A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

The next day, Qu Feiming and Ma Yuesong arrived at Mawei Post Station.

Su Fan arranged accommodations and settled the two people in.

As soon as Ma Yuesong settled down, before even unpacking his luggage, he grabbed Su Fan's hand and said, "Xiao Fan, I'm an old friend of your master's. Let's be casual with each other, no need to be so polite."

Qu Feiming, standing to the side, blushed deeply. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.

He couldn't very well say to his old friend, "I'm not his master, he's my junior uncle."

But he couldn't say, because Su Fan had instructed him not to disclose their relationship to the public.

Su Fan remained calm and smiled as he poured Ma Yuesong a cup of tea, saying, "Mr. Ma, you are a senior who has devoted your life to opera. I, as a junior, have great respect for you. Please feel free to speak your mind; there's no need to stand on ceremony with me."

Ma Yuesong sighed; once he started talking, he couldn't stop.

From the operational difficulties faced by opera troupes to the aging audience and the younger generation's indifference towards traditional arts.

He recounted each point one by one, and when he got emotional, the old artist's eyes reddened and his voice choked up: "You don't know, Xiao Fan, when I look at those white-haired audience members below the stage, I feel terrible."

Su Fan listened quietly without interrupting.

Something gently touched his heart.

These older generation artists, guarding their increasingly declining profession, do not seek fame or fortune, but only hope that the flame of their art will not be extinguished in their hands.

What's even more remarkable is that they are not rigid or conservative; they are constantly thinking about how to keep traditional arts alive.

This kind of dedication alone is a hundred times better than those who only shout "revitalize national culture" but do nothing.

Ma Yuesong changed the subject, his tone becoming more urgent: "Your song 'The New Drunken Concubine' is well-written and sung, but I wonder if I could meet the female singer who performs it in the opera style? I want to talk to her in person and hear how she understands this singing style."

Su Fan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Old Ma, that was me singing."

The room fell silent.

Qu Feiming's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

Ma Yuesong's mouth was slightly open, and his eyes were fixed on Su Fan.

"What did you say?" Ma Yuesong's voice changed. "Was that you singing? That opera-style singing was yours?"

Su Fan said, "Yes, it's nothing. In the eyes of you professionals, it's just a trivial matter."

"This isn't a minor trick; this is a completely different approach." Despite saying this, Ma Yuesong still didn't believe the operatic singing was by Su Fan, so he asked again, "Could you sing a bit?"

Su Fan cleared his throat and hummed a few lines in the style of the opera "The New Drunken Concubine".

"Love and hate can be separated in an instant; raising a cup to the moon, our emotions are as vast as the heavens..."

Ma Yuesong grabbed Su Fan's hand and blurted out, "Xiao Fan, why don't you become my apprentice! Old Qu taught you traditional musical instruments, I can teach you opera. With a voice like yours, it would be a shame if you didn't learn opera!"

Qu Feiming's face immediately darkened. He roared inwardly, "I treated you like an old friend, and you want to be my elder? You're really pushing your luck!"

He stood up, pulled Ma Yuesong's hand away, and said bluntly, "Alright, Lao Ma, that's enough. He has a master; what are you meddling in for?"

Ma Yuesong persisted: "So what if I have a master? Learning another skill doesn't conflict with anything."

Qu Feiming glared at him: "Xiao... Fan is more professional than you, what qualifications do you have to take on apprentices?"

Ma Yuesong paused for a moment, then turned to look at Su Fan and asked, "You know about traditional opera?"

Su Fan thought for a moment and said, "I know a little."

"How about a bit?" Ma Yuesong's eyes lit up again.

Qu Feiming, fearing that Su Fan would give himself away, quickly tried to smooth things over: "What are you coming for? Little... Fan is very busy, he doesn't have time to mess around with you."

Ma Yuesong completely ignored him: "Xiao Fan, just sing a song. As long as you sing it, I will never mention taking you as a disciple again."

Su Fan smiled and said, "Then let's do a short piece."

So Su Fan performed a scene from "The Case of Chen Shimei".

"The prince consort stepped closer to examine it closely."

It says Qin Xianglian is thirty-two years old.

Suing the Imperial Son-in-Law

They deceived the king and showed contempt for the emperor.

A man who broke off his engagement sought a new wife.

He killed his wife and children, his conscience was gone.

Forcing Han Qi to his death in the imperial court

The complaint was brought to the master's hall.

Why are you so determined to stick your neck out?

……

His pronunciation was clear and resonant, and his voice flowed smoothly.

Bao Zheng's authority and anger are all condensed in these few lines of lyrics.

Ma Yuesong froze.

His mouth was agape, and his eyes were wide open.

Qu Feiming's mouth was agape, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

He had just heard Su Fan say he understood a little, and thought it really was just "a little," but little did he know it was a billion.

That breath control, that enunciation, that emotional control—you absolutely can't sing like that if you're not classically trained.

Ma Yuesong snapped out of his daze and asked, "Who... taught you this?"

Su Fan casually replied, "I listened to the radio a lot when I was a kid, and that's how I learned it."

Ma Yuesong didn't know how to respond.

He has studied for half his life and taught for most of his life, and has seen many geniuses.

He himself is a genius.

But he had never heard any genius dare to say, "You can learn it just by listening to the radio."

For a moment, Ma Yuesong felt a sense of frustration.

Compared to this young man, his talent was utterly worthless.

After a few seconds of silence, Ma Yuesong took a deep breath: "Xiao Fan, why don't you come to the opera association? I'll recommend you for a position."

Qu Feiming understood the true weight of those words.

The "push" Ma Yuesong referred to was not about making him an ordinary member of the association, but about elevating him to a high position.

Su Fan shook his head, his tone calm: "Old Ma, I'm just an ordinary person, I can't do those things. I appreciate your kindness."

As Su Fan said this, he looked to Qu Feiming for help.

Qu Feiming immediately understood and said, "Old Ma, they have important things to do. You can't just lure every young person you meet into your opera association."

Ma Yuesong retorted, "You're talking nonsense! When have I ever sidled with the opera association every time I see someone?"

Qu Feiming began to settle scores: "If that's how you put it, then I'll have a good chat with you. Back then, didn't you try to poach Mingxuan from my school? He was studying folk music under me back then, and you talked to him repeatedly, saying that folk music had no future and that he should study Peking Opera instead. Do you think I didn't know?"

Ma Yuesong blushed when his secret was exposed, but he refused to admit defeat: "I just thought that kid had some talent and I didn't want it to be wasted!"

"What, you think you're so great because of me, but you think you'll soar to new heights?"

……

The two started glaring at each other, neither willing to give in.

Seeing this, Su Fan quickly interjected to change the subject: "Old Ma, Mawei Post Station will open in a few days. Would you like to perform a piece then?"

Ma Yuesong's eyes lit up for a moment, but then dimmed again. He waved his hand and said, "Traditional opera is no longer popular. Not many people watch it, and it might affect your performance here."