Chapter 2 (10)
Yu Jia never thought that he could have something to talk about with someone like Bai Yuankai.
She didn't understand big data. He probably had no interest in the things in her world. However, there was a documentary about Kunqu Opera on TV, and Bai Yuankai actually hummed along quietly.
"You also know this?" She smiled curiously.
He just returned from overseas, was a man, was a technician, was still young, and was far away from Kunqu Opera.
Bai Yuankai said it was a hobby. He joined a club when he was in college, and now he would occasionally go to school to participate in activities whenever he had time.
Following the music on TV, the two talked about "The Peony Pavilion: Picking Up Paintings", and unexpectedly the conversation became more and more in-depth.
Yu Jia has been fascinated by Kunqu opera since high school, even having a teacher. In college, she served as president of the Kunqu Opera Club. After marriage, she became busy with both family and extracurricular activities, forcing her to put her hobby aside. Occasionally, she would listen before bed. Many nights, she drifted off to sleep to the melodious rhythm of Kunqu opera. The classical and aesthetic world presented in Kunqu opera embodies Yu Jia's aesthetic ideals.
What surprised Yu Jia even more was that Bai Yuankai truly loved and studied Kunqu Opera. He was not the average enthusiast who could only recite the lines, "The riot of colour blossomed, yet all was lost to the ruins of the wells and dilapidated walls."
Discussing "beating" (clap) music, they all agreed that it's an essential step in learning Kunqu opera. Correctly performing the beat is the singer's perfect reproduction of the tune. The ancestral beat music form not only requires strict rhythm control but also requires the use of rhythmic rhythms, such as depression, rise, pause, and setback, as well as turns, padding, entry, cutting, pinching, and receiving, to create a "shoulder-to-head" rhythm.
Yu Jia and Bai Yuankai felt that they had met too late.
Yu Jia discussed "Mountain Peach Red" from "The Peony Pavilion: Awakening from a Dream." She had studied this piece with a teacher in Suzhou and had gained considerable experience in practicing it. When Bai Yuankai asked, Yu Jia offered her full instruction. "'Ze Ni You are as beautiful as flowers, and time flows like flowing water. This is my answer, as I search for you in my secluded boudoir, feeling pity for you.' The entering tone of 'ze' should be broken, but not sung too briefly; it can be sung more slowly. Sing the two words 'for you' in one breath, and 'like flowers' in a continuous, relaxed manner. 'Ru' can be sung in a loud voice, and 'Hua' in a soft voice. The transition between high and low voices should be seamless. 'Mei' and 'Shang' should be sung in a loud voice, and 'Chi' in a soft voice. Take a breath after 'Chi'..."
Yu Jia was so engrossed in his talk that he practically acted like a teacher. Bai Yuankai, in turn, clasped his hands together and listened attentively, the boss transformed into a student.
Behind them, a mahjong game was going on fiercely, but one team won and the other three lost - Kang Long made a fortune, while the three ladies lost interest.
Yu Rui's mind was on Yuan Kai and she had no intention of continuing the fight; Yu Shuang was so angry after losing money that he started throwing things around; Yu Meng was a little resentful that Kang Long was too serious and even lied. It was so unnecessary for such a master to pretend before the fight.
Finally, after finishing a full circle, Yu Meng was the first to say, "It's almost done." He stretched, and every move was full of charm.
Yu Rui pushed the cards, counted them, and settled the bill. Win or lose, you have to accept the consequences. Yu Shuang lost the most and was very unhappy. Kang Long carefully counted the money, meticulously.
Yu Shuang was utterly dissatisfied. It was just a joke, why take it seriously? She gave it to him, and he actually wanted it! He was so petty! Incorrigible!
A person's character can be seen from his playing skills. After a game of mahjong, she already wanted to break up with Dr. Li Zi.
A few feet away, Yu Jia was explaining the story. Bai Yuankai, not satisfied with what she was hearing, urged her to sing a few lines. Yu Jia was embarrassed. She hadn't sung in years and was not very good at it, especially in front of so many people. After the card game ended, Yu Meng came over and said she wanted to hear Sister Jia sing. Kang Long corrected her, saying that this was not a song, but Kunqu opera.
Yu Shuang interrupted angrily, "Song, song, the same!" Yu Rui moved closer to Bai Yuankai, but unfortunately Yuankai's eyes were all fixed on Yu Jia, and he didn't notice Rui's existence at all.
