Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Princely Heir, Good News
With Cheng Ru’s opening, Third Miss and Fang Yuan also spoke well of Master Lu.
"That’s right, just let Master Lu come back. Although he’s a bit strict with us, it’s all for better guidance," said Third Miss.
"If we replace him with someone else, we’ll have to adapt all over again, which is quite troublesome," said Fang Yuan.
Although they didn’t particularly like Master Lu, they couldn’t deny he had some talent and there were aspects worth learning from him. Moreover, changing teachers halfway through the lessons was indeed inconvenient.
Qu Fulan listened to their pleas and didn’t find anything inappropriate about it.
Everyone has their own standpoint. As the indisputable voice in the Pei Mansion, Heir Pei’s standpoint was that the people around him weren’t easily moved by others; otherwise, it would challenge his authority.
For Third Miss and the others, there was the principle that a teacher for a day equals a father for life. No matter if they liked Master Lu or not, this fact couldn’t be changed. If something like this happened and they said nothing, it would truly reflect a lack of respect for teachers.
Especially since Cheng Ru, an outsider, took the lead and spoke first, it showed her strong sense of loyalty and righteousness.
As expected, the old lady’s eyes showed a different opinion of her.
However, some things should not be done in vain, once done, they should not be subject to change, otherwise, what would happen to the household rules?
Thus, the old lady wouldn’t agree to their request.
As Qu Fulan thought about this, the old lady spoke, "If you’re uneasy, just go visit her. The current result was arrived at after considering all aspects. You’re young and lack knowledge now; when you’re married and managing a household, you’ll naturally understand this reasoning."
Her words left the girls feeling both ashamed and uncertain, realizing there was no use in speaking further.
Perhaps due to Master Lu’s personality, the teacher-student affection wasn’t very deep to begin with. They did their best, and soon started chatting and laughing again.
After Qu Fulan paid his respects to the old lady, he showed her the flyer.
As expected, the old lady was interested and quickly asked Hua Hao to elaborate.
Third Miss and the others also came over to take a look.
"A stage play? Is this a new term for opera?" Third Miss asked.
Qu Fulan explained with a smile, "It differs from opera. A stage play focuses on acting out the plot, with singing as a support."
The stage play defined by Qu Fulan was essentially a performance that also required coordination with some opera, music, etc.
It needed not only a popular plot but also opera that aligns with the era, otherwise, who would watch it?
Everyone initially looked at the back of the flyer, and upon flipping it to the front, they were stunned.
"Are these the images of Tang Seng and his three disciples? Even the white horse is on it." The old lady was so excited she was almost incoherent.
After all, they had always listened to the stories, without having a concrete visualization of the characters. Now seeing them vividly depicted was amazingly fitting.
Qu Fulan had drawn the images based on the characters from the 1982 version of Journey to the West.
Sun Wukong, Tang Seng, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the white horse were all present.
"Truly the Monkey King, even as a monkey, he’s so handsome," the old lady laughed with delight.
Third Miss and the others were also amazed, "Who has such incredible drawing skills to capture the characters so vividly?"
Qu Fulan didn’t mention he drew them himself, "I hired an artist. The artist understood Journey to the West and came up with the characters."
"It’s really impressive," Fang Yuan followed with admiration, "And this Tang Seng, no wonder the demons always wanted to eat his flesh, he really looks fair and tender."
"You shameless girl, how could you comment on a man’s appearance like that?" Cheng Ru remarked.
Fang Yuan realized she shouldn’t comment on others, especially a man, and blushed with embarrassment, "It’s all your fault for saying it out loud, otherwise no one would have noticed. You’re the mean one."
The two started to bicker again.
The old lady watched them with amusement.
"When does the performance start?" the old lady asked.
"The day before the Mid-Autumn Festival," Qu Fulan said. He wasn’t bold enough to hold a stage play event on the festival day itself.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone was to pay homage to the ancestors. Who would go out? Even if they did, they would quickly return home, rarely staying out and about.
Originally, she planned it for the day before the festival or on the sixteenth, but people liked to visit temples on the sixteenth, praying and worshiping.
So it had to be held the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, which was the most relaxed and bustling day in the city, maximizing effectiveness.
Now, regarding the external reactions to the Journey to the West stage play.
Once the flyers were distributed, those who had read Journey to the West were intrigued.
It’s akin to how fans in modern times eagerly attended events featuring stars from hit TV dramas.
Customers in restaurants and teahouses also discussed this matter.
Many attendants who received flyers brought them back to show their masters.
Prince An was boasting about his bravery in a polo match when he received the flyer.
"...The situation was tense, and everyone was on edge. Both sides were just one goal away. Just as I..."
"Princely Heir, Princely Heir, good news..." The steward ran in, breathless.
Annoyed at being interrupted, Prince An glared at the steward, "Can’t you see I’m busy? What could be so important that it can’t wait until I’m done?"
The steward wasn’t intimidated by his words. The news he brought was what Prince An had earnestly asked to be told immediately if anything related to Journey to the West came up. Therefore, he wasn’t afraid, instead, he waved the flyer excitedly, "Princely Heir, there’s some news about Journey to the West..."
Prince An’s previously displeased face lit up upon hearing this, "Is it a new book release?"
He had just gone to a restaurant to listen to the story yesterday, so it couldn’t be about that, leaving only the possibility of a new book.
The steward shook his head, "Not a new book, but it’s still good news. On the fourteenth, there will be a stage play performance of Journey to the West."
Prince An was puzzled; a stage play performance? Opera? Performing Journey to the West?
Such things weren’t uncommon, as those classic storybooks had also been adapted into operas. But this was his cherished Journey to the West. Who could possibly play his Great Sage?
Prince An’s feelings were akin to modern book fans who felt that no one could live up to their favorite characters.
"What nonsense is this? Who gave them permission to mess up the play? Did the author agree?"
While grumbling, he displeasedly pulled out the flyer for a look, and with just a glance, he was stunned.
"Oh my god! Who drew Tang Seng and the others? This depiction is too lifelike!"
After a moment of silence, Prince An suddenly exclaimed in awe.
"It’s a hundred times better than I imagined! This Tang Seng, this Zhu Bajie, this Sha Wujing, they quite fit the characters’ images. Especially my Mr. Monkey, oh my god, the title of Monkey King isn’t given without reason!"
"When did you say the stage play will be?"
"On the fourteenth."
"I must go! Book me the best seat!"