Yu San arrived in Jiujiang Prefecture one day earlier than Zhu Hao and his party.
The troupe is used to traveling all over the world, and traveling in winter is commonplace. They know better where the land route is easier and where the water route is better. Even if they start a night late by changing boats and cars, they still arrive early.
Yu San was very happy to see Zhu Hao. He was worried that Zhu Hao had already left for Nanchang Prefecture. It would not be easy for the troupe to enter Jiujiang Prefecture on New Year's Eve and they would inevitably be exploited by the city gate officials. Now he felt unsure.
"Brother Hao, how do we take the road behind?"
Yu San knew that Zhu Hao could not come for too long, so he asked about the most important matters.
Zhu Hao's eyes fell on Gong Yeling who was following Yu San, and he replied casually: "It's okay if we go together, so we can take care of each other, but don't tell my mother that the troupe is mine... The ground in Jiangxi is not very flat, everywhere
It's better to be careful. Miss Gongye, are you okay?"
Gong Yeling was initially hostile to Zhu Hao, a small boss, but after "The Legend of White Snake" became a household name in Anlu and was performed once in the Prince's Palace through Zhu Hao's relationship, her attitude towards Zhu Hao changed greatly.
She finally felt that the honor, money and other practical benefits that Zhu Hao could bring to the troupe were far more reliable and reliable than those of the previous leader Li.
"My boss, I have something to ask you. Is it convenient?" Gong Ye Ling Qiqiqi Ai Ai said.
Zhu Hao found that Gong Yeling was more wary of San, so he gave San a few words, asking him to make arrangements first, and then go with him to see Zhu Niang later, and then he and Gong Yeling went to the room where he lived.
Because they will not stay in Jiujiang Fucheng for a long time, the troupe stayed in an inn this time. The room was a bit cramped. Gong Yeling had to stay with the eight-year-old girl Ping'er at night.
Gong Yeling was equivalent to Ping'er's master, teaching singing, footwork, and posture. However, Ping'er didn't come over to her parents at this time.
Smelling the faint fragrance, Zhu Hao looked around the room with extremely simple furnishings and asked, "If you have anything to do, just tell me."
Gong Yeling was a little nervous: "I asked Manager Chang and the shopkeeper before, saying that the troupe is going to Nanchang Mansion to perform for Prince Ning. Do we, the people, have to come out to entertain dignitaries when we get there?"
Zhu Hao probably understood why Gong Yeling was so nervous.
Although Gong Yeling's contract will expire at the end of the year, she is still a member of the troupe. It is not up to her to decide where to sing or for whom. What she fears most is that after the performance, some powerful person will take a fancy to her or occupy her.
It's the disgusting routine of "if you don't pay, it's not a sale."
When she was acting in Anlu, even though she had entered Prince Xing's Mansion, she didn't say anyone was messing around. She had a very happy time during this period, but when she arrived at Nanchang Mansion, which was more unfamiliar and the situation was more complicated, everything was hard to say.
Zhu Hao said: "When invited by Prince Ning's Mansion to perform in Nanchang, not everyone has to go on stage, join in the fun, and just deal with the scene casually."
Gong Yeling did not believe Zhu Hao's statement, and said sincerely: "Looking at my boss Haihan, if you sing in a local opera, no matter how hard it is, even if you have to be on stage from morning to night, the little girl will never complain, but if
Performing for the powerful...I hope my boss can use someone else to play the role of the little girl."
Zhu Hao looked at Gong Yeling.
This woman is actually quite old. In this era, she is considered an "old girl" at the age of twenty. However, she is very stubborn and seems a bit out of tune with the world.
Zhu Hao thought to himself, if you knew that Prince Ning's party was being sent to the capital for the purpose of selecting a troupe, you would probably be even less willing to perform on stage. But I bought you back, and you refused to perform at the big occasion. Wasn't the purchase in vain?
"It's easy to talk about."
Zhu Hao did not refuse, "I am not coming to Nanchang this time to make a name for myself as a troupe... You can rest assured that I will not let you perform in performances that may endanger your personal safety... and there are other Something about?"
