Chapter 16

Ying Xiaonong's attitude changed, and he became much more active in rehearsals. Before, he had always had an air of "I'm clocking in," "I'm clocking out." He was serious and responsible at work, but he was nowhere near as full of passion as he was now.

With newfound confidence, Jin Que's entire demeanor became more uplifted. She often practiced on her own, determined to win a full house of applause when the play opened and make her appearance on the cover of Movie and Drama World truly deserved.

The theater industry was different from others. When others rested and relaxed for the New Year, they went to the theater to relax. Others watched the plays, while the actors were the ones being watched, so they, of all people, could not slack off.

It was already the end of the year. Ji Shuangyu rehearsed until the twenty-sixth of the last lunar month, and the theater closed its stage on the twenty-seventh. Starting from that day, they could have a staggered break for a few days before reopening on the first day of the New Year.

On the last day of work, Xu Xinyue was still leaning against the door, staring at the Oriole Song Stage across the way, which had finished its renovations. After the New Year, they would move in the tables, chairs, and various equipment, and then they could officially open for business.

Almost all of Jingcheng was watching this place.

Ji Shuangyu looked at Xu Xinyue's shifty back, shaking his head and sighing. It seemed Boss Rooster was in for an uneasy New Year.

He was uneasy, but Ji Shuangyu was fine. He had already done everything he was supposed to do. After working so hard, couldn't he have a peaceful New Year?

After his holiday started, he had to go around chatting with neighbors to ask what needed to be prepared for an old Jingcheng New Year. He discovered that the New Year was simply too expensive! Paper window decorations, New Year goods, New Year gifts, Lantern Festival supplies...

When Ji Shuangyu returned, his younger siblings gathered around to look at the pile of New Year goods.

This was truly the warmest and most worry-free New Year they had ever had. In the past, at the end of every year, a gloomy cloud would hang over their home. Forget about thinking what to buy; it was more like thinking about how to repay debts, as debt collectors would also come knocking.

But this year, the stove in the house was burning warmly. Meat, eggs, and milk were all available, along with millet rice, oat flour buns, and rice cakes. Sometimes there was even rice and white flour. Today, their big brother had bought even more New Year goods that they could only drool over in the past.

As they looked, little Lei-zi noticed something was wrong. "Big Brother, why are there no New Year paintings, and also none of that... that stuff for welcoming the gods? Oh, and no deity statues either!" At the Zi hour on the first day of the New Year, it was customary to set off firecrackers, burn incense, and use red paper lanterns to welcome the God of Wealth.

"Is that so? They must have sold out!" Ji Shuangyu said, feigning ignorance.

He hadn't missed them; he had deliberately not bought them.

As soon as he found out what needed to be purchased, he had decisively cut down on those superstitious items. The paper money and offerings for worshiping the Kitchen God and welcoming deities cost three or four yuan, which was completely useless.

Buying some paper window decorations to stick on for atmosphere was good enough!

With the money he saved, Ji Shuangyu went to a bookstore and bought a few elementary school textbooks of the era, which he now took out.

Ji Leizong momentarily forgot about the deity statues. "...Big Brother, are these textbooks?"

Besides the original Ji Shuangyu, Ji Leizong and Ji Feifei, the two slightly older children, had also received a basic education. They had learned some things from their parents and were literate.

"Yes. You and your sister can read at home, and if there's anything you don't understand, wait for me to get off work and ask me. After the New Year, when the weather gets a bit better, I'll find a school for you," Ji Shuangyu said. How could it be right for children not to go to school? Besides, he didn't have time to teach them.

In the past, they didn't have the means. The children stayed at home picking up coal cinders and doing chores. Now that he had a bit more confidence, although he hadn't saved much money yet, Ji Shuangyu was already planning to send them to school.

School! How much money would that cost!

"No need, Brother. We have so much to eat at home now. Soon I'll be tall enough to go work at the theater and earn money," Ji Leizong said anxiously. Tuition, book fees, paper and ink fees... how could their family afford it? From what his big brother was saying, he intended to send all of them to school.

"Don't worry, Big Brother will earn more money very soon. Let me tell you, even if you're interested in opera and want to work in a theater, you have to go to school first. The knowledge involved is profound," Ji Shuangyu said. He felt that at the rate he was earning money, sending them to school next year wouldn't be a problem.

