1990: Starting from Baojia Street

Zhou Yan's house worth more than 600,000 yuan was all funded by Zhou Hong, and Zhou Yan didn't touch a dime of his own money.

Zhou Hong meant that Zhou Yan should keep some money in his pocket. Whether it was to decorate the house or do other things later, it would be difficult to do without money.

Zhou Yan also knew that it was difficult to have no money in his pocket, so he was not pretentious. However, he wrote an IOU to Zhou Hong and agreed on the interest.

When Zhou Hong saw the IOU, he didn't say anything and silently accepted it.

After taking the IOU, Zhou Hong said with a smile, I bought the house, but the later renovation of your yard will probably cost a lot of money. Do you want to get another loan from me?

Zhou Yan smiled and waved his hand, Although the decoration in this yard is simple now, it is barely enough for my use. When I need to decorate it later, I should already have money on hand.

Zhou Hong nodded, When you want to decorate, tell me and you can decorate mine as well.

You really want to stay. Zhou Yan said unexpectedly.

He thought that the reason why Zhou Hong bought the other house was just for investment. After all, Zhou Hong couldn't come to Yanjing often. He could only come for a few days throughout the year, so he might as well stay in a hotel.

In terms of accommodation experience alone, staying in a hotel is definitely more comfortable than staying in a courtyard house.

If it is just an investment, decoration is not necessary and it is a complete waste of money. When you sell it later, you won’t get much discount on the decoration.

Why buy a house if you can't live in it? Zhou Hong smiled and added, I'll give you a key later and take care of it for me when you have nothing to do. The house is often easily damaged if no one is there.

Okay. Zhou Yan nodded.

…

After Zhou Hong left, Zhou Yan started to clean up his new house. The yard was not small, and it was troublesome for him to clean it up by himself, so he paid two people to help him.

After cleaning up, Zhou Yan was going to buy some necessary home furnishings and then move in.

I just bought a piano that day. When Zhou Yan was instructing the workers to move it inside, he heard a clear and confused voice from behind: Senior Brother Zhou Yan?

When he heard someone calling him, Zhou Yan turned around and saw Yu Ran standing not far away holding a schoolbag.

Yu Ran originally only saw Zhou Yan's profile and thought it looked a bit like him, so she called out tentatively. When she saw that the face was really Zhou Yan, she looked surprised and asked, Senior Brother Zhou Yan, why are you here?

Because I live here and just moved here. Zhou Yan pointed to the gate of the courtyard, and then he remembered that Yu Ran's family seemed to be here, It seems like your home is nearby?

Yu Ran nodded and pointed towards the north, My home is in the Hongding Courtyard at the back, not far from here.

So close. Zhou Yan said in surprise.

There is only an alley between Hongding Courtyard and his courtyard house, and the distance is only one or two hundred meters. Standing at the entrance of his alley and looking north, you can see the houses in Hongding Courtyard.

At this time, the worker who moved the piano saw Zhou Yan chatting with the little girl and was a little anxious, Boss, where do you put this piano?

Go inside, the first room on the left. After explaining to the workers, Zhou Yan smiled and said to Yu Ran, You come in first, and I will lead the masters to put the piano away.

Yu Ran nodded and followed Zhou Yan into the courtyard.

After the workers set up the piano and left, Zhou Yan smiled and said to Ran, We just started moving. The house is still relatively simple and there is no water for you to drink.

Yu Ran smiled and shook his head, I'm not thirsty. Senior brother Zhou Yan, do you want to stay here forever?

Yes, I'll stay here forever. Zhou Yan nodded and laughed again, I didn't expect your house to live so close. We will be neighbors in the future.

Then can I come to you often in the future? Yu Ran asked weakly.

Of course. Zhou Yan pointed to the piano that had just been set up. I'm going to turn this room into a piano room. If you come over in the future, we can also practice piano here.

Hearing that Zhou Yan was going to have a piano room at home, Yu Ran's eyes lit up, That would be much more convenient.

Sit down. Zhou Yan pulled a chair to Yu Ran and sat on the piano bench. Now there is only the piano, and other instruments will definitely be added in the future. If there are any songs to practice in the future, you can do it here.

In fact, not only the piano, but also some flutes were placed in the cabinet in the corner, but those were props given to Zhou Yan by Zhang Yimou and others on the set of Raise the Red Lantern.

Because the quality of this set of flutes was so poor, Zhou Yan didn't mention it.

Yu Ran looked at the piano, bit his lip, and couldn't help but ask, Senior Brother Zhou Yan, haven't you decided on your graduation project yet?

Yu Ran had wanted to ask about this for a long time. After returning to school, Zhou Yan had not seen them. He neither practiced old songs nor new songs.

