Film and Television: The Villain's Life Begins with Joy of Life

Chapter 135 Accordion

After resting at home for two days, "Xiaozhuang" reluctantly went back to serve Granny Zhuang.

After all that trouble, he was somewhat unwilling, but the concept of "filial piety" was deeply ingrained in his bones, and this habit could not be changed overnight.

His only consolation now is that Huang Ling stopped him from letting Zhuang Xiaoting come and take care of the old man.

Just think, even I, a grown man, can't withstand this kind of physical and mental torment. If a young girl were left here, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhuang Chaoying had a hot meal at home and really didn't want to leave.

But he knew that if he didn't show up soon, the Zhuang family would probably send people to his door.

He really couldn't bear being accused of being unfilial in front of all the neighbors.

Zhou Cheng was not surprised by Zhuang Chaoying's "shameless" behavior.

He'd seen far too many people like that.

When it comes to understanding "brainwashing," few people in the world know it better than him.

After all, he had quite a few assassins under his command in the world of Joy of Life.

Compared to the assassins, Zhuang Chaoying's symptoms were practically the mildest of the mild.

Of course, mild mental illnesses can be just as serious as severe physical illnesses.

After all, changing someone's mind is much more troublesome than taking their life.

He didn't expect Zhuang Chaoying to wake up after one or two lessons. In fact, interfering too much in some matters could easily backfire and lead to being attacked.

If Empress Xiaozhuang is willing to endure more hardship, then let her endure it!

Enjoying happiness is not easy, but enduring hardship is as plentiful as one might expect.

Although the two elders of the Zhuang family were not very educated, they had been exposed to the ways of disciplining people all their lives.

Zhuang Chaoying reluctantly returned to the Zhuang family home, expecting to be met with another barrage of insults.

Unexpectedly, Uncle Zhuang and Aunt Zhuang were kind and gentle to him, and did not speak coldly to him because he had left in anger a few days ago. In fact, they even said a few words of sympathy for him, which was unprecedented for them.

This made him feel flattered and warmed his heart.

It wasn't just the Zhuang family elders whose attitudes changed; even Zhuang Ganmei and his wife became much better.

He came home late from school, and his family not only left him food, but also reheated it for him when it got cold.

Of course, this warmth did not last long.

Two or three days later, everything returned to normal.

The coldness and criticism from her parents, and the meanness and rejection from her younger brother and sister-in-law, came again and intensified.

This constant torment of extremes made him almost question the meaning of life, and he vaguely felt that the warmth of family affection he had experienced a few days ago was nothing but an illusion.

Empress Xiaozhuang was thus repeatedly manipulated by the old Zhuang family, who would punish her with a stick and then offer her a sweet treat. They would punish her again and then offer her another sweet treat.

Although the methods were old, they had him completely under their control.

Two months later, Grandma Zhuang's leg was finally fully healed.

The old lady had gained a lot of weight and looked much plumper, while Zhuang Chaoying had lost more than ten kilograms.

His cheeks were somewhat sunken, and due to long-term sleep deprivation, he also developed chronic tinnitus. His whole being exuded an aura of being drained of energy.

Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting were heartbroken by the changes in Zhuang Chaoying.

Zhou Cheng and Huang Ling both remained expressionless, inwardly sneering.

People always have to pay the price for their choices.

Since Zhuang Chaoying gained psychological satisfaction from this "filial piety," he naturally had to swallow the remaining bitter pill himself.

In October, the Japanese film was broadcast on television.

In no time, big sideburns and bell-bottoms swept through the streets and alleys, becoming a nationwide trend.

Song Ying has always been fashionable, and under her influence, Huang Ling also made a new set of clothes for each of her children.

It's worth mentioning that because Zhou Cheng assembled the bicycle himself, Huang Ling didn't have to exchange it for a sewing machine like in the TV series, making it very convenient for her to make new clothes for Song Ying and her own children.

Zhuang Xiaoting's bell-bottoms were made from fabric supplied by Song Ying.

The little girl was just shy and embarrassed to wear it to school, afraid of being criticized by the teacher.

Zhou Cheng, on the other hand, didn't have so many concerns. He wore bell-bottoms and a floral shirt, and even without a pair of sunglasses, he was still the most stylish guy in school.

After some internal struggle, Zhuang Tunan changed his clothes and went to school, making quite a splash.

After the autumn sports meet at No. 1 Middle School, the class committees enthusiastically called on students to sign up for the New Year's Day party.

Having just made a name for himself at school, Zhuang Tunan, in a moment of impulsiveness, signed up for an accordion solo.

