Rebirth and the Beautiful Soaring

From the simplest way to hold the violin, to how to press the strings and play scales, how to pluck the strings, and how to distinguish the different timbres represented by the four strings, Yu Fei received hands-on instruction from his aunt.

Fang Yi taught very seriously, and Yu Fei listened very "seriously." Moreover, because he had already learned it before, he "grasped" it very quickly, which made Fang Yi happier and more excited as she taught him, praising Yu Fei to the skies.

Feeling her aunt's genuine joy, Yu Fei felt that accepting the ukulele and making the decision to learn music was the right choice.

Moreover, picking up this familiar ukulele gave him a kind of illusion of reversing time and space. Playing it felt like having a friendly conversation with an old friend, which made him enjoy the wonderful joy of experiencing music.

Happiness and joy are what he desperately wants to pursue after his rebirth, and since music can bring him this, what reason is there not to pursue it?

Perhaps it was the difference in mindset, or perhaps it was the combination of a young body and the wisdom gained from years of maturity, but Yu Fei felt that he could play the ukulele with ease, a feeling completely different from the helplessness he experienced when learning musical instruments in his previous life.

A person's experience gradually increases with age and the more things they come into contact with.

Conversely, human talents, memory, and imagination gradually decline with age and experience.

Youth is the time when you have the healthiest body and the golden age for learning. Your memory, imagination, and creativity are at their peak.

At this age, coupled with the wisdom and experience gained over forty years, it's like adding wings to a tiger.

"You ask me how deep my love for you is..."

Unbeknownst to him, Yu Fei had already "learned" the song "The Moon Represents My Heart" and could even sing it while playing the instrument.

Although Yu Fei tried his best to play poorly and even deliberately made mistakes in some parts because he was worried that his aunt would see through his act, Fang Yi was already overjoyed.

Moreover, perhaps it was the passage of time and the experience of emotions that gave Yu Fei's singing an unexpected touch of emotion, which surprised Fang Yi greatly. She had never known that her nephew could sing so well.

Yu Fei himself was somewhat surprised. How could he sing with such feeling? Could it be that he was born with musical talent?

Yu Fei shook his head inwardly, and suddenly remembered the song "Fireworks" that had been lingering in his mind like a dream before he woke up from his rebirth.

"Fireworks" was a song sung by Nicky Wu, a member of the Little Tigers, which he loved most during his youth.

Is it a gift from heaven? Or perhaps the musical influence from before my rebirth?

Yu Fei couldn't figure it out, but whether he understood the reason or not was no longer important, because for someone who wanted to pursue a career in music, the wonderful feeling of singing was the most important thing.

Yu Fei suddenly had an impulse; he wanted to sing the song "Fireworks".

Gently lowering her fingers from the plucked strings, Yu Fei burst into song.

"Time and time again, I inadvertently wander into the forest of sorrow..."

Fang Yi's bright eyes widened in surprise. Her nephew was giving her more and more surprises. If the previous rendition of "The Moon Represents My Heart" was really good, then this rendition of "Fireworks" was undeniably "good".

Fang Yi even felt that her nephew sang better than the original singer.

Of course, this only represents her personal opinion.

After finishing his song, Yu Fei was a completely different person. He was radiant and full of charisma, just like a singing superstar dominating the entire venue after finishing a song at a concert.

"Feifei, you sang this song so well. If you added a ukulele accompaniment, it would be absolutely wonderful."

Fang Yi clapped her hands, looking at her nephew's radiant and spirited demeanor. She had a feeling that if he continued at this pace, he would become a dazzling superstar in the music industry in the future.

……

All morning, Yu Fei and Fang Yi were immersed in the wonderful atmosphere of teaching and entertainment.

It wasn't until Yu Fei's maternal grandmother, Chen Mei, came to call them for dinner that they hurriedly left their room and came to the hall.

In the center of the hall was an old eight-immortal table with special carved patterns on its legs and edges. Yu Fei remembered that ten years later, antique furniture collectors offered a thousand yuan for the table, but his grandfather refused to sell it.

The eight-immortal table is surrounded by four four-foot stools, each seating two people, so the table can seat eight people. This is roughly how the eight-immortal table got its name.

The era of 1996 was different from later generations. When people held banquets in Linxian, they generally used this kind of eight-immortal table, unlike later times when large round tables were used, with ten or twelve people per table.

The lunch was very plentiful, including braised carp and braised pork with dried vegetables, which Yu Fei liked.

Grandma's cooking skills were quite good. Yu Fei's eldest aunt Fang Min and mother Fang Yun both inherited her skills and are excellent cooks. However, his youngest aunt Fang Yi did not like to cook and could not cook. Yu Fei could hardly remember ever seeing his youngest aunt cook.

During dinner, Grandpa Fang Jianguo naturally asked about Yu Fei and Fang Yi playing the piano and singing in their room.

Fang Yi said excitedly, "Dad, Feifei is very musically talented. Not only does she sing well, but she also learns musical instruments very quickly."

Fang Jianguo smiled kindly and said, "Is that so? Then you should teach him well, but you can't let it interfere with his studies." Of course, the old man wanted his grandson to learn folk music and inherit his skills, but he was in no hurry.

Fang Yi said with a smile, "Don't worry, Feifei's grades are excellent. She gets first place every year, and the wall is covered with certificates of merit."

Yu Fei chuckled and said, "Thank you for your praise, Auntie. I am unworthy of such praise."

Chen Mei smiled and said, "Oh, our Feifei is quite modest. Here, Grandma will give you a piece of meat as a reward."

"Thank you, Grandma. Grandma's braised pork with dried vegetables is the best." Yu Fei enjoys the love and care of her family and is generous with her praise.

"If you like it, then eat more." Hearing her grandson's praise, Chen Mei felt a sweet warmth in her heart and couldn't stop smiling.

Perhaps it was her grandson's maturity that made Chen Mei happy, so she started talking and reminisced with Yu Fei about their childhood.

"Feifei, do you still remember that big orchard at the foot of Fairy Peak? Your grandma took you there to pick fruit when you were seven years old."

"I think I still remember it..." As soon as Grandma said that, Yu Fei's memory immediately jumped to that orchard of hundreds of acres, where there were peaches, plums, pears, bayberries, apricots, as well as chestnuts and walnuts.

Yu Fei's memories of being seven years old were naturally blurred, but in later years he did paint a large tree king in the orchard.

The reason for painting it is not only because it is an old tree that has sprouted new branches and later became the famous "King of Walnut Trees", which can produce more than 800 catties of walnuts every year.

More than anything, it's because my grandfather deeply regretted not agreeing to contract the orchard back then, and instead letting Li Lingeng, the villager he had the worst relationship with, take advantage of the King of Trees.

According to my maternal grandfather, this giant tree was planted by the Fang family ancestors during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty.