Chapter 6 six

Fourth Master Tang came to get the money that Qin Zhu deserved on the first night of the gong opening.As usual, he always felt that everyone was conspiring to lie to him.When Bao Qing and the accountant were busy paying the bill, he looked at them suspiciously.He went backstage from the counting room, noticed what everyone was doing, and then came forward again.He wanted the money right away, and no one could spare his daughter a penny. The fourth grandma is too fat to come to the accounting room in person to supervise the settlement.If she squeezed into the counting room, no one else could get in.So she was like a Maitreya Buddha, sitting in a big chair in the background, her eyes fixed on those places that her man couldn't see.She is more eager to share money than anyone else.Right now she is chatting with Xiulian, listening to Xiulian talk about children.Grandma Fourth also loves her children. The less sensible the children of other people's families are, the more interesting she finds them.

There are too many invitation tickets, and the income is not much, and the actors can't get enough "shares".According to the old rules, everyone will share the shortfall.However, Baoqing generously said that this was the first night of the gong opening, and he would rather not pay a dime so that everyone could take full share; he hoped that everyone would still come tomorrow night.In any case, he had to buy people's hearts. When Fourth Master Tang heard this, he became even more suspicious.He has never been willing to suffer, and he does not believe that others will find their own disadvantages.Baoqing must have put some money in ignorance, and now he is pretending to be generous again. I, Fourth Master Tang, can't just let him take the money away.But the income and accounts are all in front of him, and fourth master Tang can't find fault.He hurried to his wife and bit her ears for a while.what to do?How to deal with this cunning Baoqing?They have been relying on Qinzhu for more than ten years.Been lied to in the past.I have to come up with some tricks to beat Baoqing and squeeze out two extra dollars, even if it's only half a dollar!

After biting her ears for a minute or so, the fourth grandma decided to accept the money given to Qin Zhu.She had to take the money and put it in the meat pocket, so it was safe.Then, she asked Tang Siye to take Qinzhu home, leaving her to deal with Baoqing.She is a woman, even if she loses the battle, it is not ashamed. After a few days, there will be no such thing.She took a long breath, crossed her hands on her towering chest, and waited for Baoqing. Qin Zhu was also in a hurry to leave, she thought there must be many people waiting to see her outside the door.Maybe there will be rich men, handsome young masters, and so on.She likes to be looked at.When people stared at her, she really felt she was a beauty.So she twisted her hips vigorously and walked out the door. Her father kept a distance from her very considerately.

The fourth grandma sat there, giggling and giggling like a chicken that just laid an egg.Suddenly, she sullenly. "Baoqing," she called, "come here, I have something to tell you. It's important!" Baoqing knew that she would never say anything good.But he still came over and asked with a smile: "What do you want, my fourth grandma?" "That's all I want to ask you. Who's the nicest guy tonight?" "Of course it's Qin Zhu! She's a character." Bao Qing admitted frankly. "Okay, Baoqing, you have finally told the truth this time. I want to tell you the truth. Our two partners form a team. My daughter is good-looking and popular. So, she sang It's the top card. If she sings the top card, she deserves the top card. Doesn't that mean it?"

Bao Qing didn't want to tell her that even if she studied Qin Zhu for another three years, her singing would not be as loud and vulgar as Xiulian's *K她っ壹*.He also didn't want to tell her that if he didn't form a class, Qin Zhu wouldn't get a dime.He just smiled flatteringly at Fourth Grandma. Fourth Grandma also smiled at him. "Baoqing, don't just stand here laughing, you have to do something. If you don't plan to pay the top card two more money, my daughter will..." "What are you going to do?" Baoqing's thick eyebrows twitched, giving birth gas.For two weeks, he ran through a dozen pairs of socks, in order to give everyone a place to earn money.He thought people would appreciate it.I didn't expect this stinky woman... The fourth grandma softened when she saw Baoqing's appearance. "Baoqing, don't tell me what to do if you don't know about Qinzhu! You know about art." "I don't know," Baoqing couldn't hold back anymore. "I don't want to understand either." He got up before dawn, was busy all day long, had to talk about things everywhere, argue what should be argued, persuade what should be persuaded, and praise what should be praised.Now, he sang for a long time, but he didn't make any money.I haven't had dinner yet, so I can't bear it anymore.He stared at her. "Okay," the fourth grandma muttered, pulling her fat body out of the chair with all her might. "You don't look like you're going to add any more—not a penny?" "Why should I? I've had a day's work for nothing, and you're all getting full pay. You're being unreasonable."

