Chapter 170 Continuous Work

Seeing that Lou Xiaoting sang quite well, Shishi left first, handing over the recording work to Wu Yinglei.

She had to go when her mother summoned her!

Kong Fang led her to Yi Garden, where Shi Shi found Kong Pan on the balcony.

The Empress Dowager was elegantly watering the flowers. It looked like a peaceful and idyllic scene, but in reality, the flowerpots were overflowing with water.

"Mom, you don't need this much water to water the flowers, do you? If not, let Dad do this job."

“Your father is going on a business trip, and I’ll be home alone for the next couple of days. I can’t just let these flowers wither and die, can I?”

Kong Fang, standing behind him, looked at the cacti and succulents in silence.

He remembered how his father was always scolded by his mother for not being able to do chores. When he visited his aunt's house, he noticed that she never did these things either, and it turned out his other aunt was just as clumsy. It seemed to be hereditary!

He quickly stepped forward and took the watering can, saying, "Auntie, don't worry, I'll do this. Cacti don't need to be watered that frequently; I'll come over when it's time to water them."

Kong Pan looked at Kong Fang and nodded with satisfaction: "With someone as capable and thoughtful as you by your cousin's side, I feel much more at ease. It seems you're more like your mother. Capable!"

Unlike his mentally challenged younger brother, who doesn't even know to dodge when kicked twice.

Knowing that the mother and daughter had something to talk about, Kong Fang took the initiative to cook, saying that he wanted them to try his cooking.

Kong Pan personally brewed a pot of tea, poured a cup, and handed it to Shishi.

Shi Shi took the tea and smelled its fragrant aroma, then asked, "Mom, what kind of tea is this? It smells so good."

Kong Pan said gently, "This is a tea to dispel dampness."

After taking a sip, she found it delicious. Shishi said, "Give me the recipe, and I'll ask Aunt Zhang to make some for me when we get back."

Kong Pan gave her a reproachful look: "This was sent over by your Aunt Zhang. You have some at home too. It's just that you've been busy until very late lately, so she always makes you milk to help you sleep."

Aunt Zhang and Kong Pan got along well, and Kong Pan knew long ago that her mother would ask Aunt Zhang about her situation. This was one of the things she liked most about Aunt Zhang—she knew what to say and what not to say.

For example, her mother knows that she's been very busy with her career lately and doesn't have much free time. But her mother has no idea that Fu Yingzhou moved into her house.

Shi Shi chuckled twice: "I've just been busy lately, it'll be fine after a while."

Kong Pan slapped her on the back: "Don't talk nonsense to your own mother. I was young once too. You need to focus on your career now, how can you let yourself be idle? I'm not saying you can't be busy, but you need to take better care of your health, otherwise when you get old, all sorts of health problems will come your way."

Shi Shi didn't dare say it, but she was secretly drinking the physique-enhancing potions she had redeemed from the system. Even her minor heart problem was almost cured. Knowing that her mother was concerned about her, she nodded vigorously and promised to take good care of herself.

"Alright, let's get down to business. The boss told me today that the songs the choir has been performing are all too old-fashioned. What if something unexpected happens at the world championships next month? They don't have anything too original, so they're thinking of having you write one. Can you do it?"

Shi Shi was speechless because of her own mother. Ever since she was dubbed the "Golden Melody Maker," no one has dared to ask her directly if she's capable or not.

“Sure, how could I not? This involves my mother’s career. It’s not easy to have a chance to show my respect to you, so I will definitely write a song. It has to be one that you can sing.”

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, after all, you've never written a song for a large chorus before. And it also has to be suitable for a live band performance."

The choir's band is no ordinary band; it's staffed entirely with national treasure-level musicians. They are proficient in everything from mainstream to niche instruments.

"You look down on me, don't you? I'll write it for you right away."

As they spoke, the mother and daughter went to Mr. Shi's study. Shishi found a vinyl record on the shelf. It was a commemorative edition record for Hong Kong's return to China, not for public release.

Shi Shi put the record player on and listened to Kong Pan's voice. She began to think about which song would be most suitable. Seeing that her daughter was engrossed in the song, Kong Pan quietly closed the study door and went downstairs to the kitchen to help Kong Fang cook.

Kong Pan's voice is highly distinctive, clear yet rich in texture, and she can switch between high and low notes with ease, which is why she was able to get a spot on the main stage in the choir.

As Shi Shi listened to her mother's singing from back then, she quickly picked up a pen and paper and mentally recalled "Me and My Motherland" and "The Past Was Slow".

These two songs are completely different. "My Motherland and I" uses a first-person perspective to explore the grand theme of patriotism through a small detail, achieving not only artistic merit but also profound ideological significance. Once released, it is sure to become a new patriotic classic.

In comparison, the song "Once Upon a Time, Life Was Slower" has a touch of romance. It's a nostalgia for a slower pace of life, a longing for a more innocent era, and a yearning for a simpler existence. Shi Shi prefers the Rainbow Chamber Singers' version, which possesses both the beautiful imagery of poetry and the melodious grace of a song. The line "The little soy milk shop is steaming" instantly transports one back to that childhood alleyway.

About half an hour later, I heard Kong Pan's voice calling from downstairs: "Dinner's ready!"

Shi Shi put down two pieces of paper and went downstairs.

Kong Fang placed several plates of delicious-looking dishes on the table. He smiled and said, "The food is ready. Let's eat first, and then continue creating."

Shishi looked up and saw that her cousin had many good points. The dishes on the table were all her and her mother's favorites. Although he was both a relative and an assistant, he kept his position very clear and never took advantage of being her cousin to do anything or say anything unnecessary.

Well, aside from being a bit dull and a bit gossipy.

I might consider adding a little more to my aunt's account next time I make a transfer.

Given the short timeframe, Kong Pan hadn't expected her daughter to write the song so quickly. Instead of discussing that, she started gossiping about Kong Fang's love life. Two common prerequisites for a woman getting old are matchmaking and gossip. Kong Pan seemed to have both.

"Tell your aunt what kind of girl you like, and she'll introduce you to some."

Shishi didn't interrupt her mother's enthusiasm. After all, Kong Fang was still sitting there. It wouldn't be right to say that the girls she usually met didn't even look at her cousin, would it?

Although Kong Fangren wasn't very clever, he was self-aware enough to say, "Auntie, I just want to find someone who will like me."

His words seemed to say nothing at all, but they actually encapsulated everything in one sentence.

He has an ordinary education, an ordinary job, an ordinary appearance, and comes from a small city. The only thing worth mentioning is that he is Shi Shi's cousin.

Kong Pan also liked this nephew very much: "Whether you like him or not, it all comes down to mutual affection, right? Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Kong Fang readily agreed, and Kong Pan liked it even more.

Shishi was eating her meal while also munching on watermelon, never expecting the fire to spread to her...