The struggle of the eight blessings of rebirth

Chapter 196
It is also the first time for Minzhi to come to the back garden of Suyu Jingshe. It used to be the conjoined garden of the Buddhist hall next door. Minzhi has visited it a few times before. In my impression, there are only a few towering five-needle pine trees here. Stone paths, stone tables and benches, no other red and green flowers and plants.

Minzhi didn't have much interest in Kunqu opera at first, so there were only a few excerpts, with the same clothes and make-up, and the slow three-tempo tune with a long drawl.It made her feel like grinding a saw on a bone.

She came to watch the show with her, firstly because it was necessary, secondly, she also wanted to take this opportunity to see what the garden transformed by Tong Shulan would look like.When she came in, Minzhi was stunned. It was November, and the chrysanthemums in her yard were in full bloom, rushing to catch the last train and blooming one after another.

In Tong Shulan's yard, there were so many roses, climbing the wall, shrubs, red, yellow and pink, that it caught Minzhi's eyes. My God, this gardener belongs to Xie's family. The weather of the month has produced such a spectacular sea of ​​roses.There is a sweet aroma in the air.

Minzhi was dumbfounded, it turned out that Miss Tong liked this one, it was really surprising, it's just that the three wives should not be fainted by the aroma.But how did she do it?Taking advantage of the old lady walking in front, Minzhi couldn't help but take a step back, reached out and touched one of the pink flowers on the "flower wall" beside her.

After touching it, I couldn't help giving a thumbs up to Tong's gardener.It turns out that all the flower wall bonsai here are spliced ​​together with dried flowers tied with thin strings!What a huge amount of work, and so many dried flowers were obviously cut when they were in full bloom. Minzhi looked at it and sighed, this is a veritable "never fade" garden.

In ancient times, Empress Xiao of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty asked the palace servants to make paper flowers to decorate the imperial garden in order to let her husband see the blooming flowers in winter. Now it seems that Tong Shulan is more professional than Empress Xiao. The paper flowers are fake after all. You can see through it by looking at it. Apart from the different colors and touches, dried flowers are real flowers.

If it weren't for Tong Shulan's extraordinary persistence, which gardener would be willing to take the trouble to cut off a flower when it is the most beautiful, and make it into a dried flower for the master to enjoy in winter?What's more, here is a garden with thousands of flowers.

Minzhi felt a little sympathetic to the gardener of Suyu Abode. He had to do such a big project with such a small salary. If it was in modern society, he would have gone on strike early in the morning.

She was looking at the flowers, but Tong Shulan was looking at her. Seeing her genuine expression, she felt complacent. What's the matter, haven't you seen it?Your garden is already deserted right now, what a broken place, the prince actually ordered that no one else can set foot except the two of you.

Now, Miss Tong is proud: "In Fujin's opinion, how is my concubine's garden?" Minzhi didn't turn her head, and said the truth: "Mr. Tong, Gai Minger will reward your gardener for such a big project It's too much trouble." Tong Shulan was stunned: "Uh, the gardener, well, he is indeed a useful slave."

Minzhi ignored her, quickened her pace, and accompanied Mrs. Hesheli and two other female relatives through the garden to a courtyard. On the stage in the middle, actors in twos and threes were doing their final rehearsal.After the female family members came in, they quickly retreated to the backstage, and the boss of the troupe greeted them with a nod and bowed his head: "I have seen Princess Lianjun and all the wives."

Minzhi nodded: "Boss Zhou, this is the second time you've come to my place to set up a stage. What's new today?" Boss Zhou bowed his body as he welcomed the crowd in: "Yes, yes, my princess. I have been taking care of the villain's business, and provided such a good place for us to rehearse, the villain is very grateful. Today, there are distinguished guests in the house, and the villain will definitely let them perform with all their heart, so that the masters are satisfied!"

"That's good, bring the trick list, you go and prepare." "Yes." Boss Zhou took out a thick booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Minzhi with both hands.Backstage himself.The positions of the female relatives are all arranged in the corridor, with a grand master's chair and a small table.Minzhi sat with the old lady facing the stage. On the old lady's left were Shu Shujue Luo and Zhang Jia, and beside Minzhi was Tong Jia.

After sitting down, Minzhi gave the trick list to Hesheli: "Old lady, please do a show." The old lady said politely: "I am a guest, how dare you presume." Minzhi was 12 respectful: "Old man People are elders, etiquette cannot be discarded." The old lady was very helpful, and took the playlist: "So, I will try to order it out, the princess and the most popular Siqing troupe in the capital seem to be very familiar."

"Although Boss Zhou is the head of the class, he is a common man after all. He respects whoever gives him work. It's just their rules. I just listened to their play at the third sister-in-law before. I thought it was good, so I hurried Yan'er is full of moon, just invited them to sing once."

As he said that, he picked up the tea at hand and took a sip: "The Biluochun here in Tong's is really good, and only the Hefeng pot can cook this flavor. I have heard the saying that the capital is competing for Mingyuan dishes from overseas, today I saw it here at Tong’s, and it’s really a treasure. At the beginning, Huang Ama asked the ninth younger brother to spend 1000 taels of gold to ask for a set of Master Chen’s tea set. This old man is also weird. Huang Ama originally intended to invite him to the house He was offered a job in the government construction office, but he refused, and moved south with his family. Now it’s really hard to find a piece of cake.”

