Chapter 8: The Governor Watches a Play

  The back hall of the Dou's mansion was brightly lit, and a dan actor was dressed up in a beautiful outfit, singing in Guilin dialect, "Open book sing, practice book text, listen to mother teach become adult, men listen to father respect parents, women listen to husband respect husband", with a soft and beautiful voice, looking even more handsome. At first glance, this dan actor looked like a pretty young girl, but where could you tell that he was actually a male actor?

  Ye Zhaohad her legs propped up on the table, eyes narrowed as she listened to the play, and her feet were still shaking slightly, that was truly a second-generation ancestor's demeanor.

  Rong'er sat silently beside her husband, her small body sitting up straight, her eyebrows and eyes like a painting, carved in jade, occasionally helping her husband serve tea, quite like a virtuous wife and good mother.

  This couple is probably also a perfect match.

  In the middle of the hall, the clever person was said to be the most outstanding flower dan in the Guangzhou City Yue Opera Troupe. He was invited home by Ye Zhao with a letter, and although this world had no computers or televisions, for someone like Ye Zhao who belonged to the second-generation mixed-blood group, it was even more enjoyable.

  With narrowed eyes, Ye Zhaohai was still thinking about how to come up with a way to get the phonograph out sooner. He himself wouldn't be able to invent it, but if there were people with talent in that area, he could provide inspiration and ideas. It's just the principle of replaying sound, although he didn't understand it himself, but telling it to someone who did would probably mean they wouldn't need to wait twenty years for Edison to invent it.

  Also thinking that the piano purchased by Lawyer Tohol from India doesn't know when it will arrive, but there is an opportunity to play a good tune for Hong Niang and Xiao Jia.

  "Wishing you good fortune in all eight directions, all auspicious! The flower dan's handkerchief fluttered and flew as she sang to the end, then flowed away like clouds and water, her clear voice saying: 'I respectfully wish General Du and his wife a loving and harmonious relationship, may they soon give birth to a noble son!'"

  Rong'er, this little guy, was reserved on the surface, only slightly nodding his head. Ye Zhao, however, was shouting and cheering, finally putting down his legs, and laughed loudly: "Singing well, singing well, come on, let's reward!"

  Good fortune fluttered over and handed him a red envelope. The red envelope contained one to ten taels of silver notes as a reward, which was also Ye Zhao's invention.

  "Orchid girl Xie Du Tong rewards, Mrs. Xie rewards!" The flower dan bowed down and kowtowed. Orchid girl thought that must be her stage name.

  "Tomorrow I will send the post to your three Hengtai class masters, praising you for using your heart!" This was a great honor, and after Master Dà's post arrived, Orchid Girl almost had a talisman, and in Guangzhou City, it's likely that no one dared to bully her again.

  "Thank you, Master Xie! Thank you, Madam!" The flower dan bowed her head several times again.

  Ye Zhaohui waved his hand, according to the rules, at this time the flower dan should retreat, and Rui Si, who had been standing in the corner, also walked over, preparing to lead the flower dan out of the mansion, and then send him back to the theater troupe.

  Perhaps seeing Ye Zhaoheng's extremely good mood, Huadann hesitated for a moment, then suddenly knelt down again and knocked his head heavily.

  Ye Zhao's smile gradually faded from his face. Rui Si saw Ye Zhao's expression, her face sank, and she walked over to pull the flower dan, "You're tired, let's go!"

  "Your Excellency, I, a humble commoner, have a grievance to report!" The dan (female lead) said loudly.

  "Slap" on the face, he received a crisp slap, Rui Si scolded: "Don't know how to behave, get out of here quickly!"

  Rong'er stood up, unable to bear the scene. Ye Zhao smiled and pinched her arm, saying: "You go back first, there are potato chips on the table, don't eat them all, leave some for me."

  Rong'er originally nodded slightly, but after hearing her husband's last sentence, she ignored him and felt suffocated in her heart. In front of many people, it was as if she were a little greedy ghost.

  Fortunately, Jixiang Ruyi were also used to Little Wangye's casualness and didn't take it seriously, so they took Rong'er with them.

