บท 8: 008 Kunqu opera, Intangible Cultural Heritage successor!
Accustomed to climbing the ranks through sly and flirtatious means by Zhou Hechen's side, Ye Wanlan was still unrestrained after returning to the Lin Family, and even she could tell that Ye Wanlan's intentions were impure.
Yet, it was this very demeanor that won over Lin Weilan's heart.
Madam Lin was seething with anger, unable to tolerate it any longer.
This statement made the originally quiet dining room even more deathly silent at this moment.
Ye Wanlan slowly raised her head, very calm, "What did you say?"
She propped her chin with one hand, the jade earring gently swaying.
Despite the slight smile, it felt as if a great mountain was pressing down, a storm ready to burst.
It was hard to imagine that an eighteen-year-old girl could embody the oppressive aura of someone long accustomed to being in power.
Madam Lin's expression was fierce yet vulnerable, "What's the matter with you? It's only natural for elders to instruct the younger ones. Could it be that you're so delicate that you'd shatter upon touch, beyond reproach?"
"Second sister-in-law, that's not right," Khor Peiqing, who had not spoken until now, said indifferently, "You haven't raised her for a single day, how can you consider yourself her elder?"
Madam Lin only sneered in response.
In the Lin Family, only Lin Woyu's family was worth her efforts to curry favor with, and Khor Peiqing had only given birth to a son.
Being studious was one thing, but no matter how well he studied, he could not return to the main house in Yunjing.
Lin Weilan spoke indifferently, "It seems I am indeed getting old, there are young ones who wish to take my place."
As soon as these words came out, everyone's faces changed.
"Mom!" Madam Lin startled, hastily laughing, "Mom, that's not what I meant, I just wanted to help you—"
Lin Weilan didn't look at her, merely humming in response, "Go to the ancestral hall yourself."
Madam Lin's smile froze, "Yes, Mom."
Her gesture to rise was also very stiff, and Lin Qingwen didn't dare to speak up for her.
Lin Weilan coughed, "What are you looking at me for? Eat your meal."
"Mom is right, everyone eat," Lin Woyu busied herself with the guests, "Qinqin, eat more shrimp, you still have to practice the zither later, Wanlan, you should eat too."
"I'm glad I didn't say anything, otherwise I'd be the one kneeling in the ancestral hall," Lin Yue patted his chest, whispering, "But sister, I think grandmother must be confused."
Lin Qin was noncommittal.
After dinner, Lin Weilan called Ye Wanlan into her study.
Lin Qingwen went up to the ancestral hall on the top floor, where Madam Lin was kneeling on a meditation cushion.
He shook his head, "You were impulsive today, don't be like this next time."
"Was that impulsive?" Madam Lin scoffed bitterly, "With just a few words, she managed to get the old lady to give her a company. If she continues to court favor, won't the old lady just give her the entire Lin Family?"
She and Lin Qingwen had only one son, yet the Lin Family prided itself on having daughters.
This was equivalent to cutting off her hopes of returning to the main house in Yunjing, leaving her no choice but to please Lin Woyu's family.
"That's just a company on the verge of bankruptcy, so what if it's given away," Lin Qingwen was indifferent, "She can't support a wall with mud, and my mom has a chronic illness, who knows when she'll pass away."
Madam Lin wasn't comforted, "I just can't stand her fox-like demeanor! Having failed to ingratiate herself with the Zhou Family, she comes back here for a second chance, and with a few words, she makes the old lady so happy. She is indeed just like her mother."
Ye Wanlan's family background was complicated, and she had heard about it when Lin Huaijin brought her back six years ago.
The eldest son of the Lin Family, Lin Jiayan, was missing, his wife remarried, leaving Ye Wanlan as nothing more than a burden.
She didn't even change her surname after returning to the Lin Family, how could she be considered part of the Lin Family?
"About her mother..." Lin Qingwen's expression grew serious, "Has there been any contact?"
"Is that possible? If I had such a troublesome daughter, I'd be good just to avoid her," Madam Lin scoffed.
