Chapter 9

The requirements for the voice in Peking Opera are very high, but the little tune Yang Han is about to sing is much simpler.

"Sharp is the tip of the peach leaf, willow leaves cover the sky..."

He didn’t even need accompaniment; Yang Han demonstrated what it meant to have a "crisp voice"!

His unique, deep voice was very captivating, making people shiver involuntarily. And this naturally resonant singing style allowed Yang Han to convey the melody of the tune with his clear singing!

"Listen to me, the upright official, as I speak, this matter, oh, it happened..."

There are many types of Beijing folk songs, but this one has a bit of a theatrical style, and it could even be said that these folk songs are a form of evolution from various operas.

Yang Ruoyi didn’t know much about opera, and she didn’t understand much about music theory either, but she could hear the musical interest in the little tune her father sang. The old men around her were listening to the story, but Yang Ruoyi was thoroughly enjoying her father’s singing!

Like "in" the position, "this upright official," "listen to me," and the "sharp tip" of the peach leaf, one after another, the retro yet slightly fresh turns of the voice made Yang Ruoyi nod her head involuntarily. Her spirited appearance was just like a child watching their favorite cartoon.

"Exploring the Clear Water River" is a Beijing folk song that tells a tragic love story, with a strong background from the old era!

The reason Yang Han chose to sing this little tune was that he knew the old men in their sixties and seventies had experienced the hardships of the past. He believed the era’s sense of the story might bring back their childhood memories—resonance.

Sure enough, Fu Taining, sitting in the front, listened with great interest, nodding his head, just like people in the last century who would bring small stools to listen to plays!

But while they all nodded their heads, Yang Ruoyi’s nodding was clearly different.

At sixteen, how could she understand such a complex love tragedy? Even if it were a classic like "Romeo and Juliet," she wouldn’t have much feeling—she would only find the love suicide shocking, without considering whether it was worth it or the historical context of the tragedy.

Indeed, Yang Ruoyi didn’t quite understand the story in the lyrics; she was actually immersed in the melody of the little tune and her father’s singing style!

At some point, Yang Han had put down his teacup and picked up a paper fan from somewhere, folding it and holding it with his tiger mouth, gently tapping the rhythm on his hand.

"The sun sets, autumn insects chirp, thinking of my sixth brother all day and night..." Yang Han sang, making a flower with the paper fan, his lips slightly curling, revealing a row of white, neat teeth.

It seemed to carry a hint of shyness hidden in the lyrics, but this shyness was not obvious. Yang Han’s performance was layered, and you could appreciate it carefully, but it wouldn’t feel abrupt or greasy!

This kind of immersion in music was very clean, like how people listening to Peking Opera get lost in the actors’ portrayal of their characters! Of course, Yang Han’s excellent expression management was not something an ordinary opera enthusiast could achieve!

If a professional judge saw him, they would be amazed by his professionalism. Of course, this small teahouse didn’t have many hidden talents.

"Agreed to meet tonight, at the third watch of the night..."

Yang Ruoyi didn’t know why, but she didn’t feel the faint sadness gradually revealed in the song. Instead, she became happier the more she listened.

That was because... her father was singing happily!

Yang Ruoyi could feel that her father, singing in front of so many listeners, was as confident and spirited as when he streamed live on his computer yesterday!

"Exploring the Clear Water River" is a long song, and even though it repeated the same tune, Yang Ruoyi listened intently until her father finished, then she snapped back to reality.

"Clap, clap, clap!" The old men on the first floor clapped enthusiastically.

There weren’t many cheers, as not many had the energy like Fu Taining and Lao Dade, but Yang Ruoyi could see that her father, amidst their applause and praise, bowed and smiled brightly.

This was the highlight of her father, right?

Yang Ruoyi suddenly had a strange feeling. Her father, who was usually busy taking care of her meals, seemed to blend in with the crowd. But when he sang, he was the most vibrant, radiating happiness without any need to hide it!

He should go sing, just like her. If he loved singing, he should strive and work hard for it without hesitation!

"Peng Peng, did you record it?" Yang Ruoyi turned around, worriedly asking.

"Recorded it!" Peng Xueyuan excitedly fiddled with his phone, confirming that the video was saved, then whispered to his friend, "I’ll edit it later and submit it together. I almost forgot that Uncle Yang can sing Peking Opera; this will definitely add points!"

