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- The Drum Singers
4
The company was named “Peace and Fine Music" after a variety troupe Pao Ching had seen in Peiping thirty years before.
The little theater, located in one of the busiest streets, had a capacity of two hundred people. According to Pao Ching's calculations, if there were a hundred in the audience, he would not be losing money; a hundred and fifty, he would make money; with a full house, he would have a generous profit.
On the day of the opening, Pao Ching could not sleep. When it was barely dawn he got out of bed, found a piece of wrapping paper, and jotted down all the things he had to do during the course of the day. When he had scribbled all over the paper,he folded it, put it in his pocket, and went out.
First he went to look at the display outside the theater that he had arranged the day before. The billboard was edged with electric lights in red, white, and blue. In the light of dawn, they looked faint and weak, but they had a dream_like beauty. Under the billboard in a glassed frame was a list of the names of the artists written in black characters on red. Across the center were three large words in thick black ink: “Fang Pao Ching." On the sides, in gold characters on red, were the names of Lotus Charm and Jeweled Lute. Underneath were a group of colorful adjectives, copied from motion picture advertisements.
Pao Ching smiled to see his own name. It was like old times. Yes,he should be proud of himself. Before this, he had worked with others and had also organized his own troupe. But he had always been outclassed by others, either in artistry or reputation. Now for the first time, he had top billing, and he could not help feeling proud of himself.
He gazed contentedly at the billboard for a long time, then reluctantly walked away. He went to a small tea house and called for some tea.
After he had had the tea, he went to see Little Liu about his accoompaniment for Lotus Charm. He himself needed no rehearsal, because he was an experienced singer. If Little Liu lost a beat, he could always go on smoothly as if nothing had happened. But Lotus Charm was different. If the accompaniment was off, she too, would lose her way. So he had to have Little Liu try out his accompaniment with her, to save them from making mistakes at the first performance.
But he did not have the courage to walk right into the hotel to fetch Little Liu. If any of the Tang family saw him they would give a hundred reasons why Little Liu should not go to try out his accompaniment with Lotus Charm.
He entered the hall of the hotel and bribed the clerk to get Little Liu downstairs to talk privately. When Little Liu came Pao Ching told him: “Please don't bring your instruments. I have one. If my elder brother should hear you play and if he says anything, please don't mind him. We have to make money."
Little Liu smiled lazily, and promised to come during the afternoon to rehearse with Lotus Charm.
Pao Ching went to have his head and face shaved, although he had been to the barber's only two days before. After the shave, he took the piece of paper from his pocket and checked off his list. He had to visit all those who had done things for him, especially the local officials and racketeers. He would give them a few free tickets, to be sure of their help and protection.
He also took time out to notify all who were to work in the theater; the men who sold food and drinks, cigarettes and melon seeds, and hot towels; the man at the ticket office; the ushers and bouncers. They were to come at four o'clock that afternoon for the ceremonial offerings to the God of Show Business and God of Wealth, to ensure good luck.
Pao Ching was already a familiar figure about town. Everybody seemed to recognize him wherever he went. The cashiers and waiters of tea houses, liquor stores, and restaurants all knew he had formed his troupe and was having an opening that night.They called him “Big Boss Fang" and congratulated him — hoping to get a free ticket for the opening. But Pao Ching only raised his own hands thanking them, saying neither yes nor no to their hints. When he had left them, he said to himself, “When I patronized you, did I get a free ticket or go away without leaving a tip?"
It was two o'clock in the afternoon when he got back to his little hotel. Everything was in order. Little Liu had been over to try the music with Lotus Charm. She was dressed, and was complaining that she had no money to buy a pair of new white shoes.
“Let's make do for today," said Pao Ching. “Put on that pair of satin embroidered shoes. As soon as I get some money, I'll buy you a pair of new white ones." She pouted, but she put on her satin shoes.
Mrs.Fang was all dressed up, and remarkably sober. She had remembered the offering ceremony to the Gods was at four and had kept sober so as not to say the wrong things to the Gods, which might mean disaster. As soon as the show was over and there was money in the till, she would have a drink or two to celebrate.
Phoenix Girl looked annoyed.The offering ceremony meant nothing to her,and she was jealous,seeing her little sister dressed up so beautifully.
Pao Ching sensed her disappointment.“My dear Phoenix Girl,don't pout like a baby!When I make some money,I'll buy you a new pair of shoes as well. Some beautiful ones I saw in the store today."
Phoenix Girl did not answer.
“My dear elder brother," Pao Ching said to Useless Fang, “I must rest awhile.Tonight I have to sing with all I have. Please,my good brother,go to the theater and get things ready for the offering ceremony.You have a better memory than I. Please get things ready for me. I'll treat you to drinks after the show."
