RYEY – Chapter 189 Decadent Songs

“Mei Li, Miao Qing is finally getting married. When do you think I should go visit your parents? I’m not young anymore, and I really want to have a family of my own.”

“Let’s wait until after Miao Qing’s wedding. If something changes before then, I wouldn’t even know who to hold accountable.”

“By the way, I’ve already gotten in touch with my younger brother. About that singing matter—he said he’ll write to me as soon as there’s any news.”

Mei Li nodded. She knew well that the phone in the leadership office wasn’t something you could casually use—it had to be applied for, and only after approval from above could one make a call.

This month, Li Bing had already put in two requests. One was to help his sister-in-law’s father, and the other was for his own song. There really wasn’t any more reason he could use to apply again.

“What did your brother say?”

“My brother…”

Li Bing didn’t really want to talk about Li Huan anymore. The truth was, Li Huan had changed too much—so much that as his elder brother, Li Bing sometimes felt like he had a completely different sibling.

His brother had gone from being a rascal and scoundrel into becoming a die-hard fan of his sister-in-law. Anything Cheng Qiao said or did was correct, and if something seemed wrong, then it must be that other people’s perspectives were wrong, their way of looking at things was wrong.

Cheng Qiao rubbed her temples in frustration. Li Bing actually wanted her to write a song—the one she had casually hummed before.

She remembered it clearly. At that time, what she hummed was Sister Deng’s Unforgettable First Love. But how could she possibly write this song for Li Bing? That was considered a decadent song!

“Qiao, you can actually sing? How come I’ve never heard you before? Sing it for me, won’t you?”

Cheng Qiao shook her head. She didn’t dare.

“Is it the kind of song you’re not supposed to let others hear? Then sing softly—just for me, no one else.”

Looking at Li Huan’s aggrieved expression, Cheng Qiao realized he was jealous. She gave him a look, and Li Huan immediately scampered off to fill her mug with water and even shut the doors tightly.

“Alright, I’ll sing. But don’t laugh at me if it sounds bad.”

Cheng Qiao knew her voice was decent, but compared to Sister Deng? One was up in the heavens, the other down in the dirt—absolutely no comparison.

(Snippet of Teresa Teng’s lyrics followed here in the original.)

🎵 I am the star, you are the cloud,
Always drifting apart…
Unforgettable first love… 🎵

“Qiao, that song is beautiful. Am I your first love?”

“Yes.”

In two lifetimes, he was her only man. If that wasn’t first love, then what was?

“I’m so lucky. But the lyrics need a little change—You’re the moon, I’m the star, always circling around you. I’ll never forget you, my feelings are true, even if seas dry and rocks crumble, my heart won’t change.”

Cheng Qiao’s nose stung. She leaned against Li Huan’s shoulder, and he quickly put his arm around her. Beside them, little Cheng Li blinked his big black eyes, grinning so wide that drool slid down his mouth without him noticing.

“Qiao, let’s have another daughter.”

“That’s not something I can decide.”

“Why not? You’re the land, the one that produces the grain. If you can’t decide, then who can?”

“Ah, it’s not that simple. You’ll understand later.”

“What’s not simple? Tell me.”

“Whether it’s a boy or girl is determined by the man, not the woman.”

“There’s really such a thing? Then I’ll decide—we’ll have a daughter, one who looks exactly like you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What about the song?”

“Who cares. Having a daughter is more important.”

“Cheng Li hasn’t even fallen asleep yet.”

“Send him to your treasure.”

Helpless, Cheng Qiao stroked little Cheng Li’s head. Sorry to wrong you, little one.

Before Cheng Li could figure out what was happening, he found himself in the backyard inside the space. The red-headed viper lifted its head, looked at him, and affectionately rubbed against his body.

Cheng Li shook his head, but inside he was happy. He remembered that in his last life, he had never seen his parents so affectionate. It looked like this time, not only did he gain an older brother, but he’d also soon have a little sister.

When Li Huan finally got up, satisfied, Cheng Qiao had already slipped away to the space’s large bathroom to shower. When she came back out, she had changed into a fresh set of clothes.

Checking the time, she put on a coat and went to another house, where Goudan and his grandmother lived. Cheng Qiao first gave the old lady her medicine, then massaged her gently.

“Cheng Qiao, thank you.”

“Grandma, please don’t say that. Taking care of you is my duty. After New Year, I’ll send Goudan to the county school.”

“School? That’s so far away. Will he manage?”

“Don’t worry, Grandma. My Lele will be going to school too. Lele’s already learned how to ride a bicycle, so she’ll take Goudan with her every day.”

“That’s wonderful. Goudan, you must listen to your Mama Cheng, listen to your teachers, and listen to Lele too.”

“Yes, Grandma, I’ll study hard!”

Goudan grinned and touched the shirt he was wearing. Mama Cheng had asked Auntie Han Chunmei from the educated youth spot to make it for him. She even made two more.

“Qiao, go back and rest. I’ll help Grandma with the toilet.”

Mother Li appeared in the room. Other than acupuncture and medicine, she would never let Cheng Qiao handle chamber pots or excrement. A proper high school student who was studying medicine—how could she do such things?

Of course, Cheng Qiao knew Mother Li was cherishing her. So she would secretly add some of the space’s well water into the water tank. That well water wasn’t some miracle elixir, but it was excellent for strengthening the body.

Back in her room, Cheng Qiao kept racking her brain, trying to remember songs from the 70s to 80s that were popular yet not considered “decadent.”

Finally, one came to mind—Lantern Festival Celebration. In another month, it would be New Year, and this song would fit the occasion well. But she wasn’t sure if this counted as a “new song.”

Another problem was bigger: while she remembered the lyrics, she couldn’t write musical notation. To properly transcribe the song for Li Bing would be impossible—he wouldn’t be able to sing it.

But she did know “Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti.” So she’d just mark it by ear. If it was wrong, then so be it. She pulled out paper and pen.

“Qiao, write it tomorrow. It’s late—you should sleep. Bring little Cheng Li back first.”

Li Huan was envious of his son, who could go to his wife’s mystical treasure space. He hoped that one day, his son would be just like him—unable to enter.

Cheng Qiao never guessed he thought that way. She quickly finished writing down the lyrics and even noted the songwriter’s name. Whether Li Bing could find the person or not was no longer her concern.

When Li Huan saw all the numbers—1, 2, 3, 4, 5—marked over the lyrics, he realized it was the notation. The very next morning, he rode his bicycle to mail the letter. Along with it, he sent his father-in-law five cartons of cigarettes and five bottles of liquor.

On the way back, he ran into Chen Tiezhu and his wife, Juhua, who were arguing while holding a child. Looking closely, the child seemed to be Xu Laidi and Chen Dazhu’s son.