Chapter 7 Elegance

Qi Juan warned Zhang Qing: "It may not be good news"

Zhang Qing nodded and smiled, saying: "The arena of fame and fortune is a den of disputes"

This kind of unfamiliarity cannot be feigned

Qi Juan smiled and said, "This is really not my mother's fault; it was my grandfather, that old antique, who started it."

Zhang Qing smiled as she took the instrument in her hands, glanced at the strings, and demonstrated a finger position. Then, somewhat awkwardly, she began to play the chords that Qi Ping had started with, producing a somewhat clumsy rendition.

Having said that, he also departed

Li Suzhi ignored her daughter's mischief and said to Zhang Qing: "The hardships of life are a form of tempering for one's existence. If one persists and does not give up, suffering can transform into a treasure of life. Otherwise, suffering is merely suffering"

Qi Juan smiled and said, "Is it elegant or not?"

Qi Juan, however, expressed her dissatisfaction, saying: "Hey, what does this mean? People can listen to 'The Camellia Song', and you bring this to test us?"

Zhang Qing, however, watched very attentively, and after Qi Juan finished playing, he even applauded

The piece is precisely the prelude that Qi Juan just played

A buck-toothed man chuckled ominously, saying: "It seems that the chairman of Tianhong Heavy Industry doesn't really understand things, does he"

However, not many people pay attention to him, perhaps they only regard him as a waiter

Qi Ping looked at Zhang Qing and sighed again: "Your sense of music is excellent, you are naturally suited for this profession, and you can pursue this path in the future. However, you should first prepare for the college entrance examination. In the music industry, having real talent alone is not enough to succeed, do you understand?"

Although there are some bumps and unevenness, ... ...

Qi Juan said: "Who told you not to make me so talented? Look at this prodigy, listening to Wu Weiwei play 'The Camellia Ode', and he can directly write the score. Just after Dad played the guitar, he became proficient after a few tries. Even the piano is the same... It's quite strange, could it be that the vast Gobi Desert in the West truly nurtures people? Mom, how about we move?"

The waiters nearby all laughed, and Qi Juan patted his shoulder, saying: "Next time, be more serious. Today, let's have some fun. Just to let you know in advance, if you wipe the table later, you won't get paid for it." After saying this, she told the waiter: "Two glasses of sherry!"

... ...

Zhang Qing said: "In the countryside, things were actually not too bad before, but the year before last, my father was diagnosed with kidney disease, and my mother fell ill as well, leading to a lot of external debts... However, I believe everything will be fine, as things are already changing now"

Qijuan warned, "There is someone from the circle here, be careful."

Zhang Qing nodded and said, "I always feel that those who play the piano are very elegant"

Zhang Qing said, "No." However, after a moment of hesitation, he added, "My middle school music teacher taught me some, but I should have forgotten it as well"

Qi Juan humorously said: "Mom, you haven't finished educating me at home, and now you're educating my classmate too? Nowadays, he is a prominent figure in Lao Yang's eyes, and there are hopes for him to get into Qinghua or Beida. He even specially adjusted my seat so that I became his deskmate. If you don't help me treat him well, don't blame me if I can't get into university."

Li Su-zhi said with a faint smile: "Great vulgarity is great elegance"

"I admit to having an affair! But I left everything behind, the house, the car, the money, all of it is left to them!"

For the boys who are close to his daughter, especially those who are brought home, he cannot help but investigate them.

Zhang Qing has already risen and walked over, bowing and saying: "Hello, Auntie"

Li Su-zhi, wearing a pair of glasses, looked at Zhang Qing with a scrutinizing gaze from behind the lenses, nodded and smiled, saying: "Good, welcome to visit, I have heard about you from Qi Juan."

However, right after that, seeing Zhang Qing quickly become familiar with the guitar at a visibly rapid pace, mastering several simple chords with increasing proficiency, it became apparent that he struggled when attempting to play more complex chords. Qi Ping hurriedly intervened, saying: "It is not yet the time to focus on this aspect; let's wait until after the college entrance examination."

Qi Juan smiled and stepped forward together.

Having said that, he went to sit in front of the piano and raised his hands to begin playing

Qi Ping entered with a long-haired middle-aged man, who, upon seeing Qi Juan, exclaimed loudly: "Beautiful! Old Qi, I truly envy you! Not for anything else, but for this obedient daughter. Just think about our son at home, who treats me like an enemy. Alas, better not to mention it."

