Chapter 94

"Mr. Zheng's comments do have some merit, but I think it's still okay for you to participate in the competition with 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.' You've practiced this piece to perfection. If you take it to the competition, it will definitely make a big impact," Yuan Yue said as she walked alongside Wen Shasha.

Just now, their ensemble piece 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter' had its first public performance, receiving a full house of applause. Wen Shasha's final performance was particularly stunning, leaving almost everyone in awe of her technique.

However, Mr. Zheng Xiong, a senior figure in the sand art world, gave them a different evaluation. Mr. Zheng said their work was a bit too ethereal, with more emphasis on showing off technique than on the story the piece was supposed to convey.

Such a work is impressive at first glance, but if it were to be entered in a national competition, where many experienced judges would analyze and appreciate it, there wouldn't be much left to commend.

Mr. Zheng suggested that if they were to participate in the competition, they should choose a work that could touch people's hearts and move them, rather than something too artistic.

Colorless dynamic sand art should be a storytelling art. Unlike traditional fine arts, which can express static beauty through color and technique, sand art is fluid. In a sense, it should be like a movie, leaving a touching and moving story.

If the sand art is made into a highly technical MV or a highly esoteric art film, such a work would not perform well in a competition.

After hearing Mr. Zheng's evaluation, Wen Shasha was quite disheartened. But upon careful reflection, she realized that Mr. Zheng was right. If her goal was to win the gold medal in the national sand art competition, using such an esoteric work might not gain the approval of the senior artists.

"Ah..."

Wen Shasha sighed deeply.

"Don't overthink it. The deadline for submitting the work is in a month. If you change it now and redesign it, there won't be enough time. Just use 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter' for the competition."

"Compressing 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter' into a 10-minute piece makes the story even weaker. Mr. Zheng is right; I shouldn't focus on showing off my technique. I should present a better story, one that returns to the emotional impact of sand art."

"What about using 'The Faithful Dog' for the competition? That's definitely a touching story."

"No, I've already used 'The Faithful Dog' in other competitions. I can't submit it again."

"What should we do then?"

"I don't know. I'll think about it for a few days."

She walked along the beach, filled with melancholy.

At that moment, a melancholic and beautiful guitar melody drifted from a distance.

Wen Shasha and Yuan Yue looked over in unison.

The slender back of Lin Zaishan, wearing a baseball cap, came into view.

"Hey? Isn't that Uncle Lin, Bai Ge's father?"

Yuan Yue pointed to Lin Zaishan from a distance of about ten meters.

"It seems so. I'm a bit confused; why does Bai Ge's father have the surname Lin?"

When the people from Dafu mentioned Uncle Lin, Wen Shasha had this doubt but never had the courage to ask.

"Heh, maybe they're not related by blood?"

"Bai Ge looks a lot like Uncle Lin. They should be related."

"I don't know. Should we go and greet Uncle Lin?"

"No, he's on a date. Why would you disturb him?" Wen Shasha held Yuan Yue back, preventing her from disturbing Lin Zaishan.

"Cheating on Bai Ge's mother and dating someone else in our school, Uncle Lin is really bold. He's not afraid Bai Ge will see."

"Bai Ge doesn't seem to have a mother." Wen Shasha had heard from Huang Ying that Bai Ge came from a single-parent family and had always lived with her father.

"Is that so? Let's go then. We shouldn't disturb them. It looks like Uncle Lin is going to find a young stepmother for Bai Ge. Hehe." Yuan Yue covered her mouth and laughed, ready to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Wen Shasha gently called out and held Yuan Yue back.

Amidst the sound of waves crashing on the beach and the beautiful, melancholic guitar melody, she faintly heard the story Lin Zaishan was telling. It was a touching story set in a time of war, and she was immediately captivated. She pulled Yuan Yue closer to Lin Zaishan, wanting to listen more carefully.

"What are you doing?"

Yuan Yue whispered to Wen Shasha, having never seen her act so "sneaky" before, actually trying to eavesdrop on someone's date!

"Shh—"

Wen Shasha put her slender finger to her lips, signaling Yuan Yue to be quiet.

Yuan Yue also heard the story Lin Zaishan was telling. His voice was gentle and magnetic, and with the guitar, the story became even more vivid and moving.

"… I once heard a folk song from the Soviet Union during World War II, I think it originated from the Ukraine region," Lin Zaishan was setting the stage for 'The Birch Forest.'

Wen Shasha's great-great-grandfather was a Cossack from the Ukraine region, and her great-great-grandmother was a British nurse.

Her grandfather had half Ukrainian blood, or Soviet blood, and had participated in World War II, eventually dying on the battlefield in China.

As soon as she heard Lin Zaishan mention Ukraine, Wen Shasha was immediately drawn in.

In this world, there was also a brutal World War II and a Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. However, due to the existence of the Chinese Empire, which was neither pro-American nor pro-Soviet, somewhat indifferent to its own relatives, but always seeking alliances with other countries and taking advantage of every opportunity, the entire world's political landscape was heavily influenced by China.

The Cold War between the East and the West didn't last long and ended many years ago. The Soviet Union had already disintegrated thirty years ago. The United States, after receiving a large amount of capital from China, also saw its economy severely lag behind.

"The inspiration for this song comes from that Ukrainian folk song. Behind the song is a touching and sad story about life and love during World War II."

Sun Yuzhen listened intently, her face full of emotion as she listened to Lin Zaishan's moving story.

"It was probably in the summer of World War II. The Soviet Red Army, after fierce battles, was gradually pushing the German army out of the border. On the western border between the Soviet Union and Poland, the German army was making a final stand. Under the cover of night, a Soviet reconnaissance team infiltrated deep into enemy territory… As they achieved one success after another, the German army issued three urgent orders, dispatching over ten thousand troops to search for and destroy this reconnaissance team…

"The reconnaissance team lost their radio in an encounter. To report the important intelligence to the Soviet army, they risked their lives to infiltrate the enemy's heart and seize the radio. After a fierce battle, they finally recovered the radio and hid in a small wooden house by the river. The German army surrounded them from all sides. Gunfire broke the silence of the forest, but the information was transmitted to the military command and the supreme headquarters. However, the reconnaissance team members sacrificed their young lives…

"Before this, a Ukrainian girl stood under the birch trees, silently watching her lover leave with the army. Her lover was a member of this reconnaissance team. She carved their names on the birch tree, full of hope, waiting for her lover to return victorious. But when the war ended, her lover never came back. People have feelings, but war is merciless. White snow fell in the quiet village, and the two names on the birch tree marked a simple yet deeply moving love story."

As he told the story, Lin Zaishan was also deeply moved, a sad smile on his lips. He said to the already moved Sun Yuzhen, "The name of this song is 'The Birch Forest.'"

He then began to sing—

...

In the quiet village, the snow is white,

Under the gray sky, doves fly,

On the birch tree, the two names are carved,

They vowed to love each other for life,

...

One day, the war came to their hometown,

The young man took up arms and went to the front,

My love, don't worry about me,

Wait for me in the birch forest,

...

[Please give me a recommendation!]

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