Chapter 2

Seeing Manager Xiao so anxious, Zhang Xiaodong didn't dare to dawdle. While thinking about the Five Finger Magic Sound, he directly entered the bar, which was filled with the smell of alcohol and a chaotic atmosphere. The bar wasn't large, looked a bit rough, and had a very old-fashioned style.

On the stage, a girl who looked like a student was singing a song called "Red Bean." Her expression was somewhat unnatural, her face showing signs of tension and fear. Zhang Xiaodong knew at a glance that this girl was new to the job. To be a bar singer, you had to have a thick skin and be outgoing!

In the audience, a group of men weren't really listening to the song; they were all sizing up the young girl, their eyes gleaming with desire. "Good! Good! One more!" One of the men, middle-aged with a gold chain and tattoos, came forward. "Come, little sister, drink this glass of wine to moisten your throat, and sing 'The Love of the Boatman' for your big brother."

The tattooed man's face was flushed, clearly having had a lot to drink. He grabbed the girl and tried to grope her.

"Sorry, I don't drink, and I don't know how to sing it..." The girl was terrified, her face pale, and she tried to dodge, even on the verge of tears.

"Don't know?" The tattooed man smiled lecherously. "No problem, big brother will teach you! If you sing well, big brother will give you a big reward tonight!" "Come! Listen, follow big brother! You sit on the bed, and big brother will take off his pants... ah, ah, love..."

Ha ha ha~~ A wave of laughter erupted from the bar's patrons, especially the men. Of course, many people looked unhappy, clearly disliking the scene. However, the tattooed man was powerful, and no one dared to speak out.

"Oh no!" Manager Xiao, the fat man, broke out in a cold sweat at the sight. "Quick! Xiaodong, you go!" As he spoke, Manager Xiao stepped forward. "Big Brother Biao, she's new and only knows this one song. How about next time? Next time she'll sing for you properly!"

"Next time?" Biao's face was flushed from drinking, and he pointed at Manager Xiao with his wine glass. "You? You... Get lost! I want to hear it today!"

The girl was terrified, her face pale, and she didn't expect that even the bar manager couldn't help. "Big Brother Biao, for the sake of our boss, can you let it go? It's not easy for the girl, right?"

"Your boss? Hmph! What's she? I don't give a damn about anyone!" Biao, reeking of alcohol, said, "Sing! Sing for me! No one leaves until she sings!"

The girl was frozen in fear, and the audience began to murmur. It seemed something was about to happen tonight. Meng Biao, a rising tycoon, was rumored to have connections with local gangs. Although the bar owner wasn't simple, a strong dragon couldn't suppress a local snake. Most importantly, Biao had recently opened a bar on the nearby commercial street, and he was here to cause trouble!

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaodong cursed inwardly. Wasn't sending him up there a death sentence? But seeing the girl's pitiful look, his heart softened. Moreover, if he didn't go, his friend Qiangzi might lose his job at the bar. Qiangzi's conditions weren't good, and losing his job as a bar singer would be disastrous!

"Friends, are you all doing well? I'm Zhang Xiaodong, known as the Song King of East China! I heard someone wants to hear 'The Love of the Boatman'? Who's the big brother?" As he spoke, Zhang Xiaodong walked up, his face tense. He gave the girl a look, signaling her to leave quickly.

"Let's get the accompaniment going!" Zhang Xiaodong shouted.

"Sit on the bed, and big brother will take off his pants..." Without waiting for the audience's response, Zhang Xiaodong started singing.

"Stop! Stop! Who the hell told you to sing?!" Biao's face changed, and he splashed a glass of wine on Zhang Xiaodong's face. "You! Come back!" He then turned to the girl.

Zhang Xiaodong's face was awkward, and he wanted to get angry but held back. "Ah, thank you, Big Brother Biao, for the wine! Since you like it, I'll give it my all! Let everyone have a good time!" He licked the wine from his face, which stung. He endured it! In this line of work, it was a choice between money and dignity!

Seeing that he had splashed wine on his face and called it a reward, Meng Biao laughed. "Good kid! You've got guts! You want to sing, right? Here, drink this bottle of wine! Finish it, and I'll let you sing, and the girl can go!"

As he spoke, Meng Biao's henchmen brought a bottle of foreign liquor. Zhang Xiaodong knew this wine; though he hadn't tasted it, he had seen others drink it. A normal person could only handle half a bottle; more would surely get them drunk!

"Ah, Big Brother Biao, this wine must cost a lot. How about this: I'll sing for you, and I'll take the wine home to drink. Or, you can give me cash instead."

Meng Biao laughed. He had seen many people with a sense of humor, but few dared to joke at such a critical moment. By now, Meng Biao was a bit sober, and looking at the young man, he smiled. "Do you drink or not? If not, get lost!"

Taking the bottle, Zhang Xiaodong's lips twitched. "Alright! I'll drink!" He lifted the bottle and gulped it down. He choked a few times but managed to finish it. "Damn! You wait, when I make it big, I'll make you drink urine in front of me!" As soon as he finished, Zhang Xiaodong felt dizzy, his head throbbing, but he cursed inwardly.

