Chapter 503: 503
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After a long while, Fangzheng decided to return to take a look before bidding Yang Hua farewell . He truly could not appreciate such programs .
But at that moment, Fangzheng saw a figure run into the woods in an apparent rush .
Fangzheng followed the figure out of curiosity and upon scrutiny, he realized it was Fifth Zhao .
Fifth Zhao was holding a box . When he reached the other end of the forest, he took out its contents reverently and placed them on the ground . It was surprisingly an ancestral tablet!
Then Fifth Zhao plopped to the ground in front of the tablet . He kowtowed loudly while wailing . "Mom, I have been unfilial . I performed those obscene skits again . I have insulted our ancestors . I know that by doing so, I won't deserve to be placed in the ancestral grave in the future, but I really have no choice . I need to live too . Sob!"
Having said that, Fifth Zhao broke down on the spot . He cried as tears gushed down his face as he began kowtowing incessantly .
Fangzheng's heart winced for him upon seeing this .
To put it nicely, Fifth Zhao was the leader of a troupe, and to put it even nicer, he was a kind of boss . But to put it plainly, he was in fact an artist who peddled his art . He earned his keep and supported his family and subordinates through his skills . He, too, wished to put on a good performance, but he was unable to go against the demands of the market . All he could do was meet their demands . Although he seemed happy onstage, he cried offstage . There was just too much sadness behind his smiles .
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Meanwhile, Fifth Zhao's wife came and knelt beside Fifth Zhao . She patted him on the shoulder . "I knew you would be here . You always find a secluded spot to cry after performing such obscene acts . Don't cry . Blame it on us having cheap lives…"
"Back when I roped you into this profession, we agreed to perform only orthodox skits, the nice things from tradition, but… I'm sorry . "
"Don't apologize . It's been so many years and you have already said so numerous times . Onstage, be your Fifth Zhao . An elderly senior once said that when we perform Two-people Rotation, we have to wear two sets of masks . One mask is utterly shameless . Once on stage, all scruples should be ignored so as to satisfy the audience . The other mask is tenacity . " When she said that, Fifth Zhao's eyes were already red . What she said might sound easy to do, but it went against the very core of their nature . When they acted skits that disgusted them and acted as clowns for the enjoyment of people, they felt upset even though they were paid to do so .
Fifth Zhao said, "He also said that dreams when placed in front of reality are like a pane of glass in front of a truck . It's useless, but I can't accept it . Two-people Rotation is such a nice performance . Why must we go down this path?"
"It's not something you can change either . Stand up . Er'zi and company are holding down the fort, but we still need to replace them after they're done with their performance," said Fifth Zhao's wife .
Fifth Zhao sighed and got up .
When Fangzheng saw this, he went forward and pressed his palms together . "Amitabha . "
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This Buddhist proclamation gave Fifth Zhao a fright . When the couple saw Fangzheng, they blushed instantly . Fifth Zhao said embarrassedly, "Venerable One, sorry about what I just—"
"Amitabha . Patron, This Penniless Monk saw how filial you are . However, This Penniless Monk does not agree with what you said, which is why This Penniless Monk decided to come forward to chat with you," said Fangzheng with a smile .
As the couple looked at the white-robed monk who had a smile as warm and radiant as the sun, the discomfort they felt vanished without them realizing it . They felt a lot more comfortable . Fifth Zhao knew of Fangzheng . He often did performances in the neighboring villages, so it was impossible for him to not know such a famous character . However Fifth Zhao had never been to One Finger Monastery, nor had he ever seen Fangzheng in person . He had seen Fangzheng for the first time while onstage, but this was now his first time meeting him face to face at such close proximity .
Fifth Zhao's wife said, "Venerable One, we were just letting out some steam . You—"
"Patron, don't worry . This Penniless Monk will not tell anyone else of what he heard today . " Fangzheng knew that if Fifth Zhao's words were to spread, they could be used by detractors . Fifth Zhao's career would soon be finished .
Upon hearing Fangzheng's promise, the couple heaved a sigh of relief together .
The trio then sat down on the ground as Fifth Zhao sighed . "I swear that although what I said doesn't sound nice, the truth is that… Reality is as such . It's not only limited to me . I know many Two-people Rotation performers who are in the same predicament . They also wish to perform something nice, but no one wants to watch that . As you saw, people like that kind of—"
"Patron, This Penniless Monk saw it . However the both of you cannot escape the blame of causing the present-day development of Two-people Rotation either . "
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"I…" Fifth Zhao wanted to retort Fifth Zhao but noticed Fangzheng's calm and peaceful eyes . He could not thicken his skin to retort .
Fangzheng continued . "In the past, opera singers were considered low-class, but once some of them became somewhat known in our northeastern regions, they would soon become famous in a wide area, especially the really famous ones . This brought glory to their ancestors . But look at you . You are a famous performer in the area, but you can't even enter your ancestral grave . It is just like the most common saying This Penniless Monk has heard about this: A Two-people Rotation performer in the family will not enter the ancestral grave after death! Although you are earning from your trade, you have lost simply too much .
"If locals deem Two-people Rotation as such, how would outsiders view it? Probably even worse than low-class, right?"
Upon hearing this, Fifth Zhao fell silent . He lowered his head as he scratched it forcefully . He asked bitterly, "Is there a solution? I know teachers who have insisted on performing proper acts, but even they are unable to continue performing despite having been famous in their heyday . To survive, we can only abandon our dreams . That is reality . "
Fangzheng smiled and looked up into the sky . A swallow happened to land on a branch .
Fangzheng said, "Patron, what do you see?"
"A swallow," said Fifth Zhao's wife subconsciously .
Fangzheng smiled and asked, "What characteristics do swallows have?"
Fifth Zhao was perplexed as to what Fangzheng was getting at . But he still replied, "It's a migratory bird . "
"It's indeed a migratory bird . In winter, it will fly south . What happens if it does not fly south?" asked Fangzheng .
"It will freeze to death . " When Fifth Zhao said that, he trembled as he smiled bitterly . "I'm that swallow which is about to freeze to death . "
Fangzheng shook his head and pointed to a tree sparrow . "Then why doesn't the tree sparrow freeze to death?"
"It grows a coat of feathers during winter to resist the cold," said Fifth Zhao's wife .
Fangzheng nodded . "That's right . Tree sparrows grow a coat of feathers in winter to beat the cold . That way, they do not need to migrate from their home . Although tree sparrows are small and not as pretty as sparrows, they know how to protect their own homes . They refuse to fly away regardless of the situation . They are in the same situation, but they make different choices . This leads to a completely different life . This Penniless Monk did not like the chirping of tree sparrows when he was young . It was noisy, and tree sparrows looked ugly . However, there were no birds during winter due to the snow . So at that time, when occasionally the chirps of tree sparrows could still be heard, they sounded like heavenly chimes to This Penniless Monk . Their chirps made it sound as though the world had come alive again . "
"Venerable One, what is the meaning of your words?" asked a perplexed Fifth Zhao's wife .
A glint flashed in Fifth Zhao's eyes as he looked at Fangzheng .