1990: Starting from Baojia Street

Seeing Katozawa stunned, one of the girls made gestures and said, "Boss, it's a ukulele. It looks similar to a guitar, a smaller one, and it's very joyful to play."

Katozawa pursed his lips and couldn't help but find it funny that this girl actually felt that she didn't know Ukulele.

"Well, of course I know what a ukulele is, but you guys are late. The two ukuleles we had in the store were bought by others."

Several girls were very disappointed when they heard that the ukuleles in the store had been sold out.

In fact, this was not the first store they came to. The last store did not sell ukuleles at all.

Katozawa asked curiously, "Why do you want to buy a ukulele?"

When the last wave of guests came, he never thought of asking them this question.

"Because we have to learn "Little Hands Holding Big Hands"."

Katozawa suddenly realized that it was because of Kudo Shizuka's recent popular song.

After all, he sells musical instruments, so he must pay a lot of attention to current popular songs. Kudo Shizuka's new album is very popular these days, and he knows that the arrangement of the song "Little Hand Holding Big Hand" in it does use ukulele. Korea.

but……

"Can you tell it's a ukulele in there?"

In fact, the sound of ukulele is pretty easy to recognize, but the average fan won't pay attention to these things at all - many fans don't even know what a ukulele is.

"Jingxiang played it live at the music station last night. And Jingxiang also said that this instrument is very simple." One of the girls said.

"It's simpler than the guitar, and the ukulele in "Little Hand Holds Big Hand" is really easy to learn. There are no special skills. If it's just for this song, you should be able to learn it quickly."

When Katozawa said this, the girls became even more interested.

There are so many good-sounding musical instruments. The main reason why they want to learn ukulele is because it is simple.

And compared to the guitar, the ukulele is small and cute, making it more suitable for girls.

"How about this? If you really want to buy it, you can place an order first, and I will order it for you. You can get it in two or three days."

Hearing what Katozawa said, several girls nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay."

……

Ukulele suddenly became popular among neon young people, especially girls. After seeing Kudo Shizuka playing and singing "Little Hands Holding Big Hands" on stage, many girls fantasized that they could be like Kudo Shizuka.

Shizuka Kudo said that she had never touched this instrument before, but she learned it quickly. This was very convincing because no one had seen her play it before.

The order volume of ukulele in Neon suddenly increased.

TV Asahi did not expect that after the show was broadcast, it would directly place orders for domestic ukuleles.

Naturally, the TV station did not miss this good opportunity to brag, and even produced a special program to report on this phenomenon.

[One song makes all the neon ukuleles sell out. 】

This news headline is exaggerated, but it is true. After all, Neon does not have much ukulele stock, and it is easy to be exhausted.

Nowadays, it is difficult to buy ukuleles in big cities.

Some merchants have begun to look for goods everywhere, and some merchants have begun to increase prices.

After all, it is not easy to find goods quickly. If you want to make more money, the best way is to increase the price.

Others are focused on teaching ukulele.

Although ukulele is simple, it still needs to be learned. With so many people buying ukulele, they must find someone to learn from them. Many institutions that used to teach guitar, piano, violin, etc. have begun to offer ukulele teaching. It’s time to go to class.

These teaching institutions are very targeted, and their slogans are "Mastering "Little Hands and Big Hands" in seven days" and "Speedly mastering "Little Hands and Big Hands" in three days." For those who follow the trend and buy ukulele, it may be a problem. So attractive.

……

Zhou Yan had already returned to Jinling to prepare for the New Year. He did not expect that one song would increase the sales of an instrument. At that time, he asked Shizuka to learn ukulele because he felt that the song "Little Hands Holding Big Hands" Playing and singing live is better and can enrich Shizuka’s stage style.

Shizuka Kudo's previous stage style was too restrictive. If she wanted to go further, the quality of the songs was one thing, but the stage style was also very important.

Ukulele playing and singing is cost-effective and very suitable for Kudo Shizuka.

In the past few days since returning to Jinling, Zhou Yan's daily life has been very regular.

Get up at 7:30 in the morning, make some breakfast, start working at 8:30, and work until 11:30.

After lunch, watch TV or read a book for a while, and then go for a walk in the afternoon. The weather was good last year. Although it was cold, there was sunshine every day.

