The gong sounded outside; Little Yang Guo was making his entrance. Muniang had kept Chen Yuhua backstage waiting for her cue to enter, as she herself made her way to the front to watch.
The pageboy said with a grimace, "Lady, we don't have many spectators today. It might be because everyone knows Yue Guan'er won't appear in the first act, so many have gone to New Moon House instead. I sneaked a peek over there just now, and they have more spectators than we do."
Muniang glared at him, "Don't put on such a deathly face. The first act draws the crowd for the actor, but from the second act on, they come for the play. Why worry about all this nonsense here?"
The pageboy was startled and somewhat confused.
Muniang sighed, "Rest assured, you won't starve. If Mei Garden can't survive this little tempest, there's nothing worth saying. Go on, get back to work."
The pageboy acknowledged and went downstairs.