The middle-aged woman asked strangely: "What am I to blame for?"

Zhang Qing hesitated for a moment, but still sat down. After taking a deep breath, her fingers rested on the distinctly black and white piano keys

Qijuan exaggeratedly exclaimed, "That is it, a genius!"

Zhang Qing nodded and turned his gaze back to the piano keys

Qi Juan angrily scolded someone, only to be reprimanded by a middle-aged woman who came up from behind.

Zhang Qing chuckled, and Qi Ping, upon hearing this, roughly understood the situation. It was not about borrowing his connections. After thinking for a moment, he said: "I will give you a few books to study properly later. You must understand what scales and intervals are, as well as chords and voices. Once you have a solid foundation, learning other things will be much more efficient."

Qijuan expressed her dissatisfaction, saying: "This is not fair enough, we are classmates... desk mates!"

Qijuan grasped the woman's arm and playfully reproached, "It's all your fault!"

Zhang Qing was not being polite either. After Qi Juan asked Qi Ping to get busy, his gaze fell on the piano on the stage, and he asked Qi Juan: "You must be able to play the piano, right?"

Qiping waved his hand with a smile and said, "Oh, you are too polite, let's be friends. What would you like to drink?"

Zhang Qing smiled, and then she heard a lively exchange of greetings coming from the doorway

Qi Juan humorously said: "Alright, let me show you how elegant I am"

Zhang Qing once again bowed and said: "Thank you, Uncle Qi"

Qiping smiled upon hearing this, handed over the guitar, and said: "Give it a try, if you have a foundation, you should be able to learn quickly."

Everyone burst into laughter again, clearly aware of the Qi family's background, except for Zhang Qing, who was left perplexed

Zhang Qing pressed her lips together and nodded, saying: "Thank you, Auntie, I will remember that"

Seeing Zhang Qing looking at their family with some envy, Qi Juan led him to sit down and asked: "What is your family like?"

Qi Juan smiled and said, "Compared to you, I can be considered skilled; however, compared to those in the piano department of the music academy, I cannot be considered very skilled. Would you like to listen?"

Qi Juan's expression grew serious as she looked at Zhang Qing and said, "I also believe that you will surely change your fate"

Zhang Qing nodded and said, "I have gained insight."

Qiping smiled and said, "It's not an exam, just a discussion."

Qi Ping did not look, and played a series of complex chords. As a result, Zhang Qing, without much thought, quickly wrote it down. After Qi Ping glanced at it, he gave him a thumbs up and said: "Impressive, you are naturally suited for this profession. Can you play the piano?"

Perhaps the performance was indeed mediocre; her father Qi Ping merely glanced at it and did not look any further

Zhang Qing did not beat around the bush; upon seeing Qi Juan take out paper and pen from her bag, he earnestly wrote down the several chords from earlier

Qi Juan called him and walked towards the door, whispering as they went, "Although not all are stars, many are veteran musicians. Let's listen for a while and get to know some of the inside information first"

As a veteran musician, Qi Ping did not believe how his daughter could play. He took a guitar down from the wall behind the bar, casually strummed a few simple chords, and looked at Zhang Qing

Qi Juan laughed and said: "Old veteran is scared!"

Zhang Qing had no idea what to drink: "Boiled water?"

As we speak, we raise our glasses in mutual respect

Go

Zhang Qing also raised his glass and sincerely said to Qi Juan: "Thank you"

The long-haired man said seriously, yet it provoked a burst of laughter from the crowd

Qi Juan stood up and said, "Would you like to experience elegance for once?"

Li Suzhi was also quite patient with her daughter, shaking her head and saying: "Have fun, review tomorrow. It is necessary to balance work and rest; one cannot just study relentlessly"

Qiping is an old hand, and naturally he can tell at a glance that Zhang Qing has indeed not played the piano for a long time, and is quite out of practice

I rely on!

A middle-aged woman with frizzy hair and heavy makeup looked at Qi Juan and Li Su Zhi and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, our girl is truly... unparalleled in the world. Everything is perfect, except for this name... Sister-in-law, you are a learned person, how could you have given her such a name?"

However, they are not prepared to mix in your circle, but they want to learn some real skills. In the future, when they go to university, they can also earn some tuition and living expenses. After all, not every year can the wheat harvest be abundant, right?

One person at the back bluntly pointed out: "Old Xiao, isn't this nonsense? You drove the mother and child away with your mistress, how could your son possibly side with you?"