Chapter 14: Xiaoyue accidentally caused trouble, and the elder brother saw the pearls with his keen eyes.
Three days later, Sun Mu, Xiao Qin and Luo Guyun set off.
After passing Yishun County, the provincial governor had received the news and sent a motorcade to greet them. Xiao Xiangyue was riding in a car for the first time in her life and was incredibly excited. Luo Guoyun, having learned from his experience with seasickness, drove the car himself, driving slowly, fearing that the bumpy ride would make him carsick again. All the other cars had disappeared, leaving only the two of them lagging behind. After traveling for an hour or so, Xiao Xiangyue sensed something was wrong and said in dissatisfaction, "Brother Yun, are you driving at a snail's pace?" Luo Guoyun chuckled, "What do you mean, Yue'er?" He pointed to the carriages on the official road, "Brother Yun, look, the carriages have passed you!" Luo Guoyun said, "The road conditions are too bad. I'm afraid of the bumps, Yue'er..." Xiao Xiangyue interrupted him, pouting, "Do you think Yue'er is made of paper? Brother Yun, just drive faster. Yue'er can handle it. Yue'er likes speed; it's fun!" Luo Guoyun chuckled to himself. Yue'er was still as strong-willed as she was when she was little, unwilling to be left behind and fond of novelty and playfulness. He then said, "Hold on tight, Yue'er! Brother is going to overtake!" He stepped on the accelerator, accelerated sharply, and sped away.
Luo Guyun had perfected his driving skills in the army over the past two years. In less than half an hour, he had caught up with the car in front at lightning speed. When overtaking, Xiao Xiangyue waved vigorously, cheered, and smiled as brightly as the stars. He leaned over, hugged her and kissed her fiercely, with an expression of infinite admiration, and praised: "Brother Yun is really amazing!" Luo Guyun felt his heart skip a beat again, and he almost lost his grip on the steering wheel. He had to look at the road and the people around him, and he was in a panic. He simply stepped on the brakes, pulled over to the side of the road, hugged her, sucked and kissed her, and rolled around with her. The car behind caught up quickly, saw the car parked by the roadside, thought something had happened, and also stopped to check. He reluctantly let go of her, held Xiao Xiangyue in one hand, held the steering wheel with the other, and continued to move forward. Xiao Xiangyue was kissed until she had no strength left, leaned softly in his arms, and finally became more obedient.
To bring Yue'er back to Anyang as soon as possible, Luo Guyun's schedule in Jincheng was packed with tasks. Every day, he was busy meeting with officials at all levels, holding meetings to discuss defense, taxation, the establishment of hospitals and schools, road construction, and other matters. Sun Mu also assisted with various chores, sharing his busy schedule and being exhausted by social engagements.
The provincial capital's streets were bustling, lined with shops and connected by roads. Xiao Xiangyue, having just arrived in such a large city, was filled with curiosity and freshness. Xiao Qin was about his age, and the two of them would often make plans to stroll the streets. Luo Guyun, knowing he enjoyed novelty and excitement, let him do as he pleased. He had Heizhu and Afeng accompany him closely, and he also assigned several guards familiar with the provincial capital to accompany him in cars for protection.
With Sun Mu around, Xiao Xiangyue's diet was even more meticulous. The temporary government mansion where he was staying had several cooks. Sun Mu prepared a daily menu for Xiao Xiangyue, just as he had in Alsophila Valley. Luo Guyun made slight adjustments to the taste and flavor, and instructed the cooks to follow the recipes for all three meals. If he went out, they would prepare lunch boxes to take with him. He wasn't allowed to eat anything from outside.
The provincial capital's night market is incredibly famous. Its streets and alleys are ablaze with lights, filled with snack vendors, jugglers, fortune tellers, and a variety of teahouses and taverns. The market is bustling with activity, with crowds of people jostling for position. Wandering artists perform at the market, either solo or in groups of three or five, showcasing their skills in various musical instruments and songs.
