Please, come home and practice the piano

Chapter 1411, Section 631: The Engagement Chronicle! Carmen of the Three Little Branches

With a hiss, the plane landed smoothly on the runway of Yantai Airport.

As soon as the cabin door opened, the salty, damp sea breeze of late August rushed in like a madman.

Ang Lee reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Chen Xuan's ear, the movement as natural as if he had done it a thousand times before.

The two walked hand in hand in front, while Fu Tianming and his wife followed behind, busy with recording equipment.

In the arrival hall, Song Lian and Lao Chen were waiting anxiously.

Old Chen wore a shiny light gray shirt and his hair was neatly combed.

Song Lian clutched her thermos, her eyes fixed on the exit.

Before long, their two children, whom they had been longing for, appeared.

"Dad! Mom!"

Chen Xuan let go of Li An's hand, flicked her skirt, and walked quickly toward her parents.

Ang Lee quickly caught up, "Uncle, thank you for your hard work, Auntie!"

"What hardship have we endured!" Old Chen patted his shoulder, his eyes overflowing with approval. "It's good that you're back."

Song Lian pulled Li An's hand and looked him up and down. "Your face has gotten so thin. Have you not been eating properly lately?"

"Don't worry, Auntie, it's just that the concert just ended and I haven't recovered yet," Li An said with a smile, putting his arm around Chen Xuan's waist.

Chen Xuan leaned closer to him and secretly squeezed his hand.

Then Ang Lee introduced Fu Tianming and his wife to the elderly couple.

"Hello, Uncle and Aunt! I'm sorry to trouble you with this."

"What's the trouble! Once you're here, just treat it like home!"
-
On the way home, the atmosphere was as lively as during the Chinese New Year.

Song Lian and Lao Chen, who had been holding back their curiosity for several days, blurted it all out in the blink of an eye, bombarding the Rongcheng Concert with questions.

Ang Lee naturally has to give a big shout-out to our teacher, Mr. Shrimp.

Hearing the enthusiastic applause and the recognition from industry veterans towards Chen Xuan, the elderly couple's eyes lit up.

Song Lian turned to look at Li An and said bluntly, "Xiao Xuan owes everything she has today to you."

Ang Lee quickly shook his head: "Auntie, you're wrong. The key is that Teacher Xiaomi is excellent enough."

Chen Xuan snorted, making everyone burst into laughter.
-
When I got home, a table full of dishes was already laid out, all of them hearty and substantial.

“My parents will arrive tomorrow morning,” Li An said as he set out the bowls and chopsticks. “My dad also told me to bring Uncle Chen a bottle of good wine.”

Old Chen laughed even more heartily: "We're all family, why are you being so polite? I'll have to have a couple of drinks with him tomorrow."

During the meal, Song Lian kept talking about the hotel she had booked, while Old Chen counted on his fingers the relatives and friends he was going to invite.

Just then, Ang Lee put down his chopsticks, took out a gold-embossed notebook from his bag, and handed it over with both hands.

"Uncle, Auntie, this is the employment letter I just received."

Old Chen quickly put on his reading glasses, took the document, and his voice suddenly rose: "Rongcheng Conservatory of Music, Piano Department...Special Guest Lecturer?"

He touched the official seal on the letter of appointment with his fingers, his fingertips trembling slightly. He looked at it repeatedly before looking up at Li An with a complicated expression.

There was surprise, relief, and an indescribable pride.

Song Lian leaned closer to take a look, her face beaming with joy.

Old Chen nodded repeatedly: "Come on! This glass of wine is a special toast for you!"

As someone who's been through it all, Old Chen knows very well the weight of this appointment letter.

This is not something that can be compared to mere online fame; it is a formal endorsement of Ang Lee's professional abilities by the mainstream academic community.

Hey.

The father-in-law liked his son-in-law more and more the more he looked at him.

Ang Lee not only helped Chen Xuan establish herself in the Chengdu Philharmonic Orchestra.

