The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

I'll give you a little red flower to cover up the new scars you've gotten today, and I'll give you a little red flower to bloom in the deepest mud and sand of your heart.

Since they were all school children, Li Zichun didn't know how much they could understand. However, those who could organize group trips for students outside of school must be wealthy families, so they probably weren't too stupid.

The children were too young to understand what he was singing; they only knew that a handsome older brother was singing. The adults who came along, however, were deeply moved and felt comforted.

When the children saw their family members clapping, they joined in the clapping.

Looking at this group of well-behaved children, Li Zichun wondered if there were any unruly kids in this place? How come they were all so successfully educated? It really depends on the person.

He regained his composure and began the next song: "The next song I'm going to sing is called 'Daylily.' Does anyone know what a daylily is? It's the one behind the screen."

The image of daylilies appeared on the large screen behind Li Zichun. He continued, "Daylilies prefer partial shade, are robust, cold-resistant, and drought-resistant. They are not particular about soil, but grow well in deep, fertile, moist, and well-drained sandy soil."

Everyone then looked enlightened, surprised that there was even a human-shaped Baidu Encyclopedia entry. Actually, if it weren't for the large number of children these days, he wouldn't have bothered explaining it.

Seeing that everyone was watching attentively, Li Zichun nodded to the band, picked up the microphone, and slowly began to sing:

High on the green hills, daylilies bloom

Pick one and give it to me, little girl.

Tuck it into your hair, hold it in my heart.

I've watched you grow up, and now I'm watching you become a bride.

If one day your heart's secrets drift far away

Pick a flower petal to make wings, and fly in the wind.

If one day I understand sorrow

Thinking about it will give you a sweet dream.

Daylilies bloom on the distant horizon.

Each and every one of them is the image I cherish.

Let it bloom all along my way as I wait for you to come home.

It feels like I've never left your side.

......

La~~~~

It's as if I've never left your side.

The melodious and soothing tune, combined with Li Zichun's warm and gentle singing, is tender and affectionate.

After singing the song, Li Zichun continued, "Daylilies have many aliases in ancient times, including 'Yinan Grass,' 'Ling Grass,' 'Chuan Grass Flower,' 'Cure Sorrow,' 'Prostitute,' and 'Xuan'e,' among others. They are also known as 'Golden Needle Grass' in folk tradition. But the most talked-about alias, which I'm sure you've all heard, is the one recorded in the 'Record of Diverse Things,' which says that daylilies, when eaten, bring joy, aid digestion, relieve dampness and heat, lighten the body and brighten the eyes, and dispel worries. Hence, they are called 'Forget-Worry Grass.' I'd like to dedicate a song called 'Forget-Worry Grass' to everyone."

He likes two versions of "Forget-Me-Not" very much: the original version by Emil Chau and the cover version by Chen Hongyu. After thinking about it, he decided to use the original version.

"Forget-Me-Not" originated from a warm Japanese folk song that Wakin Chau once received. The production was delayed for a while. On September 17, 2001, Taipei suffered the worst flood in a century, which made Wakin Chau determined to find a folk song that could shelter everyone from the wind and rain, and thus he completed the creation of this song.

Li Zichun began to sing "Forget-Me-Not" along with the music:

It teaches us cruelty when we are weak.

Face every coldness in life with fierce determination

The people I loved with reluctance

Often, people are destined to meet but not to be together.

Who truly cares for whom? Who feels sorry for whom?

Who is whose only person?

A wounded and innocent soul

They no longer acknowledge the existence of any gods.

A beautiful life, a kind person

Heartache, sorrow, and worries are too insignificant.

You, me, and him coming and going

It's better to just look at each other and smile faintly than to know each other.

Forget-me-not, just forget about it.

How much do you know in your dreams?

On a certain horizon, on a certain small island

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, an embrace

青青河畔草

Quietly waiting for eternity

......

"Green grass by the riverbank, quietly waiting for eternity."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Alright, that's enough about daylilies. If we keep going, it'll really turn into a classroom. Now, let's have the handsome young man explain it to you."

Zhao Qianfan walked onto the stage with a smile and spoke eloquently: "Since I have just talked about the effects of daylilies, let me talk about the lupin flower that I will be singing next."

Images and text about lupins appeared on the screen, and Zhao Qianfan slowly said, "Lupins, scientifically known as Lupinus lucida, have upright and abundant inflorescences with vibrant and varied colors, including white, red, blue, and purple, and a long flowering period. Their stems and leaves are mainly used for fodder and grazing, making them excellent feed for pigs and dairy cows. The seeds are a high-protein concentrate feed, used as green manure and mulch, and are also an excellent source of nectar and an ornamental plant. In Taiwan, we also affectionately call it the 'Mother Flower' because its seeds are extremely bitter, hence its flower language is 'bitterness.' As for the rest, you kids will have to explore it yourselves!"

After he finished speaking, he nodded to the band and began to sing "Lupin Flower," a song that had once moved a generation:

I know the stars sing at midnight.

On nights when I'm homesick, it sings to me like this.

I know the afternoon breeze sings.

The sound of cicadas in my childhood always echoed the wind.

When you hold prosperity in your hands

My mood became desolate.

Only then did I realize that everything in the world can change.

When youth is left only in diaries

Black hair is about to turn white.

The only thing that remains unchanged is that song, which keeps playing in my heart.

The stars in the sky are silent.

The doll on the ground misses its mother

The eyes in the sky blink.

Mother's Heart, Lupine Flower

The tea gardens in my hometown are full of flowers

My heart is with you, though we are far apart.

I think of my mother's words every night

Sparkling Tears of Lupine Flowers

Ah~ the shimmering tears of lupine flowers

......

Glistening Tears

This song is full of childlike romantic imagination and innocence, using simple lyrics to express the deepest feelings of maternal love. Jenny Tseng performed this song at the 1991 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. However, the most popular version is the 1998 version sung by Zhuo Yiting, which begins with "Ah~ Ah~ Every night I think of my mother's words..." and jumps straight into the chorus, appealing to a wider audience.

After Zhao Qianfan finished singing, he waited for the applause to subside before continuing, "Now, let me introduce the next song... oops, I should say the next plant. Sorry, I almost forgot the schedule."

PS: Data is from the internet.

"Daylily" is a song performed by Zhang Xiaofei in 2021, with lyrics by Li Cong and music by Akiyama Sayuri. It was released on March 7, 2021. It is also the theme song of the movie "Hi, Mom".

"Forget-Me-Not" is a song performed by Emil Chau, with lyrics by Chen Mei, music by Yu Dejingzi, and arrangement by Chen Jianqi. It is included in Emil Chau's album "Forget-Me-Not" and was released on October 16, 2001.

"Lupin Flower" is a song sung by Zeng Shuqin, with lyrics by Yao Qian and music by Chen Yang. It is also the theme song of the movie of the same name, "Lupin Flower," and is included in the music album "Memories in a Bag." In 1989, the song won the Best Original Film Song Award at the 26th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.