Chapter 19: The beauty of the song is so stunning that it spreads across the country. The music is sung in the brothels of the market.
At the end of August, several films produced by Tianqi Film Company, including "Legend of the Celebrity," "Dream of Spring in Kyoto," and "Against the Current," were released one after another. Starring popular young actors and actresses, the films were box office successes.
The dozens of interludes Xiao Xiangyue composed for the film quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys. "The Legend of the Famous Actress" was particularly captivating, with its twists and turns. The two leading actors and a host of supporting actors delivered superb performances, earning packed theaters and repeatedly breaking box office records. The songs Xiao Xiangyue performed herself, with her clear, pure voice and deeply moving lyrics, became even more popular. From high-ranking officials to ordinary peddlers, everyone loved the song.
Lu Hankun, with his business acumen, predicted that Xiao Xiangyue's songs would be a hit and released the album simultaneously with the film's release. The first batch of 20,000 copies quickly sold out, and he quickly printed an additional 30,000, which were all pre-ordered within a few days. The album was in such high demand that it was in short supply.
Movie releases and album releases naturally require various promotional activities. Lu Hankun knew that Luo Guoyun disliked Xiao Xiangyue's publicity, fearing that he would be overworked. He would postpone general promotional activities whenever possible, and only invite him to particularly important events. However, as the influence of the movie and album grew, Xiao Xiangyue's fans grew and his fame grew. At even larger events, the audience had to see him to feel that the trip was worthwhile. Therefore, he was always invited to perform the closing performance.
Newspapers, magazines, and radio stations also jumped on the bandwagon. Radio stations played Xiao Xiangyue's songs almost every day. Various newspapers would sell especially well as long as there was news about him in the entertainment section of the day. Several fashion magazines with large circulations vied to use Xiao Xiangyue's photos on their covers. The photos were all taken in Lu Hankun's office. One showed him sitting at a piano, with a handsome profile, perfect facial features, and an elegant and impeccable temperament. Another showed him sitting on a sofa, wearing a pure white suit, with a straight nose, a pair of eyes that captured the spirit of heaven and earth, and were free of any impurities, making people fall in love with him at the first glance. Another showed him standing by the window, with a handsome figure, clear eyes, flawless face, pure temperament, and incomparable beauty. One was a pure headshot, perfectly showcasing Xiao Xiangyue's exquisite face. There were also photos of him participating in performances and events, which could be seen almost every day in newspapers and magazines.
In just a few short months, from the Mid-Autumn Festival to the end of the year, Xiao Xiangyue became a near-universal celebrity, unrivaled in his popularity. His clear, beautiful voice quickly spread across China, making him a sought-after star. People loved his songs, and were even more intrigued by this talented and stunningly handsome young man, making him even more endearing than those movie stars who rose to fame solely on their pretty faces. He was a crowd favorite wherever he went, instantly recognizable in public.
Cheng Jin, who lived far away in Lizhuang, also wrote to say that he had bought a magazine in Luling County with Xiao Xiangyue's portrait printed on it. He said the moon was truly enchanting, and that the folks back home were all so proud. He just couldn't find any records, so he hoped someone could send him a few autographed ones.
Luo Guyun has been very busy in the past few months. With the strong support of Mayor Zhang, the Hanchang Arsenal, which is under the charge of Li Erhu, has been built at a very fast pace and is expected to be put into use in April or May next year. Yi Shui came back from Nanjing before the Double Ninth Festival and discussed with him that he wanted to cooperate with the Germans to introduce key technologies to produce mortars and heavy machine guns. Yi Han was also trading with the Americans and planned to import a batch of the most advanced Thompson submachine guns. There were some things that he had to personally step in and make the final decision on. He was busy with various negotiations and social events all day long.
