[Comprehensive] No. 8 Pawnshop.

In March and April in Beiping, it is sunny and sunny,

A shiny and magnificent car drove into the garden house of the current Peking Prime Minister Jin Quan's favorite student and his subordinate Bai Xiongqi, and stopped steadily at the gate with two Western white lion heads and a fountain. .

The well-dressed driver got down and opened the car door. A middle-aged man in a suit who looked elegant, with piercing eyes and a great momentum came out first. He didn't go straight to the door after getting out of the car, but stopped at the door, as if Waiting for someone else to come out.

Two seconds later, a young woman in an ankle-length white dress and a beige bowler hat decorated with small foreign flowers got out of the car.

Bai Xiongqi treated her very gently, and introduced to her, "Miss Ye, this is my home, please come in."

The person he calls Miss Ye is the No. [-] pawnbroker who came to this world, Ye Li.And Bai Xiongqi, the first guest she met in this world, pawned his first child in exchange for this important opportunity to be promoted.

The corners of Ye Li's lips pursed slightly, his expression was indifferent, and he entered Bai's house under Bai Xiongqi's guidance.

The interior of Bai's house is decorated in a western style, exquisite and luxurious without losing its grandeur. It is a common style in Beijing's official houses. As soon as he entered the door, Bai Xiongqi's wife and younger sister Bai Xiuzhu greeted him happily, "Xiongqi/Brother ,you are back."

Bai Xiongqi couldn't help showing a faint smile on his face, it can be seen that he treats his wife and sister sincerely, so much so that when Ye Li asked for his family affection, he refused and pawned his future first child instead. .

When they saw the young woman who came in together beside Bai Xiongqi, both of them were taken aback, especially the other person's appearance is extremely outstanding, it is common for Bai Xiongqi to play tricks in foreign affairs, but it has never been brought home.Mrs. Bai is calm and magnanimous and can maintain her face, but Bai Xiongqi's younger sister, Bai Xiuzhu, has been spoiled and willful since she was a child, and the emotions in her heart are also brought out.

Bai Xiongqi knew at a glance that they had misunderstood, and quickly explained to his wife and Xiuzhu, "This is Miss Ye, and also my honored guest, so don't neglect her. Her status is special, if anyone asks, just say yes." My wife's distant relatives came to visit, "

Mrs. Bai received the wink from her husband, and immediately understood the meaning. The husband probably respected and feared this Miss Ye more than being close to her. However, if the husband was afraid of this Miss Ye, how could she let her live alone? How about letting her get along with them at home?

What she didn't know was that this was Ye Li's request, and Bai Xiongqi would not refuse, nor did he dare to refuse.

Bai Xiuzhu on the side didn't understand the meaning, she lives under the protection of her brother and sister-in-law, and she is also the eldest lady of the Bai family, so she doesn't understand these twists and turns, so Bai Xiongqi gave her a gentle warning before she could speak. , "Especially you, Xiuzhu, put away your little temper in the past, don't provoke Miss Ye, she will only stay at our house for a while, not too long."

Bai Xiongqi gave orders and entrusted his family here, but Ye Li didn't seem to hear a word, he raised his eyes and looked around the house.

Mrs. Bai quickly ordered her servants to prepare for Ye Li's move-in. From the beginning to the end, Ye Li didn't say a word. He sat on the sofa and read the newspaper leisurely. Bai Xiuzhu almost suspected her is a mute.

Until Bai Xiong got up and went to the study to make phone calls to deal with business, and Mrs. Bai went to the kitchen to order the servants to have dinner. Except for the servants, only Bai Xiuzhu and Ye Li were left in the living room. The sofa sat down.

Ye Li, who had been silent all this time, suddenly looked sideways at her, with the corners of his mouth slightly curved, "Your name is Bai Xiuzhu, right?"

Her words came so suddenly, Bai Xiuzhu was inexplicably startled, she was a little frightened, but thinking about Bai Xiuzhu's sudden fear, it was a bit strange, she was Bai Xiuzhu, a well-known young lady of the Bai family in all of Beiping, she looked delicate and savage But in front of Ye Li, there was more bluff for no reason.

"I'm Bai Xiuzhu, have you heard from my brother that I can't do it?"

Ye Li smiled, "Yes, Bai Xiongqi said that he has an incredibly beautiful younger sister."

A few words from Ye Li made an ignorant young lady let go of her guard, chatting and laughing, even confessed that she likes Jin Yanxi, the seventh master of the Jin family.

During the temporary stay at the Bai family, Mrs. Bai listened to Bai Xiongqi's words and devoted herself to entertaining Ye Li as a guest. She even took the initiative to invite Ye Li to go out to watch a theater and go shopping. She was accompanied by Bai Xiuzhu, and Ye Li agreed. Yes, Mrs. Bai also thinks that Miss Ye has a gentle temper and is a good person to get along with.

Sometimes when I met acquaintances or ladies from high-ranking officials and noble families, Mrs. Bai would come forward and say that they were relatives from afar who came to the house as guests. Although Mrs. Bai had Japanese blood, her mother was Chinese, and others heard her say that. It's not surprising, but I think Mrs. Bai, a relative's cousin, is too beautiful.

