Chapter 182: Higher-Dimensional Sublimation
A single tune from the lead performer had truly set the stage, and soon, the remaining five, their makeup meticulously applied, hurried to join.
With two dedicated to song and four to dramatic interpretation, the grand performance was ready to begin.
Li Daoxuan observed intently, realizing the troupe was performing a Daoist story. It chronicled a Daoist priest's travels across the land, his battles against demons and spirits, and his eventual encounter with divine fortune. The narrative, it seemed, was quite intricate.
No wonder this particular form of opera was called "Daoqing," or "Daoist Sentiment"—it had clearly evolved from Daoist stories.
Among the gathered crowd, Daoist Priest Ma Tianzheng listened, completely enthralled. The villagers of Gao Family Village, every single one a devout follower of Daoism who worshipped Dao Xuan Tian Zun as a true deity, found an immediate, heartfelt connection to these Daoist stories.
"Excellent!
"What a performance!"
"And the dancing was superb."
In these times, for the impoverished laborers, especially those dwelling in villages far from any county seat, the chance to witness a theatrical performance was vanishingly small. Among the thousand spectators gathered, it was likely that fewer than a hundred had ever experienced such a show.
Traditional "Daoqing" operas were often tragic tales, and as the story unfolded, the Daoist priest, who had journeyed the world to aid its people, ultimately sacrificed himself, perishing alongside the demons he fought...
At least two or three hundred people openly wept, their eyes streaming with tears.
Having concluded their performance, the Zhang Family Troupe on stage bowed deeply to the audience.
Tan Liwen was the first to rise. A long-time admirer of the Zhang Family Troupe, he felt compelled to offer a contribution to his cherished performers. He produced a small silver piece and tossed it onto the stage, exclaiming, "Your performance was utterly sublime, moving me to tears! Such unparalleled talent truly deserves this reward!"
Following his lead, Cheng Xu likewise produced a small silver piece and tossed it onto the stage.
Seeing this, the other villagers quickly grasped the unspoken custom: after a play, one was meant to give a reward. This must be the rule, and rules had to be upheld, otherwise, the troupe might not perform for them again.
Even the Village Chief produced a silver piece and tossed it onto the stage.
Then, small silver pieces and copper coins of all kinds rained down onto the stage.
The villagers of Gao Family Village were wealthy indeed!
They had sold so much salt, sugar, chocolate, and lard to Xing Honglang, and with nowhere else to spend their accumulated wealth, every single one of them was flush with cash. What was a small sum to reward such a delightful performance? They had no qualms whatsoever!
The temporary laborers, however, mostly found their pockets rather empty, especially those who had only recently arrived in Gao Family Village and had little to spare. Those slightly better off tossed a handful of copper coins onto the stage, while even the poorest gritted their teeth and managed to throw a single coin.
The plastic stage surface echoed with a continuous "thump-thump-thump" as the coins clattered down.
In the blink of an eye, the stage was covered everywhere with scattered silver pieces and copper coins.
The ten members of the Zhang Family Troupe were utterly dumbfounded!
What an extraordinarily generous village this was!
Even the poorest among them could afford a single copper coin for a tip! Oh, my heavens, back in a county town, such generosity would be utterly unimaginable.
With tears streaming down his face, Troupe Master Zhang made a deep, sweeping bow. "Thank you all, truly, thank you all," he choked out. "The Zhang Family Troupe has only just arrived, and to receive such immense kindness from you, my fellow villagers... I'm at a loss for words..."
"Enough with the pleasantries, give us another show!
"That's right, another one!"
"Let's get the next act going!"
"Wuwuwu... That last story was too heartbreaking. Can we have something joyful?"
Troupe Master Zhang smiled. "Alright, alright, alright, we'll certainly add another performance. But for this second act, please, I beg of you, no more tips! You've already given us far too much. This one is our gift to you all."
"Wonderful!"
"Even better!"
The festive atmosphere instantly surged once more.
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but smile. This was good. Everyone was happy, and that was all that mattered.
