Chapter 19

The great bell carries the wind, its sound ringing beyond the heavens.

Baoduo originally means a large bell. Zhou Siyin's names are a matching set. Lingdang'er is his pet name, which very few people call him now—basically just Zhou Hanque.

But neither Zhou Siyin nor Zhou Hanque had expected that after Zhou Hanque had said so many important things... Ji Shuangyu would latch onto those few words! He didn't play by the rules at all. 'Was your talk about needing money just an act?'

Zhou Hanque only saw Zhou Siyin's handsome face flush red in an instant, the color spreading all the way to the roots of his ears. Amused, she couldn't help but feel surprised. Zhou Siyin's usual devil-may-care attitude was known throughout Jingcheng; when had anyone ever seen him embarrassed?

What was even more surprising came next.

"What... what's it to you!!" Zhou Siyin slammed the table in anger, rebuking, "Is this the time to be talking about that?!"

—Zhou Hanque never thought Zhou Siyin's anger could be so toothless. She wouldn't even call this losing his temper. The grandness of his actions made it seem like he was angry, but "What's it to you" was the most polite phrase she had ever heard from her nephew's mouth when he was throwing a fit.

"I was just asking. I didn't expect your pet name to be so cute," Ji Shuangyu said calmly, not the least bit intimidated. "Now, let's talk business."

As if he wasn't the one who had just started trouble.

And Zhou Siyin just snorted coldly, sat down, and discussed business with a straight face.

Zhou Hanque thought: 'I get it. My nephew has probably grown up, he doesn't like to curse at people anymore! How nice. Sister, did you see this??'

Ji Shuangyu, Zhou Hanque, and Zhou Siyin discussed the terms in detail and finally drafted a contract. Once the legal clauses were reviewed, it could be signed.

The manuscript fee for the copybook would be paid in installments. The first payment would be made after the manuscript was finalized, while subsequent payments would be settled after publication and release, which would take some time. As for Zhou Hanque, she could assist Ji Shuangyu in applying for a patent for the pen nib and would also pay an initial usage fee of two thousand yuan, which he could receive immediately after signing the contract.

Ji Shuangyu was overjoyed. With this money, he could upgrade his living situation. "Buy a house! A siheyuan in the second ring!"

At this time, there were many houses and few people. Rent was only a few yuan a month. Even with deed taxes and renovation costs, two or three thousand yuan was more than enough to buy a large house.

Zhou Hanque looked at him strangely, "You're not buying a small Western-style house or an apartment building?"

Ji Shuangyu could still earn more from the copybook later. Even if he were to look at houses now, with the contract in hand, it was enough to get a bank loan for the most well-located small Western-style houses.

In terms of housing prices at the time, small Western-style houses were the most expensive, averaging four hundred yuan per room. Next were apartment buildings, then siheyuans, and finally, ordinary single-story houses. The average price for a tiled room in a siheyuan was about a hundred yuan.

"I just like siheyuans. Western-style houses and apartment buildings are nothing special," Ji Shuangyu said with great sincerity. He had his fill of Western-style houses, apartment buildings, and villas in the modern era, but he had never properly lived in a siheyuan, only staying in siheyuan-style hotels for short periods.

In terms of cost-effectiveness, siheyuans were actually better. Ji Shuangyu figured he could buy a courtyard with five or six rooms. If he chose a good location, he could use the money he saved for renovations, make some modifications, and install some newer fixtures inside. Wouldn't that be better than a Western-style house?

Ji Shuangyu was already beginning to fantasize with relish; he could live in his own private courtyard.

But in Zhou Siyin's heart, this was another strange detail, which he secretly noted down.

To Zhou Hanque, whether it was a Western-style house or a siheyuan didn't matter much. She just thought that with the current housing prices, buying two wouldn't be a problem. She was just surprised that someone as young as Ji Shuangyu had no interest in being fashionable. She said, "Well, as long as Mr. Ji is happy. After the contract is reviewed, let's meet at a restaurant to sign it."

