?64: Chapter 64 The Opera Troupe 64: Chapter 64 The Opera Troupe “Hey, look at our senior sister, has she chickened out or what?

    If she was going to back down, she shouldn’t have stepped up in the first place.

    Now her reputation is really in the mud.”

    “What do you know?

    This is the senior brother’s doing on purpose.

    I heard the master had planned to match our senior sister with him, but she flatly refused, so that deal fell through.

    Imagine our senior sister with her figure and looks, holding a spear like Mu Guiying, waving water sleeves like Cui Yingying, who wouldn’t be smitten!”

    “No wonder our senior brother’s been acting like he ate two ounces of gunpowder lately, glaring at everyone.

    Turns out it’s pent-up anger.

    I think he’s planning to give his future wife a show of strength before she’s even in the door.”

    “...”

    “Knock, knock, knock!

    Ahem!

    Excuse me...

    is Master Lin in?” Just as the tension in the troupe was rising, Liu Hun knocked on the open door and walked in.

    The man was just about to assert his authority, but when Liu Hun popped in and ruined his plan, he glared at Liu Hun with discomfort and said, “Not here!

    Scram!”

    “Whoa!

    Is this the Lin Troupe, or did you switch to a kennel?

    Why do I hear barking right when I walk in?” Liu Hun replied with a smile.

    He wasn’t inclined to be polite to someone so rude.

    “I’m Lin Mengmei, daughter of Lin Shanhu and the leading lady of the troupe.

    What do you need?” Lin Mengmei approached Liu Hun quite politely and said.

    When Liu Hun heard that the person in front of him was indeed the famed Lin Mengmei, praised far and wide, it turned out she truly was as beautiful, charming, and spirited as people said.

    Clearly, Lin Mengmei was irreplaceable in all the leading roles on stage.

    “Hello, I’m Liu Hun from Wanbao Village.

    I’ve come today to discuss the arrangements for this year’s community opera with Master Lin,” Liu Hun said to Lin Mengmei, reciprocating the politeness he was shown.

    “You little bastard, what did you just say?

    What kennel?

    What do you mean?” The man angrily pointed at Liu Hun, stepping forward.

    “Who’s barking here?” Liu Hun ignored the man and spoke to Lin Mengmei instead.

    Lin Mengmei glanced at the man and said, “He’s our troupe’s senior brother, Wang Tiankun.”

    “Oh, so that’s his name, no wonder he barks enthusiastically.

    Want to start something?

    Bring it on!” Liu Hun calmly said to the approaching Wang Tiankun.

    “I’ll cripple you, you bastard!” Wang Tiankun said and charged with several steps, swinging a fist directly at Liu Hun.

    At the height of his anger, Wang Tiankun didn’t care about holding back.

    All he wanted was to vent and flaunt his power.

    Standing beside Liu Hun, Lin Mengmei knew Wang Tiankun’s capabilities and quickly stepped forward to shield Liu Hun.

    As Lin Mengmei stepped out, she suddenly felt a tightness around her waist and realized Liu Hun was holding her.

    The woman’s waist was definitely something not to be touched, especially Lin Mengmei’s.

    Once someone held her waist, she went completely weak.

    Is he that kind of person?

    Lin Mengmei thought, as a tingling sensation spread from her waist like electricity through her entire body, and she collapsed into Liu Hun’s arms.

    Liu Hun hadn’t expected Lin Mengmei’s waist to be so slender and supple, like a willow swaying in the wind.

    Nor had he expected her to suddenly go limp in his arms.

    While these thoughts ran through his mind, Wang Tiankun, seeing the scene, now wanted not just to cripple Liu Hun but to kill him, swinging his tight-fisted punch forward with all his might.

    “Thud!” A dull sound echoed as Wang Tiankun stood over a meter away from Liu Hun, completely still, his face twitching with pain as sweat poured down like soybeans from his forehead—his whole body numb to the core.

    Lin Mengmei, soft in Liu Hun’s arms, had initially thought she would fly off with Liu Hun from Wang Tiankun’s punch.

    But at the last moment, as she was about to close her eyes, she saw Liu Hun—in a move that seemed reckless—sticking out a fist to meet the blow.

    When she opened her eyes again, she saw the two men standing there like statues, fists touching, unsure what exactly had happened.

    “If you can still talk, you’d better apologize now.

    But I reckon you can probably only groan.” As soon as Liu Hun finished speaking, Wang Tiankun began to groan through gritted teeth, the intense pain shooting straight to his head, while his right hand from the punch with Liu Hun felt cast in plaster—dangling stiffly between his legs as he hopped like a grasshopper.

    “What happened?

    Why did senior brother end up like this?

    Just now he seemed ready to beat this Liu Hun to death?”

    “Where did this Liu Hun come from?

    He took out senior brother with one punch.

    Weren’t we supposed to cripple him?

    Should we help or not?”

    “Who dares to go?

    One hand holding our leading lady, the other crippling senior brother—if you want to, then go.

    I’m definitely not going.”

    “...”

    “You...

    let go of me!” Lin Mengmei said to Liu Hun, her whole body limp and just being red-faced.

    “I’m sorry.

    I was worried you’d get hurt standing in front of me,” Liu Hun said, quickly releasing Lin Mengmei, who was blushing as red as a bleeding-heart blossom.

