Can you imagine a "xiao sheng" (young man role）is played by an 80-year-old woman? That's what Qu Juanru does. She is a (an)1 and the official inheritor (继承人) of Jiaxing City's Tongxiang flower-drum opera (花鼓戏). This kind of art 2 the daily life in the ancient water town and the traditional cultures of southern China.
Qu Juanru's life with opera was not 3. "My family was poor. My mother died when I was 14. I've lived with my father since. In the past, women were not allowed to play the opera, 4 my father never stopped me when I tried to sing," Qu said. And it gave her the 5 to start a journey with the opera.
At the age of 18, Qu joined a local troupe (戏班). Later, the troupe was broken up, and she went back to farming. After that, she 6 to bring the opera troupe back to life. 7, the troupe closed down again. Then she worked in a factory.
All of that changed in 2001. An officer from Wuzhen Tourism Center invited her back to the show. Knowing that, she was very 8 and agreed. Whether it is burning hot or freezing cold, she plays the opera for 3 hours every day. Even though Qu got a serious illness in 2017, she didn't 9. She gives her everything to the art. "I can still sing and act. I'd love to be here, as long as the people and the troupe 10 me," Qu said.
Perhaps Qu sees her opera life as a wonderful dream.
