Chapter 008: The tip of the peach leaf is sharp

Without any accompaniment, Yang Han demonstrated to her daughter what is meant by "open and crisp"

Peng Xueyuan still does not know that Yang Han just sang a Beijing folk song, not Peking opera. But this cannot be blamed on him; not to mention Peng Xueyuan, even Yang Ruoyi and Tang Wenfei are foolishly unable to distinguish between the two.

It is precisely because the memories of the troubles in her own growth journey are still fresh that Yang Han places special emphasis on protecting her daughter's privacy in her upbringing

The elderly gentlemen seated on the first floor all began to applaud.

On this point, many Chinese parents believe that young children have no privacy to speak of. However, Yang Han had a similar experience in his childhood; he used to dislike it the most when his parents would sneak a look at his diary. As a result, he never wrote down his thoughts in a diary again. After the grade when teachers no longer required diary writing, Yang Han has not written a diary since.

In fact, the three families have a very good relationship. Whether it is Yang Ruoyi or the other two, they have all dined at each other's homes. Of course, this is partly because Yang Han's cooking is delicious, and sometimes Tang Wenfei's parents are unavailable. Most of the time, it is Tang Wenfei and her family who come to Yang Ruoyi's home for dinner.

However, today Tang Wenfei and Peng Xueyuan both felt embarrassed to stay, and they waved their hands sheepishly, saying in unison: "No, thank you, Uncle Yang, Fifth Uncle, I have cooked at home."

Yang Han merely comes to the teahouse for a casual stroll, certainly not with the intention of prying into what Yi Yi and her friends are playing. This is akin to how he would never enter his daughter's room without knocking and obtaining permission at home

There he was, sitting at the front, Fu Taining listened with great interest, his head swaying, evoking the atmosphere of the last century when everyone would bring their small stools to watch a play

That's wonderful! Stir-fried vegetables with pork, scrambled eggs, served with congee, incredibly delicious! Yang Ruoyi was so happy that she started spinning in circles in front of the counter at the tea house

Yang Ruoyi did not understand why she did not immerse herself in the subtle sadness gradually revealed by this song; instead, she found herself becoming increasingly happy as she listened.

Yang Han retrieved the folding fan, holding it folded in the crook of her thumb, gently tapping a rhythm on her hand, resembling the act of telling a story.

It seems to carry a hint of shyness subtly hidden within the words. Of course, this shyness is not overt; Yang Han's performance is layered and nuanced, allowing you to savor it delicately without feeling it is abrupt or overly sentimental

Having strayed a bit off topic, Yang Han paid no attention to what her daughter was causing a commotion about upstairs. In fact, it was also related to Tang Wenfei. When these three little ones gathered together to play, Yang Han felt at ease. However, if it were just that little rascal Peng Xueyuan, Yang Han would probably not be so relaxed!

That is because ... ... Dad sings very happily

The sun sets behind the mountains, the autumn insects are making a clamor, and the sixth brother, whom I think of day and night... Yang Han sang, her paper fan adorned with a sword flower in hand, her lips slightly curled up, revealing a row of neat and white teeth with a smile

Regardless of whether they are boys or girls, children need to have their own private space. Parents should not infringe upon their children's privacy in the name of protection or invade their private space.

She is only sixteen years old, how could she possibly understand such a complex tragedy of love? Not to mention "The River of Clear Water", even if a classic story like "Romeo and Juliet" were presented to her, she would not feel much impact—at most, she would find the idea of dying for love shocking... She would not contemplate whether it is worth dying for love, nor would she consider the historical context in which this tragedy occurs

Like "in its place," this "Ming Ah Gong," listen closely to my "coming words," and the "sharp tips" of the peach leaves from earlier, one after another, these retro yet slightly refreshing modulations made Yang Ruoyi unable to resist shaking her head, her spirited demeanor resembling that of a child who has just seen their favorite cartoon

At noon, the tea house downstairs was about to close. Those elderly gentlemen who had not yet had their fill, under the consolation of Yang Han and Wu Maocai, reluctantly rubbed their hands together as they left.

If there are formidable judges present, they would surely be astonished by his expertise. However, this small teahouse does not have many hidden talents.

He not only agreed with his daughter that her bedroom would be her private little world, but he also never deliberately pried into her little secrets

Yang Ruoyi suddenly had an inexplicable feeling. Her father, who was usually busy taking care of his daily meals, seemed to have become too ordinary among the crowd. In contrast, it was her father while singing who appeared most vibrant, radiating joy without the need for any disguise.

"Peng Peng, did you record it?" Yang Ruoyi turned her head and asked with concern

The Peking opera sung earlier demands a high level of vocal skill, while the piece that Yang Han is about to sing is much simpler.

Indeed, Yang Ruoyi did not quite understand the story conveyed in the lyrics; she was actually captivated by the melody of this little song and her father's way of singing it

For instance, in this tea house, every floor is equipped with surveillance cameras. If he wants to check what Yang Ruoyi is doing, he can easily ask Wu Maochai to retrieve the footage.