In the evening, he drove to his grandparents' house for dinner. After dinner, he came back, worked for a while, and then went to bed.

During his time home, he slept well.

On the afternoon of the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Zhou Yan was wandering near the New Century Department Store. He happened to pass by the Provincial Song and Dance Theater and stopped to take a look.

His mother used to work in the Provincial Song and Dance Theater, so he has many memories of this place.

Because there was only one person to take care of the child, her mother often brought Zhou Yan to the Provincial Song and Dance Theater. This was normal in this era. At that time, there were many children similar to Zhou Yan in the theater, all from other colleagues' homes.

Zhou Yan looked at the door for a while, but did not go in. Just as he turned around to leave, suddenly there was a voice behind him.

"It's Zhou Yan, right?"

Zhou Yan turned his head when he heard someone calling his name.

The person who called his name was a woman about forty years old. She looked like she was engaged in literature and art.

"you……"

Zhou Yan looked at the woman's face, recalled it, and then said with some uncertainty, "Are you Sister Huanhuan?"

Hearing that Zhou Yan recognized her, the woman smiled brightly, "Hey, by the way, I didn't expect your kid to recognize me."

"Sister Huan is the same as before, nothing has changed."

"Nonsense, after so many years, I'm already old." Although he knew that Zhou Yan was flattering, Yu Huan was still very happy.

Which woman doesn’t like others to compliment her on her youth?
Yu Huan was a colleague of Zhou Yan's mother. When Zhou Yan was young, she was only in her twenties and had just arrived at the Song and Dance Theater not long ago.

"I didn't expect, Sister Huanhuan, you could still recognize me."

"Look what you said, you are a big star now, I often see you on TV, and you look so similar to my second sister."

The second sister is talking about Zhou Yan's mother. This title actually comes from his father.

Zhou Yan's father, Zhou Yaowen, is the second eldest child in the family. Many people around him call him the second brother. Then Zhou Yan's mother should be the second sister-in-law. However, in order to appear cordial, she calls him the second sister.

I got used to calling him this way. Later, Zhou Yan's parents divorced and no one else changed the name.

In fact, many people I met later just called me "Second Sister" after others and had no idea why they called me "Second Sister".

Zhou Yan did look similar to his mother, but if he hadn't seen Zhou Yan on TV, Yu Huan would definitely not have recognized him.

After looking at the theater building, Zhou Yan asked, "Sister Huanhuan, have you been in the theater all these years?"

Yu Huan nodded, "Yes, I've always been here. Did you come to the theater today for something?"

"No, I was just passing by to take a look."

"Are you busy now? Come and sit down if you have nothing to do?" Yu Huan invited.

Zhou Yan shook his head and said, "It's better not to disturb you. It will affect your work."

"What's the trouble? Coming here is just like going back home." Yu Huan was more enthusiastic and got started directly, grabbing Zhou Yan's sleeve, "Our group has not changed much over the years, and there are still many old acquaintances of your mother. , everyone will be very happy to see you.”

It was hard to refuse the warm hospitality, and Zhou Yan couldn't throw away his sleeves and leave, so he nodded and followed Yu Huan into the theater building.

The song and dance theater building looks relatively simple. They were formerly a song and dance troupe, and there are not many regulations. It is considered good if there is only one building.

When he arrived at Yu Huan's office, Zhou Yan found out that Yu Huan had now reached the position of leader of the opera troupe.

After pouring a cup of tea for Zhou Yan, Yu Huan said with a smile, "As you know, our group will be a little busier at the end of the year. I just went to the Grand Theater today. There is a performance on the first day of the new year, and our group also has performance tasks."

There are many activities during holidays and the opera house has heavy performance tasks, so it will be busier. "You have indeed worked hard."

Yu Huan looked at Zhou Yan up and down, and sighed again, "Time really doesn't forgive anyone. When you stayed in the group every day, I was about the same age as you are now. Now that you have grown into a young man, we are also older." Yes. I saw you on TV before, and I wouldn’t have dared to recognize you just now. I looked at you for a while before I dared to call you.”

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "It's quite a coincidence. In fact, I haven't been here for many years. Today, when I came here for the first time, I met you, Sister Huanhuan."

