Chapter 212

Seeing that the two of them wanted to watch the show, Du Xin took them to a theater. The theater was quite lively and crowded. At first, Xu Ran could not understand about it. He wondered why these people lay around dopping in broad daylight.

Du Xin pointed to the platform. Xu Ran understood at first glance that these people were probably coming for the person on the stage.

Xu Ran didn’t know if that person was a Ge’er or a Xiaoz, but he could see from the person’s well-proportioned figure that he really looked gorgeous.

Soon enough, that person on the stage began to sing. He really had a beautiful singing voice, and Xu Ran could not help praising him.

Du Xin first took the two of them to sit down, and then explained to them, “The one singing on the stage is the prima donna of the theatrical troupe. He just came this year when the troupe was about to be disbanded. However, because of this person’s coming, the troupe became popular. The theater is always full, just as you can see now. ”

Hearing this, Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun couldn’t help but praise, “This person is quite capable.”

Du Xin answered, “Yes, indeed! He is really able to play his cards well. Though he is not here for long, he has become the master of the troupe, which means that he is now the owner of the troupe.”

Xu Ran asked, “Is this person a Ge’er or a Xiaozi?”

Du Xin replied, “No one knows this. He never shows his real look, so no one is sure about it. What do you think about it? Is he a Ge’er or a Xiaozi?” Du Xin asked Xu Ran instead.

After a pause, Xu Ran said, “I think this person should be a Ge’er. If he is really a Xiaozi, he doesn’t have to worry about showing his real look. However, if he is a Ge’er, things will be different. Look at the audience sitting around. They are all coming for him. You can guess what the situation will be if they know he is actually a Ge’er.”

Du Xin nodded showing his agreement.

Xu Ran continued, “But this is none of our business. Let’s just listen here quietly!”

Xu Ran then closed his eyes and planned to be a quiet appreciator.

Seeing this, Zhuo Yun also closed his eyes as Xu Ran did. He was just a accompanying person anyway and he didn’t have any sense of existence. As long as the shopping of fruit trees was settled, he would be fine. When the trees were sent back, he would not go out but stay at home accompanying his spouse and children while planting fruit trees.

Du Xin saw that both of them were closing their eyes and didn’t intend to speak. He was surprised and felt bored.

Thus he began to look around and then he saw a waiter carrying a plate of cakes to the next table.

This reminded Du Xin that there were cakes here for sale. Actually, he used to come here with his friends before, but they always spent their time chatting and laughing until the show was over.

This moment, however, no one was talking with him, so he could only find other ways to pass the time. Anyway, he couldn’t understand what was singing on the stage.

Hence, Du Xin stopped the waiter passing by him and asked him to serve a few signature cakes.

The waiter knew Du Xin because he often came here. As he had never ordered food, this time the waiter was quite surprised.

After all, he was just a waiter here, and he should obey their customers. Thus he answered, “Mr. Du, please wait a moment. Your cakes, coming right up.”

Xu Ran opened his eyes at hearing the voice. He saw a man dressed as a waiter running away quickly. Xu Ran then asked Du Xin, “What are you doing?”

Du Xin replied, “I’ve ordered some cakes. As you don’t talk to me, I have to find something to do myself.”

Xu Ran glanced at him but didn’t say anything. He just muttered silently in his heart, ‘This man is indeed a chatterbox.’

Of course, after the cakes were served, both Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun didn’t stand on ceremony.They ate several plates of cakes and drank a lot of tea. In this way, after spending the whole afternoon listening to a play that they could not understand at all, they finally managed to make it until nightfall.

Xu Ran originally planned to stay for supper, but Du Xin suggested that the dishes in Fengyue Pavilion were more delicious and that they go to Fengyue Pavilion for supper.

Xu Ran retorted, “Isn’t Fengyue Pavilion a brothel? Why is the food there delicious? ”

Du Xin stretched out two fingers to swear, “Why am I lying to you? I’m very familiar with the Fengyue Pavilion because I often go to eat there. Besides, you can think about it for yourselves. We have been here watching the show for so long. You know well how it feels like with nothing to do!  Thus isn’t it better for us now to go to eat while enjoying ourselves there?”

Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun exchanged glances. Both of them felt that his idea sounded quite good. Xu Ran patted Du Xin on the shoulder and said to him, “I didn’t expect you would enjoy your life this way. You actually treated the Fengyue Pavilion as a restaurant for you and went there just to eat.”

Du Xin was embarrassed, “Well, I just have nothing to do every day and I have to find some fun for myself.”

Xu Ran agreed with him. He knew that unlike him, Du Xin did not lack money, nor did he have to make money on his own. He didn’t have any children to take care of either. Moreover, he did not even have to take a test for any official rank. Of course, he was bored. However, Xu Ran did not appreciate such life.  He was clear that anyone who had nothing to do all the time would become a person good-for-nothing in the end. He would always hang around to look for thrills or entertainment only. It’s better to be busy.

The three of them came out of the theater and went to the Fengyue Pavilion. The sun went down and darkness just fell. The Green Willow Alley was already quite humming with life, especially in the Fengyue Pavilion.

At the entrance, although no Ge’er came out to solicit customers, crowds of people kept walking inside. As for the reason, everyone knew it, just to watch the fun tonight.

As it was so crowded, Xu Ran suggested waiting at the entrance for a while until there were fewer people. Du Xin, however, told them, “It is fine to wait here for a while at ordinary times, but it is impossible tonight. The Fengyue Pavillion is sure to be overcrowded inside now. Fortunately, I made a reservation during the day. Let’s go in now! I’m so hungry at the moment.”

