Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Zhang Dabiao didn't pay attention and continued walking forward.

As soon as Tang Min and Han Xiaomeng entered the wooden gate of the side room and saw the cultural wall, they started exclaiming "Wow!" in amazement!

I had only heard that Zhang Dabiao was very rich and a great philanthropist.

But it was only in the face of these honors that they truly understood just how formidable Zhang Dabiao was.

Then look at Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing—a talented man and a beautiful woman, isn't that a good match?

Han Xiaomeng and Tang Min had heard some rumors about Zhao Weiguo and their relationship, but now it seems...

What are those first-graders making such a fuss about?

Which of them can compare to Zhang Dabiao?

There's absolutely no comparison!

Even in terms of musical talent, they can't compare.

Tang Min thought about the scene of the competition the day after tomorrow and shook her head helplessly: "What a disaster."

"Aren't Zhao Weiguo and his gang just asking for trouble?"

Han Xiaomeng sighed and nodded in agreement.

The group of them went to the stable in the small courtyard to prepare for rehearsal.

Looking at the vertical vegetable garden that filled the entire courtyard, and a swimming pool—no, a fishpond—Han Xiaomeng and Tang Min were both stunned.

The house was so-so, consisting of only a small wooden cabin and a row of stables; it was quite dilapidated and shabby.

But this whole yard is a vegetable garden?!

This means complete freedom in eating and drinking!

Then look at the cured fish and meat hanging in the stable, and the rice, flour, and oil piled up in the corner of the room...

What the hell?!

Is this a supplies warehouse belonging to some organization?

What kind of heavenly life are they living?!

Han Xiaomeng and Tang Min were both stunned: "This...this...Comrade Zhang, we mustn't make a mistake, this..."

Zhang Dabiao looked around and said with a smile, "The supplies in this room belong to the Youth Mutual Aid Association of our No. 95 Compound. These are usually not moved."

"My personal belongings are in the side room, so don't worry about them."

Aunt Mu and Qin Jingru were busy in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Zhang Dabiao and his three friends were practicing singing in the stable in the small courtyard.

Taking advantage of the current popularity, let's finalize the basic instrument and melody combinations for "The Song of Changle" today.

He Yushui had been hiding in her room, but she couldn't hold it in any longer. She pouted and went to the kitchen to help with the cooking.

Leaving aside her relationship with Mu Wanqing and Zhang Dabiao, Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing are currently competing, and she cannot cause trouble at this time.

only……

Girl, you're cooking and you're pouting with that bitter look on your face. Does someone owe you millions or something?

------------

Inside the stable, Tang Min looked around with curiosity in her eyes: "Zhang, you live here?"

"I live in the small wooden hut outside. This stable is the mutual aid society's collective warehouse," Zhang Dabiao pointed to the hut next door.

Han Xiaomeng was somewhat surprised: "You live in such a big courtyard all by yourself?"

Zhang Dabiao smiled but didn't explain.

Just then, footsteps came from the entrance of the small courtyard. Aunt Mu came in carrying dishes, followed by Qin Jingru and He Yushui, who was pouting.

"Da Biao, the food is ready. You two start eating and chat." She placed the tray on the table, smiling at Tang Min and Han Xiaomeng. "These must be Wan Qing's seniors, right? So nice and young, full of energy!"

Tang Min and Han Xiaomeng quickly stood up, looking somewhat flustered.

Aunt Mu waved her hand, "Sit down, sit down, don't be shy. I'm so happy you're helping Wanqing with the competition. Eat and drink well, and I'll make more if you're still hungry!"

Several dishes were placed on the table—scrambled eggs, braised pork with potatoes, stir-fried cured pork with green peppers, hot and sour cabbage, stir-fried potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant, as well as a large bowl of steamed buns and a bowl of white rice, all of which were Zhang Dabiao's usual favorite dishes.

When it comes to food, there's no need to compromise yourself.

