Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 169 A Real-Life Version of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai

Compared to other dynasties, women in the Tang Dynasty were relatively open-minded. At least they wouldn't be pointed at or gossiped about while watching a play, as long as they didn't dress up in an overly flamboyant way.

Ashina Mi was a Turk, so needless to say, she didn't feel anything was wrong with it. They got along well and quickly became friends with these young ladies from the Tang Dynasty.

With his fiancée present, and these young ladies not to be trifled with, Wang Xi naturally dared not venture further in. So he greeted Ashina Mi and left.

Before he had taken two steps, Zhang Huai stepped forward to greet him, "This humble one, Zhang Huai, greets Young Master Wang!"

Wang Xi laughed and said, "You're so thoughtful, setting up the theater in advance. Otherwise, your shop really wouldn't be able to accommodate so many people."

Those standing here are all nobles. Normally, they would be treated with respect when they come here, but today is different; many of them are standing.

Thankfully, everyone understood, and we had tried it before at Yixianjue.

Zhang Huai sighed, "It's a pity that even the most meticulous plans can have a flaw!"

Wang Xi asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Huai glanced at the young ladies by the stage. "These are the ladies. Many noble ladies want to see this opera, but we can't arrange for them to sit with the men, so we have to arrange extra seats, manage entry and exit, and even make partitions. At this rate, even the theater might not be enough."

The key issue is that if any contact occurs between the two parties, leading to a misunderstanding, it could cause even more trouble.

Wang Xi nodded slightly, then suddenly had an idea, "Why don't you arrange a special women's section, just for women to watch the play?"

A hint of joy flashed in Zhang Huai's eyes. "I would like to do that, but the problem is, it would require you young masters to perform one more show. I'm just worried about that!"

"Doing good deeds, performing one more show is no big deal."

Wang Xi said, "Furthermore, I'll give you a little insider information."

"what?"

Zhang Huai immediately leaned in to listen.

Wang Xi said, "We are currently rehearsing a type of opera specifically for children. Children need to be looked after by their elders, so you can arrange a family-friendly performance where women can bring their children to watch."

Really?

Zhang Huai said excitedly.

Wang Xi nodded.

Zhang Huai said, "Then I really have to trouble you young men. I know how to make the arrangements."

With his shrewdness, how could he not have thought of this method? But doing so also meant that the Nameless Academy would have to put on an extra show.

To everyone's surprise, Wang Xi agreed so readily.

Little did they know, Wang Xi had long planned to use this opera to promote Taoism.

With a burst of gongs and drums, the building immediately fell silent.

Everyone looked at the stage with anticipation.

The students from the nameless academy did not disappoint them; after all, they had trained for so long and performed with great dedication.

The audience was completely engrossed, sometimes laughing and sometimes sighing.

Especially when the audience saw the tragic separation of "Zhu Yingtai" and "Liang Shanbo," they all shed tears, and some could even be heard sobbing.

"Haven't you already cried once?"

"what?"

Ashina Mi let out a soft cry and turned around to see Wang Xi smiling at her. She quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, pursed her lips, glanced at Wang Xi with a slightly shy expression, and asked, "If you were Liang Shanbo, what would you do?"

Wang Xi thought for a while and said, "If there is really no other way, I can only try my best to meet the other party's requirements and make this marriage a good match, or use other means. I will not give up."

Ashina Mi thought for a moment and then smiled, "I won't give up either."

Wang Xi had just asked Hongxiu this question not long ago, but the two women gave completely different answers, mainly due to their different life experiences.

Hongxiu knew that some things were simply beyond one's control, and all one could do was accept them.

However, Ashina Mi was still young and inexperienced, and was still full of idealism.

Wang Xi was an optimistic and cheerful person. Even though he knew the reason, he didn't point it out. He said, "I still need to check out other restaurants. Is it alright if you stay here?"

Ashina Mi shook his head and said, "You should go quickly."

"Ah."

As tears fell, the play reached its climax. After a while, with the sound of gongs and drums, the curtain finally fell.

Even after the students left, the audience remained unsettled. Most of the younger audience members sat there blankly, while the older ones shook their heads in regret. Of course, some people simply ignored it.

This point in time is indeed somewhat delicate.

Before Wu Zetian, people placed great importance on social status and marriage. Although this boundary has been fractured, this mindset remains deeply ingrained.

Rome wasn't built in a day!

Especially among the elderly, many of them still highly regard it.

But young people are different; they are more open-minded. The key is that Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo are both young people, so they would think, "What would I do if it were me?"
However, in the most secluded place, the situation was completely different. Almost everyone there shed tears because most of the people there came from poor families, and they could more deeply feel the pain of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.

