A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

That day, Su Fan had just finished a round of rehearsals and was resting in the audience when his phone rang.

He took it out and glanced at it, only to find that it was a call from Pan Lei.

As soon as the call connected, Pan Lei's voice came through the receiver: "Xiao Fan, when are you coming back?"

Su Fan was somewhat puzzled by the question: "Uncle Pan, what's wrong?"

Pan Lei said, "The village has made a lot of money this year, and the accounts have been settled. Everyone is waiting for you to come back and share the profits."

"Why are you waiting for me to give you your share of the profits? Once the accounts are settled, you can divide them however you want, just leave me my share."

Pan Lei was immediately displeased upon hearing this: "You make it sound so easy. You're the village head of Lijiapo. It's such a big event as the year-end dividend distribution in the village. How can you not show up? It's not right!"

Su Fan was taken aback for a moment, then said, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have completely forgotten that I'm the village chief."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Immediately afterward, Pan Lei's voice suddenly rose: "You can forget this? When you made us village chief, didn't we agree that even if it was just a nominal position, you had to hold onto it? What, now that you've made it big outside, you look down on this little thing in the village?"

Su Fan smiled and explained, "Uncle Pan, you're wronging me. No matter what, I can't forget my roots. Lijiapo is my hometown, and the village's affairs are my affairs."

Pan Lei scoffed, "That's easy for you to say. Then tell me, when are you coming back?"

Su Fan said helplessly, "I'm afraid I won't be able to go back before the New Year. I might have to wait until after the New Year."

"After the New Year?" Pan Lei's tone immediately became more displeased. "You're really busy. The New Year is almost here. No matter how big things are going on outside, you can't not even come home, can you?"

"It's not that I don't want to go back, it's just that something really came up before the New Year, and I can't get away for the time being."

Pan Lei pressed, "What's so important that you can't even spare a few days before the New Year?"

Su Fan hadn't originally planned to reveal it in advance, but Pan Lei pressed him for details, and since the program list was already finalized, he said, "Isn't the Spring Festival Gala coming up soon? I have a program on the Gala this year, so I can't leave Kyoto for the time being."

Upon hearing this, Pan Lei's voice was filled with disbelief: "What did you just say? You have a show?"

"yes."

"The programs for the Spring Festival Gala?"

"right."

"Is it the Spring Festival Gala that airs on New Year's Eve?"

"Um."

Upon receiving confirmation, Pan Lei's breathing became more rapid: "Why didn't you say so sooner about something this important?"

Su Fan said somewhat helplessly, "The show hasn't officially aired yet, I can't exactly go around advertising it with a megaphone, can I?"

"How can this be the same? That's the Spring Festival Gala!"

Pan Lei's tone changed instantly; his previous dissatisfaction vanished without a trace, replaced by an uncontrollable excitement.

"Then don't come back yet. This is a big deal. You have to get the show done first. You can get the profits distributed anytime."

Su Fan reminded him, "Didn't you just urge me to go back?"

Pan Lei said matter-of-factly, "I didn't know you were going to be on the Spring Festival Gala before, but now that I know, of course the performance should be the priority."

"The dividends can be distributed directly to everyone; it doesn't matter whether I receive them or not."

"You can focus on the show, don't worry about it. Postpone the profit sharing for now. We'll hold a meeting after you return to the village on the fifteenth of the first lunar month."

Su Fan was both amused and exasperated: "Is it really necessary to make the whole village postpone their plans just to wait for me?"

"Why wouldn't it be necessary? You're the village chief, and a major contributor to our village's development this year. Without you, this profit-sharing meeting wouldn't be complete."

Before Su Fan could even speak, Pan Lei excitedly began making arrangements: "On New Year's Eve, I'll have someone move the village committee's large TV to the square, and set up a few stoves so the whole village can watch you on the Spring Festival Gala together!"

Su Fan quickly advised, "It's the dead of winter, so please don't make things difficult for everyone. It's the same if everyone watches it at home."

"How can that be the same? If someone from Lijiapo is on the Spring Festival Gala, shouldn't the whole village witness it? Alright, you go about your business. I'll go tell everyone the news now. By the way, when is your program coming out?"

"The specific order has not yet been finalized."

"Tell me as soon as you're sure."

"Okay, I'll call you after I'm sure."

Pan Lei said with satisfaction, "That's more like it. Sing well and don't embarrass Lijiapo."

Not long after the call ended, Su Fan's phone rang again.

This time, it was Ye Yun who called.

The call connected, and Ye Yun asked, "Have you returned to Qin Province?"

"Not yet, I'm still in Kyoto."

"That's perfect, let's all have a meal together before the New Year."

"It might not be possible before the New Year; I really can't get away recently."

"Not even time for a meal?" Ye Yun asked, puzzled. "Has something happened at the company again?"

Su Fan explained, "It's not a company matter. I've been rehearsing with the Spring Festival Gala program team recently."

The other end of the phone suddenly went silent.

After a moment, Ye Yun asked with some surprise, "You're going to participate in the Spring Festival Gala?"

"Yes, I have a show to perform, and we're currently in the final rehearsals, so I can't leave for the time being."

Ye Yun quickly realized what was happening, and her voice betrayed her undisguised joy: "Why didn't you tell me about something so important sooner?"

"The show hasn't officially aired yet, so it's not appropriate to talk about it everywhere. Besides, it's just about going on stage to sing a song; there's no need to make it known to everyone."

"That's the Spring Festival Gala, how come it sounds like you're just singing any old song?"

Su Fan thought to himself, "Well, everyone's reaction is surprisingly consistent."

At this moment, Ye Yun said, "Since you have to prepare for the show, let's skip this meal before the New Year to avoid delaying your rehearsals. We can have a family reunion dinner at home after your show on New Year's Eve."

Su Fan hesitated for a moment: "By the time I finish here, it will probably be very late."

"What's late on New Year's Eve? When the family is having New Year's Eve dinner, it's never too late."

"I can't say for sure when the show will end."

"It's alright, we can wait." Ye Yun didn't give him a chance to refuse any further and made arrangements directly, "I'll come pick you up after your show."

Su Fan quickly replied, "No need for that trouble, I'll drive there myself."

"After you finish the show, you don't know how late you'll be working. It's the Lunar New Year, and you're exhausted after a long day. It's not safe for you to drive yourself."

"I'm just singing a song, what's so tiring about it?"

"Listen to me, I'll pick you up after the show. You perform well on stage, and everyone will be waiting for you to come home for New Year's Eve dinner."

Having said that, Su Fan couldn't be coy anymore and finally agreed: "Okay, I'll call you after the show ends."

Ye Yun smiled and said, "Then it's settled. Focus on your rehearsals, and see you on New Year's Eve."

……

After hanging up the phone, Su Fan sighed, "It seems there are some things that need to be addressed."