The dishes were so plentiful that Han Xiaomeng and Tang Min dared not touch their chopsticks.

"Auntie, stop working, that's enough," Zhang Dabiao said.

Aunt Mu smiled and nodded, gave a few more instructions, and then turned and left. She, Qin Jingru, and He Yushui ate in the side room so as not to disturb Zhang Dabiao and the others' conversation.

Han Xiaomeng's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at the dishes.

Her family lives in the countryside, and they only eat fried eggs a few times a year. This plate is enough for her family to eat for half a month.

Not to mention that huge pot of braised pork with potatoes.

Tang Min, too, looked at the bowl of white steamed buns, her Adam's apple bobbed, but she didn't say anything.

"What are you standing there for? Eat!" Zhang Dabiao picked up his chopsticks. "You still have to work after you eat."

Seeing how Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing ate, and knowing they were used to it, Han Xiaomeng and Tang Min exchanged a glance—

Eat it, it's a waste not to!

After eating, he diligently taught Zhang Dabiao to play the xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument).

------------

After we finished eating, it got dark.

The electric light was on in the stable, and four people sat around an old table.

Tang Min took out the xun and placed it on the table.

"Comrade Zhang, where would you like to use this xun?"

Zhang Dabiao thought for a moment and took out the simplified musical score that the group had come up with that afternoon.

"Look, for the intro to this song, I want to start with the flute, to give it that distant, spacious feeling." He pointed to the beginning of the score, "Then the verses come in, with the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) as a base, and the lead singer goes in."

Han Xiaomeng and Tang Min came over to take a look.

"Before the chorus," Zhang Dabiao continued gesturing, "I want to add a solo on the xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument). It doesn't need to be long, just a few lines, but it should have that desolate, bleak feel, pulling people to the grasslands."

"Senior Tang, you demonstrate first. I'll hum and you play it. Teach me."

He hummed a few lines, his voice low and deep, like the wind passing through a valley.

Tang Min's eyes lit up.

He picked up the xun, brought it to his lips, and tried to play a few notes.

"Waaah—"

As soon as the xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument) sounded, the entire stable seemed to fall silent instantly.

The voice was deep and resonant, carrying an indescribable sense of desolation, like a sigh from thousands of years ago.

Mu Wanqing was stunned.

Han Xiaomeng was also stunned.

Tang Min played a few more tunes, following the melody Zhang Dabiao hummed, and played them better and better.

After the last note faded, the stable fell silent for a few seconds.

"That's the taste!" Zhang Dabiao slapped his thigh. "Senior Tang, you're awesome!"

Tang Min put down the xun and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "It's mainly because the tune you designed is good. My xun playing skills are just average."

"Practice it a lot, and once you're good at it, use it before the chorus."

Zhang Dabiao nodded, took the xun, and began to ponder it.

Where are the tissues? I need to get some tissues to wipe myself.

Mu Wanqing tried singing a few lines of "The Song of Changle," with Tang Min supporting her with a morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), Han Xiaomeng gently playing a bamboo flute, and Zhang Dabiao adding his half-baked xun (ocarina).

"The Chule River flows beneath the Yin Mountains—"

The sound was clear and bright, carrying far into the night.

As soon as Zhang Dabiao played the xun, a sense of desolation instantly filled the air.

Han Xiaomeng was stunned; even her bamboo flute was a beat behind.

Mu Wanqing continued singing: "The sky is like a vast dome, covering the four fields—"

When she sang "covering the four fields", she suddenly felt her eyes getting hot.

For some reason, this song reminded her of many things.

I remember when I was a child in the countryside, the winters were so cold there was nowhere to hide; my family eventually couldn't make ends meet and sold me to that kind of place; I remember the looks of those who called me "unclean" and the whispers and pointing fingers.

"The sky is vast and blue, the wilderness stretches endlessly."

She closed her eyes and spoke more loudly.

She lived a very repressed life, and only in music could she briefly forget everything.

To find that brief moment of freedom.