A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

The next day, Ma Yuesong woke up from his hangover, shook his head, put on his coat, and went to Qu Feiming's room next door in his slippers.

Qu Feiming opened the door with a yawn, his eyes not yet fully open.

Ma Yuesong said, "Old Qu, I seem to remember Xiao Fan saying yesterday that the song was finished?"

Qu Feiming leaned against the headboard and rubbed his temples: "That's a good thing. Your trip wasn't in vain."

Ma Yuesong nodded, then suddenly asked, "By the way, there's something else. I think I heard you say yesterday that you're Su Fan's martial uncle? What's going on?"

Qu Feiming sobered up instantly. He sat up straight and waved his hand, "You misheard. How could I possibly be his senior uncle?"

He added in his mind, "He should be my martial uncle."

Ma Yuesong scratched his head and muttered, "I might have remembered wrong. That wine yesterday was pretty strong."

Qu Feiming followed the steps and said, "You should drink less alcohol in the future, it'll only cause trouble."

Ma Yuesong sighed, "It's been so long since I've had any Northeastern liquor, I got drunk without even realizing it."

"You should be more careful in the future and not lose your composure."

Ma Yuesong glanced at him sideways: "What, do you feel embarrassed for getting drunk in front of your apprentice?"

Qu Feiming's face darkened: "Don't talk nonsense."

"Look at you, you're getting angry."

Qu Feiming was too lazy to argue with him, so he stood up and put on a coat: "Let's go, didn't you say that Xiao... Fan finished the song? Let's go take a look."

The two ate a bowl of porridge and two fried dough sticks downstairs, and asked for directions as they walked towards Su Fan's house.

At this moment, Su Fan was still dreaming.

In his dream, he was standing on a huge stage, with a huge crowd of people below.

Just as he was about to start singing, a sudden, urgent knocking on the door pulled him off the stage.

"Who is it? It's so early in the morning, can't a person get some sleep?"

He yelled irritably at the door and shuffled to open it.

As soon as the door opened, Qu Feiming and Ma Yuesong were seen.

"Good morning, Mr. Qu and Mr. Ma."

Without exchanging pleasantries, Ma Yuesong went straight to the point: "Xiao Fan, didn't you say yesterday that the song was finished?"

"Mr. Ma, you have a really good memory."

Ma Yuesong sensed the room for doubt in his words and took a step forward: "So, you really managed to do it?"

"Mr. Ma, I have a feeling you're trying to trick me?"

Ma Yuesong grew anxious and grabbed his arm: "Let me see right now!"

Su Fan stepped aside to let the two into the house.

He turned on his computer and opened the file "Dingjun Mountain".

Ma Yuesong manipulated the mouse to examine each line one by one.

Qu Feiming stood behind him, bent over, his eyes also fixed on the screen.

Ma Yuesong stared at the lyrics and music on the screen, his hand frozen in place.

It wasn't because he couldn't read music, but because the arrangement notes at the end left him dumbfounded.

The traditional Peking Opera "Dingjun Mountain" is purely in the style of Pihuang.

The instruments Su Fan marked on the sheet music included, in addition to the jinghu (a two-stringed bowed instrument), banggu (a type of drum), and gong, electric guitar, bass, and drum kit.

Ma Yuesong's hand trembled slightly as he scrolled down the page, becoming more and more excited.

This is not simply Peking Opera with pop accompaniment.

Instead, the core vocal style of "Dingjun Mountain" was embedded into a completely new musical structure.

Ma Yuesong was so excited that his hands were shaking.

Qu Feiming stood behind him, his mouth slightly open.

He knew that Su Fan's score wasn't about combining elements, but about grafting them together, attaching the toughest bones of Peking Opera to the most dynamic muscles of pop music.

After a long silence, Ma Yuesong said, "Xiao Fan, this song must be recorded! It absolutely must!"

