Chapter 4: The Cloudy Village in the Smoke and the Snowy Mountain

After listening to the opera, Mao Xingbang instructed someone to sell a large floral basket, which has already been sent to the backstage

In his childhood, Han Wei's favorite play was "The Monkey King", as he enjoyed the lively atmosphere and the majestic Monkey King in the performance. His least favorite play was "Night Run", as he could never understand why one person would sing for so long on stage, moving around alone; what was there to see?

Countless splendors, fleeting as clouds, traversing the mortal world, in the end, are they not all "resenting the vastness of the sky, a life of wandering" and "in the world of dust, I have wasted my youthful years in Wuling"

Looking up, the audience boxes outside were adorned with congratulatory banners for the performance, featuring black velvet with red satin and black lettering, as well as purple velvet trimmed with gold. The phrases such as "Resounding Like the Clouds" and "A Sudden Remarkable Achievement" were particularly eye-catching

In the mortal world, I have wasted my youthful years in Wuling

On stage, the performance is a segment from the opera "Douzhi Ji". The young actress portraying Jin Yunu appears to be quite youthful, with a delicate and charming demeanor, and her articulation is crisp and clear

Hastening through the desolate wilderness

Is Big Brother afraid of alerting the snake by beating the grass? Han Wei asked excitedly, it turns out that Big Brother still cares about this case

Han Wei gazed blankly as Xiao Yan struggled to get up from the stool, sobbing. He recalled the previous days when the beautiful young man, dressed in a light pink costume, had energetically portrayed Lu Wenlong on stage, earning thunderous applause. Yet now, he was enduring such humiliation and suffering offstage.

"Are they really fighting? Aren't you ashamed?" He Lili exclaimed to herself in astonishment, while Han Wei pulled her outside. He thought to himself, a boy is getting beaten, and you go to watch the commotion, how shameless of you

Mao Xingbang, with his eyes closed and hands rhythmically clapping while nodding his head, was clearly an expert in appreciating the performance. In contrast, He Lili was fixated on the stage, gazing intently at the actor Xiao Wei, who was portraying Lin Chong.

Han Wei followed Mao Xingbang and his elder brother to the backstage to meet the young boss Wei

In the mortal world, I have wasted my youthful years in Wuling

A voice filled with desolation and indignation exclaimed "Ah" and "Hey" in the library, earning resounding applause and continuous cheers from the audience

He Lili observed Han Wei's anxious and serious demeanor, and suddenly leaned in to ask him: "Wei'er, do you get beaten like this at home by your elder brother as well? Next time there's such a good show, be sure to invite your sister to cheer for you and support you."

That is called "the side stage," where the esteemed mentors in the theater troupe oversee and support the younger members, ensuring stability at the edge of the stage. Han Wei explained in a low voice, fearing that He Lili might show any signs of timidity and embarrassment.

Desolate and profound, deep and lingering, filled with blood and tears, expressing resentment and sorrow

Indeed, the elder brother's attention was drawn to his topic, and after a brief moment of silence, Han Wei still insisted, "Change clothes, we are preparing to go watch a play"

Manager Zhou of the Golden Toad Grand Stage followed behind respectfully and said: "Young General Yang, if you could inform us in advance next time, it would allow the troupe to wait for your arrival before starting the performance"

Hating the vastness of the world, I find myself adrift.

Hanwei's gaze was immediately drawn over.

On stage, Wei Yunhan, portraying Lin Chong, executed a series of movements such as "Flying Kick," "Turnaround," "Exploring the Sea," and "Lying Fish" with fluidity and precision, eliciting continuous applause from the audience, and soon transitioned into the well-known singing segment:

... ...

However, upon recalling that the brothel's maid had mentioned that Xiao Yan Sheng had secretly met Er Mei Zi on the ferry behind the Peony Hall, my curiosity grew even more.

It was only after growing up that I understood how difficult it is to perform a one-man show like "Night Run." The entire play lasts for more than half an hour, and throughout the performance, there is only the character Lin Chong on stage. It is quite challenging to fill such a vast, empty stage. If the actor's skills are not high enough and their abilities insufficient to captivate the audience's attention with all their might, the performance will not succeed; in theatrical terms, it is said that one must be able to "hold the stage."

The autopsy results indicate that the female corpse died from poisoning, showing no signs of struggle or altercation prior to death. The possibility of suicide is significantly high, but the possibility of homicide cannot be ruled out. Investigations along the upper reaches of the Huanglong River led to the identification of the boat that carried the female corpse, which has been confirmed to be the missing vessel from 'Ruyi Building' on Xinghua Lane, previously chartered by a wealthy guest from the Northeast. The female corpse was also a prostitute from 'Peony Hall' on Xinghua Lane, nineteen years old, named 'Er Meizi', originally from the Northeast.

