Chapter 83 Mao Mao Plays the Harmonica
Mao Mao's interest in the piano lasted for many days.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she would happily go to the small living room to play the piano, playing all day long. At first, her brother taught her, but later the ladies started teaching her.
Xia Xiaoxiang was truly amazed. It turned out that the Third Concubine was not only fashionable and knew how to dance ballroom dance, but also how to play the piano.
The third concubine not only knew how to play, but she played exceptionally well, even better than the fourth young master of the building. Her playing was just like the Western music playing on a phonograph.
Those slender, fair fingers danced across the piano keys, and the music flowed from her fingertips like a spring, more magical than a magician's.
A look of admiration appeared on the faces of both mother and daughter.
The third concubine was also quite unbelievable.
"It's so simple, how come you can't learn it?" She squeezed onto the same piano bench with Mao Mao, grabbed Mao Mao's short fingers, and pressed the keys one by one: "Like this... remember this key, and you can play it."
Mao Mao obediently replied, "Oh!"
"Got it?"
"Got it!"
The third concubine let go of her hand: "Okay, try playing it again."
Mao Mao: "Ta-da!"
Bang bang bang!
Before she could finish playing, the third concubine clutched her head in exasperation, crying out, "Stop! Stop! You're wrong, you're wrong!"
Mao Mao withdrew her little hand, looked up with her innocent little face, and obediently looked at her.
The third concubine, her nails painted bright red, gently pinched the little girl's soft, fleshy cheeks. Mao Mao then leaned against her, her small body seemingly boneless as she snuggled close.
But the third concubine showed no mercy. Her eyebrows furrowed in anger, she straightened her up, and said with an iron heart, "Try it again. I don't believe I can't teach you."
"Okay," Mao Mao replied obediently.
Her little hands returned to the piano keys: "Ding ding ding!"
Third concubine: "..."
The third concubine is simply unbelievable.
“Baby, this is 'do,' and this is 'la,' it's 'la so la so,' not 'do do do.'”
Mao Mao opened her big, innocent eyes and said in confusion, "Fourth Aunt, they all sound pretty much the same."
Xia Xiaoxiang nodded vigorously beside her: "That's right, it sounds about the same to me."
Third concubine: "..."
"Ah Chun, Ah Chun!" The third concubine cried out, clutching her forehead, "Where's my headache medicine? Bring it to me quickly, my head hurts so much!"
The third concubine stood up, holding her head. At this moment, she wished she could get as far away from the mother and daughter as possible, hoping not to see them at all. She walked away impatiently in her high heels.
The second concubine took her place and sat next to Mao Mao.
She stretched out her arm and pulled Mao Mao into her embrace, holding her soft little hand with delight: "Mao Mao, let me teach you."
The first wife smiled and said, "Mao Mao is still so young, there's no need to force her to learn. Just let her play happily."
The third concubine, having taken headache medicine, leaned against the sofa armrest, her forehead in her hand. Upon hearing this, she was immediately exasperated: "She is happy, but I haven't slept well for two days. Every time I close my eyes, it's like I can hear her playing the piano."
Mao Mao: "Ta-da!"
"That's how it is!" the third concubine complained. "The old lady's cat usually follows her around, but these past few days, the cat has disappeared."
Mao Mao: "Ta-da!"
“Even the Third Young Master has been getting up early lately. Every morning, he drives out first thing in the morning.”
"Is there so much going on in the gallery?"
"It's about going out to sketch, carrying an easel around every day."
"Maybe he went out with his friends."
Mao Mao: "Ta-da!"
The second concubine sat back down among the concubines and whispered, "The old lady said before that she wanted Mao Mao to learn a traditional musical instrument, but she hasn't mentioned it since."
Even though she has begun to embrace Western culture, the old lady still prefers traditional Chinese culture.
“Mao Mao is still so young, it’s too early for her to learn these things. Even the Fourth Young Master didn’t start learning piano until he was five years old.”
"Why haven't I seen the old lady today?"
