Chapter 1235 - 1234: Celebration Gala
"What are you looking at?"
Lu Zheng traveled back home, changed his clothes, and walked out of the bedroom. He saw Shen Ying, Lin Wan, and Si Lingxi sitting on the big sofa in the living room, eating snacks while watching TV.
"Watching the gala," Lin Wan replied, "the celebration for the Red Chess Grand Canal’s success."
"Success? Has the whole basin been filled with water?" Lu Zheng asked.
Lin Wan nodded, "Around ten o’clock this morning, they live-streamed the scene of water being injected into Red Chess Lake in the Kash Region, and there was a celebration. Little Saber even went on stage and sang a song."
Lu Zheng turned back and saw the camera panning over, with Zhao Xiaodao sitting in the first row.
"Then rushed back to Beidu in the evening? And was arranged in the first row?"
Lin Wan chuckled at his words, "I think it has something to do with you."
The friendship between Zhao Xiaodao and several people was never a secret.
"How’s the doctor doing?" Shen Ying turned back and smiled, "With Qingyan and Yue Yao not around, Renxin Hall is counting on you."
"The patients only have minor issues," Lu Zheng shook his head, "just ran into a criminal, whom Caiyi girl took down."
Mentioning this, Lu Zheng couldn’t help but ask Si Lingxi, "Did you know Caiyi used the Spiritual Light Needle on herself?"
"I know," Si Lingxi nodded, "she told me about it. I was right by her side the first time she used the needle."
Lu Zheng couldn’t help but grin, "Isn’t it a bit too small?"
"It’s unrelated to age, and it doesn’t affect her growth," Si Lingxi said.
"Alright then..."
Lu Zheng shook his head, having nothing to say. When it comes to cultivation, he has no say in front of Si Lingxi.
As for psychological issues... he didn’t see any problems with Yang Caiyi’s mental state; her spiritual power seems incredibly strong.
"What’s up? What’s the situation?"
The mention of a criminal piqued Lin Wan’s curiosity, "What crime was committed?"
"Massacre case."
Then Lu Zheng briefly recounted today’s events and talked about Yang Caiyi’s interrogation.
Shen Ying laughed heartily upon hearing it.
"Art truly is inspired by life!"
On the other hand, Lin Wan couldn’t help shaking her head.
Over in Great Jing, the customs are simple, with various demons, ghosts, and evil Abnormal People. Although massacre cases are heinous, they are not uncommon, so Shen Ying found nothing strange about it.
If such a case were to happen on Blue Star, a peaceful place, a family of dozens wiped out would definitely cause a sensation.
"Ding dong," Lin Wan’s phone vibrated again with a light sound.
From the moment Lu Zheng came home, Lin Wan’s phone occasionally made noises, paused for a while, and then rang again.
Seeing Lu Zheng looking over, Lin Wan smiled and replied, "It’s Xiao Yuya, telling me about matters regarding Red Chess River."
"What else?" Lu Zheng asked.
"They’ve caught many people recently, who have been lurking around the canal area," Lin Wan laughed.
"Some went to the geological office, some to the engineering bureau, some to nearby villages, and others to the information center."
"Wow!"
"Additionally, many military forums have posts cryptically seeking information about the canal," Lin Wan said.
"There’s also a task on the dark web offering a high price for relevant information, the content is not limited, as long as there are clues, they pay."
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, "Seems like someone’s extremely curious about this canal?"
"Of course, this is a brand new Yellow River with no warning whatsoever.
Despite the Ancient Culture Research and Analysis Archival Room working with various departments to cover it up, there are still many loopholes.
Not to mention personnel and materials, the biggest loophole is the funding issue.
Logically, such a massive project should cost astronomical figures, but...
Even using the extravagant standards of the Lighthouse Country’s military for fake accounts, the overall cost wouldn’t exceed a billion, which is too little."
Lin Wan bitterly smiled, "Strictly speaking, the real expenses are on sealing and covering costs, troop and equipment mobilization costs, blasting costs for the water flow, and the final ceremony and gala costs."
As Lin Wan spoke, she raised her chin, indicating at the television.
At that moment, on TV, a group of maidens dressed in ancient costumes were either playing the Zither, strumming the Yaoqin, plucking the Pipa, pulling the Erhu, or striking bell drums and gongs, while others played the Jade Flute and bamboo flute, alongside Zhongruan, Harp, Xun, Sheng, Moon Guitar, Suona, and more.
The tune was "Spring River Flower Moon Night."
Si Lingxi listened and shook her head, "Just a fraction of skill, not even half the essence. A good tune ruined by adding too many instruments, not unified but cluttered.
It’s fair to say it’s a waste of ’Spring River Flower Moon Night,’ that Qin Master is far inferior to Gu Tingting."
Gu Tingting was the female Qin Master at Dark Night Star Bar who got flustered by Si Lingxi, then added Si Lingxi as a friend. She constantly seeks Si Lingxi’s advice, effectively becoming Si Lingxi’s disciple.
It’s been nearly two years now.
"Gu Tingting, seems like she’s made progress?"
Lu Zheng asked, mainly because though the performers at the gala on TV were young, they were among the top folk teams in the country, especially the Qin Master, who was quite good even by Blue Star standards.
If still far inferior to Gu Tingting, it indicates Gu Tingting’s significant advancement over the past two years.
Si Lingxi nodded, "Acceptable, but she’s hit a bottleneck. To advance further, I must personally guide her."
Some things truly require hands-on personal guidance; audio and video explanations don’t suffice.
"She should have graduated by now," Lu Zheng thought for a moment and asked, "Senior year two years ago, graduated last year then?"
Si Lingxi nodded, "I’ve heard she’s now pursuing a master’s at Hai City Music Academy and joined the Hai City Folk Orchestra."
Lu Zheng understood, not surprised.
Gu Tingting’s mom is a professor at Hai City Music Academy. If there’s fair competition, given Gu Tingting has received Si Lingxi’s guidance for two years, if she can’t join a folk orchestra, even Si Lingxi might reconsider her mentorship.
Speaking of Cao Cao, there he is.
Just as "Spring River Flower Moon Night" ended, the next solo Guqin performance began.
Piece: "Cloud Dance"
Composer: Si Huang
Performance: Gu Tingting
Choreography: Liu Aiyun
Performance: Ning Xinyan
"Wow, Cloud Dance?" Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow and looked at Si Lingxi, "You taught her that?"
Lu Zheng remembered that Si Lingxi had presented five pieces here, three of which were used as interludes in Zhao Xiaodao’s drama "Biluo Song," while she kept "Feathered Robe Dance" and "Cloud Dance."
Si Lingxi nodded, "She asked if she could play it before going on, and I agreed."
As they spoke, strings began ringing beautifully at the gala.