Chapter 238 Chorus: My mom never gave up on my dad.

Qin Xiangxiang couldn't stop the child; the little guy darted away in a flash, curling up and hiding like a mimosa.

She inquired with Yang Zhixia and others and learned that the round-faced little girl was the daughter of Zhang Dayong, a boiler worker at the factory. Her name was Zhang Haiyan. She was of average appearance, spoke very softly, and was shy, but her voice was very pleasant. She just didn't like to talk.

Qin Xiang guessed that she probably liked singing and had secretly come to Chen Muyun's place to learn to sing, but she was too shy to sing in front of others and was afraid of being laughed at.

So she found some free time and found Zhang Haiyan, asking her and Xiao Pang and the other children to learn singing techniques from Chen Muyun.

"If you like singing, then let's learn together. You have a beautiful voice."

Zhang Haiyan has a square face with a few natural blushes from the high altitude, like a girl on a textbook cover, her face as red as an apple. But her personality isn't very outgoing. In front of Qin Xiangxiang, she was so shy she wanted to disappear into the ground, stammering in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "I...I...I can't sing, I can't learn it, I don't sing well!"

Qin Xiangxiang smiled slightly: "It sounds really good. Many people in the factory praise your voice. It sounds even better when you sing."

“Our factory used to have a children’s choir, but I haven’t seen you. Why don’t you join and sing with the other children?”

"I...I..." Zhang Haiyan stammered for a long time, unwilling to speak.

Qin Xiangxiang didn't press her, and continued to invite her: "Now that a famous singer has come to our factory, you have such a good voice, why don't you go and learn some singing techniques from Teacher Chen?"

"I can't sing, I sing off-key, I sing badly."

Qin Xiangxiang: "Singing is a pleasant and relaxing thing. Whether you sing well or not, you can enjoy the music."

"Come and learn to sing together!"

Zhang Haiyan nodded shyly and followed Qin Xiangxiang to the rehearsal hall with a nervous look on her face. Chen Muyun asked her to try singing "12345671, 17654321".

"I was so nervous that I strained my voice."

Zhang Haiyan's face turned pale instantly. She knew she couldn't sing well, she couldn't sing, she sang badly, and she also had an accent and her Mandarin wasn't standard.

Qin Xiangxiang: "Don't be nervous, just use the way you hummed outside before."

Zhang Haiyan shook her head: "Auntie Factory Manager, I can't. I sing off-key, and my voice doesn't sound good."

"Let's learn some techniques together first, and relax a bit," Qin Xiangxiang patted her shoulder.

Seeing this, Xiao Pang came over to comfort Zhang Haiyan: "Don't worry, even though my dad sings terribly, my mom has never given up on him."

Zhang Haiyan: "?"

Qin Xiangxiang: "..." You two are birds of a feather, neither of you should criticize the other.

However, one is her husband and the other is her son, so they must be rescued if necessary and cannot be completely abandoned.

When someone around her sings badly, it's her ears that suffer; when someone around her sings well, it's her ears that enjoy it.

To cater to her ears, it's essential to surround her with more people who can sing well.

Li Xiaopang: "My mom is very good at comforting people. It doesn't matter if you sing terribly."

Zhang Haiyan nodded: "...Mm."

Qin Xiangxiang: "..."

Zhang Haiyan and Xiaopang, along with other children, studied with Chen Muyun. Within a few days, Chen Muyun was amazed by Zhang Haiyan's rapid progress. Chen Muyun told Qin Xiangxiang, "This child has great potential for singing, but she can't be nervous. When she relaxes and hums, her pitch is very stable, and her voice is as pure as a cold spring. It's a rare voice—it's a gift from God!"

People like Chen Muyun who achieve success in singing are mostly born into artistic families. Their parents work in the arts or have other artistic backgrounds. In addition to a naturally gifted voice, they need to undergo formal vocal training from a young age and get through puberty in their teens so that their voices and skills can stabilize and become a singer.

However, many people may have had a moment of talent in their childhood, but without proper care, their voices will be damaged by adulthood.

Even with a naturally good voice, especially when singing high notes, it's difficult to maintain a high level of performance without consistent and proper training.

Even many singers or broadcasting prodigies who become famous in their twenties will fall from grace early due to problems such as diet and other factors, and their voices will be ruined.

If you choose to pursue a career in singing, you should pay attention to proper vocal techniques from a young age to protect your voice, and you should also be extra careful about your diet. If you don't protect your voice, even if you are blessed with natural talent, it won't help.

Chen Muyun had witnessed the downfall of many geniuses during her time with Zhang Haiyan. She had been in the choir since childhood, receiving formal training, and often people would leave in a regrettable way. Therefore, she was not particularly excited to see Zhang Haiyan's talent.

No one can say for sure what the future holds.

Qin Xiangxiang said, "If you think this child has talent, then teach her more."

Chen Muyun: "Does she want to seriously learn to sing, or just play around with it as a hobby?"

Qin Xiangxiang said naturally, "Of course I will study properly. If you have talent, you should make the most of it."

Chen Muyun: "We need to ask her and her family for their opinions."