Yu Ran and Fang Xiu were both puzzled. They didn't know what Senior Brother Zhou Yan was thinking. They didn't know what happened to the new song idea he mentioned a year ago and whether he could write it this year.

Zhou Yan did not answer Yu Ran's question, but asked her with a smile, Do you want to play old music or new music?

Of course it's a new song. Yu Ran blurted out.

Although the previous songs are very good, Yu Ran hopes to hear Zhou Yan's new works come out and give everyone new surprises. It is a great pleasure to witness the birth of new music.

Actually, the new song has basically taken shape. Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Really? Yu Ran's eyes were full of surprise: What kind of music is it?

Zhou Yan pondered for a moment, then pushed open the piano cover. No explanation could be more direct than playing it himself, so Zhou Yan decided to play a piece for Yu Ran.

Seeing Zhou Yan push open the piano cover, Yu Ran immediately sat up straight and stared at Zhou Yan with bright eyes, looking forward to Zhou Yan's next performance.

However, Zhou Yan played a few notes, shook his head, stopped, and then stood up from the piano bench.

Just when Yu Ran was wondering why Zhou Yan stopped playing, Zhou Yan walked to the corner cabinet, opened the cabinet, and took out a wooden box with many bamboo flutes neatly placed inside.

Zhou Yan picked one out and carefully attached the flute film.

This flute is just ordinary, just listen to it.

After saying something with a smile, Zhou Yan started playing.

The melodious flute sound suddenly filled the room that originally seemed a little empty, but it seemed to push away all the walls of the room, making it feel as if one was in an empty wilderness.

The sound of the flute is like a lightly dancing bird, constantly circling around the treetops, occasionally calling a few times. This crisp sound slowly floats into the distance along the stream under the tree roots, and finally disappears under the night. Disappearing.

The darkness that swallowed up the sound of the flute made people feel mysterious, and they didn't know what was hidden inside.

Just when Yu Ran was still recalling the melodious sound of the flute that was gradually disappearing, the music sounded again. This time, the sound of the flute became hot and loud again, as if several birds were chirping indulgently. This sound turned the original trickling stream into a There was a rolling torrent, and the bird's joy at this time was just like the undulating waves, passionate and unrestrained.

Originally, Yu Ran thought that at the end of the music, it might return to the tranquility and tranquility at the beginning, but what she didn't expect was that the ending of the music got higher and higher, and finally ended abruptly with a loud bang. .

Like brilliant fireworks, all the passion is released at the highest point, and then quickly dims and cools down.

That moment of youthfulness is fleeting.

When Zhou Yan finished playing the music, Yu Ran was still staring at Zhou Yan, his eyes watery as if from an autumn rain.

Seeing her in a daze, Zhou Yan asked with a smile, Junior sister, how do you feel?

Only then did Yu Ran think of applauding, and she praised sincerely, This piece of music is really good, senior brother.

Zhou Yan sighed slightly, then smiled and said, The flute in my hand is still a bit bad, and this is a bamboo flute concerto, so it only has a bamboo flute, and it lacks a bit of flavor. When it is officially played later, the inside Adding other instruments in concert will naturally give you a better feeling.”

Senior Brother Zhou Yan, does your new song have a name? Yu Ran asked.

Zhou Yan nodded: Yes, it's called Nightingale.

This song Nightingale is actually a soundtrack prepared by Zhou Yan for Green Snake, but it is okay to use it as a graduation piece. The main thing is that it is a bamboo flute concerto. When the graduation performance comes, he can be the bamboo flute soloist.

After all, it is a graduation piece, and Zhou Yan also wants to show off his bamboo flute skills at the graduation piece concert.

Brother, do you have the score? Yu Ran clenched his fists and said excitedly, I can't wait to play it now.

Yes. Zhou Yan smiled, But not here, in the school dormitory.

He had already started writing the score of this piece when he went to Shanghai and finished it two days ago.

Can we go get it now? Yu Ran asked.

Even now...

Zhou Yan wanted to say that it was too urgent to get the score now, but seeing the eagerness in Yu Ran's eyes, he nodded and said, Okay, let's get it now.

I knew you were the best, senior brother. Yu Ran jumped up happily, Senior brother, you go get the music score, and I'll go back and get my piano.

After saying that, Yu Ran trotted out of the house without waiting for Zhou Yan's response.

Looking at Yu Ran's back, Zhou Yan smiled. This girl was very tall. She was jumping up and down like a child who hadn't grown up yet.

…

In the next few days, Zhou Yan and the others started practicing Nightingale. At first, it was just Zhou Yan and Yu Ran who were practicing. Later, Jia Guoping, Zhang Xinning, Fang Xiu and other members of the original cast of Memory of the Forbidden City gradually joined in.

