After the clowns' performance, the troupe leader went on stage to speak: "Today we have a little surprise for everyone. What is the surprise? Please welcome Yan Chi to the stage."
When Liu Jin heard the person on stage call his name, he was stunned and looked at Yan Xiaonan. Yan Xiaonan knew what was going on. It was probably his aunt's friend who had arrived and they wanted to hear Liu Jin sing live: "Liu Jin, sing well. If you sing well, there will definitely be a surprise."
Liu Jin has always listened to Yan Xiaonan's words the most since he was a child: "Don't worry, Auntie, I will definitely sing well."
Ten-year-old Liu Jin is already nearly 1.6 meters tall due to good nutrition. Standing on the stage, he looks like a junior high school student. The pianist next to him asked Liu Jin what he wanted to sing. Liu Jin thought of his grandmother's love for the story of the Red Lantern, so he chose "The Glory Shines Forever Forward".
As soon as the piano music started, Liu Jin's loud voice resounded throughout the theater. The audience was surprised and stood up. Was this their star performer? He sang so well. Even the person in charge in the audience almost couldn't control himself and wanted to stand up, but Xue Ying pulled him back.
The person in charge stared intently at Liu Jin. The child was good-looking and sang well, especially the way he sang "Daddy!" It was so moving and touching. The person in charge clenched his fist and said to Xue Ying, "I will teach this child myself."
The person in charge is surnamed Tan. He comes from a family of Peking Opera performers and is currently the dean of a Peking Opera academy. He has a deep understanding of Peking Opera. If Liu Jin has his personal instruction, his future achievements will be just around the corner.
Xue Ying nodded happily, her eyes darting around: "Old Tan, why don't you take on a disciple on the day of my son's wedding?"
Old Tan agreed with a smile; it was a double blessing, a very auspicious sign.
After Liu Jin came down, Old Tan grabbed him before Grandma Yan could and said, "My surname is Tan. I want to take you as my apprentice. Are you willing?"
Liu Jin frowned: "Who are you? I don't know you, how can I become your disciple?"
Old Tan realized he had been presumptuous and quickly explained, "Your great-aunt introduced you to me. I am the dean of the Peking Opera Academy. This is my work ID. Take a look."
Liu Jin took the work permit and handed it to Yan Xiaonan. Yan Xiaonan looked at it carefully and realized that it really was the dean. The big red seal couldn't be faked. He quickly gave Dongnan a wink, and Dongnan ran over and pushed Liu Jin forward: "Greetings, Mr. Tan. I'm entrusting my son Yan Chi to you. Please take good care of him."
"You must be Yan Chi's father, Yan Dongnan. You're truly remarkable. You're a university professor, yet you agreed to let your son learn Peking Opera. Just for that, I have to teach him properly too." Dean Tan respected intellectuals.
Southeast was embarrassed: "Not at all, Peking Opera is a national treasure, and it must be carried forward."
Dean Tan wholeheartedly agreed, thinking that it would be wonderful if all parents in the world shared Yan Dongnan's mindset.
Xue Ying ran up to him: "Mom, he is my friend Lao Tan. Lao Tan personally taught Liu Jin. He became Lao Tan's apprentice on the day Ai Dang got married. It's a double celebration. What do you think?"
Grandma Yan didn't know Old Tan or Little Tan, but she knew that the dean was a high-ranking official, much higher than the village chief. Liu Jin was able to become the official's disciple thanks to his eldest daughter-in-law. Although Liu Jin himself was also very outstanding, he couldn't have done it without a guide.
Xuemei was so excited that tears were about to flow. Liujin would definitely be a Beijing resident from now on. She thanked Nannan and her aunt for giving Liujin a bright future.
Tang Xiaoling glared at Wu Jinban with resentment. "You good-for-nothing!" Wu Jinban was so scared that he hid on the side of Southwest, not daring to make a sound. Southwest was a little annoyed. "If the child doesn't like this, forcing him to do it won't lead to anything. Why are you doing this?"
Yan Xiaoqiang excitedly ran up to Dean Tan: "Hello Dean Tan, I am Liu Jin's grandfather. I will be in charge of this child in Beijing from now on."
Dean Tan nodded politely: "Grandpa Liujin, the children at our school are boarding students. They can go home once a week. All their daily necessities and meals are provided by our school, and they also receive a subsidy of ten yuan per month."
Xuemei was overjoyed to hear this, and her worries were relieved. She didn't want her parents and grandmother to spend any more money on Liujin. It was too much. Now that Liujin had subsidies and didn't have to worry about food and clothing, how wonderful!
The audience behind them also erupted in excitement. "The benefits at the drama academy are so good! Let's see whose child should take the exam. If they get in, they'll be working for the government!"
When the troupe leader learned that the child had been taken on as an apprentice by his superior, his original idea of taking Liu Jin as an apprentice was completely extinguished. Trying to steal someone from his superior, he must have gotten too bold. With a change of mind, he ran up to the stage and said: "Congratulations to our dean on taking on a good apprentice. Now let's celebrate. Come on, let's beat the drums and give him a round of applause."
The gongs and drums pounded loudly, and thunderous applause followed. The eyes of the crowd were discerning; this child should be specially taken in by the director—what a promising talent!
Liu Jin stood beside Yan Xiaonan, oblivious to the applause and drumbeats. His mind was filled with thoughts of his aunt. He knew that without her discerning eye for talent, he wouldn't be where he was today and would still be considered a troublesome child by the teachers in the county town.
Dean Tan had already arranged with Dongnan to take Liujin to the drama academy to register tomorrow. As for the materials and household registration, someone would contact him later. Yan Dongnan quickly left his school office phone number with Dean Tan, and Dean Tan also copied down his office phone number for Dongnan to make it easier to contact him in the future.
Liu Jin hasn't officially enrolled yet, but his name has already been etched in the minds of the audience. Yan Chi might just become a famous actor in the future. We need to build a good relationship with him now and get close to him. If he becomes famous, we'll have something to brag about.
When the show ended, many audience members followed Liu Jin openly or secretly, trying to find out where he lived. Bao Guo, who returned in time, stopped them, but the big SUV still caught everyone's attention. So he was a military officer's family member. No wonder he was so outstanding. It's better not to follow him.
Tang Xiaoling looked at Liu Jin with envy and said, "Liu Jin, you'll have to take better care of your younger brother in the future. He's been following you around since he was little."
Yan Xiaonan frowned. What's wrong with this second sister-in-law? Why does she set such a low bar for her son? What's so good about following others? Wu Jinban likes carpentry, so why does she insist on making him sing opera? You know, people who can't sing well will only sit on the sidelines. It's better for him to do carpentry.
Southwest rolled his eyes at Tang Xiaoling and decided to have a good talk with her when they got back to their room that night. The furniture factory's business was not as good as before. The old stock was no longer suitable for the newlywed young people because of its outdated styles.
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