Chapter 3 Perseverance

  Wei Xiaolong put away his guitar, picked up the cardboard box from the ground and chased after Zhang Yi in big strides. He needed to dispel the confusion in his heart - why would this young man give him so much money?

  "Hello..."

  Wei Xiaolong bowed deeply to Zhang Yi after blocking his way.

  Zhang Wei looked at the young man in front of him, who was about thirty years old, carrying a backpack, with a guitar slung over his shoulder and holding a paper box containing 1,000 yuan he had put there himself, along with some loose change.

  "What?"

  Zhang Yi asked calmly.

  Wei Xiaolong said seriously: "Thank you for giving me so much money, actually just before playing that song, I was still worried and didn't know if the money I earned today could fill my stomach. Thank you..."

  Zhang Yi smiled and said: "No need to be polite, if anyone should say thank you, it's me who should thank you."

  Wei Xiaolong's face froze, and he asked in confusion:

  "Why?"

  Zhang Yi's smile faded, and he calmly said: "Your song expressed my inner voice, the emotions I couldn't let go of for a long time. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be 'resonance'."

  Wei Xiaolong looked at Zhang Yi deeply and suddenly said: "Although the money was given by you, can I invite you to drink a few cups?"

  "Invite me?"

  Zhang Yi hesitated for a moment.

  To be honest, he wasn't full just now, and had only eaten a few mouthfuls before running into Wang Xiaoqiu, so his stomach was still growling. Now that he had thought things through, facing Wei Xiaolong's expectant expression, he smiled and said:

  "I'm not familiar with this place, you lead the way!"

  "Wei Xiaolong nodded excitedly and said: 'Alright, follow me!'"

  Before long, they passed through several bustling streets. After seven twists and eight turns in a residential area alley, they arrived at a secluded alley.

  "The place with lights in front is where people drink."

  Wei Xiaolong smiled and pointed at the bright lights ahead, saying.

  Zhang Yi smiled and nodded. Since he had cultivated the "Hui Chun Jue", his eyesight was much better than before, so even if it was very far away, he could still see clearly the sign on the electric pole under the lamp light: Liu Dage's barbecue.

  There were only four or five tables at the barbecue stall, and at this time there was only one couple eating. When the two arrived, Wei Xiaolong called out to the middle-aged man who was busy roasting lamb skewers:

  "Liu Ge, get five skewers... no, ten waist skewers, thirty mutton skewers, and another plate of boiled peanuts and edamame mix. Also, bring four bottles of beer."

  Tying an apron. A middle-aged man with sweat beads on his face turned around, smiled and said: "Little Dragon, are you going to improve your diet today? Oh, do you have friends? Wait... it'll be ready soon."

  Wei Xiaolong chuckled a few times and invited Zhang Yi to sit down at one of the small tables.

  "Are you familiar with this place?"

  Zhang Yi asked curiously.

  Wei Xiaolong pointed to a dilapidated house not far away and said with a smile: "I wandered into Jinan City two months ago. I rented a house here, which is a temporary place to settle down. When I made money before, I came here to improve my diet. Liu Dage is a good person. Sometimes when I had no money, he let me eat here and pay him back when I had money."

  It's also someone who is struggling to make a living!

  Zhang Yi secretly sighed in his heart.

  "Right, I'm Wei Xiaolong. And you are, brother?" Wei Xiaolong took the beer handed over by the middle-aged man and quickly opened it for Zhang Yi, asking with a smile.

  "Brother Wei, I'm Zhang Yi."

  Wei Xiaolong nodded and handed the bottle to Zhang Yi, saying: "Let's just use the bottle directly! Drink slowly, feel it."

  "Whatever," Zhang Yi said with a smile.

  Wei Xiaolong looked at Zhang Yi and curiously asked, "Zhang Yi, brother, I think you're not very old, probably just over twenty? And the clothes on your body aren't any famous brands. I believe you're not a rich person either. So, how can you give me so much money? Do you have enough to live on yourself?"

  "Don't worry! We can still make a living."

  Wei Xiaolong nodded slowly, took the wine bottle and touched it with Zhang Yi, and after taking a sip, he asked: "Brother Zhang Yi, are you still in school?"

  Zhang Yi nodded and said: "Today is the first day of school."

  Wei Xiaolong sighed: "To be honest, I really envy you guys who can go to college. I debuted at the age of 16 and have been on this path of music for 13 years, all the way through ups and downs, and now it's so miserable. Alas..."

  Zhang Yi said in confusion, "Wei Ge, the song you sang earlier, I think it sounds great and it's obvious that you put your emotions into it. Why don't you go to those music companies for an interview? Or participate in those singing competitions? With your level of skill, I think you'll definitely be a hit!"

  Wei Xiaolong sighed, "How could I not have tried? I've even lost count of how many times I've attempted it. One entertainment company after another, one audition show after another, but every time I failed. The waters in the entertainment circle are too deep, without money, power or connections, it's hard to make a name for oneself!"

