Chapter 24 Part 1

Changle Theater.

Xu Xinyue's hands were trembling so much he could barely hold his teacup. He couldn't imagine that such an appalling, inhumane thing could happen in broad daylight.

Faced with something so outrageous, he didn't question the heavens or the spirits. He could only ask the person standing before him, in his broken voice—

"You... really want a raise?"

Ji Shuangyu: "..."

Yu Jianqing: "..."

Ji Shuangyu said in disbelief, "Boss, is that the only sentence you heard?"

Xu Xinyue covered his face with two trembling hands and said mournfully, "What else?"

Yu Jianqing asked, perplexed, "It's only eight hundred yuan, is it really that big of a deal?"

Xu Xinyue looked back at him, equally perplexed, "How can such a depraved person exist in this world?"

Yu Jianqing: "..."

Ying Xiaonong couldn't listen anymore. He slammed the table and said, "Ji Elder said he's going to direct a new play!! And he wants to rent your theater for morning performances! How is it that all you heard was that he wants a raise!"

Weren't the first two things far more shocking?!

He had overheard this by chance, and his eyes had gone wide. New and old drama had once been at odds, attacking each other, but it was also true that old drama had learned from the new in terms of stage sets. Before, it was always the old drama troupes who hired set designers from the new drama side...

What was happening now? Was their Xieyi Style so popular that not only were peers in old drama learning it, but even new drama had to follow suit?

Although it was a great morale booster, this... this... the style was all wrong!

Ying Xiaonong, who didn't yet know that Ji Shuangyu planned to use realism this time, shot another shocked glance at Ji Shuangyu, thinking to himself that this really was a great way to bring honor to their old drama peers.

Ji Shuangyu had specifically invited Yu Jianqing here to discuss renting the venue and the salary increase with Xu Xinyue. He had just finished his threat when Xu Xinyue looked as if he'd been dealt a heavy blow, his eyes lifeless.

"It can't be that bad, Boss. I even went out of my way to introduce someone to rent your venue. This way, you can just use the rental fee to subsidize my salary. You won't suffer a huge loss!" Ji Shuangyu felt he had been really considerate.

With this transaction, Xu Xinyue wouldn't lose much. If the public performances were successful in the future, he could even earn more from selling snacks and tea.

Unexpectedly, Xu Xinyue still lost his mind.

It was truly unexpected, yet quite reasonable.

Xu Xinyue rubbed his chest and said resentfully, "Is there no room for negotiation..."

It was his last complaint; in his heart, he knew there was nothing he could do, sob.

If he didn't agree, Ji Shuangyu could very well leave Changle Theater and find another venue.

Damn it, this Spring Thunder Drama Club was really disrupting market order. Why couldn't the Pear Garden Charity Association do something about them!

Oh, right, they were a new drama troupe, so they were out of its jurisdiction...

Xu Xinyue listlessly agreed. He drew up a contract with Yu Jianqing, and only after it was signed did he have the heart to say, "Sigh, times must be tough, huh? You guys have to follow the old drama trend now?"

Yu Jianqing retorted, "You don't know that Mr. Ji can also direct realistic new drama?"

Xu Xinyue: "??"

Xu Xinyue: "How is that possible?? He told me he doesn't like realistic painted backdrops and even told me to sell the ones I bought before! Right, right, and you also said that Jiang Sihai made a bold statement to you, wanting to see whether realism or Xieyi was superior!"

Ji Shuangyu said, baffled, "Boss, don't slander me. I meant I don't like them appearing on the Huaxia opera stage. I never said the realistic style shouldn't exist. It's living quite well on the new drama stage! And what does Jiang Sihai's bold statement have to do with me?"

Xu Xinyue: "..."

Xu Xinyue was the one who knew best that Ji Shuangyu was actually skilled in many mechanisms; he just didn't want to use them, feeling they were unsuitable. Therefore, after his initial shock, he was one of the quickest to accept it.

His only lingering doubt was about the market. "It's not that I'm being critical, but new drama's heyday has passed, especially student-led civilized new drama. You guys should be careful..."

Everyone knew that among the various forms of new drama, theirs was the least commercialized.

Although Xu Xinyue's aesthetic sense wasn't particularly high, as a theater operator who managed his own business, he was clear about the market situation.

Spring Thunder Drama Club? They were always losing money!

Although he had hired Ji Shuangyu, Yu Jianqing wasn't without a trace of anxiety in his heart. He looked at Xu Xinyue and said through clenched teeth, "Seeing you, I'm willing to believe in Director Ji!"

Xu Xinyue was stunned for a moment.

Then he remembered that many people had previously thought Changle Theater was going to fail. Many people, including himself, also felt that Changle Theater couldn't compare to Oriole Song Stage...

He looked at the energetic Ji Shuangyu and murmured, "That's right, I should believe."

Forget everyone else; wasn't he the one who should believe the most?

......

