Controlling the Five Thunders and the Two Worlds

Guangzhou, a summer night.

It was already past five o'clock when we left the doll shop.

The group used a trick to put most of the dolls into the storage gourd, leaving only one or two of their favorites to play with.

"It's almost time. Let's eat first, and then we'll go listen to Xiaoya and Shishi's performance." Zhuo Qingyan raised her hand and looked at the newly bought Fiyta women's watch in her hand.

Upon hearing the word "food," Bai Ke's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but give Gu Zhao a resentful look.

There are so many delicious foods here, yet Gu Zhao only brings back spiced roast chicken and honey-glazed char siu all day long.

"I want barbecue!" Bai Ke was the first to raise her hand.

"Let's have hot pot instead," Chen Zhi said, licking her lips, unusually expressing her opinion.

Bi Yingying's eyes lit up. "I want to eat Sichuan food."

Ye Ruyan nodded seriously, "Actually, Hunan cuisine is also fine."

"Sichuan and Hunan cuisines are too spicy. I think Shandong cuisine is a more suitable choice," Miao Yunji suggested.

Bai Yiqi happened to glance at a sign not far away and couldn't help but swallow hard. "The roast duck from Old Yandu is actually quite good."

The embroiderer glanced at Gu Zhao and said weakly, "Cantonese cuisine is fresh, delicate, and delicious."

Goodness, seven people, seven opinions!
Gu Zhao looked at Zhuo Qingyan, "It all depends on your vote."

Zhuo Qingyan glanced around at everyone, then finally fixed her gaze on a sign in the distance. "I want to eat seafood."

Everyone, "..."

……

After dinner, everyone left the mall happily.

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi's performance was at a concert hall less than two kilometers from the mall. With plenty of time and no rush, they took advantage of the cool early summer night breeze and strolled there.

"Life here is so good!" Chen Zhi couldn't help but exclaim.

Wide streets, bright streetlights, rows of signs and shops, a constant flow of cars and pedestrians, and a dazzling array of goods and entertainment.

Such abundant material conditions, such a peaceful and tranquil environment.

"This is paradise on earth, nothing more than this," Bai Yiqi commented.

“But that’s only in China.” Bi Yingying shook her head. They had been here for some time and had even traveled abroad, visiting the pyramids, the Louvre, and Hollywood. So they knew what the outside world was like.

Ye Ruyan said, "That's normal. Only the central plains and our Jiangzhou are the most stable in the imperial court. Whether the people live well or not depends entirely on the actions of the local court."

Whether in another world or abroad, so many beautiful women traveling together would inevitably attract the covetous eyes of lecherous men and people with ill intentions. However, on the streets of Guangzhou, although all sorts of gazes gathered, no one actually went up to disturb them.

"It's so beautiful!"

As people crossed the bridge, the lights of the Canton Tower illuminated, creating a dazzling and colorful spectacle, showcasing the most distinctive landmark light show of a modern city.

Bai Ke encouraged, "Let's build one on Cuiluo Mountain too!"

Gu Zhao rolled her eyes at her, "Build it yourself!"

Just kidding. Modern buildings are not the same as ancient buildings. The structure, shape, water and electricity are all different. It takes a lot more than just a few things. How can it be so easy to replicate?

Bai Ke chuckled and said nothing more.

When they look at the Canton Tower, they admire its super-tall shape and colors, but they are not really interested in the contents inside the building or the various entertainment options on the roof.

They can fly themselves, so things like Ferris wheels and skydiving rides are really not that appealing.

After crossing the Pearl River Bridge, the group quickly arrived at the Ocean Star Concert Hall, where the Guangdong Provincial Folk Music Orchestra was holding a concert. Promotional posters and individual posters of famous musicians from the orchestra were displayed in the concert hall.

"Look over there, it's Xiaoya, and Shishi!" Bai Yiqi looked at two of the posters, and another poster next to them, "and that foreign girl too."

As the backbone of the orchestra and the most famous female musicians, Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi are already qualified to have their own independent posters. Although Eileen is not quite as good in terms of strength, as a beautiful woman and a model of Sino-foreign exchanges, she also has her own independent poster.

"So beautiful!" Chen Zhi bit her cherry lips lightly, a little envious.

In the poster, Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi are both dressed in gorgeous Hanfu, with wide sleeves and flowing clouds, fluttering skirts, swaying hairpins and tinkling jade pendants.

One person sat comfortably on a mat, gently playing the zither, while another leaned back in a round-backed chair, holding a pipa. Each had a gentle smile and a radiant gaze, exuding both an ethereal and otherworldly charm as well as a dignified and elegant demeanor.

For example, the simple and elegant blue and white porcelain of the Song Dynasty, and the bright and vibrant brass of the Ming Dynasty.

At the entrance to the concert hall, staff members were handing out brochures for the concert, which included an introduction and poster of the Guangdong Provincial Folk Music Orchestra, as well as the program and performers.

Chen Zhi picked up a card and then looked for Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi's names on it.

"Xiaoya has two solo performances, Shishi also has a solo performance, and they also have a trio performance." Chen Zhi quickly found them in the brochure.

"Hurry up and go in, it's about to start," the embroiderer reminded them. So everyone went into the concert hall and quickly found a row of seats at the front, and sat down in turn.

