Returning to the county opera troupe in 77

On the stage of the county theater, the song "Liu Qiao'er" was reaching its climax.

Pan Lanxiang was in exceptionally good form today, with a clear and bright voice and agile movements. When she sang the part about "Qiao'er, I was betrothed to the Zhao family since childhood," Lin Zhaotang and Chu Shengli in the audience applauded.

There are only three people in the audience today: Lin Zhaotang, Chu Shengli, and Jia Dafang.

He crossed his arms, and the smile on his lips never stopped from the start of the performance.

He had gone against the grain and secured this play specifically for Pan Lanxiang. Since the Hong Kong city was selecting actors to perform there, he naturally had to prioritize his own people.

Pan Lanxiang is his capable and beloved protégé. She has a solid foundation and excellent singing skills. As long as she is given the opportunity, she can seize it firmly.

As for Lu Meiyin, who is even more capable...

Jia Dafang selectively ignored this; if he were to push someone, it would be someone from his own circle. No matter how well Lu Meiyin sang, she wasn't one of his confidantes.

Chen Xiangdong stood behind the drum and music troupe, his gaze passing through the side curtain and landing on the figure in the blue suit in the first row.

Behind the curtain, Lu Meiyin appeared, her pretty face tense, her lips slightly pouting. "He's from Hong Kong, how could he possibly understand Qinqiang opera?"

Chen Xiangdong wasn't sure if Lin Zhaotang could understand Qinqiang opera, but he noticed that Lin Zhaotang's eyes, hidden behind his glasses, were always burning with passion when he stared at Pan Lanxiang on stage.

Chen Xiangdong turned his head and chuckled in a low voice, "Aunt Lu, didn't you see Mr. Lin's eyes practically glued to Sister Lanxiang? Is he watching a show or admiring her?"

Lu Meiyin snorted, turning her gaze away from Lin Zhaotang, her tone tinged with sourness: "If you ask me, he's no better than anyone else!"

As the song came to a close on stage, Lin Zhaotang was the first to stand up and applaud. Chu Shengli and Jia Dafang, who were next to him, also stood up and clapped with smiles.

With a smile on her face, Pan Lanxiang bowed slightly to Lin Zhaotang amidst the applause, then turned and went into the side curtain.

As she brushed past Lu Meiyin, she paused slightly, glanced at Lu Meiyin's cold face with a smirk, and the smugness and provocation in her eyes almost made Lu Meiyin explode on the spot.

The two stared at each other for less than a moment. Pan Lanxiang, like a general returning from a victorious battle, raised her chin slightly and swayed her hips as she went to the backstage dressing room.

Lu Meiyin gritted her teeth, stared at Pan Lanxiang's retreating figure, and spat, "You slut! Always sticking out your cunt, waiting for male dogs to line up and lick it!"

Chen Xiangdong, watching from the side, couldn't help but stumble back half a step. If these two women were to start fighting, most people really wouldn't be able to handle it.

It was past eleven o'clock when the performance ended.

Chu Shengli chuckled and suggested going to a state-run restaurant for dinner, with Jia Dafang accompanying them so they could properly toast Lin Zhaotang a few times.

Lin Zhaotang waved his hand dismissively: "No rush to eat, Director Chu. Today's performance was extremely enjoyable. Especially the leading lady..."

He smiled and glanced towards the backstage area: "Her singing is truly beautiful. I wonder if I could invite her to come along? I'd like to have a good chat with her about Qinqiang opera, which would also be a way for me to have an in-depth exchange with local opera performers."

These words were spoken so politely that no one could find fault with them.

Artistic exchange—what a perfectly legitimate reason!

Chu Shengli's eyes lit up, thinking to himself, "Has Mr. Lin taken a fancy to that actress?"

He was just wondering how to cling tightly to this golden opportunity when it came along!

But Jia Dafang stammered, wringing his hands, and said somewhat awkwardly, "This...this might not be appropriate. Our troupe has no precedent for having female actors accompany the performers..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chu Shengli glared at him fiercely: "What precedent?! Mr. Lin is a distinguished guest from Hong Kong. He just wants to have an artistic exchange with our actors. What are you thinking about all day long?!"

Jia Dafang immediately shrank back, swallowing the rest of his words, and said with an awkward smile, "Yes, yes, Director Chu is right! It's an artistic exchange, an artistic exchange... I'll go call Pan Lanxiang right now."

As he spoke, he strode quickly toward the dressing room backstage at the theater.

Only after Jia Dafang had walked away did Chu Shengli turn his gaze away, wink at Lin Zhaotang, and say with a smile, "Mr. Lin has good taste. That little girl, Xiao Pan, uh, that young lady really has good singing skills and is also very pretty. It's her good fortune to be able to chat with you about opera."

Lin Zhaotang's smile remained gentle, as if he hadn't caught the unspoken meaning in Chu Shengli's words: "Director Chu, you're too kind. I simply appreciate art, so please make the arrangements."

Jia Dafang hesitated for a moment in front of the dressing room door before finally gritting his teeth and pushing it open.

Inside, the actors were removing their makeup. Pan Lanxiang was applying makeup remover to her face in front of the mirror when she saw Jia Dafang walking straight towards her. She couldn't help but ask, "Commander Jia, is there something you need?"

Jia Dafang carefully considered his words before revealing his purpose. Upon hearing this, Pan Lanxiang's lips immediately curled into a smile, her quick reaction surprising even Jia Dafang: "Alright, alright! Don't worry, Commander Jia, I'll change my clothes and head over right away!"

There seemed to be a hint of impatience in that voice.

Lu Meiyin and Chen Xiangdong, who had just entered the dressing room, were taken aback when they heard the conversation between the two. Lu Meiyin's expression turned even colder.

The fact that a Hong Kong businessman took the initiative to invite Pan Lanxiang to dinner means that the person who will perform in Hong Kong has already chosen Pan Lanxiang, and that she is completely out of the running.

Frustration, frustration, and anger mingled together, and for a moment, Lu Meiyin's jealous heart burned like a fire.

Chen Xiangdong, standing to the side, couldn't help but smack his lips. "Artistic exchange? What a load of rubbish!"

Only someone who's lost their mind would believe that!

That cowardly Lin Zhaotang, it would be strange if he wasn't lusting after Pan Lanxiang's body!

I don't think this happened in my past life.

Suddenly, something seemed to rip into Chen Xiangdong's mind, and his eyes lit up.

I heard that after the last social gathering, a male worker from the cotton mill, I think his name was Xia De or something, has been harassing Pan Lanxiang lately.

Chen Xiangdong had seen that man a few times from afar. He was tall and strong, with broad shoulders like a door panel. He walked with his arms swinging like the wind, and he looked like he had a short temper.

Ever since the social gathering, that guy has been obsessed with Pan Lanxiang, constantly running to the theater troupe, bringing her fruit and movie tickets. Pan Lanxiang tried to refuse him several times but couldn't, so she eventually started avoiding him altogether.

Xu Erdao once sarcastically told the people in the group, "That guy is a notorious swordsman in Xiguan. Anyone who gets close to him is doomed."

"Knives, guns, cannons..." Chen Xiangdong muttered to himself, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

Or, should we communicate with Xia De about this?

To deal with a cunning and manipulative person like Lin Zhaotang, we have to resort to some unconventional methods.

If they had followed the proper procedures and checked the evidence, by the time all the materials were ready, Lin Zhaotang would probably have already run off with the money and disappeared.

In this critical phase, if we want to break the deadlock as soon as possible, we need to find another way.

And that simpleton, Xia De, is clearly the best gun to use.