He paused, then added, "I don't care, I'm going to be on stage on opening day. You sing your song, and I'll just bang the gong for you from behind!"

Su Fan smiled and said, "Mr. Ma, don't get excited. Songs are written to be sung, and you'll be going on stage."

Ma Yuesong suddenly grabbed Su Fan's hand and said, "Xiao Fan, you don't know, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and think, is this art form going to die out in our generation? Troupes are laying off staff, audiences are leaving, young people are going to watch movies and scrolling through short videos, who still listens to opera? But your performance of 'Dingjun Mountain' gave me hope. It's not that kind of empty revitalization, it's a real and tangible hope that can be implemented, that can make young people feel that Peking Opera can be this cool."

Su Fan said, "Mr. Ma, with a senior like you, opera will only get better and better. You are not alone; there are many others who are working hard just like you."

Qu Feiming didn't say anything, but simply reached out and patted his old friend on the back.

At this moment, in the hotel, Qin Shen sat up from the bed, looking at the unfamiliar room with a blank expression.

"Where did I get this for?!"

He muttered to himself, and after a long pause, he remembered what had happened last night.

Then, Qin Shen raised his hand and swore, "I'd rather die than drink with anyone in politics again!"

After washing up, he called Su Fan.

Su Fan was on his way to pick someone up when the call connected. Qin Shen's booming voice burst from the receiver: "Brother Fan, where are you?"

Su Fan said, "Brother Shen, if you're free, come with me to pick up some people. A lot of friends have come to show their support."

Upon hearing that there was excitement, Qin Shen went out without saying a word.

The people Su Fan was going to pick up were the same group of artists who had come to support the opening of Fancheng Bar.

The one leading the group was Jiang Yi, the rock singer.

They sang "The Drunkard's Toast" together, but after the excitement, they went their separate ways. Su Fan thought they were just nodding acquaintances.

Unexpectedly, as soon as news of the opening of Mawei Post Station spread, Jiang Yi led his men to attack.

Su Fan was somewhat surprised, but then he thought, why not take advantage of free publicity?

Therefore, Su Fan decided to squeeze every last drop of value out of these free tools.

As for inviting Qin Shen, it was simply to let him become familiar with these people, so that if he wanted to work in this circle in the future, he would have some acquaintances.

Upon arriving at the village entrance, Jiang Yi saw Su Fan and rushed over, grasping Su Fan's hands with both of his, saying excitedly, "Mr. Su, it's so good to see you again!"

Su Fan was a little confused by his outburst: "Brother Jiang, what's gotten into you?"

Jiang Yi said with a serious expression, "I listened to your song 'Don't Bother Me' a few days ago, and it gave me a clear direction."

Su Fan asked, "What's wrong, Brother Jiang? Are you being targeted too?"

"No." Jiang Yi shook his head. "Before this, I was always conflicted. I liked both rock and folk music. People said rock was rebellious and folk music was pretentious. You could only choose one, but I couldn't let go of either. I struggled with this for many years. But ever since I met you and saw that you can switch freely between folk and rock, I realized that there is no conflict between them. You have helped me find a new direction."

Su Fan felt like he was leading people astray. He thought for a moment and said, "You can't have your cake and eat it too."

Jiang Yi was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Are you asking me to choose between rock and folk?"

Su Fan added slowly, "But the wise will create fishing nets and tranquilizer guns. Then, it won't be impossible to catch fresh bass with one hand and capture brown bears with the other."

Those standing nearby, upon hearing this, all felt something was amiss, but couldn't quite put their finger on what it was.

Su Fan continued, "What is our purpose in making music? Isn't it just because we like it? And the driving force behind liking it is to make ourselves happy. So, as long as we are happy, as long as it is not illegal, and as long as our abilities allow it, it doesn't matter what we do. Folk music or rock music are both ways to release dopamine."

While everyone was still reacting, Su Fan called out, "Let's go back to the village and settle down first, then I'll take you around Mawei Post Station."