Ji Leizong wore a shocked expression. Going to school, and even going to school for the sake of working in a theater? Each of these concepts was more surprising than the last.

Immediately after, Ji Leizong said worriedly, "But Big Brother can't even afford deity statues..."

Ji Shuangyu: "..."

Ji Shuangyu: "It's not that I can't afford them! I'll be honest with you, I just don't want to buy them. There are no ghosts or gods in this world!"

Ji Leizong looked at him in horror. "Big Brother, isn't that a bad thing to say?" Although some enlightened individuals advocated against worship, it had always been the custom to make offerings to the deities during the New Year.

Ji Shuangyu said miserably, "What's so bad about it? I'm already being both a father and a mother to you, what could be so bad?"

Hearing this, Ji Lulu grabbed onto Ji Shuangyu and burst into tears with a wail. "But Mama! I want New Year paintings!"

"??" Ji Shuangyu also cried, "Why not call me Papa!!!"

Ji Leizong: "..."

Ji Shuangyu: "No, no, call me Big Brother!"

Ji Feifei also sobbed, "If there are no deity statues, what if a poverty ghost sneaks into our house at night, Big Brother! I'm so scared!"

Ji Shuangyu: "................"

Ji Shuangyu: "Nonsense, I'm the poverty ghost myself! Look at this whole alley, is there anyone poorer than me?" After earning some money, he had bought furniture for the house, and he had barely managed to catch up to the normal living standard of their neighbors. He didn't have much in savings yet.

The little gourds: "..."

Ji Shuangyu thought to himself, 'Besides, if a ghost really did come in, it'd have a hard time seeing Ji Feifei anyway...'

Ji Lulu was still young and couldn't quite grasp the whole situation. Unimpressed, she continued to cry and whimper, "Are there no pictures to stick on the walls? Are there no pictures?"

"Of course there are. The window decorations can be stuck on," Ji Shuangyu said, looking nervously at Ji Lulu. 'Please don't get too excited, you'll wet yourself.'

He really didn't want to be washing a child's urine-soaked clothes during the New Year.

"Alright, alright, you want a picture, right? I'll draw one for you." Ji Shuangyu found a pen and paper. It was cold outside, and he didn't really want to go out to copy the door-god paintings on the neighbors' doors. Besides, that would look very creepy. So he simply drew a picture of Spiritual Official Wang based on his memory of Ying Xiaonong's performance.

Ji Lulu wasn't picky. In any case, all old immortal men looked more or less the same. She took the drawing and said, "I also want a kiss from Big Brother."

Ji Shuangyu wiped the snot from her face and kissed her on the hair. 'Wuwuwuwu, you guys are very cute, but this is truly the most miserable New Year I've ever had, being both a father and a mother.'

......

...

In stark contrast to Ji Shuangyu's vigorous efforts to stamp out superstition, Zhou Siyin, at that time, was piously visiting a round of temples in Jingcheng. The shrine in his own apartment was also solemnly set with a table of pastry offerings.

During the New Year, Old Master Zhou returned to the old residence for three days. Zhou Ruojuan beamingly reported the good news, announcing that the film company he was preparing would soon be open for business.

"You, it's good that you can finally settle down and do something," Old Master Zhou glanced at him. When he had praised Zhou Siyin before, wasn't he also prodding Zhou Ruojuan? Telling him not to always resort to shady tricks just because he couldn't beat others in business.

Old Master Zhou then called over Zhou Siyin. "Your father is buried in his scholarly work and doesn't care for any worldly matters, but I have to ask you, when do you plan to start a family? Who is the person you have in mind?"

Zhou Siyin: "I'd like to know too. I even asked the Goddess when I was burning incense yesterday."

Old Master Zhou: "..."

Old Master Zhou: "You're truly superstitious. Get lost."

Zhou Siyin slipped away with his hands in his pockets.

Zhou Ruojuan shot him a triumphant look. 'Haha, little brat, you'll get what's coming to you.'

A few days later was the charity performance jointly held by several schools in Jingcheng to raise funds for the educational and living expenses of students in need.

On that day, Department Head Zou, who had returned from Hushang, would attend as the head of the education sector to show his support and make a donation. The Zhou family was a sponsor of one of the private schools and a prominent family in Jingcheng, so the Zhou family members in the city were also invited.

