Floral Guzheng
In this world, the most popular instrument is the guitar, followed by the piano and the flute, with the guzheng ranking lower.
However, the guzheng is not unpopular, but rather, it is difficult to learn.
Not to mention having to suspend both hands steadily above the strings, which is something not everyone can do, and unlike the violin where you use a bow to pull the strings, the guzheng requires fingers to pluck them. After a performance, ordinary people would have sore fingers.
People with weak finger strength would not produce the desired sound due to insufficient playing force.
Sitting at a tea table nearby, Xia Yu observed Kong Hanyue's performance closely.
The practice piece for the guzheng was a real exercise, unlike the simple exercises for the piano that didn't require any special techniques.
This practice piece also has a name, called "Iron Pipe."
It was a piece created by a modern qin master, who said about the name, "Once you learn this piece, your playing will be as pleasant as hitting an iron pipe."
The piece had no beauty to speak of – only hollow, empty music.
After playing the practice piece, Kong Hanyue looked at Xia Yu, "It looks easy, doesn't it? You give it a try."
Xia Yu then came to the guzheng, closed his eyes, and recalled the techniques in his mind.
Five seconds later, he took out his phone, placed the sheet music for "Iron Pipe" in front of him, picked up the fake armor from the table, and taped pieces to his fingers.
The strings of the guzheng are thin, and directly playing with fingers can easily cause injury, so qin masters wear fake armor for their performances.
There are eight pieces of fake armor, with two little fingers not needed during the performance, so there is no need to wear them.
With everything in place, Xia Yu suspended his hands above the guzheng strings.
His eyes looked at the sheet music on his phone screen, and he played the first note.
Kong Hanyue's face showed a sly smile, waiting for Xia Yu to embarrass himself.
She understood Xia Yu's situation – knowing he definitely didn't have a guzheng, probably only watching some videos online, thinking that with his piano and violin foundation, he could easily get started.
Reality, however, would tell him how difficult the guzheng truly was!
Xia Yu couldn't learn such a piece in one go. After Kong Hanyue finished playing, he stepped forward and stumbled over the beginning of the soothing section. When it came to the faster part, he couldn't continue.
"Your technique is not mature enough. With this level, you can't even make it through the preliminaries of the regional competition," Kong Hanyue began to discourage.
Xia Yu ignored her and started playing again.
On the second try, he successfully connected the part that was broken in the first try but broke off at the quick-paced section.
On the third try, he failed halfway through the fast-paced section.
On the fourth try, although there were some problems with the rhythm, he had already completed the entire piece.
Kong Hanyue was silenced after the second try, and when Xia Yu played through the entire piece, she clutched her head, "My teacher used to say that I was a once-in-a-lifetime genius, but it turns out there are people beyond that."
Standing behind Xia Yu, she patted him on the back, "I'm proud of my son. In terms of learning the guzheng, I would call you the strongest."
Xia Yu didn't feel a bit happy about Kong Hanyue's evaluation. He knew that he was learning fast because he already had a Level 3 ability.
As for music, he actually had no talent at all.
However, he didn't need to tell Kong Hanyue that.
"There are still some problems. Teach me," Xia Yu told Kong Hanyue.
"Okay," Kong Hanyue agreed, "With this speed, you might actually be able to get a ranking in the competition, maybe even enter the top 30. When the local newspapers come to interview me, they'll find that you're the son of the once-in-a-lifetime genius Kong Hanyue from twenty years ago..."
At this point, Kong Hanyue stopped.
Xia Yu knew what the other party was thinking and said, "You can just say that you taught me when I was a child."
If a reporter comes to visit, the children of her ex-husband will definitely know about it.
"Zeze is a good child, it's just that Xinxin is a bit difficult to handle," Kong Hanyue looked apologetically at Xia Yu.
"It doesn't matter," Xia Yu didn't mind.
There's no unbreakable bond in the world, and if it's someone else in Kong Hanyue's position, they might not even bother with him.
Being able to come this far is already very good. People should always be content in order to be happy.
However, one should be content with their strategy but be greedy with their tactics.
Xue has always liked Kong Hanyue. It would be nice if their relationship could be repaired.
They'll talk about it later.
Lifting his hand, Xia Yu started playing the guzheng again.
Kong Hanyue gave instructions from the side, "You need to use your fingers to exert force, not your wrists or your arms."
"Don't play the parts you're already familiar with, focus on the parts you're not familiar with."
"Don't lean too far forward with your waist. When playing the guzheng, the most important thing is to look good."
An hour later, Xia Yu had become quite proficient in playing the piece, "White Contract."
"You really are a genius!" Kong Hanyue excitedly hugged Xia Yu, "My Kong family's guzheng has a successor!"
"Wake up, you are the only one who learned guzheng in Kong family."
Xia Yu sighed. Kong Hanyue had such an inexplicable character, she hasn't changed a bit in so many years.
"Including you, that makes two generations, right? In modern society, having two generations is already quite impressive." Kong Hanyue pulled the guzheng again, "Let's start with the next piece, but before I teach you, let me introduce you to the factions in our family. The guzheng is currently mainly divided into the Southern School and the Northern School."
"Are we Southern School or Northern School? What's the difference?" Xia Yu asked curiously.
"We are neither Southern School nor Northern School, but the Huajian School."
"???"