He had supported Xiao Xiangyue's singing and composing, hoping to help him enjoy his passion and feel happier. However, unexpectedly, Xiao Xiangyue became an instant hit, something Luo Guyun hadn't anticipated. This worried him greatly. Whenever he attended an event, hundreds of military and police officers were deployed to maintain order. He also tried to find time to personally accompany him and provide protection.
While others tried every possible means to achieve fame, Xiao Xiangyue inadvertently became a famous star, completely unaware of it. His interest was entirely in music, and he cared nothing for the gossip in newspapers and magazines. He arrived at every event under the protection of guards, and walked off the stage afterward, never granting any interviews. Those who tried to block him, present flowers, or get autographs were all blocked by the guards, unable to get close to him.
A new French restaurant opened on Nanjing Road, and their desserts were especially good. Luo Guoyun had once eaten there while entertaining French people, and since Yue'er loved sweets, he'd thought of bringing him there sometime. Returning to the mansion early that day, he saw him playing the piano in the living room, so he ran over and sat on the piano stool. After a while, he thought, "Why don't we go to the French restaurant for dinner tonight? We'll go out a little later to avoid attracting attention."
Luo Guyun was only thinking about his own world as a couple, and thinking that it was late and nothing should happen, he just took the driver, Hei Zhu and A Feng out of the mansion.
At night, the Bund in Shanghai shimmered with neon lights. Nanjing Road was bustling and bustling, a scene of prosperity. The two, on a rare trip out for shopping, got out of the car a few hundred meters from the restaurant. Under the veil of darkness, they held hands and strolled leisurely.
As I passed by a gold jewelry store, Xiao Xiangyue's songs were playing inside. Her pure, beautiful and clean voice echoed in the street and could be heard from far away.
Luo Guyun smiled and said, "Yue'er has become a big star now. You can hear Yue'er singing in every corner. For me, it's both sweet and painful." Under the dim streetlight, Xiao Xiangyue looked at him with sparkling eyes, puzzled, "What do you mean, Brother Yun?"
Luo Guyun said, "It's sweet to be able to hear Yue'er's voice anytime and anywhere. But the thought that anyone can hear Yue'er's voice, and it's not just me, is torture." Xiao Xiangyue refused to leave, and simply twisted him, saying seriously, "Then...how about Yue'er only sing to Brother Yun from now on, okay?" Luo Guyun felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey. After thinking for a moment, he said seriously, "Brother, as long as Yue'er is happy, then everything is fine."
The secretary had already booked a private room. There were several tables of guests in the lobby, but the two of them didn't notice them and walked straight through the hall and quickly went upstairs. As soon as the door of the private room was closed, they stuck together. Appetizers, main courses, cold dishes, and desserts came up one after another. You fed me a mouthful, I fed you a mouthful, and a bottle of red wine was opened. Sun Mu said that Xiao Xiangyue could drink some red wine properly, which was good for the body, so she drank half a glass. French food was a bit sweet, and Luo Guyun didn't like it very much. But he couldn't resist Yue'er's eager feeding him, so he ate a lot and drank a bottle of brandy. With the wine in his ears and the candlelight swaying, there was tenderness and indescribable sweetness and romance.
The meal lasted nearly two hours, and the two of them came downstairs happily, feeling very satisfied.
As soon as he walked out of the door, someone shouted, "Young Master Xiao is coming out!" He was caught off guard and was surrounded by the crowd.
When I entered, I saw several diners in the lobby who happened to be fans of Xiao Xiangyue. Word of their idol dining there spread quickly. Nanjing Road was already a bustling and bustling place, with a constant stream of pedestrians. Hearing that the popular star Xiao Xiangyue was there, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of her. In just two hours, hundreds of people had gathered at the entrance. A tabloid reporter, having heard the news, also waited outside, hoping to snap a photo or two and boost newspaper sales – a fortune in cash.
