The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

The two decided to stop worrying about Li Ke for the time being and instead focus entirely on the performance for 10,000 people at the end of the month.

For the next ten days, the two of them spent their days either practicing or on their way to practice. Coupled with a series of live video recordings, if Li Zichun's memory hadn't been so clear, he would have felt that ten days was still a bit rushed.

The final music performance was scheduled for the end of the month. After receiving perfect approval from Li Zichun and Zhao Qianfan and their reply that "leave everything to me," Lin Xuehua began to promote it extensively.

Whether this year's expo can be considered a masterpiece depends on its final performance.

Amid cheers and anticipation, the World Horticulture and Floriculture Expo came to its final performance. Tickets were checked in two hours in advance for entry.

The venue was naturally full. With the current popularity of Li Zichun and Zhao Qianfan, one was the former "Moon Emperor" and now the "King of Flowers," and the other was a handsome man who never made a fuss and was known as the King of Songs in Kowloon. The number of people in Kowloon alone was enough, not to mention the fans who flew in from the mainland.

It seems everyone knows these two are the type who never sing a song a second time. If you don't come to see them live, you'll only ever hear CDs, videos, or covers from other artists. Even their own recorded songs don't seem to be performed a second time.

So much so that many fans call them "one-off" convenience singers; once you miss their first live performance, you can forget about ever hearing them sing live again in your life.

And that was indeed the case. Li Zichun had no intention of singing it a second time. For someone who only had three years to live, producing as much as possible was the priority. These artistic treasures of Chinese culture should resonate in every world. As for Zhao Qianfan, he naturally went along with him; after all, he existed for Zhao Qianfan's sake.

Under the guidance of security personnel, 10,000 people took their seats in an orderly and proper manner.

Looking at the huge crowd, Li Zichun realized it really did resemble a grand concert venue.

When the time came, the stage lights dimmed, and Li Zichun, holding a microphone backstage, said, "Dear audience members, are you ready to welcome the wave of flowers?"

The crowd erupted in a chaotic cacophony of shouts of "Bravo!" and "Ah!", making it impossible to understand what anyone was saying. At times like this, being able to hear the person next to you was already a feat. Everyone was excited, having waited for over an hour.

On the big screen, Li Yuehe, veiled, sat amidst a profusion of flowers, dignified and beautiful. With graceful movements, she sang the classic old song "Beautiful Springtime" into the microphone:

We were reminiscing, talking about that winter.

On the mountaintop in winter, the signs of spring emerge.

Our story tells of that spring.

The beautiful days of spring will remain in our hearts.

We slowly reminisced about the past, a gentle breeze carrying the chill of winter.

Spring, in our eyes, has a kind of magic.

Ah~ Ah~ This is the beauty of spring.

......

Memories lingered again and again,

Spring brings true friendship.

Spring in our eyes brings a sense of joy.

Ah, ah, this is the beauty of spring.

The original singer of this song, Cheung Tak-lan, is a renowned senior in the Hong Kong music scene. She once formed the "Four Golden Flowers" group with Liza Wang, Wang Ai-ming, and Lydia Shum. They are revered as the "founding mother" and "head of the Jade Girl" idol singers in the Hong Kong music scene.

Li Yuehe's beautiful singing voice captivated the audience. Many felt that she was the kind of singer the music scene needed. If she hadn't stopped performing, she probably would have been crowned queen long ago. In particular, her song "A Thousand Songs" has become a hit across the mainland. In addition, her other songs are also very listenable, making her a legendary diva with a string of classic songs.

After finishing her song, she stood up and said to the audience, "Thank you all for your love for the Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust. Li Ke couldn't be here because he was participating in the National Singer King preliminary competition, so please support him too. Now, let's give a round of applause to the two singers of today's performance, Zhao Qianfan, and my senior brother Li Zichun, who is learned and talented."

Li Zichun and Zhao Qianfan, who had been preparing backstage for a long time, made a dazzling entrance from both sides amidst cheers from the crowd. The two stood on the stage and sang "Spring Flowers Will Bloom" without pausing for a moment:

Spring flowers will bloom, and birds will fly freely.

I'm still waiting, waiting for my love to come back soon.

I always pretend to casually pass by your front door.

I look forward to seeing your beautiful figure approaching from afar.

My angel, my love

I braved the wind and sun for you, but fate had other plans.

Only the streetlights laugh at my naivety.

My love, I wait.

You come back and share my love.

Winter brings wind and snow, but the flowers will bloom again even after they wither.

The birds will come back next year.

Only when my temples turn gray...

The Acacia Tree of the Past

I planted it for you with my own hands

A faint figure is in

It's just that beauty has changed.

You are there, my love.

Disappeared in the vast sea of ​​people

Reality is always a bit helpless.

A happy ending, I'm looking forward to it.

......

Only when my temples turn gray...

Come back soon! Come back quickly!

I want you back. Come back right now!

Their chemistry was impeccable; with their similar voices and timbres, Li Zichun's support was simply perfect. This also suddenly brought another song to his mind, which he could probably use in the final round of the singing competition.

