All performances were to be drawn by lot, with participants taking the stage in the order drawn. The hosts were Zhao Dazhuang and Tian Guihua, both quite outgoing.
The first family to perform was the newly married Huang Gousheng and his wife, a family of three.
They performed a song. While Lu Hao and Manman’s singing wasn't exceptional, it wasn't unbearable either. But the moment Huang Gousheng opened his mouth, even a sow would be scared enough to climb a tree. Baoyu and Shandian, huddled nearby, couldn't help but shiver.
Heavens above! His voice sounded like a saw cutting wood, or a goose honking, or even ghosts crying and wolves howling.
Baoyu: No, my howling is more pleasant than his.
The audience below was doubled over with laughter at Gousheng’s dreadful singing. Lu Hao and Manman, standing beside him, also laughed so hard they had to hold their stomachs.
However, Gousheng was so engrossed in his singing, with his eyes tightly shut the entire time and his upper body swaying because he couldn’t breathe properly during the high notes, that he didn’t notice his two teammates had collapsed with laughter.
When he finished singing and his eyes could finally see again, he discovered everyone present was trembling with laughter.
He looked completely bewildered, not understanding what they were laughing at. He was singing, not clowning around, and he had sung with such passion and seriousness – there was absolutely nothing funny about it.
Bai Sheng, Lu Ye, and Prince Yu Ji Cheng were seated at the same table. The group laughed so hard they pounded the table.
Prince Yu’s stomach ached from laughter, and he almost wished to condemn Huang Gousheng for a crime.
The aftershocks of Gousheng’s performance were too intense. It took Zhao Dazhuang and Tian Guihua a while to stop laughing before they announced the next act.
The second to take the stage were the lower-class servants, Xiao Hong, Xian Shu, and Gou Luanzi.
They organized dozens of people to perform a dance.
Although the dance moves were simple, they were executed with remarkable precision. Every arm extension and leg kick was powerful, giving the overall performance a grand, majestic, and impactful feel.
It was evident they had rehearsed diligently.
After the performance, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.
Xiao Hong, Xian Shu, and Gou Luanzi were so moved their eyes misted over. They realized they too could be shining stars.
Tian Guihua, Mi, and Mian performed a spatula dance. Each holding a cooking spatula, they incorporated cooking and meal preparation movements into the dance, making it highly entertaining.
Lu Huo performed feats of strength, lifting scholars and large stones. Lu Yin had no talent of her own, so she partnered with Lu Huo, acting as her prop.
After being lifted in various ways by Lu Huo dozens of times, Lu Yin stumbled to an open space to vomit.
She vowed never again to be Lu Huo’s prop.
A Zhong, A Ji, and A Wu, three old friends, performed a percussion piece with bowls and chopsticks.
Prince Yu’s sword dance, Ji Chenghe’s calligraphy, and the opera from Hu Daniu's family were all spectacular. Almost everyone from Hongshu Village brought their stools to watch.
Finally, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye sang a duet of "The Most Romantic Thing," bringing the evening gala to a crescendo.
The main reason was how beautifully both of them sang.
Could it have been otherwise? To teach Lu Ye to sing this song well, Bai Sheng had even reduced their nightly expressions of affection to once a day.
The two had practiced earnestly for several days.
On stage, they held hands and gazed at each other affectionately. The female voice was clear and ethereal, while the male voice was deep and magnetic, a perfect bass.
The beautiful, melodious, and heartwarming song immersed everyone in a feeling of both intimacy and happiness.
Prince Yu watched Lu Ye on stage, consumed by a jealous rage, wishing he could rush up, push him aside, and take his place.
He hadn't expected the "dark-faced" boy to sing so beautifully, and he found the lyrics and melody novel, very different from the music of the Great Xia Kingdom.
Listening to their singing, couples in the audience began to exchange furtive glances.
Ji Chenghe, having had a bit to drink, grew bolder. Coupled with the romantic atmosphere, he boldly sent several flirtatious glances toward Bai Jing. Bai Jing was startled, and the blush on her cheeks never faded.
This bold move by Lord Ji was noticed by his mother, Old Lady Ji, also known as A Ji. A Ji was overjoyed and immediately shared her bold speculation that her foolish son might like Bai Jing with her two old friends.
The two old friends were also delighted. It seemed Nephew Ji’s preferences were normal; he liked girls.
A Ji felt immensely relieved and looked at Bai Jing as if she were a future daughter-in-law.
Bai Jing was once again bewildered by A Ji’s intense gaze. This mother and son were quite strange tonight. Why did they keep staring at her and smiling so mysteriously?
Ma San had his arm around his Xiao Tiantian’s waist, his eyes flashing with a dazzling intensity that forced Liu Shi, aka Xiao Tiantian, to rub her eyes repeatedly.
Hu Daniu grinned, his eyes fixed on his own "honey pot."
Host Zhao Dazhuang, wanting to cast a fond gaze at Tian Guihua, was met with a fierce glare and a baring of teeth from Tian Guihua.
Zhao Dazhuang felt as anxious as a cat scratching at a door. Why did Guihua-hua dislike him so much? He was at least tall and sturdy, with well-defined features.
Alas, he shouldn't overthink it; he just had to keep trying in the future.
Most of the young men and women in the village cast longing glances, searching through the dark crowd for their respective gazes.
Sun Xiuzhi, who had previously liked Yang Ming, was introduced to Lu Yang by Grandma Zhong. They were to be married after the New Year.
Sun Xiuzhi glanced at Yang Ming but didn't find him looking at any young woman.
He seemed loyal to the village chief and his wife, his eyes constantly directed toward them.
She sighed softly, deciding to give up any lingering hopes for Yang Ming. Lu Yang was the village chief's cousin and Lu Xing's elder brother. Marrying him should be a good choice.
With that thought, she looked at Lu Yang and returned his smile with a gentle one.
Upon receiving a response, Lu Yang beamed with joy.
Some of the village's younger girls liked Xiao Ma and Zhu Gan, but the few thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys looked straight ahead, as they were planning to follow their elder uncle to the capital to seek their fortune after the New Year and didn't want to marry too early.
After Bai Sheng and Lu Ye finished their song, the audience erupted in thunderous applause that seemed to last forever.
Lu Ye, his face beaming, looked at Bai Sheng affectionately and, amidst the roaring applause, bent down and kissed her on the cheek.
"Wow!"
"Tsk tsk!"
"Oh my!"
The audience was almost beside themselves with excitement, their applause reaching the heavens.
From the village of Qianfei, two or three li away, people looked towards the fires of Hongshu Village and heard the overwhelming cheers, all filled with curiosity.
Some bolder individuals even went to Hongshu Village to see for themselves. After their visit, they returned to their village, acting as if they had gained great insight, and recounted everything to the villagers.
The evening gala’s performances had awards for various categories. Bai Sheng and Lu Ye's performance, Prince Yu's performance, and Lord Ji's performance were not eligible for judging, so the special prize went to the lower-class servants Xiao Hong, Xian Shu, and Gou Luanzi.
Twenty to thirty young men stood on the award stage, their faces glowing with excitement. They now had the money for a dowry, and from now on, if they fancied any maiden, they could propose after seeking permission from their two masters.