At that time, even if Department Head Zou had forgotten, he would remind him about the matter of the masthead for Calligraphy Education. He had already received an old work by Tan You'an and could very well reap the fisherman's reward, hehehehehe.

The charity performance was scheduled from the thirteenth to the fifteenth of the first lunar month, for a total of three days. The venue was a tea garden that usually hosted performances like acrobatics and crosstalk, and it had been rented for the charity event.

On the thirteenth, Zhou Ruojuan had his hair neatly combed early in the morning, put on a sharp suit, and walked to the tea garden with a spring in his step.

He discovered that the attendance rate here was not very high...

This was quite normal. The programs put together by these students and teachers were all things like piano pieces, symphonies, and civilized new dramas.

During the first lunar month, wouldn't it be better to go to any theater to watch an auspicious play? Let alone piano pieces and symphonies, even the Western drama studied in Huaxia, now known as civilized new drama, was far less popular than when it was first introduced, especially when performed by students, which was the most unpopular of all.

Many people in the audience were there to show support due to their connections with the schools.

Zhou Ruojuan wasn't concerned with attendance rates or the program. He chatted with the several school principals and dignitaries present.

Just as they were talking, Zou Muyun arrived.

Zou Muyun had a long beard and was wearing a traditional cotton robe today, making his body look round and plump. As soon as he arrived, he became the center of attention. Since the festival wasn't over yet, he received a basketful of auspicious words and responded with a cheerful smile, "A prosperous New Year! A prosperous New Year!"

Zhou Ruojuan noticed that his nephew had also arrived but was standing in the outer circle. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like he didn't dare to go and greet Department Head Zou, afraid the man would remember him. 'Hehehe, what a fool.'

Zhou Ruojuan chuckled inwardly and pushed through the crowd. "Department Head Zou, wishing you great fortune. It's been a while. I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival to give you my New Year's greetings."

"A prosperous New Year. Yunzhi, you jest. Are you complaining that I'm late?" Zou Muyun said with a smile. "I rushed over as fast as I could. Please don't be offended, everyone."

Jingcheng was only so big, and many people knew each other. Zou Muyun and Zhou Ruojuan were not close, otherwise the textbook order wouldn't have gone to Zhou Siyin. But just by their conversation, anyone who didn't know better would think they were old friends.

Zhou Ruojuan beamed with a sincere smile. "Actually, my heart is burning with eagerness. Department Head Zou is a renowned master of calligraphy, and I've heard that you admire Master You'an's work. I just obtained a piece and was hoping you could help me appraise its authenticity."

Zou Muyun's eyes lit up. "An old work by Master You'an? He hasn't been active for a long time. It's a pleasure to be able to view an old work. I must take a good look..."

He suddenly remembered something and looked at Zhou Siyin. "I recall that Baoduo also has dealings with Master You'an, and even managed to get him to write the masthead for Calligraphy Education. I've been thinking about it all this time. Could it be that Baoduo also obtained this piece for you, his uncle?"

Although the two had a nasty falling out in the past, he figured they were still uncle and nephew, after all.

Only then did Zhou Siyin slowly walk up to them.

Zhou Ruojuan tried hard to suppress his smile. Hehe, hehehehehe.

Zhou Siyin: "My New Year's greetings to you. Calligraphy Education is ready and will be published after the New Year. I was just about to ask for your review. However, for the masthead, I thought it over for a long time and decided to discard Master You'an's work. I felt it wasn't suitable enough."

Zhou Ruojuan: "...?"

Not just Zhou Ruojuan, everyone from Zou Muyun to the others was completely dumbfounded.

Tan You'an's calligraphy, not suitable enough??

It took Zhou Ruojuan a moment to realize what was happening. Zhou Siyin had clearly been forced to switch calligraphers, yet he was phrasing it as if it were his own proactive choice. He was trying to bluff his way through! The little brat was really cunning!

He quickly said, "I seem to have also heard that Baoduo chose the work of an unknown old mister. I'm also very curious as to why."

Zhou Siyin said, "I didn't tell you. You were the one who insisted on seeing it."

Zhou Ruojuan: "..."

Zou Muyun seemed to understand something. He glanced at the uncle-nephew pair, finding them amusing. He guessed that Zhou Siyin most likely failed to secure Tan You'an's calligraphy, and Zhou Ruojuan was here to rub it in.

