Immortality begins in Goose City

Chapter 47 Jade Spring Garden

He examined the surroundings again carefully, but apart from the two relatively clear barefoot footprints and the peculiar hair on the windowsill, he found no other valuable clues.

Huang Shujian stood up and dusted off his hands.

The troupe leader, standing at the window, asked anxiously, "Young Master Huang... do you think... will this... lead to the capture of the murderer?"

His face was full of hope. The safety of dozens of people in Xingli Garden, as well as Lan Xiaodie's promise for a month later, weighed heavily on his mind.

Huang Shujian hadn't spoken yet.

Xiuer, standing nearby, pouted and muttered under her breath, "Someone died, and instead of going to the authorities, they're relying on my young master... My young master isn't a constable or a yamen runner..."

She spoke softly, but the troupe leader heard her clearly. His old face immediately flushed red, and he awkwardly rubbed his hands, saying, "This... this old man... really had no other choice..."

He was truly at his wit's end.

With the government unreliable and ghosts too dangerous to mess with, what else could he do but grab onto Huang Shujian, this sudden lifeline?

Just then, a commotion of voices and excited shouts came from the direction of the front hall.

"Tour guide! Tour guide! Come out quickly! Start the play!"

A young apprentice, his face flushed and panting, ran to the backyard, saw the troupe leader, and excitedly shouted:

"Outside! There are so many people outside! It's packed! Everyone says they want to see a play! They specifically want to see... 'The Story of the Black Basin'!"

"What?" The troupe leader was stunned.

"Seriously! There were so many people! Coins and dollars were being thrown onto the stage like rain! Everyone's saying they want an encore of 'The Story of the Black Basin'!"

The waiter was gesticulating wildly, spitting as he spoke.

The troupe leader was both surprised and delighted. Without thinking too much, he quickly followed the waiter to the front hall.

Huang Shujian also followed with Xiu'er and Zhao Ming.

Upon arriving at the front hall, Huang Shujian was somewhat surprised by the scene before him.

The theater hall, which was just a moment ago empty with only a few broken chairs, is now packed with people and so crowded that it's impossible to move!

Men and women, young and old, all craned their necks, excitedly discussing the scene, their eyes fixed on the stage.

In the center of the crowd, an old man sat in a grand chair.

It was the same old, toothless opera enthusiast who had broken his leg in fright and was the first to escape.

At this moment, he had a splint on his leg and was being helped to sit in a chair, surrounded by a group of people.

He was gesturing wildly and talking animatedly to those around him:

"...It's absolutely true, I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears—that black basin fell down by itself with a clatter!"

Then Lan Xiaodie's voice rang out, accusing him of wrongdoing! It was a truly pitiful cry; she specifically named and accused the young master of the Huang family!

"Lan Xiaodie's vengeful spirit has appeared. She's using 'The Tale of the Black Basin' to seek justice!"

His words caused an uproar among the surrounding crowd!

"My God! There really is a ghost!"

"Lan Xiaodie is back?!"

"Quick! Start the play! We want to see 'The Tale of the Black Basin'! Let's see how the wronged spirits lodge their complaints!"

"Yes! An encore! I'd pay extra to see it!"

Shouts, urging voices, and the clinking of coins hitting the table filled the air.

Many people showed no fear on their faces, but rather curiosity, excitement, and even a kind of fanaticism that loved to watch the drama unfold.

The troupe leader was momentarily stunned by the sudden spectacle and the rain of reward money falling from the sky, but then a flame of hope ignited in his eyes.

He gritted his teeth and forcibly suppressed his fear of the black basin and Lan Xiaodie.

"Start the show!" he shouted backstage.

"Let's perform 'The Story of the Black Basin'! All you actors, give it your all!"

The theater immediately sprang into action.

Huang Shujian stood in the corner, watching this noisy and absurd scene.

Xiuer moved closer to him, looking at the excited crowd, her little face full of confusion and incomprehension. She muttered softly:

"These people are really strange... After Lan Xiaodie died, they felt it was bad luck, so they all ran faster than rabbits and didn't even dare to go through the door."

"Now that they hear Lan Xiaodie's vengeful spirit has been released, they're no longer afraid and insist on squeezing in to see..."

At Xingli Garden, "The Story of the Black Basin" was performed again, and the audience flocked there like a tide, with long queues even forming at the garden entrance.

The strange tale of "Lan Xiaodie's wronged spirit seeking justice through a play" spread like wildfire.

The apricot and pear orchard, which had been quiet for a long time, was showing signs of becoming popular again.

The atmosphere at Yuchun Garden, just across the street, is completely different.

On the stage, a lively martial arts performance is underway, with gongs and drums beating loudly and the martial arts actors somersaulting.

However, the audience seats were visibly sparser.

Many people were whispering and discussing the ghost play next door, their minds clearly not on the stage.

Backstage, the troupe leader of Yuchun Garden, a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a small mustache, was anxiously peeking through the curtain, watching the increasingly empty seats below the stage, his face growing increasingly grim.

"Master, look at this..."

A trusted confidant leaned over and complained in a low voice.

"The Xingli Garden area is truly... despicable!"

"How could they come up with a gimmick like 'Lan Xiaodie Seeks Justice'!"

"Isn't this profiting from human suffering?"

"They're even using the dead to grab business!"

The troupe leader spat angrily, his face darkening: "Absolutely! They're utterly shameless. They've even brought up ghosts!"

He cursed, but his heart was ice-cold.

If this trend continues, Yuchun Garden's customers will probably be all snatched up by Xingli Garden.

These days, competition among theaters is fierce, and once a theater loses its popularity, it's difficult to win it back.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of several people walking in through the entrance.

The troupe leader's heart skipped a beat.

Huang Shujian!

He is the young master of the Huang family.

He actually came to Yuchun Garden again.

The troupe leader's face instantly brightened, even flushing with excitement.

He whirled around, grabbed the man beside him, and, in a low, urgent voice, gave the order:

"Quick! Go to the back! Tell Miss Mei!"

"Just say that Young Master Huang Shujian has arrived!"

"Let her...let her get ready! Put on her prettiest makeup! Change into her best outfit! Quickly!"

The waiter paused for a moment, then realized what he meant and nodded repeatedly, "Yes! Yes! I'll go right away!"

After saying that, he disappeared into the backstage area in a flash.

The troupe leader rubbed his hands together, spun around twice in place, and couldn't hide the joy on his face.

The biggest financial backer of the two major theaters used to be Huang Shujian alone.

This young master is generous and has a penchant for famous actors; whichever side he favors, that theater benefits from it.

However, a month ago, Huang Shujian was attacked and seriously injured while watching a play at Yuchun Garden, and almost died!

Although the assassin wasn't from Yuchun Garden, the incident still happened on their own territory.

The troupe leader has been living in fear and trepidation these days, terrified that the Huang family might take their anger out on him.

He sent several generous gifts to the Huang family to apologize, but at that time the entire Huang family was focused on Huang Shujian, whose fate was unknown, and no one paid any attention to him.

He thought that after this incident, Huang Shujian would never set foot in Yuchun Garden again in his life.

As a result, the garden's star performer, Zimei, remained unchanged and even secretly cried several times.

Unexpectedly, Young Master Huang came again today.

This is a golden opportunity; we must seize it.

The troupe leader's mind raced, and he had already planned out the encore performance to come—

Mei Ruguo's specialty, and also Huang Shujian's favorite performance, was "Madame Butterfly"!