Chapter 981: I Heard You're Hiring Actors Here
The Japanese samurai fell, one after another.
With the samurai gone, the lesser soldiers crumbled, their fighting spirit evaporating. The Shengsi pirates surged forward, cutting them down without mercy, a brutal, indiscriminate slaughter.
Once the deck was cleared of bodies, the pirates stormed the ship's cabins. Those watching from afar could no longer see the carnage, but the ship's interior echoed with a symphony of shrill screams, furious roars, and the relentless clash of weapons.
Then, gradually, the cacophony faded, growing softer and softer until it dissolved into an unsettling silence.
Moments later, the Shengsi pirates re-emerged, beaming with delight, their hands loaded with an assortment of plunder.
However, the sight of the colossal Gao Family Village vessel brought them up short. As if struck by a sudden realization, they quickly dropped their plunder onto the deck, then prostrated themselves, bowing profoundly towards the immense ship. They babbled out offerings, too distant to be heard, but their gestures clearly conveyed their intent: all these spoils were for their new overlord.
Li Daoxuan simply shook his head, disinclined to offer a reply.
Jiang Cheng, however, knew precisely what action to take. He bellowed, "Send a few teams aboard! Catalog the spoils, register them thoroughly, then we'll determine their disposition."
"Understood!"
It was at this precise moment that an amusing turn of events unfolded.
Suddenly, Bai Yang, one of Liu Xiang's subordinates who had just been ignominiously driven off by the Laidao Pirates, slowly reappeared. He was at the helm of four junk ships, stopping a considerable distance away, seemingly content to observe the unfolding drama.
From Bai Yang's flagship, frantic flag signals fluttered, conveying what appeared to be an urgent message.
Jiang Cheng: "What is he saying?"
Shi Lang: "I can't understand it!"
A former pirate undergoing Labor Reform swiftly stepped forward. "He's requesting a parley with us," he announced.
Jiang Cheng's gaze immediately snapped to Li Daoxuan.
Li Daoxuan chuckled, shaking his head. "What's there to discuss with pirates? Deploy twenty ships and bring them in as Labor Reform inmates."
"Understood!"
Twenty Gao Family Village warships instantly surged forward, bearing down on Bai Yang's small fleet.
Bai Yang, meanwhile, was patiently awaiting a chance to converse with these "newcomers."
He had just seen these new arrivals wipe out the Japanese and even dispatch a group of Shengsi pirates to board the vessel, leading him to believe they were allies come to assist. The Shengsi pirates, after all, were nominally under the command of the formidable pirate Liu Xiang.
Since they were all subordinates of Liu Xiang, surely a parley was possible.
Thus, he continued to signal innocently from a distance, utterly unprepared for the sight of twenty warships, in the blink of an eye, aggressively bearing down on him.
Bai Yang gasped, "Holy hell, they don't want to talk! They've sent twenty ships to blast us!"
A subordinate, drenched in cold sweat, stammered, "Boss, what now?"
"What else can we do? Run!" Bai Yang yelled, scrambling to escape.
An old hand at piracy, he'd been ready to flee at a moment's notice even as he signaled for parley. The pirate world was a brutal place, after all; no imperial law held sway here, only the raw power of the strongest.
Bai Yang then gave a masterclass in what it meant to be 'swift on his feet'.
Yet, the inherent capabilities of their vessels dictated his fate. He simply couldn't outrun Gao Family Village's electric ships, no matter how fast he tried. In short order, twenty Gao Family Village warships encircled his four junk ships, trapping them completely.
A subordinate, drenched in cold sweat, stammered, "Boss, what now?"
Bai Yang had just witnessed the Gao Family Village navy decimate the Japanese pirate ships. Faced with his own predicament, what else was there to consider? The answer was obvious: surrender.
And so, the crews of the junk ships raised their hands, their weapons held aloft above their heads.
The gesture was universally understood, requiring no knowledge of flag signals. Without shedding a single drop of blood, Gao Family Village had captured the four junk ships.
Four more ships added to the collaborators' fleet!––
Puzhou, at the Flower World Star Agency.
"Bloody Battle of Liaoluo Bay," a film personally produced by the Heavenly Lord, exploded in popularity the moment it premiered. Yet, relying solely on the Heavenly Lord's sporadic releases wouldn't suffice; Lao Nanfeng understood he needed to diligently produce his own movies.
Even if his films were often crude and hastily made, in an era so starved for entertainment, they still managed to draw in an audience.
Just then, Lao Nanfeng was scrutinizing a new script, "The Legend of Li Shishi," his brow deeply furrowed in concentration.
Miss Cai Lin remarked, standing nearby, "The script is quite good, and the tale of a renowned courtesan is always popular with the public. Playing the adult Li Shishi would be right in my wheelhouse. But the real challenge is finding the right actress for young Li Shishi."
Lao Nanfeng nodded in agreement. "Yes, finding the right person for that role will be incredibly challenging."
The script for "The Legend of Li Shishi" chronicled the extraordinary life of Li Shishi, a celebrated courtesan of the Song Dynasty, detailing her tangled web of affections and animosities with several men.
The script itself was exceptionally crafted, but the sticking point remained the portrayal of young Li Shishi.
The Flower World Star Agency desperately needed a top-tier child actress!
Cai Lin mused, "The actress for young Li Shishi must be quite young, incredibly beautiful, and proficient in singing, dancing, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting... My heavens, where are we ever going to find someone like that?"
Lao Nanfeng sighed, "I'm racking my brain over it too. What on earth are we to do?"
The pair worried so intensely, they felt their hair might turn gray.
Just then, a small face tentatively appeared at the office doorway, and a soft, hesitant voice asked, "Hello, my name is Chen Yuanyuan. I'm twelve this year. I heard you're looking for actresses here. Can... can someone my age... be considered?"
Lao Nanfeng and Cai Lin both spun around at the sound, then simultaneously exchanged a gasp of astonishment. "Oh?"
Lao Nanfeng leaned forward. "Can you sing, dance, and play an instrument?"
Chen Yuanyuan nodded brightly. "Yes, I can."
Cai Lin quickly added, "And the four arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"
Chen Yuanyuan confirmed, "Yes, I've had years of training at the Suzhou Pear Garden."
Cai Lin's eyes widened. "You trained at the Pear Garden?"
Chen Yuanyuan nodded.
Lao Nanfeng scrutinized the girl from every angle. This twelve-year-old, with her delicate features like carved jade, would surely blossom into a beauty capable of captivating entire nations.
He and Cai Lin exchanged a triumphant glance, then almost simultaneously exclaimed, "We've found our young Li Shishi! Hahahahaha!"
Chen Yuanyuan blinked. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Lao Nanfeng roared with laughter. "Little girl, you couldn't have picked a better moment! Come, come, take a look at this script. There's a scene here for young Li Shishi. Read it quickly, then perform this section as written for me. If you do well, you'll have a steady livelihood!"
Chen Yuanyuan felt a flutter of nerves; who wouldn't be anxious during an audition?
She accepted the script and rapidly scanned its pages.
With a mind as sharp as ice and snow, and a photographic memory, she absorbed most of the script's content after a single, swift read.
Following the script, she picked up a zither and played a melody that resonated with such skill, it left both Lao Nanfeng and Cai Lin profoundly impressed. She then performed a dance that was so captivating, it left them utterly dazzled.
Cai Lin couldn't help but sigh in awe. "At such a young age, her zither playing surpasses mine, and her dancing is even more exquisite. The Suzhou Pear Garden truly lives up to its renowned name. Oh, dear! In a couple of years, the title of this agency's top actress won't be mine anymore."
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