The first step in opening the Incense Hall, of course, was to offer incense.
Before offering incense, a performance was required, and the specific content of the program depended on the personal talents of the incense offerer—such as performing a set of boxing moves, dancing, reciting a poem, or singing a song.
It was akin to the introductory poem from the storyteller's lips, serving primarily to calm and command the audience's attention.
People from the North have straightforward tempers, loud voices, and a heroic character; regardless of gender, when seated together, they could strike up a conversation with you. Without creating some activity to attract everyone's attention, you wouldn't be able to perform anything afterwards.
Zuo Yan enjoyed watching this program and had even set these procedural rules herself, but she was disappointed to have missed it this time.
