Chapter 107

"Very good, singing is not bad. Everyone take a break." With one word from Teacher Gu, the girls in the choir immediately scattered.

At this time, she noticed a flash of fiery red color at the door.

She immediately went out, and then she saw the British international student who often exchanged tapes with her.

However, this time there was one more person beside her—tall and handsome. Although his clothes didn't match Melinda's very well, his temperament matched perfectly.

"Teacher Gu, this is my friend Wei Ming. He is very interested in your music."

"Hello, Gu Jianfen. I've heard your name," she said to Wei Ming. She had also been at Peking University for some time, and this man of the hour was simply like thunder in her ears.

"Teacher Gu, hello," Wei Ming said. Although he had vaguely guessed it, he was still very surprised to see the real person. "Are you a teacher at Peking University?"

Then why couldn't the musicians produced by Peking University compare to Tsinghua?

This Teacher Gu Jianfen standing in front of him could be said to be the most famous teacher and composer in the mainland music circle.

Her music works included *Young Friends Come to Meet*, *The Rolling Yangtze River Flows East*, *Mother in the Candlelight*, *The Little Girl Picking Mushrooms*, *Singing and Smiling*, *History's Sky*, etc. Of course, these hadn't been written yet.

And her students included Mao Amin, Na Ying, Dong Wenhua, Sun Nan, etc. Liu Huan had also received her guidance, and everyone was exceptionally skilled.

Gu Jianfen waved her hand: "I'm not any teacher. I came to Peking University to experience life, but eating in the school canteen, I just happened to help adjust the choir."

"Experience life?"

She nodded: "After returning from an inspection in South America, I wanted to write some campus songs that young people like. This is what our country is scarce in. If we don't write them, songs from outside will come sooner or later. We can't block them, just like those songs Melinda brought. Even if you don't understand them, you know they are good music. Who wouldn't like them?"

Worthy of being a generation of music godmothers, she should be the earliest person to have this kind of awareness, which might also be related to her having been abroad and having a broad vision.

Wei Ming pointed to the tape in his hand: "We heard a melody at the end. Is it a song you have already written?"

Gu Jianfen glanced at the tape: "Oh, the poet Gao Feng wrote a poem *Campus Morning* before. He felt it while walking at Liaoning University and asked me to compose music for it, but that was a semi-finished product."

"Then is the finished product completed?"

Gu Jianfen nodded and even called a female student to demonstrate.

"Along the familiar path of the campus, coming to the tree to read in the early morning..."

Although this song had much less popularity compared to Gu Jianfen's divine works in her mature period, with the interpretation of the music bestseller "Wang Jieshi/Xie Lisi" combination of this era, this song still had a very wide spread in the 1980s. No wonder Wei Ming still had an impression.

Gu Jianfen focused on observing Melinda. She didn't see an amazing expression, only a polite smile, and she knew that there was still a gap with foreign countries.

It might not only be a gap in level, but also a gap in concepts. Foreign countries already had so many types of popular music, while domestic ones couldn't even accept that style of music from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Recently, she heard a song *Hometown Love* sung by Li Guyi. She liked it very much; it was an interlude in a documentary, and the common people also liked it, but some people in the circle had already started saying things like "decadent music," and it seemed they were going to take action against this song.

And the singer who just sang at Peking University was too serious, lacking liveliness and relaxation, always tense, as if singing was something sacred and extraordinary.

However, this was already the best she could find here.

Not having a new generation of good singers was also a major problem in the current music scene.

Gu Jianfen looked at Wei Ming, who was in a contemplative state: "Does Writer Wei have any thoughts on this song?"

Wei Ming said: "Teacher Gu, have you ever thought about letting children sing this song?"

Gu Jianfen thought for a while: "The song itself is about school. It's not that children can't sing it, but I really hadn't thought about it before."

Wei Ming said happily: "Teacher Gu, just wait. I'll find a little singer for you right now."

After more than an hour, Wei Ming returned, with a pair of little girl and boy around four years old beside him.

Wei Ming ran a trip and also helped Auntie Wang pick up her grandson, asking her to help him cover his shift for a while. She could use the tape recorder as she pleased, drink the tea as she pleased, pick up the red hair as she pleased, and he even prepared White Rabbit candy for the children.

Teacher Gu pointed to the twins and teased: "A male-female duet? But this is too young."

Wei Ming pushed Xizi aside and focused on introducing Lele: "I'm talking about this little sister of mine. She has a lot of musical talent. She can learn most songs after listening once, and she sings very accurately."

Gu Jianfen thought for a while and took out a tape, playing a version of *Campus Morning* she had recorded before.

Lele listened very carefully because it was much more complex than ordinary children's songs, and each sentence was longer, so she listened to it three times this time.

While she was listening to the song, her brother was having a great time playing with Melinda.

Melinda saw that he was very curious about her red hair, so she let him braid her hair. Xizi was good at this; he had braided Lele's hair.

"Alright." Lele nodded to Brother Ming, and then she started.

After Lele brightened her voice, a flash of amazement flashed in Gu Jianfen's eyes. Although there were forgotten words and missed characters, it was actually so accurate!

