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Lu Chen never expected to find a private teahouse nestled among the lush greenery in the bustling downtown area near the university district.
Even the satellite navigation in his new car couldn't pinpoint the location, so he ultimately had to call Chen Jianhao for guidance. After some time on the road, he finally arrived at the right place.
The teahouse, located by Houhai, is tucked away in a secluded alley and is housed in a traditional siheyuan (courtyard house).
Behind the siheyuan (courtyard house) lies Lakeside Park, surrounded by towering trees and vibrant greenery. The ancient walls are draped in ivy, and wildflowers add splashes of color, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.
Such a siheyuan (courtyard house) in Capital City is likely worth several hundred million, yet it surprisingly serves as a teahouse.
The interior of the teahouse has clearly been renovated, and decorated in a style that is both antique and charming.
Upon entering, the soothing sound of the guqin (a traditional Chinese string instrument) washes over you, making worries feel like they're melting away.
Guided by a waiter, Lu Chen made his way to a private room.
Inside, four guests were already seated, with Chen Jianhao among them. The other three were elderly men in their 60s to 70s, dressed in long gowns and cloth shoes, sitting across from each other, enjoying tea and engaging in conversation.
Compared to these scholarly gentlemen, Chen Jianhao was undoubtedly the younger generation, and he showed them great respect.
Upon seeing Lu Chen enter, he immediately stood up and said, "Little Lu has arrived; let me introduce you to a few seniors."
The three elderly men turned their heads in unison to look at Lu Chen.
He was momentarily taken aback.
One of the elderly men was someone he recognized—the one he often saw while exercising at Lakeside Park!
"Brother Jianhao," Lu Chen greeted Chen Jianhao first, then smiled and said, "Hello, Old Master, long time no see."
The elderly man was also surprised to see Lu Chen and snorted, "What a coincidence."
It seemed he still held a grudge against Lu Chen.
Chen Jianhao was astonished: "Little Lu, you know Professor Chen?"
This Old Master is actually a professor?
Lu Chen nodded, "I guess we know each other, but I didn't know Old Master's full name before."
Chen Jianhao was relieved and smiled, "Then let me formally introduce you!"
The Old Master Lu Chen had encountered many times before was named Chen Pu, a retired Chinese professor from Peking University.
The elderly man in the blue gown sitting to Professor Chen's left was Gao Yue, a professor in the Department of Composition at Capital City Music College, who was also nearing retirement.
And the elderly man on the right with a white beard was none other than the famous director Zhang Wentian!
Lu Chen was not familiar with Professors Chen Pu and Gao Yue, as he had never heard of them before.
However, the name of Director Zhang Wentian was well-known; he had directed the major dramas "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin" in the 1990s, both of which set records for TV viewership at the time.
He had also directed many historical blockbusters, excelling in historical and military-themed films, and was highly respected in the industry, although he had been relatively quiet in recent years with no new works released.
Many young people might not be very familiar with Zhang Wentian, but Lu Chen was definitely not one of them.
He had watched "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin" more than once at home.
So now, seeing Zhang Wentian felt like meeting an idol!
Of course, whether it was Zhang Wentian, Chen Pu, or Gao Yue, Lu Chen was very respectful and polite.
The two seniors had a good impression of Lu Chen's respectful demeanor.
Chen Pu said to Zhang Wentian, "This young man is the one I told you about the other day, the one practicing boxing."
Zhang Wentian suddenly remembered: "I recall, the young man was practicing Singing Spring Fist, but the moves were a bit off."
He smiled at Lu Chen and said, "Nowadays, very few young people appreciate traditional martial arts; they all practice boxing and taekwondo from abroad. If you enjoy martial arts, I can introduce you to a master."
Boxing and taekwondo are competitive sports featured in the Sydney Olympics, thus having a significant global influence.
Especially taekwondo, which was very popular at one time, leading many parents in the country to send their children to learn it for physical fitness and character building, resulting in taekwondo dojos springing up in cities everywhere.
In contrast, traditional Chinese martial arts have become overly routine, leaning more towards aesthetics and artistry, with fewer people learning them.
Sanda, derived from martial arts, emphasizes competition and practical combat, but its fierce techniques, similar to free fighting and Muay Thai, are not favored by the general public.
The boxing style Lu Chen practiced stemmed from Mo Ran's memories, evolving differently from this world, and was not just aimless practice.
However, Zhang Wentian's intentions were entirely good, so Lu Chen expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Director Zhang."
Chen Jianhao was surprised to learn that Lu Chen understood martial arts and found it quite intriguing.
But he did not forget the main topic and interjected to Gao Yue, "Uncle Gao, Little Lu wants to attend classes at Jingyin; could you help him out?"