"My good brother, I still have to figure out my identity. Qinzhu should get at least one yuan more than Xiulian. She is worth it." Baoqing shook his head resolutely. "No, you can't take more than a penny." "Okay, you really don't know much, see you tomorrow." The fourth grandma walked away waddlingly.When she reached the door, she stopped again, and slowly turned around, "Maybe we won't see each other again tomorrow." "As you like, fourth grandma." Bao Qing was almost shouting, his face was livid with anger. The wimp has already sent Baoqing's wife, Second Mistress, back to the hotel.Xiulian was still waiting for Baoqing in the bookstore.Ever since Xiulian appeared on stage as an artist, she always waited for Baoqing to take her home whenever she was off the stage.If the weather is fine and the house is not far from the garden, they will walk home at night under a clear sky.Walking these few steps after the show is the happiest time in Baoqing's life.

He always walked very slowly so that Xiulian could keep up.He put his hands behind his back, drooped his shoulders, and lowered his head.It was a rare moment when he was in a good mood, and he walked slowly.Walking like this can temporarily forget the extreme fatigue.Xiulian always likes to complain to him about her little unsatisfactory things.Baoqing loves to hear her complain.Sometimes I will comfort her a few words, sometimes I don't say anything, just smack my lips.He would take her to a small restaurant nearby to buy something delicious.He loved watching her big, bright black eyes waiting expectantly for her favorite food.He also took her to the stall and bought her a toy or something.Xiulian is fourteen years old, but she still likes dolls and toys.

Tonight, after the fourth grandma left, Baoqing walked up and down the stage with his hands clasped behind his back.If the fourth grandma really doesn't let Qin Zhu sing tomorrow, that would be great!Hmph, she only attracts some ordinary people from the market, so it's no big deal if she doesn't come! "Dad," Xiulian called softly, "go home!" Seeing her earnest little face, Baoqing smiled.There is a world of difference between this lovely little thing and the piano beads.Alas, it's not worth worrying about Qinzhu.What the Tang family wanted her to sell was her body, not her art.That business makes more money.But Xiulian is still a little flower in bud.She has been with the girls who are doing arts for more than four years, and she hasn't learned badly. "Okay, go home!" Baoqing agreed. "Let's go back!" He forgot all those worries.He thought of the happy scenes when he walked home with her after the shows in Peking, Tianjin, and Shanghai.When Baoqing and Xiulian walked out of the theatre, there were no pedestrians on the street.Most of the shops were shuttered and the street lights were out.Baoqing walked slowly, with his head down and his hands behind his back.He felt so relieved.It pleased him that the street was dark—so that no one would recognize him.Very quiet.He doesn't have to greet someone every few steps.He walked more and more slowly, wanting to maintain this kind of very relaxed and happy energy without having to say hello to others for a while longer.

"Dad," Xiulian called in a low voice. "Huh?" Bao Qing was thinking about something on his mind. "Dad, why were you so angry with Grandma Fourth just now? What if Ming'er Qinzhu really doesn't come?" Her black eyes looked at him dreamily.When she was alone with her father, she always liked to speak in an adult tone.She wanted him to understand that she was not a doll girl anymore. "No...it's nothing special. I can eat with her, and I can eat without her." Baoqing always pretended to be very confident in front of his family.Sometimes he put on airs.But it's all out of good intentions——to make everyone feel at ease.