Immediately, she shook her head. Unfortunately, she was too young after all, still a child's voice. At such an age, singing children's songs was enough. Expecting her to revitalize the music scene was unrealistic. Could the music scene wait for her for ten years?

So after Lele finished singing, Gu Jianfen smiled and encouraged the little one, and said: "Lele, right? Very happy to meet you."

Wei Ming said: "Teacher Gu, don't you want to accept this apprentice?" She laughed and said: "How can I teach someone so young? And she can't practice her voice either. Let's talk about it when she grows up."

Wei Ming still wanted Lele to occupy the name of Gu Jianfen's eldest disciple, so that in the future, if she wanted to mix in the music scene, she wouldn't be a rootless tree.

He added: "Then how about you accept me?"

"You, a big writer, also want to learn to sing?"

Wei Ming: "My vocal conditions are average. I want to learn to write songs."

"Write songs?"

"Yes, I can write lyrics, but I can't compose music. I want to learn this knowledge from you."

Wei Ming still remembered that more than 20 years later, he asked Lele: "You are beautiful, and you are proficient in playing and singing. Why didn't you develop in the music scene? Did my uncle not let you?"

Lele shook her head. She said: "Brother, I also won a ranking in the Youth Singer Competition, but I sang other people's songs. I didn't have any backing in the music scene, and plus my bottom line was high, and I wouldn't be subservient. It was too hard for me to find a good song. Later, I just became a teacher."

Wei Ming thought, then why don't I write songs for Lele? Anyway, he was a veteran "microphone hog," remembered quite a few songs, and could earn an extra share of money.

Gu Jianfen became interested in Wei Ming: "Oh, have you written any lyrics?"

!

Wei Ming: "Didn't bring them. I'll copy them again."

Soon, paper and pen were ready. Wei Ming directly wrote a very familiar children's song: "Where is spring, where is spring... and that little yellow oriole that can sing, di-li-li-li-li di-li-li di-li-li-li-li..."

Because of this "di-li-li-li-li di-li-li," this song was also known as *Di-li Di-li*, not Bilibili.

Gu Jianfen said happily: "A bit interesting. Do you have a melody yourself?"

Many lyricists actually have an immature melody themselves, and those who compose music sometimes use it as a reference.

"Yes." Wei Ming sang directly. He sang one sentence, and Lele learned one sentence beside him.

Gu Jianfen's mouth twitched. This, this was already very mature! This could be released directly, and even had the possibility of becoming a classic!

"Brother Ming, can I sing it once?" Lele pulled Wei Ming's hem, her desire to perform exploding.

"Alright, you go ahead."

This time, Lele sang it completely after listening only once, and it fit her voice very well, like a little yellow oriole.

Gu Jianfen directly clapped: "A perfect match, a perfect match!"

Wei Ming asked with a smile: "Then can I learn from you now?"

Gu Jianfen: "Everyone learns from each other. In addition, I accept this little one. I can teach her instruments and music theory first, and practice her voice later."

Wei Ming thought this was great. In the future, people like Mao Amin and Na Ying would have to call little Lele "Eldest Senior Sister" when they saw her!

Just at this time, Wei Anping came looking. Wei Ming met Auntie Xiaoyan at the kindergarten. She happened to be going to buy vegetables, so even though Wei Ming didn't say what was going on, he let her take the person away, leaving only the address of South Pavilion.

After Wei Anping went home and saw that his son and daughter hadn't returned, he came looking.

Wei Ming looked at the time and saw it wasn't early. He reckoned Auntie Wang should be anxious to go home, so he said to Wei Anping: "Uncle, you and this Teacher Gu discuss the matter of apprenticeship. I have to go to work."

Then he pulled Melinda, who was full of little braids, and left first.

Wei Anping knew Gu Jianfen. She came to Peking University to experience life, and he even stamped it. But what the hell was apprenticeship?

He was about to ask when he saw Xizi grinning at him foolishly, and his mouth was pitch black.

Wei Anping was startled: "Xizi, did you eat poop?"

Xizi was extremely proud: "This is chocolate!"

The red-haired sister gave it just now. She is really a good person!

Then Gu Jianfen told Wei Anping about what just happened: "So Director Wei is the parent. Then what we just said can only be considered a joke, and you have to make the decision."

"Learning music is quite good, cultivating sentiment. Teacher Gu, you are a master, so of course we are willing. But this tuition?" The incident happened too suddenly, and Wei Anping was still a bit confused, but he also knew that apprenticeship required a gift.

"What tuition or not? I can't spend much. It's just that Lele is too young, and sometimes I have to trouble you parents to pick her up."

"Oh, that doesn't count as anything."

"Also," Gu Jianfen handed over the lyrics Wei Ming just wrote, "Many people have already heard this song today. It's best to publish it as soon as possible. *Lyric Journal* or other music magazines are all fine."

Wei Anping put it away, preparing to send it to his nephew tomorrow.

Returning home, Lu Xiaoyan, wearing an apron, was also confused: "What, my daughter accepted a master?!"

Wei Anping: "Daughter, sing the song your Brother Ming wrote for you to your mother. Wife, just listen, it's amazing!"

"Where is spring..."

(End of chapter)