Gao Yue smiled, "Since Jianhao has asked, it would be inappropriate for me not to agree."
He took out a business card and a pen, quickly wrote a few lines, and signed on the back of the card.
After finishing, Gao Yue handed the card to Lu Chen, saying, "Take this and contact Director Lu at the Academic Affairs Office; his phone number is on it, and he will assist you."
Lu Chen did not expect the matter to be resolved so he simply and quickly said, "Thank you, Professor Gao!"
The more he learned about music, the more he felt his own shortcomings.
Thus, Lu Chen had long considered studying at a higher institution, but since he did not meet the admission requirements, auditing classes became the best option, allowing for flexibility in both action and time.
However, obtaining an auditing certificate from key institutions like Jingyin or Beiyin was not easy, so Lu Chen asked Chen Jianhao for help to see if he knew anyone who could assist with this certificate.
As a result, Chen Jianhao introduced him to two professors and a director.
This was indeed a significant favor!
Gao Yue smiled gently, "No need to be so polite; you have great creative talent, and your songs are quite good."
As a professor in the Department of Composition at Jingyin, Gao Yue held no prejudice against pop music.
When Chen Jianhao mentioned this matter to him earlier, he inquired about Lu Chen's background and listened to a few of his works, appreciating the latter's talent.
Such a young person, not swayed by the glitz of the entertainment industry and eager to learn and improve himself, deserves encouragement!
Otherwise, Gao Yue might not have been so willing to help so readily.
After all, he would be responsible for issuing Lu Chen an auditing certificate.
Zhang Wentian was surprised, "Little Lu is into music?"
Gao Yue replied, "Yes, have you heard 'In Spring'? This song was written by him."
"'In Spring?'"
Zhang Wentian was even more astonished, "This song was written by Little Lu?"
Although this old director did not pay much attention to the entertainment industry and was not fond of contemporary pop music, he had indeed heard "In Spring" more than once.
His youngest son loved the song and often played it on the guitar at home!
Zhang Wentian never expected that such a profound piece would be created by the young man before him.
Gao Yue smiled, "I was surprised too, but this piece indeed came from Little Lu's hands."
Zhang Wentian sighed, "Truly, the new generation surpasses the old; a new wave pushes the previous one!"
While surprised, he had no doubts about Lu Chen's capabilities, as there was no need for such skepticism.
Chen Pu suddenly said, "Old Zhang, weren't you struggling with the theme song for your movie? Why not let him give you some advice?"
Zhang Wentian was caught off guard: "Uh..."
Gao Yue agreed, "Yes, let's brainstorm; we are getting old and should listen to the voices of the young."
Zhang Wentian chuckled, "Well said, as if we have all become old antiques. Alright, let's hear what he has to say!"
He turned to Lu Chen and said, "Little Lu, here's the situation..."
At first, Lu Chen was a bit confused, but he quickly understood.
It turned out that Zhang Wentian was recently preparing to shoot a major film about the Opium War during the late Qing Dynasty, depicting the decay of the Qing court, the invasion of foreign powers, and the heroic resistance of the people, awakening the national spirit in a tragic story.
The script was already written and had entered the pre-production phase, but Zhang Wentian encountered issues in selecting the theme song, having been dissatisfied with over a dozen options that did not meet his standards.
Most directors add music in post-production after filming, but Zhang Wentian had a different approach; he placed great importance on the score and wanted to determine the style and tone of the music early on, including the theme song.
In his view, the theme song represents the essence and ideology of the film, and a good theme song can significantly enhance the film's appeal, making it as crucial as the script itself!
The problem was that his standards were high, which led to the theme song remaining undecided for a long time.
Although finding a song and shooting could happen simultaneously, Zhang Wentian had been preoccupied with this matter.
Today, while having tea with his old friends Chen Pu and Gao Yue, he sought their help for some suggestions.
The two professors, one specializing in lyrics and the other in composition, had collaborated on works before, so perhaps they could help solve the issue.
Chen Pu and Gao Yue were willing to assist, but both felt uncertain about being able to produce a piece that met Zhang Wentian's expectations, and they had just been discussing the theme song.
Chen Jianhao was in the right place at the right time, having secured a spot here due to his connection with Gao Yue.
As for Lu Chen, he was incredibly fortunate!
Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult for him to even meet Zhang Wentian, let alone sit down and discuss matters with him.
Zhang Wentian was merely venting his frustrations, not expecting Lu Chen to provide any useful advice.
To his surprise, after listening for a moment, Lu Chen pondered and said, "Director Zhang, I happen to have a piece that might meet your requirements."
'What?'
Zhang Wentian doubted he had heard correctly.
Not just him, but Chen Pu and Gao Yue also showed expressions of surprise.
Truly, the young bull is not afraid of the tiger!
(End of Chapter)