Xiao Xiangyue observed the performers, noticing that most used common traditional instruments like the erhu and flute. She figured that if she used the Western violin Brother Yun had given her at the night market, it would be a novel and unique instrument and would surely be a big hit. Back then, while on the run, she'd earned a good deal of money performing. Now, even though she no longer needed to earn money, she couldn't help but feel the urge to do so.
He did what he said. The next day, Xiao Xiangyue took his violin, found an empty space in the night market, and started playing it. The violin had a beautiful and melodious sound. Passersby on the street gathered one after another when they heard such elegant and beautiful music. No one knew what kind of instrument it was. Seeing a handsome and elegant young man playing the violin, they pointed and talked curiously. People like to follow the crowd, and the crowd grew larger and larger. After two or three songs, a huge crowd had gathered. The people who came later could only hear the sound but could not see what was going on inside. They squeezed forward desperately, and the crowd was so crowded that there was no way out. Xiao Xiangyue played all the songs he composed himself, and he played one after another without any effort, and played more than ten songs in a row. The crowd cheered continuously, and banknotes and silver coins were thrown at him like rain.
Heizhu, Afeng, and several guards worked tirelessly to maintain order, holding back the surging crowd and forming a circle around them to keep anyone from getting too close. Seeing how numerous and excited the crowd was, they grew concerned. Looking at the situation, it looked like the young master wouldn't even be able to squeeze out. If he got trampled, it would be disastrous. Leaving a few men at the scene to protect Xiao Xiangyue, Heizhu struggled to squeeze through the crowd to report to Luo Guyun.
Xiao Xiangyue simply played the violin, eyes slightly closed, completely absorbed in the music. The chaos of the outside world had no effect on him, as if he were detached from the world. Beautiful, moving notes flowed softly from his fingertips, lingering in the night.
A blond, blue-eyed foreigner squeezed into the crowd and stopped just a few steps away from Xiao Xiangyue. He stared at him intently, his face full of disbelief, his eyes shining with admiration, surprise, and delight.
After a few more tunes, the crowd began to stir. Someone shouted, "The police are coming! Martial law is being declared! Run!" Chaos ensued, and some people were thrown to the ground. Crying, shouting, and cursing filled the air.
A middle-aged man in a suit, vest, and glasses struggled to squeeze in, adjusting his glasses, which were about to fall to the ground due to being squeezed askew. He shouted, "Mr. Ike, you are here! Come with me quickly! The whole street is under martial law, and we won't be able to leave soon!" The foreigner spread his hands, made an exaggerated gesture, and said, "Oh! Dear Lu! Come and see! I have discovered a genius!"
Xiao Xiangyue had stopped playing the violin. The crowd was in chaos, and Afeng and several guards protected him and stood still. The foreigner named Ike, about fifty years old, asked, "Young man, have you studied abroad?"
It was his first time seeing a blond, blue-eyed Westerner. He was curious and looked Ike over. He replied, "No."
Ike continued, "I've never heard the piece you just played before. Where is it from?"
"These are all songs I composed myself." Xiao Xiangyue answered honestly.
Ike's eyes widened. He grabbed the bespectacled middle-aged man with one hand and opened his mouth exaggeratedly. "Oh, God! Lu, listen! Such beautiful music was actually written by this young man himself! Could it be... I discovered the Mozart of the East?"
The middle-aged man with glasses also looked at Xiao Xiangyue carefully, bowed, and said, "May I ask your name, sir? ...This Western violin is rare in Sichuan. Your violin skills are outstanding. May I ask where you learned it from?"
Xiao Xiangyue rarely spoke to strangers. Seeing that the middle-aged man was wearing glasses and was very polite, he didn't look like a bad guy, so she replied, "I... I learned this from my uncle-master, Li Tiannian. My name is Xiao Xiangyue."
The middle-aged man took off his glasses as if possessed by a demon. His eyes widened in surprise, and he muttered, "Uncle Master... Li Tiannian... Xiao..." Suddenly, he understood and shouted, "You are Uncle Master Xiao's son! Li Tiannian... is my master!"
Xiao Xiangyue was also stunned. Looking at the excited middle-aged man, she hesitated and asked, "You are...?"
