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Feng Nihong said, "You wouldn't bring just anyone like this. Could it be your sister's sweetheart?"
He then added, "Little Diancang Mountain, although it's considered a martial arts sect, isn't it now running an inn? But I'm afraid the business is indeed failing. But isn't it too late to learn the zither now?"
Cen Qiong chuckled softly, "It's normal for young people to lack knowledge and think that the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are so easy to learn."
"Besides my sister, I also wanted to bring him here to see that learning the zither is not an easy thing. Otherwise, he would have spent tens of taels of silver on the equipment only to waste it."
Feng Nihong said, "That's true. Even in our building, many girls are enthusiastic when they first start learning, but after a month or two they start crying and sobbing. The instruments they buy start to gather dust after half a year, which is a complete waste."
But then a string was plucked.
The sound of strings, like pearls falling onto a plate, first resembles the Milky Way falling to the ground, clear and melodious, then slowly rises and gradually becomes louder.
The two stopped talking and looked at the young man who had burned incense, washed his hands, and was now playing the zither with a focused mind.
The strings vibrated continuously under the boy's nimble fingers, bringing out the majestic and powerful characteristics of the Luoxia Qin to the fullest.
They looked at the boy, and gradually their expressions of surprise became apparent.
The greatest sound is the silence. The Tuozhong is an extremely difficult piece of music to play. Its sound is like something from the distant past, flowing endlessly. Ordinary musicians simply cannot play it.
However, at this very moment, the young man actually played the Luoxia Qin with a primordial sound, profound and far-reaching, with an extraordinary artistic conception.
They were so engrossed in listening that they didn't even realize it. The girl who was bent over her desk also looked up, her eyes showing surprise.
The girls inside and outside the building also stopped their studies and unconsciously gathered around to listen.
Apart from this magnificent and powerful zither music, there was nothing else in the entire Phoenix Dance Hall.
Even after the entire performance of "The Alligator Bell" ended, everyone still felt deeply moved.
Those young girls and girls who were not yet skilled in playing the zither simply thought it sounded good and cheered and applauded.
Feng Nihong and Cen Qiong were both deeply moved. As the saying goes, a true expert's skill is immediately apparent upon their first move.
In their eyes, the young man's musical skills had reached a middle level, and at least in this county town, he was no less skilled than them.
Cen Qiong exclaimed in surprise, "Is this really your first time playing?"
The boy flipped through the sheet music: "It's my first time... I feel like there are still many things that haven't been done well. This sheet music seems a bit off, I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong... it's like it could have been better, but something's missing."
Feng Nihong and Cen Qiong exchanged a glance.
Is this boy really a genius?
Fu Hai tilted his head, trying to think about the playing he had just heard. There was a strange sense of disharmony in the music. After playing the whole piece, he felt that there were some problems with certain parts.
So he looked at Cen Qiong who was walking over and humbly asked for her advice: "Miss Qiong, am I not talented enough? I was playing according to the score, but it doesn't seem right."
Cen Qiong said, "Young Master Fu, you have actually done very well. It's just that in order to prevent the music they have mastered from being leaked, all the musical notation methods only record the pitch and not the duration."
“Simply playing according to the score will never allow you to play the complete ‘Alligator Bell’. The fact that you can play it to this level is already remarkable, and you could even say that you have turned the impossible into the possible.”
Feng Nihong also said in surprise, "This is something that anyone who studies the zither should know, but Young Master Fu doesn't know it. It seems that you are really a beginner."
"Although you have limited knowledge of the art of the zither, your playing technique is completely natural. I have never seen anyone like you before."
Fu Hai was shocked: "Could I really be a genius?"
Feng Nihong repeatedly questioned him and discovered that this young master Fu from the Dragon Claw Sect had never touched a zither before.
Upon hearing his claim that a "mysterious master read his face," I secretly wondered, "Could this young man really be a reincarnation of the immortal musician Liezi?"