After a good fight with the officials' wives, Mrs. Bai returned to the tea room where she was watching the opera. Seeing that Ye Li had already sat down there, she seemed quite interested in the opera.On the contrary, Bai Xiuzhu was a little restless. She was affected by her brother, and she learned from the Western style. Going out for social activities is at least one of watching a play.

As Bai Xiongqi's virtuous housemate, Mrs. Bai also had to integrate into this circle. After a long time, she became more interested in watching theaters.

She sat on the mahogany chair between the two of them, looked at Bai Xiuzhu's restlessness, and sighed, "If you are impatient to sit here, go and play with your good sisters, don't go out."

Bai Xiuzhu was overjoyed, "Thank you sister-in-law."

She wanted to leave a long time ago. I heard that Mrs. Jin also came today and brought Miss Eighth Meili with her. She wanted to chat with Meili, and asked Jin Yanxi why she didn't come to see her recently.

She thanked Mrs. Bai, and happily went down the stairs with her skirt in hand.

Mrs. Bai looked back at Ye Li again, seeing that she was still concentrating on watching the opera singer on the stage babbling and singing, she chatted intentionally, "Miss Ye likes to watch operas?"

Ye Li returned her a faint smile, "I like watching theater, whether it's on or off the stage."

Mrs. Bai didn't understand the meaning of what she said, but after Ye Li finished speaking, she turned her head and continued to watch the magnificent Huadan on the stage.

Farewell My Concubine.

Bai Xiuzhu quickly found Jin Meili who was familiar with her. The first question she asked was about her seventh brother Jin Yanxi. She has seen them before, and they are talented and elegant. To be honest, Jin Meili likes that Miss Leng very much.But of course this can't be said in front of Bai Xiuzhu, she is also very thoughtful, so she changed the topic with a few words and talked about another matter.

"Sister Xiuzhu, do you know that there is a new Catholic church in Nantang?"

"I've heard of it, but I haven't been there yet. I'm not a Catholic." Bai Xiuzhu pouted. She received a Western education, but she never learned Western religion.

However, during this period, there were many children of officials who had studied and been baptized, not to mention that there were foreign forces behind these Catholic churches.

I just heard Jin Meili say, "A classmate of mine got married, and it was a Western-style wedding held there. The new priest for her is not at all like the usual white-bearded old man, and he is not a foreigner. He is not much older than Seventh Brother. He is also very good-looking, gentle and refined, well-educated, his surname is Bai, and everyone in the church calls him Father Bai."

Jin Meili's words fell into Bai Xiuzhu's ears, and she couldn't help feeling novelty. She had never seen such a young priest before, "I'll go and see it some other day."

"But what's interesting is that he also asked Xiao Lian if he would like to be baptized?"

Bai Xiuzhu, a girl like Xiao Lian, also knew that she was the maid next to Grandma Jin's family. Although she was a servant, she could read and write, and she was likable. Bai Xiuzhu didn't feel bad for her.She didn't ask why Jin Meili took Xiao Lian to her classmate's wedding, but wanted to know the following,

"Then Xiao Lian, did she agree?"

"Xiao Lian, she didn't agree. She said that she was the daughter-in-law of the sister-in-law. How can she be baptized casually if the sister-in-law hasn't agreed yet. But she would like to go to Father Bai more often. Father Bai is willing to teach her knowledge, as well as foreign languages. She listened I'm glad I did."

Xiao Lian is a beautiful and cute girl, but unfortunately her status is humble, and Jin Meili will still worry about her sincerely. Bai Xiuzhu sighed at most and didn't care about it anymore. It's a world of difference.

The two girls got together and chatted endlessly, without listening to the drama on stage.

But Mrs. Bai next to Ye Li, the more she listened to it, the more she didn't like it, especially when she saw Yu Ji's sad and beautiful libretto on stage, clutching her handkerchief, she couldn't help frowning and said,

"Farewell My Concubine, why did you arrange such a play?"

Usually what I listen to is the happy reunion drama, why is it changed to this one today?A clever boy next to him replied, "Today is the first play, and the masters downstairs have pointed it out."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Farewell My Concubine is also pretty good."

Mrs. Bai stopped talking, and just sighed in her heart, it is good, but life is mostly a tragedy, and I come to this theater just to seek happiness, not to mention that the opera singer pretending to be Yu Concubine sings like Concubine Yu reborn , I am afraid that after today, many young masters will have someone to pursue again.

One of them was a dancer yesterday, one of them is an actor today, and one of them will become a star tomorrow, but they are all luscious.

Mrs. Bai's guess was right. After tonight, Cheng Dieyi, who sang the female role of Concubine Yu, became famous all over the capital and became a pillar of the theater.Those dudes who don't know anything every day wanted to praise him, but they were blocked by the boss of Beiping Liyuan, Yuan Siye.His name is Yuan Shiqing. Although he is a declining nobleman, he has a wide network of contacts and a wealth of wealth. He is also the hegemon of a generation of Liyuan, and many people give him face.He loves Beijing opera, understands it better, spends a lot of money on the art of opera, and is not stingy. After meeting Cheng Dieyi's Concubine Yu, he was even more shocked and praised Cheng Dieyi.

When Bai Xiuzhu told Ye Li that she was going to the new catholic church, Ye Li was not surprised at all, but she also refused the request to go with Bai Xiuzhu, Ye Li's lips curled up slightly, and the Bai family's church she Can't get in.

She also has someone to meet.