Chapter 300: Chapter 281, Really Don’t Recognize_1
“Who is the girl you’ve provoked now, following us all the way and even chasing us to the theater?”
Listening to his friend’s teasing voice, Feng Liangji rolled his eyes in response, “I am not like you, fond of flirting around. I don’t recognize the person below.”
Sun Yongyi waved his fan with a smile, “Don’t be so sure. Maybe it’s a young miss from a friendly family who has her eyes on you. Hearing that your engagement is imminent, she couldn’t sit still and perhaps will even find her way to our location later.”
Feng Liangji couldn’t be bothered to listen to his annoying friend and turned his gaze to his younger uncle sitting in the seat of honor, sipping his tea with his head down.
Speaking of younger uncle…
Actually, he was about the same age as Feng Liangji, and Feng was even older by months.
“Younger Uncle, I truly…”
Feng Liangji knew that the main Feng family greatly valued propriety and personal conduct. He intended to explain, but as soon as he started to speak, he was interrupted by a raised hand.
Feng Hao casually set down his teacup, and the flash of sharpness in his eyes made Sun Yongyi, the son of a merchant guild leader, dare not underestimate him: “You don’t need to explain such trivial matters to me.”
Feng Liangji gave a wry smile and said no more.
His family was merely a collateral branch of the Jiguang Feng family, and several generations removed from the main line at that. Now they could only conduct business in Zhongzhou under the shadow of their ancestors. Although there were annual greetings exchanged with the main branch, they were hardly considered close.
Some things, indeed, were better left unsaid.
His family wanted to be close to the main branch, but they were also aware that without the proper bargaining chips, the main branch wouldn’t bother with them.
He had never expected that the main branch would send someone to oversee his engagement to the Li Family, and to think it was the head of the fifth household no less.
Feng Liangji scrutinized the resolute-looking fifth master of the main branch seated before him with caution. He had often heard of his deeds; the man had shouldered responsibility for the fifth household at a young age after the death of his father.
Yet only eighteen, he was already a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and managed his family’s affairs impeccably, commanding respect from everyone in the main branch.
Every time he heard about him, Feng Liangji couldn’t help but admire.
Feng Hao paid no attention to the other two people in the private room, his gaze focused on the theater below, eyes glittering with sharpness.
The manners of this Zhongzhou girl are somewhat lacking, boldly coming to the theater!
…
Downstairs, Dong Yuanyao and the clerk argued for a while, but the clerk, still frowning, apologized, saying that all the reserved private rooms were taken today, and none could be vacated.
Daohua, seeing people in the hall begin to look their way and not wishing to draw attention, pulled on Dong Yuanyao, “Let’s just sit in a corner.”
Dong Yuanyao looked reluctant, but seeing the clerk had no other choice, she simply acquiesced with a ‘hm’.
Finally, Daohua and her group took their seats in the farthest corner of the hall.
As the clerk was serving the tea and snacks and getting ready to leave, he was stopped by Daohua.
Daohua placed a Silver Barley on the table and looked at the clerk, “I need to ask you something.”
The clerk glanced at the Silver Barley, then looked away and said with an ingratiating smile, “What would you like to inquire about, young master?”
Daohua, “Do you recognize the son of the Feng family?”
Upon hearing that the question was about him, the clerk swiftly pocketed the Silver Barley from the table, “I know him. Feng’s son is here at our theater today, listening to the opera in a private room right now.”
If the inquiry had been about the officials, he naturally would have refrained from saying much; but about a businessman, there were fewer scruples.
Daohua and Dong Yuanyao exchanged glances, “Which private room is he in?”
Turning his head to look at the second floor, the clerk pointed out, “There, that private room right by the side.”
Daohua and Dong Yuanyao both turned their heads, coincidentally meeting the gaze of Feng Hao and the others looking down from above.
Seeing the faces of the two, Feng Hao and his companions’ eyes all lit up; they had only heard the voices but hadn’t seen the people until now.
“Well, those two young brothers are really quite handsome,” Sun Yongyi teased, winking at Feng Liangji.
The four maids were disguised as men, it goes without saying, those two young masters must be the same.
Feng Liangji furrowed his brows; he hadn’t paid much attention before, but now he tried to remember seriously. However, in the end, he still couldn’t recall who those two were.
“I really don’t recognize them.”
Such people, if he had seen them, he would certainly remember.
Daohua and Dong Yuanyao glanced at the private box then withdrew their gaze.
“Seems like they are just here to listen to the play,” Daohua murmured.
At that moment, a grandfather and granddaughter appeared on the stage.
The grandfather played the violin while the granddaughter sang.
Daohua was puzzled and turned to Dong Yuanyao, “Isn’t this a theater? How come there’s also singing?”
Dong Yuanyao snorted, “Men, don’t they all like pretty young girls? The theater is in business to make money, and they’ll do whatever brings in cash.”
“Look, that girl who’s singing, with her big watery eyes, looks so pitiable, I bet after her song ends, she’ll definitely receive plenty of tips.”
As she spoke, she paused and looked at Daohua.
“Still want to test your future cousin-in-law?”
Daohua glanced at the second-floor private box, “How to test?”
Dong Yuanyao said, “The beauty trap, of course!” she pointed her chin toward the stage, “The beauties are already present.”
Daohua frowned, “That doesn’t seem right, though. She’s singing for a living, which is an honest way to make money.”
Dong Yuanyao immediately scoffed, “Yes, the girls who sing in ordinary tea houses might be there because their families are struggling and they have no choice but to make a living by exposing their faces. But those who come to this theater to sing are usually specially trained.”
“Do you really think those natural-born singers with good voices are everywhere?” she said, looking toward the stage, “Take a careful look at the eyes of that girl on stage, don’t they seem like they could soul hook a person’s soul away?”
Daohua paid close attention and nodded; indeed, those eyes were quite enchanting and captivating.
Dong Yuanyao continued, “Such eyes, could a common girl from a poor family have them? Let me tell you the truth, I’ve been to this theater many times, and each time the girl who comes to sing is different.”
“All these girls have discerning eyes; as soon as they spot a naïve, tenderhearted man with little willpower, they immediately cling to him and won’t let go.”
Listening to these words, Daohua clicked her tongue in amazement and then looked at Dong Yuanyao in surprise, “Dong Yuanyao, I find you know quite a lot!”
Dong Yuanyao immediately smiled proudly, “Experience brings knowledge, naturally!”
Daohua also smiled, she didn’t think there was anything wrong with knowing these things. Observing the myriad aspects of life can broaden one’s horizons and foster a strong heart, which she found quite beneficial.
Seeing no change in Daohua’s expression, Dong Yuanyao’s smile deepened.
She knew that by sharing these things with Daohua, she wouldn’t feel offended nor would she admonish her for lacking the demureness expected of a young lady.
Her judgment was still sound; this person was indeed a kindred spirit.
Dong Yuanyao asked again, “What do you think, do you want to put him to the test or not?”
Daohua glanced at the singer on the stage with alluring eyes and a coquettish demeanor and hesitated for a moment, “How to test?”
Dong Yuanyao smiled, “Give that girl some silver, instruct her to seduce your future cousin-in-law. We don’t even need to get involved directly; if you want to keep your hands clean, you can hire someone else to do it.”