"This is called fate." Yu Huan clapped his hands and smiled, then stood up and picked up the phone, "I'll call your brother-in-law."

"Brother-in-law? Isn't he in the art troupe?"

When Yu Huan got married, Zhou Yan was still hanging out with his mother in the gang, so he knew her husband.

I only know that her husband's surname is Cui and that he works in a cultural troupe, but he doesn't know much else.

"I was transferred to the troupe a few years ago, and now I'm in the symphony orchestra." Yu Huan said while dialing the phone.

After the call was dialed, she said into the phone, "Lao Cui, are you free? Come to my office when you have time."

Hearing Yu Huan's tone, Zhou Yan couldn't help but curl his lips, "Hey, sister Huanhuan is such a leader all of a sudden. It seems that this brother-in-law is not having a hard time at home."

After a few minutes, a middle-aged man in his forties with a high hairline walked in.

Zhou Yan was stunned for a moment when he saw the man.

When he saw Yu Huan just now, Zhou Yan really didn't feel how unforgiving time has been. After all, Yu Huan still looked relatively young.

But the traces of his brother-in-law's years were too obvious. Zhou Yan didn't see him many times, but in his impression, he was still a young man with thick hair. Compared with now, he was completely different.

Cui Jiu received a call from his wife. Monk Zhang Er was confused and came over. When he entered the office and saw Zhou Yan, he was a little dazed.

Isn't this Zhou Yan?

Cui Jiu was originally a musician and was quite familiar with Zhou Yan. Their group had rehearsed Zhou Yan's "Eternal Night" before, but never performed it.

"Old Cui, let me introduce you. This is Zhou Yan, the second sister's son. Xiao Yan, this is your brother-in-law Cui Jiu, who is now the leader of the symphony orchestra."

Zhou Yan greeted Cui Jiu warmly, "Hello, brother-in-law."

Cui Jiu met Zhou Yan when Zhou Yan was young, but he didn't remember Zhou Yan. After all, he didn't come many times at that time, and it was impossible to remember a child in the group.

But he knew that the second sister Yu Huan was talking about was Yu Huan's former leader and she took good care of Yu Huan.

"Hello, hello, Zhou Yan, I have long admired your name."

"Brother-in-law is joking, it's just a false reputation."

"You are too modest. Our group also has students from your school. I have heard a lot about your deeds." Cui Jiu smiled and added, "Actually, our group has also arranged your "Eternal Night" before. ", but the piece "Eternal Night" must either be a piano solo or be made louder, otherwise it will not be effective."

Zhou Yan nodded, "That's true. We rarely perform in "Eternal Night" ourselves."

"Eternal Night" is not a common piece performed by the Piano Boy Band. On average, it only appears once in three or four performances. Because this piece is relatively long, the audience may not like it.

Tickets for the Piano Boy Orchestra are selling well, naturally because of the songs in the two albums "Piano Boy" and "Mysterious Country". Many audiences have never attended concerts before, and they went because of the songs in these two albums. .

What they want to listen to are naturally those songs that are widely circulated.

In this case, it is better to try not to play "Eternal Night", a piece with a high threshold for appreciation.

The three of them chatted for a while, and Zhou Yan got to know Cui Jiu better.

Zhou Yan only knew that Cui Jiu was in the art troupe, but he didn't know what Cui Jiu did specifically. Now he found out through conversation that Cui Jiu studied cello at a literary school, and then went to the provincial art troupe as a band player and cello player.

While in the art troupe, he also studied music composition with several teachers and wrote several good works.

Later, because of his good grades, he went to study in the Composition Department of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. It was not until 90 that he returned to Jiangsu Province and worked in a song and dance troupe.

From an experience point of view, Cui Jiu is somewhat similar to Jia Guoping, but Jia Guoping's future development in music creation is better than Cui Jiu's. Cui Jiu's current experience is still focused on management.

After chatting for more than half an hour, Yu Huan said with a smile, "Xiaoyan, you are from Jinling, so you should take more care of your hometown. If you have the opportunity, cooperate with the theater and put on a show."

Zhou Yan glanced at Cui Jiu and said with a smile, "With a master like my brother-in-law in the theater, how can I be needed?"