Gong Yeling said hurriedly: "After the contract expires, the little girl is willing to use the money she saved before to redeem her freedom."
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "That is the money you need to settle down and live in the future. How could I accept it from you? I can act with peace of mind for this year. Maybe after the sale contract expires, I will make a contract with you with time and condition restrictions." , and occasionally I’ll ask you to join us.”
Gong Yeling said nothing more this time and nodded in agreement.
But according to Zhu Hao's observation, she probably doesn't want to continue acting after the contract expires. It may be that she is used to the filth behind the stage, or it may be that her childhood left some shadow, so she is so resistant to performing on stage.
…
…
After Zhu Hao finished talking to Gong Yeling, he left the room and was about to go downstairs.
Yu San came over and asked: "Brother Hao, that woman... didn't make any unreasonable demands, right?"
Zhu Hao stopped when he heard this and glanced sideways at him, "You seem to know her very well?"
"without……"
Yu San hurriedly straightened up his posture and explained, "Don't get me wrong, boss. I just found that she seemed to have no intention of working hard for the troupe and was not active every time she went on stage. She will be leaving in another year. Shouldn't we also train new people? ?If the troupe does not have a suitable candidate to replace her, it should buy one from outside and train it as soon as possible..."
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Do you really regard running the theater troupe as your lifelong career? Let's wait until she leaves. Do you think the selling point of our theater troupe is her beauty or her novel singing voice?"
Yu San thought for a while and said firmly: "Our troupe can establish itself in Anlu, and it is also favored by Prince Ning and comes to Nanchang to sing in the hall, all because of you, my little boss."
"Okay, don't compliment me. The theater troupe is mainly managed by you, the third brother. If you don't help me, what's the point of writing a good play without your help? I tried to be as low-key as possible on the way to Nanchang Mansion, and then entered the city. If there is any drama to be performed, let Leader Long’s people take over... then act according to the opportunity."
Zhu Hao should keep a low profile.
But what Yu San thought about was how to become famous.
If there is a good team, we should not use it, but we must use the performance lineup of Captain Long that can barely perform on the stage. Yu San seems that this choice is not very wise, but he does not dare to question or object.
…
…
Zhu Hao took Yu San back to the inn where Zhu Niang stayed.
I learned from Aunt Li that Mrs. Sui had come to visit with gifts and was currently talking to Zhu Niang in the room. They had only met her twice, and Aunt Li also felt that Mrs. Sui was "unkind."
"Master Hao, maybe it's as you said, she came to check our bottom." Aunt Li said in a low voice.
Zhu Hao smiled and nodded to Aunt Li, then asked Yu San to wait downstairs while he went upstairs and knocked on the door: "Mom, I'm back."
Zhu Niang came over to open the door, and when the door opened from the inside, she saw Mrs. Sui sitting on the edge of the couch, her head slightly raised, looking towards the door, with a gentle smile on her face, like a spring breeze.
Zhu Niang pulled Zhu Hao to Mrs. Sui and introduced: "This is Quan Zi."
Mrs. Sui smiled and said: "Didn't you see me at the dock? What a talented person... Where did you read the book?"
Zhu Hao showed the innocence that a child should have, raised his head, and replied politely: "I have finished studying "The Analects of Confucius" and "Mencius", and I will study "The Great Learning" later."
It was obvious that Mrs. Sui was quite talented and learned, so she nodded her head in approval: "You are already more than halfway through the Four Books at this young age. You are really a talent that can be developed. From now on, it will be up to you to fight for your mother's title."
He stood up and said, "Third Madam, if you feel uncomfortable in any way, just say something and I will ask the house porters to guard you outside... If there is an emergency and you can't find anyone, just go to the east of the city and ask about the Sui family compound.
But, sister, I will sweep up the couch to welcome you at any time... I'll take my leave first."
"Madam, walk slowly."
Zhu Hao went to see off the guests politely, as if he were a real owner. Zhu Niang followed behind his son without any thought of making a fuss.
