Poor Mountains, Vicious Waters Breed Wicked People (Please Vote, Second Update of the Night!)

After inquiring about the Li Family Band's location, the two arrived at an unremarkable courtyard.

The man didn't stand on ceremony and pushed open the slightly ajar main door.

He walked in with Juan'er.

Several musical instruments were placed in the courtyard, with suonas being the most numerous.

The leader of the Li Family Band—Li Hongzheng—was currently with his back to the two, wiping an instrument in his hands.

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open behind him, he glanced back. It was two unfamiliar faces.

He immediately shifted his gaze back to the instrument in his hands and said in a deep voice:

"Don't you know how to knock?"

"You're a hired service, and you're going to manage whether people knock or not? We're already giving you business, so just call your Master Li out to take the job!" the man said impatiently, his brow furrowed.

He figured this person was just ignorant. Who complains about customers not knocking when doing business?

Did they not want the business?

Juan'er also glanced at the middle-aged man. How could he treat a customer like this?

"I am he!"

Li Hongzheng replied, still with his back to them.

The two felt disrespected and were immediately displeased.

"We're looking for your Li Family Band's Leader Li!"

Juan'er said impatiently.

"Yes, I am he!"

Li Hongzheng slowly put down the instrument in his hands, then turned around to look at the two.

"You are? Alright, I'd like to inquire about the price for your eight-stage funeral procession service?"

Juan'er was a little surprised but asked directly.

Li Hongzheng, however, shook his head:

"We're not taking jobs anymore!"

"Is that necessary?"

Juan'er's man suddenly sneered and asked.

It was just about not knocking when entering, right?

And now they weren't taking his job?

Li Hongzheng made no comment.

Seeing this, Juan'er felt her anger rising, but she still pulled her man and whispered to persuade him:

"Alright, they're the only band in these ten miles. We're the ones asking for their help now. You can just go knock again!"

"Fine, it was my fault, I admit it!"

The man hesitated for a moment before admitting his mistake.

Then, he walked out again and knocked on the door.

He then walked back in.

He looked coldly at Li Hongzheng:

"I've admitted my mistake, and I've knocked on the door. Can you take the job we're hiring you for?"

Li Hongzheng frowned, feeling the two were being unreasonable. He responded indifferently:

"No."

"Holy crap!"

The man got angry and couldn't help but curse.

He pointed at Li Hongzheng and asked loudly:

"Are you f***ing messing with me?"

"I didn't ask you to apologize, nor did I agree to take your job, so how am I messing with you?"

Li Hongzheng retorted with the same indifferent expression.

Looking at his nonchalant expression, the man felt that the other party was deliberately toying with him and not taking him seriously!

Acting high and mighty!

He gritted his teeth, wanting to retort, but he couldn't find a reason to refute the statement.

Juan'er, standing beside him, quickly chimed in to help:

"We're customers, after all. Is this how you do business? We're patronizing your business, and this is the service attitude we get?"

Seeing their shameless behavior, Li Hongzheng couldn't be bothered to deal with them. He turned back and continued to polish the instruments.

Judging by how he was polishing them, it seemed like he was about to take on a job.

For some reason, the more nonchalant Li Hongzheng appeared, the angrier the man became, his heart burning with rage:

"I think you're asking for a beating!"

He clenched his fist, a fierce expression on his face.

He was about to step forward!

At that moment, Several burly men suddenly walked out of the house.

They were all from the Li Family Band, and they were very powerfully built.

Their gazes fixed on the man, immediately deterring his intention to act.

"Don't push your luck, get lost!"

Li Hongzheng, with his back to the two, spoke in a chillingly cold voice.

Seeing this, The man didn't dare to act or retort. His face turned beet red, unable to speak.

With so many people on their side, he knew he wouldn't stand a chance if it came to blows.

Discretion is the better part of valor!

He comforted himself, and could only drag Juan'er and flee in disarray.

As they left, he threw out a parting shot:

"Only uncivilized people come from poor mountains and bad waters! You just wait!"

After Juan'er and the man left, The courtyard of the Li Family Band became much quieter.

Several disciples came over to help.

Seeing their master personally polishing the instruments, and then looking at the eight items laid out on the table, everyone immediately understood.

An Eight-stage funeral procession!?

It had been a long time since there had been an Eight-stage job in town.

This was a big one!

The eldest disciple, while helping to pack the instruments, asked curiously, "Master, whose job is this? To require an Eight-stage procession?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongzheng's hands paused. A calm expression on his face, his eyes reddened slightly:

"We received news from the hospital. Principal Tang is gone!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression turned to shock.

The news had come very suddenly.

"You mean the Principal of our town's school!?"

"Yes!"

The second disciple, being the most emotional, his eyes turned red, and tears immediately fell:

"Principal Tang was a good person!"

All the disciples nodded in agreement, filled with respect for Tang Ying.

Many years ago, the school was first built halfway up the mountain.

There was a small river in the middle.

Students had to take a detour to get to school. Principal Tang, who was still young at the time, spent a full six months building a stone bridge herself. If any student had a problem, she was more concerned than their own families. Organizing the children's education and establishing the school were not things that one person could easily accomplish.

Before Principal Tang arrived, people in the surrounding ten villages dared not even imagine such things.

But after she came, all of this was realized!

Was it due to her ability?

No, It was due to her passion for Huayi Town, and even more so, her heartfelt love for the children! Her entire life's work was dedicated to the children.

Li Hongzheng, while being the leader of the band, was also a teacher to these disciples.

What Principal Tang had done made Li Hongzheng, as a semi-educator, feel immense admiration.

"This Eight-stage procession is for Principal Tang!"

Li Hongzheng said with a solemn tone, a hint of regret in his eyes:

"It's a shame I couldn't learn that Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix back then, otherwise Principal Tang would have deserved it!"

Thinking of Principal Tang's past, he felt that even the Eight-stage funeral procession was a bit lacking. It was a pity that the piece had long been lost.

Ordinary people were far from worthy of that Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.

It was rare for Principal Tang to be worthy, yet he himself couldn't play it. He felt a deep sadness at that moment.

His apprentices were also a bit somber.

Li Hongzheng slowly said:

"Tomorrow, to send off Principal Tang from the school, we will play the Eight-stage funeral procession's Sorrowful Mountain Tune!

Everyone check your instruments. Gather at the gate at 8:30 tomorrow morning.

If there's nothing else, you're dismissed!"

Seeing their band leader looking much more serious than usual, everyone nodded, understanding the rules.

After everyone dispersed, Li Hongzheng picked up his suona with a complex look in his eyes, recalling when Principal Tang had half-jokingly asked him:

Will you play Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix at my funeral?

At that moment, those words felt like a long thorn, deeply piercing Li Hongzheng's heart, leaving him unable to let go.

However, it wasn't because of Principal Tang's matter that he treated the couple, Juan'er and her husband, differently just now.

After all, even if the Li Family Band took on a job for ordinary people, they had to see how the other party behaved!

Respect was mutual. Li Hongzheng would never serve those who disrespected his profession.

He was a suona player, not a beggar!

PS:

My hair is falling out at such a young age. ┭┮﹏┭┮

Thank you to the boss: Zhen Xiang~ Ya for the reward!!!

Thank you to the boss: Ren Zhong Qu San for the reward!! Boss is so generous!

It's just great!!

Thanks also to other book friends for their rewards and recommendation votes! Thank you for your support!!

The second update of the night has been delivered.

I know I write slowly, but I will work hard to update more. I hope all you big shots can forgive me!

Thank you all for your support~~