Chapter 1053: 'The King Sent Me on Mountain Patrol'!
Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
At the amusement park.
More and more people gathered around a stage set up on the southern side of the park.
The host was a young and pretty woman. Although she was not exceptionally beautiful, she still looked good nonetheless. From the way she spoke, she was definitely a professional broadcast host too. This was the occupation that Zhang Ye held. So, when faced with a fellow peer, he would know from feeling alone. Beaming, she raised her microphone and announced, "Good day to all the parents and children here today. I am the host of Central Radio Children's Channel, Yuan Meng. You can call me Little Yuan or Little Meng."
Some of the people in the crowd actually knew her.
"Ah, Yuan Meng?"
"Central Radio Children's Channel?"
"I know her!"
"Yeah, I always let my kid listen to her show!"
"I've only ever heard her voice in the past. I didn't think that Yuan Meng would look so pretty as well."
"What event are they holding here? Why is there a band and all those instruments?"
Everyone was very interested.
Yuan Meng smiled and said, "We're holding a live broadcast here for the June 1st Children's Day Special. The signal will be broadcast in-sync through our radio station." Looking at her watch, she said, "We'll be starting in about another 15 minutes' time, so I hope everyone will cooperate and join the singing contest that we're holding here today. It can be the children taking part alone, or teamed up with their parents as a group. We have invited a professional band to play for today's event as well, and there are even three music teachers from the Central Conservatory of Music here to judge the contest. Every participating family will stand to win a prize, with the top three prizes even grander, so we hope everyone will participate enthusiastically."
The prizes were all placed behind her on the stage.
The three judges were also beckoning with their hands and calling for everyone to join.
"A singing contest?"
"There are even prizes to be given out?"
"Wow, it's going to be live radio broadcast?"
"Really? It will be broadcast live on Central Radio Children's Channel?"
Zhang Ye had a look at the equipment and the workers at the venue and knew immediately that this was truly a setup for a live broadcast. He used to work in a radio station, so of course he would know.
A lot of the children started to shout in excitement.
"It's Big Baby Bear!"
"Mom, I want that!"
"Dad, let's join the contest!"
"I wanna join too!"
"Alright, alright, let's participate!"
"Let's go and register!"
"We're going to register too!"
"Are we really going to be on a live radio show?"
"We can sing any song that we want? Then I'll join too!"
The parents and their children were all very enthusiastic.
But Zhang Ye was not really interested. He had already been on countless live television broadcasts, to say nothing of a live radio broadcast. Besides, if a channel like Central Radio Children's Channel wanted a celebrity like Zhang Ye to appear on their show, they would have to pay a fee for his appearance.
"Let's go," Zhang Ye called out to Chenchen.
But Chenchen did not move.
Zhang Ye turned around. "What's the matter?"
Chenchen raised her arm and pointed at the top prize on the stage. "Zhang Ye, I want that."
Zhang Ye said in annoyance, "Do you even know what the name of that thing is?"
Chenchen nodded. "I know. It's Big Baby Bear."
The prizes were quite good. The first place prize was a plushie of one of the characters in one of this world's children's cartoon. It was pretty big and even seemed like it was a limited edition collectible that couldn't be bought with money.
Zhang Ye wondered, "I thought you didn't like to watch cartoons anymore?"
Chenchen looked at the other children who were all grabbing their parents' arms like spoiled brats. A lot of them seemed like they wanted to win that limited edition Big Baby Bear.
Chenchen also tugged at Zhang Ye's arm. "Zhang Ye, I want that too."
Zhang Ye was amused and laughed, "What? You want it just because the other kids want it as well?"
Chenchen nodded. "Win it for me!"
Zhang Ye gave her a look. "You know how to sing?"
"I do."
"Really?"
"I just can't sing well."
"That means you don't know how!"
"…Oh. Do you know how?"
"Hur, do I know how? Why are you so funny? What do I not know! But what's so attractive about this contest? Do you know how much of an appearance fee I can command? If you want me to sing, you'd have to fork out at least a million or two. Would I have to be so desperate over just a lousy bear?"
Zhang Ye was not bragging in this case. He was really worth that much these days.
Zhang Ye tried to pull her away. "Let's leave."
Chenchen did not move. She stood there looking at a family beside her.
A little girl who looked about five years old was shamelessly making a scene in front her parents. "Daddy, Mommy, I want Big Bear! I want Big Bear!"