With that, Du Xin walked inside. Xu Ran took a look at Zhuo Yun but found that Zhuo Yun was looking at him, too. Xu Ran said, “This is the first time I’ve come to this kind of place. I’m a little nervous.”

Zhuo Yun nodded, “No matter how many times you come to this kind of place, you will feel nervous. After all, this is not the place you want to come.”

Xu Ran agreed. Seeing that Du Xin was about to be out of sight, Xu Ran said to Zhuo Yun, “No matter what, let’s go quickly. Anyway, we are coming for eating while watching the fun.”

Zhuo Yun agreed and thus both of them walked inside together. As soon as they entered, they saw that Du Xin was talking to someone. It was a Ge’er and he looked good. Of course, his beauty was largely due to the powder on his face. And he was quite old. Xu Ran didn’t think he was good-looking. He thought that this person was the so-called procuress! He just didn’t know what it was called in this place now.

Du Xin turned to look in their direction after talking with that Ge’er. He thus saw Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun. He waved at them, “Come here! Let’s go upstairs first. There are too many people on the first floor.”

Xu Ran heard his words clearly. There were indeed too many people present. He was worried that he and Zhuo Yun would be separated by the crowds, so he took him by the hand and walked over to meet Du Xin together. And the eyes of the Ge’er whether to be called a procuress or not were always focused on Xu Ran as well as his hand holding Zhuo Yun’s. At the same time, he also showed him twice his meaningful expression.

Xu Ran calmly held Zhuo Yun by one hand, while touching his nose with the other to hide his embarrassment.

Du Xin introduced them. He pointed to the Ge’er by his side and said, “Xu Ran, Zhuo Yun, this is Daddy Procuress of the Fengyue Pavilion. You can just call him Daddy.”

Daddy Procuress bowed and greeted Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun, “Nice to see you two misters.”

Xu Ran didn’t know how to respond, but fortunately, Du Xin went on with his introduction.

He introduced Xu Ran to Daddy Procuress, “Daddy Procuress, these two are my friends, which is to say that they are the honored guests I have to entertain tonight. I don’t know where the place I booked is today. Daddy Procuress, can you ask someone to take us there?”

Daddy Procuress covered his mouth and smiled charmingly, “Of course, Mister Du. And will you also order some food to eat?”

Du Xin smiled and replied, “Of course. I remember that I was here before! Daddy Procuress, have you forgotten my usual practice so quickly?“

Daddy Procuress waved the handkerchief in his hand, “How can I be so forgetful?  Just follow Mr. Du’s usual practice, right? I’ve deeply remembered them. Don’t worry, Mr. Du. I’ll let someone take Mr. Du and the honored guests upstairs. There are so many people today. Please forgive us if we can’t serve you properly. ”

And then, a big man came over. This person was obviously a thug. He probably hadn’t done anything like bringing a guest upstairs before and his movements were very clumsy.

Daddy Procuress told the big man the position that he had left for Du Xin. The big man nodded and took them upstairs.

There was indeed a place reserved for Du Xin. However, after they sat down, they felt it was a little crowded. Du Xin told them, “The Fengyue  Pavilion today is more crowded than usual. There are people around here and it’s not good to let them move away. Let’s just make do with it!”

Xu Ran shook his head, indicating that he didn’t mind it. He said, “You’d better quickly let them serve the food! Even though we had eaten a lot of cakes in the theater, that could not be regarded as a meal.”

Du Xin replied, “I’ve told Daddy Procuress about it downstairs. Let’s just wait for a while. Someone will deliver us food, soon. I guess that the Fengyue Pavilion has been busy all day today. Otherwise, these people who are temporarily arranged to set the table or cook the dishes will  definitely be too busy. ”

Xu Ran nodded and was about to drink some water from a cup on the table  when Du Xin suddenly stopped him, “You can’t touch the things in Fengyue Pavilion casually, especially wine. You must control yourselves tonight! You have drunk so much tea in the afternoon and you should have had enough of it now!”

Hearing Du Xin’s words, Xu Ran immediately retracted his hand and asked Du Xin, “You said we can’t touch this wine, so the food can be eaten?”

Du Xin smiled and replied, “This is natural. They don’t dare to do anything in the meal, especially the food for me. Everyone knows that I’m specially here to eat. If they offend me, they will find it difficult to get out of it.”

Xu Ran pouted and said disdainfully, “Why are you so proud of eating in Green Willow Alley?”

Hearing this question, however, Du Xin was even more proud. He replied, “You don’t know this! There are many people who can afford eating at the restaurants, but few can afford the food in the Green Willow Alley. You don’t know that once you come into this place, you’d better spend at least 100 taels of silver a night. Otherwise, you’d better not come in. ”

Xu Ran was stunned, “This meal is so expensive? I can order a few tables of dishes in the hotel!”

Du Xin nodded, “Yes!  Only rich people can come here to eat, and the taste of the dishes here is really good. Otherwise, I won’t come often.”

“A wastrel,” Xu Ran muttered. Du Xin didn’t hear it but Zhuo Yun did.

Zhuo Yun said, “I’ve also heard that the food in Green Willow Alley is expensive, but I didn’t expect it to be so expensive. A hundred taels of silver is probably enough for some poor people to eat for a lifetime.”

Xu Ran echoed, “That is indeed the case, so you should scold the wicked rich people.”

As soon as Xu Ran finished complaining about the rich, someone brought their food over.

…