Chapter 76

Originally, Tao Meng was planning to go off-campus, but she changed her mind and decided to eat in the cafeteria again. After ordering the dishes and getting her utensils, Tao Meng took out a tissue to wipe them, and noticed, "It's cleaner than in our cafeteria. We have a minority cafeteria, and I went there once with Kuang Jing. We ate the thick noodles, but I didn't like it."

Yang Jingxing said, "We've known each other for so long, but I don't know what you like to eat. Give me a hint."

Tao Meng thought for a moment, "I don't have any particular favorites... What about you?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I like anything that tastes good."

Tao Meng glanced at him, "We are completely opposite!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Actually, we are the same."

Next to them, a couple was also ordering stir-fried dishes. They were very affectionate, and within five minutes, they had kissed three times. As soon as the couple left, Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing and scolded, "There are many such couples in our school, is it really necessary! I think it's a strange phenomenon, I don't know if it's open-minded or..."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "This is pure."

Tao Meng warned, "Don't contradict me today!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Think about it, would they be affectionate here if they weren't pure? They would have found another place by now."

Tao Meng scolded, "Disgusting... That's not necessarily true, maybe they can't get enough of each other."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "It's possible... The most likely reason is that the guy is from the wind instrument department, and his mouth is tired, so the girl is giving him a massage."

Tao Meng pretended to want to teach Yang Jingxing a lesson for his dirty thoughts, but then stopped and looked around to see if the food was ready.

Just as they were about to start eating, Yang Jingxing saw Yu Xinting and An Xin, so he waved them over and suggested they order a couple of dishes and share a table.

Yu Xinting said, "No need, we'll get our food."

Yang Jingxing said, "There's not much left. Why don't you eat first, and I'll go order."

Tao Meng also said, "Let's eat together... It would be best to order a hot soup, it's a bit cold."

Yu Xinting looked a bit hesitant, "Okay, we'll go."

Yang Jingxing stood up, "You won't be able to carry the soup, I'll go."

Tao Meng said, "Let him go."

An Xin said, "We'll get the bowls."

When Yang Jingxing brought back a large bowl of mushroom and tofu soup, Tao Meng questioned the service quality, "Can't they bring it to us? It's so troublesome."

Yang Jingxing said, "Eat quickly, or it will get cold."

After Yang Jingxing finished serving and sat down, the three girls hadn't eaten much yet. He immediately set the pace. Tao Meng asked Yu Xinting about her tutoring, saying, "The little girl is quite cute."

Yu Xinting nodded, "Yes, she's also very smart and knows a lot."

Tao Meng asked, "Does she like to study on her own?"

Yu Xinting seemed unsure how to describe it, "Sometimes she likes it, sometimes she doesn't, but a little encouragement is enough."

Tao Meng said, "I think parents should guide their children in education, not force them... Why are you laughing?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'm laughing because you know a lot."

Yu Xinting said, "Actually, I don't force her. Sometimes she even waits for me, hoping I'll come early."

Tao Meng laughed, "I practiced the piano all morning. He wrote a new piece, a piano and trumpet duet."

"Oh," Yu Xinting nodded.

An Xin asked Yu Xinting, "Have you heard it?"

Yu Xinting shook her head, "No."

Tao Meng said, "I just gave it a name, 'Through Wind and Rain.' Hey, do you have time this afternoon? Come over and give me some guidance."

An Xin said, "We don't need to guide you."

Tao Meng said, "Three people together, one of them must be a teacher, and you are both from the piano department."

Yang Jingxing reminded, "But be mindful of your approach. Don't say she plays poorly, suggest how to improve."

Tao Meng glared at Yang Jingxing, and Yu Xinting smiled lightly. At this moment, Qi Qingnuo walked over, "Hey, gathering here, huh."

Yang Jingxing said, "Go buy some food."

Qi Qingnuo said, "I've already eaten, I came to buy water, eat slowly." After a few steps, she turned back and asked, "What are you doing this afternoon?"

Tao Meng said, "We'll go to the classroom later, come if you have time."

"Okay," Qi Qingnuo nodded, "I'll go first."

After finishing their meal, they prepared to go to Room 402. Tao Meng said she wanted to bring a bottle of water, so Yang Jingxing bought one for Yu Xinting and An Xin as well. After reaching the fourth floor of the North Building, Tao Meng had to go to the restroom first, and Yang Jingxing kept watch while An Xin and Yu Xinting went into the classroom first.