Everyone wanted to squeeze closer to see what the big star who they could only see in newspapers and magazines looked like. Four or five cameras were snapping pictures at people, and the spotlights were so bright that they couldn't open their eyes. Luo Guyun thought to himself that it was not good, and tried his best to protect Xiao Xiangyue. However, there were too many people, and the scene was in chaos. A female student squeezed in front of him with flowers in her arms, wanting to give them to him. Luo Guyun was shocked, and had to block the flowers and the people, wishing he didn't have three heads and six arms. Xiao Xiangyue dodged left and right, but still sneezed several times because of the pollen. In a hurry, Luo Guyun pressed him in his arms, pulled out the pistol at his waist, and fired a shot into the air. Heizhu and Afeng, who were in the distance, heard the gunshots, knew something was wrong, and immediately ran over.
The gunshots terrified everyone, who fled in all directions. Several female students stumbled and fell. Xiao Xiangyue, protected by Luo Guyun and Heizhu Afeng, stumbled and finally got into the car. Just as she recovered from the shock, she peered through the car window and saw someone in the chaotic crowd stepping over the fallen girl. Her expression changed.
A good meal turned out like this, what a disappointment. Luo Guyun was furious, and seeing Yue'er's pale face, he felt even more distressed, and ordered the car to be driven back to the mansion immediately. Xiao Xiangyue tugged at his arm, her voice trembling slightly: "Someone... was stepped on..." Luo Guyun sighed, hugged him tightly, patted him, got out of the car again, and ordered the police who had arrived at the scene to maintain the scene, evacuate the crowd, and arrange for the treatment of the injured, and then left with him in the car.
Xiao Xiangyue was genuinely frightened by tonight's events. At the Jincheng Night Market, although there were more people, he was protected by a dozen guards, and he was surrounded in the center, isolated from the crowd. Today, he was caught in the surging crowd and experienced the riot firsthand.
Along the way, Luo Guyun offered constant comfort, blaming himself for his inconsiderateness. Xiao Xiangyue, already drunk and frightened, uttered a muffled, "Don't blame Brother Yun," then rested her head softly on his shoulder, saying nothing more. Luo Guyun couldn't help but worry, thinking of Yue'er covered in pollen and having squeezed through the crowd. He'd have to have Brother Sun return from the pharmaceutical factory tomorrow to check Yue'er's pulse. He'd have to be reassured.
After returning to the mansion, he asked Yi Han to inform the relevant departments that no photos taken today could appear in any newspapers or magazines, and no related news was allowed to be published.
After this incident, Xiao Xiangyue became even more reclusive, spending his days at the mansion playing the piano and composing. Aside from Ike's frequent visits to study piano with him, he rarely saw anyone else. Luo Guoyun, aside from necessary social engagements and official duties, also tried to stay with him at the mansion.
Two weeks later, the Spring Festival approached. Lu Hankun called, saying he had a check for Xiao Xiangyue. Knowing that Xiao Xiangyue loved a good time, Luo Guoyun suggested inviting the chef from the Yangzhou Restaurant to the mansion to cook a meal, partly to thank Lu Hankun and Ike, and partly to invite all the brothers to come for a good time. Xiao Xiangyue clapped her hands in delight.
The resplendent mansion's living room was packed with guests, filled with laughter and chatter. Everyone was usually busy with their own affairs, and now that they were all together, there was a rare sense of relaxation in the air. As the glasses clinked, the atmosphere was lively and lively. Xiao Xiangyue sat between Luo Guyun and Sun Mu, a smile on her face, listening to everyone's conversation with great interest.
Ike was delighted to see so many Chinese friends. After drinking some more Chinese baijiu, he danced with excitement, gesturing and saying, "During the Song Dynasty in China, there was a poet named Liu Sanbian. Legend has it that wherever there's a well, people can sing his poems. And now, Yue'er's songs are also being sung by everyone. It's true that wherever there's human habitation, people can sing Xiao music. He's just as good as the ancients!"
Yi Shui exclaimed in admiration: "Mr. Ike is so proficient in Chinese culture that it makes the descendants of the Chinese people ashamed. Yi Shui offers a drink to you, Mr. Ike." The two clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.