"I haven't eaten out yet, it's so expensive," Ji Shuangyu agreed readily. Since he had transmigrated, he was first unable to attend gatherings because he was playing the role of a hanging ghost, and later he was busy rehearsing the new play. He regretted not being able to taste the famous restaurants of Jingcheng from this era.

Especially since he heard that the most impressive restaurants in Jingcheng had their own stages and gardens, places not just for eating but also for entertainment. Even if Ji Shuangyu had the time before, he couldn't have afforded it.

He really was straightforward to the end. Zhou Hanque smiled and said, "In that case, let's go to Drunken West Wind Restaurant. It's famous, and very expensive, hahaha. I'll have Baoduo send a driver to pick you up then."

The moment Ji Shuangyu heard the name, he felt it must serve classic traditional dishes of the era. He was eager to try something special and nodded hastily, "Okay, okay, okay!"

When they left, Zhou Siyin first held the car door open for Zhou Hanque, inviting her to get in.

Zhou Hanque said with satisfaction, "I see you've become much more mature." To be honest, her nephew was competent, but he always liked to take unorthodox paths and had a sharp tongue. Every time she saw Zhou Siyin pushing Shu Wangyan, she was a little worried his wording was too harsh. Now, seeing Zhou Siyin's attitude toward the new author, Mr. Ji, she felt much more at ease.

Zhou Siyin didn't even understand, just humming absentmindedly in agreement.

Zhou Hanque: "Alright, you can go. After you drop off Mr. Ji, come home early."

Zhou Siyin closed the car door and tapped on the window to signal Zhou Hanque's driver to start the car. "Got it. I'll wait till after twelve, after the deadline passes, go curse out Shu Wangyan, and then head home."

The car drove away. Zhou Hanque: "..."

......

The next day, the talk in all the alleys and hutongs of Jingcheng was about The Record of Sympathetic Joy. The newspapers were also almost entirely dominated by it, with an endless stream of related reviews and reports, some even publishing special supplements to discuss it.

There were numerous reviews for the Oriole Song Stage's version:

[This version of The Record of Sympathetic Joy has novel mechanisms, and every scene is brilliant. All the decorations are exquisite...]

[The performance of The Record of Sympathetic Joy I saw yesterday used the most fashionable costumes, with snow falling from the sky and a divine deer appearing on stage, all of which are the newest forms from Hushang.]

[As expected of the Hushang-style scenery, the origin of all stage mechanisms! Only after seeing it today do I realize that what came before were minor skirmishes. The stage is also of the latest Western design, wide and grand, with an endless stream of mechanisms that are a feast for the eyes. It's a must-see play this year!]

The Changle Theater's version had just as many reviews:

[With Changle Theater's production of The Record of Sympathetic Joy, Jingcheng has gained another famous dan actor! "Golden Immortal" Jin Que has a melodious singing voice and a realistic performance; she is excellent in both looks and artistry. If we speak only of her ethereal aura, all dan actors of the past lose to her!]

[A single glimpse of Golden Immortal's beauty is like seeing the fairy of Mount Gushe. Gentlemen, if you wish to see The Record of Sympathetic Joy, you need only enter Changle Theater. There is no need to watch the one at Oriole Song Stage.]

[For the next month, the most numerous orders received by the tailor shops in Jingcheng will definitely be for that Ink Lotus Precious Pleated Gown worn by Jin Que!]

The Oriole Song Stage had spent a fortune on advertising, and yesterday's performance was indeed a massive hit, so there was a lot of news about it today. Changle Theater, however, did not lose out on the limelight and had its own supporters, especially the troublemaker Shu Wangyan.

Besides praising their own, they also attacked the other side. Everyone was well-practiced at this.

With so many newspapers offering different opinions, the spectating public read through them one by one and felt that both sides were being praised to the heavens, and both had their own appeal.

But when Shu Wangyan's review came out, the scales of the war of words began to tip.

—This Shu Wangyan, after watching the show at Changle Theater last night, had actually used his fan connections to sneak into Oriole Song Stage to watch the latter half of their play. His review was well-reasoned and confident.

