Great Jin, Eastern Capital, Taihe Teahouse.**
Today, the teahouse, with its two floors, was filled with thirty to fifty people, a stark contrast to its usual desolate state. The patrons were all dressed brightly, clearly individuals with money to spare.
The lively atmosphere was due to something special happening at the teahouse today. A young attendant in a black short coat carried a large teapot, leaped over the railing, and with a flick of his wrist, poured steaming hot water into a cup.
"Hey, what do you think this Taihe Teahouse is up to? That silk banner outside has some mysterious writing—something about flying through the heavens, moving mountains, and tales of love between humans and demons... Whatever it is, let's just enjoy the novelty. Master Jiang is a good guy; we should support him."
Suddenly, a light sound echoed, causing everyone to pause.
"In the beginning, when chaos split, Pangu emerged; the Taiji, the two elements, and the four symbols hung in balance. The son is in the heavens, the earth, and the man in the tiger... The positions of the great spirits and heroes are laid out, with the tales of Shangzhou told through the ages!"
A voice, neither too loud nor too soft, emerged from behind the screen, perfectly clear for all to hear. Strangely enough, it was the opening verse from the ancient Chinese novel "Fengshen Yanyi" (Investiture of the Gods).
"Dear audience, this tale is an imaginative recounting borrowed from the words of the ancients. Listen with an open mind and do not delve too deeply.
In ancient times, there were sages, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, who governed the world, passed down through generations until the time of King Tang. Thus began the tale of the Investiture of the Gods..."
The storyteller's voice was lively and varied, depicting the dialogues of the ministers and King Zhou with tones of arrogance, age, weariness, and flattery, making it seem as if a million voices were speaking. The guests were unknowingly drawn into the story.
On the first floor, an elderly man and a young man were idly enjoying the spectacle, already captivated by the performance. Upon hearing King Zhou recite lascivious poetry in Nüwa's palace, the young man's face turned red with anger. "How can such a king be fit to rule!"
The storyteller's skill was impressive; when he described Nüwa summoning three spirits, he even mimicked the sound of the wind, making it feel as if a chilling breeze had swept through, leaving the audience shivering.
"This is strange; could he really have summoned the spirits?" one guest whispered.
For the people of Great Jin, demons were not unfamiliar...
"However, the rest of the story is unknown, so let's listen to the next installment."
With a clap of the striking wood, the performance came to an abrupt stop, and the room fell silent.
Behind the screen on the second floor sat a young man in a blue robe, with a book, a pot of tea, and the striking wood before him. He was described as:
"With phoenix eyes and vermilion brows, adorned with a cloud bun and moon-shaped earrings. The spring breeze carries the scent of peach blossoms, while winter snow adds to his pallor. A silver bridge parts the two sides, and his nose resembles a green hill. Don't say this young man is unparalleled in the world; he isn't even at the center of the water!"
Jiang Ming's eyes were initially clouded, but suddenly cleared, and he found himself drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. After gulping down a strong cup of tea, he steadied himself.
"Is that it? Isn't King Zhou selecting a concubine? Which beauty did he choose?" someone asked loudly.
"No need to say; it must be those three spirits!"
"Why has the teacher stopped? You've piqued my interest!"
"Yes, please continue, sir..."
As the crowd urged him on, the attendant Xiao Si approached with a tray, grinning. "Please, esteemed patrons, support the teacher with your generosity; I'll bow on his behalf."
Those who came to enjoy tea at this hour were naturally not from impoverished families. Jiang Ming's enthusiastic performance had pleased the patrons, who generously rewarded him—some giving one or two coins, others as much as three or four taels.
Seeing the customers pulling out money eased Jiang Ming's anxiety. He coughed and said, "Everyone, please be patient. Allow me a moment to rest, and I'll continue with the second part: 'The Duke of Jizhou, Su Hu, Opposes the Shang.'"
"Great! I'll give you ten silver for that!"
Jiang Ming thanked him, then leaned back in his chair to relax. Speaking for so long had drained him, which was odd!
