance, in the northwest of Yanggu County, Yanzhou, there is a tomb, commonly known as Xin Tomb, rumored to be Xin Qing’s grave, they don’t perform "Water Margin" there...
In Emperor Guan’s hotown, the play "Beating Maicheng" is banned, in Jinling they don’t perform "Win Jinling", in Ezhou Dan River they don’t perform "The Case of Chai i"...
If soone has dedicated a tribute to the God of Wealth to start business, if you dare to perform "Sealing God", damaging Zhao Gongming with the Nail-Head Seven Arrows Book, they will smash your stage, beat everyone to a cripple, and the governnt won’t bother...
This is known to ordinary people.
If one encounters sothing weird, even more care must be taken.
Otherwise, you won’t earn money and might lose your life.
The leading servant’s face looked grim, but seeing the others unmoved, he could only bend down and clasp his hands, saying: "Ladies and gentlen, do not bla us, our master encountered river pirates while transporting goods, and he is gone. He was buried today. The teacher said we must perform for three consecutive days, starting tonight."
"Died violently?"
Several people in the troupe changed their facial expressions upon hearing this.
Bang bang bang!
Several places directly closed their doors.
An elder, seeing the servant looking helpless, sighed and softly reminded: "Sir, don’t bla us for being timid. Performing for those who died violently is prone to problems, ordinary troupes dare not take such jobs."
He then pinched his fingers and calculated, with a grim expression: "Today is the sixth of October, Jiachen Year, Jiaxu Month, Jiaxu Day, the day marked by year broken, unsuitable for major events, setting such a date for burial... You had better be extra careful."
"Don’t say it was old who reminded you."
He seed to realize he spoke out of turn, quickly returning to his small courtyard, shutting the door tightly, without uttering another word.
In an instant, the whole street beca quiet.
The servants, holding lanterns, exchanged glances with each other.
"What to do?"
"No wonder several big troupes refused..."
"Younger brother, will the teacher have any problems?"
"Don’t talk nonsense, Master Lu is an old friend of the master, already reminded of this matter, today we must find people!"
The leading servant was full of anxiety.
Bang bang bang!
He beat the drum in his hand louder, shouting: "Ladies and gentlen, my mistress said whoever accepts will get double the reward, the Zhou Family will also help their troupe establish themselves in Chongqing Prefecture!"
"Three hundred taels!"
"Four hundred taels!"
"Five hundred taels!"
"One thousand taels!"
It was apparent the servant had gotten the host’s approval, raising the stakes while beating the drum.
When he shouted a thousand taels, he finally despaired, lowered his head in frustration, turned to others saying: "Let’s go, let’s find so other places."
But as they say, a heavy reward will bring out brave n.
After shouting a thousand taels, and agreeing to help establish soone, finally, the door of one courtyard on the left creaked open once more.
A man strode out, first clasped his fists, then said deeply: "Is what you said true?"
"If we can establish ourselves in Chongqing Prefecture, our Wu Clan will take the job, but the money must be given first, and a contract must be drawn!"
"Give the money!"
The servant spoke no further, imdiately ordered soone to bring the silver.
"Good!"
The man nodded, turned back into the courtyard, displaying deep respect to the elders and youth, saying in a heavy voice: "Ladies and gentlen, since the master passed away, we’ve been wandering, Third Uncle and others fell ill and need treatnt."
"Going to Chengdu, might not earn much, better to risk here, maybe we’ll find a foothold."
"Alright! We trust you, senior brother."
This troupe clearly faces hardship, even if it breaches taboos, having encountered such a play, they have to give it a try.
Seeing everyone nodding, the man took a deep breath, "Good, invite the Ancestor to hold the fort, let’s move!"
With a command, the people in the troupe imdiately beca busy, packing up, setting out, lighting incense and candles, bowing to the two Divine Statues in tribute.
Then, they sent out two people specially, respectfully carrying the Divine Statue, covered in red cloth, with soone in front holding incense burners, setting forth grandly as if deploying troops.
From other courtyards, so poked their heads out.
So showed envy, so jeered, so waited for cody.
In the courtyard, Sha Lifei asked curiously: "Don’t drama troupes worship Old Lang God? Why carry two statues?"
Bai Huan shook his head and replied: "This is a Sichuan Opera troupe, they worship two Ancestors, one depicted as a white-faced man with a black three-tasseled beard wearing a dragon robe, none other than Tang Minghuang, Old Lang God."
"The other is depicted as a white-faced beardless figure in a dragon robe, as Emperor Li Cunxu of Later Tang."
"Li Cunxu, shortly after his accession, beca fascinated with Sichuan Opera, pushing it to its peak, even gave himself the stage na ’Li Tianxia,’ often joining actors on stage, thus also revered as an Ancestor."
Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and nodded: "Both statues are invited to be occupied by the Yin God, tribute paid over many years, ordinary forums can usually subdue, no wonder they dare to take this job."
"Even if it’s one who died violently, they should withstand it, but it’s still risky, wanderers in the pugilistic world have little control over their fate..."
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