After asking around for the Li Family Band's whereabouts, the two arrived at an inconspicuous courtyard.
The man did not stand on ceremony and pushed open the half-closed gate.
He entered with Juan'er.
Several instruments were laid out in the courtyard, most of them suonas.
The Li Family Band's leader, Li Hongzheng, was currently facing away from them as he polished an instrument in his hands.
Hearing the sound of someone barging in behind him, he glanced back and saw two unfamiliar faces.
He immediately returned his attention to the instrument in his hands and said in a deep voice:
"Don't you know how to knock?"
"You people make your living by taking jobs, and you care whether we knocked? It's good enough that we're giving you work. Hurry up and call Master Li out to take the job!"
The man frowned slightly and spoke impatiently.
He figured this guy must not know the business. Who turned away customers over not knocking?
Did he not want to do business anymore?
Juan'er also shot the middle-aged man a glance. Who treated customers like this?
"That's me!"
Li Hongzheng answered without turning around.
The two felt ignored and immediately grew displeased.
"We're looking for Band Leader Li of the Li Family Band!"
Juan'er said impatiently.
"Yes, that's me!"
Li Hongzheng slowly set down the instrument in his hands, then finally turned to look at them.
"You're him? Fine, then let me ask. How much do you charge for an eight-stage funeral procession?"
Juan'er was somewhat surprised, but she still asked directly.
Li Hongzheng shook his head.
"I'm not taking jobs anymore!"
"Is that really necessary?"
Juan'er's man suddenly sneered.
Wasn't it just that they had not knocked before entering?
He was refusing their job over that?
Li Hongzheng did not respond.
Seeing this, Juan'er felt anger rise in her chest, but she still tugged at her man and quietly advised him:
"Enough. There's only this one band in all the nearby villages. We're the ones asking them for help right now. Just go knock on the door."
"Fine. My mistake. I admit it!"
The man hesitated for a moment, but still admitted fault.
Then he walked back outside and knocked on the door.
Only then did he come back in.
He looked coldly at Li Hongzheng.
"I admitted my mistake, and I knocked on the door. Can you take the job we're offering or not?"
Li Hongzheng frowned, finding the pair inexplicable. He answered in an indifferent voice:
"No."
"Fuck!"
The man got angry and could not stop himself from swearing.
Pointing at Li Hongzheng, he shouted:
"Are you fucking messing with me?"
"I never asked you to apologize, and I never agreed to take your job. How is that me messing with you?"
Li Hongzheng still wore that mild, indifferent expression as he asked in return.
Seeing his calm expression, the man felt that Li Hongzheng was deliberately toying with him, treating him like he was nothing!
Putting on airs!
He gritted his teeth, wanting to argue back, yet unable to find any grounds to refute those words.
Juan'er hurriedly chimed in from the side:
"We're customers, at least. Is this how you people do business? We come to give you business, and this is the kind of service attitude we get?"
Seeing how shameless they were,
Li Hongzheng could not be bothered to deal with them. He turned back around and resumed polishing the instrument.
Judging by the instruments he was polishing, it seemed he was about to head out for a job.
For some reason, the more the man watched Li Hongzheng's unconcerned demeanor, the angrier he became. Fury surged through him.
"I think you're asking for a beating!"
He clenched his fists, his face fierce.
He was about to step forward!
Just then,
Several burly men suddenly walked out from inside the house.
They were all members of the Li Family Band, powerfully built men.
Their gazes all fixed on the man, immediately frightening away any thought he had of making a move.
"Don't push your luck. Get lost!"
Li Hongzheng spoke with terrifying coldness, his back still turned to them.
Seeing this,
The man did not dare make a move or talk back. His face flushed red, and he could not utter a word.
They outnumbered him. If it really came to a fight, he would definitely be no match for them.
A wise man did not fight when the odds were against him!
After consoling himself with that thought, he could only drag Juan'er away in defeat.
As he left, he still tossed back one sentence:
"Harsh lands breed harsh folk! Just you wait!"
After Juan'er and the man left,
The Li Family Band's courtyard became much quieter.
Several apprentices gathered around to help.
Seeing their master personally polish the instruments, then looking at the eight pieces laid out on the table, they immediately understood.
An eight-stage funeral procession!?
It had been a long time since the town had seen an eight-stage job.
This was a major job!
As the eldest apprentice helped put away the instruments, he asked curiously:
"Master, whose job is this? They're actually having an eight-stage funeral procession?"
At that,
Li Hongzheng's hands paused. His expression remained calm, but his eyes reddened.
"Word came from the hospital. Principal Tang... has passed away!"
Everyone's expressions changed in shock.
The news had come far too suddenly.
"Principal Tang from our town's school!?"
"Yes."
The second apprentice was the most sentimental. His eyes reddened, and tears fell on the spot.
"Principal Tang was a good person!"
The apprentices all nodded in agreement, filled with respect for Tang Ying.
Many years ago, the school had originally been built halfway up the mountain.
A small river ran through the middle.
The students had to take a detour to get to school. Principal Tang was still young at the time, yet she spent half a year building a stone bridge all by herself. Whenever any student had a problem, she cared more than their own families did. Whether it was organizing the children to study or establishing the school, neither was something one person could easily accomplish.
Before Principal Tang came, people throughout the nearby villages would never have dared imagine such things.
But after she arrived, all of it became reality!
Was it because of ability?
No.
It was because of her burning passion for Huayi Town, and even more because of her heartfelt love for the children! She had devoted her entire life's work to those children.
Li Hongzheng might have been called a band leader, but he was also something of a teacher to these apprentices.
What Principal Tang had done earned the deep admiration of Li Hongzheng, who was half an educator himself.
"This eight-stage funeral procession is for Principal Tang!"
Li Hongzheng spoke solemnly, regret in his eyes.
"What a pity. I never managed to learn Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix. Otherwise, Principal Tang would have deserved it!"
Thinking of Principal Tang's life, he felt even an eight-stage procession was not quite enough. Unfortunately, that piece had long been lost.
Ordinary people were far from worthy of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.
Rarely did someone worthy of it come along, yet he could not play it. His heart ached terribly.
The apprentices also felt saddened.
Li Hongzheng slowly said:
"Tomorrow, when we see Principal Tang off at the school, we'll play Sorrowful Mountain Tune for the eight-stage funeral procession!
Check all the tools you rely on to make a living. Gather at the entrance at eight thirty tomorrow morning.
If there's nothing else, go home!"
Seeing that their band leader was much more serious than usual, everyone nodded, understanding the rules.
After everyone dispersed, Li Hongzheng picked up a suona with a complicated look in his eyes, recalling how Principal Tang had once half-jokingly asked him:
"At my funeral, can you play Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix?"
Those words now felt like a long thorn, deeply lodged in Li Hongzheng's heart, impossible to let go of.
However,
He had not treated Juan'er and her man differently because of Principal Tang's death.
After all, even when the Li Family Band took jobs for ordinary households, they still had to consider the client's attitude!
Respect went both ways. Li Hongzheng would never cater to anyone who did not respect his profession.
He played the suona, not begged for food!
P.S.:
Still so young, yet I'm already going bald. ┭┮﹏┭┮
Thanks to boss True Fragrance~Duck for the tip!!!
Thanks to boss The End of All Songs for the tip!! So generous, boss!
Awesome!!
And thanks to the other readers for their tips and recommendation votes too! Thank you for the support!!
The second late-night update is here,
I know I write slowly, but I'll work hard to update more. I hope all you big shots will bear with me!
Thank you all for your support~~