In opera, the sheng role is the male lead!

Simply called young male lead.

Song Zhi exclaimed in surprise: “Oh! It’s you!”

“Isn’t it indeed?” Wang Jun pulled him to sit down.

Song Zhi said: “I’m terribly sorry, there’s no water in the house. Wait a moment, let me go to the courtyard and fetch some for you.”

“No need to trouble yourself. I didn’t come looking for you to drink water. I have something else I want to discuss with you.”

Seeing him smile at himself, Song Zhi sensed there was something behind it and said: “Go ahead and speak. What brings you to find me so late?”

Wang Jun didn’t beat around the bush either. He leaned his body closer and said: “Your script is so popular, many people must still want to commission you to write more. I came today to ask Master Song for a favor.”

Ask him for a favor?

Was this a joke?

He tugged at his own sleeve and said: “Young Master Wang can play the sheng role in ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband,’ so naturally you’re the pillar of the Zhao Family Troupe. What matter could there possibly be that requires asking a favor of me?”

I have nothing to my name.

“Though that may be so, some matters only Master Song can accomplish.”

“Oh?” Song Zhi himself didn’t believe it. He smiled bitterly, “I’m just a storyteller, with no money and no influence. What could I help you with?”

“You can help me write stories!”

“Ah?”

Wang Jun said: “I came looking for you today because I want to ask Master Song to make me the lead role in your next script.”

“Ah?”

“Surely this wouldn’t be too difficult for Master Song?”

“Ah?”

Hearing him exclaim “ah” several times in succession, Wang Jun became somewhat anxious. He grabbed Song Zhi’s hand and said: “Although I played the young male lead in ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’ and can be considered a famous performer now, if Master Song were to write a new script specifically with me as the lead for me to perform, that play would surely be a hit as well.”

Song Zhi was speechless: “…”

Wang Jun: “What? Master Song won’t agree?”

Song Zhi didn’t understand: “Since Young Master Wang is already a famous performer, why would you still care about my new script?”

“Master Song doesn’t know! The competition in this profession is very fierce right now. Though I was fortunate enough to play the young male lead in your script, the waves behind in the Yangtze River push forward the waves ahead—sooner or later I’ll be replaced by someone.” Wang Jun was filled with worry. Wang Jun had actually started out as a clown role and was never thought highly of, but through his own efforts gradually climbed to this sheng role position. Being able to perform the young male lead role in “Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband” also cost him considerable effort. But after all, he was nearly thirty years old and wouldn’t remain popular for much longer. Although Song Zhi’s play had made him famous, once a new young male lead appeared, he would be immediately replaced. That’s why he thought to come find Song Zhi and have him write a new script with himself as the prototype. This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about being replaced and could at least remain popular for a while longer, then they could talk after earning enough silver.

But Song Zhi didn’t like writing with “burdens” weighing on him, so he politely declined: “Young Master Wang has real ability. You don’t need to worry about these things. As for me, I may not be able to write another good script.”

“I have tremendous confidence in Master Song! So I still hope Master Song will grant this favor. As long as Master Song writes your next script for me, I will definitely perform the young male lead under your pen with all my heart.”

“But I still don’t know what to write for the next script?”

“No rush. As long as Master Song agrees, that’s enough.”

Song Zhi really didn’t dare agree: “Young Master Wang, please don’t make things difficult for me.”

Wang Jun frowned, then opened the bundle he had brought, pushed it in front of Song Zhi, and said: “I heard that Master Song needs several sets of winter clothes, so I specially selected a few to bring for you. You and I are about the same build, so you should be able to wear them.”

“No, no, I cannot accept rewards without merit.”

“This is my sincere gift. Please accept it.”

Wang Jun stubbornly pushed those clothes in front of him.

Without waiting for Song Zhi to say anything more, Wang Jun had already stood up to leave.

“Young Master Wang, you should still take these clothes back with you.”

“Since when are gifts that have been brought ever taken back?”

Wang Jun quickly left.

Song Zhi didn’t know what to do. Clutching that bundle, he chased for a stretch of road, watching Wang Jun’s figure disappear into the dark night.

“Alas!” He heaved a heavy sigh.

The cold wind whistled all around, chilling to the bone. He could only carry the bundle in his hands back home.

It must be said that Wang Jun had excellent taste. The cut of those several sets of clothes he’d selected was really quite good. Song Zhi felt the fabric—also not bad.

But he was distressed beyond measure now.

After a while, he took out from among the clothes that contract Troupe Master Tao had stuffed to him yesterday.

One contract!

One bundle!

He was utterly helpless.

The next day, taking advantage of going to buy firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea, Song Zhi first went to the Zhao Family Troupe’s theater, carrying the clothes Wang Jun had delivered yesterday.

Planning to return the items.

During the daytime, there weren’t many people at the theater—just the troupe members bustling about.

Taking advantage of everyone not noticing him, he slipped into the backstage area. Inside were all the performers about to go on stage, wearing makeup and stage costumes. Some were talking, some were rehearsing, coming and going—quite lively.

He searched all around but didn’t see Wang Jun’s figure. Logically, since he was the young male lead of this play, he should be inside preparing.

“Master Song?”

Someone recognized him.

He looked toward the voice and saw a man wearing clown role makeup fiddling with his stage costume on his body while walking toward him.

“Master Song, what brings you here?” That person was very surprised and also very excited.

“I came looking for Wang Jun.”

“Oh what bad timing—Wang Jun doesn’t know where he went today. Haven’t seen him all day.”

“Haven’t seen him?”

That person was also worried. He slapped the back of his hand hard into his palm and said, “Exactly! There’s still a performance tonight waiting for him to go on stage, but the man has disappeared. Don’t know where he ran off to.”

“Then what can be done?”

“What can be done? Can only find someone to substitute.” That person then asked curiously, “But Master Song, what did you come looking for Wang Jun for?”

He couldn’t very well say he came to return a gift, so he could only evade: “Some small matter, some small matter.”

“If the matter isn’t big, just tell me. When I see him later, I’ll pass along the message for you.”

He quickly waved his hands: “No need, no need. I’ll still tell him myself after I see him.”

“That works too. I still have things to do here, so I’ll go get busy first.”

“Alright, alright.”

That person, pulling at his stage costume, was just about to leave when he stopped again. He fished out a ticket from his body, stuffed it into Song Zhi’s hand, and said: “I suppose Master Song hasn’t yet watched this ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’ that you wrote yourself? Since you happen to be here today, just sit below and watch.”

Ever since this play became popular, tickets had truly been hard to come by!

Song Zhi had no money and couldn’t buy tickets, so naturally he couldn’t afford to watch.

“How could I accept this?” he said.

That person said: “You’re a hero who made this play possible, so of course it’s appropriate. Alright, I’ll go get busy first. Master Song, you can also wander around.”

“Good.”

After that person left, Song Zhi looked at the theater ticket in his hand. Better to obey than to be polite. He stuffed that ticket into his pocket, waiting to watch the play in the evening.