Chapter 172

"Before you, I took on four disciples, but I never passed down this pair of clappers."

"Today, I place them in your hands; I hope you will carry this craft forward and make it flourish."

Su Meng respectfully accepted the clappers, then drew out a suona.

"Master, today was rushed; I didn't have time to prepare a gift."

"This suona may seem unremarkable, but to me it holds extraordinary significance."

"With this suona, I express my gratitude to you, my elder."

What he said was also the truth from his heart.

He had bought this suona at a roadside instrument shop; it wasn't worth much money.

Yet it was the first prop that brought him fame after arriving in this world, so naturally it held special meaning.

The old master took the suona, stroked it for a while, then suddenly broke into a smile.

"Excellent, truly excellent. I had forgotten that your suona skill is also unmatched."

"So when I grow old, you play a piece for me and see me off."

Su Meng nodded and said respectfully.

"Yes!"

Behind Shi Fukuan, his little grandson was nearly crying.

Grandpa, why is it that when you say such things it seems only natural, but when I say them I get beaten?

But now that he's old, does he really value the suona so much?

Should I follow Little Junior Uncle and learn a few pieces, so that when my father dies, I can play for him too?

I am indeed filial! Give me a thumbs-up!

……

Seeing this segment conclude, Guo Dagang spoke loudly again.

"Next, please invite the Master to address us!"

Then he respectfully handed the microphone into the old master's hands.

The old master raised the microphone and spoke weakly.

"This child, Su Meng, is good, truly good!"

"His craft has reached mastery; I am old now and have nothing left to teach him."

"They say I took him as a disciple, but in truth, I was the one shamelessly climbing high branches."

"However, since I have become a Master, I must shoulder the responsibilities of a Master."

"As long as I live, I will do my utmost to shield him from wind and rain."

"Qian'er, you four, all come forward and meet the Little Junior Brother; from now on, help him out."

Shi Fukuan took on four disciples in his lifetime, and all of them were in Deyun Society.

Elder Yu, Liu Xianwei, Hou Zhen, and the animal keeper Sun Yue.

The four of them walked over, their faces full of joy.

"Greetings, Junior Brother! From now on, if anything comes up, just call; between us brothers there's no need for formality."

Su Meng also clasped his hands in a bow and said with a smile.

"Greetings to my Senior Brothers."

"Senior Brother, you speak too formally; when we first met, I didn't stand on ceremony with you either."

After speaking, the group burst into hearty laughter.

Guo Dagang was also overflowing with joy.

Though in theory Su Meng was not part of Deyun Society, the relationship stood right there.

"Su Meng, by seniority, I count as your Senior Brother too."

"From now on, Deyun Society is your home; when you come to the Imperial Capital, feel free to return anytime."

"Whenever you wish to go up and practice a few pieces, just speak up; I'll make the arrangements for you."

Su Meng laughed heartily.

"Senior Brother Guo, what you say..."

"Today you dragged me to serve as a laborer for your Deyun Society and even snatched a little tune from me; now you want me to work for you for free again?"

"Must you keep milking the same sheep?"

Guo Dagang also laughed heartily, then waved to the crowd of disciples and grand-disciples.

"Come, greet your Little Junior Uncle and Little Junior Grandmaster!"

Among this crowd, most were Guo Dagang's disciples, but a few were grand-disciples of the next generation.

At that moment, they all bowed in turn and greeted respectfully.

"Greetings, Little Junior Uncle!"

"Greetings, Little Junior Grandmaster!"

Their faces showed respect, but in their hearts each one was utterly bewildered.

To speak of it, Su Meng's age seemed younger than almost everyone present; how had he become a Junior Uncle and Junior Grandmaster?

Especially Xiao Xiao Yueyue, who was nearly crying.

Was bullying me on the program not enough; now you've followed me all the way to my home?

Why do I suddenly feel that my future life will be bleak and miserable?

……

"Tee-tap~ tee-ta-tap~~~ tee-ti-ti~ ta-ta-ta~~~"

A burst of cheerful suona music suddenly rang out.

This tune was no stranger to many people — it was Su Meng's suona piece "Zhu Bajie Carries His Wife."

Qin Jie, still in her pajamas, groggily picked up her phone.

"Hello, Xiaoyan, what's up?"

"Calling in the middle of the night — did something happen?"

Zhang Xiaoyan on the other end of the line was still a bit dazed.

"Um… Qin Jie, there's something. I thought it over and over, and I still feel I should tell you now."

"So I don't catch you completely off guard tomorrow morning."

Qin Jie snapped wide awake at once, and a few unpleasant thoughts instantly flooded her mind.

"What happened? Did something happen to Su Meng?"

"Something happening in the middle of the night — he didn't get caught at Red Romance doing, you know, that, did he?"

"How could you take him to a place like that?"

"Don't you know our Su Meng is still a virgin?"

"What kind of assistant are you?"

"If he really can't hold it in, couldn't you just help him out?"

"What?" Zhang Xiaoyan was instantly dumbfounded, hardly able to believe her own ears.

"Qin Jie, you want me to help him out?"

"How could something this good ever fall to me?"

Qin Jie nodded and said matter-of-factly.

"Of course — you're his assistant. If you don't help him out, who will?"

"Find a decent call girl, and it's only 3,000 yuan."

"When you expense it later, just write 'cheering Su Meng on.' Do I really have to teach you that?"

Crack-crack-crack…

Zhang Xiaoyan seemed to hear the sound of her own heart shattering.

I knew it!

I'm just an ordinary, unremarkable little assistant — how could something this good ever fall to me?

On the other side, Qin Jie was still chattering away with her arrangements.

"If you're going to find a place, find a safe one — like Tian Shang Ren Jian…"

A groggy voice suddenly came from beside her.

"Tian Shang Ren Jian is too expensive — 3,000 yuan isn't enough…"