"You can't invite the theater troupe to perform at home?" Fa Yan instantly became furious.
"But it's livelier with more people around…" Fa Zheng cautiously replied. Could he admit that it was Guo Jia who had led him astray? No matter how good things were at home, sometimes you just want to go out and have fun.
"Can't you set up a stage at home and invite people over?" Fa Yan stabbed his cane into the ground, and the green stone tiles cracked under the pressure. Fa Zheng's hair stood on end, realizing he had nearly forgotten how strong his father still was.
"That wouldn't be appropriate, mixing personal matters with official duties… Besides, I'm a clean official!" Fa Zheng coughed twice, a bit embarrassed by his own excuse.
"Oh, I see. You've grown wings and become defiant, huh? Going to the pleasure quarters and coming up with all sorts of excuses!" Fa Yan's beard trembled with rage. Meanwhile, Chen Xi and his group all kept their heads down, pretending to study the ground intently.
"Father, please give me some face!" Fa Zheng, realizing he couldn't withstand his father's reprimand any longer, smiled bitterly. "I was just joking."
"Are you still planning to visit the pleasure quarters?" Fa Yan pulled his cane out of the crack in the stone tile, coughed twice, and asked sternly.
"No, I won't go." Fa Zheng lowered his head and silently added to himself, not when you're watching, anyway.
"And what about watching plays?" Fa Yan glanced at the group, who were still focused on counting ants, feeling quite satisfied.
"I'll move the theater troupe to our home from now on, invite you to watch, even break down the back wall so everyone can enjoy it together," Fa Zheng replied, looking downcast and a bit aggrieved.
Fa Zheng's father, Fa Yan, had developed a fondness for theater ever since Fa Zheng invited performers from Manxiang Pavilion during the construction of the new Linzi city. Back then, entertainment options were few and far between, and theater was one of the few activities that both the elite and common folk could enjoy. However, the best performers and most skilled artists were exclusive to Manxiang Pavilion, which happened to be a pleasure house. And Fa Yan, having certain principles, would never set foot in a place like that.
Although Fa Yan often found it hard to focus on his reading when Manxiang Pavilion had performances, decades of ingrained habits were hard to break. And of course, his son, Fa Zheng, was also forbidden from visiting the pleasure quarters. But as it turned out, Fa Zheng had gotten used to sneaking off there without his father's knowledge.
"You said you wouldn't mix personal and official matters?" Fa Yan glanced at Fa Zheng, raising an eyebrow.
"That's different. The theater is privately owned, though we usually treat it like a public asset," Fa Zheng explained, signaling to Chen Xi for help—after all, Manxiang Pavilion was technically Chen Xi's property.
"Master Fa, I'm Chen Zichuan, the main owner of Manxiang Pavilion. If you'd like, I can arrange for performances at your home. And just to clarify, people often misunderstand the nature of Manxiang Pavilion—it's not a place for illicit activities, just a venue for enjoying music and theater. You can ask Xiaozhi; they don't engage in any immoral business," Chen Xi said with a helpless smile, stepping forward to bow respectfully.
"Ah, music and theater! A single song can fetch a fortune," Fa Yan said, shaking his head. He had seen firsthand how passionate people could get. One time, during an outdoor performance, a local tycoon offered a hundred gold coins just to hear another song. And truth be told, the performance had indeed been outstanding.
"Originally, the idea was just to provide some work for wandering women and offer the common people some entertainment. But it turned out to be so popular that people became obsessed. A hundred gold coins for a single song—that's quite the inflation," Chen Xi said, feeling a bit overwhelmed by how quickly the value of performances had skyrocketed.
"Hmph, a hundred gold coins is nothing. Your three maidservants, especially Chen Yun, are now famous. During their performance of 'White Snake and Green Snake' with Chen Ying, the head of the Wu family offered a fortune to take them as concubines. When he found out they were your personal attendants, he settled for presenting two white jade pendants as a gift, just to see them perform again," Fa Zheng chimed in with a smirk. "Right now, there are five major stars in the troupe, but two are already married, leaving only three—and they all reside in your estate."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't say it like that. What do you mean 'my personal attendants'?" Chen Xi raised an eyebrow. "I haven't touched any of them."
"Everyone knows that, but maidservants eventually belong to their masters. And with such talented ones, would you really let them go?" Fa Zheng gave Chen Xi a disdainful look.
"Actually, I would. If they want to marry, I'll even give them their household registration," Chen Xi replied, glancing at Fa Zheng.
"Your father seems quite reassured now. Rest assured, I won't mix personal and official matters. When we return to Taishan, I'll arrange a full performance with all the top stars—even the supporting actors will be stars," Fa Zheng said with a touch of nostalgia. "Even your less talented maidservants have gained some fame now. I wonder how you managed that."
Fa Zheng helped his father to a nearby chair and gently patted his back, while Fa Yan closed his eyes and enjoyed his son's attentiveness. It was a touching father-son moment, hard to believe that just minutes earlier, Fa Yan had been cursing Fa Zheng as an unfilial son.
"Remember this, you brat. I'll let it slide this time, thanks to your friends. But if I ever hear you mention the pleasure quarters again, I'll break your legs!" Fa Yan warned menacingly after settling into his chair.
"Got it, I won't forget," Fa Zheng replied without missing a beat, then added, seeing his father's still sour expression, "Don't worry. I'll follow through on what I said. I'll move the theater troupe here."
"Hmph, off with you now. Don't embarrass me any further!" Fa Yan waved his arm dismissively, shooing Fa Zheng away as he retreated into the inner rooms.
"It seems you have it tough," Zhuge Liang remarked, feeling a bit wistful, yet somewhat envious.
"My father just can't stand my ways, that's all. Guo Jia is the one who led me astray—he's the one who got me into the habit of taking medicine, going to the pleasure quarters, and skipping out on bills," Fa Zheng said in an uncharacteristically serious tone. But then he shuddered, recalling how Guo Jia had often manipulated him. "Still, I have to admit, that lifestyle was quite liberating."
"Don't follow his example!" Chen Xi slapped Fa Zheng on the shoulder. "Learn the good things, not the bad."
"Hahaha, Guo Jia told me about the time you two skipped out on a bill and even visited a pleasure house without paying," Fa Zheng teased, grinning mischievously. Meanwhile, Lu Xun's image of his mentor, Chen Xi, as a virtuous and righteous figure, shattered completely. The tall and noble figure in his mind seemed to shrink with every word…
"By the way, why aren't you married yet?" Chen Xi asked, feeling a bit awkward about Lu Xun's reaction. He tried to shift the conversation to a lighter topic, considering Fa Zheng's age and background. A wealthy and influential young man like him should have been married by now.
"Don't bring that up—it's been bothering me," Fa Zheng replied, wincing as if someone had poked a sore spot. "Come on, let's get something to eat. Marriage is a topic best avoided."