Now, he has secured an offer of employment from the college based on his own abilities.

This ability and sense of responsibility put Old Chen at ease.

Song Lian held Chen Xuan's hand and patted Li An's hand: "We have complete confidence in entrusting her to you!"

Ang Lee and Chen Xuan looked at each other, as if all the hard work and effort had been worthwhile at that moment.
-
The next morning, Ang Lee drove Old Chen's car to the airport.

The two arrived at the arrival gate half an hour early.

"Dad! Mom!"

Upon seeing his parents in the distance, Ang Lee immediately waved.

Old Li pushed his suitcase ahead, his back ramrod straight, with Aunt An following closely behind. As soon as she saw Chen Xuan, she quickened her pace.

"Uncle and Auntie, you must have had a long journey."

Chen Xuan went up to her and took the bag from An Ma's hand.

Aunt An held onto Chen Xuan's hand tightly, saying, "Oh, look how thin you've gotten."

Old Li handed the suitcase to his son, looking at Chen Xuan with gentle eyes: "Congratulations on the successful performance."

"Thank you, Uncle," Chen Xuan said, her cheeks slightly flushed. "It's all thanks to everyone's support."

On the way back, Aunt An pulled Chen Xuan to sit in the back seat and took out a velvet box from her bag: "Auntie brought you some little things."

Inside was a pair of jade earrings, gleaming with a warm luster in the sunlight.

"This is too valuable." Chen Xuan was at a loss for words.

"Keep it safe," Aunt An personally handed the box to Chen Xuan.

Ang Lee: "Mom, can you get me a little gift too?"

Old Li: "What gift do you want? Focus on your car."

Hahahaha.

Dinner was a formal gathering for both families.

Old Li brought a bottle of Moutai that Li Hua had treasured for many years. Old Chen's eyes lit up as soon as he saw it: "This wine has been around for quite some time!"

"I brought this especially to drink with my in-laws," Old Li said with a smile as he opened the bottle. "From now on, we're all family."

After a few rounds of drinks, the two fathers got along better and better, talking about work, retirement, and health preservation.

Song Lian and An Ma were even more affectionate, discussing the details of the engagement banquet head to head, with occasional soft laughter coming from between them.

Ang Lee and Chen Xuan sat to the side, watching this scene with an indescribable warmth in their hearts.

"That's wonderful," Chen Xuan sighed softly.

Ang Lee took her hand under the table and smiled, "Things will get better from now on."
-
While Ang Lee and Chen Xuan were busy preparing for their engagement banquet in Yanshi, things were also going on at home in Rongcheng.

After seeing Grandpa Tang off, only Tang Xiaoxing and Xiao Che remained at home.

“You practice Mozart, I’ll practice Bach,” the little car said, spreading the sheet music on the piano.

The two children had a clear division of labor.

Tang Xiaoxing nodded: "I've just finished working through the second movement these past two days, and I should be starting to prepare the pieces for the Chopin Competition next month."

The two girls each sat down at the piano, and the study was soon filled with the sound of music.

Tang Xiaoxing played K491 with crystal clarity, each note sounding as if it had been meticulously crafted.

The car's Bach G minor is rigorous and meticulous, with the voices of the two hands clearly distinguished.

The two practiced until 3 p.m.

Hearing the incense, the car went to open the door.

Wang Xiaohu stood outside the door carrying a plastic bag: "My mom asked me to bring some fruit over."

Besides fruit, the bag also contained some cooked food.

"My mom said if you two don't want to go out to eat, you can just steam some rice and eat it with it," Wang Xiaohu said, squeezing into the door. "Or I could cook you a meal tonight?"

Tang Xiaoxing poked her head out of the music room: "Another demonstration?"

"Who do you think you are!" Wang Xiaohu rolled up his sleeves. "I made a mistake that day!"
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

The three children squeezed into the kitchen and began preparing dinner.

