Unexpectedly, this young lad was talented, skilled with his strings, and had deep singing skills, revealing a foundation in Peking opera, likely from a young age—it made sense.
This is the unspoken rule in the world of street performers—money brings respect, and skills earn admiration!
After a long segment, with many people gathered around him, Qi Shejiang collected his earnings and shifted to performing stand-up comedy.
He was so amusing that the audience stayed to continue listening. After talking and singing for a while, Qi Shejiang performed for the whole morning. Even though his throat felt dry, the audience remained captivated, and spectators who passed by felt inclined to reward him for his impressive skill. Qi Shejiang realized he had earned around four to five hundred copper coins, which roughly equated to over a dollar.
This exceeded his investment, and rent and meal costs were no longer a worry. Moreover, he had earned enough to cover not only his expenses but also those of Meng Mengda and the others. At least now, Qi Shejiang could help maintain their livelihoods.
Qi Shejiang pondered that he should go have a meal; being alone, he would need to attract customers again in the afternoon. If the situation was favorable, he might earn another two to three hundred copper coins. If he visited the alley street again at night, he could earn more money to help cover medical expenses.
Although his juniors had become his seniors, in Qi Shejiang’s heart, he still regarded them as younger brothers. While Qi Shejiang was deep in thought, he saw the landlord emerge from the tea house, waving him over. The landlord pointed to a character beside him, saying, “Look, this is Wu Laoda’s sworn brother. Wu Laoda’s mother is celebrating her birthday and has sent a message to your senior brother. I told him your senior brother is at home, so now it’s you on stage; the message can be passed to you just the same.”
Although Qi Shejiang had no memory of “Wu Laoda,” he knew he was probably just a local thug from Jun City; the birthday message was merely a way to collect money.
