The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 181: Entertainment Atmosphere at Its Peak

The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 181: Entertainment Atmosphere at Its Peak

The people of Zhang Family Troupe were baffled. One moment it was the Deity, the next the Saint Lady. What was all that about?
But the patron said the performance would be at night, so they had no choice but to comply. They supposed the patron would probably light many, many lanterns around the stage; that way, although it wouldn’t be as bright as daytime, they could just barely manage to watch the play.
Alright, they should hurry and get ready.
All ten of them crowded into the small room behind the stage. This place had rooms for makeup, changing, and others, along with living quarters for the troupe.
The ten men quickly shut the doors and windows. Inside, they changed into their costumes and dusted their faces with powder…
That kept them busy.
Seeing they had gone in, Li Daoxuan opened the drawer and pulled out a string of colorful lights—the kind hung on trees during festivals like Chinese New Year. He picked them up, hung them around the stage, wrapped them all around, plugged them in, and turned on the light.
“Pop!”
The entire stage instantly lit up bright. The colorful lights illuminated the plastic stage, making it flashy and garish, seeming not quite proper, a bit like a modern disco hall.
So many strange lights glowing so sharply were of course very attention-grabbing. Villagers in the distance all turned to look, startled: “What’s happening over there? It suddenly gave off this odd light.”
“It’s all rainbow shades? These colors are surely the Deity’s style.”
“The Deity loves creating these multicolored things the most.”
“Hahaha! Exactly, exactly. It has to be the Deity’s doing.”
“What are they setting up on the hillside? When the Deity acts, there must be a reason.”
The villagers started gathering. Right then, they ran smack into Gao Yiye bouncing down from the Gaojia Business Circle.
Gao Yiye yelled out loud: “The Deity has ordered that the troupe will perform Shaanbei Diaoqu shortly.”
“Wow!”
“There’s a play to watch?”
“Oh! So those colorful lights were for lighting up the stage?”
“Wonderful!”
“There’s fun to be had.”
The villagers cheered, and the news began to spread like a virus.
In Gaojia Village, where entertainment was scarce, just a love story between Xing Honglang and Gao Chuwu would draw huge crowds to gawk. Now that there was a proper play to watch, how could they resist?
The villagers, full with plenty of free time, had a desperate craving for amusement—this need was utterly unstoppable.
They raced home as fast as if flying and bellowed to their families: “Quick, quick! There’s a play tonight at the Gaojia Business Circle. We must go fast to grab a good spot. If we’re late, we’ll get shoved to the very edges.”
Those who might not always be eager about working absolutely sprinted, never falling behind to fight for positions.
Large gangs of villagers stampeded madly toward the hillside.
Soon, every one of the limited benches before the stage was crammed full. Villagers started clambering into the nearby plastic houses—every inch of the second floors in alleys of inns, taverns, and brothels became jam-packed. Still, there wasn’t enough space, so villagers even scaled the rooftops.
It was truly packed: three layers deep inside, three out; three layers high up in the air, and three on the ground…
Thirty-Two arrived late, leading his daughter, and couldn’t secure a good spot anymore. He hopped with impatience outside the throng and shouted: “Hey, hey! Aren’t you saving a spot for the admired Thirty-Two?”
Nobody paid him any mind!
The clever Tan Liwen, Gao Yiye, Cheng Xu, and others had long secured the prime center-front positions, never taking Thirty-Two into consideration.
Madam Bai arrived now with Young Master Bai. As they were somewhat slower to move, once they reached the outer edge and saw the crushing crowd inside, what could they possibly do?
Madam Bai could only sigh, “Son, let it be for today.”
Young Master Bai’s lips quivered as he whimpered, “It’s all your fault, Mother. You moved so slowly leaving the house.”
With a swift wave of her hand, Madam Bai gave him a hard pinch on the cheek. “As a son, you should’ve raced ahead to secure a spot for your mother! Instead, you blame me for moving slowly? Tell me yourself—are you filial or not? Do you deserve this or not?”
Young Master Bai covered his face. “Child is unfilial, child deserves it! Next time, child will strive for a front row seat to get Mother a great spot!”
A satisfied smile spread across Madam Bai’s face. “That’s more like it.”
“Selling rice noodles here!” Seizing the business opportunity amid the crowd, Gao Laba loudly hawked nearby. “The troupe hasn’t started yet! Come have a bowl while you wait!”
Many of the workers hadn’t eaten dinner yet, and none wanted to go home to cook now. Gao Laba smoothly gained a flood of customers.
He happily counted the copper coins, utterly delighted.
Meanwhile, behind stage, the Zhang Family Troupe frantically applied makeup. Hearing the deafening noise outside, all ten members grew anxious. “Seems packed out there.”
“Easily over a thousand people, I’d say.”
“How’s that possible? This place could hold that many?”
“When we arrived earlier, I saw tons of buildings—looked more like a town than a village. A thousand-plus isn’t that shocking.”
“But… it’s a drought year! Almost everyone’s starving. Even crowded towns barely had folks watching our operas! Why’s it so packed here?”
“That… we just wouldn’t know…”
Right—starving people have no mood for entertainment. That so many gathered meant… they all had enough to eat?
This backward deduction shook the entire troupe to their core.
“No time overthinking! Rush the makeup!” Master Zhang roared. “All those people are waiting! Move faster!”
One singer suddenly raised her hand. “Master Zhang, I’m ready! Ready to go on.”
Master Zhang beamed. “Perfect! Go steady the crowd. Set the stage first!”
Nodding, she gathered four musicians and passed through the long plastic channel behind the stage… heading for the platform.
The moment they emerged into the spotlight—they froze, stunned nearly beyond belief.
Colorful lights engulfed the stage. Unfamiliar lamps, unlike candles or torches, radiated seven-hued brilliance like magical lanterns—painting the entire set in dreamlike hues.
And these lights… blinked!
Rotated too, flashing in circles!
What grand stage was this? How could a humble troupe like theirs perform here? It felt beyond surreal.
Below them? Hundreds upon hundreds of audience members—buzzing, densely packed…
Three years! Three whole years since they’d witnessed such a scene!
Streams of tears rolled down every troupe member’s face.
Clamorous shouts erupted from the audience below.
“Sing!”
“Don’t just cry!”
“We’ve been waiting ages for you!”
Li Daoxuan joined too, shouting from the sky. “Sing!”
Taking a deep breath, the singer stepped into the center spot. Four musicians settled into the corners—plucking three-strings, fiddling two-string fiddles, blowing flute and reed-pipes—all in place.
Then, tilting her head back, she began: Level-tune entry. Liang-qiang mode. Yizhimei aria. Crossed-tune rise…
The crowd roared back fervently:
“Bravo!”
“How wonderful!”
Joy instantly saturated the air.

Chapter 181: Entertainment Atmosphere at Its Peak