Feng Yi noticed that Zhong Li's slightly surprised gaze held a hint of anticipation!
Zhong Li probably wanted to convey: I didn't realize you could sing opera? You've made Yun Jin think of you so much!
Feng Yi could guess with his toes that Zhong Li wanted him to cooperate with Yun Jin again...
Zhong Li: Feng Yi, you know I've always been free from desires and pursuits. I just love this kind of thing...
Zhong Li's expectant gaze made Feng Yi unable to resist.
With a high-pitched song, Yun Jin, playing the role of Overlord of Chu, drew her sword and committed suicide, and the opera reached its climax.
The audience below fell silent, some weeping without a sound.
After performing for so long, it was Yun Jin's first time seeing such a scene. She thought the audience didn't understand the story's meaning and was unsure how to explain it.
Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted from a private room upstairs!
"Excellent! Miss Yun Jin has vividly portrayed the Overlord of Chu's iron will and tender heart, his tragic and heroic song. She has presented the hero's passionate yet helpless plight before us. It is truly spectacular and endlessly memorable!"
Hearing the familiar voice from the private room upstairs, Yun Jin looked towards the sound and saw Feng Yi giving her a thumbs-up and smiling.
Yun Jin suddenly felt a warmth in her heart. She hadn't expected Feng Yi to come to her performance today. Receiving Feng Yi's affirmation was enough for her!
Feng Yi: As a professional plant, I must create atmosphere at the right moment!
This play was difficult to understand, and some audiences might not have gotten it. This was when Feng Yi needed to step in and offer some guidance!
"Wonderful!"
"To conceive such a brilliant story, Miss Yun Jin is truly talented!"
"Miss Yun Jin, please perform another song!"
"..."
The audience below suddenly erupted into deafening cheers, applause, and praise.
Some audience members understood the story's meaning and lamented the hero's tragic song.
Some audience members, though they didn't understand, still cheered for Miss Yun Jin!
As long as it was Miss Yun Jin's performance, they loved it!
For a time, there was an outpouring of positive reviews. Yun Jin smiled slightly, curtsied, and withdrew from the stage.
"Elder Brother Fan, you've arrived at just the right time. I have something to discuss with you..."
Feng Yi invited Elder Brother Fan, who was at the door, inside.
"Mr. Feng Yi, you are too kind. You are a benefactor to our Heyu Teahouse. Please speak freely about anything!"
Elder Brother Fan quickly replied courteously. The story Feng Yi provided had helped him earn a lot of Mora. As long as Feng Yi's request wasn't too unreasonable, he would agree!
"You see how well the drama was received today. It will surely be popular in the future. As the creator of the story, it's only reasonable for me to receive some remuneration, isn't it!?"
Feng Yi chuckled. He had played a part in today's successful performance, so asking for royalties shouldn't be too much, right?
Elder Brother Fan: This is too much!
If you hadn't mentioned Mora, we would still be good friends!
But as Elder Brother Fan thought of the potentially lucrative future of the "Farewell My Concubine" theatrical performance, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly took out some Mora as a reward for Feng Yi.
"Of course! Of course! If it weren't for the story provided by Mr. Feng Yi, how could today's performance have happened? It's only natural to pay Mr. Feng Yi some Mora as remuneration. What do you think would be a suitable amount? How about 500,000 Mora, Mr. Feng Yi?"
Although Elder Brother Fan was heartbroken, he said with a smile, and with a determined bite, produced 500,000 Mora.
After all, for one performance by Miss Yun Jin, he and the Heyu Teahouse only earned five million Mora. He was directly giving away one-tenth of his income!
"Considering the future revenue from performances may experience unstable fluctuations, as a partner, I naturally cannot let the Heyu Teahouse bear the risk of unstable revenue alone. Therefore, you only need to pay me fifty percent of the performance's revenue each time!"
Feng Yi: 500,000 Mora? Trying to bribe a beggar?
Zhong Li, that poor ghost, had already tipped a considerable amount of Mora during this performance.
Among the spectators present, who wasn't richer than Zhong Li? There were many spendthrifts who threw money around!
Feng Yi conservatively estimated that the net profit from this performance was no less than three million Mora.
500,000 Mora wouldn't even buy a decent script!
Did he really think he hadn't paid attention to the market conditions in Liyue these past few days?
"Ah... this... how can this be? Mr. Feng Yi, please reconsider. 500,000 Mora is already a lot!"
Elder Brother Fan intended to buy it outright, but Feng Yi wanted a share of the profits, which darkened his expression.
Elder Brother Fan: You are an outsider traveler. Out of respect for Mr. Zhong Li, giving you 500,000 Mora as a reward is already generous!
Even if I didn't give you Mora, what could you do?
Dare you make a move within Liyue?
"Fifty percent of the revenue, not half a Mora less! If you disagree, I will entrust my personal lawyer—Yan Fei—to negotiate with you. It will be too late to regret it then!"
In the play "Farewell My Concubine," Feng Yi and Yun Jin contributed the most: one provided the story, the other performed it.
The Heyu Teahouse merely provided a venue for the performance. It was acceptable to take platform fees, but if they tried to steal the spotlight, he wouldn't be blamed for turning ruthless!
Liyue had more than just the Heyu Teahouse for people to enjoy opera. He could simply walk away and discuss with Yun Jin to have the Yunhan Society perform elsewhere.
The Heyu Teahouse became famous because of Yun Jin, not the other way around!
Some people, having gotten used to receiving money, considered it their due.
Feng Yi remembered a ridiculous news story from his past life about a kind person who gave alms to a beggar every day.
But one day, the kind person had no small change to give, and the beggar became angry.
The beggar grabbed the kind person and loudly questioned: "You give me alms every day, why not today?"
Such scum who took others' kindness for granted and even became more demanding were societal trash. Feng Yi wished he could slap them to death.
"Yan Fei? You mean the famous Liyue lawyer—Miss Yan Fei?!"
Elder Brother Fan exclaimed in surprise. If lawyer Yan Fei came to negotiate, he truly had no confidence.
But could this outsider traveler really invite lawyer Yan Fei?
Elder Brother Fan harbored doubts about this.
"That's right! It's her. If you don't believe me, feel free to try!"
Feng Yi was somewhat confident about asking Yan Fei for help, as Yan Fei had previously pestered him to tell her stories from Journey to the West.
If he offered to tell stories in return, Feng Yi thought Yan Fei would likely agree to the request.
Elder Brother Fan looked at Feng Yi's confident and determined expression, falling into a dilemma.
Giving up Mora he had already pocketed was worse than killing him!
But...
"Mr. Feng Yi, as the creator of the story, asking for fifty percent of the revenue is not unreasonable. If Elder Brother Fan believes Yun Jin is mistaken, then Yun Jin can only thank Elder Brother Fan for his care over the years..."
At this moment, Yun Jin arrived, supporting Feng Yi.