The villagers' jeering finally dissuaded Mr. Gu from storming the stage to drag Little Yao Family down.
"The Gu family are truly righteous!"
"Mr. Gu's wife has guts! Go on, go on, put on a show for us!"
Some of the bolder troublemakers even shouted, "Second Sister-in-law Gu, hurry it up! After you're done, can you let us have a try? We want to see how this leather bag holds a person too!"
"Ooh, ooh, ooh! Start, quick, start!"
Everyone was clamoring and cheering.
Amidst the lively shouts, at the third quarter-hour past noon, Yao Ermei voluntarily stood before Brother Yun. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "I'm here. You... you can start!"
It turned out that, having come this far, Yao Ermei was actually a little scared.
Brother Yun, wearing a white-lacquered mask, acted as if he didn't know Yao Ermei at all. He circled her a few times, holding the leather bag.
The opera troupe's musicians timed their accompaniment perfectly, playing tense and suspenseful music.
