A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

After the wedding, everyone returned to the courtyard house.

After a busy day, everyone was a little tired.

Aunt Liu, however, didn't bother to rest. She had barely sat down when she started talking about going back home.

As she packed her things, she said, "Shanshan's wedding is over, I'll be going back tomorrow."

Su Fan was drinking water from his teacup when he heard this and said helplessly, "Aunt Liu, why are you in such a hurry? You've come all this way, so stay in Kyoto for a few more days and go back for the New Year."

Aunt Liu's hands didn't stop moving: "There are still several days until the New Year, I can't wait. There are so many children in the yard. Although there are people taking care of them, I won't feel at ease if I don't go back to see them."

"It won't be long." Su Fan put down his teacup and patiently persuaded, "You worry about them every day. Those little guys won't run away. Besides, the courtyard has everything you need now. Just stay here and I'll show you around."

Aunt Liu looked up at him and said, "What's so good about Kyoto? It's crowded everywhere, and everything is expensive. The longer I stay here, the more I'll worry about it. I might as well go back sooner."

Zhao Jie sat to the side, thought for a moment, and said, "How about this, Xiao Fan, you come back with us. Anyway, there are only a few days left until the New Year. If you go back early, you can help the courtyard buy some New Year's goods."

Su Fan shook his head: "I can't go back yet."

Zhao Jie was somewhat surprised: "What, you're planning to stay in Kyoto for the New Year?"

"No, that's not it." Su Fan leaned back in his chair, his tone tinged with helplessness. "I can't get away right now; I have to wait until I finish what I'm doing before I can go back."

Aunt Liu, afraid that Zhao Jie would continue to persuade him, quickly said, "Work is important, you go ahead and do your thing. We know the way, we can just buy a ticket and go back, you don't need to come along."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but ask, "How exactly do you run this company? Other bosses make their employees do the work while they relax, but you're so busy that you don't even have time to go home for the New Year."

Xiang Hong looked at him with some confusion: "Hasn't Han Tang not had any major projects lately? The tourism live streams have also stopped, so what else requires your personal attention?"

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Su Fan could only explain, "It's not about the company."

Fang Cheng pressed further, "If it's not about the company, then what is it?"

Su Fan picked up his teacup and said casually, "I have a segment in this year's Spring Festival Gala, and I've been rehearsing a lot lately. The production team hasn't given us a break yet, so naturally I can't leave."

The room suddenly fell silent.

Aunt Liu stopped tidying her clothes.

Zhao Jie held the teacup, but didn't bring it to his lips for a long time.

Fang Cheng stared blankly at Su Fan, as if he doubted that he had misheard.

The group looked at each other, and no one spoke for a long while.

In the end, it was Fang Cheng who came to his senses first.

He leaned forward slightly, asking incredulously, "What did you just say? You're going to be on the Spring Festival Gala?"

Su Fan nodded: "Yes."

Zhao Jie finally realized what was happening, his expression filled with surprise and delight: "Is it the Spring Festival Gala that everyone in the country watches on New Year's Eve?"

Su Fan was both amused and exasperated: "What else could it be but the Spring Festival Gala?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the room became lively.

Fang Cheng slapped his thigh suddenly: "How come you didn't reveal a single thing about such a big thing?"

Su Fan shrugged: "The production team hasn't announced it yet, so I can't just go online and spread rumors. Besides, it's just singing a song on stage, nothing to brag about."

"You make it sound so easy, but that's the Spring Festival Gala!"

Fang Cheng glared at him irritably.

If he didn't know he couldn't beat Su Fan, he really wanted to pin this guy, who was pretending to be calm, down in a chair and beat him up.

Aunt Liu snapped out of her surprise, and a smile gradually spread across her face.

She looked at Su Fan, her eyes brimming with undisguised pride: "Are you really going to be on TV?"

Su Fan smiled and nodded: "If it's true, you'll be able to see me when you turn on the TV at home."

"Then I have to go back right away."

Aunt Liu's first reaction surprised everyone.

Su Fan asked helplessly, "How come you became even more eager to go back after knowing I was going to be on the Spring Festival Gala?"

Aunt Liu said matter-of-factly, "Such a big thing, I have to go back and tell the children in advance. The TV in the yard should also be checked, in case it breaks down on New Year's Eve and we have to call everyone back to watch you on stage."

As she spoke, her smile grew even wider.

"It's such a joyous occasion that a child from our compound is performing on the Spring Festival Gala. I'll make sure all the children see it on New Year's Eve."

Su Fan originally wanted to persuade her to stay a few more days.

Seeing how eager Aunt Liu was to go back and tell the children the good news, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He smiled and said, "Okay, you can go back whenever you want. Remember to call me when you get there. Once this is over, I'll go home right away to celebrate the New Year with you."

Aunt Liu smiled and nodded, "Okay, we'll wait for you at home."

The next morning, Su Fan took Aunt Liu, Zhao Jie, Fang Cheng, and others to the station.

Before getting on the bus, Aunt Liu kept reminding her, "No matter how busy you are, remember to eat on time. Come back as soon as the Spring Festival Gala is over."

Su Fan smiled and agreed, "Don't worry, I'll go back as soon as I'm done here."

Aunt Liu glanced at him again: "Don't be nervous when you go on stage, just sing well."

Zhao Jie patted Su Fan on the shoulder: "Focus on rehearsals. Don't worry about things at home. We'll take good care of Aunt Liu's yard when we get back."

Su Fan nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Jie."

An announcement came on, reminding passengers to have their tickets checked.

Aunt Liu and the others then carried their luggage toward the ticket gate.

Su Fan only turned and left the station after the group disappeared into the crowd.

After seeing Aunt Liu off, Su Fan quickly threw himself back into rehearsals for the Spring Festival Gala.

As Lunar New Year's Eve approached, the entire production team's pace noticeably quickened.

The previous rehearsals mainly focused on familiarizing ourselves with the stage, adjusting the arrangement, and determining the general performance style.

At this stage, lighting, accompaniment, stage design, and camera work all need to be implemented meticulously.

The Spring Festival Gala is not an ordinary performance.

The duration of each performance, when the camera switches, at what second the stage mechanisms activate, at which line of lyrics the lighting changes, and even the singer's position and which camera they face are all strictly planned.

Su Fan's "The Sound of the River Enters the Old Year" is no exception.

Fortunately, Su Fan's performance was consistently strong, so the production team didn't dwell on her singing too much.

The main rehearsals are held on stage.

Besides his own show, Su Fan also has to take care of the Hanggai Band.

The stage for "Reincarnation" has a larger number of performers, including Agula and others, as well as some symphonic music and ensemble vocals.

How to preserve the unique characteristics of the morin khuur, throat singing, and long song within limited stage time, while also ensuring a grand overall effect, is a problem the production team has been constantly adjusting.

Fortunately, Agula and the others were in very stable condition.

With Wu Enqi personally overseeing the process, the program team didn't need to repeatedly remind them of some details related to the expression of grassland music.

After several rehearsals, the stage effects of "Reincarnation" gradually took shape.

And so, Su Fan spent his days either in the rehearsal hall or traveling between different broadcasting venues.