"I know. This morning, the Third Young Master took the Old Madam out to listen to a play."
Just then, the sound of a car came from outside.
It was the return of Old Madam Lou and Lou Hongjian, who had gone out to watch a play.
Soon, Lou Hongjian's voice came from the front door: "Mao Mao—Mao Mao—"
Mao Mao stopped playing the piano and turned her head at the sound.
"Mao Mao, I brought you a gift!"
"A gift!" Mao Mao's eyes lit up.
She didn't even care about playing the piano anymore. She quickly turned around, lay down on the piano bench, reached for the ground with her little feet, slid down with a thud, and landed on the ground. Then she happily ran out with her short legs, shouting, "Brother, brother, I'm here!"
Lou Hongjian was carrying several bags. When he saw her, he took out a long, rectangular box from one of the bags and handed it to her with a smile: "Here you go, Mao Mao, this is for you."
The box was carefully wrapped in colored paper and tied with a pretty ribbon in a bow. Regardless of what was inside, the beautiful packaging alone made Mao Mao hug it tightly, and little flowers fluttered behind her.
Lou Hongjian: "Quick, open it and take a look."
The gift box contained a small harmonica.
Mao Mao didn't recognize the harmonica: "Brother, what is this?"
"This is a harmonica." Lou Hongjian picked up the harmonica, put it to his lips, and easily played a cheerful tune. "See, this is how you use it."
Mao Mao: "Wow!"
Her eyes lit up.
More convenient and simpler than a piano!
And it's not big, even Mao Mao's little hands can hold it, and you can run around with it.
Lou Hongjian handed the harmonica back: "Here, give it a try."
"Uh-huh!"
Mao Mao took a deep breath, puffed out her cheeks, brought her close to the harmonica, and exhaled: "Pfft pfft!"
"Hmm?" Mao Mao blinked in confusion.
Why is it different from what my brother is blowing?
She took another deep breath: "Puff puff! Puff—"
Old Madam Lou, who followed behind, was speechless.
Lou Hongjian laughed heartily: "Yes, yes, that's exactly how you brag."
As if he had successfully pulled off a prank, before Old Madam Lou could raise her cane to tap her leg, he strode up the stairs carrying large and small bags, exclaiming, "Ah Sui—look what your brother bought for you!"
Mao Mao's entire attention was drawn to her new gift.
Holding the harmonica in her little hands, she brought her mouth to the side and breathed out from beginning to end, then took a deep breath and breathed out from end to beginning, quickly finding enjoyment in it.
I made a lot of "puffing" noises on my way back to find my mothers, and I almost bumped into a wall, but luckily the old lady pulled me back in time.
"Mother!" Mao Mao ran excitedly back to her mother's side, holding up the harmonica in her hand to show her: "Third brother gave it to me."
“Mother, listen.”
Mao Mao raised her harmonica: "Pop-poop-poop-"
She has her own rhythm when playing the harmonica, rather than the piano.
His breaths, sometimes long, sometimes short, would pause occasionally to catch his breath, intermittent, like a little dumpling singing.
The ladies watched as she puffed out her chubby cheeks, blowing with such seriousness that her little face turned red, and after a few words, they clapped along, saying, "It sounds good, it sounds good."
Mao Mao immediately became even more energetic, making "poof poof" sounds.
He stood confidently in front of the ladies, his little belly sticking out, and performed for them with great enthusiasm, his little tuft of hair bobbing happily.
But soon she stopped, panting.
He sat down on the sofa, leaning wearily against his mother, panting heavily.
Playing the harmonica is also a physically demanding activity!
The ladies looked at the harmonica in her hand with surprise and delight.
—This is great stuff!
This is much better than playing the piano!
The third concubine's headache immediately disappeared, and she said with great joy, "Mao Mao, I'll teach you to play the harmonica!"
Mao Mao: "Pfft—Pfft—"
While Mao Mao was enthusiastically playing the harmonica every day, Lou Yansui's surgery day soon arrived.
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