The old lady listened from the side, with a look of embarrassment across her face, yes, the granddaughter's daily utensils are all treasures among high-quality goods.The tea set they are using now is the work of ceramic master Chen Mingyuan.Even Kangxi was willing to spend 1000 taels of gold to buy a set of his tea sets. One can imagine how famous this person is.

However, the Tong family gave such a precious thing to the Tong family as a pretense, directly throwing away the Guo Luoluo family, who is the son of Fujin, several feet away.Now, Guo Luoluo directly pointed out the preciousness of this thing, the thing that Huang Ama cherished, he dared not to use it, and he couldn't afford such a thing.But now I saw it in my concubine's room. The style of the Tong family is comparable to that of Huang Ama!

Hesheli didn't speak, and the two wives beside her naturally didn't dare to speak, but Tong was secretly startled, she never knew that the things she used were so big that it would cost a lot of money to use them as the emperor It's over, it's over, her score is too big.He looked anxiously in the direction of his grandma with his small eyes.

Minzhi put down the cup: "Old lady, do you have a book that you like?" Hesheli was startled by Minzhi's words just now, and he never paid attention to the playlist, so he said casually at this time: "Well, let's just this one, this one is good " Minzhi saw it, and almost didn't laugh, old lady, you are so tough, you actually clicked "Shooting a Halberd at the Gate", are you looking at Sanying or Lu Bu?I really can't see that you are still a military control.He took the charcoal pencil and drew a circle on the booklet: "The old lady ordered "Shooting the Halberd at the Gate", so I'll come to have fun and order a new play "Si Lang Visits His Mother". "Minzhi said pretendingly. .

In fact, Boss Zhou just said that Minzhi borrowed a venue to rehearse for them. He was talking about the theater in Nanzhuang. In fact, it was the second time I saw the Siqing troupe at Sanfu Jin’s house. After that, Nanzhuang had its own theater. Minzhi was the first The first thing I thought of was the Siqing class.

It turned out that Zhou Gui was tougher than his father, and after several negotiations, he bought the Siqing class directly.All actors' costumes and props belong to Nanzhuang.After Minzhi found out about this, her eyeballs all fell out. This year, she really can buy anything!
So, she came up with an idea, let Boss Zhou take care of the Siqing class, the resident is in Nanzhuang, and Minzhi will provide them with accommodation, meals, and rehearsal venues.Except for a few regular performances in Nanzhuang on holidays, they still take jobs outside, and all the money they earn is used to train younger generations except for the money they earn.

Being an actor in low status is a pain in the heart of every artist in the Qing Dynasty. Minzhi has no way to change the status quo, but in reality he gives them enough respect.Their food and clothing expenses are all borne by her. When they perform outside, they ride in special carriages, and there are special servants in charge of logistics for them. They are fully provided for according to the specifications of more than two personal assistants around modern stars. When I have time, I will sort out and write folk stories and arrange new plays for them.

So far, the Siqing class has become the hottest number one in the capital.This time, on the Queen Mother's Longevity Day, the Siqing troupe was selected by the Shengping Department, and entered the palace to perform an excerpt "Auspicious Heaven" adapted from Mongolian mythology for the Queen Mother.The old lady was so happy that she couldn't hold her tongue from ear to ear, and the Siqing class was improved to a higher level.

The high-ranking officials rushed to invite them to sing at their homes, and the appearance fees were sky-high. Boss Zhou lamented that he had been an actor and troupe leader for most of his life, but he never thought that when he was old, he would still be able to meet his career. In spring, it is not easy to meet a master who understands opera and respects artists.

The joints here are unknown to outsiders. Now, the old lady frowned when she heard "Shiro Visits His Mother". What kind of drama is it? She has never heard of it.However, I was confused, so I ordered a martial arts show of the Three Kingdoms, which was already very frightening. Let's just watch "Shiro Visits His Mother" to make do.

The book was handed to Shu Shujue Luo Shi, she frowned, carefully drew a circle and handed it back, Min Zhi saw that it was a traditional excerpt "Tang Minghuang Touring the Moon Palace".Therefore, Minzhi added a new "Liu Yi's Biography" to make up the second half before handing in the book.

Not long after, the play began, and the old lady's appetite was obviously spoiled by the "Shooting the Halberd at the Gate" she ordered. She didn't look at the stage at all, but squinted at Minzhi beside her.

Minzhi drank Biluochun leisurely, ate snacks, and wiped her fingers with a handkerchief from time to time. The old lady noticed that the handkerchief on her hand was obviously made of the inner court material. A few bright red plums: "Wangfei's handkerchief, is it a tribute satin? It looks unusual."

"The old lady has good eyesight. This handkerchief was given to me by my mother in the palace. The flowers look lifelike, but my mother embroidered them stitch by thread!" Minzhi put the handkerchief into her sleeve casually: " My female celebrity is too bad, and I have always been disgusted by my mother and said that I can't see people, so my mother often rewards me with some shows or gadgets. The handkerchiefs and sweat towels I use are mostly made by Zhuangzi's embroiderer , Most of them were rewarded by Er Niang."

(End of this chapter)