The Black Cat Song Troupe's first performance in their new costumes was a great success. Decent and appropriate costumes, beautiful singing, and an exciting plot. Even in the shabby opera house, they still gave the audience a wonderful performance.
After the performance, Vicky bowed and thanked the audience with the actors.
All the audience stood up and applauded, and it took a long time before they stopped.
In the corner of the last row of the venue, a few average-looking audience members watched the scene with tears in their eyes.
"The leader's dream has come true. That's great," a young man said with a smile.
"Yes, but it has nothing to do with us. If we had persevered a little longer, we would be standing on the stage with them now," a middle-aged man said with a sigh.
"Let's go, we should go back."
The few of them lowered their heads and walked slowly toward the door with the crowd, looking somewhat lonely.
They had gone through the most difficult times together, but they became deserters before the dawn came.
However, to be able to see their former partners standing on the stage and performing the opera that they had worked so hard to rehearse together, they were still moved to tears.
"Since you're here, are you planning to leave without saying a word?"
The group walked to the door and was about to leave when a voice sounded in front of them.
Everyone looked up and saw Vicky standing outside the door.
"Leader," everyone called out subconsciously.
Then everyone lowered their heads in shame, not daring to look at Vicky's eyes.
"What do you think of today's stage?" Vicky asked with a smile.
"It was the best stage I have ever seen. Your performance was intoxicating," Four looked up and said with a serious face.
The others nodded as well. Today's opera performance had made them excited.
Maybe it was because of the costumes, they felt that everyone had performed better than usual and contributed to a wonderful opera.
"Sorry leader, we didn't even say goodbye when we left," Ah'Bao lowered his head and said softly.
The others also blamed themselves and did not dare to look at Vicky's eyes.
They were all saved by Vicky from a desperate situation. They were all working towards the same dream, supporting and encouraging each other, but they had become deserters.
"I have never blamed you for this. If you had said goodbye to me, I wouldn't have known how to persuade you to leave." Vicky looked at them with a smile. "If you go there, at least you'll have something to eat. If you stay, you'll only starve."
Everyone became even more ashamed when they heard this.
"But things are different now. We have our own theater, new costumes, and an audience that can appreciate us. Plus, we have food to eat every day. We can eat meat every meal." Vicky stepped forward, looked at the crowd, and said seriously, "Come back, I need you. The Black Cat Song Troupe needs you."
"Commander!"
Everyone looked up at Vicky in disbelief.
They had expected to be scolded and mocked by Vicky. At the very least, she wouldn't want to see traitors like them. However, they didn't expect that their leader would actually ask them to come back!
"Yeah, Lao Si, Ah'Bao, Xiao Qi, come back. It's tiring for each of us to play so many roles. Plus, only you can perform your roles the best." Ibaka appeared beside Vicky.
"Come back, we need you." The Black Cat Song Troupe members who had not changed out of their costumes came out from the side door and came to Vicky's side. They looked at Ah'Bao and the others and said.
"Everyone …"
Ah'Bao and the others could not help but cry.
The audience who were about to leave stopped when they saw this scene. Some people even tried to persuade them.
"Commander, although we really want to come back, I'm afraid we can't." Ah'Bao wiped away his tears and shook his head.
The eyes of Old Fourth and the others also showed a bit of sadness.
"Why?" Vicky looked at Ah'Bao and frowned. "Did Pascal force you to sign something?"
Ah'Bao looked at Vicky, hesitated for a while, and said guiltily, "When we joined Marca Troupe, Pascal made each of us sign a contract. We have to stay in Marca Troupe for three years. If we leave halfway, we have to pay a penalty of 50,000 copper coins."
"50,000 copper coins!"
Everyone in the opera troupe gasped.
For the opera troupe that had just started on the right path, this was undoubtedly a huge sum of money.
Even if there were a lot of audience members tonight, the ticket revenue was only three to four thousand copper coins. After deducting expenses, they would not be able to save much money in a month.
Ah'Bao and the others had eight people, so 50,000 copper coins per person would be 400,000 copper coins.
Obviously, it was not something that the Black Cat Song Troupe could afford right now.
"You can go back today. Tomorrow, I will personally go to Marca Troupe and bring you back. You don't have to worry about the money." Vicky waved her hand and said resolutely.
"But leader …" Ah'Bao was a little anxious.
"Since you still call me leader, then do as I say. Don't be so wishy-washy." Vicky raised her eyebrows coldly, and her aura immediately rose.
Ah'Bao only felt that his neck was cold. He shrunk his neck subconsciously and did not dare to say anything more.
"That's enough. Don't block the door anymore." Vicky stood aside and made way.
Everyone hurriedly moved aside so that the audience could continue to leave.
…
Ah'Bao and the others went back first, and so did the audience.
"Leader, is the money really okay?" Ibaka looked at Vicky and asked, holding the money bag in his hand. "I haven't spent the salary I got yesterday. You can use it to make up for it."
"Me too. I had a bowl of noodles, and the rest is still here."
"I bought a dress, but it only cost me 30 copper coins. The rest is here."
Everyone took out their own money and handed it over.
Vicky looked at the ragged money bags in everyone's hands and smiled. She reached out and pushed Ibaka's hand back. Then she looked at everyone and said, "Money is not a problem. I can solve it. This money is everyone's salary. Keep it well. I will go and bring them back tomorrow."
Everyone looked at Vicky and hesitated for a moment, but they still put the money away.
Leader would never lie to them. This was something that everyone knew.
Since she said it was okay, then it must be okay.
"I will go and buy some blankets for them tomorrow. Little Seven is afraid of the cold."
"I will go and buy some flowery clothes for Little Seven. The little girl loves to be beautiful. She has been crying in her dreams many times."
"Little Four's clothes are also ragged. I will go and buy a big jacket for him tomorrow."
"If everyone comes back, then we can perform in other operas. The audience will like it better if we perform in other operas."
Everyone was talking at the same time, and they were already looking forward to a new life.
Vicky smiled. Suddenly, she was very grateful for the choice that Mr. Hades gave her today, which gave her the confidence to bring her members back.
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