Returning to the county opera troupe in 77

Liu Dezhu's small dormitory room was now packed with people.

Chen Xiangdong leaned against the door frame, Lu Meiyin and Ma Dongmei sat on the edge of the bed, and He Jianshe, Guo Jufu, Niu Laohei and the others each carried a small stool and squeezed in. A dozen or so people filled the already cramped little room to the brim.

"What? Our team has to pay for the appraisal fee upfront?"

Old Niu slapped his thigh, glared with his bull-like eyes, and shouted, "What kind of nonsense is this! A big boss like him wants to do business with us, and he wants us to pay for this little appraisal fee upfront? Isn't that just trying to get something for nothing?!"

Ma Dongmei pouted and said, "Exactly! Two thousand yuan is enough for our troupe to receive subsidies for half a year."

A group of people were talking all at once, making everyone's head buzz.

Zhu Zheng was surrounded in the center of the crowd, frowning as he pondered the information that Liu Dezhu and Lin Datou had just shared.

Liu Dezhu sat close to Lu Meiyin and turned his gaze to Zhu Zhengkuo: "Secretary Zhu, what do you think we should do? If that guy is really a swindler, our troupe will lose two thousand yuan! At that time, we might not even be able to afford toothpaste and soap next month."

Before he could finish speaking, He Jianshe quickly chimed in, "Exactly! Secretary Zhu, can you give us all some ideas?"

Zhu Zhengkuo lowered his head and pondered for a long time before slowly scanning everyone's faces with his eyes: "Lin Zhaotang's matter is indeed a bit strange. He was beaten up and took the initiative to ask for a settlement, and he was unwilling to pay for the appraisal fee. This doesn't seem like something a proper big boss would do."

He paused, then said in a deep voice, "The key is that he's going to the provincial capital tomorrow... If we don't find a way to find out his background soon, once he leaves, even if we realize what's going on, there will be nowhere left to chase him."

A moment of silence fell over the room, and everyone's face showed anxiety. Old Niu's brows furrowed into a tight knot: "How can we investigate? We've never been to Hong Kong, we can't exactly chase him all the way to the provincial capital to stop him, can we?"

Just then, Chen Xiangdong, who had been silently leaning against the doorframe, suddenly spoke up: "While Lin Zhaotang is still eating in the cafeteria, let's go to the guesthouse and see if we can find anything!"

As soon as he spoke, all eyes fell on him. Lu Meiyin's eyes lit up: "You mean... sneaking into his room and rummaging through his luggage?"

But then she frowned again: "But we can't get into the guesthouse. Besides, even if we get a letter of introduction to stay at the guesthouse, we don't have the key to his room."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhengkuo and Chen Xiangdong exchanged a smile. Then, Chen Xiangdong took out a letter of introduction stamped with the troupe's official seal from his pocket and waved it in front of the group of people.

Lin Datou leaned closer for a look, and his eyes widened immediately: "Wow! The letters of introduction were already prepared in advance? You little rascal, you were well-prepared!"

As he spoke, he looked up at Chen Xiangdong again and said, "But even if we get in, we can't open the door to his room."

Chen Xiangdong chuckled again, folded the letter of introduction, and stuffed it back into his pocket: "You don't need to worry about that. Just wait for my news."

Twenty minutes later, at the county guesthouse.

The dorm supervisor handed the key out the window, tapping his finger on the windowsill: "Here, the key to 307. Remember, don't wander around at night if you don't have anything to do."

As he spoke, his gaze swept past Chen Xiangdong's shoulder and landed on the boy behind him: "And you, did you hear me?"

Li Mancang, standing behind Chen Xiangdong, nodded hurriedly: "I know, I know."

Only after peeking out the window and watching the two walk side by side up the stairs did the old dormitory supervisor finally mutter a few words: "The county theater troupe compound has so many rooms, can't it accommodate you two brats? You insist on spending money to stay in the guesthouse, I think you're just wasting your time!"

Chen Xiangdong and his companion went up the stairs to the third floor. Just as they turned the corner, a woman in a light blue work uniform was walking towards them carrying a thermos. Judging from her attire, she was wearing the same clothes as the old dormitory manager downstairs.

The waitress slowed down when she saw them and asked, "Are you staying here? What's your room number?"

Li Mancang nervously rubbed the hem of her clothes, not daring to utter a sound. Chen Xiangdong smiled at her and flashed the keys: "307."

The waitress glanced at the key, said "Oh," and pointed to the corridor behind her: "Go straight to the end and you'll find 307."

As she spoke, she picked up the thermos and went downstairs.

Chen Xiangdong and his companion stood in the corridor, waiting for the footsteps at the stairwell to completely disappear before they found room 303 by following the door number on the door frame.

Li Mancang quickly glanced at both ends of the corridor again, and after confirming that no one was there, he nodded to Chen Xiangdong. Then, he took out a thin wire from his pocket, inserted one end of the wire into the keyhole of the bullhead lock, and repeatedly tested it.

Chen Xiangdong retreated to the stairwell to keep watch for him. Less than a minute later, Li Mancang waved to him with a happy expression.

The lock was open, and the door was pushed open a crack.

Chen Xiangdong hurried over, and the two went into the house. One of them took a flashlight and began searching around.

.........

Lin Zhaotang didn't take the jeep. After finishing his meal, he sent Chu Shengli away and chatted and laughed with Pan Lanxiang all the way from the theater troupe compound to the street in front of the guesthouse.

It must be said that Lin Zhaotang was indeed quick-witted, telling jokes all the way, making Pan Lanxiang cover her mouth and laugh.

As they approached the guesthouse entrance, seeing that no one was around, Lin Zhaotang, his lust rising, suddenly slowed down. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed Pan Lanxiang's fair hand with one hand and used the other to wrap his arm around her waist.

Pan Lanxiang was startled and tried to pull her hand back, but Lin Zhaotang had already gripped her waist tightly. Her face panicked, she reached out to push Lin Zhaotang away: "Mr. Lin, please, please don't do this!"

Lin Zhaotang held Pan Lanxiang tightly around the waist with one hand, his warm breath and sweet words seeping into her ear:

"Miss Pan, you're so beautiful, you should go to a big city like Hong Kong to develop your career. Give me a chance, and give you a chance too, okay? Come with me, and I'll make you famous throughout Hong Kong, a star! You won't have to stay stuck in a small county town singing folk songs anymore."

As he spoke, the hand that was around her slender waist began to slide restlessly downwards, slowly reaching towards her buttocks through her clothes...

Pan Lanxiang's eyelashes trembled twice, and her body tensed for a moment.

She tried to push him away, her palm already pressed against his chest, but the words "famous throughout Hong Kong" made her heart flutter inexplicably, and she gradually gave up resisting.

As Lin Zhaotang's lips pressed against her face, she sighed inwardly and closed her eyes resignedly.

However, before Lin Zhaotang's thick lips could even get close, a furious shout suddenly came from the alley behind them: "You son of a bitch, I knew you weren't a good person!"

The two were startled and quickly separated. Then they saw a tall and imposing black figure suddenly rush out of the alley!

Lin Zhaotang didn't even have time to dodge before a fist slammed into his face with a whoosh.

"Ouch!"

Lin Zhaotang screamed and fell straight backward, his head hitting the ground with a thud. He curled up in pain, covering his face and groaning "Ouch!"

Pan Lanxiang turned pale with fright, covered her mouth with both hands, and shrank back.

Her gaze passed over the broad back and landed on the profile revealed in the moonlight. She cried out, "Shad!"