Wang Xiaohu was in charge of processing cooked meat, Xiao Che washed fruit and cut fruit platters, and Tang Xiaoxing was in charge of steaming rice.

"Are you preparing any new songs?" the little car asked while cutting an apple.

“I’m not going to prepare any more,” Wang Xiaohu replied. “My teacher said that the pieces I have now are enough.”

"Oh, right," he suddenly remembered something, "would you be interested in the revised score?"

Tang Xiaoxing's eyes lit up: "What sheet music?"

“The Carmen Trio,” Wang Xiaohu said with an embarrassed smile.

Tang Xiaoxing thought for a moment: "Two pianos and a clarinet?" "That's more than half right!" Wang Xiaohu said excitedly, "I'll play the clarinet, Xiaoxing, you play the piano, and the little car melodica."

The little car immediately perked up: "Where's the sheet music?"

"I brought it, it's in my bag. My instrument is in my bag too. Shall we try it out after we finish eating?"

In an instant, all three children sped up.
-
After resting for a while after dinner, the three of them went to the study.

Tang Xiaoxing sat in front of the piano, the car took out the harmonica, and Wang Xiaohu installed the clarinet.

“Let’s start with the theme,” Wang Xiaohu said, placing the sheet music on the music stand. “The rhythm at the beginning must be steady.”

The piano prelude began, its bright and powerful melody instantly filling the living room. Then the harmonica joined in, its lovely tone interspersed throughout.

The first time you get together, there will inevitably be some bumps along the way.

"Stop, stop, stop," Wang Xiaohu put down his instrument. "Xiao Che, you're going in a bit too fast."

The little car looked at the sheet music and nodded: "I understand."

Tang Xiaoxing suggested, "Why don't we practice separately first, and then combine them later?"

Little Car: "Hmm! Playing the harmonica is a bit difficult."

So the three children started practicing on their own, and then practiced together again half an hour later.

This time it's much better.

The piano's rhythm is steady and supportive, the clarinet's melody is passionate and unrestrained, and the harmonica's ornaments are just right.

When the three voices blended together in a relatively orderly manner, all three children couldn't help but laugh.

"Tiger's modifications are pretty good." Xiao Che even suspected that Wang Xiaohu had actively made the modifications.

Wang Xiaohu chuckled: "My senior sister helped me too."

Car: "I knew it!"

After practicing a few more times, Wang Xiaohu received a call from his mother deciding to leave for the day.

"That's enough for today," Wang Xiaohu said, putting away his instrument. "I should head back now. Shall we continue tomorrow?"

The car dropped him off at the door: "We're fine with it, are you sure you can manage?"

“Come on,” Wang Xiaohu said, putting on his shoes. “But it has to be tomorrow afternoon. I need to submit my materials in the morning.”

“Let’s continue tomorrow afternoon,” Tang Xiaoxing thought it sounded like fun, “Let’s try to finish the piece by tomorrow.”

"No problem!" Wang Xiaohu waved and greeted the two kittens while carrying his schoolbag.

"Goodbye, 80,000!"

"Goodbye, Little White!"

"Meow—"

Over the next two days, the three children established a fixed routine.

In the morning, Tang Xiaoxing and Xiao Che practiced their pianos separately.

One is to tackle the technical difficulties of K491, and the other is to refine the balance of Bach's voices.

In the afternoon, Wang Xiaohu came over, and the three of them rehearsed the Carmen Trio together.

By the afternoon of the third day, the trio had been arranged in a very good manner.

"Shall we record it and listen to it?" Wang Xiaohu suggested.

Tang Xiaoxing set up the phone in position, and the three of them adjusted their posture.

"1, 2, 3, Go!"

The music is ringing.

The piano introduction is steady and powerful, the clarinet melody is passionate and fiery, and the melodica ornaments are lively and bouncy.