On the registration form, his program stood out conspicuously, sandwiched between a long list of poetry recitations.

He regretted it as soon as he signed up.

He had only heard his teacher play the accordion a few times in school music class; he had never actually played it himself.

He wanted to back out, but his name had already been submitted, and he didn't dare to ask the teacher or director to change the program. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and go ahead with it.

Fortunately, he knew that Song Ying had an accordion, which was placed on top of the Lin family's wardrobe.

He decided to ask Song Ying for advice.

Song Ying readily agreed and took out the long-forgotten accordion and sheet music from the box on the wardrobe.

As the most beautiful girl in the cotton mill back then, Song Ying was already very talented. At the inter-factory social gathering, she amazed everyone with her accordion playing skills. It was at that social gathering that Lin Wufeng was captivated by her and began to pursue her passionately and persistently, eventually standing out from a group of competitors, many of whom were children of cadres.

"Tu Nan, you're a beginner, so let's start with reading music and recognizing the keyboard." Song Ying was quite enthusiastic about teaching, and her guidance was serious and meticulous.

Zhuang Tunan listened intently and, under Song Ying's guidance, tried to place his fingers on the piano keys.

Huang Ling was cooking rice in the kitchen. During a break, she came out of the kitchen and watched her eldest son learning the piano from Song Ying. A smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

Song Ying demonstrated by pressing a set of piano keys and playing a short melody, which Zhuang Tunan then imitated.

Zhuang Tunan tried a few times clumsily, but surprisingly, he soon managed to grasp the rhythm of those few sections, albeit haltingly.

"Not bad, this time it's almost exactly on the score." Huang Ling picked up the score, looked at it, and nodded with a smile.

Zhuang Tunan looked over in surprise, not expecting that his mother could also read music.

Seeing her eldest son's surprised expression, Huang Ling couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you so surprised? I can read sheet music. Although your mother can't play the accordion, she used to play the harmonica when she was young."

Zhuang Tunan's eyes widened even more.

Song Ying was amused by his silly and dazed appearance.

Huang Ling shook her head and teased Song Ying, "This child probably thinks I was born this old, that all I'm good for is working and growing vegetables in the yard."

Zhuang Tunan lowered his head sheepishly after being told that, and Song Ying laughed even louder.

Zhou Cheng returned from the bookstall with Lin Dongzhe and Zhuang Xiaoting, carrying several newly borrowed classics, while the two younger children each held several picture books.

Before they even entered the courtyard, they heard the faint, intermittent sound of a zither.

Lin Dongzhe's eyes lit up, and he ran into the yard, where he immediately saw Song Ying teaching Zhuang Tunan step by step.

His enthusiasm for the new picture book was instantly overshadowed by the accordion.

He had known for a long time that he had such a treasure.

Zhuang Tunan knew that the Lin family owned an accordion because he, being a big mouth, had told them.

Lin Dongzhe eagerly wanted to learn along with her, but Song Ying just rolled her eyes at him.

Given Lin Dongzhe's size and weight, he simply couldn't handle the accordion. In the end, he could only purse his lips and obediently squat to the side, watching Zhuang Tunan practice alone.

After dinner, the Wu family heard the commotion in the courtyard and came over to watch Zhuang Tunan learn to play the zither.

When Zhuang Tunan got tired of practicing, Song Ying smiled and turned to Zhou Cheng: "Jingcheng, why don't you learn together? Learning a musical instrument will make it easier to woo girls when you grow up."

Zhou Cheng was precocious, so the jokes Song Ying made with him were naturally also "precocious".

Huang Ling was also smiling beside her, not minding at all. She no longer regarded her youngest son as a child from the bottom of her heart.

Many times, she even felt that Zhou Cheng was older than Zhuang Tunan.

Song Ying's joke might not have been appropriate for Zhuang Tunan, but it was just right for Zhou Cheng.

"No, I'll just study under Tu Nan. Besides, I don't need to chase after girls; it's the girls who chase after me."

Zhou Cheng smiled and declined.

He was actually quite interested in the accordion, but there was no need for him to learn it with Zhuang Tunan now.

He didn't want to dampen Zhuang Tunan's enthusiasm.

After all, he was well-versed in music theory. Having spent so many years in the world of Joy of Life, surrounded by women who were proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he had absorbed many things from their daily lives, almost to the point of instinct.

If he studies seriously, his learning speed will be frightening.

Zhuang Tunan is scheduled to perform on stage on New Year's Day. Time is tight and the pressure is high, so there's really no need for him to add to his stress at this time.

"Too!"