"Qinzhu has a way to make money, they won't be hungry." Bao Qing cleared her throat, it seemed that Xiulian was sensible.She should have known this earlier.No, she always hangs out with girls who sing drums.He asked with a smile: "What other business does she have to do?" Xiulian giggled. "I also don't know the details." She said a little apologetically, because she couldn't go on with what she mentioned. "I shouldn't have said that, should I, Dad?" Baoqing didn't answer right away.Xiulian didn't know exactly how Qinzhu made extra money, which was not surprising to him.What she raps and sings every day is about those talented men and beautiful women, but she doesn't really understand.What worries him is that his daughter will always grow up.What would she be like?His shoulders felt heavy again, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

After hesitating for a long time, he said, "I can't imitate Tang Siye, and you don't want to learn Qinzhu either. Do you hear me?" "Yes, Dad, I heard you." Xiulian said.From her tone, she didn't understand what Dad meant. They didn't speak any more. When we got to the hotel, Baoqing remembered that he and Xiulian hadn't had dinner yet.As he climbed the stairs, he felt very hungry.He hoped that there would be something to eat at home. It would be great if he could have a delicious meal with the whole family and celebrate the opening of the gong. To his surprise, Second Mistress was awake and prepared meals for them. Baoqing suddenly became happy, so happy that he forgot all the worries of the day.It's not hard to please him.Be considerate of him a little bit, even if he was sad just now, he will be happy immediately.Now he wanted to say something to praise his wife. "Supper! Very good!" he exclaimed suddenly.She glared at him. "What more do you want?" she asked harshly. Baoqing's face elongated all of a sudden. "Don't be angry with me," he pleaded, "I'm exhausted." The wimp had already gone to bed.He took care of the business of offering sacrifices to the ancestors, and felt a little tired.Baoqing woke him up and we had dinner together. Xiulian helped her father, trying to make the atmosphere more harmonious.She affectionately called her adoptive mother "Mom", and helped her sister Dafeng prepare meals. Second Mistress never had a good look at Xiulian.Her motherly heart can only be used on her own daughter. Dafeng was two years older than Xiulian, but she seemed to be at least twenty-three or four.She was a short and fat girl, not much taller than Xiulian, but much wider.Long round face, normal-looking, full of acne.She always wears a cheongsam made of Shilin cloth, and simply braids her thick hair into a long braid, which is dragged behind her back.She always seems to be worried.Occasionally, when he smiled, he showed two rows of neat and beautiful teeth.When she smiled, she looked much better and looked younger. In the last few months, Xiulian realized that she was an orphan without a father and mother, and that singing on stage was a cheap profession.Dafeng looks ordinary and doesn't know how to perform arts, but Xiulian knows that she has an identity.As long as Dafeng makes fun of her, she will know that she is laughing at her. After eating, the wimp fell asleep again.The second grandma didn't enjoy the wine, so she didn't enjoy herself so much.When everyone finished eating, she shouted: "Go away. Let me have a drink in peace." Baoqing, Dafeng and Xiulian couldn't make up their minds.If she was left alone, she would be furious.But if they stayed, she'd drink all night again.Baoqing was so tired that he really wanted to fall asleep right away.But I was afraid that she would lose her temper, so I didn't dare to leave.He bit his lip.Only those who live happily today can be lucky and happy.He had to try to avoid quarrels. He looked at his wife, trying to suppress a yawn.She winked at him affectionately, and said solemnly that she didn't drink anymore. Baoqing couldn't stand it any longer.He yawned loudly and sank into a recliner.Second Mistress looked at him unhappily: "Go, sleep with you, sleep with you to death." She roared, her eyes were gloomy, as if she had been insulted. Baoqing was speechless.He nodded at the two girls and walked out of the room.Walking into his own room, he stretched out, let out a long sigh, and immediately fell asleep.Another day passed, all was well. "Da Feng'er," Second Mistress said, "don't marry a performer, he'll always be tired after the night." Then she turned to Xiulian: "Hmph, girls who sing are even worse!" Xiulian gasped, but didn't dare to speak.