Zhao Qianfan noticed that he was a little distracted and made a few "come back" gestures to him before he came to his senses.

Li Zichun rolled her eyes and ignored him, letting him wait there by himself.

The playful interaction between the two immediately ignited the atmosphere, and there was another round of cheers after they finished singing.

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Good evening, everyone. Anyone want to see us?"

"Want to~~" The audience was enthusiastic, as expected, the Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust never disappoint.

Li Zichun smiled and said to Zhao Qianfan, "Just wait aside, it's my turn to shine."

Zhao Qianfan nodded obediently and even hopped to the side like a rabbit, making everyone around him laugh.

Li Zichun watched with a smile, then began to sing the song "Flowers Bloom, Forget Sorrow":

I bought flowers at the alley entrance and walked through the red walls and green tiles along the street.

The setting sun gently kissed my white hair.

Pushing open the old wooden door, I returned home.

Stew the time with fragrance

And you just smiled and didn't say anything.

A regrettable thing, just drink a bowl of soup.

Deep in the courtyard, autumn leaves fall.

When we grow old, we return to our childhood.

You're not allowed to secretly drink the plums you pick to make wine.

Wearing simple clothes, holding onto that sleeve

I picked up a kitten and named it Canggou.

We fall asleep carefree like children.

Anyway, it's hard to lock away time like a thief.

If my memories are stolen, and I forget my love...

I would say, "Hello, these are flowers for you."

The flower is called Forget-Me-Not.

It says that time surges like misty waves on water.

Don't go too far, let's go home together.

......

We fall asleep carefree like children.

In a dream, I saw you, and we were both old.

Eternity did not deceive me, nor did separation.

This love only exists in another dimension.

If every goodbye opens up

A new space

Each dream is an occasional overlap of time and space.

How are you, you who have left?

Please help me stay in love until the end of the drama.

Forget-me-nots are in bloom.

You remain silent under the moonlight

A regretful thing is met with a cup of tea / Deep in the courtyard, autumn leaves fall.

The lyrics are delicate and realistic, and the melody is beautiful and moving. The notes seem to turn into slow motion, with Li Zichun moving through them. Finally, the scene stops at a courtyard full of flowers, where Zhao Qianfan and Li Ke are drinking tea, Li Yuehe is sitting next to them arranging flowers, and the cat Qitong is lying in Li Zichun's arms. The world is peaceful and beautiful.

Li Zichun's clean and healing voice led the audience to find warm memories of love and dispel the gloom and sorrow in their hearts. After singing, he smiled and looked at the audience and said, "Flowers bloom to forget worries, may you always be here."

The audience erupted in applause and cheers only after the last note faded, because no one wanted to disrupt the recording, as this might be the only live performance ever.

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Thank you for following the rules so well, clapping only after the last note of the music has finished. You should know that every live performance of every song is professional-level, so you need to enjoy the whole performance before clapping to express your gratitude."

Zhao Qianfan came on stage and stood next to him, smiling as she said, "Based on our performance experience, they probably don't want to miss this one and only recording opportunity, right?"

Li Zichun said irritably, "Hmph, you talk too much. Next up is your favorite part: the flowers. First up, of course, is 'Welcoming Spring Flowers.' The forsythia gets its name from being the first flower to bloom among all flowers, heralding the arrival of spring when all flowers are in full bloom. The forsythia, along with plum blossoms, daffodils, and camellias, are collectively known as the 'Four Friends of Snow.' As the saying goes, 'Slender green branches cover the railing, braving the snow and cold to reveal tender yellow blossoms. Welcoming spring is not enough for itself; it shares its fragrance with a hundred flowers and a thousand plants.' I won't go into too much detail here; those who are interested can look it up themselves. Now, let's enjoy the song 'Welcoming Spring Flowers.'"

Li Zichun and Zhao Qianfan stood in the middle of the band and sang in a cheerful and joyful voice:

What a beautiful forsythia! Everyone loves it.

What a beautiful forsythia! It welcomes the earth and shines with glory.

What a beautiful forsythia blooms in every home!

What a beautiful forsythia! Its lush and vibrant blooms exude the elegance of spring.

The blooming of forsythia brings good times

The vibrant blooms of forsythia make the scenery even more picturesque.

Flowers bloom, bringing wealth and joy to all.

May everything go well and may you have no worries.

What a beautiful forsythia! Who wouldn't love it?

A beautiful forsythia blossoms, welcoming the earth with embroidered rosy clouds.

The fragrance of forsythia spreads to thousands of homes.

Everyone is happy to put up the forsythia.

 …”

"Welcoming Spring Flowers" was first released in 1977 and sung by Adam Cheng and Liza Wang. In 2010, Zhuo Yiting covered the song, which became widely popular.

Li Zichun and Zhao Qianfan also sang in Cantonese, leaning more towards the original song. They sang joyfully and naturally, mingling with each musician to ensure everyone got a chance to appear on camera, with their names displayed on the big screen.