"Indeed," Lin Qingwen nodded in agreement.
Even with Lin Weilan looking out for Ye Wanlan, it wouldn't last long.
**
When Ye Wanlan emerged from the study, it was already eight o'clock at night; the people of Lin Family had all dispersed.
Khor Peiqing also took Lin Wenli away from the old family home.
"You were really reckless today, fortunately your grandmother was in a good mood," said Lin Huaijin with a headache, "What do you want with that company that's about to go bankrupt? Do you even understand business?"
Ye Wanlan asked him, "Uncle, do you look forward to the day when Shenzhou becomes the center of world culture, economy, and art, reclaiming the top throne?"
Lin Huaijin was taken aback, "What?"
Ye Wanlan looked up at the sky and silently smiled, "I look forward to it."
"The more you talk, the stranger it gets," Lin Huaijin frowned, "Right, from now on try to avoid your second aunt. She has a fierce temper and is strong-willed. I guess it's your cousin who's recently been putting her in a bad mood, don't get into a conflict and upset your grandmother."
Ye Wanlan hummed in acknowledgment, indicating that she heard.
At that moment, her phone vibrated, receiving a new message.
[Early Morning Bar, the usual place, come pick me up.]
There was no signature.
Ye Wanlan clicked delete and blocked the number.
"What's wrong?"
"Scam message."
Lin Huaijin nodded and did not ask further.
**
The next day, early in the morning at Zhou day.
Lin Weilan had a rare dreamless night and felt refreshed, "Woyu, you and Qinqin help me take some things to Yan Tingyue in South City."
"Alright, Mom," Lin Woyu agreed, "You really must rest more, don't overdo it."
Lin Weilan was in a good mood, "I have it under control."
Lin Woyu smiled, "Then it seems Wanlan is really helping your health."
But Lin Weilan sighed, "That child has it tough..."
Lin Woyu was a bit puzzled, but didn't ask more, and after changing clothes, took Lin Qin by car to South City.
South City, adjacent to Jiangcheng, is a small city, just an hour and a half's drive away.
Although South City is small, it is culturally rich, with a thriving tourism industry, and home to many craftsmen and intangible cultural heritage ('non-material heritage') successors.
Lin Qin didn't like this place; every time Lin Woyu took her to see Yan Tingyue, they had to walk along a long rustic path.
She wore rain boots today specifically to avoid getting her pants dirty.
"Aunt Yan, I'm here today to bring some things from my mom," Lin Woyu said as she put down the box, "How have you been recently? You look very happy today."
Yan Tingyue smiled, "I have a successor, naturally I am rarely this happy."
Lin Woyu was surprised, "A successor?"
She knew that Yan Tingyue, like Lin Weilan, was an intangible cultural heritage successor in Shenzhou.
The difference was that Lin Weilan specialized in the zither, while Yan Tingyue was in Kunqu opera.
The civilization of Shenzhou was destroyed in the battle three hundred years ago, with the heritage being lost.
Rebuilt from the ruins, it was later impacted by the Industrial Revolution, focusing on economy and heavy industry, but culture fell far behind.
Even though Kunqu opera is esteemed as the "Ancestor of All Dramas," it has declined a lot.
Yan Tingyue was a disciple of the Master of Melody and held a very high status in the cultural world, merely choosing to live in seclusion here, and there were rumours that she was a descendant of the Carefree King, one of the Four Directions Nobility.
She had very high standards and finding a successor was as difficult as climbing to heaven.
"Yes," Yan Tingyue smiled deeper, "I underestimated the young girls of today; one performance was astonishing. If it wasn't my first time seeing her, I would have thought she'd been studying with me for a long time."
Lin Woyu was even more surprised, "A young girl? That's really incredible."
Lin Qin pricked up her ears too.
How young could she be?
"Yes, she said she would come over at noon," Yan Tingyue nodded, "If you're not busy, sit down and have a cup of tea, and meet her later."