The middle-aged man took a deep breath and said, "My name is Lu Hankun. Li Tiannian is my master. Xiao Pingzhou is my uncle."
Xiao Xiangyue was shocked to hear her father's name suddenly from a stranger's mouth, and she almost cried. She also realized that the middle-aged man in front of her was the senior brother, Lu Hankun, whom her uncle had asked her to find before leaving.
He said in a daze, "You are... Senior Brother? Uncle said you opened a film company in Shanghai and asked me to look for you. How come you are here?"
Dozens of armed guards dispersed the crowd, forming two lines. Luo Guyun, dressed in military uniform, strode over from the center. Seeing him, he embraced him, then pushed him away, examining him carefully. He anxiously asked, "Yue'er...are you okay?"
Heizhu went to report the news to Luo Guoyun. He was in a meeting with police officials to discuss joint defense arrangements. His expression changed when he heard that Xiao Xiangyue was surrounded by thousands of people and there was a possibility of a stampede. Seeing the commander-in-chief's anxiety, the police chief naturally wanted to show his ability. He immediately dispatched hundreds of police officers to impose martial law on the streets around Xiao Xiangyue, driving away the crowds and causing panic among the people, wondering what was happening. Luo Guoyun also rushed over in person with dozens of guards.
Xiao Xiangyue had just recognized her senior brother and was still a little stunned. When she saw Luo Guyun, she asked in a daze, "Why is Brother Yun here?" Luo Guyun saw that he looked a little strange and thought that he was frightened by the crowd. He hugged him and said, "Don't be afraid, Yue'er, I will take you back now."
A group of policemen, accompanied by the police chief, came running over, snapped to attention, and shouted, "Report to the commander-in-chief, the crowd has been dispersed. The streets are under martial law. Please give your instructions, commander-in-chief."
Seeing that Xiao Xiangyue was fine, Luo Guyun was relieved and waved his hand, saying, "Don't disturb others, let's all go." He took his hand and was about to leave. Xiao Xiangyue finally reacted and hurriedly said, "Brother Yun, wait a minute..." Pointing at Lu Hankun, "This is Senior Brother."
Lu Hankun didn't expect that such a large-scale martial law was imposed because of Xiao Xiangyue. When he saw the legendary Commander-in-Chief Luo again, he was a little stunned for a moment.
Xiao Xiangyue explained Lu Hankun's identity to him. Luo Guyun thought for a moment and said, "It's late today, Yue'er, go to bed first. Would you mind inviting Senior Brother to the mansion tomorrow to chat?"
Ike, who had been standing beside him, opened his arms, excitedly wanting to hug Xiao Xiangyue. Heizhu and Afeng immediately blocked his way, and Luo Guyun cautiously hugged her. Ike hugged her empty, but still said excitedly, "Little friend, I love you so much! We must meet again tomorrow and have a good chat!"
Luo Guyun frowned: "Who is this?"
Lu Hankun said hurriedly, "This is my friend Ike, a Swede. He came to the mainland with me from Shanghai on business."
Arrange guards to drive Lu Hankun and Ike back to the hotel. Luo Guyun left with Xiao Xiangyue.
Yue'er was frightened today, and he was thinking about how to comfort her. Passing by a wonton shop, he said, "Yue'er, are you hungry? Do you want a bowl of wontons?"
Xiao Xiangyue nodded happily. She had dinner at the mansion and was feeling a bit hungry at this hour. Sun Mu and Luo Guyun wouldn't let him eat outside, so he could only look at the many snacks at the night market, salivating over them.
The accompanying guards stepped forward and said something to the wonton shop owner, and the few customers in the shop were immediately asked to leave. Dozens of guards stood guard outside the shop. Luo Guoyun walked in with Xiao Xiangyue. He asked puzzledly, "Brother Yun, why is this happening?"
Luo Guyun simply explained: "Brother, you have to wear this outfit today. You can change into casual clothes someday so that no one can recognize you and you can be free."
The two of them each had a bowl of red oil wontons and ate slowly.
"Is it delicious?" Luo Guoyun asked.