Yu Rui was not very happy. Her lipstick was applied in vain and her love was in vain.
"My voice is not so good," Yu Jia declined. Everyone begged again.
It seemed he had to sing. Yu Jia reluctantly went through the motions, taking his breath, and sang the piece he had just taught Yuan Kai from The Peony Pavilion: Awakening from a Dream (Mountain Peach Red), effectively paraphrasing his own explanation.
Yu Meng had taken a Kunqu opera class in the "Rich Ladies" class, but she didn't grasp its essence. She was confused, and felt that Kunqu opera was like the buzzing of a mosquito. Yu Shuang felt sleepy while listening. Yu Rui was worried about how she had prepared for a week, only to let Sister Jia take the spotlight. Kang Long just stood there listening, his pen straight and his face expressionless.
Only Bai Yuankai was completely obsessed with it and was a true amateur.
Yayaya. The road twists and turns.
As soon as Yu Jia finished singing the last word, he was the first to applaud and cheer loudly. Everyone was awakened by his applause and unconsciously followed suit, making Yu Jia feel a little embarrassed.
Bai Yuankai deliberately blamed Yu Shuang, "Xiao Shuang, you should have introduced Teacher Yu to me a long time ago. Now finding a teacher who truly understands Kunqu Opera is harder than attracting investment. Teacher Yu has a good family background, and his music is elegant. I admire him very much." Yu Jia hurriedly said that he didn't dare, as it would be a joke to show off one's skills in front of an expert.
Yu Shuang rolled his eyes at his senior brother and said, "How would I know which Teacher Yu you want to meet? There are four Teacher Yus here."
Yu Meng jokingly said, "We are both Teacher Yu, but we are treated differently. We are also spreading traditional culture, but no one applauds us."
Mahjong is also a traditional culture, even older than Kunqu Opera.
Yu Rui asked Yu Jia what the story they had just sung was about. Yu Jia couldn't quite put it into words. Bai Yuankai answered confidently, "It's about Du Liniang, guided by her maid Chunxiang, visiting the back garden, taking a rest afterward, and meeting Liu Mengmei in her dream."
Very official.
Yu Shuang summarized it again, condensing it, "It's a story about a young lady falling in love with someone in her dream."
It's concise and to the point.
Yu Meng followed up with another question: "Xiaobai, how many times have you talked about it?" She had long wanted to know this "secret".
Bai Yuankai smiled without any shyness, stretched out his palm and showed five fingers.
Everyone was shocked. Five paragraphs wasn't too few. The standard answer was three.
Yu Meng continued to ask: "Xiaokang, what about you?"
"Three," Kang Long said without hesitation. He came prepared.
"How could I not know?" Bai Yuankai questioned. They were more familiar with each other, and he knew Kang Long inside and out.
"How can I let you know everything!" Kang Long blushed. He was obviously lying. Anxiously, he quickly counterattacked, questioning Yu Meng. This wasn't a problem for the veteran. Yu Meng smiled and said, "The only thing I've verified is the one with my ex-husband. But I'm not sure how many times we've talked about it in other people's dreams."
It means that she is someone else's dream lover.
Yu Jia's scalp tingled as she listened. Yu Rui was afraid Kang Long would continue asking questions, so she changed the subject.
A few people talked about insurance. After my mother passed away, a friend in the insurance business tried to sell it to Yu Shuang. Yu Shuang hesitated. Bai Yuankai's point was that wealthy people buy insurance to preserve their wealth, while poor people don't need it. For the middle class, it depends on their own circumstances.
Kang Long suddenly said, "I plan to buy it, but I don't know who to write as the beneficiary." Yuan Kai said that you don't have any children, so you should write your father.
Kang Long said, "Or I can buy it later. When Shuang marries me, I'll write Shuang."
It was quiet in an instant.
Was it a proposal? Even Yu Meng, who had seen a lot, found this proposal a bit strange. So, if Shuang doesn't marry you, you won't buy insurance? Yu Shuang was surprised and stunned. She was surprised that she had the power over the life and death of the insurance business; she was surprised that Kang Long was serious and was going for marriage; she was stunned that his proposal was too utopian. He was so sure of her? What a joke. Just a few minutes ago, she was thinking of breaking up with him.
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