Huayu 1992: Starting with the CCTV Young Singers Competition

Chapter 92 Where Did the Time Go? Graduation is Here

My head felt like it was stuffed with a wad of water-soaked cotton, heavy and with a dull, throbbing pain.

Lin Hanjiang opened his eyelids and stared at the ceiling for a long while before gradually coming back to his senses.

Last night, he finally couldn't resist and downed a few bottles of chilled Beijing White Brand liquor while having hot pot at the school gate.

However, his body was not as strong as it used to be, and he felt a little dizzy after drinking.

It wasn't really a celebration; it was more like a little indulgence before saying goodbye.

Or rather, it's a brief respite for tense nerves.

To protect his voice and maintain peak singing condition, he couldn't remember the last time he had let alcohol touch his vocal cords.

But thinking about heading south soon, he realized he wouldn't see his familiar teachers and senior sister Zhang Ye for a while, or his junior sister Zu Hai who always blinked her big eyes and called him "senior brother".

The mix of melancholy and excitement for the future made the cold beer all the more tempting.

"Just this once, and don't let it happen again."

That's what he told himself at the time.

The result is this hangover.

He turned his head and glanced at the Seagull watch on the bedside table; its silver case reflected the sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains.

The hour hand points to 9 o'clock.

I slept so soundly, and it was really late.

The corridor was no longer as quiet as it used to be in the early morning; instead, it was filled with a noisy commotion.

The rumble of heavy suitcase wheels rolling over the concrete floor, the clanging of basins and buckets.

The boys and girls said their goodbyes and gave each other words of advice in different tones, interspersed with a few sad sobs and forced hearty laughter.

The closing song of graduation season is playing out in every corner.

After four years of being classmates, we are now scattered in different places. Some returned to their hometowns, some were assigned jobs, some went south to make their fortunes, and some went north to pursue their dreams.

The school was filled with the melancholy of youth and the uncertainty of the future.

There is also a sense of breaking free from the cocoon, mixed with an uneasy excitement.

"You've become a member of society."

Lin Hanjiang rubbed his temples and sat up.

My student days quietly came to an end amidst the hustle and bustle and the dust of moving luggage outside the window.

His desk and bed will soon have a new owner.

He needs to get ready quickly.

After washing up, I felt a bit more clear-headed.

He began to organize his belongings.

Bedding and straw mats, which are bulky and cheap, were simply packed up and thrown into the garbage station behind the dormitory building.

The focus is on some personal items.

Several well-worn books on music theory and acoustics.

There were also notebooks filled with melodic fragments and lyric drafts, as well as records of the sheet music in staff notation.

These are his treasures and a testament to the starting point of his musical journey.

Some of the most important things.

He has a business card with over 2 yuan in it, his ID card, and a newly issued border pass with a red stamp, all essential for going to the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

Su Xiao and Zhou Tao's business cards, and several important contact address slips of paper.

He carefully placed these into a slightly worn schoolbag.

In an era where one cannot be ostentatious, this is an essential item when traveling.

By the time everything was ready, it was nearly noon.

He shouldered an old canvas bag filled with books and clothes, picked up his backpack, took one last look at the dormitory room he had lived in for four years, which now looked empty and messy, and closed the door.

Return the key to the dormitory manager.

The school asked all the students to move out today, as there is nowhere for them to stay.

Zhang also gave him a brass key last night.

This is the key to Zhang Ye's dormitory, Unit 2, Building 3, Faculty and Staff Area.

Zhang Ye has been busy with recordings and commercial performances lately, and mostly stays in hotels, rarely returning to his dormitory.

She told Lin Hanjiang to leave his things with her for now, and that he could use the space as he pleased.

Lin Hanjiang naturally knew that his senior sister was busy, and he also understood the trust and unspoken concern contained in this key.

"Senior sister is the best. She doesn't seem to hold a grudge against him for breaking them up."

The housing in the faculty and staff area is clearly much better than that in the student dormitories.

Zhang was assigned a unit of about 40 square meters. Although it was not big, the layout of one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen and one bathroom was considered quite good at that time.

Once Zhang graduates, she won't be allowed to stay here anymore.

However, when the time comes, whether you go to the General Political Department or another cultural troupe, you can still be allocated housing.

Once you get ashore, you won't have to worry about these problems anymore.

The room was clean and tidy, exuding a warm and cozy atmosphere unique to girls. Several potted green plants were growing lushly on the windowsill.

Lin Hanjiang placed the canvas bag in the corner of the living room, trying not to get in the way.

He didn't look around too much, put down his things, closed the window, checked the gas and water, and then prepared to leave.

The living room sofa just needs to be a good place to sleep.

This is just a temporary storage place, not a place to stay for a long time.

Lock the door and leave.

He has something to do today and needs to go out, so he'll just grab a bite to eat before leaving.

When I arrived at the school gate, I almost bumped into someone.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

The man who came was a middle-aged man around forty years old, slightly short and thin, probably about 1.6 meters tall.

He was wearing a slightly thick gray jacket for the season, with beads of sweat on his forehead, and carrying a bulging black briefcase.

He adjusted his slightly slipped gold-rimmed glasses, apologized repeatedly, and when he looked up and saw Lin Hanjiang, he paused for a moment, then quickly put on a smile, speaking with a distinct southern accent: "Excuse me, are you Mr. Lin Hanjiang?"

Lin Hanjiang was somewhat surprised and nodded: "Yes, that's me. And who are you?"

"Oh, I've finally found you, Mr. Lin, hello, hello."

The middle-aged man extended his hand warmly and shook it firmly.

"I'm Wang Zhongxiang, from the editorial department of Guangzhou New Era Audio-Visual Company. I was just looking for you, and I didn't expect to run into you here. What a coincidence!"

New Era Audio-Visual Company?

Lin Hanjiang's heart stirred.

He was quite familiar with this name.

Mao Ning and Yang Yuying, the most popular young couple in the mainland pop music scene in recent years, are signed to New Era. Their songs such as "Heart Rain" and "I Don't Want to Say" have spread throughout the country through cassette tapes, records and TV song request programs, making New Era a well-known brand in the southern audio-visual industry.

How did their people end up on us? And in such a hurry?

"Editor Wang, hello, is there something you need?" Lin Hanjiang remained vigilant, but his tone was still polite.

"Something's happened, something incredibly good."

Wang Zhongxiang smiled broadly and looked at the school gate.

"Mr. Lin, it's not convenient to talk here. It's already noon, and you haven't eaten yet, have you? I know a good restaurant in Wangfujing that serves authentic Beijing cuisine. Shall we eat and chat? It's on me, you must come."

He was earnest, even somewhat enthusiastic, and pointed to a spot not far from the doorway.

"I drove here, so I parked right there; it's convenient."

drive?

In 1992 China, private cars were still a luxury for a very small number of people.

It seems that this editor Wang, or the New Era company behind him, is quite powerful and sincere.

Lin Hanjiang glanced at the car; it was a very flashy red Volkswagen Jetta.

The Volkswagen Jetta is loved by consumers for its boxy design and its robust and durable features.

They also became the three most popular cars in mainland China: Jetta, Santana, and Fukang.