[If you ask me, there is no need for everyone to argue over these two versions of The Record of Sympathetic Joy. From what I've seen, the Hanxi Troupe's version of The Record of Sympathetic Joy is a beautiful opera, appealing to all tastes. Everyone leaves happy and can savor the memory. It truly fits the old opera proverb: 'It does not seek wild applause on the spot, but rather a quiet nod of approval afterward.' As for the version staged at the Oriole Song Stage, isn't it just a circus and acrobatics show? The actors are always trying to hide their nervousness whenever they have to fly—what kind of immortal would be so careful when riding the clouds? The audience below cheers, and the higher they fly, the louder the cheers. The magic tricks also elicit gasps of surprise. Therefore, both productions are worth seeing. However, I suggest that audiences who want to see opera go to Changle Theater, and those who want to take their children to see acrobatics go to Oriole Song Stage. But please, do not mention these two in the same breath again!]

As soon as Shu Wangyan's devastatingly witty review was published, the supporters of Changle Theater immediately found their backbone, laughing and agreeing. [That's right, let's not compare these two plays anymore. One is opera, the other is a magic and acrobatics show.]

[Indeed, they are opera singers, yet you make them fly around. It's simply ridiculous.]

[To be honest, my family wanted to see it, and I wanted to fulfill their wishes, but I was afraid of letting Fairy Jin Que down. After reading this review, I've come to a realization. I can take the children to see it, after all, they are different things.]

—In a short time, Jin Que had already amassed a large number of fans. When only her cover photo was released, they were fans of her appearance. After watching her performance, they became utterly devoted and were determined to support her, even giving her the elegant title of "Golden Immortal".

Among these fans, the two most important types were already present.

One type was the literati of the time. It was crucial for an actor to be praised in poems and essays by scholars. The other type was female supporters. As mentioned before, a play could only be a true box office hit if it attracted a female audience.

The young ladies loved Jin Que's appearance and costumes. On the second day of the play's run, some quick-handed ladies had already stayed up all night to alter their clothes into the same pleated style—simple and elegant, suitable for daily wear or banquets. Worn with a Western-style coat on top, this fusion of Chinese and Western styles was exactly what was in vogue.

As for the makeup, they had started learning it as soon as Movie and Drama World was published.

The supporters of Oriole Song Stage didn't want to admit defeat, but they found it hard to argue with Shu Wangyan. After much thought, they came up with a new angle:

[Changle Theater's establishment of the "director" position will destroy our Huaxia opera!]

[From now on, actors will no longer be actors, but mere puppets. Oh, what a tragedy!]

[Most people in the opera world are uneducated. To now let an illiterate person act as a so-called 'director', to guide the script and the entire opera, is the most ridiculous joke under the heavens!]

[Some people are actually boasting that Ji Shuangyu excels with black and white. Does an uneducated person also possess the refinement of a scholar?]

—Hey, you insult our actors, we'll insult your director!

They dodged the main point, attacked his sore spot, and accused his director of eventually ruining the actors. At the same time, they latched onto the fact that the director had never been to school.

The fans on this side rolled their eyes and cursed back, "Can't an uneducated person study on their own? Don't forget our Director Ji also knows that Western Montage theory. Do you? And the ink character backgrounds he wrote were clearly very good! You circus folk have no culture and don't understand aesthetics, don't assume others are the same."

The other side was just looking for an excuse to attack anyway, so they didn't back down, loudly proclaiming that these were not the same thing. By your logic, our set designer is also proficient in scientific mechanisms!

And ask yourself, in Huaxia, is learning so easy to come by? If he really had such great talent, would he need to work in a theater?

A craftsman is a craftsman. Why are you trying to meddle in matters of the script? Also, you say his writing is good just because you say so, but I think it looks like a ghost's scrawled talisman! Just like your huadan!

And so they went back and forth, the verbal sparring was incredibly lively, just like the long queues at their respective box offices.

......