Next, Feng Nihong tried her best to get Fu Hai into the Fengwu Pavilion and make him a disciple.
However, he was originally the leader of the Dragon Claw Sect, and although the Dragon Claw Sect has declined, the Phoenix Dance Hall is thriving.
But to be honest, the Dragon Claw Sect is at least a "righteous path in the martial arts world," while the Phoenix Dance Hall is essentially still a dance hall, so of course he wouldn't betray his sect and become a disciple of the Phoenix Dance Hall.
If that were to happen, both junior sisters would probably brandish knives and demand, "Sect Leader, why did you betray the sect?"
This was the first time Cen Qiong and Cen Yao had seen the headmaster so eager to invite them to join, saying that it didn't matter if they didn't pay tuition, as long as they were willing to become his disciples, even if they were just nominal disciples.
Through this experience, Fu Hai came to understand.
It turns out that the so-called "way of the zither" has many intricacies. Without "inheritance," no matter how high one's skill level is, it is difficult to make money from it.
First of all, truly good musical scores need to be passed down, either from master to apprentice or from son to grandson. It is better to lose them than to pass them on to outsiders.
Just like this "Alligator Bell," what he sees now is only a part of what is visible. The truly important parts are not recorded in the score; they can only be taught orally and through personal example.
It's said that no more than five people can play it correctly.
In reality, there are no more than five people who truly know the complete score, and their lineage is clear. Others, even if they can play it, are not considered worthy of being recognized outside of this lineage.
Furthermore, unless one is from a famous family or a renowned lineage in the art of the qin (a seven-stringed zither), no matter how skilled one is, one cannot enter the homes of princes and nobles; one can only perform in teahouses on the street.
If not many "literati and scholars" say you are highly skilled, then no matter how skilled you are, it's useless.
Art is not like martial arts, where you can tell who is better or worse by fighting. Often, good or bad depends entirely on how people support each other.
Most wealthy families who invite famous performers to play actually lack the discernment to appreciate such art; they simply seek out the "fame."
Master Feng promised that as long as he was willing to become his disciple, even if it was just in name only, he would do his best to support him and help him become a renowned master of the qin (a seven-stringed zither) in Quan'an County.
Fu Hai was greatly disappointed, and since he had only wanted to do a "part-time job," he quickly declined.
However, Master Feng was quite tactful and gifted him a Luoxia Qin (a type of zither) and a simple but at least "complete" musical score.
For her, these things were worthless; it was just a favor she was doing, so Fu Hai accepted them, saving her at least a few dozen taels of silver.
After leaving the Phoenix Dance Hall, I couldn't help but sigh, "I never imagined that playing the zither would be so troublesome."
At this moment, Cen Yao also felt it was unfair for him: "That's right, everyone should rely on their own abilities. Can't you learn the zither without a famous teacher?"
Chapter 192 The Strange Little Girl in the Rain
Cen Qiong said, "There's no way around it; the skills of playing the zither and painting are generally the same."
"Of course, if you are really good enough that the princes and nobles in the capital will invite you to play a piece, then based on your reputation for being invited to such occasions, you may well be able to establish your own school."
"But that was the case before that. Skills also depend on background and connections."
Then he looked at Fu Hai and said, "Since Young Master Fu has such talent, if he finds a famous teacher and embarks on the path of the zither, his future will be limitless."
"In terms of skills, it's not just the apprentice who relies on the master; often, the master also depends on the apprentice. There are quite a few people who are highly skilled themselves and have found a master with a clear lineage."
"Actually, I didn't learn anything from my master. I just wanted a way in. Besides, without a famous teacher to pass on the knowledge, it's really hard to get good sheet music."
Fu Hai, holding the Luoxia Qin given to him by the owner of Fengguan, scratched his head and said, "Well, I originally thought that I could make money as long as I improved my qin skills. I didn't expect there to be so many intricacies involved."
"I'm not good at these things either, so I'd better just stick to running my inn."