Lu Hankun said, "Mr. Ike is not only well-versed in Chinese culture, but also deeply knowledgeable about the music history of various countries. He has a lifelong fascination with music. That's why he and my junior apprentice hit it off right away and became close friends regardless of age."
Ike said, "My teacher, Charles, the president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, is a leading figure in the global music world today. When Yue'er gave me a piece of music last time in Jincheng, he was amazed. He said he never imagined that in the far East, there would be a young genius like Mozart. He wrote to invite Yue'er to study abroad in Sweden and to take her as his last disciple. The fact that she has caught the teacher's eye shows how amazing Yue'er's talent is!"
Lu Hankun said in frustration, "Junior brother is both talented and handsome. I thought he was a good horse breeder, someone who could spot a good horse. But I didn't expect this to bring me trouble. Fans from all over the country write to me, but without an address, most of the letters they send to the film company are sent to me. There are so many big sacks of them that they take up a whole room just to store them. Reporters are waiting outside the film company every day, just waiting for me to show up. With the world going crazy, I can't even move freely!" He added, "We're planning to print tens of thousands more copies of the album. Why don't you open an account at Citibank? From now on, I can deposit money directly into your account, so I don't have to bother sending checks every time."
Yi Han clicked his tongue and laughed, "Yue'er earns as much as a medium-sized company earns in a year. She's truly impressive." He then teased Luo Guyun, "Third brother, you can resign from your position as commander-in-chief. Just stay home and do nothing. Yue'er will support you."
Luo Guyun filled a small bowl of tofu soup and placed it in front of Xiao Xiangyue. He smiled smugly, "Of course! When Yue'er was ten, she could have earned enough to support me! Not to mention now..." He then turned to Sun Mu, who was sitting to his left, "Is Brother Sun's wedding ready?"
Sun Mu's wedding was scheduled for next week, the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month. He hadn't intended a grand ceremony. However, Luo Guyun felt that among his brothers, Yi Han had no intention of marrying in his lifetime. Yi Shui, preoccupied with military duties, was indifferent to romantic relationships. He and Yue'er couldn't make their relationship public. Therefore, Sun Mu's wedding was a grand affair. Yi Han, having been a business owner in Shanghai for many years and possessing a wide network of friends, booked two hundred tables at the Pujiang Hotel, intending a lively celebration.
Sun Mu stood up, bowed, and said, "The wedding has been prepared. I respectfully invite you all to attend. The invitations will be sent out shortly."
Xiao Xiangyue asked, "Why don't I see my sister-in-law today?"
"My sister-in-law is getting married soon, so she might be shy. According to etiquette, they can't meet frequently before the wedding, and she can only be with Brother Sun after she gets married." Luo Guyun explained with a smile.
Lu Hankun frowned, "Junior brother is now a public figure, and his every move is closely watched. If he showed up at the wedding, I'm afraid it would cause a commotion, which would be bad."
Xiao Xiangyue immediately said, "Of course Yue'er must attend Big Brother Sun's wedding."
Yi Shui said, "How difficult is that? We can have the police put the entire street under martial law and send more guards to guard it. Not even a fly can get in. Yue'er, just be at ease. No one will dare to bother you."
Yi Han said, "Please inform the Press Office that no media reporters are allowed to enter. Let's hold the wedding quietly."
Luo Guyun said jokingly, "Look... it's still Master Yi and Master Yi who are so domineering. Yue'er has two brothers protecting her, so there's nothing for the third brother to worry about..."
Pujiang Hotel.
The cars arriving for the wedding drove like a string to the entrance hall, and brightly dressed men and women filed in one after another. The lawn outside the entrance was filled with all kinds of cars, almost like an international automobile expo. Half of Shanghai's dignitaries, wealthy and famous people were present. Sun Mu's in-laws were a medicinal herb merchant he had met when he was selling pills. They had never seen such a scene before, and they were both happy and apprehensive, and were extremely satisfied with their son-in-law.
