Unfortunately, even those who envied them couldn't possibly become actresses, as noble ladies still greatly valued their reputations. After all, being an actress was a rather undignified status, "detracting" from the family honor. Moreover, it was already quite improper for women to show their faces in public. Which well-off family would allow their daughters to go out and "lose face"?
But for poor families, there were naturally far fewer restraints. When they were struggling to even put food on the table, who cared about such things? Even selling their daughters to be maidservants was not out of the question, much less being chosen as female actresses—a life akin to that of young ladies from wealthy families. Wouldn't their families then have money?
So when the news of Mei Garden recruiting female actresses was released, there was an immediate response from a crowd of people, almost blocking the entrance so that no one could get through.