บท 9: 009 Leaning on the Mountain
To be recognized as an inheritor by Yan Tingyue means one is by no means an ordinary individual.
Lin Woyu was about to nod when Lin Qin stopped her, "Mom, I still have to practice the zither later, and I'm pressed for time."
Hearing this, Lin Woyu felt somewhat regretful, "Sorry, Aunt Yan, Qingqing is overwhelmed with her studies and probably won't have time."
"Then you should head back early," Yan Tingyue smiled. "Practicing the zither is important."
Lin Woyu nodded, "We won't disturb you any longer, Qingqing and I will head back now."
As they left, Lin Qin continued down the mountain path without any expression.
Suddenly, Lin Woyu spoke up, "When you were little, your grandmother wanted you to learn Kunqu opera, what a pity."
Lin Qin asked indifferently, "What's there to regret? Can learning Kunqu opera take me to Yunjing and back to the Lin Family?"
Lin Woyu was taken aback, "Of course not."
The Lin Family wished to rebuild the Heavenly Sound Sect after its fall.
The Heavenly Sound Sect revered the zither above all, followed by the pipa, sheng, and other classical instruments, with every Sect Leader also being most proficient in the zither.
However, after the great war, many musical scores and theories were lost.
Over the years, the Yunjing Lin Family also tried everything to revive the zither, but to little avail.
Lin Qin said, "Well, that settles it. I only learn what is useful to me."
It was the seven-stringed guqin that served as her only pathway to return to the Lin Family Main House.
Once back in Yunjing, she would then have the chance to go to the Global Center.
After pondering for a moment, Lin Woyu agreed, "All right, you don't have that much energy to spare anyway, focus on the guqin."
**
As the sun hung high, Ye Wanlan arrived at Yan Tingyue's cottage amidst the woods when the sun was already three poles high.
"Teacher." She knocked softly on the door and saw the gift box on the tea table, "Do you have guests?"
"An old friend sent something through someone, but they've already left," Yan Tingyue said as she saw her, and poured her a cup of tea, "Ah Lan, if it weren't for the fact that we really only met yesterday, I'd truly suspect that I'd been teaching you for decades."
Ye Wanlan gave a faint smile, "I share a special connection with the teacher."
Indeed, she had already been studying Kunqu opera under Yan Tingyue for several decades.
Yan Tingyue had taught her the four skills and five methods of drama, and even gave her the precious costumes she had collected for decades.
But with the reset of time the next day, they were strangers again.
She could only keep seeking out Yan Tingyue to continue learning, thankful that her memory wasn't wiped with each reset of time.
The infinite loop ended, and this time, she could finally formally take Yan Tingyue as her master.
Back in the Qianhe Era, a Master of Melody was born.
She once followed Ning Zhaozong and met the Master of Melody, who led Kunqu opera to its zenith, with Mid-Autumn Festival Kunqu gatherings becoming a tradition in all regions of the Ning Dynasty.
Nowadays, as Kunqu opera declined, she also thought of ways to save it.
"It's because you have real talent, and the patience to endure," Yan Tingyue said. "Shall we sing 'Peony Pavilion' today?"
Ye Wanlan nodded in agreement.
She went to the courtyard behind the screen, closed her eyes, and slowly began to sing.
"Where blooms of purple and red once spread far and wide..."
The sound of opera rose, lilting and melodious.
At the end of the piece, Yan Tingyue pointed out a few areas for improvement, which Ye Wanlan noted down before leaving.
In May, rains were common in South City, and a drizzle began to fall outside.
After a while, there came the rustling of wooden clogs on grass at the door, and Yan Tingyue was somewhat surprised.
Who else would come at this time?
She drew aside the door curtain.
Through the fog, someone approached slowly, holding a twenty-four-ribbed bamboo umbrella.
Between the hues of rain and smoke, the young master was captivatingly beautiful.
Even Yan Tingyue was taken aback.
Before she went into seclusion, she had seen many children of noble families, but none of them could compare to the person before her eyes.