When Yang Jingxing and Tao Meng entered the classroom, An Xin was playing the sheet music that Tao Meng had neatly placed on the electric piano, and Yu Xinting was helping her turn the pages.

After listening for a while, Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing, "She plays better than me."

Yang Jingxing shook his head exaggeratedly, "No, no, not as well as you."

Tao Meng was clearly unhappy.

Qi Qingnuo came over, and seeing An Xin playing, she didn't ask who it was, just went over to look at the sheet music, then turned to Yang Jingxing and raised her eyebrows.

An Xin, of course, played very well, but because she hadn't received guidance from the composer, her performance was a bit off in some places. And the single part sounded only relatively beautiful, the duet was needed to bring out the power of the piece.

The others listened, waiting for An Xin to finish her professional performance. Then An Xin stood up and said to Yu Xinting, "You try."

Yu Xinting shook her head, "No, thanks."

Tao Meng clapped lightly, "You played well. Let's do a duet."

Yang Jingxing put the mute on his trumpet, and Tao Meng asked him why. Yang Jingxing explained that the morning was for practice, now it was for performance, and it should be more professional.

After Tao Meng sat down, she complained, "The bench is uncomfortable, you should change it." Then she said to Yu Xinting, "Can you help me turn the pages?"

Qi Qingnuo said, "I'll do it." She had just caught the gist and wanted to look at the sheet music carefully.

In the counterpoint course, it was mentioned that in counterpoint music, the distance between the contrapuntal parts should be close, and the timbres should be unified, to create a strong counterpoint effect. This is not an outdated rule but a continuously summarized experience. Composers generally respect this principle when writing counterpoint. For example, in symphonic counterpoint, it is often limited to one timbre, either strings or winds, and the range of the writing is not too wide. In pure counterpoint works, there are rarely different instruments playing together, and this is also mentioned in orchestration classes.

However, "Through Wind and Rain" is not a strict counterpoint fugue. Although it is generally in counterpoint form, it has many unique elements. The purpose of counterpoint is to make one person sound like many, and the purpose of a duet is to make many sound like one. But "Through Wind and Rain" alternates between one person and two people. The piano and trumpet have moments of coordination and moments of individual brilliance.

If analyzed, most people would say the structure of the entire piece is complex and orderly, and some might say it is chaotic.

However, listening to Yang Jingxing and Tao Meng's performance was a pleasure for the ears. Qi Qingnuo stood there, one hand supporting her chin, the other ready to turn the pages, listening and watching intently. Yu Xinting and An Xin also stood still, the muted trumpet not too loud for their ears. Compared to the duet, An Xin's solo was in vain, even though she played much better than Tao Meng. After a couple of minutes, Gao Pianpian, Shao Fangjie, and Liu Siman also came up, quietly entering the classroom and standing at the door.

Hey, so many spectators, Tao Meng was really getting into it, her performance taking on a professional air.

At the gentle and harmonious ending, Tao Meng looked at the others. Yang Jingxing led, "Come on, give us some applause."

The girls laughed and clapped, Tao Meng scolded Yang Jingxing, "Aren't you embarrassed!"

Yu Xinting stretched her hands behind her back and said, looking from Yang Jingxing to Tao Meng, "It sounds really good."

Qi Qingnuo flipped the sheet music to the first page and said, "Through Wind and Rain, what a good name."

Tao Meng chuckled, "I just made it up, a bit cliché, I want to change it."

Qi Qingnuo nodded, "Don't change it, it's simple and elegant." After a deep breath, she asked Yang Jingxing, "Is it on your computer?"

Yang Jingxing said it was, and Qi Qingnuo quickly took out a USB drive to copy it. Gao Pianpian also made a copy. Qi Qingnuo looked at the computer and asked Yang Jingxing, "You can graduate now?" This piece was not only melodious but also showed a relatively mature composition technique.

Gao Pianpian thanked Yang Jingxing. Yang Jingxing said, "Don't thank me, it's hers."

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "Copyright?"

Tao Meng laughed proudly, "What copyright, I'm glad you like it."

Shao Fangjie said, "No wonder it's called 'Through Wind and Rain.'"

Liu Siman asked Qi Qingnuo, "Do you need some motivation..." She struck a seductive pose, looking at Qi Qingnuo with affection, and said in a sweet voice, "Husband, you are so tall and handsome, I admire you so much."

Qi Qingnuo patted her chest, "You scared away all my inspiration."

Liu Siman exclaimed, "Oh, don't hit so hard, it's all swollen now."

