??Chapter 418: Chapter 419: Want to Return to i Garden_1
Chapter 418: Chapter 419: Want to Return to i Garden_1
But naturally, Muniang couldn’t speak openly about this matter. After all, in ancient tis, everyone believed in confirming kinship through blood. To undermine that, she had to provide evidence. But she did not understand dicine, which made it hard to explain. She felt quite powerless about things related to dicine; such matters were best left to doctors.
Ten days had passed, and “The Condor Heroes” was becoming ever more popular, rivaling the success of the previous play “Swordsman.” i Garden was packed at every performance.
People initially regretted that Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying could not share the stage again, but now everyone praised the pairing of Little Dragon Girl and Yang Guo as a match made in heaven. These were the topics of discussion after als.
Compared to the booming success of i Garden, New Moon House was in dire straits. Not only was attendance dismal, but the investnt was also largely sunk with little return. Huang Bin had stopped managing the business and spent his days at ho sighing with frustration.
The manager ca again today, and the mont Huang Bin saw him, he knew there was no good news. He said irritably, “What now? I’m trying to recover every day; why do you only seem to disturb ?!”
The manager bitterly smiled inwardly, thinking, how was it his intention to disturb him? It was Huang Bin who had thrown this ss onto him! Did he expect to hear good news from him every day?
“Master, we really can’t keep New Moon House running. Performing now is like doing it for free. We have no audience. This…” The manager spoke with difficulty.
Huang Bin clenched his teeth, veins throbbing, “Is it really that there are hardly any spectators?”
“Yesterday’s audience could be counted on one hand. What’s the point?” The manager spoke earnestly. “Each additional performance only adds to the losses. We should cut our losses quickly.”
“Doesn’t that an admitting defeat to i Garden?” Huang Bin said unwillingly.
“You’ve already lost,” the manager thought to himself, but he didn’t dare say it out loud and remained silent.
“Enough, enough!” Huang Bin waved his hand irritably. “Stopping the play is fine by . What’s the point of continuing to waste my silver every day!”
“Then I’ll go back and arrange for a grand finale. After performing it tomorrow, we can wrap things up.”
Huang Bin glared, “A grand finale? Will there be an audience? It seems the silver isn’t coming out of your pocket, is it?”
“Just end it abruptly? But that doesn’t seem right…”
“Do as I say! Get out, and don’t irritate
further with your whining!” Huang Bin said irritably, flicking his sleeve.
The manager dared not say more and sighed before leaving.
When Guo Yuehua learned of the decision to stop the play, she practically stood up with a start, crying out, “This sudden? Would the audience accept it?”
The ssenger replied disdainfully, “Who would object? Are there really any viewers? You really think you’re sothing special!”
Guo Yuehua quickly said, “What about ? Did Huang Bin ntion ? Is he planning to arrange a new play?”
The ssenger glanced at her, already fed up with her prima donna attitude. He had no patience for her now.
“No, New Moon House is preparing to permanently close. Which other theatrical group in Chatu Town can survive besides i Garden? A new play? You think our master is a fool, huh? Look at what you’re performing. Even if he really starts a new play, he wouldn’t use you. Look at your acting skills and your current rotten reputation. Doesn’t everyone look at you as if you were performing in a monkey show?”
Guo Yuehua glared, about to erupt in anger, but the young servant, seemingly not afraid of her at all, turned around and walked away directly.
Guo Yuehua collapsed defeatedly into the Taishi Chair, her heart completely chilled.
“Besides i Garden, which other theater troupes in Chatu Town have survived?”
This sentence hit her like a stark warning, a heavy blow to her face. She didn’t even know what all the fuss with Qiao Muniang had been about in the first place. She had promised her so much, yet she stubbornly ca here and now, looking like a beaten cur, she almost turned blue with regret.
Having had so idle days in the village, Muniang made a special visit to i Garden today, mainly to check the accounts. Zhong Yulang was in charge of everything else, and she trusted him. Although she knew there was little chance of Zhong Yulang fudging the books, it was nonetheless wise to be cautious, as not checking the accounts for an extended period could embolden even the faint-hearted.
Zhong Yulang had delivered the account books, and Muniang started to go through them one by one. Seeing the figures, her eyes sparkled with delight, “Not bad at all, the revenue is so good now.”
“Indeed, it’s quite substantial.”
“It seems you all have perford well, and the custors are really buying into it. Next ti, I’ll distribute bonuses,” Muniang said with a smile.
Zhong Yulang understood well enough what a bonus was and nodded. Then, he said, “Lady, are you aware that New Moon House has halted performances?”
Muniang raised an eyebrow, “Closed down?”
“Yes.”
“That quickly? But then again, I expected it. Lousy plays like theirs were bound to fail at captivating the audience.”
No sooner had Muniang spoken these words than a high-pitched female voice was heard from outside.
“Let
in! How dare these servants not recognize ? I want to see the Lady; how dare you block my path!”
The young servant spoke with difficulty, “Lady didn’t give permission for entry, so I dare not let you in. Lady Guo, please go back.”
Guo Yuehua pushed the servant aside and barged in. The servant, unable to stop her in ti, could only look to Muniang with distress. Muniang gestured, “You may step back for now.”
The servant acknowledged and imdiately left.
Muniang eyed Guo Yuehua: “What brings you here?”
Guo Yuehua imdiately burst into tears, “Lady, I want to co back to i Garden. I don’t want to stay at New Moon House anymore. Not a single person there respects ; they show
a long face every day. I truly can’t stand it any longer. Thinking back to all the kindness you’ve shown , I feel like I was blind to have made such a mistake.”
Muniang replied indifferently, “Oh? Is it because they looked down on you there that you want to co back, or is it because New Moon House can no longer satisfy your ambition?”
Guo Yuehua’s expression faltered, not expecting Muniang’s bluntness, yet she still clenched her teeth and said, “Lady, it was my fault to have abandoned i Garden. But I was forced into a corner. That *** went out in a huff on the streets, only to be kidnapped by New Moon House’s people and brought before Huang Bin. He compelled ; I had no choice, Lady, believe . I’ve always appreciated your kindness and the efforts you took to promote . Even after our quarrel, how could I have betrayed you?”
Her words were touching, laced with sobs. If Muniang didn’t know of Guo Yuehua’s bad nature, she might have almost believed her.
Reviews
All reviews (0)