"Ha ha! Good! Good! You've got guts! Sing, sing 'The Love of the Boatman'!" He glanced at the girl. "You can go. You're lucky to have such a brave boyfriend!"

With that, Meng Biao sat back down, watching Zhang Xiaodong.

The girl felt like she had been reborn. Hearing the word "boyfriend," she blushed and looked at Zhang Xiaodong with gratitude.

"Meiting, go, don't look. Go quickly. Ah~~" Seeing this, Manager Xiao quickly pulled the girl away, glancing back at Zhang Xiaodong. "This kid is really loyal! And he's got a thick skin!"

Backstage, they heard the raunchy "The Love of the Boatman" from the stage. The way he sang such a vulgar song so boldly and freely was unprecedented! Manager Xiao shook his head, thinking that the friend Qiangzi knew was truly talented!

The girl, Meiting, looked at the stage, blushing and feeling grateful.

On stage, after a few lines, Zhang Xiaodong's mind was already out of control. He was almost swaying, "Little sister, sit on the bed, big brother will take off his pants..." He didn't know what he was singing, but the audience was having a great time. The more they enjoyed it, the more energized Zhang Xiaodong became. He was so eager for this stage, it felt so good! How long had it been since he had sung so freely, with so many people listening live?

He sang "The Love of the Boatman" three or four times, and the audience joined in, drinking more and more.

"Friends, are you all having a good time tonight?" Zhang Xiaodong shouted, almost unconsciously.

"Good time!" The audience cheered, mostly because they were drunk.

"Great! Then let Brother Dong make you even happier! How about a song I'm good at?" Zhang Xiaodong, now drunk, called himself Brother Dong. Leaning on the microphone stand, his eyes were blurry, and he looked like he was about to fall.

"Good! One more! One more!" The audience had no objections.

"Big Brother Biao, this kid is calling himself Brother Dong!" Meng Biao's henchman stood up.

"Let him, let him, have some fun, ha ha!!"

On stage, Zhang Xiaodong's face was flushed from the alcohol, but he looked more serious. He picked up his old guitar. As the first note rang out, the drunk Zhang Xiaodong didn't notice, but the Five Finger Magic Sound instantly responded. The first level of the Five Finger Magic Sound: Wind!

"I dedicate this song to someone, my mother! Mom, I'm useless, and you've raised me, but I can't even get a decent job." Zhang Xiaodong was completely drunk. "I will work hard, and when I succeed and make money, I will take good care of you!" His voice choked. "Candlelight in the Dark, I dedicate it to everyone!"

As soon as he said this, the scene fell silent. Everyone could see that the young man on stage was drunk, possibly blacked out. He was speaking the truth, pouring out his heart.

"Damn! Who wants to hear 'Candlelight in the Dark'? Keep singing 'The Love of the Boatman'!" Meng Biao's henchman stood up, and some customers joined in. "What a downer!"

"Damn, shut up!" To everyone's surprise, it was Meng Biao himself who spoke. "Listen to him!" No one dared to challenge Meng Biao, and the noise stopped. The music began. Meng Biao, listening to the melody, his lips twitched, and his eyes moistened.

From the moment Zhang Xiaodong started playing his guitar, the entire scene seemed to be enchanted, captivated by the song.

Zhang Xiaodong's singing might not have been great, but his drunken state allowed him to pour out his deep feelings for his mother, even singing hysterically, with the Five Finger Magic Sound amplifying the effect. Everyone was drawn in.

Their minds were filled with images of their mothers from childhood. Gratitude, guilt, regret, and self-blame. The Five Finger Magic Sound stirred the deepest love and guilt in their hearts.

From moist eyes to uncontrollable tears, people started to leave the bar. One young man took out his phone and dialed a number he hadn't called in a long time. "Mom, how are you?"

"Mom is fine, take care of yourself..." A familiar and caring voice came from the other end. As soon as she spoke, the young man's tears started flowing again. Like him, many others who left the bar were in similar states.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaodong, unable to hold on any longer, collapsed on stage, snoring loudly. The remaining customers left quietly. Manager Xiao and Meiting ran over, worried. "Big Brother Biao, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Seeing Meng Biao, Manager Xiao hurried to apologize.

"Forget it." Meng Biao, unusually, looked at Meiting. "You're Meiting, right? I was wrong today. This kid is good, cherish him..."

Meiting blushed and nodded. Meng Biao glanced at Zhang Xiaodong, then turned and left the bar. As he walked out, he took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Manager Xiao, what... what should we do?" Meiting, seeing Zhang Xiaodong lying on the ground, was at a loss.

"I don't know where he lives. I can't reach Qiangzi. How about this, Meiting, can you help him find a place to stay?" Manager Xiao continued, "I'm too busy to leave. I'll leave it to you, Meiting. Ah, that song just now... it still makes me feel a bit uncomfortable..."

"Ah? Me? Where can I find a place for him to stay?" As Manager Xiao turned to work, Meiting was in a dilemma.

(Readers, please follow, recommend, and support. I need to climb the charts and get some exposure on the new book list. The next chapter is even more exciting.)

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