Her father smiled bitterly and said, "But Daddy and Mommy can't sing well."
The little girl was nearly crying. "I don't care, I want Big Bear!"
Her father gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, since my daughter has spoken, Daddy has to do it somehow. I'll go register!"
The little girl cheered, "Yay, Daddy's the best!" She even kissed her father on the cheek.
Her mother patted her husband's chest and covered her mouth as she laughed. "Don't embarrass yourself when you're up there."
The father thumped his chest and declared, "For our daughter, I don't mind being embarrassed!"
Chenchen looked at them without blinking.
That little girl noticed Chenchen looking at her. She looked back curiously and said, "Big Sis, do you want Big Bear too? You can ask your daddy to join the contest." She pointed at Zhang Ye.
Chenchen said, "I don't have a daddy."
The little girl was surprised by this and said, "But everyone has a daddy."
Chenchen looked at her and expressionlessly said, "I don't have one."
When the girl's parents heard that, they quickly pulled their daughter back and hurriedly said to the man in sunglasses beside Chenchen, "Sorry about that, sir. You know how kids are. We're really sorry!"
Zhang Ye smiled. "It's fine."
The mother asked out of curiosity, "Her parents?"
Zhang Ye was silent for a moment, then whispered, "They've passed away."
The mother was taken aback and said, "Oh, look at me, why did I ask! I'm sorry!"
Chenchen did not say a word.
Zhang Ye looked into her eyes and when he thought about her situation, he suddenly felt very sorry and bad for her. He knelt down and said to Chenchen, "About that Big Bear, do you really want it?"
Chenchen nodded. "Uh-huh."
Zhang Ye snapped his fingers. "Alright." He then stood up and said, "Even if I have to risk everything, I'll definitely win Big Bear for you!"
Instantaneously, this fellow was eager to fight!
He seemed to change into a different person as he strode up to register for the contest!
A few minutes later.
The live broadcast began.
Yuan Meng stood onstage and announced, "Good day, everyone. You're listening to Central Radio Children's Channel. I'm your host, Yuan Meng. I'm currently out at Beijing Amusement Park, where we are holding a spectacular singing contest. Over here, we have 13 groups signing up for the event, and we will be starting…"
At the same time, the radio broadcast started.
...
Zhang Ye's parents' house.
His father was tidying up the room when he found an old radio.
He asked, "Do we have any batteries in the house? Triple-As."
His mother clicked her tongue. "Why are you fiddling with that?"
His father said, "I want to see if it's still working. Otherwise, I'm gonna throw it away."
He tried tuning into a few radio stations.
Then he said, "It's still in working condition."
His mother suddenly said, "Wait, that station earlier was Central Radio Children's Channel? Are they broadcasting live from Beijing Amusement Park? Didn't Little Ye bring Chenchen there? A singing contest?"
His father turned up the volume. "Let's have a listen! Do you think Little Ye and Chenchen will take part?"
His mother's lips curled upward. "With our son's terrible voice, what can he sing?"
...
At the venue.
The first family was already performing onstage.
"Little bunny, be good,
"Open the door.
"I will not, I will not // open the door."
This was a nursery rhyme that Zhang Ye had sung before on a radio broadcast, At that time, it received a resounding response and a lot of people learned how to sing it as well.
This family could only sing it rather averagely, but they received rapturous applause nonetheless!
Those three teachers from the Central Conservatory of Music also smiled and applauded them.
Then it was the second group's turn to perform.
Then the third.
The father of the little girl who spoke to Chenchen earlier was the seventh to go onstage. He was very nervous as his hands trembled while holding his microphone. After all, all those people who were taking part in the contest did not have any prior experience of being on a live radio broadcast, and every other group displayed a similar anxiety when it was their turn to go onstage.
The little girl shouted, "Daddy, I'm cheering for you! Daddy, go for it!"
When he heard his daughter's cheering, the father straightened up and raised his microphone to sing along with the band's accompaniment.
He sang very terribly.
He even went off-key.
But the little girl kept clapping and shouting, "Daddy, you're great!" She held her mother's hand and said, "Mommy, Daddy's really great!"
Her mother laughed and said, "Yes, your daddy is the best!"
Chenchen looked at the girl and her mother without saying a word.
Zhang Ye could not watch this any further, so he purposely patted Chenchen on her head and said, "It's my turn, haha. Watch me."