Peng Xueyuan didn’t know that Yang Han had just sung a Beijing folk song, not Peking Opera. But it wasn’t his fault; even Yang Ruoyi and Tang Wenfei couldn’t tell the difference.

They were too young and lacked the musical background, which they needed to accumulate gradually!

"Let’s go back quickly? We might get caught." Tang Wenfei nervously hugged her knees and said to her friends.

Yang Ruoyi looked enviously at her father and the "old opera fans" enthusiastically discussing—being liked for music was something she dreamed of. Turning around, Yang Ruoyi slipped back upstairs with her friends.

...

Yang Han just came to the teahouse for a casual visit; he wasn’t deliberately trying to spy on Yi Yi and her good friends. This was like how he wouldn’t enter his daughter’s room without permission at home!

He respected Yi Yi’s privacy.

Whether boys or girls, they need their own private space, and parents shouldn’t invade it under the guise of protection.

Many Chinese parents think children have no privacy, but Yang Han had a similar experience when he was young. He hated it when his parents read his diary, so he stopped writing his thoughts in it. After the grade where teachers no longer required diaries, Yang Han never wrote one again.

Because he remembered the troubles of his own growth, Yang Han paid special attention to protecting his daughter’s privacy.

He not only agreed with his daughter that her room was her private space but also never deliberately probed into her little secrets!

For example, the teahouse had cameras on every floor, and if he wanted to check what Yang Ruoyi was doing, he could ask Wu Maocai to show him the footage.

But that would be an invasion of her privacy!

It was also unnecessary. Without his constant supervision, his daughter was still quite self-disciplined—indeed, Yang Ruoyi didn’t need much of Yang Han’s worry in her studies and play. She would do her homework and review diligently on her own.

Of course, no matter how self-disciplined or hardworking she was, Yang Ruoyi’s grades were still average. Compared to the top students in her school who just studied casually, Yang Ruoyi felt very discouraged.

Fortunately, Yang Han didn’t mind. He didn’t plan to turn his daughter into a super scholar, so Yang Ruoyi had never attended any tutoring classes.

Getting a bit off-topic, Yang Han didn’t care what his daughter was up to upstairs, and it also had something to do with Tang Wenfei. With these three kids together, Yang Han wasn’t worried, but if it was just Peng Xueyuan, he might not be so relaxed!

...

At noon, the teahouse was about to close, and the old men, still not satisfied, left reluctantly after being comforted by Yang Han and Wu Maocai.

Yang Ruoyi and her friends quietly slipped down at this moment! Feeling guilty, they straightened up as soon as they saw Yang Han turn around, forcing unnatural smiles.

"Dad, are we having lunch at Aunt He’s or going home?" Yang Ruoyi smiled brightly, but it was just a cover; she was so nervous that she stammered, trying to make small talk.

"Let’s have a simple lunch at the teahouse. Uncle Wu said that this morning, Aunt He bought your favorite pickled radish when she went to the market, and she’s going to stir-fry it for you," Yang Han smiled.

"Pickled radish? With meat or eggs?" Yang Ruoyi hugged her father’s arm in surprise, so happy that she forgot they had just been plotting to trick him!

"Both, both," Wu Maocai looked at Yang Ruoyi lovingly and chuckled.

"That’s great! Pickled radish with meat, eggs, and congee, super delicious!" Yang Ruoyi was so happy that she started circling the counter.

"Fifi, Peng Peng, do you want to stay for lunch?" Yang Han smiled and looked at Tang Wenfei and Peng Xueyuan, asking kindly.

Actually, the three families were very close, and whether it was Yang Ruoyi or the other two, they had all eaten at each other’s homes. Of course, because Yang Han’s cooking was good, and sometimes Tang Wenfei’s parents were busy, they often came to Yang Ruoyi’s house for meals.

It was just a matter of adding a couple more chopsticks!

But today, Tang Wenfei and Peng Xueyuan were too embarrassed to stay. They waved their hands guiltily and said in unison, "No, thank you, Uncle Yang, Uncle Wu, we have food at home."

The girls were more considerate, and Tang Wenfei added a "thank you."

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