That night, the boisterous festivities continued until ten o'clock.
For villagers of this era, staying up so late was an extraordinary indulgence. After the Shaanxi Daoqing performance concluded, many were utterly exhausted, their steps wobbly, yet their spirits remained exuberantly high.
Into their lives of warmth and satiety, a potent spiritual nourishment had been infused, making everyone feel that their existence had become even more complete and joyous.
Li Daoxuan watched as numerous tiny specks of light rose from the people, drifting upwards into the sky and merging into his diorama box. The entire box then flared with brilliant golden light, and as its glow faded, the Salvation Index shot up by hundreds of points.
Before, saving a hundred lives would only yield 5 points, yet a single opera performance could bring hundreds. It was clear, just as he had theorized: merely preserving lives was a minor feat; enriching people's existence, that was the true, grand path.
We mustn't merely survive in this world; we must truly live!
The grand spectacle drew to a close.
The ten members of the Zhang Family Troupe began tidying the stage, or rather, to be precise: collecting their earnings.
They gathered all the scattered silver pieces and copper coins from the floor, stuffing them into a bag for Troupe Master Zhang to distribute later.
Every face bore a wide smile.
Tan Liwen ascended the stage and stood before Troupe Master Zhang. "Well?" he said with a grin. "Your trip to Gao Family Village wasn't in vain, was it?"
Troupe Master Zhang quickly bowed deeply. "Many thanks, Mr. Tan," he said, his voice brimming with gratitude. "This single performance has truly saved our lives. With all this money, we won't have to go hungry for a long, long time."
Gao Yiye then stepped onto the stage, a soft smile gracing her lips. "The Heavenly Lord has something he wishes to tell you," she said.
Troupe Master Zhang looked bewildered.
Tan Liwen smiled reassuringly. "This is the Saintess," he explained, "she conveys messages on behalf of the Heavenly Lord."
Though Troupe Master Zhang had no idea who this "Heavenly Lord" was, he could deduce it was a figure of immense importance and authority in this place. He swiftly bowed. "May I ask what instructions the Heavenly Lord has for us?"
Gao Yiye smiled gently. "The Heavenly Lord wishes to ask if you are willing to remain in Gao Family Village."
Troupe Master Zhang paused, slightly stunned. He had assumed Tan Liwen had merely invited them for a single performance before moving on, never imagining an offer to stay.
To stay? Of course they were willing!
With such generous rewards for a single performance, who in their right mind would want to leave?
Troupe Master Zhang asked, his face alight with joy, "We can truly stay?"
"Of course," Gao Yiye replied. "Gao Family Village has many colorful residences, and you may rent one for your lodging. The first three months will be rent-free; after that, a modest rent will be collected. As for the stage, you can rent its usage time at a very low rate—for instance, an hour after sunset would cost only 50 copper coins."
Troupe Master Zhang was overjoyed. "Such a magnificent stage, 50 copper coins for an hour?" he stammered. "That's simply too... too generous! Thank you!"
Gao Yiye smiled. "The Heavenly Lord says that if you stay here to perform, you will certainly receive ample rewards at first; 50 copper coins will be no issue. However, if you only perform a limited repertoire of plays over time, the audience will likely grow weary. Before long, no one will come to see you, and you'll even lose money on the stage rental."
These words sent a slight jolt through Troupe Master Zhang.
"So then..." Gao Yiye continued, "The Heavenly Lord hopes you will perform at night, and during the day, dedicate yourselves to creating new plays. By continuously innovating and presenting fresh material, you will capture the hearts of your audience. At the same time, you are to elevate this art form of Shaanxi Daoqing to a higher dimension of sublimation."
Troupe Master Zhang stared blankly. "What exactly is an 'art form'?" he repeated, "And what does 'higher-dimensional sublimation' mean?"
Gao Yiye spread her hands. "I don't understand it either," she confessed. "I'm merely a messenger. There's much about the Heavenly Lord's decrees that remains a mystery to me. You'll have to interpret them yourselves."
Comments