Thus, by begging and persuading, he talked Useless Fang into helping him, and then had to listen to Useless Fang's idea of how the theater should be arranged for the ceremony. Fang liked to show he was a man of great knowledge.
“Yes, my good elder brother," Pao Ching assented, “I agree with you — but please don't talk any more. It's already after two. Please go now."
Soon it was four o'clock. The ceremony was to be held backstage.Useless Fang had prepared everything in an orderly manner.He had arranged an altar on which were written the names of King Zhou Zhuang — the very founder of stage performance, in black characters on red paper. In front of the altar was the offering table, on which were set tall red candles, a huge pewter incense burner, and a few dishes of food and fruit, with three cups of white wine. Around the sides of the table hung an embroidered satin cloth of bright red.
There were benches along three of the walls. In the center of the room was a long table, covered with a white tablecloth, on which were a teapot and teacups, cakes and melon seeds, cigarettes,and a vase of freshly cut flowers.
The local variety entertainers who had been engaged for the show came in one after another. They were dressed shabbily, because they had been out of work for a long time. Some of them were smoking long tobacco pipes. Others puffed at cigarettes, as they fanned themselves with palm_leaf fans.
The door opened suddenly. Pao Ching walked in. He did not look at any particular person. He just bowed deeply, his bald head moving in semicircles from left to right, and said repeatedly, “Please be seated, please be seated." He knew there were few of them who did not stand up to receive him. He did not think much of the local entertainers and the local entertainers thought little of people from “down river". But Pao Ching did not wish to make this dislike toward each other more obvious than necessary.
He straightened himself. Lotus Charm walked slowly in. Smilingly he introduced her to them, “This is my daughter Lotus Charm."
Lotus Charm smiled mischievously. She bowed slightly, then walked to the table, picked a flower and pinned it on her dress.
“Lotus Charm," Pao Ching called, “serve our guests some melon seeds." Pao Ching was still standing at the door, waiting for his wife.
Lotus Charm picked up the dish of melon seeds. She took one for herself, but put it back as she was about to pop it in her mouth.
“This is my wife." Pao Ching was again introducing.
Mrs. Fang nodded with poise and dignity. She sat with the entertainers. She tried to speak to the local entertainers in their Szechwan dialect, while they tried to speak to her in her Mandarin. Nobody understood anybody, but they all felt they were polite to each other.
“Oh,big brother," Pao Ching said, running over to Useless Fang. “Wonderful, wonderful, too wonderful. I couldn't have done a better job of decorating." He looked around as he spoke.
Useless Fang smiled with pleasure when he heard his brother's unreserved praise. He yawned and stretched to show Pao Ching how tired he was.
The theater staff began to arrive now: the ushers, the man at the ticket office, the stage hands, the musicians. They were not artists, and there was really no need for them to attend the offering ceremony. But Pao Ching had invited them all, because he wanted to show them that show people too had traditions and their own God to govern them; they were not wild unwanted beggars as many people thoutht.
The Tangs arrived last to show their importance. Mrs. Tang led the family procession, Jeweled Lute next, then Fourth Master Tang, with Little Liu tailing pitifully like an unwanted orphan.
Mrs. Tang wore a loose shimmering green silk gown that made her look four times as large as Fourth Master Tang. Her fleshy face was covered with a thick paste of makeup, and her lips were heavily smeared with lipstick. She was weighted down with jewels: a pair of huge earrings, four rings on her fingers, all of them set with fake diamonds that glittered under the lights.
The moment she entered, she waddled directly over to Mrs. Fang and Lotus Charm, and hailed them as if they were her dearest friends. “My good sister, and why — the Little Lotus Girl, so beautiful." Then she greeted the Fang brothers. The others, she passed by with a stare.
Without consulting Pao Ching, Mrs. Tang ordered her husband to come forward. “Burn the incense for the Gods!" She wanted him to be master of this offering ceremony.
But Pao Ching pulled Fourth Master Tang aside and shook his head. He was the head of the company; he could not let anyone else be master of the ceremony. So he stepped up to the altar and lit the punk sticks. When they were giving out curling wisps of blue smoke he stuck them in the incense burner. Then he lit the candles. The sudden brightness on the altar, the glow of color, and the perfume of the incense made everybody silent and solemn of face. Reverently Pao Ching kowtowed to the Gods of Show People. On them his living depended; they brought customers to the theater and gave him the gift of song. He knelt then, and prayed to the Gods to help him succeed, to bless Lotus Charm,and to keep Mrs. Tang and her husband from causing trouble.
Outside the theater thunderous firecrackers were set off.