Chapter 292: Learning Music

When he got home, no one asked him how his exams went. They just gave him a warm welcome.

It made Yun Chen Nan feel a little awkward.

However, that wave of enthusiasm mostly vanished after a day. Five days later, his parents started getting annoyed with him.

"The exams are over, so why are you still cooped up at home reading all day? Your nearsightedness is already so bad. You should at least go out for a walk and get some exercise."

"Honestly, what’s with you? We tell you to get more rest, and you’re not happy. You used to at least go clam digging with us. Now you’re so lazy you won’t move an inch. Why don’t you go out to sea with your father? Just stop hanging around the house all day, it’s getting on my nerves."

His younger siblings complained, "Third Brother, can you please stop watching over us while we do our homework? We finally have a two-day break, just let us play a little more. When you stand there, I feel like my homeroom teacher has shown up."

In less than ten days, Yun Chen Nan came to truly understand the meaning of "familiarity breeds contempt," as his family’s initial warmth turned to exasperation.

Yun Chen Nan was left speechless.

"Third Brother, I want to learn a musical instrument. Will you come with me?"

Yun Chen Nan had just been getting nagged about needing to go out more, so he agreed.

"What made you want to learn an instrument?"

"I’ve wanted to for a while, but I didn’t have time. Right now, I’m learning anatomy and suturing from my fourth senior brother. I also went to the mountains to pick mushrooms to make mushroom sauce. I need to give some to Godfather and Godmother, First and Second Brother, and also to Fu Mingyu’s family."

As she spoke, she broke into a smile, her little white teeth looking exceptionally bright.

"Fifth Brother and the others got another shade darker."

"I don’t get tan."

She said it with a proud, smug look.

Yun Chen Nan glanced at his sister. He couldn’t imagine her with a tan.

’But she would definitely still look good. After all, my sister has a good foundation.’

Yun Chen Nan didn’t know how to ride a motorcycle, so he took Yun Jiao to the county town on his bicycle.

He also brought gifts for her master and for Grandpa Gu’s family.

"We’re going to find Grandpa Gu’s grandson. He can play the guitar and sing. He said my voice is nice and that if I want to learn an instrument, I should look for him. He knows people who teach."

Yun Jiao chattered nonstop the entire way, so she was terribly thirsty by the time they reached her master’s place.

Yun Jiao jogged into her master’s clinic and expertly grabbed his teapot to pour herself a cup of tea, which she promptly drank.

"Oh, Jiaojiao, you’re here again."

Yun Jiao nodded, only speaking after she finished drinking.

"I brought some goodies again! Senior Sister, there are prawns, your favorite."

"Where’s Master?"

Her second senior sister, Qin Xin, brought her a plate of Fuling Cake. "Master went on a house call to see a patient. Right now, it’s just your senior sister here at the clinic."

Watching Yun Jiao eat was like watching a little hamster. Her round cheeks looked like puffy, full little buns, and Qin Xin couldn’t resist reaching out to give them a pinch.

Yun Jiao dodged slightly. ’I’m eating! Don’t squeeze the food out of my mouth, that would be such a waste.’

"In that case, Senior Sister, I’ll leave the things here. Please let Master and Senior Brother know when they get back. I’m heading out!"

Before leaving, the thick-skinned Yun Jiao took the entire plate of Fuling Cake with her.

"Bye-bye, Senior Sister! Next time, I want chestnut cake."

Qin Xin laughed in exasperation. "Now you’re even placing orders."

Yun Jiao giggled, her short legs churning as she quickly ran out of the clinic.

Yun Chen Nan was sitting to the side reading a book. When he saw his sister approach, he put it away.

"Third Brother, have some Fuling Cake. Master’s Fuling Cake is delicious! But my favorite is still chestnut cake. It’s so soft and crumbly, and it smells amazing."

Yun Chen Nan got a mouthful of Fuling Cake shoved at him.

"You took this much?"

The little girl was stuffing the Fuling Cakes one by one into her light blue crossbody bag.

"It’s not that much."

"Senior Sister, we’re leaving now!"

After saying goodbye to Qin Xin, who had come out to see them off, Yun Jiao took her third brother’s hand and left.

In Grandpa Gu’s antique shop, a birdcage hung by the door. Inside, a black-feathered Brother Ba saw someone enter and immediately squawked in a strange tone.

"Someone’s here! Hey, old man, someone’s here!"

Yun Jiao stopped in her tracks, curiously tilting her head up to look at the Brother Ba in the cage.

The old man in the shop was lying on a recliner, rolling two walnuts in his hand. He was resting with his eyes closed, swaying gently, looking utterly content.

There was no one else in the shop, and it seemed quite deserted.

That’s how the antique business is: you might not make a sale for three years, but one big sale can sustain you for three years.

Especially in this era, the market for antiques was just beginning to emerge, and very quietly at that. The shop was in a remote location, and only a handful of people knew about it.

Likewise, very few people were willing to spend money on antiques.

It was an incredibly expensive hobby, and very few people in this day and age could afford it.

"I thought a customer had arrived, but it turns out it’s Jiaojiao."

Grandpa Gu didn’t seem to mind that business at his antique shop was slow.

He ran the antique shop purely as a personal hobby; his real business was in antique restoration.

"Grandpa Gu."

Yun Jiao greeted him, then pulled her third brother over for an introduction.

"Grandpa Gu, this is my third brother."

Grandpa Gu smiled and said, "What’s this? Did you really bring me an apprentice?"

Yun Jiao scratched her head. "Nope. My third brother has to go to university, so he probably won’t have time to study with you."

Yun Chen Nan was completely confused.

"Come, have some tea. So, Jiaojiao, what did you come for today?"

Yun Jiao held her teacup and drank, shaking her head and exclaiming, "Good tea, good tea!" which made the old man burst out laughing.

"So young, and already a tea connoisseur."

Yun Jiao was brutally honest: "I’m not, but it tastes good."

’Once you get used to this tea,’ she thought, ’aside from the first infusion being a bit bitter, the subsequent ones are quite nice.’

"It’s just ordinary green tea. If you like it, take some with you when you leave."

Yun Jiao’s eyes curved into crescents. "Thank you, Grandpa Gu~"

"Grandpa Gu, when is Brother Gu Chen coming? I want to learn an instrument and need to ask for his help."

Grandpa Gu stroked his beard. "Tell Grandpa Gu, what kind of instrument do you want to learn?"

Yun Jiao: "One that’s easy to carry."

"Is that so? Well, I have a recommendation for you."

’I can’t let my grandson lead such a good kid astray,’ he thought. ’He’ll have her learning one of those loud, thumping, boom-chicka-boom things.’

"Come, come, come. Grandpa Gu will take you."

"Grandpa Gu, aren’t you keeping the shop open?"

"I’ll close for a day. It’s not like anyone’s coming anyway."

It had to be said, these old men had truly extensive networks. It seemed they knew someone in every trade.

Grandpa Gu didn’t take them to a music store, but to an old, traditional house.

As soon as they walked in, they could hear the melodious sound of a pipa.

Yun Jiao heard a few notes and thought it sounded beautiful.

Merfolk are skilled singers and have a great love for beautiful music.

"The ancestors of this family were famous court musicians. The current head of the family, Xie San Niang, has been learning all sorts of ancient instruments from her mother since she was a child. She’s also dabbled in Western instruments. Now, she’s a song and dance teacher at the theater."

Yun Jiao didn’t quite understand but was deeply impressed. ’Basically, it just means she’s amazing, right?’

"Let’s go. You have a good presence and a good voice. If you can catch her eye, you can learn whatever you want."