Song Ying burst out laughing. She had already heard from Lin Dongzhe that Zhou Cheng was very popular with girls at school.

Zhou Cheng is so famous, talented, capable, and handsome; it's no wonder little girls love him.

Instead of worrying about Zhou Cheng not having any girls to pursue him when he grows up, she felt she should start thinking about Lin Dongzhe as soon as possible. After all, this mischievous boy, apart from resembling her in appearance, was a worry in every other way.

Wu Shanshan and Zhang Min looked at the accordion in Song Ying's arms, and their eyes couldn't help but show a hint of excitement.

There's no way around it; the grace and charm of playing a musical instrument is truly captivating.

But since Song Ying didn't speak, they all remained silent.

Although the two girls were young, they already knew how to behave appropriately. They understood that their family's relationship with the Lin family was far less close than that with the Zhuang family.

Song Ying is willing to spend time teaching Zhuang Tunan and Zhou Cheng step by step, but she may not be willing to spend the same amount of time teaching them.

Song Ying naturally noticed the two girls' gazes.

She thought for a moment and then said, "Shanshan, Xiaomin, if you want to learn, you can listen along. But I mainly need to teach Tunan; he has a serious mission. Even if you learn along, you probably won't have much time to practice."

Although Song Ying disliked Zhang Amei, she didn't have any prejudice against Zhang Min herself.

All the children from the three families were gathered in the yard. Lin Dongzhe, Zhuang Xiaoting, and Wu Xiaojun were all too young. She asked Zhou Cheng, and it would seem a bit unfair not to ask about the two children from the Wu family as well.

Zhang Amei quickly gave Zhang Min a meaningful look.

It would be great to learn a musical instrument for free, since it's free anyway. Even if you only learn the basics, it's still a bonus.

Zhang Min readily agreed, and Wu Shanshan echoed her response.

And so, the sound of the piano began to play in the courtyard almost every evening. Since children from the surrounding neighborhoods were also learning, no one felt it was disturbing the peace.

Zhuang Tunan naturally spent the longest time learning the instrument; he would only briefly hand it over to Wu Shanshan and Zhang Min when his hands were sore from practicing.

Most of the time, the two girls simply sat quietly to the side and watched him practice.

In less than a week, Zhang Min lost her patience.

When Song Ying started teaching, she became inconsistent in her efforts, sometimes working hard and sometimes not.

Even after being scolded by Zhang Amei several times, she said it was boring and she didn't want to learn anymore. A few days later, she simply disappeared without a trace.

Wu Shanshan cherished this opportunity very much.

Not only did she practice every single day, but she also copied Song Ying's sheet music. When Zhuang Tunan practiced, she would silently memorize the melody while looking at the sheet music, learning with extreme diligence.

A month later, Zhuang Tunan studied and practiced diligently, focusing intently on refining the coordination of his left and right hands, and his piano playing finally transformed from immature to fluent.

He played a piece of music completely for the first time.

Two weeks before New Year's Day, Zhuang Tunan returned home more than an hour late after school.

He rehearsed at school using the school's accordion, and only went home when he was tired, so he had little time to practice in the yard.

The.

With Zhuang Tunan practicing less in the yard, Wu Shanshan had more time to practice.

Two months later, after constantly listening to and practicing, Wu Shanshan was finally able to play a complete piece.

After winter set in, Song Ying started working the middle shift and wouldn't come home until evening. Before Zhuang Tunan came home from school, only Wu Shanshan would be in the yard practicing her violin repeatedly.

The weather in December is already quite cold, but the accordion is not a suitable instrument to practice in a cramped room, as it is too distracting.

"Not bad this time, not a single note was wrong. You played this piece perfectly." Zhou Cheng put his hands behind his back and gave his evaluation of Wu Shanshan's performance.

Upon receiving Zhou Cheng's affirmation, Wu Shanshan couldn't hide the joy that welled up on her face.

"Jingcheng, I've tried learning a bit of the new piece myself. Aunt Song is at work now and doesn't have time to teach me, so I'll play it for you, and you can give me some pointers, okay?"

Zhou Cheng nodded.

Wu Shanshan took a deep breath and carefully laid out the sheet music in front of her.

The piece she chose was more difficult, with a more lyrical melody and fewer revolutionary elements.

After Wu Shanshan finished her performance, which was rather clumsy, she blushed before Zhou Cheng could even speak.

"We made quite a few mistakes this time; there were many gaps in the connections," Zhou Cheng said truthfully.

This new piece is much more difficult than the previous one. Wu Shanshan had never even tried to learn some of the techniques, and Song Ying had only briefly mentioned them a few times.