"Aunt Yan, I'm very sorry to disturb you at this time," Rong Yu panted as he ran in from behind Yan Tingfeng, "I brought some tea and sandalwood for you from Yunjing. This is my brother, you can just call him Xiao Yan."
"Little Yu, Xiao Yan," Yan Tingyue was delighted, yet sighed, "It's a pity you arrived late, otherwise you could have met my disciple."
Rong Yu was surprised: "When did you take on a disciple?"
When he knew Yan Tingyue, she was serving as the vice-president of the Yunjing Art Association, and many people, including those from the Yunjing Lin Family, pleaded to become her disciples, but were all rejected.
Yan Tingyue was the sole heir of the Master of Melody, naturally her status was lofty.
The news of Yan Tingyue having a successor was enough to cause a sensation throughout Shenzhou, even the World Intangible Cultural Heritage Center would be shaken.
"I just took on one yesterday," Yan Tingyue smiled, "but don't you disbelieve, she will definitely be a better singer than me in the future. I believe she can revitalize Kunqu opera, no, the entire intangible cultural heritage."
Rong Yu widened his eyes: "Who is it?"
Such high praise from Yan Tingyue?
Yan Tingfeng seemed to be deep in thought.
Yan Tingyue did not elaborate: "You'll meet her eventually. Just don't mention it outside for now."
"Understood," Rong Yu smiled, "Aunt Yan, this is the new tea my grandfather made, and this incense is the latest from the Su Family, I brought them all for you."
"You've worked hard, Little Yu," Yan Tingyue said, "Sit down. I've had someone catch some fish, let's have a meal together soon."
Rong Yu obediently sat down, but his mind was still pondering over who the disciple Yan Tingyue mentioned could possibly be.
He quietly asked Yan Tingfeng: "Can you guess who it is?"
Yan Tingfeng slowly sipped his tea: "I'm not interested."
Rong Yu muttered: "I don't even know what you're actually interested in..."
After so many years of knowing Yan Tingfeng, he still couldn't guess what the other was thinking all the time.
What a strange person.
**
It was three o'clock in the afternoon when she returned to Jiangcheng. Ye Wanlan bought some brushes, ink, paper, painting colors, and carving knives at a store at the entrance of the Academy of Fine Arts.
"Ye Wanlan?"
A surprised voice came from behind.
Ye Wanlan turned around, her expression indifferent.
"It really is you, why are you still wandering around here at this time?" Xu Li frowned upon seeing her, "Why haven't you hurried to the hospital to take care of Qin Xian?"
Ye Wanlan did not look at him, continuing to walk forward.
Seeing her leave like this, Xu Li quickly took two steps forward: "Qin Xian still hasn't woken up, I heard it was you who beat him up, weren't you a bit excessive?"
Xu Li, Zhou Hechen, and Qin Xian were friends who had grown up together.
Zhou Hechen often treated the reconciliation texts sent by Ye Wanlan as a joke and posted them in their small group chat, so he knew how much Ye Wanlan fawned over Zhou Hechen.
Who knew Ye Wanlan would suddenly go crazy?
"Come on, Ye Wanlan, listen to me, go apologize to Brother Hechen and then take care of Qin Xian until he wakes up," Xu Li persuaded further, "Humble yourself properly, then see, won't all your problems be solved?"
"As for Sister Yunyi, her hands weren't injured, it was a false alarm. She has always been kind-hearted, she definitely won't be mad at you, she might even help you."
Ye Wanlan still turned a deaf ear.
Xu Li was thoroughly infuriated: "Ye Wanlan, if Brother Hechen gets angry and doesn't help you solve the problem, once the Qin Family steps in, you'll be finished!"
Ye Wanlan finally stopped in her tracks, tilting her head slightly: "Who told you, I need to rely on him?"
Xu Li was stunned, unable to help but laugh out loud: "If not relying on Brother Hechen, who else could you rely on?"
In Jiangcheng, without Zhou Hechen, who else would know the name Ye Wanlan?
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