He had never heard the original version, so he even adapted it?

“Old Bolton, time to eat.” The band’s drummer poked his head in, urging Edward Bolton to come eat.

Forget it, food comes first.

Edward Bolton put down his tablet, lazily walked to the living room, humming a tune as he opened his takeout.

The other three band members looked at each other. After a while, the drummer asked with a complicated expression, “Were you just humming ‘Why Bother with the Western Chamber’?”

Edward Bolton: “………………”

…Damn, Samuel Parker is so annoying!

Chapter Seven

The day after Benjamin Reed returned, he called the The Carter Family, wanting to let Mr. Scott know that he had found an inheritor of the Zidi Shu tradition. After all, the old gentleman cared deeply about the preservation of quyi culture, not just crosstalk.

Mr. Scott was already over ninety, the most senior figure in today’s crosstalk world, a man who had witnessed the rise and fall of the art. From the days of performing on the street for coins, to being able to perform in teahouses, to opening dedicated crosstalk venues, and later to radio crosstalk, TV crosstalk, and now its gradual decline.

Three or four generations of his descendants had all become crosstalk performers, and his disciples and their disciples were even more numerous—a true crosstalk family, with students everywhere.

The call was answered by Mr. Scott’s grandson, James Scott, who was also a crosstalk performer. He had partnered with Benjamin Reed’s disciple John Cooper for over twenty years, so they were close, and naturally he was familiar with Benjamin Reed as well.

“James, is the old man awake?” Benjamin Reed asked excitedly, “I had quite an encounter yesterday—I met a kid who can sing Zidi Shu, and he’s a two-door performer, also from our crosstalk tradition. His stage presence even resembles the old man’s, very steady.”

James Scott was surprised and delighted. “Really? Where did this young man learn it?”

Benjamin Reed recounted last night’s experience, his admiration clear. “Though he’s a ‘sea green’ (without a formal master), he’s truly rare! I want to bring him to see the old man, let him judge for himself how the kid sings Zidi Shu!”

James Scott sighed and said, “I was just about to tell you—Grandpa’s illness has been recurring lately, he can’t get out of bed, and is resting now, unable to receive visitors.”

Benjamin Reed’s smile faded immediately. At this age, after a hard life, illness in old age was inevitable. He could only send his regards and hope the old man would take care of himself.

James Scott then asked about Samuel Parker, curious about his background. Hearing that Benjamin Reed would bring him to his disciple’s crosstalk theater, he asked for the date and decided to go meet him.

The next day, James Scott visited the old man. Seeing that he was in decent spirits, he quietly told him about this person.

Old Master Scott’s eyes lit up. “Then you must find him and try to preserve Zidi Shu. This is a precious traditional art—so many drum songs originated from it.”

“I will, Grandpa.” James Scott saw his grandfather was out of breath from talking, and quickly soothed him.

Lying in bed, half asleep, half awake, Old Master Scott drifted back to distant times.

Zidi Shu… His senior brother could sing Zidi Shu too, wiping his face while practicing the singing. But after they were separated, he never saw him again, and years later learned his brother had long since passed away. So he thought the last inheritance of Zidi Shu had been buried with him…

How wonderful, Zidi Shu is still alive after all.

.

Samuel Parker wasn’t completely idle in the apartment. He couldn’t use the internet yet, but he watched TV and read newspapers, absorbing knowledge of this new era.

Benjamin Reed arranged to meet him, and William Thompson went along too.

At first, William Thompson was quite shocked that Henry Carter actually supported Samuel Parker doing crosstalk, but later he understood, and even started thinking—if that’s the case, maybe this could finally wash away Jesse’s reputation as just a pretty face.

Benjamin Reed’s disciple was named John Cooper. His crosstalk theater wasn’t the teahouse kind, but a theater-style venue, selling tickets, with performances every night.

He and James Scott had been famous for a long time, and still performed occasionally. With their reputation, maybe not a sellout, but at least they broke even and could pay the actors.

When Samuel Parker and William Thompson arrived, it was afternoon, not yet showtime. John Cooper and James Scott were giving instructions to their disciples, and Benjamin Reed arrived shortly after them. [http://www.pan58.com] Cloud drive resource search, cloud drive search tool (novels, movies, TV series)

The old men and Samuel Parker went to a corner to talk. John Cooper and James Scott were extremely curious about this young man. According to Benjamin Reed, his solo crosstalk skills were on par with a seasoned performer—could he have honed these overseas?

Benjamin Reed’s grandson Little Reed came along too, but didn’t join them. Instead, he was surrounded by other actors in the theater, most of them young and familiar with him.

“Hey, isn’t that, you know, the guy from Pineapple TV, whose mom is Henry Carter? What’s he doing here?”

“Didn’t Little Reed share a video of him singing dagu? The really funny one.”

“Haven’t you seen the gossip online? I bet he’s here to buy material from the master!”

“Nonsense, then why would Master Reed be here?”