Others were surprised when they found out that Zhou Yan had already written the music. Last year, Zhou Yan only said that he had an idea, but he didn't expect that the score would be completed so quickly. The efficiency was terrible.

In fact, there are many people who write fast. For example, in their 87 Composition Department, there is a well-known fast player Li Tao. This guy writes music at an astonishing speed. He claims to be able to write 365 songs a year, one every day.

This is of course an exaggeration. No one can write three hundred and sixty-five songs in a year.

However, Li Tao is indeed very fast. He can write more than 20 complete pieces of music in one semester, far exceeding other students.

For others, under normal circumstances, they can write three poems in one semester, which is very fast.

Of course, if you write quickly, it will be difficult to keep up with the quality. Many of Li Tao's songs are similar. He always likes to finish a piece that feels good and then use it in other songs of his own.

Jia Guoping had made a joke about Li Tao before, saying that just listening to one of the songs Li Tao had written in his life was enough.

What Jia Guoping said was of course a joke. Although the songs written by Li Tao are generally of average quality, quantitative changes will also bring about qualitative changes, so he can write one or two pretty good songs in a year. After a few years, he can be considered successful. his own masterpiece.

Li Tao traded quality for quantity, but Zhou Yan was different. While Zhou Yan was fast, his quality was also extremely high.

The current song Nightingale is another extremely high-level work, not inferior to the two songs they played before.

So they were all surprised how Zhou Yan could maintain such high creative passion and efficiency.

Some people analyze that because in addition to composing music, Zhou Yan also participates in film and television production, so he finds inspiration from film and television dramas.

When Zhou Yan and the others were practicing Nightingale, if they could get an appointment in the piano room or the composition classroom was free, they would practice at school. If there was no room in the school, they would go to Zhou Yan's house.

Zhou Yan's piano room, after his decoration for a period of time, is now in a good shape.

Basically, as long as the instrument he knows how to play is available in the piano room, as long as it is a conventional instrument he doesn't know how to play, it is also available in the piano room.

Fang Xiu and the others also prefer to practice at Zhou Yan's home because compared to school, there is a place to rest at Zhou Yan's home. When they are tired, they can sit on the sofa, drink tea and chat.

There are also TV sets and game consoles in the lounge opposite. In addition to drinking tea and chatting, you can also watch TV and play games. This is of course much more comfortable than practicing piano at school.

In the first few days, they would eat out until noon. Later, they felt that eating out was a waste of time and money, so they might as well cook at home.

Then Fang Xiu and another boy majoring in violin volunteered to form a team of chefs. After practicing the piano every day, the two of them also cooked for the others.

Originally, this courtyard house had not been occupied for some time before it was bought. When Zhou Yan moved in, it felt quite deserted. However, he did not expect that in just a week or two, the courtyard would become so lively.

…

One day two weeks later, as soon as they left, Zhou Yan's pager received a message from Sun Qin, asking why he was not in school.

Zhou Yan rode to school again and found Sun Qin.

Why didn't you make a call in advance and come directly? Zhou Yan asked.

I passed by here and came in directly. Why did I hear your roommate say that you don't live on campus much recently?

Zhou Yan smiled and said, I moved to a new home.

Where?

“Next to the National Center for the Performing Arts.”

Sun Qin nodded, That's not far, but why do you think of moving there?

Isn't this convenient for you to find me? After saying that, Zhou Yan patted the back seat of the bicycle, Let's go, I will take you to identify the door.

Okay. Sun Qin jumped onto the back seat of the bicycle.

Zhou Yan took Sun Qin into the courtyard. Sun Qin looked around the courtyard and couldn't help but ask, Why don't you find an apartment building? Living in a courtyard is so inconvenient.

The apartment building is not spacious enough. Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Well, your yard is not small. Sun Qin nodded, and then asked with a gossipy face, Zhou Yan, are you in love?

Do you think I'm in love with someone?

Sun Qin looked around the yard again, and then said seriously, I feel like you have a mistress in your house.

Zhou Yan curled his lips and smiled, What is the smell of a mistress?

There. Sun Qin chuckled and pointed to the kitchen, As soon as I smell this smell, I know that your house usually has a fire. You are a big man. You live alone. How can you usually cook with a fire? If you weren't a hidden beauty in the golden house, , I don’t believe it.”

Zhou Yan grabbed Sun Qin with his hand and said, Quickly put away those filthy thoughts in your head. The orchestra for my graduation project usually practices here, so I open the fire to cook. There is nothing hidden in the golden house. Let's talk about business. , you just said you wanted me to participate in your interview, what happened?

Zhou Yan was riding very fast along the way just now, and the road was noisy. Sun Qin said something in the back seat, but Zhou Yan didn't hear everything.

Sun Qin repeated what he said on the way, When I ask you to go to our station, bring the other creative staff with you.