However, one person cried especially hard.

This person is Bai Ningsu.

Wang Xi strolled around outside and, seeing that there were no problems, went to the back room, only to find Bai Ningsu lying on the table, crying so hard that her whole body was trembling, "Waaah, Xiao Bai."

"Go away!"

The moment he stepped inside, he heard Bai Ningsu sobbing rapidly. "What did you say?" Wang Xi's eyes widened.

"Please! Please! Waaah—!"

As she spoke, Bai Ningsu slammed her forehead against her arm as if she were pleading desperately.

Wow. You're watching a show like this? Wang Xi was a little startled and quickly retreated from the room. "Xiao Bai, don't get excited, I... I won't go in."

Bai Ningsu completely ignored him and continued to cry uncontrollably.

what is the problem?

Wang Xi was about to go find Bai Siyong when, upon turning around, he saw Bai Siyong standing in the courtyard, looking at him, and letting out a long sigh.

He realized something was wrong and quickly went over: "Old Bai, did something happen? It's just a show, there's no need to cry like this!"

Bai Siyong closed her eyes and sighed again.

Wang Xi said, "Say something, stop just sighing."

Bai Siyong opened her eyes. "Young master, please come with me."

Wang Xi followed Bai Siyong into the side room.

"Please sit down, young master."

"Oh dear! What time is it? Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"

Wang Xi said impatiently.

Bai Siyong sighed, "Actually, the stories that happen in this play are very common in reality, especially in earlier years."

Wang Xi asked, "So?"

Bai Siyong sighed again: "Unfortunately, my daughter and I are among them."

"what?"

Wang Xi looked Bai Siyong up and down, "But you didn't commit suicide for love!"

Bai Siyong said, "That's only because my wife is still alive, and I also have Su'er. I'm much luckier than Liang Shanbo."

Wang Xi asked curiously, "Yes! How come I've never seen your wife before?"

He had previously assumed that Bai Siyong's wife might have passed away, so he hadn't inquired about it, little did he know that there was more to it than met the eye.

Bai Siyong shook his head and said, "My wife is not here."

Wang Xi then asked, "Where is it?"

"At her parents' home."

Bai Siyong sighed again and told Wang Xi his story.

It turns out that Bai Siyong had once studied under a man surnamed Cui in Zhengzhou when he was young, but later he fell in love with the girl from that family.

However, Bai Siyong came from a humble background. His father was just a scholar in the village, and his family might not even be considered poor. On the other hand, the other party was from a prominent and prestigious family.

Knowing that her parents would never agree to it, Cui took the initiative to elope with Bai Siyong. They ran all the way to Xuzhou, where they lived in seclusion, running a small business. Later, they had a daughter, Bai Ningsu.

More than ten years passed like this. However, just two years ago, the Cui family found them again and forcibly took Cui Shi away.

"what?"

Wang Xi asked incredulously, "Then the Cui family has been chasing you for over ten years?"

Bai Siyong nodded.

Wang Xi asked incredulously, "Is there something wrong with them?"

Bai Siyong shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Young master doesn't understand. A prestigious family has a very good reputation. If others knew that their daughter had run away with a lowly person, their family would be unable to hold their heads up."

Therefore, the Cui family spared no expense, traveling thousands of miles, even declaring that they wanted to see him alive or dead.

"That's ruthless?" Wang Xi felt a chill run down his spine and asked, "And then?"

Bai Siyong frowned slightly, and his eyes gradually moistened. He said, "Even if Su'er wasn't already born at that time, I still couldn't give up. So my daughter and I chased after her all the way to the Cui family and knelt in front of their door for seven whole days. Finally!"

Wang Xi asked urgently, "Did they get moved?"

"No."

Bai Siyong said, "They just felt that our kneeling in front of the door damaged their family's reputation, so they made a demand that we pay one million dollars in exchange."

Wang Xi said, "That's not much!"

Bai Siyong said, "For the young master, it is not much, but for us, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"Oh, no wonder."

Wang Xi suddenly realized, "No wonder Xiao Bai is so desperate to make money."

Bai Siyong nodded and said, "That's exactly the reason."

Wang Xi said, "You guys are really stupid. You didn't know you should have asked for a larger share before, so you could have earned more and brought your wife back sooner."

Bai Siyong said, "Actually, you and your husband have been very good to us. At least you have given us hope. But a gentleman loves money, but he earns it in a proper way. If we do this, my wife will probably be disappointed in us when we bring her back in the future."

Wang Xi scratched his head and said, "I can't understand your way of thinking."

(End of this chapter)