The three voices rise and fall, sometimes conversing, sometimes blending, perfectly capturing the essence of Bizet's classic overture.

As the last chord fell, the three of them smiled at each other.

"Perfect!" the car cheered.

Wang Xiaohu wiped the sweat from his forehead: "How about we record a short video and post it on the Fourth Steel Company's official WeChat account?"

Tang Xiaoxing: "Good idea!"

Xiao Che: "Then we can have the teacher post it on Bilibili and the teacher's wife on Douyin!"

And so, the three children sat on the living room carpet, eating fruit and discussing the details of the artwork.

The setting sun outside the window bathed the room in gold, sheet music lay scattered on the piano, and the air seemed to still hold the warmth of the music.

In those notes that seem to still echo, there is sweat, laughter, minor arguments, and above all, their purest love for music.

Meanwhile, far away in Yantai, Ang Lee and Chen Xuan were about to experience their own happy moment.

Two spaces, two kinds of busyness, yet both filled with anticipation and hope for the future.

The night before the formal engagement banquet, Chen Xuan and her friends pulled off a big stunt.

It took almost five hours to set up the engagement scene.

Warm yellow string lights twinkled like stars on the wall.

Pink and white balloons surrounded the huge banner.

Fresh white roses were placed on the registration table. Carefully selected wedding photos were displayed on the backdrop.

In the very center of the banquet hall, two chairs covered with bright red silk had already been set up; this was where the tea ceremony and the formal address would be conducted tomorrow.

Fu Tianming kept running around directing: "Wrap the light strip around another circle! The atmosphere has to be maximized!"

Wen Xiao carefully placed the gold-embossed cards next to each plate, a smile playing on her lips: "Tomorrow, the main character just needs to focus on looking beautiful. We'll oversee the process to ensure everything goes smoothly."

The others who came to help nodded in agreement.

Everyone put in their best effort.

After all, witnessing the happy moments of their good friends is an exceptionally joyful thing, and they just want to do their best in everything.

The group worked almost all night, and finally finished setting up just before dawn.

Looking at the newly renovated, romantic, and cozy banquet hall, everyone wore satisfied smiles.

On the evening of the engagement banquet, the banquet hall was lit up.

Guests entered one after another, and laughter and cheerful chatter filled the air.

At the main table, the closest relatives of both sides were all seated.

Old Li and Aunt An specially changed into new clothes; Old Li wore a black suit, and Aunt An wore a festive red dress.

Fu Tianming, who was acting as the emcee, walked onto the stage, and the banquet hall gradually quieted down.

All eyes were focused on the center of the ceremony area.

The four elderly people from both families sat upright on chairs covered with red silk, their eyes full of expectation.

Ang Lee and Chen Xuan, dressed in formal attire and holding blue-and-white porcelain teacups, slowly walked to the kneeling cushion and knelt down.

Ang Lee raised the teacup above his head with both hands, his voice clear and strong: "Dad, Mom, please have some tea."

Song Lian's eyes instantly reddened, and she repeatedly said, "Good child."

He took the teacup, took a sip, and then carefully handed over the thick red envelope that he had prepared beforehand to Li An.

Old Chen patted Li An on the shoulder forcefully: "From now on, we're family."

Chen Xuan watched quietly from the side, her face beaming with happiness.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Xuan held a teacup in her hands and said in a clear and sweet voice, "Dad, Mom, please have some tea."

An's mother's hand trembled slightly with excitement, and Old Li quickly helped her up, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "Good daughter, good daughter."

Aunt An held Chen Xuan's hand tightly, reluctant to let go: "From now on, we're family, okay, Xiao Xuan."

Chen Xuan: "Mom!"

Old Li also took out a red envelope from his pocket: "This is a small token of my parents' love. Please take it."

"Wow—"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause that lasted for a long time.

Ang Lee held Chen Xuan's hand tightly.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

First hurdle of marriage passed!

"Whoosh——————————"

(End of this chapter)