  Mi Xiang sent Rong'er into the back hall, Ye Zhao turned his head and glared at Rui Si fiercely. Rui Si was already frightened out of her wits, knowing that her previous actions had disturbed the mistress. She hung her head in shame, not daring to look at her master.

  The dan (female) character then kneels on the ground, continuously kowtowing.

  "Alright, what's your grievance? I'll listen." Ye Zhaohad picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

  The flower旦 knocked his head again and said loudly: "Yes, thank you, Lord Du Tong, I want to plead for my poor sister and accuse the cruel woman Tao Yunnv of forcing her husband to commit one of the seven outs, which is punishable by divorce!"

  Ye Zhaowu's brow furrowed, if it was a banner person bullying a Han person, he would naturally have to intervene, but since it was a dispute among the Han people, what did it have to do with him, a Manchu general?

  Ye Zha picked up the teacup and took a sip, saying: "Let's not talk about family matters for now. You are a Foshan person, this injustice, you must go to Foshan County. If that doesn't work, you can go to Guangzhou Prefecture, my yamen is not in charge of your affairs."

  The flower旦 knocked his head heavily: "Governor, I also know that it is not in line with the rules and regulations. However, the two families of Tao Rong are powerful, and the county of Foshan and the government of Guangzhou refused to accept my complaint. I had no choice but to seek your help, sir. Please be a fair judge for me and avenge my sister!"

  Ye Zhaoren was about to speak when he saw Rui Si looking at him, seemingly wanting to say something. He beckoned him over with his hand, calling him to come closer.

  "Master, I've heard of the second young master and mistress of the Tao family."

  Ye Zhao was surprised, "Have you heard?"

  Rui nodded four times and said: "The Tao family is wealthy and powerful in the west, and Tao Lao Er passed by our store's door. The clerk told me about it." He smiled and said: "Tao Lao Er's wife is called Jin Er Nai Nai outside, and she is said to be very beautiful. It seems that the Tao family's business is all controlled by her, but she is extremely overbearing. Tao Lao Er is afraid of her, which has become a joke in the west. However, it's not just Tao Lao Er. After Tao Lao Ye passed away early and the eldest son died without leaving an heir, this second madam gradually became the one who calls the shots in the Tao family. No one in the Tao family is not afraid of her."

  Ye Zhaoming nodded, thinking to himself that this wasn't the late Qing dynasty version of Wang Xifeng? Guangzhou had always been an open port city, with a liberal atmosphere. He suspected that this Wang Xifeng was not just manipulating family affairs, but also seemed to be calling the shots in the Tao family business from behind the scenes.

  Rui Si said, "Tao Lao Er is afraid of his wife like a tiger and doesn't want to return home at night, so he developed the habit of taking concubines. But in recent years, all the concubines he took were driven away by Jin Er Niang with money. I heard that some didn't want to take the money, and as a result, they were treated very cruelly. In my opinion, this little Dan sister's grievances originated from this."

  Ye Zhaowu nodded slightly and listened to Rui Si's account. Jin Er Nainai was indeed a bad woman in this era, but if she were placed in her own world, she would be magnanimous beyond compare.

  This matter, after all, is a family affair. If there's any injustice, it should be blamed on Tao Lao Er. After some thought, Ye Zhao asked: "Lan Hua Nu, where is your sister?"

  The flower dan knocked her head and said sorrowfully: "After sister was driven out by Tao Rong's wife, she has been at home, not eating or drinking tea, looking haggard..."

  Ye Zhao waved his hand, seeming to understand that this was a family matter. The younger sister of the Orchid Girl had been wronged and should have a way to resolve it, but it had nothing to do with the government, and as the Deputy Commander, he couldn't intervene. Besides, the main culprit was Tao Lao Er, and since Ye Zhao didn't have the ability to deal with him, why bother causing trouble for himself and others? The Orchid Girl just wanted to see Ye Zhao happy, thinking that she was favored by him, and trying to use her power to make things difficult for Tao's second wife. If only she would tell Tao Lao Er about it, it would seem like she had a sense of justice, but in this world, no one thought that way - they would just blame the "shrew" who didn't allow her husband to take a concubine.

  "You go back, this matter, I can't help." Ye Zhaosaid as he picked up his teacup.

  The eunuch's words were final, and Hua Dan dared not say more. She knocked her head on the ground and slowly got up.