Qi Qingnuo retorted, "I'll help you swell too!"

Yu Xinting and An Xin couldn't help but laugh, Tao Meng also smiled, and Yang Jingxing had a half-smile.

After a while, Yu Xinting suggested, "Let's go."

Liu Siman agreed, "Let's go, so many third wheels, not energy-efficient."

Tao Meng said, "No need, you guys play, we're going to watch a movie."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Anyone else want to come?"

Of course, no one did.

Tao Meng organized the sheet music and was about to take it away, and Qi Qingnuo asked Yang Jingxing to leave the computer, "If you don't come back tonight, I'll keep it here for you."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll come back for dinner."

On the way out, Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing if Qi Qingnuo and the others were usually so outspoken, and Yang Jingxing said it was rare and not really that outspoken.

Tao Meng said, "If that's not considered outspoken, you would never be so extreme!"

Yang Jingxing asked, "Do you want me to outdo them?"

Tao Meng stood tall, "You try!"

Yang Jingxing chuckled a few times.

Tao Meng sneered, "Just bragging."

Yang Jingxing said, "The clothes are thick, you can't see, take them off."

"Daydreaming!" Tao Meng hugged herself and asked, "Do you know what your classmates think of you?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I have a pretty high school classmate."

Tao Meng laughed, "Not that! I mean, what do they think of you as a person, your personality, your studies?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't know, I never asked."

"Do you not have a rough idea?"

"No."

Tao Meng asked, "Do you have a summary of your college life so far?"

Yang Jingxing started, "I've learned a few instruments, listened to some works, finished a few books, and gained a general understanding of composition."

Tao Meng nodded, "Hmm, that's the academic side, what about interpersonal relationships?"

Yang Jingxing summarized, "I've met a lot of people, I'm close to Qi Qingnuo and Yu Xinting, I'm half-acquainted with classmates, I know many teachers, and I don't have much social network, just a few people, you know... and one you might not know."

"Who?" Tao Meng was alert.

Yang Jingxing said, "A girl, we've known each other for three or four years, we were just acquaintances before, didn't talk much, but now I feel we are becoming good friends."

Tao Meng asked, "Du Ling? No, you've known her for years, who is it? Have I met her?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Not in person."

Tao Meng was frustrated, "What do you mean? Have you heard of her?"

Yang Jingxing said, "You'll see her in the mirror."

Tao Meng stomped her foot, "You are so annoying!"

Yang Jingxing huffed, "It shows you don't have this awareness."

Tao Meng exclaimed, "If I said I know a guy, we didn't talk much before, but now we are good, would you think it's you? Your first reaction wouldn't be, right?" Oh, she accidentally scattered the sheet music in her hand.

Yang Jingxing quickly helped pick it up and was scolded, "All your fault, rewrite it! It's all dirty!"

Yang Jingxing carefully cleaned and organized the sheet music, not daring to make a move. Tao Meng helped summarize, "Overall, your college life has been smooth and successful so far. I hope you stay humble and continue to study hard."

Yang Jingxing said, "Thank you for giving me a positive evaluation because of my interpersonal relationships."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing suspiciously, "Are you mocking me?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "It's a double compliment!"

Tao Meng was skeptical, "Are you saying I gave you a positive evaluation because of myself?"

Yang Jingxing pouted, "You are so annoying."

Tao Meng raised the paper roll, didn't hit him, and didn't say a word, ultimately choosing to walk away quickly.

Yang Jingxing hurried to catch up and asked, "Was I cute just now?"

Tao Meng held back a laugh, "Disgusting."

Yang Jingxing understood, "It seems it has the opposite effect on men. I just wanted to return the favor."

Tao Meng's lips pouted, but her mouth smiled, "You are mocking me."

Yang Jingxing imitated, "You are mocking me... How about this?"

"No more imitating!" Tao Meng finally succeeded in getting angry.

Yang Jingxing calmed down and then asked, "Will someone see us?"

Tao Meng gloated, "I hope your image is completely ruined."

After walking for a while, Tao Meng suddenly giggled. Yang Jingxing was alert, "Oh, you want to act crazy and ruin my image!"

Tao Meng stopped laughing, didn't blame him, and became serious, looking around slowly, "Why are you so happy today?"

Yang Jingxing said, "You praised me."

Tao Meng added, "Don't be so... disgusting in the future, I don't like it."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "I can tell."

Tao Meng conceded, "Only occasionally... If others see, it really leaves a bad impression."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "I'll be careful."