"It's not as delicious as what Brother Yun cooks." Xiao Xiangyue answered seriously.
Luo Guyun was very pleased and smiled. He then asked, "With all the commotion today, was Yue'er frightened?"
Xiao Xiangyue said angrily, "Yue'er was playing the piano peacefully. If the police hadn't come, how could there have been a riot?" She picked up another wonton and put it in her mouth, a little chili on her lips. Seeing his beautiful eyes filled with anger and his lips crimson, Luo Guyun felt a stir in his heart. He leaned over, licked the chili off with the tip of his tongue, and then kissed him.
Xiao Xiangyue was startled. She stole a glance at the guards outside and said angrily, "Brother Yun, there are so many people here, you..." Luo Guyun said confidently, "What's wrong with having so many people? It's because Yue'er is so attractive, I can't help myself!"
Xiao Xiangyue was helpless and could only stare at him with a pair of clear and innocent eyes.
Luo Guyun added, "Yue'er is so alluring. Never play the violin or sing in crowded places again. People's hearts are unpredictable, and it's inevitable that someone will have bad intentions and come up with evil plans."
Xiao Xiangyue hummed softly, lowered her eyelids, and a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes.
Seeing him like this, Luo Guyun felt a pang of pain in his heart. He thought of Yue'er teaching music in Lizhuang, playing the piano and singing in the courtyard, with countless loyal listeners. Now that she's out with him, she can only stay in the mansion every day, bored and uninteresting... Yue'er has actually sacrificed a lot to be with him, but she just keeps it to herself and says nothing... Luo Guyun's heart would prick whenever Xiao Xiangyue frowned, and he hurriedly coaxed her, "We'll be leaving the provincial capital in a few days. The provincial chairman will hold a farewell banquet at the Jinjiang Hotel. Celebrities from all walks of life in Sichuan will be there. Then, please invite Yue'er to perform the violin on stage, so that everyone can see her and make your brother proud, okay?"... He regretted it after coaxing her. With his personality, he didn't like others looking at Xiao Xiangyue for even a second, and he just wanted to keep her in his pocket. Thinking of the countless pairs of eyes staring at Yue'er with envy, Luo Guyun felt annoyed and sighed softly.
Xiao Xiangyue was very perceptive and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong with Brother Yun?"
Luo Guyun didn't know how to respond for a moment. He stared at the person across from him, his emotions tangled...recalling his worries from the night he went hunting. It had only been a few days since he'd been in the outside world, and were his worries about this coming true? He wanted to hide her, but he also wanted Yue'er to be happy and not sad. He knew how much Yue'er loved music, so how could he bear to deprive her of it? But if he allowed her to shine, people would be treacherous. If he made a mistake, it would be too late to regret... His heart was torn, and his face darkened.
Xiao Xiangyue reached out and touched his forehead, and asked worriedly, "Is Brother Yun sick?" Luo Guyun covered it up and said, "No... Brother is a little tired..."
Xiao Xiangyue immediately thought of Brother Yun's busy official duties, and how he had been delayed until so late because of her. He must have been tired and exhausted, and she felt sorry for him.
The next morning, Luo Guoyun sent for Lu Hankun and Ike to the mansion to meet Xiao Xiangyue. Ike, a professor at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, was fascinated by Eastern culture and had traveled extensively throughout Asia, collecting and compiling the distinctive music of various ethnic groups. He had been in China for two years and lived in Shanghai's French Concession. Lu Hankun ran a film company in Shanghai and also served as a screenwriter and director. This time, he was visiting the mainland to collect folk songs. Ike, who was interested in Sichuan Opera, came along, intending to collect some local opera scores.
Ike said excitedly, "Dear Yue, my mentor in Sweden, the dean of our music school, is named Charade. He's a very famous musician. I'd like to send him the pieces you played last night. Do you agree?"
Xiao Xiangyue said shyly, "Of course. But I have to be careful with the songs I send to my mentor. Can I pick a few more songs that I'm satisfied with?" He took out several large music books from the box with great effort. They were all various songs he had written over the years, hundreds of them in total, and he carefully selected them.
