vrcanaries Chapter 106 South City Research
Chapter 106 South City Research
The dusk is heavy, covering up the noise of the day.
As the lights came on, the bright lights were scattered in the streets and alleys, creating a dreamlike world of light and shadow. Cheng Yuntao and Jiang Yu walked side by side and stepped into this bustling scene.
Since settling down in Junhua City, Jiang Yu rarely shows up in public with his sword on his back.
Firstly, the security in the city is still good. Before the night market ends, the patrolling yamen runners come and go frequently, so the scoundrels dare not act rashly. On weekdays, there are rarely any critical situations where swords need to be drawn.
Secondly, when Jiang Yu first arrived, he habitually carried a big knife on his back, which always attracted the attention of passers-by and was a bit too conspicuous.
It is said that the small secluded one hides in the wild, and the great secluded one hides in the city. Since I plan to live a good life here for a while, the lower the profile, the better.
Jiang Yu's reputation as a swordsman was too well-known in the martial arts world, and he was also afraid that he would cause trouble for Cheng Yuntao because of himself.
Compared to the outspokenness when they first met, Jiang Yu is now much more reserved. People who don't know him well just think of him as an energetic young man.
He walked tall and straight in the streets of Junhua City, occasionally passing by people with a calm look in his eyes. There was no sign that he was once the knight who carried a big sword and made the villains in the world tremble in fear.
Although she did not carry her most powerful weapon with her, Jiang Yu's boxing and kicking skills should not be underestimated. With him protecting her, Cheng Yuntao felt at ease.
At the entrance of the theater, two big red lanterns are hung high. When the breeze blows, the shadows of the lanterns sway gracefully, dancing above the ancient door.
The play poster posted on the side of the door has clearer ink marks in the warm red light, and the characters in the play, which are carefully outlined, seem to be about to burst out of the paper, telling a series of touching stories.
Cheng Yuntao stayed outside the theater for a while, and several young men came walking in. The one leading the group was wearing a moon-white brocade robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered with silver thread on the sleeves. It was obvious that he came from a wealthy family.
"Last night's 'Peony Pavilion' was truly magnificent!" He spoke first, his voice clear and mesmerized. "Especially the scene where Du Liniang awakens from a dream in the garden. The actors' movements and singing were absolutely amazing."
A young man dressed in royal blue brocade nearby nodded hurriedly in agreement: "That's right, that's right! The sleeves fluttered lightly like flowing clouds and running water, and the singing was melodious, just like a yellow oriole singing out of a valley. It's really a feast for the eyes." As he spoke, he imitated the postures of the characters in the play and gently shook his sleeves, which caused everyone to laugh.
Another young man dressed in gorgeous crimson and purple clothes also joined the discussion. He had a white jade pendant tied around his waist, which looked warm and shining in the dim light.
"In my opinion, Liu Mengmei's appearance is the most outstanding. His sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his heroic demeanor, contrast well with Du Liniang's gentle and shy appearance..."
Everyone was walking and chatting, their spirits high and their steps becoming more and more brisk. Cheng Yuntao touched his chin and watched several people disappear from his sight.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yu stood beside Cheng Yuntao, somewhat confused as to why she suddenly stopped here.
"It's okay. I'm just thinking about where is the best place to set up our food stall."
"From the way those gentlemen were dressed and their conversation, it's clear they come from well-off families."
"Ordinary people don't have the leisure to come to the theater often for entertainment. Not only did they come, but they were also regulars who frequented the theater frequently."
"Also, for a play as famous as The Peony Pavilion, the price of tickets is bound to be higher than usual. If it's a famous actor, it's not impossible for the price to be ten or even a hundred times higher."
The more Cheng Yuntao analyzed, the brighter her eyes became, and the thoughts in her mind clattered like beads on an abacus.
She had made up her mind early on that she came here to take money from the pockets of rich people. At the moment, the area around the theater was indeed a good choice.
But it was still early, and they had come from far away, so they hadn't had time to fully experience the prosperity of Junhua City at night. It wouldn't hurt to take a walk around a little longer, as there might be a more suitable location.
After listening to Cheng Yuntao's analysis, Jiang Yu also agreed. He opened his thin lips slightly and was about to agree. The words were already on the tip of his tongue, but Cheng Yuntao suddenly grabbed his wrist and ran to the other side.
"Jiang Yu! There's a performance over there! Let's go check it out!"
Jiang Yu's figure flashed, and he hurriedly caught up, letting Cheng Yuntao pull him through the gaps in the crowd. Wherever he passed, a breeze was brought up, and his hair fluttered in the wind, accidentally brushing his cheek, leaving a faint fragrance.
In the adjacent circus, several torches were burning, the crackling sound was like the drumbeats of the night, and the dancing flames reflected every thrilling move of the artists in the venue to the fullest.
The agile young man tumbled and turned in the air, like a kite soaring into the clouds or a dragon emerging from the sea, causing the onlookers to exclaim and cheer.
Unfortunately, there were too many people watching, and Cheng Yuntao was squeezed to the back. All she could see were the crowds of people. It was extremely difficult for her to see the wonderful performance clearly. She was so anxious that she kept jumping around on the spot.
Seeing this, Jiang Yu took two steps forward and actually picked the person up. This action was so sudden that Cheng Yuntao was so frightened that she subconsciously reached out and hugged his neck.
"what--"
Jiang Yu raised his head slightly, looked at her and smiled, "Don't move, it would be bad if you fall."
The people around cast different looks at him, some were surprised, some were envious, and some even made some good-natured jokes.
An old woman with gray hair shook her head, but with a smile on her face, she murmured softly: "Young people nowadays are much bolder than we were back then."
Several young men whistled and shouted to Jiang Yu, "Brother, you are so courageous! This is a model of loving your wife!"
The discussions and jokes around him came into his ears, but Jiang Yu had completely lost his usual carefree attitude. His mind was completely focused on Cheng Yuntao, and he didn't pay any attention to anyone else.
He raised his head slightly, looking at Cheng Yuntao with a bit of uneasiness and expectation, fearing that he had been too abrupt and made the beautiful woman unhappy, thus creating a rift between him and her.
Cheng Yuntao pretended to be calm, looked away in a panic, her eyes wandering, and then pretended to be completely immersed in the wonderful performance.
However, her quietly clenched hands and the fine sweat that unconsciously seeped out of her palms revealed the tension in her heart. Cheng Yuntao secretly blamed herself for being useless.
Jiang Yu took in all her little movements, and seeing that she was not really angry, he finally let go of his worry.
He lowered his head and smiled with his lips pursed.