"He is Boss Xiao Wei, the great martial artist Wei Yunhan? Why is he standing on stage watching the play?" He Lili asked in confusion.

Wei Yunhan released the bamboo board in his hand and scolded Yan Sheng: "When it comes time to 'settle accounts' at the end of the year, I will hold you accountable for this debt. This is largely due to your lack of diligence on a daily basis, which has led to this mistake. 'One minute on stage requires ten years of hard work off stage.' If you want to be a great martial artist, can you achieve that without hard practice? You are not allowed to eat dinner tonight; go to the wall and move two bricks to practice your splits, and then come down and practice eighty kicks. Er Douzi, keep an eye on him." "You are not allowed to eat dinner tonight; go to the wall and move two bricks to practice your splits, and then come down and practice eighty kicks. Er Douzi, keep an eye on him."

However, Brother— Han Wei still unwillingly revealed the "baggage". "Brother, someone has seen the actress Xiao Yan Sheng from the Daxin Society go to Mudan Hall to look for this tattooed prostitute Mei Zi. The Daxin Society may be related to this case," Han Wei said firmly. This secret was something he had uncovered, and he had not mentioned it to Inspector Zheng. Han Wei knew that his brother had a particular fondness for the Daxin Society, and he had some personal connections with the leader of the Daxin Society, Wei Yunhan, who was leading the group to Longcheng this time.

Han Wei noticed that his elder brother was engrossed in the scene, and he wondered whether his brother was also reminiscing about that line from the play, moved by the moment.

Within the circle, Mao Xingbang had already seized Wei Yunhan's arm, which was raised high with the bamboo board. This bamboo board was the 'house rule' used by the troupe to discipline its apprentices.

... ...

As mentioned in "Zhuangzi," the chaos that has been chiseled into seven apertures, it is perhaps best to remain in a state of "chaos"; truly understanding and hearing clearly is, in fact, one's own pain.

Just arrived at the back office, Manager Zhou, with his robe and books in hand, was wiping sweat off his face, looking quite flustered as he blocked everyone. Upon seeing Han Chen and Mao Xingbang approaching, he anxiously stomped his feet and clenched his fists, repeatedly explaining that it was inconvenient for Boss Wei.

Wei Yunhan's portrayal of the character Leopard Head Lin Chong made a striking entrance, dressed in a black arrow costume, presenting a handsome and elegant appearance. His lines were delivered with a resonant clarity, each phrase powerful and impactful. In a moment of emotion, he recited, "A man sheds tears not lightly, only because he has not yet reached the heart-wrenching moment." His voice was clear and melodious, and his movements were graceful, instantly filling the empty stage with a sense of sorrow and desolation. The hero's fate rose and fell dramatically, fully showcasing the atmosphere of melancholy.

This reflects the principle that "women fear 'Sifan' and men fear 'Night Escape'" in the context of opera. Not everyone can perform well in 'Night Escape', a play centered on the theme of the solitary hero, and hold their ground.

Han Wei followed his elder brother and others into the private box on the upper floor of the Golden Toad Grand Stage. The performance had already begun, and the lower floor was packed, with every seat occupied.

Tears streamed down Yan Sheng's face, and on his exposed, fair thighs, which were revealed after he had pulled down his pants, there were horizontal lines of blood, now swollen and dark purple in color

... ...

Han Wei spoke incessantly, eagerly awaiting a look of approval from his elder brother. After all, he had been extremely busy these past few days alongside Detective Zheng, and they had finally made significant progress in the case.

Han Wei followed Mao Xingbang into the backstage, where he saw a group of actors dressed in white inner garments, with their heads wrapped and faces painted, still not having removed their makeup, silently and solemnly forming a half-circle.

A long and tranquil night

Mao Xingbang repeatedly urged, saying: "Xiao Wei, look at yourself, why have you learned to have the same temper as Minghan, always showing off your authority? Xiaoyan kicked away a gun, but it didn't fall off the stage and hurt anyone. Just remind him to be careful next time."

Han Wei felt a rush of blood to his face, while Mao Xingbang mocked He Lili, saying: "Look at you, so anxious; isn't it just to see Xiao Wei? 'Night Run' is the finale, it must be saved for the end. Besides, haven't you noticed? The handsome man you want to see is standing right next to the stage curtain."