The wedding was Western-style. Most men wore suits, while women wore cheongsams or Western-style dresses. Gilded bronze lamps hung beneath a carved dome, illuminating the wedding scene with dazzling light, creating an atmosphere of opulence and luxury.
Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue, both dressed in pure white suits, were a sight to behold wherever they went. Xiao Xiangyue had wanted to accompany Sun Mu to the entrance of the hall to welcome the guests, but was unanimously opposed. She had no choice but to sit obediently in the seat representing the man's family. Seeing such a grand and solemn occasion, she was genuinely happy for her elder brother.
There were two hundred tables at the banquet, and nearly two thousand guests alone. Many of the guests were fans of Xiao Xiangyue. Because this was a solemn occasion, they didn't dare to act casually, only whispering to each other and glancing over from time to time.
Luo Guyun sat with him for a while. After the ceremony, guests arrived to toast. Luo Guyun and Yi Shui and Yi Han planned to invest more in Shanghai, and this grand banquet was meant to build relationships and demonstrate their strength. After instructing Hei Zhu and A Feng to be optimistic about Xiao Xiangyue, he rose to greet the guests. Sun Mu and his bride, accompanied by Yi Shui and several lieutenants, toasted from table to table. The hall was abuzz with the sound of wine, and elegantly dressed people, men and women, came and went.
Some fans who had been eager to join the fun took advantage of the chaos and swarmed around Xiao Xiangyue, asking for autographs and taking pictures. The crowd was so dense that Heizhu and Afeng couldn't handle it. He was easygoing and didn't know how to refuse. The ladies surrounded him and chatted with him, some praising him for being more handsome in person than in the photos, some wanting to hear him sing live, and some brave enough to hold his arm and press their bodies close to him for photos. The strong smell of powder and cosmetics filled his nose. Xiao Xiangyue's face flushed red as he coped awkwardly.
After seeing off several important guests, Luo Guoyun returned to the main hall. Seeing Mayor Wu sitting alone in a corner, he jokingly asked, "Mayor, why are you so lonely? Where's Xiaoxin?"
Mayor Wu was attending the wedding today with his daughter, Wu Xiaoxin. Wu Xiaoxin and Luo Guoyun had met several times at banquets before and were quite familiar with each other. Mayor Wu nodded and said, "Look, over there, chasing after Young Master Xiao and taking pictures..."
Luo Guyun looked up and saw that the huge banquet hall was empty on one side, but bustling with people on the other. A bunch of ladies and some fashionable young men were gathered there. Xiao Xiangyue was nowhere to be seen. Luo Guyun hurried over and squeezed into the crowd. Seeing him surrounded and embarrassed, he couldn't help but frown and shouted loudly: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry, Master Xiao has something important to attend to. Please make way!" Together with Heizhu and Afeng, they protected him and pushed through the crowd, finally getting away.
After coming out of the hall, Luo Guyun saw some lipstick and powder on Xiao Xiangyue's snow-white suit. He felt unhappy and quickly took it off for him. He also took off his shirt and put it on him. He frowned and said, "Yue'er, why bother with these people? Just leave." Xiao Xiangyue blushed and muttered, "Everyone who came today is a guest attending the wedding. How can Yue'er have the nerve to refuse them?" Luo Guyun sighed. Yue'er was simple and innocent, and had no guard against others. He really couldn't be careless at all.
The next day, a tabloid published an article titled "On the Mysterious Background of Young Master Xiao." The article, groundless and far-fetched, portrayed Xiao Xiangyue as a shrew who mingled with the wealthy and powerful, selling his sexuality for fame and fortune. Even Commander-in-Chief Zhang, far away in Northeast China, was implicated, claiming he had made a secret deal at the Peace Hotel one day and was subsequently gifted a valuable piano. The article also included intimate photos of Xiao Xiangyue posing with the wife of a gang leader, strongly proving Xiao Xiangyue's promiscuous private life, characterized by affairs with various men and women.
