SFS Chapter 155: Different Sorrows
Chapter 155: Different Sorrows
Cheng Yuntao raised her chin slightly, her tone full of confidence.
"Just wait and see. It won't be long before the reputation of my stall spreads from the Nanfang Night Market. Those rich people are most interested in these."
"You can only make a small amount of money by setting up a stall. If you want to make a lot of money, you should catch a fat pig and slaughter it!"
Jiang Yu really knew nothing about Cheng Yuntao's business methods. His days of wandering in the world were always filled with swords and revenge, without so many complicated plans and considerations. But this did not prevent him from giving Cheng Yuntao his full support.
"Anyway, just go ahead and do it. I'll follow your instructions!"
"it is good!"
……
Although she was not sure whether Jing Zimo would come again tonight, Cheng Yuntao still reserved a portion of butterfly fish dumplings for him. After all, the other party was so sincere and regarded her as a close friend. No matter what, she had to take better care of him.
If he doesn’t come, I’ll take it back as a snack, Cheng Yuntao said silently in her heart, staring at the last serving of fish dumplings.
Speak of the devil, he appears. Jing Zimo soon appears in Cheng Yuntao's sight, still dressed like a scholar who is self-disciplined, respectful, steady and dignified.
"Now that you're here, find a place to sit. I've left you a portion of fish dumplings. Eat them first, then we'll talk."
Jing Zimo was slightly stunned, but soon he obediently found a place to sit down.
Ever since they expressed their feelings to each other, Jiang Yu's jealousy towards Jing Zimo was not as strong as before, but he still felt a little annoyed in his heart, so he simply turned around and busy himself with other things and ignored this side.
Cheng Yuntao brought the freshly-cooked butterfly fish dumplings to Jing Zimo. The mist blurred her face, but could not hide her bright eyes.
"Try it and see if it suits your taste."
Jing Zimo looked at the exquisite fish dumplings, gently scooped one up and put it into his mouth. The delicious taste instantly blossomed on the tip of his tongue, and his eyes lit up: "Delicious!"
The play in the theater had already begun, and the melodious sound of stringed instruments and graceful singing could be heard from afar. The other customers at the stall had already left, leaving only the three of them, and the surroundings suddenly became quiet.
Cheng Yuntao looked at Jing Zimo with a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "Did you choose this time to come?"
Jing Zimo nodded slightly and said seriously: "Yes, I know you are busiest when you are doing business. I don't want to disturb you, so I thought of coming later."
After saying that, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. He scratched his head lightly and continued, "I thought this would save some trouble, but I didn't expect you to end up giving me a bowl of fish dumplings. I'm really sorry."
As he spoke, Jing Zimo reached for the purse at his waist, but Cheng Yuntao was quick to stop him from taking out the money.
"It's okay. Just consider it my treat this time. If you feel bad about it, come back next time to take care of the business. I'll charge you then."
Jing Zimo heard this and smiled helplessly, "In that case, I will be disrespectful to refuse."
Listening to the music coming from the theater, Jing Zimo said, "The play being performed tonight is 'The Butterfly Lovers'. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were in love but could not be together. In the end, they turned into butterflies and flew away together. Their deep love is truly moving. I wonder if Miss Cheng likes this play."
Cheng Yuntao pondered for a moment and then said, "I can't say I like it, nor can I say I dislike it. As audiences, we feel pity for these plays, not to mention the sadness and reluctance felt by the protagonists."
"This "Butterfly Lovers" and the "Leifeng Pagoda" we discussed yesterday both appear to have tragic endings, but their inner story is quite different. The root of the tragedy in "Leifeng Pagoda" lies in the White Snake's misjudgment of people. She fell in love with Xu Xuan but failed to see through his weakness and cowardice. Her courage ultimately resulted in a miserable end, imprisoned forever under the Leifeng Pagoda."
"In contrast, in 'Liang Zhu,' Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai's love is stronger than gold. They are devoted to each other, and their love is pure and sincere. It should have had a happy ending, but external obstacles weighed down their hearts. Yingtai was forced to marry, and Liang Shanbo died of depression. In the end, the two could only transform into butterflies and stay together in another world. This is a tragedy caused by external obstacles, which makes us sigh with regret."
As soon as Cheng Yuntao finished speaking, a piece of classic lyrics floated over.
"Yingtai is not a girl, so why does she have a ring mark on her ear?" The actor who plays Liang Shanbo has a clear voice and just the right amount of doubt, conveying Liang Shanbo's full of surprise and doubt directly to everyone's ears.
Zhu Yingtai's response followed closely, "There is a reason for the earring mark, why should you be suspicious, Brother Liang? There are many temple fairs in the village, and I play Guanyin every year. Brother Liang, you should concentrate on writing. Don't think about your future with hairpins and skirts." This singing voice was like a yellow oriole singing out of a valley. It not only cleverly resolved Liang Shanbo's doubts, but also had a fleeting hint of playfulness.
Cheng Yuntao and Jing Zimo both stopped talking unconsciously, their eyes drawn to the direction of the theater.
Facing Zhu Yingtai's teasing, Liang Shanbo was stunned for a moment, then sang with a smile: "From now on, I dare not look at Guanyin."
At that time, Liang Shanbo probably had already developed a secret crush on Zhu Yingtai.
Bodhisattva Guanyin is holy and spotless. According to etiquette, people should have a calm mind and sincere eyes when worshipping her. However, Liang Shanbo secretly harbored his love for Zhu Yingtai in his heart. This selfish desire was incompatible with the solemn atmosphere of the worship.
Feudal ethics were strict, with concepts like "men and women should not touch each other" and "do not look or speak inappropriately" hanging like a high commandment. The boundaries between men and women were considered paramount. Furthermore, the saying "starving to death is a small matter, but losing one's chastity is a great one" bound people tightly like heavy iron chains. The slightest mistake would violate taboos, forcing people to not even step outside the boundaries of etiquette.
"I dare not look at Guanyin", these few short words accurately reveal Liang Shanbo's inner subtle and deep affection, and vividly highlight the feelings between him and Zhu Yingtai that are not yet clear but have quietly grown in their hearts.
……
Jing Zimo was the first to break the silence, his voice tinged with sighs: "Whether in the past or now, being well-matched is still the most important aspect of marriage.
"Although Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai's love was as deep as the ocean, the chasm between their social statuses stood between them. No matter how hard they struggled, they could not escape the shackles of this world." He looked towards the theater, his eyes filled with regret.
Cheng Yuntao nodded slightly and echoed softly, "It's easy to fall in love, but it's hard to stay together."
Jing Zimo seemed to be lost in thought. He turned his gaze away from the theater and looked at Cheng Yuntao. "When talking about the story of Liang Zhu, there is one person who cannot be left out. That is Ma Wencai."
Cheng Yuntao paused for a moment, a trace of thought flashing in her eyes, and she slowly said, "In the eyes of the public, Ma Wencai is one of the culprits who caused the tragic love story of Liang Zhu. He relied on his family's power to forcibly intervene in the relationship between Liang Zhu and destroy their relationship."
Jing Zimo continued to ask: "Listening to what Miss Cheng said, it seems that she has a different opinion of Ma Wencai?"