    Lin Mengmei shot Liu Hun a semi-angry glance, then quickly called some of her fellow disciples to help Wang Tiankun into the inner room.

    Just as they entered, Lin Shanhu returned from outside.

    Lin Shanhu invited Liu Hun into the main hall and, after listening to Lin Mengmei recount the incident, he had a rough idea of what had happened.

    Liu Hun looked at Lin Shanhu, with his robust build and imposing demeanor, truly living up to the moniker “Tiger.”

    After Liu Hun explained his purpose, Lin Shanhu slowly raised a cup of tea and said, “Ah, Xiao Ling, I understand what you mean.

    But although my disciple was rash, I saw that his hand is likely crippled, so you have to give some sort of explanation, don’t you?”

    After hearing Lin Shanhu’s words, Liu Hun understood that he was protecting his disciple.

    Though he felt a bit uncomfortable, Liu Hun didn’t want to sour relations with the Lin Troupe, otherwise, the performance would fall through.

    So Liu Hun stood up and said to Lin Shanhu, “Master Lin, it was your disciple who struck first.

    I was only defending myself.

    His hand may have been hurt badly, but I know some medicine and can guarantee I’ll fix it.”

    “Oh?!” Lin Shanhu’s eyes lit up.

    Having examined Wang Tiankun’s hand earlier, he guessed that the bones were likely shattered.

    Training a disciple was no easy task, so he was rather displeased with Liu Hun.

    However, upon hearing this, he felt hope for a turnabout, so he responded, “If you can truly fix my disciple’s hand, I’ll have him serve you tea and apologize!”

    Liu Hun nodded and walked straight to Wang Tiankun, feeling that Lin Shanhu understood the importance of his disciple’s hand over pride.

    Wang Tiankun was still in pain and seeing Liu Hun approach, he was terrified.

    He wanted to dodge but was surprised when Liu Hun suddenly grabbed his injured hand, channeling something into his arm.

    In a mere moment, the pain vanished completely.

    “Hey!

    It’s...

    it’s really...

    really healed!” Wang Tiankun marveled, flinging his arm in disbelief, only to realize it felt good as new.

    Lin Shanhu squinted his eyes at Liu Hun, contemplating that this lad might have some real ability, and then said to Wang Tiankun, “For bullying your fellow disciples, insulting guests, and injuring someone today, take this as a lesson.

    Now, serve tea and apologize to our guest, then go inside to reflect!”

    Though Wang Tiankun was filled with hatred for Liu Hun, his master’s words were like Sun Wukong’s binding spell, and he had no choice but to obediently serve tea and apologize to Liu Hun before slipping inside dejectedly.

    “Master Lin, do you have any thoughts on the matter I mentioned?” Liu Hun asked Lin Shanhu, as this was his primary concern.

    “Xiao Ling, our troupe follows its own rules and traditions.

    We can’t just change on a whim,” Lin Shanhu said as he set down his teacup and slowly refilled it, considering his next move.

    Liu Hun smiled slightly, saying, “Master Lin, rules are dead, but people are alive.

    If you’re willing to be flexible, anything is negotiable.”

    Lin Shanhu raised his teacup, though instead of sipping, he nodded to Liu Hun, saying, “Xiao Ling, take this cup, and the matter is settled!”

    Liu Hun was puzzled, uncertain if Lin Shanhu was genuinely sincere or merely toying with him.

    After pondering, he decided to give it a try, thinking he couldn’t face the villagers empty-handed.

    Liu Hun approached Lin Shanhu, saying, “Master Lin, thank you kindly!” With that, he reached for the teacup in Lin Shanhu’s hand, but it wouldn’t budge.

    Upon looking up at Lin Shanhu’s expression, Liu Hun immediately realized he was being tested.

    Though he didn’t know Lin Shanhu’s full intent, he needed to drink the tea today.

    With a thought, he channeled Qi Force into his hand!

    Lin Shanhu, who was seated calmly like he was catfishing, suddenly appeared shocked, his eyes wide, as he watched Liu Hun pluck the teacup from his grasp.

    Liu Hun drank the tea in one gulp, then set the cup back on the table, saying to Lin Shanhu, “Master Lin, thank you kindly!”

    “Great!” Lin Shanhu exclaimed, slamming the table as he stood up, happily patting Liu Hun on the shoulder, “Consider this matter settled then!”

    Liu Hun paid Lin Shanhu a deposit, and the two of them drafted an agreement, securing the arrangements.

    In a few short days, the tasks instructed for the women were completed.

    After Du Yueling posted the notices with Mao’er and others, the villagers learned that Liu Hun was responsible for organizing the community opera.

    Still, they remained unaware of other details.

    “Did that rascal really take on this responsibility?

    What a guy!

    Holding his own with his fists and not shirking from the task!”

    “If I made that much money, I’d take on the responsibility too!

    Remember, Rascal Chen booted him out of the village, so who else but him should shoulder the responsibility?

    How much did he earn growing vegetables, and how much from mushrooms?

    Check out Ye Canghai’s orchard—after years of looking like dead wood, this year it’s covered in fruit!

    Who knows how much that’s going to bring in?”

    “That rascal relied solely on his own skills.

    We should be grateful he included us in his plans.

    If it’s not this time, let’s reflect on our reasons.

    Look at all the lazy rascals still waiting for the township’s money.

    What if that money doesn’t come?

    We need to work hard ourselves!”

    “...”