Luo Guoyun was furious and ordered all newspapers released to the market to be recalled and destroyed. Yi Han was annoyed, "No matter how many precautions we take, we can't prevent it... A tabloid reporter must have found some way to sneak into the wedding, took photos, and fabricated this article. If this gossip gets out, this newspaper will be in big trouble." Yi Shui gritted his teeth and said, "Let him dream of getting rich! The reporter who wrote this article and this newspaper will be wiped out tomorrow! He's trying to attract attention by sucking Yue'er's blood and throwing dirty water on her like a mosquito or fly. He's not going to succeed!"
Luo Guyun was deeply worried. Yue'er's reputation was too great. If he shut down one newspaper, there would be thousands more. People are treacherous and hard to guard against. If he was careless one day, who knows what might happen. He was also thankful that Yue'er never paid attention to gossip. Even a glance at such filthy things would pollute his eyes.
At night, the two of them lay in bed. Luo Guyun was thinking about something, and his face was a little solemn. Xiao Xiangyue snuggled in his arms. She didn't say anything for a long time, raised her eyes and looked at him cautiously, and said sullenly: "Yue'er is too stupid, always making Brother Yun worry."
Seeing him like this, Luo Guyun was startled. Yue'er was so sensitive and perceptive; how could he possibly hide his emotions from her? If he let these things get to him and hurt himself, it wouldn't be worth it... With a change of heart, he rolled over and pinned him down, putting on a fierce look: "Who said my Yue'er was stupid? I'm going to punish him..." His hand reached for his armpits and tickled them. Xiao Xiangyue couldn't resist the itch, laughing and rolling over, begging for mercy. Luo Guyun added: "Who said my Yue'er was stupid? I'm going to bite him..." He captured his lips with his mouth, sucking and licking them. His breathing grew heavier, a raging fire of desire ignited in his lower abdomen. Unable to stop, he stripped them both naked in a few seconds. After a few rounds, he had completely lost all desire and fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.
The Spring Festival is here in a blink of an eye. Xiao Xiangyue turned down all performance activities and stayed in the mansion every day to play the piano and compose music. Luo Guyun was worried that he would be too bored, so he suggested taking him to the City God Temple to have a temple fair from the first to the fifth day of the New Year. Wearing a hat, a scarf, and bringing more guards, it should be fine. Xiao Xiangyue thought about it and said, "Yue'er always causes trouble for everyone, so I won't go. It's the same if I stay in the mansion." Seeing that he, who always liked novelty and excitement, didn't even want to go to the temple fair, Luo Guyun's forbearing and restrained temperament came out again. He couldn't help but feel distressed and his face became gloomy.
Xiao Xiangyue was extremely sensitive to Luo Guyun's moods. She quickly leaned over and hugged his neck, coquettishly saying, "Brother Yun, don't worry. Yue'er likes to stay at home and write music. I've made a lot of new songs recently. I won't release any albums in the future. I'll just let Brother Yun listen to them, okay?" This coaxed Luo Guyun into a mixture of joy and discomfort. He hugged him tightly, wishing he could rub the man in front of him into his body.
Yi Shui appeared at the door and coughed twice. Xiao Xiangyue quickly pushed him aside and sat down properly. Luo Guyun held him tightly and said with a smile, "Brother, you are not a stranger. Yue'er, there is no need to be restrained." He called out to Yi Shui, "Brother, how did you find time to come here? Come in and sit down."
The three of them sat down on the sofa. Yi Shui said, "The Nanjing government is holding a New Year's reception on the tenth day of the first lunar month. The chairman and his wife have specifically instructed that Yue'er be invited to attend."