As soon as Gu Zhao sat down, he saw an old man sitting on the side of the front row. It was the same old man he had met when he came to watch Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi perform. His comments that day had shown his considerable skill.

Before long, the concert officially began, and the musicians of the folk music ensemble took to the stage to perform, either solo or in groups, according to the program.

The zither tinkles, the bamboo flute plays a clear tune, and there are also drums, harps, zhongruan, yangqin...

In terms of the complexity and diversity of musical instruments, the depth and variety of timbre, and the types of sounds produced by plucking strings and percussion instruments, the traditional musical instruments of Tianxia are in no way inferior to the Western musical instruments that are popular today.

Of course, a pipe organ is still too much.

Besides Gu Zhao, Xiu Niang, and Bai Ke, Zhuo Qingyan is a musical master, Chen Zhi, a young lady from a prominent family, is also quite skilled in music, Bi Yingying is good at painting but also has some music theory knowledge, and the others, such as Bai Yiqi, Ye Ruyan, and Miao Yunji, all have a foundation in music.

So after the concert started, everyone listened very attentively, and when they encountered a wonderful passage, they nodded frequently in appreciation.

Xiao Ya soon took the stage and performed a solo guzheng piece, "Xiangshan Shooting Drums".

"Huh?" The old man in the front row let out a soft exclamation, full of surprise. "When she played this piece last time, although I could hear the liveliness of the temple fair, it was too modern and lacked any sense of antiquity."

But this time, it sounded like I was truly transported back to an ancient temple fair. The rhythm was crisp and clear, yet it lacked any modern elements. This girl's talent is truly remarkable!

The women were not far behind him, and upon hearing this, they all covered their mouths and chuckled.

Although they acknowledged that Xiao Ya's musical talent was indeed rare, the reason this piece took another step forward was because they actually accompanied Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi to the temple fair in Xiuyue County.

However, Zhuo Qingyan still gave the old man a serious look. She could hear the changes in Xiao Yale's voice, and the old man's musical skills were at least two or three stories high.

After Xiao Ya finished playing her piece, she bowed and withdrew, holding her zither. Then other musicians came on stage.

Although not all the musicians in the Guangdong Provincial Folk Music Orchestra are elderly masters, nor are they all talented young people like Xiao Ya, they are all at least above average, and even Zhuo Qingyan can appreciate their music.

Not long after, Jiang Shishi's solo and Xiao Ya's other solo were performed on stage, followed by their performance with another musician.

But just as it was about to begin, there was a two-minute silence on stage. Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi did not go on stage; instead, an act from the next program took their place.

Most people didn't realize what had happened. A few who had read the brochure were a little confused, but didn't care. Only the women looked at each other in bewilderment.

"what happened?"

"This performance was supposed to be a duet by Miss Xiao and Miss Jiang, why didn't they come up?"

"what happened?"

With a thought, Ye Ruyan saw Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi comforting a girl who seemed to have just woken up from a fainting spell. Several other people were also nearby, offering words of comfort and saying that an ambulance had been called and would arrive soon.

"It seems that another member of their group suddenly fell ill and fainted," Ye Ruyan said.

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhuo Qingyan's phone suddenly vibrated; it was a call from Xiao Ya.

Although the distance wasn't far, and they could communicate directly through telepathy, Zhuo Qingyan still followed local customs and answered the phone, "Xiaoya?"

"Qingyan, are you in the concert hall?" Xiao Ya asked.

"Yes, I also saw another member of your group faint," Zhuo Qingyan said.

"Look?" Xiao Ya asked, then immediately realized, "Yes, yes, it's not a serious illness. We called an ambulance for her, but she definitely can't go on stage, so the show is missing someone, and they have to be good at playing the jade flute."

"I was thinking, Sister Qingyan, you're the best at playing the jade flute, and you also know 'Fisherman's Song at Dusk,' so why don't you come and save the day for us!" Xiao Ya said.

Zhuo Qingyan's eyes flashed as she looked around at the audience who were attentively appreciating the music, and a thought struck her.

As the saying goes, true friends are hard to find. Even if many of those who come here to listen to folk music are not as knowledgeable as the old man in front of us, they are all people who love music. There is nothing wrong with playing a piece for them.

"Is it appropriate?" Zhuo Qingyan's question was, in effect, an agreement.

"Perfect, perfect!" Xiao Ya exclaimed hastily. "The commander has already agreed!"

"Then I'll...give it a try?" Zhuo Qingyan used a trick to disappear from her seat and reappear at the backstage entrance, quickly coming to Xiao Ya's side.

Xiao Ya was on the phone with Zhuo Qingyan when she heard the other party hang up. The last two words, "Give it a try," were clearly heard from beside her.

Xiao Ya looked up in surprise and saw Zhuo Qingyan dressed in white, her black hair simply tied in a bun, giving her a pure and ethereal feeling like a lotus emerging from the water.

"Wow!" The surrounding crowd exclaimed.

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi's faces lit up with joy. They then spoke to the team leader beside them, and pulled Zhuo Qingyan toward the edge of the stage, saying, "We're going to be next!"

……

A moment later, after listening to a performance of Shandong drum music, the audience in the concert hall saw Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi enter the stage one on the left and one on the right. Then, a woman dressed in white, holding a jade flute, slowly walked onto the stage.

The next moment, the song "Fisherman's Song at Dusk," a tune they could sing for a lifetime, began to play softly. (End of Chapter)