The storytelling booths along Damen Stone Street did not open until the Radiant Bell Tower had rung five times.
Who would come listen to stories first thing in the morning? Everyone had to make a living and fill their bellies.
No one came at noon either. It was hot and glaring, and most people were at work.
Only in the afternoon, toward evening, did people gradually finish work. After a hard day, with their wages in hand, they would come to Damen Stone Street for a good meal and listen to some storytelling while they were at it.
Storytellers had never made a living from tips—if they had, they would have starved long ago. In any era, freeloaders far outnumbered those willing to like, comment, and share.
Most of them were affiliated with the eateries nearby. Some eateries put their tables outside, while others even had storytellers perform inside the restaurant. Their main purpose was to attract customers.
After all, people in this era could not watch videos or play with their phones while eating. But simply eating was indeed boring, and storytelling, an entertainment everyone could enjoy after a meal, naturally flourished over time.
As a storyteller, Luan Jiba dreamed of taking the center seat on the second floor of the Golden Jade Grand Restaurant. The Golden Jade Grand Restaurant on Damen Stone Street had four floors in all. The first floor was a hall, the third and fourth floors were private rooms, and only the second floor was an open dining hall.
The storytellers hired by the Golden Jade Grand Restaurant sat at the central tea tables on the second floor. With a fan in one hand and a teacup in the other, they made themselves heard throughout the entire hall. When they reached a famous scene, the