Knowing he had this idea, the stage coordinator told him, "One song isn't enough time to showcase so many people." Li Zichun laughed and said, "Then let's play ten songs in a row. Wouldn't that show the whole band?"

Zhao Qianfan smiled as he looked at the coordinator, who was speechless after being rebuked, and said, "Don't question his arrangements, or you'll find yourself making them perfectly clear."

These two gentlemen practically single-handedly orchestrated the entire performance, getting involved in everything from lighting and stage design to choreography. Crucially, they did it all with considerable skill, elevating the overall quality of the show and leaving no room for argument. So everyone simply followed their arrangements; they controlled the overall direction, and we, the ordinary folks, only needed to fill in the gaps. After all, no one understands the needs of a live performance better than those who have been on stage for years.

The camera focused on Li Zichun, who, after finishing his song, stood in the center of the stage and said with a smile, "What flower should I introduce next? Does anyone like lilacs?"

Before the crowd could cheer or applaud, he continued with a smile, "Whether you like it or not, this is what I'm going to sing next."

The audience burst into laughter. Li Zichun continued, "Logically speaking, it's time for the introductions now. Let's hand it over to Zhao Qianfan."

Zhao Qianfan picked up the conversation, smiling as he said, "Alright, everyone, that's great. Many species of lilac are used to extract essential oils and are raw materials for high-grade perfumes. They also have lush foliage and elegant, fragrant flowers, making them widely cultivated in gardens for ornamental purposes and considered prized possessions. Lilacs also have strong resistance to various toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen fluoride, making them excellent materials for greening and beautifying industrial and mining areas."

The lilac is a symbol of beauty, purity, and melancholy. As for why it evokes melancholy, you'll see above.

After he finished speaking, the lights dimmed, and on the big screen, he appeared in a long gown from the Republican era, standing in a long alley. Suddenly, a light rain began to fall, and he slowly recited the poem "Rainy Alley": "Holding an oil-paper umbrella,

Wandering alone in the long, long time

Another desolate rain-soaked alley,

I hope every time

Like a clove

A girl burdened with sorrow and resentment.

She has

The color of lilac

A fragrance like lilacs.

A melancholy like that of lilacs.

Lamenting in the rain,

Sorrowful and bewildered;

She wandered aimlessly in the desolate, rain-soaked alley.

Holding a paper umbrella

Like me,

Like me

Silently pacing back and forth,

Indifferent, desolate, and melancholy.

She approached silently

Approached, then cast

A sigh-like gaze,

She drifts by

Like a dream,

As sad and confused as a dream.

Drifting by in a dream

A lilac,

The girl floated past me;

She walked away silently, farther and farther away.

Upon reaching the dilapidated fence,

Walk to the end of this rainy alley.

In the mournful melody of the rain,

Her color faded.

Loose her fragrance

Dissipated, even her

A sigh-like gaze

A melancholy like that of lilacs.

Holding a paper umbrella, alone

Wandering in the long, long

Another desolate rain-soaked alley,

I hope to drift

Like a clove

A girl burdened with sorrow and resentment.

The girl's silhouette in the film is Li Yuehe, played by Li Zichun, who wears a braid from the Republican era. She drifts past him like a wisp of wind and disappears into the misty, rainy alley.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"Beautiful Springtime" is a song sung by Cheung Tak-lan, with lyrics by Lin Chien-chu and Zou You-kai, and music by Chen Hui-hsiung. It was included in the album "Youthful Flames," released in January 1987. In 1986, Cheung Tak-lan was invited by CCTV to perform at the annual Spring Festival Gala.

"Spring Flowers Will Bloom" is a song with lyrics and music by Richie Jen and arrangement by Lin Huibin. It was included in Richie Jen's album "Walking the World for Love," released on January 27, 2000. In 2000, the song won the Most Popular Song Award at the 1th Chinese Music Awards; in the same year, it won the Gold Song Award at the inaugural Asian Chinese Music Awards held in Malaysia. In 2006, it was recognized as a classic hit on the wireless music charts.

"Flowers Bloom, Forget Your Worries," sung by Zhou Shen, with lyrics by Tang Tian and music composed and arranged by Qian Lei, was released as a single on September 10, 2022. On March 20, 2023, the song won the "Weibo Annual Popular Music" award at the 2022 Weibo Night. It was also featured on the 2023 CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

"Welcoming Spring Flowers" was first released in 1977, with lyrics and music by Kwan Sing-yau, and was originally sung by Adam Cheng and Liza Wang. In 2010, Zhuo Yiting covered the song and included it in the album "2010 New Year's Hits", making the song widely known.

"Rainy Alley" is a modern poem written by the Chinese poet Dai Wangshu in the summer of 1927. He uses symbolic imagery and clusters of images to construct a lyrical space, conveying his inner emotions, and incorporating the artistic essence of ancient Chinese poetry, especially the delicate and graceful poetry of the late Tang and Five Dynasties periods. Moreover, the poem's artistic success also lies in its harmonious rhythmic beauty.