…
…
After seeing off Mrs. Sui, Zhu Hao called Mother Zhu back to the room and asked, "Mother, what is she doing here?"
Zhu Niang said: "It's nothing. I just asked what kind of business we do with Mr. Su. I said running official salt. I thought that Mr. Su is a big salt merchant, so it's not a secret... and then we chatted a little more about the family affairs. You will talk about it later.
There’s a knock on the door.”
Zhu Hao pondered: "I wonder if the Sui family is an official businessman?"
Zhu Niang realized something and asked: "Are you talking about which official in the Sui family is doing business for the court? Or does it have a government background?"
Zhu Hao said: "Mom, in this era, who is pushed to the forefront to do big business, who doesn't have an official background? If they are just doing business, without any official background, they will suffer enough just to be exploited by officials at all levels, what's the point?
Profit at all?
"I guess Mrs. Sui doesn't care what business we do, but wants to know who our backer is... You didn't tell him that our Zhu family is a family of thousands of Jinyiwei, right?"
Zhu Niang shook her head.
Her conversation with Mrs. Sui was far from in-depth, and Mother Zhu was afraid of being chased by the Zhu family, so she would not easily reveal her origins to the outside world.
"Then let's just be polite to her. Boss Su means well, but he can't resist the selfish motives of the people he hired to help. It might be more reliable than the Sui family to let Yu San come forward and hire people to go to Nanchang."
Zhu Hao said as he stood up and went to the door, calling Yu San who was waiting outside the door to come over and talk.
…
…
Zhu Niang and her party quickly hired people in Jiujiang Fucheng.
Although it was still in the first month of the year, Yu San found the local Cao gang to connect, and with generous rewards as support, he quickly found manpower. However, Zhu Hao did not plan to recruit all of them at once. Since Mrs. Sui said
If you want help, of course you have to use it.
Two groups of people!
With more manpower, it will be easier to summon people after arriving at Nanchang Mansion. At critical times, there will be people to help even if they run away.
It's not necessarily just to hide from the Zhu family. What if Prince Ning also wants to force him to stay?
Zhu Hao's troupe became an instant success in Anlu, and even Prince Ning in Jiangxi was alarmed. Leader Long's people alone may not be able to control the situation, and Zhu Hao needs to be prepared to escape unscathed.
Then there is the danger of Yu San or Mrs. Sui having evil intentions in her life.
The territory of Jiangxi is not peaceful. If someone secretly interacts with bandits, someone will need help if something goes wrong...
After discussing with his mother, Zhu Hao decided to leave on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.
Early that morning, Mrs. Sui went to the inn to see her off, but was told that Zhu Niang's family no longer lived here. Instead, Zhu Hao temporarily rented a yard near the Earth Temple in the west of the city. There was a small dock at the back door of the yard that led directly to Zhou Yu from the Three Kingdoms period.
Gantang Lake, where the troops were ordered, could escape at any time. This was to prevent the Zhu family from catching them after they caught up with them.
When Mrs. Sui found Zhu Niang, the carriage was already hitched and waiting to set off.
"Third Madam, when you arrived at Jiujiang Mansion, you left like this before you could receive any good hospitality... I'm afraid that when Master Su comes to Dehua in the future, I won't be able to see him."
Mrs. Sui was as polite as ever.
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "No, no, Madam has taken so much care of you, we are very grateful."
Mrs. Sui said: "How about this? I will send someone to go with you. It happens that there are some accounts in Nanchang Mansion that need to be checked. Let her follow so that I can have someone to take care of you on the way."
After speaking, he called a woman forward.
This woman has thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a square face. She is not a beauty in the traditional sense. She is about twenty years old and looks quite energetic.
Mrs. Sui made the introduction, "My cousin is familiar with accounts and often works at the counter. She has never seen much of the world... If the third lady is in need, just let her know. The Sui family has shops and warehouses in Nanchang Mansion.
It’s more convenient to withdraw money and so on.”