In the afternoon, the old village head led a group of young and old men to set up a stage.
For many years, the Shen Family Brigade had been a poor brigade that couldn't afford to listen to opera, and everyone had been holding back.
This year, they were unusually generous and hired an opera troupe. They had to make it lively and let the neighboring brigades see that the Shen Family Brigade was now a production team that could afford opera.
This time, it was their turn to have the best seats, and other brigades who came to listen to opera would have to squeeze in the back.
The stage was quite simple, with a row of stakes driven into the ground and a square platform built with wood.
Finally, wooden planks were nailed down to form a stage of about twenty square meters. Two wooden poles were erected on the sides, and a piece of red silk was stretched between them.
A row of bamboo stools was placed on both sides for the musicians who would play the erhu, pipa, flute, clarinet, and suona.
For this grand performance, the old village head, Shen Fuguo, had put in a lot of effort. He even drove a donkey cart himself to borrow a diesel generator and searchlights from the commune.
In the pitch-black night, without these, people could only listen to the opera. Although bonfires could be set up, they were nowhere as clear as the big lights.
Despite the simple conditions, everyone's enthusiasm for this opera was undiminished.
It wasn't even five o'clock yet, and the area in front of the stage was already filled with rows of bamboo chairs and stools. Many adults had brought their children to grab seats, afraid of being late and missing out on good spots.
By six or seven o'clock, the entire area in front of the stage was a sea of heads. When Chen Yang arrived, he looked down from the stage.
Wow, judging by the crowd, there must have been thousands of people.
The whole field of vision was full of heads. Standing at the back, it was not about watching the opera, but probably just about experiencing the excitement. Unless one was a giant like Yao Ming who could look down on all mountains, standing at the back would only offer a view of the backs of people's heads.
However, even so, it could not dampen everyone's enthusiasm for listening to opera. After all, entertainment activities in rural areas were very limited during those times.
Simply showing a movie or setting up a stage to perform opera could attract a large audience.
Many people who couldn't get seats simply stood on the sampan boats by the river, watching from a distance.
The chosen location this time was near the Liú River. The old village head wanted to save face. Being close to the river made it convenient for other brigades to come and watch the opera.
At seven o'clock, as the sky began to darken, the opera troupe finally began.
The opening performance was one of the most classic pieces of Huangmei Opera, "The Fairy Couple." "The Fairy Couple" was one of the "Thirty-Six Great Operas" accumulated in the early days of Huangmei Opera.
It was adapted from the love story between the mortal Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy, the daughter of the Jade Emperor, who descended to earth during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
This story was a well-known love story in China, and its status and influence among classic Chinese love stories were no less than those of "Cowherd and Weaver Girl," "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai," and the story of Bai Suzhen and Fahai.
As they listened to the Seventh Fairy's slightly petulant line to the bookish Dong Yong on stage, "I don't blame you for bumping into me, yet you blame me," many people stood up and cheered.
During those times, people were still very conservative about matters between men and women. In opera, such a typical scenario of a woman pursuing a man was rare in the countryside.
One was a celestial fairy, and the other was an ordinary mortal. A noble princess pursuing a down-and-out farmer naturally evoked envy and jealousy.
Chen Yang was engrossed in watching the opera when suddenly a small hand grabbed his big hand.
Chen Yang was slightly surprised. He looked at Shen Xue, who was acting as if nothing had happened next to him. The older man secretly tickled her little palm.
Shen Xue couldn't help it and tickled his palm in return. Was the opera so good that she didn't even notice him?
"What, with so many people this time, you're not shy anymore?"
Chen Yang looked at the suddenly bold Shen Xue, wondering if his woman had been influenced by the Seventh Fairy in the play. The usually shy her was surprisingly bold today.
"I'm touching my own man, what's there to be shy about?"
Shen Xue tilted her head up, her eyes sparkling.
Indeed, under the lights, his man's profile was truly handsome.
Today, her father and mother had taken the children to squeeze into the front seats. Chen Yang and Shen Xue were a step late, and the seats closest to the stage were gone.
Although if he really wanted to, the villagers wouldn't refuse to make way for them, it wasn't necessary. It was a good opportunity for the couple to have some time alone.
After having children, it was truly difficult for couples to have quality time together like they did when they were younger.
After "The Fairy Couple," came another classic, "The Female Son-in-Law," which was also the inspiration for the song "Huangmei Opera." It was also a touching love story.
It told the bizarre story of the female protagonist, Feng Suzhen, who, in order to defy her snobbish mother and pursue love, impersonated her fiancé, Li Zhaoting, and participated in the imperial examinations. In the end, she not only became the top scholar but was also bestowed a princess by the emperor.
Finally, the two women met and realized that nothing could be done.
Feng Suzhen had to reveal the truth to the princess. The emperor was moved by her deep affection and, under the circumstances, had to pardon her crime of deceiving the emperor. He then allowed the real Li Zhaoting to marry Feng Suzhen under the guise of the top scholar.
Although the story had many logical flaws, it was indeed quite touching. In an era when marriage and love were not yet so free, and partners were mostly introduced by acquaintances and approved by parents, such a rebellious love story was very popular.
The thunderous applause almost startled Chen Yang.
After the opera, it was probably past ten o'clock. Normally, in rural areas at this time, it would be silent, and everyone would have long been asleep.
But now, the villagers, carrying their stools in twos and threes, were very excited, gesturing and discussing the opera they had just watched.
The older man carried two stools by himself, and Shen Xue also carried two. There was no other way, as her father and mother were holding the two little ones.
At first, they were very restless, but halfway through, the two little ones' eyelids started to droop, and they fell asleep in their arms.
Well, that saved Chen Yang and Shen Xue the trouble of coaxing them to sleep.
"It's so late, no need to bathe, just go to sleep early."
"Young people also need to have some restraint, otherwise, your body won't be able to take it."
"When you have time, go and visit Old Master Tu. He has a lot of good things. I heard that when he was young, he hunted big cats with others, and he still keeps tiger penis wine at home."
The father-in-law put the little ones on the bed and secretly pulled Chen Yang aside for a chat.
Chen Yang's face turned red, and he really wanted to tell his father-in-law that he was in good health.
However, the tiger penis wine wasn't something that couldn't be tried.
After the father-in-law left, Shen Xue came over.
"What did Dad tell you? So secretive, and you're hiding from me."
Shen Xue glanced at Shen Futang, who had left in a hurry, and looked a little confused. Chen Yang looked at her confused eyes, and his expression became even more strange.
He couldn't possibly say that her father was worried about his health and told him to ask Old Master Tu for tiger penis wine.
"It's nothing. Dad just told us to get some rest early."