Ike and Lu Hankun's eyes widened in amazement as they each picked up a copy and took a closer look. Lu Hankun was so excited that he slapped his thigh and said, "Junior brother, you have extraordinary talent and incredible talent, and you have received so much instruction from our master. You truly are a formidable young talent!" He thought about it and said, "Junior brother needs some suitable music for the films he's been filming recently, but he can't find anything satisfactory. I wonder if you could do me the honor of writing a few for him?"
Xiao Xiangyue asked, "Are these songs from a movie? What kind of movies are they?" Lu Hankun replied, "There are three or four currently being filmed. I'll send the scripts to you, Junior Brother, for your perusal."
That evening, Luo Guoyun took time out to accompany Xiao Xiangyue to a banquet at the mansion for Lu Hankun and Ike. They chatted happily. Lu Hankun hadn't expected the renowned Commander-in-Chief Luo to be so easygoing, and he relaxed a bit.
Luo Guyun and Sun Mu were on his left and right, with Xiao Xiangyue sitting in the middle. Luo Guyun was chatting and laughing while he served him some food from time to time. He carefully picked the bones from the fish and peeled the shrimps before putting them in the bowl. He also poured the soup and tested it himself to make sure it was neither too hot nor too cold before passing it to him. He was so considerate and attentive that he almost fed him himself. Sun Mu was also keeping an eye on him. There was a seasonal dish of sautéed snails on the table. Xiao Xiangyue found it delicious and ate several of them. Sun Mu stopped him immediately: "Snail is cold in nature and not easy to digest. Yue'er should eat less." It had become a habit for the two of them to take care of him, and it was very natural and casual. Xiao Xiangyue had been raised like this since he was a child, and he took it all in stride. Others, however, were secretly puzzled.
Lu Hankun asked, "Junior brother, you seem a little weak. Is there something wrong with your health?"
"Yue'er was injured in the mother's womb and has congenital deficiencies. Her diet must be more refined." Sun Mu explained.
"Master, the head chef in the kitchen said he has something important to report," Hei Zhu reported at the door. Although Luo Guoyun had become the commander-in-chief, the people in Lizhuang were still used to calling him "Master".
A middle-aged man in a white apron trotted over and trembled as he said, "Commander-in-Chief, the second chef added a spoonful of honey to the candied yam dish."
As soon as Luo Guyun settled into the mansion, he compiled a list of forbidden foods and handed it to the chef, strictly ordering them not to be used. Today's second chef, in a moment of negligence, had, as usual, added some honey to the candied yams before serving, giving them a glossy appearance and a richer flavor. Xiao Xiangyue, who loves sweets, had already eaten several pieces.
Luo Guyun was about to explode. Sun Mu said, "It's okay. Yue'er's physique is much stronger than when she was little. Some foods you couldn't eat before, you can now slowly try, eating small amounts and letting your body gradually adapt. Every food has its nutritional value, and long-term taboos will lead to nutritional imbalances."
Lu Hankun interrupted, "Junior brother's physique is not like that of uncle, but he has inherited some of his mother's."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiangyue hurriedly asked, "Has Senior Brother met my mother?"
Lu Hankun said, "I went to Shanghai early in life and never had the chance to meet her. But your mother, Xiao Yuegui, was a famous beauty, known to almost everyone in Jiangnan. Many stories about her were circulated back then, and I heard about them in Shanghai as well."
Xiao Xiangyue knew very little about her mother's affairs. Her father was reluctant to mention them, and her uncle rarely spoke of them either. But she immediately became interested. She asked repeatedly, "What kind of legend is it? Big Brother, tell us quickly!"
Lu Hankun said, "There are many... For example, he defied the powerful, tore up his costume, refused to perform at the governor's mansion... performed on stage with famous opera singers from the capital, and won the applause of the whole house... He was in poor health and needed old mountain ginseng for a long time to improve his vitality, so a suitor gave him ginseng worth a thousand gold coins at a time... He performed on stage for ten consecutive days to raise funds for disaster relief, and fainted on stage... and so on."