When Jin Que herself went to Changle Theater the next day, a fan club with the signature "Residence Beyond the Clouds" had already sent flowers. On them were written words in ink: "The sparrow chirps beyond the clouds, the immortal descends to the mortal world," and "From your adoring Que fans," along with several letters.

Jin Que's face immediately flushed red.

An elegant title, a fan club, even a name for her fans...

Following last night's surprise, this was another big one. This was the kind of treatment only famous actors received.

The members of the troupe saw it and started praising Jin Que, "Now that you're a big star in Jingcheng, a trip to the other cities will make you a truly famous actor in all of Huaxia."

"That's right, our Hanxi Troupe will have to rely on Sister Jin Que from now on."

Jin Que's status had been skyrocketing ever since the rehearsals for The Record of Sympathetic Joy began. Hearing these words still made her a little anxious. The "other cities" referred to Jinmen and Hushang. There was a saying at the time: "Learn opera in Jingcheng, perform in Jinmen, make money in Hushang."

After becoming famous in Jingcheng, one had to conquer Jinmen and Hushang to be considered a true star.

Such a future was something Jin Que had never dared to dream of before!

But she still remembered the phrase "don't disgrace Director Ji," so she braced herself with a blush, learning from Director Ji's poise of remaining unruffled by honor or disgrace. And it had to be said, after being immersed in this for the past few days, even without makeup, the radiance emanating from her expression still made people think she was a beauty.

"Hahahahaha." Ji Shuangyu walked in at that moment. Seeing the flowers and messages, he couldn't help but laugh out loud, finding it all very familiar. The fan club, the fan name, the idol's flattering title... he had seen it all in the modern era.

The fan clubs here were quite formidable. People would gather to support their favorite actors, contributing money if they had money, and literary talent if they had talent. They would tear into rival fan groups and even buy newspaper space for promotions. It was a lively scene, no less intense than in later generations.

To have her own fan club so quickly proved that Jin Que was truly on the rise.

"Director Ji!" Jin Que was very excited to see Ji Shuangyu. She had been looking for him yesterday but couldn't find him anywhere.

"Director Ji!!!" Jin Que's words were completely drowned out by the others. The rest of the troupe members were looking at Ji Shuangyu with great eagerness, as if he were a long-lost relative.

Jin Que: "..."

Ji Shuangyu was so startled he took a step back.

After Jin Que's "ascension" to Golden Immortal, the people of Hanxi Troupe were even more convinced of Ji Shuangyu's abilities. He said he would promote you, and he did. Even if you weren't good-looking enough, he could work his magic and turn stone into gold... well, something to that effect.

Although there were some half-true criticisms in the newspapers outside, denouncing this "director" position.

But within the Hanxi Troupe, who didn't want to gain Ji Shuangyu's favor? They all hoped he would take a fancy to them and design something for them, so they could ascend to heaven in a single step like Jin Que.

They were all artists. Don't mind Boss Xu peeking through the door and wailing every day about whether they would fail. For them, this was already a success. Just look at Jin Que's acting skills now!

"Director Ji, I have a singing passage, could you give me some pointers..."

"Director Ji, I've come up with a new singing style..."

"Yes, yes, everyone please step out for now. I'll set a time for all of us to discuss together," Ji Shuangyu said with practiced ease. "Come, register with my apprentice here and note down any questions you have."

His apprentice, of course, was the stagehand.

The stagehand of the Hanxi Troupe had long dreamed in private: if I learn from my master, can I become a director one day too, and hold my head high? Our stagehand department could be renamed the director department...

After everyone had dispersed, Ji Shuangyu finally looked at Jin Que with a smile, "What's wrong? You look a little worried. Isn't being famous a good thing?"

Her rise to fame was indeed a bit fast, but instances of overnight success were not rare in Jingcheng. It was just that most people didn't experience it with the same magnitude and speed as Jin Que.

Only in front of him did Jin Que relax. "Sigh, that's right. I received a few invitations yesterday, and I'm a bit at a loss..."

