In the office, Liao Guanghua had a cigarette clenched between his lips, sheet music spread before him, and a pencil in hand as he hummed out a tune. This was no ordinary humming—if it was a flute, he went "dee dee dee"; if it was a horn, "doo doo doo"; if it was drums, "da da da." Every so often, he revised the score in front of him.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door, interrupting his train of thought. He pushed up his glasses and called out, "Come in."
When he saw Wang Yan entering with a grin, his irritation at being interrupted vanished instantly, and his face broke into a bright smile. "It's you, kid. What is it? Got another new work?"
Smiling, Wang Yan set the canned goods, Huazi cigarettes, and tea leaves he had brought on Old Liao's desk, then took out a sheet of paper folded several times and placed it beside them. "Take a look."
Old Liao did not stand on ceremony with Wang Yan. He immediately put the canned goods and everything else beneath the desk. Everyone in the troupe knew Wang Yan never lacked such things. Though Old Liao was a unit leader, he was not the troupe commander, and he had a whole family to feed.
Only after that did he pick up the paper and unfold it. "Me and My Motherland..." Old Liao muttered as he read the flamboyantly written title at the top. He quickly scanned the lyrics and said without looking up, "As expected of a great writer. These lyrics are excellent."
What else could Wang Yan do? He could only grin shamelessly.
Old Liao bent over the sheet music, tapping one hand on the desk as he hummed and searched for the melody.
"Me and...