Originally from another world, he didn't know why he had brought the book "Fengshen Yanyi" with him when he was reborn into this unfamiliar place, becoming a minor manager of a teahouse.
He only had an elderly father and an old servant. The father and son lived in harmony, and their family was well-off.
In such circumstances, Jiang Ming would have preferred to relax and enjoy life as a 'playboy.'
However, fate was unkind; his previous self had somehow owed three thousand taels to the Silver Rise Gambling House and had made a bet to repay it within ten days, or else the teahouse would be handed over to the gambling house!
What did three thousand taels mean? For an ordinary family of three in Great Jin, it could sustain them for three hundred years.
His father, a retired border soldier, had taken all the money for tea, leaving only enough for daily expenses, which was far from enough to repay the debt.
Perhaps out of shock, his spirit had departed, allowing Jiang Ming from another world to take over his body.
With no knowledge of this new world, Jiang Ming had no choice but to clean up this mess.
Relying on his remaining memories, he realized this world lacked the popular storytelling tradition from ancient times—there were no tales of Pangu creating the world, Nüwa creating humans, or Hou Yi shooting the suns.
Common entertainment for ordinary people was also scarce, with storytelling, singing, and performances unheard of.
In his previous life, Jiang Ming had been an amateur voice actor and had listened to stories. He thought of trying his hand at storytelling. What fun would a tavern or teahouse be without a storyteller?
He might not remember many stories, but he had the "Fengshen Yanyi" with him, so what did he have to fear?
However, after just one session, Jiang Ming felt something was off; storytelling seemed to drain his energy! He felt utterly exhausted.
But for the sake of money, he had no time to explore the reason behind it.
After resting for half an hour, the patrons' tea had cooled. Jiang Ming finally began the second part.
Surprisingly, this second part proved even more exhausting than the first, and he struggled to keep his eyes open.
Yet the audience listened with rapt attention, as if the scenes were vividly appearing in their minds—truly magical.
"I never expected such a remarkable person in this marketplace. Such loyal and wise counsel—how would the current rulers respond to such advice—"
The old man shook his head at the words of the ministers advising King Zhou and sighed deeply.
At this moment, the second part of "Fengshen Yanyi" was drawing to a close.
"Then, Chong Houhu fled after his defeat, and we still don't know where he borrowed troops. Please stay tuned for the next installment."
Clap!
The striking wood startled not only the listeners but also the storyteller himself.
Jiang Ming felt as if he had just emerged from water, drenched in sweat. He hoarsely said, "Dear audience, today I've completed both parts. To know what happens next, please return tomorrow."
Suddenly, applause erupted in the teahouse, led by an enthusiastic patron.
Out of the blue, a young man called out, "With such talent, may I ask your name, sir?"
Jiang Ming's voice came from behind the screen, "It is not my work; I am merely a storyteller."
A storyteller? That was fitting.
As some patrons left, they turned the teahouse's performance into lively conversation, sharing it far and wide, and gradually building a bit of a reputation.
"Young master, you have great talent! You earned over two hundred taels in just half a day. At this rate, you'll easily gather the three thousand taels in ten days!" Uncle Fu exclaimed with delight.
Though Jiang Ming felt exhausted, hearing about the money brought a smile to his face. There were plenty of wealthy patrons!
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Ming asked Uncle Fu to hire some people to spread the news around the market, further promoting the teahouse. Good things need exposure!
After giving his instructions, he went to the back courtyard to rest.
Sure enough, word about the storytelling spread quickly after the morning performance. As a novel attraction, many came to the teahouse, eager to see what it was all about. Hearing that there would be no continuation that day, they left disappointed.
...
"Young master, I hear Taihe Teahouse has a storyteller now, and business is booming! They've made quite a bit of money!"
At Silver Rise Gambling House, a handsome young man with a somewhat sinister gaze reacted sharply to the news from his subordinate.
He was the young master of the gambling house, Jiang Ming's creditor, Luo Tianlin. "Go find out more and see how much he has earned!" He wanted the Taihe Teahouse, not just three thousand taels of silver, so he immediately instructed his men to investigate further. "Understood." His subordinate hurried off to gather more information.