Xiao Xiangyue was stunned and unable to respond. Luo Guyun grabbed his hand from under the table and stroked it soothingly. He casually asked, "What's the governor's name?"
Lu Hankun said, "That... I'm not sure, I think I heard it was surnamed He..." He then said, "Oh right! There's a script I'm going to give you called 'The Legend of a Famous Actress'. It tells the story of a famous actress in Jiangnan who rejects the pursuit of a powerful and wealthy man and, after many twists and turns, finally marries his beloved. The prototype is somewhat based on my uncle and his wife. But the ending is happy. They escape the control of the powerful and wealthy, join the revolution, and live happily together."
His mother lost her life giving birth to him, a pain that will always linger in Xiao Xiangyue's heart. After a long silence, he asked softly, "Brother Sun, have you seen my mother? How beautiful is she?"
Sun Mu didn't know what to say for a moment. The day Sun Mu saw Xiao Yuegui was the day she died. The ten-year-old was deeply impressed. The woman, who was terminally ill and bloated, no longer had the stunning beauty she once had, but her beauty was hard to hide. She gave birth to Xiao Xiangyue with her last bit of strength, but she died before she could even look at her son. Xiao Pingzhou held his wife's body for a whole day and night, not caring about his newborn son at all. For the next two or three years, he sat in front of his wife's grave every day. As a teenager, Sun Mu learned to help his parents change Yue'er's diapers, play with him, and teach him to speak. The first word Xiao Xiangyue could say was the vague word "brother". After he was almost three years old, Xiao Pingzhou seemed to realize that he had a son by his side. He began to teach him to read and write, learn music, and slowly returned to normal.
Saying this would only make Xiao Xiangyue more sad, and Sun Mu hesitated about how to respond. Luo Guyun smiled brightly, "Of course Yue'er's mother is beautiful. Just look at Yue'er. Didn't Senior Brother ask you to compose the music for the movie? Yue'er will compose it with all her heart, so that Daddy and Mommy have a happy ending in the movie. They will be happy watching from Heaven."
Lu Hankun was raised by Li Tiannian, and they had a deep bond. Hearing that his master was living in seclusion in Lizhuang, he worried that he might never see him again due to his advanced age. Ike also wanted to travel more inland and experience the local culture of the East, so they decided to go to Lizhuang together to visit their master. Xiao Xiangyue also got busy, buying gifts in the provincial capital for everyone: Uncle Shi, Aunt Chun, Cheng Jin, and even Ban Deng.
A few days later, he handed Xiao Xiangyue the scripts for "Legend of a Famous Actress," "Dream of Spring in Kyoto," and "Against the Current," and arranged to meet in Shanghai a few months later to hand in the manuscripts. Lu Hankun said, "Junior brother, your royalties for your songs will still be shared with the box office as per customary practice. If the film is a hit, your income will be high. If you release a separate record, the company will only charge a modest royalty fee, and the rest of the profits will belong to you. Do you need to sign a contract..."
Luo Guoyun had only wanted to give Xiao Xiangyue something to do, to keep her from getting too bored. He didn't care about royalties. He interrupted, "Don't bother with these trivial matters, Yue'er. I'll have my secretary connect with you."
Three carriages were arranged to take Lu Hankun and Ike to Lizhuang. One held the passengers, one carried Xiao Xiangyue's purchases, and one carried the news. The road was blocked after passing Yishun County, so Chunmei and the others would need to send a carriage to pick them up. As everyone bid them farewell outside the city, Xiao Xiangyue couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. Luo Guoyun tentatively asked, "Yue'er, do you want to go back to Lizhuang with Senior Brother?"
Xiao Xiangyue stared at him with her large, pure, innocent eyes, saying earnestly, "No. Yue'er can't bear to leave Brother Yun. Wherever Brother Yun is, Yue'er will be there." Luo Guyun's breath caught... This babe, even saying sweet nothings without even a word of greeting. He looked at him again, serious and matter-of-fact, completely oblivious to the fact that he was saying something that would make anyone's heart race. He glanced at the people around him, swallowed, and suppressed the urge to pin him down right there and then.
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