Dong Qiangqiang's Story of Leaving Germany

Chapter 1072. Ideal Candidate

The professor walked straight into the open kitchen holding the bouquet of flowers. Tong Lele walked towards the coffee table next to the sofa with the gift, looking at everything in the house as she walked.

The windows in the living room and kitchen still have no blinds or curtains, so natural light easily illuminates the entire living room.

Ten seconds later, Tong Lele found that the furniture from the entrance to the living room to the kitchen was the same as when she first came here. All the furniture seemed to be the same as before, but with traces of time. The four wooden legs of the leather sofa were covered with crisscross marks, the leather on many places on the sofa surface had faded, the oil painting on the wall was a window to the past, the key cover of the grand piano was polished to a shine, and the wooden floor underfoot seemed to be slightly uneven. The only change was that the cat that I always saw when I came to the professor's house when I was studying was not seen today.

"What are you thinking about?" The professor's voice came from behind Tong Lele. Tong Lele turned around and gently placed the other gifts he brought on the coffee table, then took the cup of water handed to him by the professor with a smile.

"Where's Ravel? I didn't see him." Tong Lele took a sip of water and looked around. "Is he playing in the yard?"

"The light is better over there," the professor suggested calmly, holding up his cup and pointing to the large transparent French window on the side, "Let's talk over there."

Seeing that the professor did not answer his question, Tong Lele stopped talking considerately and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window.

There are two single wooden chairs, one red and one yellow, placed in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. They look like a combination of a single park bench and a rocking chair. The armrests are not only polished to a shine, but are even a little deformed. You can tell at a glance that they are very old. I guess the professor must have often sat here to enjoy the scenery outside the window.

Tong Lele was not used to windows without curtains and blinds. She was always worried that people outside would be able to see the people and things in the house at a glance. But when she actually sat in front of the window, she realized that her worries were unnecessary.

Several tall and carefully trimmed green plants face the window, with strong trunks and numerous branches and leaves perfectly blending elegance and privacy. The few rays of strong light that shine through the gaps between the leaves make the red, orange, purple and yellow vortices in the courtyard ripple with colorful ripples, showing their vigorous vitality to Tong Lele through the glass.

The two sat down, and the professor looked out the window and recalled emotionally: "The reason why I bought this house was because of this window. I spend the most time here. Watching the changes outside the window from spring to summer, and then from autumn to winter, it is like watching my own life."

"Teacher, you have always been in good health," Tong Lele complimented with a smile while holding a water cup, "As long as you are willing, it will be no problem for you to teach for another 20 years."

Although she was no longer at the age where she would be happy when she heard compliments, the professor still smiled. After all, Tong Lele was one of her most satisfied students and the son of an old friend. The emotion behind the compliment made her feel more caring and warm than the compliments from strangers.

The professor asked about the situation of SARS in China, and Tong Lele answered truthfully. After listening, the professor gently put the glass in his hand on the floor. Noticing the professor's action, Tong Lele had a premonition of what he was going to say, and also put his own glass at his feet where it would not be accidentally knocked over.

"Regarding what I mentioned to you on the phone last time, you just said that you have thought it through, but I think I should give you some more background knowledge so that your judgment may be more comprehensive. After all, in college, I was a teacher and you were a student. You only knew my academic achievements as a teacher, and you didn't know my family background, so you would be confused and have questions about what I told you." The professor's long career has always kept a good posture when sitting, and he speaks softly and calmly. "I learned from your parents that your ancestors have been engaged in music-related work, of course, they may be more focused on your country. The situation of my family is similar to that of your ancestors. They have made achievements in different music fields. Of course, the family's advantages are mainly in Germany and Austria. I will tell you about this part in detail later. Today, you only need to know one thing, that is, there are elders in my family who have been doing work related to music copyright, and they have achieved admirable and remarkable results before I was born. And now, the family hopes that I can take over this part and carry it forward. While enjoying this honor, I also accept the mission it has given me."

