Song Zhi was thus pulled to the Zhao Family Troupe by Lao Tao in a muddle.

As soon as he entered, the people in the Zhao Family Troupe greeted him one by one.

“Master Song has arrived!”

“Master Song, please sit for a while.”

“You must come more often from now on, Master Song.”

…

If this were before, even if Song Zhi dressed up like a feather duster and covered himself in paint to pass by them, that group of people might not even glance at him. They would even gossip about him privately with all sorts of sarcastic remarks, mostly mocking Song Zhi for being aloof, saying he was unwilling to follow the masses to write vulgar scripts and still holed up in his dilapidated house accomplishing nothing.

But after all, times had changed. The current Song Zhi was now a popular figure. Ever since the script he wrote became a hit, the way the Zhao Family Troupe people looked at him had changed. They wished they could worship and serve him, hoping he could write another hit so everyone could make money.

Therefore, Song Zhi became their cash cow!

However, Lao Tao had an extra mind—he never mentioned to outsiders who wrote this script. Whenever someone quietly came to probe, he would speak vaguely. In any case, keeping his mouth shut was right.

But ultimately, “paper cannot contain fire”!

“Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband” was a huge hit. Sooner or later, the major theater troupes would find out who wrote it. At that time, Song Zhi would become a hot commodity.

Troupe Master Tao worried that his precious benefactor would be snatched away by others. So here he was, hurriedly pulling Song Zhi to his Zhao Family Troupe.

Song Zhi was pulled here thinking that Troupe Master Tao wanted to discuss the silver matter with him!

But no matter how much silver he was given, he hoped it would be enough to get a few sets of clothes and repair his roof. After all, everything is difficult at the beginning. Now that this script was a hit, naturally he wouldn’t worry about no one looking for him to write in the future.

He had just entered the room and sat down.

Lao Tao hurriedly instructed someone: “Go brew the Tieguanyin tea that Boss Chen gave us last year.”

The attendant responded: “Yes.”

“Also, bring up all the good food, and get Master Song’s favorite pastries.”

“Yes.”

They hurried down to prepare tea and snacks.

Song Zhi didn’t even have time to stop them. He said: “Troupe Master Tao, you don’t need to be so polite. Let’s quickly discuss the main business. After we finish talking, I still need to go find my two empty baskets. I estimate someone has already returned them. If I don’t go, they’ll be taken by someone else again.”

Even now he still felt heartache over his cabbage baskets!

It made people both helpless and amused.

Lao Tao said: “Master Song, don’t be polite. From now on, treat this place as your own home. We’re all one family.”

“Troupe Master Tao! You and I have cooperated for so many years. Just speak directly with me. If it’s not about discussing the silver, then I’ll come another day. That basket cannot be delayed any longer.”

“Let’s talk, talk, talk—we’ll talk about the silver!” Lao Tao really couldn’t persuade him otherwise. No matter what was said, it always revolved around silver. “This play was very popular and indeed earned some money.”

“That’s good!”

So Lao Tao took five taels of silver from his waist and pressed it into Song Zhi’s hands.

Five taels!

For the current Song Zhi, this was simply a huge sum.

Enough for him to buy several sets of clothes!

Yes, if he wrote another script before winter arrived, he might even be able to replace the worn-out furniture in his house with new ones.

He held those five taels of silver and stood up, cupped his hands toward Troupe Master Tao, and said: “Thank you, Troupe Master Tao. Then I won’t disturb you further.”

He had the intention to leave.

Troupe Master Tao grabbed him and wouldn’t let go. “Sit a while longer. We haven’t finished discussing matters.”

“What else is there?”

“Sit!”

He pressed him back down onto the chair.

At this moment—

The attendant from the Zhao Family Troupe brought in the tea and pastries.

They were placed beside Song Zhi.

This treatment was clearly different from last time!

Last time it was dried-up sweet potatoes. This time, not only was Tieguanyin tea served, but many appetizing pastries were also brought up. They looked delicious at a glance.

Song Zhi couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

He had gone to the vegetable garden early in the morning to pick cabbages to sell at the market. It was almost afternoon now, and he still hadn’t eaten a single meal.

At this moment, he stared at those pastries.

Troupe Master Tao said: “You eat while I talk to you.”

“This…”

“Eat, eat.”

Song Zhi then respectfully obeyed rather than decline, picking up the pastries and eating.

Troupe Master Tao said beside him: “This ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’ script has spread like wildfire among all the theater troupes now. Everyone says the person who wrote this script is a genius! And you also know that actually, many ghost and monster plays have come out in recent years, but not a single play compares to ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’! Master Song, you’re famous now. Soon people will come looking for you to continue writing scripts. The prices they offer will definitely be very high. But…”

But what?

Song Zhi ate in a refined manner. As for how famous he was? He didn’t seem to care.

In any case, he only wrote what he wanted!

He asked: “But what?”

Troupe Master Tao looked at him with a smile and continued from where he left off: “But ever since you stopped writing poetry and started writing scripts, I, Lao Tao, have been helping you out! Moreover, you and I have cooperated for so many years—we’re old friends.”

With one phrase “old friends,” he forcibly drew their relationship closer.

Song Zhi was still somewhat unaccustomed to this.

He stared at Lao Tao for a while, wanting to speak but hesitating for quite a while before saying: “Yes, Troupe Master Tao has indeed helped me a lot. I’ve always remembered this kindness.”

“Good that you remember. So I’m thinking! We can continue cooperating. You just write, and I’ll buy all your scripts.”

“Your meaning?”

Lao Tao took out a piece of paper from his clothing—a contract that had been drawn up in advance.

He spread it flat in front of Song Zhi and said: “Take a look.”

Song Zhi put down the pastry in his hands and wiped his hands on his clothes before picking up that piece of paper to read.

The general content was for Song Zhi to sign a five-year long-term contract with the Zhao Family Troupe. From then on, he would write scripts exclusively for the Zhao Family Troupe. Both parties’ remuneration would be in the form of profit-sharing!

This looked like a win-win contract for both parties, but put plainly, it was a contract of servitude.

From now on, no matter what, Song Zhi would be stuck with the Zhao Family Troupe. As for whether they made profits or losses, it would all be decided by Lao Tao.

Therefore, he was conflicted!

Lao Tao saw his concerns and said beside him: “Master Song, think it over carefully. I’m also doing this for your own good—it’s also giving you security. In case you can’t write scripts as good as ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’ in the future, it doesn’t matter. In any case, whatever you write, my Zhao Family Troupe will definitely buy.”

Thinking about it this way, it made sense!

Song Zhi began to waver again. After thinking for quite a while, he said: “How about this—let me take it home to look at. After I’ve thought it through, I’ll come find you.”

“Why go home to think? Better to think about it right here.”

“Aren’t you making things difficult for me?”

“Not difficult, not difficult at all. Master Song, you and I have known each other for so many years. I wouldn’t cheat you.” Troupe Master Tao was very sincere.

His pair of eyes stared straight at Song Zhi.

“This…” Song Zhi stood up.