"What you need to do now is to ground yourself and settle down." Ji Shuangyu picked up a letter a fan had sent her, glanced at it, and said, "The reason you're at a loss is because you're different from other famous actors.

"Many of them are well-read in poetry and literature, and skilled with a brush. As an actor, you can't be uncultured. Otherwise, how will you understand the script? You can't rely on my guidance forever. Opera needs good directors, but it needs good actors even more. You must have your own understanding of 'Yunxiao', and of every role you play in the future.

"You lack the confidence that comes from this kind of strength, which is why you're uneasy. In the future, I'll have Boss Rooster spend money to hire Chinese and history teachers, as well as a foreign language teacher. You and the other actors will all attend classes. As for calligraphy, I can teach you. You can start by practicing writing replies to your fans."

Jin Que nodded continuously as she listened, and that sense of unease gradually dissipated because she now knew in which direction to work hard.

Even so, when she heard the last part, Jin Que was still surprised. "A foreign language? Are we going to perform for foreigners? I've never tried singing in a foreign language..."

"You don't have to sing a foreign language version. But in the future, if you're going to perform Huaxia opera for foreigners abroad, won't you have to interact with them?" Ji Shuangyu said nonchalantly.

Jin Que's mouth fell open. While others were still talking about her conquering the other cities, Ji Shuangyu had already set his sights overseas...

You have to know, not long ago, someone had used the standards of Western drama to criticize Ji Shuangyu's faults, yet here he was, proclaiming his intention to bring opera abroad.

Ji Shuangyu let out a sigh. "Let's not talk about it. I have to go ask the boss for my salary. Bye-bye."

Jin Que stood there in a daze for a while. Director Ji's tone was casual, and others might think he was joking. But, for some reason, Jin Que had a faint feeling that perhaps in the future, she would really have the opportunity to stand in a foreign land and perform Huaxia opera...

......

In the following days, Jin Que turned down social invitations from celebrities and practiced calligraphy with Ji Shuangyu, using the fans' letters and poster writing as practice.

She grew more and more famous, and her mood improved daily. Only her panic disappeared. As she became more confident, she discovered that even without makeup, she could attract countless admiring gazes—although some of it was due to the fan filter.

For now, the two versions of The Record of Sympathetic Joy seemed to be evenly matched. Both played to a full house every day with numerous viewers. The rival shows competed with great fanfare; even the apprentices taking out the trash every day would glare at each other.

The disputes in the media also grew more intense, with both sides predicting that they would be the box office champion.

Xu Xinyue frantically stared at the box office numbers and newspapers every day. Whenever he saw something criticizing the director, he felt even more pain than Ji Shuangyu himself. He was just so, so worried about being crushed by Oriole Song Stage. "What do you people know! If he were uneducated, could he make so much money for me!!"

Ji Shuangyu: "..."

Ji Shuangyu: "Stop spreading rumors. You're the one benefiting the most..."

Damn it, investors don't need to know anything, it's us workers who are making money for them! And he still complains he's paying me too much!

But Xu Xinyue's day of deliverance was coming soon.

Just as the latest issue of a periodical supporting Oriole Song Stage published another article, taking direct aim at Ji Shuangyu.

Kunlun Bookstore launched its newest journal, Calligraphy Education, advertising it in all its major newspapers and magazines. It featured articles by high officials and famous scholars led by Zou Muyun, including an appreciation of the journal's masthead.

What was most eye-popping was Kunlun Bookstore's direct slogan: "This gentleman is even more qualified than Mr. Tan You'an to write the masthead." This point alone was enough to make people want to know who this "Gourd Elder" who had appeared out of nowhere was.

And the calligrapher of this masthead, "Gourd Elder," did not deliberately hide his alias. In fact, he had probably only fooled Zhou Ruojuan. One only needed to open Calligraphy Education to find out—

Gourd Elder was none other than Director Ji Shuangyu, who had just been scolded for several rounds as an "uneducated person" and an "uncultured craftsman."

Author has something to say:

Zhou Hanque: What happened to his temper getting better? You all have problems...