Cui Jiu immediately said, "Only by constantly colliding can sparks burst out. Although the compositions of our group are not necessarily bad, they still have limitations. If we work more with young and promising composers like you, we can Improving constantly."

In fact, Yu Huan and Cui Jiu took a fancy to Zhou Yan's fame. The musical "Drinking the Yangtze River Water" that Zhou Yan helped arrange for the Frontline Song and Dance Troupe is now very popular. This show has been featured in several large-scale events.

Moreover, this show has also been performed in theaters and is very popular with ordinary audiences.

The song "Drinking the Water of the Yangtze River Together" is based on "The Street Where the Wind Lives", and the song "The Street Where the Wind Lives" has become so popular that it can often be heard on the streets.

If their musical troupe collaborates with Zhou Yan on a show, it might be as popular as "Drinking the Yangtze River Water Together".

Seeing that Cui Jiu and the others didn't seem to be being polite, Zhou Yan also began to seriously consider the matter.

The Song and Dance Theater was the place where his mother worked during her lifetime. From a personal perspective, of course Zhou Yan also hoped to help their song and dance theater.

Moreover, the Song and Dance Theater is not an unknown small organization. The level of their symphony orchestra and song and dance troupe is not low, so it is reliable to cooperate with them.

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Yan said, "I have an Erhu concerto score in my hand. If you are interested, you can take a look."

Yu Huan and Cui Jiu looked at each other. They were surprised. They didn't expect Zhou Yan to be so straightforward.

It seems that Zhou Yan still has feelings for the theater, Yu Huan thought to himself.

"Of course it's good, I wish I could have it." Cui Jiu said happily.

"I don't have any ready-made music scores at hand. If you're not in a hurry, you can make a copy and send it over after I go to Yanjing."

He could also silently play another part, which was not difficult for him. He remembered every note of the score clearly, but the workload was not small and he didn't want to waste time on it.

Cui Jiu nodded, "No problem, no rush, no rush. I'll tell you the truth. Recently, we have been busy with activities in the province and can't find time to arrange other programs."

Yu Huan also said, "Don't worry, Xiaoyan, I will report this to the dean, and you will get the treatment you deserve."

Zhou Yan smiled and waved his hand, "It's easy to talk about this. My mother used to work in the regiment. This place is indeed half of my home."

"Yeah, I'm looking at you..."

Yu Huan originally wanted to say that she watched Zhou Yan grow up, but halfway through she felt that this was not a rigorous statement because they had not seen each other since Zhou Yan's mother passed away.

"Are you still living in the old family compound now?" Yu Huan asked.

Zhou Yan nodded, "Yes, it's still my mother's house."

"Well, we moved a few years ago, otherwise we wouldn't have not seen each other for so long."

There are not many opera house employees living in the old family compound where Zhou Yan lives now. Many people moved away when the song and dance troupe was converted into an opera house a few years ago.

In the past two years, Vice Dean Zhang Hongjun's family still lived in Zhou Yan's building, but they also moved out the year before last.

Even if they don't move away, they will have fewer opportunities to see Zhou Yan.

That is to say, this year, Zhou Yan was still wandering around the area when he had nothing to do. When he came back in the past few years, he would either stay at home or go to his grandparents' house.

After staying in Yu Huan's office for a while, Zhou Yan stood up and left.

The couple said they wanted to stay with Zhou Yan for dinner, but Zhou Yan refused. He had agreed to go to his third uncle's house for dinner today.

He couldn't stay for more than a few days every year when he came back. Spending time with his family was more important. Yu Huan and the others knew this, so they didn't force him to stay.

They also wanted to take Zhou Yan to meet the dean and deputy dean, but Zhang Hongjun and the others were not in the group today.

The couple sent Zhou Yan all the way downstairs, and Zhou Yan waved to them, "Sister Huanhuan, brother-in-law, come in, it's cold outside."

"Slow down on the road. If you have nothing to do, come and sit here."

"okay."

After leaving the Opera House, Zhou Yan walked home along Hongwu Road. As soon as he arrived at Beimen Bridge, the bp machine in his pocket rang.

He took it out and saw that it was Zhang You'an calling. He didn't say anything, just left his name and phone number. (End of chapter)