A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

After the female voice singing in the opera style in "The New Drunken Concubine" became a trending topic on social media.

Ye Xuan naturally noticed it as well.

He leaned back on the sofa, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"You asked for this!"

Ye Xuan picked up his phone and sent a message to his subordinates.

"Get the pace going! Su Fan is ambitious and eager for quick success. He deliberately hides things from his partner, disrespects his collaborators, and takes credit for others' work."

Within half an hour of the message being sent out, the comment section was filled with different opinions.

"It's just a chorus, why hide it like that? It feels like Su Fan is deliberately creating hype!"

"That female singer sang so well, but Su Fan didn't even mention her name. Does he think she's not famous enough for him?"

"He's just greedy for credit, taking all the credit for himself and treating everyone else as mere tools!"

……

Now, the internet is even more lively.

Su Fan was stunned when he saw the message.

"You're really persistent. Fine, fine, you'll play like this, huh!"

Seeing that the hype had died down, Su Fan logged into Weibo and posted an update.

"Aren't you all curious about who sings that opera-style vocals? Mawei Post Station officially opens to the public on the Dragon Boat Festival, and we'll be singing it live for you then!"

This Weibo post, seemingly offering no explanation, actually revealed three key pieces of information all at once.

First, Mawei Post Station will officially open for business on the Dragon Boat Festival.

Secondly, on the opening day, they will sing "The New Drunken Concubine".

Third, Su Fan named that unprecedented singing style "opera style".

The comment section exploded again instantly.

"There's still a week until the Dragon Boat Festival, I can't wait!"

"Opera-style singing? That's a good name; it certainly sounds like opera, but it's not traditional opera!"

"Singing live? That means that mysterious female voice is going to appear?!"

"I'm planning a trip for the Dragon Boat Festival. Okay, let's go to Mawei Post Station!"

Anyone going in a group? See you at Mawei Post Station!

"I'm a fan of traditional opera, and just for the sake of the operatic style, I have to go and hear it live!"

……

Within hours of Su Fan posting that Weibo post, bookings for high-speed rail tickets, air tickets, and hotels skyrocketed.

Wei Zhirang sat in his office, listening to the data sent from the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Aviation, his fingers trembling slightly.

He looked up at the ceiling, his eyes welling up with tears.

This day was one he had waited for and longed for for so long.

From the moment Su Fan wrote "Chengdu", he had been looking forward to this day.

Sichuan Province got it, Jiangxi Province got it, Northeast China got it, and now it's finally Shaanxi Province's turn.

"Is this what it feels like to win the lottery? Awesome!"

In no time, terms like "The New Drunken Concubine" and "opera-style singing" became trending topics.

Of course, Mawei Post Station, which is associated with it, is also among them.

In Qu Feiming's study in Kyoto.

Qu Feiming listened to "The New Drunken Concubine" on repeat more than a dozen times.

It's not that he's idle; it's that he can hear something new every time he listens.

That singing style, known as "Xiqiang," lingered in his ears for a long time, a style he had dedicated his life to folk music.

Just then, a guest arrived at Qu Feiming's home.

This person's name is Ma Yuesong.

Qu Feiming's friend of several decades, and also the vice president of the Chinese Opera Association.

In recent years, traditional opera has declined far too quickly.

Box office revenue for major theaters is declining year by year, and the number of white-haired people in the audience is increasing while the number of black-haired people is very small.

The younger generation is showing less and less interest in Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, and Yue Opera.

Ma Yuesong watched helplessly as it retreated, but he couldn't stop it no matter what he did.

This elderly man tried everything he could: going into schools, organizing public performances, appearing on variety shows, and inviting popular celebrities to cross over into the industry. He tried everything, but the results were minimal.

He was extremely anxious about this and often suffered from insomnia at night, tossing and turning, muttering to himself, "The things passed down from our ancestors cannot be lost in our hands."

At this moment, as soon as Ma Yuesong entered the room, he said directly, "Old Qu, you must introduce me to your apprentice."

Qu Feiming was stunned for a moment, then realized he was talking about Su Fan. He thought to himself, "That's not my disciple, that's my junior uncle!"

But these words cannot be said aloud.

So Qu Feiming pretended to be confused: "What apprentice? Which one are you talking about?"

Ma Yuesong panicked, pulled out his phone from his pocket, opened the playback page for "The New Drunken Concubine," turned the volume up to the maximum, and held it in front of Qu Feiming: "This is it! Isn't he your apprentice? You interacted with him on Weibo before, and even interpreted the lyrics for him. The whole world knows he's your apprentice. Why are you pretending to be confused with me?"

Qu Feiming was speechless after being rebuked like this. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only wave his hand helplessly.

Ignoring his expression, Ma Yuesong leaned forward and said solemnly, "Old Qu, I'm telling you seriously, this opera style isn't traditional opera, but it can appeal to young people. Listen to the transitions, the breath control, the charm. Young people find it novel and pleasant to listen to, and they will want to learn more. As long as they are willing to learn, we have a way to pass on what our ancestors left us."

As Ma Yuesong spoke, his voice choked up: "Old Qu, the years have been too tough for opera performers."

Hearing this, Qu Feiming felt uneasy: "Okay, I'll ask around for you."

He dialed Su Fan's number in front of Ma Yuesong.

The phone rang twice before being answered, and Su Fan's voice came from the other end: "Mr. Qu, what can I do for you?"

Qu Feiming coughed and said seriously, "Xiao... Fan, there's something I'd like to ask you. I have an old friend, Mr. Ma Yuesong from the Opera Association, who heard your rendition of 'The New Drunken Concubine' and would like to get to know you. Would that be convenient for you?"

Su Fan said, "I can't go to Kyoto for the time being, but it just so happens that Mawei Post Station will open on the Dragon Boat Festival. You are also a shareholder here. If you have time, please come and attend the opening ceremony on that day."

Ma Yuesong, who was standing to the side, nodded vigorously.

Qu Feiming had no choice but to agree, "Okay, then I'll go with Lao Ma."

……

After hanging up the phone, Ma Yuesong turned and walked out.

Qu Feiming stopped him: "Where are you going?"

Ma Yuesong said, "Let's pack our bags. There are only a few days left until the Dragon Boat Festival. Let's set off now."

"Is it really necessary? The person is there, they can't run away, there's no rush."

Ma Yuesong said very seriously, "It's absolutely necessary. Do you know how long I've been waiting for this day?"

"Since we've waited so long, a little more won't make a difference."

"Old Qu, you're really talking without understanding the situation. While the hype is still going strong, I need to hurry up and learn from others to see if I can create something myself. You don't know, I've watched traditional opera decline day by day over the years. It's so rare for a new style of opera to emerge that can interest young people. If I don't seize this opportunity, I won't be able to sleep at night for the rest of my life!"

Qu Feiming knew he couldn't dissuade him, so he could only say, "Alright, alright, let's go."