Even if Zhuang Tunan were replaced, things probably wouldn't be much better.

Zhou Cheng thought for a moment, then pulled his hand out of his sleeve and gestured to Wu Shanshan.

Without a second thought, Wu Shanshan handed the zither over.

Zhou Cheng's fingers slowly glided across all the piano keys. He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the sheet music, he paused briefly to prepare, and then his fingertips fell to the keys.

A melodious and lyrical tune flowed slowly from his hands.

As Wu Shanshan watched Zhou Cheng's hands move gracefully across the piano keys and listened to the smooth and affectionate music, she was first so shocked that her mouth opened slightly, and then she was completely mesmerized.

Zhou Cheng didn't pay much attention to the girl's reaction. At that moment, his brain was working at high speed.

Over the past two months, he had already solidified his theoretical foundation by auditing classes, but this was his first time actually doing it.

His playing now isn't based on instinct developed through long-term practice; it's purely due to his powerful memory and physical coordination.

Perform a match.

The way it's played out feels somewhat lacking in emotion, even appearing a bit mechanical.

But for the girl in front of him, it was enough.

Lin Wufeng felt something was off as he rode his bike into the alley after get off work.

When he pushed his cart through the gate and saw Zhou Cheng playing the accordion, he froze on the spot.

He even forgot to park the bike properly, and just stood there half-holding the handlebars, until Zhou Chengyi finished playing the song. Only then did he snap out of his daze and quickly lean the bicycle against the wall.

Zhou Cheng and Wu Shanshan greeted him.

Lin Wufeng approached, still looking incredulous, and turned to Zhou Cheng: "Jing—Jing Cheng, was that you playing just now?"

Zhou Cheng returned the accordion to Wu Shanshan, somewhat speechless.

He was clearly still playing when Lin Wufeng entered the courtyard, so this question is just too obvious.

However, he nodded nonetheless.

Lin Wufeng opened his mouth, but even after seeing it with his own eyes, he still couldn't quite believe it.

You should know that when he was pursuing Song Ying, she played two pieces on stage.

One is a revolutionary song, and the other is this one.

Just now in the alley, he was touched and wondering why Song Ying had left work so early today.

Upon entering the courtyard, they discovered that the person carrying the zither was none other than Zhou Cheng.

If it were Zhuang Tunan, or even Wu Shanshan, he wouldn't be so surprised.

But Zhou Cheng, for the past two months, the adults from both families have been sitting in the yard almost every night watching the children practice the piano. How could he not know whether Zhou Cheng had ever touched the piano or not?

It was precisely because he knew it all too clearly that he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Jingcheng, when did you learn this piece?"

"Um... just now."

Lin Wufeng was speechless.

You've only just started learning, and you can already play like this?

After being exposed to the music of Tianzhuang Tunan and Wu Shanshan for so many days, he can still judge whether it is good or not, and how good it is.

He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Jingcheng, when exactly did you learn to play the accordion? Did Shanshan secretly teach you?"

Wu Shanshan waved her hands repeatedly: "Uncle Lin, I didn't. Zhuang Jingcheng played the piece right away. This is the first time I've seen him play a piece today."

Lin Wufeng gasped.

Zhou Cheng casually replied, "Uncle Lin, it's been two months already. Although I haven't started playing yet, I've been following along and haven't fallen behind. It's not surprising that I can play, is it?"

That's not strange! Then what is strange?

Lin Wufeng was speechless.

The two families spent almost every evening in the yard, and no one else seemed to learn how to play the accordion just by listening.

Take himself as an example, he listened to the music for two months and still couldn't read the sheet music!

"Jingcheng, your learning ability is terrifying. You learn so fast, why didn't you just start practicing when Aunt Song offered to teach you?"

Lin Wufeng couldn't help but press for more information.

Zhou Cheng rarely lies, so when Lin Wufeng asked, he couldn't very well not answer.

He paused for a moment and said, "The accordion is relatively simple. I can learn it after watching it for a while, without taking up other people's time."

I didn't learn it directly because I didn't want to put pressure on Tu Nan, since he still has to perform!

Lin Wufeng opened his mouth.

Is the accordion relatively simple? You can learn it pretty much just by watching?

Listen to this! Is this even human language?

Lin Wufeng glanced at Wu Shanshan. The girl wasn't discouraged; her eyes only held admiration for the boy.

He then thought of Zhuang Tunan.

I remember the child's barely suppressed excitement when he practiced diligently for a whole month before he could even play a complete piece.

A feeling of inexplicable sympathy and pity welled up in his heart.

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