Although he found them amusing and admired Zhou Siyin, disappointment was inevitable. After all, Zhou Siyin had told him long ago that he would get Tan You'an, and he had been looking forward to seeing it. Moreover, this was the second piece of disappointing news he had received recently.

These past few days, his mind had been occupied with the popularity of fountain pens in society and among students, and with the young man he had met in the library.

Before leaving Jingcheng, he and his subordinate Yuangu had gone to the Kunlun Library for a discreet inspection. He met a young man who borrowed his fountain pen and was extremely delighted by the handwriting the young man left behind. He specifically asked his subordinate to find him. As soon as he returned to Jingcheng, he eagerly asked his subordinate for the result. His subordinate told him that after searching for a long time in various schools, he really couldn't find such a person.

This was even more disappointing than not getting Tan You'an's calligraphy. After all, Tan You'an was a living person right there. But that young man with the excellent penmanship was nameless, and there was no one who could replace him.

Zou Muyun collected himself and asked faintly, "Oh? Then let me see whose work you got to replace Tan You'an."

Although his tone was flat, everyone knew that Zou Muyun was feeling a bit let down. Calligraphy Education was, after all, a matter he valued and strongly supported.

"I have it with me." Zhou Siyin did not, as everyone expected, take the easy way out and temporarily avoid the topic. Instead, he took out a sample copy, handed it to Zou Muyun, and said, "What I commissioned was a piece of fountain pen calligraphy."

Zou Muyun: "Hmm?"

Zhou Ruojuan was also stunned, and then he let out a sneer. "Fountain pen calligraphy? Baoduo, have you gone mad! The study of calligraphy has been a required subject for our Huaxia scholars for a thousand years..."

This was Calligraphy Education! And you're having someone write the masthead with a fountain pen? What was a fountain pen? A mere tool. How could it be considered art!

"It's best for those who don't understand calligraphy to speak less. My mother said you always had someone write for you during your calligraphy practice as a child." Zhou Siyin's single sentence shut Zhou Ruojuan up, making him roll his eyes in anger.

"Everyone, Calligraphy Education is a calligraphy journal. Besides serving as a platform for calligraphers to exchange ideas, a major goal of its founding is to educate students. Nowadays, students increasingly favor using fountain pens, pencils, and other hard-tipped pens because of their convenience. They are gradually beginning to rival the brush, and the debate in society between soft and hard pens is raging.

"In fact, our Huaxia also has a lineage of hard-tipped pens. It is recorded in ancient texts, 'In ancient times, ink was a brush, using a bamboo stick dipped in lacquer to write on bamboo slips.' 'Ancient slips were carved with knives instead of brushes.' Pottery script and oracle bone script were also carved. Aren't these the earliest traces of Huaxia hard-pen writing?

"Therefore, after seeing this calligrapher, I believed that he might be more suitable for Calligraphy Education than Master You'an. Why must we argue over brushes and fountain pens? This calligraphy adopts Western learning for our use, carries on our ancient lineage, and possesses the spirit of steles and copybooks. It can make all those who wish to be lazy with a fountain pen understand—it matters not whether the pen is soft or hard, what's important is how to write with the spirit of our Huaxia!"

For a moment, everyone was dumbstruck. His words almost made them unscrew their fountain pens and start practicing calligraphy on the spot.

They were impressed. No wonder he was so good at selling books, what a way to elevate the subject! But, was it really as amazing as he claimed? The people present who weren't experts in calligraphy only recognized famous names. Where on earth did this calligrapher "Gourd Elder" come from?

Zhou Ruojuan: "As expected of you, you're so good at boasting—"

At that moment, Zou Muyun was already holding the sample copy, dramatically wiping non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes. "To wear out iron shoes in a fruitless search, only to find it by chance without any effort! I recognize it, this is the handwriting, that's right. I had people search all over Jingcheng for this calligrapher and almost thought he had left the city. I never expected Baoduo to find him. What a blessing that you have such a good eye!"

The implication being: 'I also have such a good eye.'

Zhou Ruojuan slammed on the brakes, almost biting his tongue.

He suddenly remembered Zhou Siyin telling him the calligraphy was commissioned for fifty yuan, and a manic rage flared up in him: 'Liar!! The little brat did it on purpose to mess with me! Who the hell is this Gourd Elder!!'