Luo Guoyun held his forehead and jokingly said, "This... Are the Chairman and his wife also starting to chase celebrities..." Yi Shui glared at him and explained, "Somehow, the military song that Yue'er wrote in Anyang City reached the Chairman's ears. During the last meeting in Nanjing, the Chairman praised it highly. In front of all the generals, he praised Commander Luo for his good command of the army. The military song vividly embodied the magnificent and brave spirit of the revolutionary army. At that time, some generals asked who wrote the military song. I told everyone that it was written by Commander Luo's sworn brother, Mr. Xiao Xiangyue. Commander Yan of Shanxi and Commander Bai of Guangxi then suggested to the Chairman that they invite the composer of the military song during the reception for a good exchange of ideas, and ideally, write a few songs for them. As for my wife, I saw in some media report that Yue'er is proficient in Western musical instruments. My wife has lived in the West for many years and is very interested in this. We specially prepared a piano for this reception and hope to invite Yue'er to perform live."
Luo Guyun laughed: "Those two old guys... Yue'er will never write military songs for them!" He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, grinning: "Yue'er only writes for brother...right?" Xiao Xiangyue blushed with shame, glared at him, pursed her lips and said nothing.
After a brief thought, Luo Guyun frowned and said, "...brother-in-law? Is that what big brother said?"
Yi Shui explained, "There were many people at the time, dozens of them in the conference room. I thought that the story between my third brother and Yue'er was too shocking. There was no need to say it in public and cause everyone to talk about it. Later, I privately met with the chairman and his wife and explained your relationship. His wife is open-minded and expressed understanding. The chairman was shocked at first, but later, after his wife's persuasion, he came to his senses. As the saying goes, everyone has their own preferences, and as long as it doesn't hinder others and doesn't violate morals, there's nothing wrong. He also asked me to tell you that no matter what choice you make, in his eyes, you are a real man and will always be his favorite general."
Luo Guyun laughed heartily. "That doesn't sound right. What I, Luo, choose is none of other people's business. Why should I need their approval?" Xiang Xiang thought, "Nanjing is a good place to go. It's so hard to get around at home these days, and I'm worried Yue'er is getting bored." He then said to Xiao Xiangyue, "Yue'er has never been on a train before, so take my special train this time. Once the doors are closed, no one can bother us. It takes eight or nine hours from Shanghai to Nanjing. We can lie down and rest on the train, and we can bring our cook along, so we can eat whatever we want. It'll be just like on a ship, isn't it?"
Xiao Xiangyue clapped her hands and cheered with joy, saying happily, "Yeah, that couldn't be better... It would be best if we could also invite Brother Sun, Sister-in-law, and Xiao Qin to go to Nanjing and have some fun together!"
Luo Guyun smiled and said, "There's a whole train. Yue'er can take whoever she wants with her. The mansion that the central government allocated to me in Nanjing is also our home. I wanted to take you there during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but Yue'er was busy recording a song and couldn't go. This time, it's a good opportunity for us to go together and have some fun."
Xiao Xiangyue continued, "To get to Nanjing, we have to pass through Suzhou, right? My uncle is from Suzhou, and he used to tell me about the delicious food and fun things in Suzhou. He said there's a Songhelou restaurant that makes excellent squirrel mandarin fish. There's also Suzhou Pingtan, which my uncle likes very much. He often sits alone in the courtyard of the west yard and sings and plays it." He sighed and said quietly, "Alas, if my uncle were here, I wonder how happy he would be..."
Seeing that he was missing his old friend again, Luo Guoyun hurriedly said, "Why don't we set off two days earlier and stop by Suzhou on the train? Let Yue'er try all the delicious and fun things that Uncle-Master has mentioned before going to Nanjing. Then you can write to Uncle-Master and tell him that Yue'er has been to his hometown. You can also send some Suzhou specialties back. Uncle-Master will definitely be very happy." Xiao Xiangyue's eyes lit up with joy: "That's great! Brother Yun is really thoughtful..."
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