Huayu 1992: Starting with the CCTV Young Singers Competition

Back in his single dormitory, Lin Hanjiang washed his face with cold water, the icy sensation invigorating him.

Sitting at my desk, I looked out the window at the deep night and the twinkling lights of countless homes in Kyoto in the distance.

A feeling of longing slowly welled up inside me.

He really is all alone.

I used to go home to spend weekends with my parents.

The edited semi-finals of the 5th CCTV Young Singers Competition will be broadcast tomorrow night at 8 PM on CCTV-3.

How many families across the country will tune in to the television on time?

he does not know.

But Lin Hanjiang knew that the image of him standing on the stage singing "The Story of Spring," and the moment he received a score of 9.725, would be transmitted to countless unknown corners through that small screen.

Will my parents and sister see me singing on stage?

Since his rebirth, he has taken every step with extraordinary boldness.

Changing songs, sticking to their own ideas, dealing with the media, and even blackmailing each other into exclusive interviews...

These things absolutely did not happen in the original history.

He should have been devastated at this moment, overwhelmed by the double blow of family tragedy and competition defeat, looking utterly defeated and uncertain about his future.

But now?

He met Zhang Ye, a senior student who actively sought him out for songs; he met Zhou Tao, a future CCTV star; and he met Zu Hai, who was still quite inexperienced...

These people and these events are pushing his future in a completely unknown direction.

"Reporters interviewed Zhou Tao and Zu Hai... who have never appeared before."

Lin Hanjiang muttered to himself, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

It's a very strange feeling, like an actor who has read the script in advance suddenly finding that the stage set, the actors in the scene, and even the lines have all become unfamiliar.

That sense of control is diminishing, while a fresh yet risky sense of reality is increasing.

What will happen after tonight?

Will "The Story of Spring" truly resonate with ordinary people as he hoped?

A myriad of thoughts, like mosquitoes on a summer evening, swarmed around him.

Lin Hanjiang looked at the deep night sky, where there were no answers, only endless possibilities.

Greet it with the most positive attitude and the bravest spirit.

The future?

I, Lin Hanjiang, will avoid your sharp edge?

……

5 month 31 day.

Sunday.

The morning mist, carrying the fragrance of locust blossoms, drifted through the alleyways.

The bicycle bells rang much more clearly than usual.

The streets and alleys also had a more relaxed and lively atmosphere than usual.

Having just experienced the growing pains of price reforms and the initial shocks of state-owned enterprise reforms, many families are not living comfortably.

Many workers flocked to private companies, where working overtime became commonplace for the meager wages.

But that's precisely why this rare day off is all the more precious.

On the streets and alleys, people wearing polyester shirts and riding bicycles have smiles on their faces.

The bicycle basket might contain freshly bought groceries or food for a family picnic.

In the park, groups of young people gathered, listening to the latest pop songs on tape recorders.

Na Ying's "The Mountain Doesn't Turn, the Water Does," Teresa Teng's "I Only Care About You," Andy Lau's "The Days We Walked Together"...

Since the hit TV series "Romance on Lushan Mountain" aired in 1980, the connections between mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have become increasingly close.

Although many people bought pirated tapes, they still contributed to the spread of these songs.

The mountains may not move, but the water does; the water may not move, but the clouds do.

As time flows by, you remain my only concern.

No one has ever understood me, except you who gave me good days. With you and me, there is love, life, death, and loyalty.

These songs also prompted passersby to hum along softly.

Children wearing red scarves chased each other in the open space, while parents sat on benches, chatting about everyday matters, a rare occurrence for them.

Forget about the potential assessment in the workshop tomorrow, or the accounts that need to be inventoried in the store.

Queues formed outside the movie theater, where posters depicted the raging flames of "The Great Battle: The Pingjin Campaign," the final installment of the "Great Battle" trilogy.

In department stores, people may not be able to afford the newly arrived Samsung TVs at the counter, but looking at, touching, and experiencing the products is also a kind of enjoyment.

For most ordinary families, watching free TV programs in the evening is the most affordable and heartwarming form of entertainment.

Tonight, many households unanimously tuned to CCTV-3.

After watching CCTV-1's "News Broadcast," I listened to the weather forecasts from various regions.

People started changing the channel.

There are very few TV stations that can be accessed now.

CCTV-3, a CCTV channel, is one of the few entertainment channels available.

At 8:00 PM sharp, the familiar opening theme music began to play, and the warm smile of female host Liu Lu appeared on the screens of countless households:

"Good evening, viewers. Welcome to the 5th CCTV Young Singers Television Grand Prix. Last weekend, we held intense and exciting preliminary rounds. Tonight, we'll watch the highlights of the semi-finals and announce the list of finalists..."

The light from the television screen illuminated the faces of those who were engrossed in their work.

Deep in a Kyoto alley, an ordinary working-class family.

Father Zhao had just washed off the smell of engine oil, changed into a clean undershirt, and leaned back in the creaking rattan chair.

Aunt Li, the mother, was knitting while watching TV.

Xiao Gang, a high school student, sat cross-legged on a small stool, holding half an apple in his hand.

"Dad, Mom, look! The popular singing style has started! Lots of my classmates say it's great."

The camera shifts, and the contestants from the popular music group take the stage one by one.

When Han Hong's slightly green yet powerful singing appeared on screen, Xiao Gang excitedly pointed and exclaimed, "This is amazing! Our music teacher says she has an iron voice!"

Aunt Li sighed, "She sang with great energy, but this girl... her looks are a disadvantage. Look at the judges' scores, sigh..."

As expected, Han Hong's score was not outstanding.

The whole family felt sorry for them.

Next up was Sun Hao, who was holding a guitar and singing a song. His father, Lao Zhao, nodded gently along with the rhythm, saying, "This tune is nice, quite pleasant."

But the result was equally regrettable, with Sun Hao leaving the field with disappointment.

"What a pity." Old Zhao took a sip of tea. "These days everyone likes to listen to something loud and exciting. Quiet singing like this isn't popular anymore."

The scene shifts to Chen Hong, with her elegant appearance and melodious singing voice.

Then there's Jiang Tao, a strong and masculine man, whose rendition of "Hometown Clouds" is deeply moving.

Their successful advancement won the approval of many viewers in front of their televisions.

"This young man is energetic and sings with emotion," Aunt Li commented on Jiang Tao.

"This girl is pretty and sings sweetly." That was the comment from Aunt Wang next door, leaning against the windowsill.

For working-class families, buying a color TV is still often a matter of impulse buying.

Some families still can't bear to buy one, so they just watch other people's TVs.

After the popular singing competition came to an end, the folk singing competition began.