I am the director, screenwriter, and composer. The other creative staff are the deputy director and assistant director. I can't call you the producer.

Aren't there still male and female protagonists?

The male protagonist... let's forget it. The child practices the piano every day, so don't disturb him. The female protagonist is fine, but she actually plays less in the movie.

Sun Qin waved his hand, It doesn't matter how little or how little. Just bring them with you. When there are more people, we can ask them about your normal performance and let them say good things to you. If you are the only one doing the interview, no What a compliment.”

As long as you seek truth from facts, you don't have to resort to flattery... How about I call on a few more people?

Hey, don't want too many, just two or three.

Then I will ask assistant director Wang Xiaoshuai to go with the heroine Yu Feihong.

Yeah. Sun Qin nodded with a smile, and then said, By the way, there is one more thing. Liang Yu went to our TV station two days ago and chatted with Team Leader Sun for a while, although he didn't talk about the promotional video. , but according to Team Leader Sun, Liang Yu is still very interested in you.

Zhou Yan shook his head, It's useless to be interested. It's still too early to talk about this matter now. Let's wait until the application is confirmed to be approved.

Seeing that Zhou Yan was not too interested, Sun Qin said, I think you should prepare early. When they confirm that they are going to shoot a promotional video for the Olympic bid, you can just slap the music score in front of them. Then shout, look, This is the song I composed for the promotional video, please come and worship me.

Sun Qin was thirty years old, but he still looked like a middle school student. Zhou Yan was also amused by him, You, you should read less street novels.

You don't know how good street novels are. Sun Qin curled his lips, But what I just said was serious. You should be prepared in advance so that you can deal with it when the time comes.

Zhou Yan rolled his eyes, I don't even know who the director is, what his style is, and what kind of film he wants to make. But you want me to write the soundtrack for you in advance. I think there's something wrong with your brain.

You write the score first, and then people will shoot according to your score.

Zhou Yan stretched his head and looked outside the house.

What are you looking at? Sun Qin asked.

I wonder if it's dark outside. Why are you starting to dream?

Sun Qin chuckled and said, People always have dreams.

Zhou Yan waved his hand, Okay, it's useless to rush this. You've already accepted it, so just leave quickly.

Your way of seeing off guests is too direct. Sun Qin shook his head with a smile and started to walk out. Then he thought of something and turned around and asked, You live in a new house now, why don't you install a phone? If you have a phone, you can use it later. Make it easy to contact us.”

Zhou Yan shrugged, I've already applied, but I have to wait in line, and I don't know when it will be my turn.

Hearing Zhou Yan waiting in line, Sun Qin smiled and said, You ask me for this matter, and I will solve it for you.

Do you still have this relationship?

Tch, I've been living in Yanjing for thirty years. Is it all in vain? Okay, I know about this. You can go there again in two days and it should be fine.

After saying that, Sun Qin waved his hand and left.

…

After Sun Qin left, Zhou Yan went to a phone booth and dialed the number Yu Feihong had left before, but no one answered for a long time.

Seeing that no one answered the phone, Zhou Yan probably understood that Yu Feihong should be living in the school now and has no residence outside.

After thinking about it, Zhou Yan rode to Yanjing Film Academy again.

Yanjing Film Academy is right next to Yanjing Film Studio. It is not too far from where Zhou Yan lives now, and it is easy to get there by bike.

After arriving at Yanjing Film Academy, Zhou Yan went directly to the dormitory building where Yu Feihong lived. When he got downstairs, Zhou Yan randomly grabbed a girl.

Classmate, can you call Yu Feihong from dormitory 305 for me?

The girl looked at Zhou Yan, then shouted upwards at the top of her lungs: Senior Sister Feihong, there is a handsome boy looking for you!

Zhou Yan was startled when he heard the girl's high-pitched voice. Good guy, why is this girl in the same class as Xu Yuhong?

Moreover, this girl looked thin and unattractive, and she actually had a smoky voice. Her voice was hoarse, but very penetrating.

When she shouted, Yu Feihong was not called out, but many other girls poked their heads out, probably wanting to see what the handsome boy downstairs looked like.

Among the people who came out, Zhou Yan knew him, and there was more than one.

Zhou Yan?

The first shout came from the second floor. Zhou Yan took a closer look and saw that it was Kong Lin who called him.

Zhou Yan was a little surprised when he saw Kong Lin. Logically speaking, Kong Lin has graduated now, so why is she still at Yanjing Film Academy?

Before Zhou Yan could ask why Kong Lin was at school, another head popped out from the third floor. When this head saw Zhou Yan, he was surprised and said, Director Zhou?

Zhou Yan moved his eyes from the second floor to the third floor again, and saw Xu Qing standing in the corridor looking at him with a happy face.