Qin wanted to know if Zhang Haiyan really loved singing and music, but was too shy and timid to speak up. He thought that without someone to support and encourage her, she wouldn't dare to take a step forward.

Even if she was willing, she didn't dare to say it out loud. Only after being affirmed by those around her time and time again did she gradually crawl out of her shell.

Qin Xiang shouldn't have interfered in the affairs of these little girls, but she thought of her own daughter, and upon seeing other little girls, she couldn't help but feel affection for them as well. If a girl has the opportunity and talent, and genuinely likes the girl, then she should seize the opportunity.

Besides, "Singing talent is so much better than my textile genius! I don't even dare let outsiders know about my talent!"

"This innate talent for being a beast of burden, let whoever wants it take it!"

Qin Xiangxiang went to Zhang Haiyan's house and talked to her parents about this, saying that Zhang Haiyan had a talent for singing and whether she would like to study vocal music properly with a teacher.

Zhang Haiyan had high hopes, but she dared not choose it, nor dared she believe it. She never thought she could become a singer, yet she still harbored fantasies.

“Haiyan is going to learn to sing? Can singing put food on the table? Besides, even if she has a nice voice, she’s so ugly, can she perform on stage? Those singers in the performing arts troupes are all great beauties, how could an ugly girl sing on stage… Our child shouldn’t embarrass herself on stage.”

Qin Xiangxiang frowned after hearing Zhang Dayong's words. Zhang Haiyan had an ordinary appearance and an ordinary name, but she was definitely not the ugly monster Zhang Dayong described.

However, in this day and age, most parents are used to belittling their own children in front of outsiders, which is also a reflection of the traditional Chinese modesty and restraint. A child with a personality like Little Fatty won't take any criticism or reprimands seriously.

A quiet and shy child who receives this kind of suppression and humility education will become increasingly timid, self-deprecating, and afraid to show themselves in public.

Qin Xiangxiang said, "Even singer Chen Muyun said that she is talented and progresses quickly. If she learns well in the future, she will bring glory to you on stage!"

"If a singer could emerge from among the children of our factory workers, we would all be proud."

Zhang Dayong and his wife were somewhat tempted by what they heard. "Can she make a living by singing? We don't expect her to be very successful; we just hope she can work as a female worker in a textile factory!"

Qin Xiangxiang smiled and said, "If she doesn't learn any skills, it's not too late for her to come back as a textile worker. She can also join our factory's propaganda team and become a teacher there, teaching other children to sing and dance."

"It's never a bad thing to learn more skills."

So, Zhang Dayong and his wife were persuaded and agreed to let Zhang Haiyan try singing. Chen Muyun is currently at the factory, and she will temporarily learn singing techniques from him. They will introduce her to a local children's choir when the opportunity arises.

Zhang Haiyan knew she could learn to sing, and she was excited and thrilled, but also a little timid. She felt inferior and doubted herself, afraid that she would let others down.

Zhang Haiyan: "Factory manager, I'm so ugly, can I still perform on stage?"

"Girls can't be ugly as long as they dress up properly. Your eyebrows and eyes are well-proportioned, and your face is square. With makeup, you can look just as good as those female performers in the performing arts troupe."

Zhang Haiyan nodded shyly.

"Auntie Factory Manager, you will definitely be the best mother in the world."

Qin Xiangxiang: "..."

"Thank you. I appreciate the compliment."

She might not be the best, but she's definitely the mother who loves her daughter the most!

Zhang Haiyan: "You are the best factory manager! You...you work so hard!"

"Factory Manager, you should be a national model worker!"

Qin Xiangxiang was speechless and choked with emotion: "..."

Zhang Haiyan began learning from Chen Muyun, while Qin Xiangxiang planned to further explore the children of factory workers and enrich their cultural life. She planned to organize an internal National Day cultural performance in the factory, including several children's programs, so that the children of factory workers would have the opportunity to perform on stage.

Little Fatty and Sui Sui, bring them all up on stage for a stroll, and make them a beautiful set of clothes!

"Factory director, the provincial National Day performance also asked our factory to submit two programs. If they are selected, we can participate in the provincial performance."

Qin Xiangxiang said, "That's perfect! Our factory's arts troupe will have one performance, the children of the workers will have another, and the kids can do a big chorus!"

Qin Xiangxiang also plans to personally design choir costumes for all the children, so that they can all have a wonderful childhood memory.

"The costumes for this choir performance can't be taken lightly. They should be designed like navy blue uniforms, with white embroidered wave-patterned bow ties... Zhang Haiyan will be the lead children's singer, and we'll make her a separate dress."

Assistant He asked with envy, "Factory Director, do you think our factory's employees' children's performances can win awards?"

Qin Xiangxiang said, "You people shouldn't always be thinking about getting honors. Give the children a chance to perform on stage, so everyone can have fun. When they grow up and look back, it will be a great experience."

Assistant He sighed, "What a pity, Factory Manager, I don't have any children yet!"

"Factory manager, if you keep doing this, everyone will be eager to have babies."

Qin Xiangxiang: "???? What's the rush?"

"Isn't everyone hoping their child can perform on stage? Being the child of one of our factory workers is such a privilege!"