With that matter settled, Yu Jianqing showed Ji Shuangyu his revised script, titled "Peerless Beauty."

Ji Shuangyu took a look and felt that in this era of chaotic creativity, people's scriptwriting was no less dramatic than in later generations. The entanglements of the characters' relationships, the many melodramatic elements—they were all timeless.

Family drama, forever winning!

However, Ji Shuangyu still had suggestions to offer.

Ji Shuangyu: "You can make it even more complicated! The two kids are about the same age, how can they not be switched at birth? Then later, the father recognizes him, 'I am your father!'"

Yu Jianqing: "..."

Yu Jianqing: "Okay, okay."

Ji Shuangyu: "If you want to go fantasy, go all the way. Give the main character a past life!"

Yu Jianqing: "Yes, yes."

After noting down the changes, Yu Jianqing lamented, "When everyone found out Mr. Ji was going to direct a new play, their expressions were just like ours before—utterly astonished. If word gets out, I'm afraid many people won't believe it. Who knew the Xieyi Style was so brilliant."

So many set designers and actors, regardless of whether they were in new or old drama, staged all kinds of plays. It was like how some opera actors mastered both Peking and Kunqu opera, and many civilized drama actors later went into film.

But Ji Shuangyu had become almost synonymous with the Xieyi Style, which was what made it so unbelievable.

Ji Shuangyu thought of the world he came from: "New drama and old drama were never meant to be in conflict. These arts, whether passed down from ancient times or learned from overseas, once they land on Huaxia soil, they draw nourishment that belongs to Huaxia.

"The influx of new drama also spurred the development of old drama, but in the future, it will inevitably influence new drama in return. I believe one day, Huaxia opera will have its place on the world stage, and when Huaxia spoken drama is mentioned, it will also be a school with its own unique color."

Yu Jianqing nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Director Ji, you mentioned before about presenting Xieyi on the new drama stage. Will we get to see it this time?"

"Don't be impatient. It can only be used when appropriate. This time, realism is more suitable." Ji Shuangyu appeared very calm. "I can't just create it simply because you want to see it, or because it's novel."

Yu Jianqing nodded slowly. Although he was eager to see it, he approved of Ji Shuangyu's attitude.

"One more thing, how do you plan to set the ticket price?" Ji Shuangyu asked casually.

"How about twenty-five copper coins?" Yu Jianqing also replied casually.

"That's too low," Ji Shuangyu teased. "Although your goal isn't to make money, that's still too low. Teacher Yu looks down on eight hundred yuan and doesn't care about ticket revenue. It's not because of public funds, is it?"

This teacher seemed a bit clueless about worldly affairs, a little naive.

Yu Jianqing immediately said, "Absolutely not! It's just because my dad is extremely rich!"

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

Ji Shuangyu: "...So I'm the clown!"

A passing clown actor from the Hanxi Troupe: "???"

Ji Shuangyu: "...That's not what I meant, not what I meant."

In the end, Ji Shuangyu still suggested that Yu Jianqing raise the price to one jiao. If it was too low, people might doubt the quality.

Good scripts are born from revisions, but once the basics were confirmed, Ji Shuangyu could begin his preparatory work.

......

Previously, Ji Shuangyu had made arrangements with several well-known troupes in Jingcheng, such as the Wufu Troupe, Hechun Troupe, and Yongkang Troupe, to take on apprentices.

Over the past few days, they had selected their candidates, and on an auspicious day, they would formally become disciples of Director Ji of Changle Theater to study set design.

Today was that chosen day.

Four set designers carried their apprenticeship gifts and, along with the original stagehand from Changle Theater, made up a total of six disciples, with Ying Xiaonong and Xu Xinyue acting as witnesses.

The six men served tea and bowed to Ji Shuangyu, formally becoming his disciples.

Ji Shuangyu strongly requested no kowtowing and no oaths. "I don't believe in ghosts or gods. I only hope you all have a spirit for learning and artistic integrity. In the future, let's contribute together to the development of stage art for opera."

Therefore, they only bowed.

Although these six disciples were all older than Ji Shuangyu, according to Huaxia etiquette, they now had to regard him as an elder.

After bowing, the disciples were very excited. They could now learn Ji Shuangyu's signature skills!

Apprentices had always followed their masters, starting with chores and assistance. The stagehand from Changle Theater who had been with Ji Shuangyu the longest, known as "Liu Liang," was now the eldest senior apprentice. He took on the responsibility of his position and took the initiative to ask, "Master, is there anything you need us to do?"

Ah, what would Master create today? A palace, a white jade balustrade, or perhaps a moon gate?

Ji Shuangyu remembered that he had finished the color scheme for the new play. Now that he had people to command, he could draw a rough draft to see how it looked. "Today, ah, today we'll paint a realistic-style set together. The flat brushes and paints are all ready..."

The disciples: "???"

...Wait, what does that mean? This person is Ji Shuangyu, right?