I have watched this performance of "Night Run" countless times, and it is familiar to me. In the past, I merely enjoyed the spectacle and passed by without understanding. However, when I finally grasped the profound meaning within the script, it unexpectedly filled me with sorrow, and the burdens in my heart became difficult to dispel

The darkness is profound and the barriers are heavy

He Lili complained after watching for a while: "You deceived me by saying there would be handsome men, singing 'Lin Chong's Night Escape.' It turns out you all wanted to see the young girl, tricking me into coming here"

Han Weila rolled down the window to buy a newspaper and instructed his aide, Xiao Heizi, to hurry home

Han Wei also followed Mao Xingbang's gaze, and by the side of the stage stood a young man in a long gown, exuding an air of confidence. Indeed, it was the young boss Wei, Wei Yunhan, who was intently watching the performance on stage

What inconvenience is there? You should go and tell him that I, Mao Laosan, have come all the way to Longcheng to pay my respects to him, yet he refuses to even meet me face to face?" Mao Xingbang's face was filled with anger

"First, go change your clothes. Accompany your brother to the Golden Toad Grand Stage to watch the opera with Mao San Ge," Brother Han Chen interrupted him and instructed. He added, "The police station has already reported it."

Hanwei often heard his elder brother say that in the opera troupe, learning the art mainly involves "fighting scenes"; "without fighting, one cannot become skilled." The basic skills of the renowned performers were largely honed through being pursued and struck by their masters and senior apprentices with bamboo clappers and rattan sticks

Han Wei had heard this play several times. When his father was alive, he would always invite a theater troupe to perform in the residence, and the performances would last for three days and three nights, creating quite a lively atmosphere. This famous play "Night Escape" seemed to be an indispensable part of every performance.

Han Weili stood before his elder brother's desk, detailing the clues he had gathered over the past few days regarding the case, while his elder brother listened without showing any emotion.

It is well known that the German News Agency gained fame in Tianjin. Those in the Peking opera community are aware that the operas from Tianjin are among the most challenging to perform in the country. Why is that? The taste of the opera fans in Tianjin is quite discerning. If you perform well, they will be willing to spend money every day to support you, cheering and showering you with praise until their voices are hoarse. However, if you make even a slight mistake, you will face a chorus of boos, and items like teapots and towels will be thrown on stage, leaving no room for redemption. The troupes that emerge from Tianjin are all of high caliber. The taste of the opera fans in Tianjin is quite discerning. If you perform well, they will be willing to spend money every day to support you, cheering and showering you with praise until their voices are hoarse. However, if you make even a slight mistake, you will face a chorus of boos, and items like teapots and towels will be thrown on stage, leaving no room for redemption. The troupes that emerge from Tianjin are all of high caliber.

Hanwei's car passed through the bustling city, where newsboys were selling the "Longcheng Daily," shouting: "Extra! Extra! New developments in the case of the tattooed female corpse found in the Huanglong River. The deceased was a prostitute from 'Peony Hall' on Xinghua Lane, who died from poisoning. Latest updates from the police department, 'Longcheng Daily.'"

Manager Zhou then awkwardly said: "Boss Xiao Wei is currently lecturing his junior in front of the ancestral tablet. It was just earlier when Boss Xiao Xu made a mistake while performing 'Xiao Shang He', causing the performance to go awry."

The elder brother's tone was dry, and Han Wei was devoid of enthusiasm. The clues he and Detective Zheng had painstakingly investigated were unexpectedly seized by Director Zhao, who was always one step ahead. The opportunists were everywhere. In a fit of anger, Han Wei kicked the stair railing hard as he left the study. Upon reflection, it was not entirely bad; it was a good opportunity to meet this little Yan Sheng, perhaps he could extract some information.

Gazing at the waning moon

A feeling of empathy for one's own kind made Han Wei's heart ache. He couldn't help but think of himself; although his background was not the same as Yan Sheng's, their circumstances were alike. Both appeared on a grand stage dressed in splendid and glamorous attire, while beneath the surface, they were likely to endure countless sufferings that ordinary people could hardly bear.

Han Wei, this case is of great importance; do not act rashly. Do not disclose any details of the case to anyone, and especially do not inquire about Xiao Yan Sheng on your own.

With the blood and tears of Longquan staining the battle robe

This marks the fourth day since the discovery of the corpse in the Yellow Dragon River, and the progress in solving the case has been surprisingly swift. However, behind the perplexing circumstances of the case, it seems there are always invisible eyes watching Han Wei with a mysterious smile.

My lightness of body does not fear the long journey ahead

Little Yan, lying on the bench, sobbed continuously in pleading: "Yan knows she was wrong, and Senior Brother's reprimand is justified"