At that time, the common people loved to listen to it, and wealthy families specifically invited him to perform in their parlors, essentially going to their homes just to tell this story.
The people who came dared not interrupt, silently standing in a corner of the courtyard, keeping their hands down, not daring to sit anywhere.
Those who could enter were all prominent figures in the crosstalk world. They could tell what Qi Shejiang was performing with just a single listening.
“Wangu Gangchang dan shang jian, jiliang ying dui huang tian. Rensheng fanghui you qian zai, shijie rongku wu bainián!” Qi Shejiang recited the theme poem first, and after he finished, he slapped the wooden block on the table.
Once this theme poem was recited, the expressions of the seniors present varied, but their thoughts were mostly the same. What great skill!
All were experts; just hearing these few lines demonstrated Qi Shejiang’s breath control, vocal power, and the ability to master his own voice with great tension.
Old Master Meng, who had his eyes closed, trembled all over and slowly opened his eyes, gazing deeply at Qi Shejiang.
As more and more people arrived, the time was nearly up, and Qi Shejiang also stopped, pausing at a point.
“Let’s begin,” Old Master Meng said softly. He invited the tablets of the ancestors and his master to come forward, as Qi Shejiang was about to bow and perform the ceremonial tribute.
He found it somewhat amusing in his heart to be bowing to himself; what was that supposed to mean?
That day, in front of so many people, he could only accept it. After all, he was indeed bowing to himself, but in reality, it was for one person—he could not accept bowing to anyone else.
Qi Shejiang paid his respects to both the ancestor and to himself.
Once the formalities were complete, all the witnesses began to applaud. Regardless of whether they were supportive or not before, since it had already been accepted, they had to show some generosity in spirit.
At that moment, Old Master Meng took out a box, opened it, revealing an aged redwood clapper carved with lotus patterns.
Upon seeing this clapper, especially those from the Meng family, their eyes involuntarily widened.