Cen Qiong looked at the young man in surprise. He clearly had such great talent and opportunities, yet he chose to waste them. This young man was also a person who was indifferent to fame and fortune.
Fu Hai glanced at the sky: "It looks like it's going to rain again! Miss Qiong, thank you very much, I'll head back now."
Cen Qiong pushed her younger sister, saying, "The inn is outside the city, why don't you take them to their place?"
Cen Yao: "Huh?"
Fu Hai held the zither in one hand and waved the other behind his back, saying, "No need."
Cen Qiong angrily told her sister, "Go and deliver it quickly!"
Cen Yao wanted to chase after him: "I..."
"No need, I'm leaving. Goodbye, you two!" Fu Hai quickly disappeared into the crowd and went away.
Cen Qiong shook her head as she looked at her younger sister... This younger sister is hopeless!
Fu Hai felt that although the so-called "way of the zither" had so many intricacies, it was inappropriate for him, as the head of a school, to seek out a master just to earn money for learning the zither.
But this trip to the city was indeed very rewarding; I learned a lot and even received a free zither, so it wasn't a wasted trip.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a light rain began to fall.
He thought to himself, "This is bad," and realized he should have brought an umbrella with him after all.
After the Lantern Festival, the weather really does change in an instant, becoming unpredictable.
I'm having a headache. Should I find somewhere to take shelter from the rain?
"Senior brother!" came a clear, crisp voice.
He looked back.
A carriage pulled up, and in the driver's seat were Xiaozhu and Xiaoque, two girls from the Little Dragon Gang. A head peeked out from the back window; it was none other than Junior Sister Lingyue.
"I say, you two little kids actually drive a horse-drawn carriage around everywhere?" he said, looking at the two little girls.
Xiao Zhuzi said, "We're just doing business, and we're right here in the city, we don't travel around."
Little Sparrow said, "It's raining, Brother Fu, come up quickly."
Fu Hai climbed into the carriage, and his junior sister Lingyue sat inside. The carriage was filled with many winter supplies that had been purchased.
When Song Lingyue saw her senior brother carrying a zither in, she asked in surprise, "Senior brother, did you buy this yourself at the music store? Don't get ripped off."
Fu Hai said, "No, it was a gift from Fengwu Pavilion."
He gave a brief account, saying, "I was thinking of switching careers to become a musician, but I didn't expect it to be so troublesome."
Song Lingyue placed the Luoxia Qin on her lap and gently played a few notes, producing a few fragmented tunes, but not many:
"That's just how things are. The so-called inheritance is just a means to prevent outsiders from easily entering this industry and to avoid competition."
"Moreover, this is different from the martial arts world. The so-called prestigious sects and martial arts schools are actually a kind of monopoly. The difference is that no matter how good your sect is, you'll know if you have real skills once you take a sword and fight them."
"Those who can stand are highly skilled, while those who fall to the ground and die are poorly skilled. Who cares about your sect or lineage? But these are different. No matter how good your skills are, if your peers keep belittling you, most people don't have the intuitive ability to judge."
Fu Hai asked, "Junior sister, can you also play the zither?"
Song Lingyue shook her head and said, "I learned a little when I was a child, but it was very superficial. But Sister Qiu Ying seems to be a master of the zither."
Fu Hai asked in surprise, "Sister Qiu Ying? How come I didn't know her?"
When he went to town, he told Sister Qiu Ying that he was going to buy a piano, but Sister Qiu Ying didn't mention it.
Song Lingyue said, "I'm just guessing. Last year, several female merchants stayed at the inn, including a female musician who carried an ancient zither."
"When Sister Qiu Ying had nothing to do, she talked about the art of the zither with that female zither player, and she was quite knowledgeable about it. Even the female zither player was quite impressed. It was then that I realized that Sister Qiu Ying was knowledgeable about the zither and must have been a lady from a prominent family in the past."
Fu Hai said, "Is that so?"