He should sing, just like himself. Since he loves singing, he must strive and fight for it without reservation

Of course, no matter how self-aware or how hard she tried, it was of no use; Yang Ruoyi's grades remained at an average level. Compared to those top students from her school who later got admitted to prestigious institutions like the Provincial Experimental School, and who only studied casually, Yang Ruoyi felt particularly discouraged

A long song titled "Exploring the Clear Water River" was sung, and although it was repeated in the same tune, Yang Ruoyi listened intently until her father finished singing, at which point she suddenly came to her senses

Yang Ruoyi looked enviously at her father as he enthusiastically conversed with those few "old theater enthusiasts". This kind of being liked by others because of music was also what she longed for. Turning back, Yang Ruoyi then sneaked back upstairs with her friends

"Today, I had a light meal at the teahouse," Yang Han said with a smile. "Your fifth uncle mentioned that this morning your Aunt He went to buy vegetables and happened to come across your favorite dish, which is a crispy pickled radish (known as 'bǔ' in Minnan dialect), so she bought some to stir-fry for you."

... ...

But this infringes upon my daughter's privacy

"Exploring the Clear Water River" is a small tune from the capital that actually tells a tragic story of love and sacrifice. It is deeply imbued with the rich background of a bygone era

"Is there any dish? Is it stir-fried meat or scrambled eggs?" Yang Ruoyi joyfully hugged her father's arm, so happy that she completely forgot about how she and her friends had just been plotting to trick their father!

Dad, are we having lunch at Aunt He’s place today, or are we going home to eat?" Yang Ruoyi smiled brightly, but this was merely a facade; she was so nervous that she stammered a bit, ultimately resorting to small talk.

Feifei, Pengpeng, would you like to stay and have something to eat as well? Yang Han asked with a smile, looking at Tang Wenfei and Peng Xueyuan beside her, expressing her concern.

There are various types of Beijing minor tunes, but this particular one leans towards the style of traditional opera, and it can even be said that these minor tunes are an evolution of various forms of opera.

Let us hurry back, or we will be caught" Tang Wenfei said nervously, hugging her knees as she spoke to her companions

"I recorded it!" Peng Xueyuan excitedly fiddled with his phone, confirming that the video he just recorded was saved, and then quietly said to his friends, "I'll edit it later and we can use it for registration. I almost forgot that Uncle Yang can sing Peking opera; this will definitely add points!"

However, even though she is also shaking her head, Yang Ruoyi's shaking is clearly different

Yang Han sings this little tune because she knows that the gentlemen present, who are in their sixties and seventies, have experienced the difficult times of the past. She believes that the sense of the era conveyed by this story may help them recall memories from their childhood—what is often referred to as resonance

"Let us meet tonight at this third watch..."

In this esteemed position, I implore you to listen closely to my words. This matter arises from ... ...

His unique deep voice is very captivating, making listeners involuntarily shiver. This resonant singing style allows Yang Han to express the melodious rhythm of the song through his unaccompanied singing.

The applause was not abundant, as few could match the robust presence of Fu Taining and the elder Li Dade, yet Yang Ruoyi could still see her father, amidst their clapping and praise, bowing with cupped fists while beaming with a radiant smile.

The girl was more thoughtful, and Tang Wenfei added a "thank you".

He respects Yi Yi's privacy more.

At the same time, it is unnecessary; without his constant watch, the daughter will still be relatively self-disciplined—indeed, Yang Ruoyi does not require Yang Han's concern in her studies and play. She will conscientiously do her homework and diligently review her lessons

The tips of the peach leaves are sharp, while the willow leaves cover the sky completely

Fortunately, Yang Han does not mind; he has no intention of turning his daughter into an academic overachiever. Therefore, Yang Ruoyi has grown up without ever attending a tutoring class.

Isn't this the highlight moment for Dad?

"There is, there is." Wu Maocai affectionately looked at Yang Ruoyi and said with a smile.

... ...

It is merely a matter of having two additional pairs of chopsticks

Yang Ruoyi could sense that her father, singing in front of so many listeners, was just like when he live-streamed in front of the computer yesterday, singing with great enthusiasm and soaring confidence

They are too young, and their foundation in music is quite lacking; they still need to accumulate experience gradually

At this moment, Yang Ruoyi quietly slipped down with her friends! Feeling guilty like a thief, as soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw Yang Han turn her head to look, and each of them immediately straightened their backs and forced out an unnatural smile

This immersion in music is very pure, much like how those who listen to Peking opera become captivated by the actors' interpretations of their roles! Of course, such excellent expression management as demonstrated by Yang Han is not something an ordinary opera enthusiast can achieve

Yang Ruoyi does not have much understanding of traditional Chinese opera, and she is not very familiar with the theoretical aspects of music either. However, she can discern the musical nuances contained in the little tune her father sings—while the onlooking old gentlemen are listening to the story, Yang Ruoyi is thoroughly captivated by her father's "singing"