"Xiao Bei, are you going to join?" Tian Lei stood up in surprise.
Beisitian nodded, "This time I’m the one who got you all into trouble, so I have to take responsibility."
After being warned by Luo Xudong, Li Ying didn’t come to bother them but started causing trouble behind the scenes. Did she really think people couldn’t deal with her?
"Xiao Bei, are you going to sing?" Luo Jiali looked a bit conflicted.
... Can you not mention singing to her!
However, speaking of singing, she did think of someone.
"Do you know how to sing?" Beisitian asked Tian Lei.
"Of course, I sing really well!" Tian Lei said with a smile.
Luo Jiali scoffed, boasting about himself !
"How about I play accompaniment and you two do a duet?" Beisitian suggested.
Tian Lei and Luo Jiali exchanged a glance and said in unison, "No way."
Beisitian giggled, "Such great rapport!"
"But why not?" Beisitian asked.
"I don’t want to work with a fierce woman!"
"I don’t want to sing with a fool!"
After they finished speaking, both looked at each other incredulously.
"Who are you calling a fierce woman?"
"Who are you calling a fool?"
Beisitian was speechless and seeing the two were about to start arguing, she quickly interrupted them, "But I can’t sing, I can only play accompaniment."
Luo Jiali thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up, "Then you and Tian Lei play the accompaniment, and I will sing?"
Tian Lei nodded to indicate no objections, and Beisitian also had no objections.
"Xiao Bei, do you play the piano or the guitar?" Tian Lei asked, having two pianos together was possible, and guitar would be even better.
Beisitian shook her head, "Neither."
Tian Lei was speechless, what could it be then? Luo Jiali also showed a curious look; from these instruments, piano and guitar are relatively easier to learn, there are many instructors, and many people learn them.
Beisitian thought for a moment and said, "Guzheng, flute, xiao, pipa..."
Tian Lei and Luo Jiali were dumbfounded, all ancient instruments, each very difficult to learn. How did Beisitian learn them?!
"Xiao Bei, can I ask, can you play complete songs on all these?" Tian Lei asked staring.
Beisitian chuckled, "If I can’t play complete songs, how could I say I can? But only guzheng and xiao are worth showing off." This update ıs available on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚·𝔫𝔢𝔱
Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea. Beisitian recalled past gatherings of women, where each time they competed on these things, especially in certain special occasions, shining would immediately earn good reputation, which was very important for a young, unmarried woman.
Who doesn’t want to marry well? So for these, one could be proficient in one by the age of twelve or thirteen. If someone is clever, not saying mastering everything, but able to stand out among peers.
Beisitian wasn’t extremely clever, so among these instruments, only two were worth showing, frequently gaining first prize at gatherings.
The two didn’t know her specific level, hearing her mention she could show off, they were relieved. It seemed only these two were passable. If she mastered everything, would she still be human!
Luo Jiali’s eyes lit up again immediately, "This could be even better, we can do a fusion of East and West, combining Western and Eastern instruments, it’ll be hard not to attract attention!"
Performing on stage is not only about participating; we’d also like to win a prize or a place, to make all the effort worthwhile.
Tian Lei also thought this was a good idea, Beisitian neither disagreed nor agreed, combining two different types of instruments wasn’t difficult, they wouldn’t be the first to do it.
"What about our venue? The main issue now is we don’t have a place to practice, and we lack instruments!" Tian Lei said.
Luo Jiali sighed, yes, after all the talking, it all boils down to not having a venue or instruments. If they did, she’d probably be discussing it with Ding Sisi now.
"Let me think about it first, there should be a way," Beisitian said.
She remembered Sister Bao Li contacted her a few days ago, saying she had a friend whose child had a very weak body and hoped to find a good Chinese doctor to help with the conditioning.
Beisitian was busy at the time and didn’t agree, now she could ask if they still needed it. Her friend seemed to run a musical instrument store.
If it could be rented to them for a while, she wouldn’t charge for the conditioning.
After work, Beisitian returned to the dormitory and paid Uncle Wang to make a call.
"You had a call this afternoon, from Luo Anguo. Hurry and pay to call back," Uncle Wang, still not very sociable, said and then turned to read the newspaper.
Beisitian paid double and first called Zhang Baoli.
"Sister Bao Li, it’s me."
"Little Tian’er, what’s up?" Zhang Baoli’s voice came through.
"How’s the person you mentioned for Chinese medical conditioning?"
"Still the same, their child has a weak constitution, been taking medicine soups since childhood, went to hospitals all over the country with no effect."
They went to many hospitals, big ones, small ones, no use. Now they’re looking towards folk remedies. In folk areas, it’s said that prescriptions from retired old Chinese doctors would work.
Zhang Baoli had visited many places; she had some connections, so she asked Zhang Baoli to keep an eye out, thinking of Beisitian.
Let’s not forget, even the big boss of Jishi Pharmacy praised her medical skills.
"So, Little Tian’er, are you willing to help?" Zhang Baoli asked.
"I can, but I need his help too."
"What help, just say it."
Beisitian explained they wanted to rent instruments and borrow some practice venues, fees could be negotiated.
"Is that all? Sure, I’ll talk to them and get back to you with news."
After agreeing with Zhang Baoli, she hung up and called home.
The call was connected by the team, and they asked her to call back in about ten minutes because they needed to broadcast it over the loudspeaker.
After ten minutes, Beisitian dialed again, this time Mrs. Qin answered.
"Mom." Beisitian couldn’t help but smile when she heard Mrs. Qin’s voice.
Mrs. Qin couldn’t stop smiling when she heard her voice, constantly asking if Beisitian was eating well, if she was warm enough, not to worry about spending money, buy some clothes, don’t let herself suffer.
The people in the team all grinned, listening. Those unaware might think it was her daughter calling; such a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, they’d only seen it in their family.
The affairs of Luo Er’s family were known throughout Kao Village, so their good relationship wasn’t surprising to anyone.
"By the way, Little Tian’er, does the army allow keeping dogs?" Luo Anguo took over the call, finally talking about something serious.
"I haven’t asked, but it seems unlikely." Beisitian said, realizing it might be about Zhuangzhuang, "Dad, how’s Zhuangzhuang?"
Luo Anguo sighed, "If you can take that silly dog away, please do. Since you left, it’s either not eating or falling ill, a perfectly good dog now looks like it’s starving; we have to force-feed it to make it eat."