  Zhang Yi furrowed his brow, smiling wryly and said: "I'm not familiar with the entertainment industry, but I always feel that you can't just be a wandering singer. By the way, I recently heard people discussing, there seems to be a talent show called 'Proud Son Rising', I think you should give it a try."

  "I..."

  Wei Xiaolong was a bit hesitant. He hadn't participated in any entertainment program's selection activities for more than two years, and every day he was busy running around to make a living, so how could he have the mind to participate?

  He also knew that Zhang Yi was right, if he continued like this, he might not be able to go far on the path of music. However, in his heart, he had some misgivings about those talent shows.

  Every time.

  He was full of longing, but it ended up disappointing him.

  "You're scared!"

  A sharp glint flashed across Zhang Yi's eyes, and he said in a deep voice.

  Wei Xiaolong hesitated for a moment and didn't make a sound.

  "Are you afraid of failure, afraid of going with hope time and time again, only to return in disappointment?"

  Wei Xiaolong sighed and said with a helpless expression: "Yes! After being hit repeatedly, my confidence has been worn away by those repeated blows. The path of music is full of thorns, now I don't even know how far I can go myself, it's so exhausting!"

  Zhang Yi slammed his hand on the table and said in a deep voice, "Wei Ge, although we've just met, your attainments in music are impressive. I also understand some music, guqin, flute, erhu and other instruments, so I can tell that you're able to infuse emotions into your music. My master once told me that music needs soul, what is soul? It's about infusing emotions into it."

  "Besides, you say you're tired? How long have you persisted? A 13-year music career, 13 years of failure, and it's already knocked you down? Live fish swim against the current, dead fish drift with the tide. The easy paths are all downhill. Hold on tight, because you're on an uphill climb. A precious sword is forged from sharpening, without being tempered a thousand times, how can it cut through iron like mud?"

  Wei Xiaolong stared at Zhang Yi in shock, his mind reeling from Zhang Yi's words.

  He was shocked!

  That's right!

  He was shocked, his heart trembling. In struggle.

  Even his eyes had lost their focus.

  Zhang Yi looked at Wei Xiaolong's dull face, picked up two strings of lamb skewers and several strings of mutton skewers, quickly ate them, and then downed the bottle of beer in one gulp.

  "Boss, bill."

  A few minutes later.

  Wei Xiaolong's eyes finally showed a determined color, and a new hope was injected into his heart, filling him with fighting spirit.

  What's wrong with failure?

  I've failed so many times already, what's a hundred or two more!

  Music is something that has been deeply ingrained in me, and this path I, Wei Xiaolong, must continue to walk. Life does not stop, the journey of music does not stop.

  "What? Where's Zhang Yi?"

  Wei Xiaolong came back to his senses and turned around to scan the area. Only then did he realize that Zhang Yi was nowhere to be seen.

  The barbecue stall owner smiled and said, "Your friend has already left. By the way, he gave me 100 yuan and told me that if you want anything else, I should deduct it from this 100 yuan. If not, I'll return the money to you."

  Gone?

  Wei Xiaolong suddenly sprang up and ran quickly into the alley, looking at the dark alleys on both sides, and asked the barbecue stall owner: "When did he leave?"

  "It's been several minutes already!"

  Wei Xiaolong's face showed disappointment, his fists clenched tightly: "Zhang Yi brother, thank you. Believe me, wait for me to succeed, and then find you to eat barbecue and drink beer!"

  Zhang Yi, sitting in the taxi, no longer thought about Wei Xiaolong or Wang Xiaoqiu, his heart was calm and peaceful.

  Looking out of the car window at the receding scenery, he only then realized that since arriving in Jingnan City, he hadn't properly appreciated the city's night view.

  "Ding ding ding......"

  The mobile phone rang.

  Zhang Yi took out his mobile phone and saw that the call was actually from Lu Xiaotao.

  "Hey, what's up?"

  "Brother Yi, are you free tonight? The Ludangshan racing circuit is open today, want to go try out the car?"

  Zhang Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately spoke up: "Alright, I'll go to your place now. Tell me the specific address."

  He hung up the phone and told the driver the address, then dialed Jiang Hongyan's mobile phone number:

  "Hey, Hong Yan?"

  "Zhang Yi, why haven't you come back yet? I was going to call you, but I didn't want to disturb you when you're busy. We're all waiting for you to come back and have dinner!" - Jiang Hongyan's voice came from the phone.

  Zhang Yi's expression froze for a moment, and then a bitter smile appeared on his face.

  Jiang Hongyan had told him that from now on, she would cook dinner after work and he could come home to eat. But today, he helped Gu Xin Yue with her busy schedule, so he forgot about going home for dinner. Moreover, he later ran into Wang Xiaoqiu, which made his heart unable to calm down. Coincidentally, this allowed him to finally put down that feeling, but as a result, Wei Xiaolong dragged him out to drink again.

  Result!

  It has come to this now.

  Sorry to tell Jiang Hongyan the truth, Zhang Yi coughed and said with a bitter smile: "Sister Hongyan, I called you about this matter. I have something tonight and may not be able to go home for dinner. You guys eat first! After dinner, can you help put Yinyin to sleep?"

  "Alright, I got it!"