Chapter 24: Elegance Can't Be Faked — Being a Bastard Can!

"Tacky?"

Su Meng glanced at him and chuckled.

"Why do you think playing the suona is tacky?"

The cameraman scratched his head, a little baffled too.

"Isn't it tacky? The suona has always been used at rural weddings and funerals — it never belongs in polite society."

"Even if you want to play music, it should be playing piano in a concert hall — that's what you call elegance!"

"The suona really is tacky and vulgar."

Oh?

Su Meng raised an eyebrow, suddenly recalling a crosstalk piece from his past life by the great crosstalk master Guo Degang, "On Elegance."

"Come, come, since you've brought this up, let's hash it out properly."

Seeing him look so dead serious, the viewers in the livestream grew interested too.

"Some say listening to symphony is elegant, listening to the suona is vulgar."

"Listening to celebrities lip-sync is elegant, watching original web content is vulgar."

"Drinking coffee is elegant, eating garlic is vulgar."

"Looking at nude art is elegant, a couple telling dirty jokes is vulgar."

Pfft — the cameraman burst out laughing on the spot.

Why does looking at you like that make me want to laugh?

The livestream chat was filled with laughter too.

Su Meng went on.

"What is elegant, what is vulgar? A tooth plus fine is elegant; a person plus valley is vulgar."

"A 'ya' character and a 'jia' character put together — that character is read 'ya,' elegant."

"Words spoken from the mouth, said for no reason after a full meal, sitting there babbling on and on — that is elegance."

"A standing-person radical plus 'gu,' the 'gu' of the five grains — that character is read 'su,' vulgar. Eating, drinking, relieving oneself — that is vulgar."

"Now let's go back to the suona — why is the piano elegant and the suona tacky?"

"They're both instruments, both make sound — how did they end up ranked in tiers?"

"You say the suona is popular in the countryside — that's called being rooted among the people, deeply loved by the broad masses!"

"That's called a vigorous artistic vitality!"

"I'll leave you with one line: elegance isn't something you put on — being a bastard is!"

Pfft — quite a few people laughed without thinking.

But the next moment, many fell into thought.

Those words actually seem to make some sense.

……

"Good! Well said!"

In a teahouse in the capital, a short, stout man with a heart-shaped fringe suddenly roared out, his face flushed with excitement.

He was Xiao Yueyue's Master, the famous crosstalk performer Guo Dagang.

He had originally meant to check on his disciple's performance, but had wandered into Su Meng's livestream by chance and heard these words.

In an instant, he took a strong liking to Su Meng.

This young man — he truly is a kindred spirit!

In the office of the Folk Music Department at Yinyuexue Academy, Teacher Hu nodded as well, his face full of gratification.

"This young man is impressive — he sees things clearly."

"They're all instruments — why is folk music seen as tacky? Why is it looked down upon?"

Bai Xiao Ling stared at Su Meng on the screen with utter admiration, her eyes shining.

Teacher Hu thought for a moment, then said slowly.

"Bai Xiao Ling, this young man seems to have a deep understanding of folk music."

"Later, help me get in touch with his management company and invite him to give a few lectures."

Give lectures? Bai Xiao Ling froze on the spot.

Though folk music's decline was a fact — where was this? This was Yinyuexue Academy!

The highest temple of music in the Dragon Nation!

A traffic celebrity — and the teacher actually wanted to invite him to lecture?

……

Su Meng's words made the suona troupe members nod again and again.

"Master Su's right — they all make sound, so why is the suona looked down upon?"

"We're not educated folk, don't know anything about elegance or tackiness."

"But we earn our living by our craft — nothing to be ashamed of!"

Su Meng nodded and said with a smile.

"You hear that? That is the voice of the people."

The cameraman was already a bit rattled, thought for a moment, then said stubbornly.

"But there's one thing you can't deny — the suona is only used at rural weddings and funerals."

"If we're really talking artistry, it has to fall short, right?"

In this world, folk music's situation was far from ideal; many people looked down their noses at it.

His words also represented the thoughts of many people.

Su Meng pondered for a moment, then said slowly.

"You're not wrong — at present, the artistry of the suona does indeed fall a little short."

"But that's not because of any flaw in the instrument itself; it's because there's no fitting piece for it."

"By the way, Master Wang, the formal funeral procession and burial are tomorrow, right?"

Huh? Wang Laowu was stunned for a beat, then hurriedly said.

"Yes, the burial is at two in the afternoon tomorrow."

"After the burial, our troupe will play a little longer, and then this job will officially be wrapped up."

Su Meng nodded and said slowly.

"Looks like it's time to pull out the big one!"

"Tonight, have the brothers put in some extra effort — I'll teach everyone one more piece."

"For tomorrow afternoon's finale, you all play this piece together with me."