Although Tong Lele had never heard her parents mention the professor's family background before, she had heard some gossip among classmates when she was in school. She had heard that the professor came from a musical family, but she did not expect the professor to take the initiative to tell her about this today.

"Professor, what I don't quite understand is that you said on the phone last time that I was an ideal candidate. But even if you are familiar with my parents, for your family and what you want to do, it seems that you should find a German or European to help you, not an Asian. If I do copyright work, I can't think of what value I can have to you. Please understand my confusion."

"Tong, you were once a student I admired and liked. I know your qualities, abilities, and your talent in art. Of course, there is also the relationship between us that your parents and I are old friends, but these are not the reasons why you are an ideal candidate."

"What's that?" Tong Lele was also curious at this moment. "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"What time?" The professor kept Tong Lele in suspense, making him even more confused. "I don't understand what you mean, can you explain it more clearly?" Tong Lele respected the professor but spoke directly, which was a habit he developed over many years of schooling.

“After the millennium, China has been communicating with other countries more and more. The Chinese have their own long history and culture, but when they come into contact with and communicate with other countries, they will definitely receive the influence of foreign cultures while exporting their own culture. As far as I know, there is no international company in your country that has a significant influence in both classical music and foreign folk music. I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my family.”

Tong Lele seemed to understand but also seemed not to understand. She hesitated for a few seconds and asked back, "I don't mean to offend you, but aren't the world's four major record companies considered the international companies you mentioned? If so, they all have corresponding Chinese subsidiaries, and they should do some of the things you just mentioned, right?"

"Their influence is undoubtedly unquestionable, but my family's resources are more focused on the two areas I mentioned above. I am very confident about this. I personally think that the resources of the Big Four are more inclined to pop music and other fields, and the focus is not on classical music and foreign folk music. My family's resources and my emphasis on the Chinese market will allow me to far surpass them."

The professor's face shone with confidence as he spoke. He picked up a water cup from the ground. Seeing this, Tong Lele quickly picked up his own. The professor smiled and gently touched Tong Lele's cup with his own cup. The glass made a crisp sound. Tong Lele had already seen through the other party's thoughts: "So you want me to help you open up the Chinese market?"

"That's right." The professor nodded with a smile.

"Professor, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. I currently don't have any resources in the Chinese market, nor do I know any companies that need classical music or foreign folk music." Tong Lele couldn't bear to hide anything from this old man who was full of trust and expectations for her. She was frank as if she was talking to her own parents. No, perhaps even more straightforward than to her parents.

Hearing this, the professor smiled with satisfaction as if he had received the answer he had been dreaming of: "Tong, there is a lot of homework to do if you want to do a good job in market expansion. As I said just now, I need the cooperation of the team to do a lot of preparatory work first, such as communicating with different record companies in Europe and negotiating copyright cooperation with musicians in Europe and even around the world. These tasks are all complicated and time-consuming, but we have to do them, so I hope that everyone who joins the team will have a firm belief in our cause and enough patience, because history is always shaped by those with strong vision and endurance. My time is precious, and many things are imminent, so I hope you can give me an answer as soon as possible."

Looking at the professor's sincere eyes, Tong Lele nodded vigorously: "Professor, I understand. I have thought about it and I am willing to join."

Tong Lele understands what her promise means to herself, to the professor, and to Le Bai. More than a year of work experience at Le Bai has made her fully realize that she has no interest in traveling, so there is no such thing as a passion for it. She and Lao Bai will not get married, and the professor's invitation may be an opportunity for her to draw a line between them.

"Tong, welcome to join."

Tong Lele held the professor's outstretched right hand, feeling the warmth in the old man's palm: "When do we start?"

"If you have nothing to do today, we can start now. I'll let my lawyer talk to you about the work contract first so that you can handle the trivial matters such as the work visa as soon as possible. I'm sorry that I don't have any administrative staff to help you with these yet, so you have to do it yourself." The professor looked apologetic.

"These are all small matters, teacher. I actually have another small question."

"You said."

"Where did your cat, Ravel, go? I miss it so much." Tong Lele asked with a smile.