Chenchen looked at him. "Are you sure you can do it?"
Zhang Ye laughed loudly. "Just you watch, kiddo."
Yuan Meng looked into the crowd and said, "Let's welcome the eighth group onstage."
Zhang Ye pulled Chenchen to the position closest to the stage and left her there as he walked up to the stage with a big smile. When a lot of people in the audience saw him dressed in that outfit, they looked at him strangely. Who would cover themselves with a surgical mask and a large pair of sunglasses on a warm summer day like this?
Yuan Meng also gave him an additional once-over before passing the microphone to him.
The band asked him, "What will you be singing?"
Zhang Ye took off his surgical mask. "Just give me a beat and I'll be fine." He walked over to communicate some details with the few of them.
The band was actually not that professional to begin with, so they were rather confused when they heard his instructions.
What do you mean?
You're even thinking of singing an original?
Who do you think you are?
Chenchen looked at Zhang Ye up on stage.
Beside her, a small hand grabbed hold of her hand. "Is that your daddy?"
Chenchen turned her head and realized that it was the little girl from earlier. She answered, "No."
Some people were looking at the sunglasses-wearing young man on the stage.
"Eh?"
"What's the matter?"
"That guy looks so familiar!"
"Ah, you're right!"
The stage was prepared.
Zhang Ye stood there and thought back to when he didn't know how to sing. He cleared his throat and deliberately adjusted his voice away from The Clown's voice pattern. Then he saw Chenchen looking at him and started feeling a little sad. Chenchen, don't be sad. Your parents are no longer around, but don't you still have your aunt? Don't you still have me? I may not be your father, and neither do I know how to be a father, I really don't. But I can assure you of this: As long as you need me, I'll always be by your side!
Believe me!
I definitely will be!
So, please, cheer up!
The music started!
A folk music accompaniment started playing!
Zhang Ye raised his microphone and stunned everyone the moment he opened his mouth to sing 1 .
"The sun winks at me." He looked and blinked several times at Chenchen!
"Birds are singing songs for me. I am a very hard-working and unclingy little genie." He pointed to him own chest.
Everyone was taken aback.
What?
What song was this?
An original? Did you write it yourself?
The host, Yuan Meng, was also dumbfounded!
Zhang Ye walked to the front of the stage and put his hand into a flower basket. From it, he picked out a flower.
"Don't ask me where I'm from.
"Or ask me where I am going.
"I want to pick the prettiest flower,
"To offer to my little princess!"
He stooped down and placed the flower in Chenchen's hair. He pulled Chenchen and led her up onto the stage as well. Then he bent down and, amazingly, lifted Chenchen up on his left shoulder with astonishing strength.
Chenchen was terrified!
Zhang Ye laughed and said in a loud voice, "Aiyo, I nearly forgot!
"The king sent me on mountain patrol.
"Through the mortal realm, let me take a stroll.
"Beating my drums.
"Sounding my gong.
"Life is full of the feel of rhythm.
"The king sent me on mountain patrol.
"To capture a monk as his dinner roll.
"This mountain stream is so sweet that I don't envy couples or immortals!"
And then, suddenly, the audience broke into cheering!
The children were getting excited!
The parents were also mesmerized from listening to the song!
It was really good!
The song was perfect!
The three judges were stunned!
The band was also dumbfounded!
Dammit, this is just a children's singing contest held for entertainment's sake. What's with this song of yours? Isn't this song too professionally written?
...
Back at home.
His mother said in surprise, "Hey, hey, hey. This voice?"
His father said in astonishment, "Is that our son's voice?"
His mother said, "Did he really bring Chenchen onstage?"
...
At a music production company.
A department manager was just listening to the radio as he had nothing much to do. Suddenly, when this song was played, another assistant manager and he were both stunned!
"This song?"
"Who's that?"
"It's not very well sung, but the song is…"
"Have you heard this before? What song is that?"
"I've not heard of it before. Could it be an original?"
...
At the venue.
Zhang Ye raised his microphone to Chenchen's mouth. He knew that Chenchen was a smart girl.
Chenchen looked at him, then opened her mouth awkwardly to say, "The sun winks at me. Birds are singing songs for me."
Zhang Ye took it from there and laughed, "I am a very hard-working and unclingy little genie.
"Don't ask me where I'm from.
"Or ask me where I am going.
"I want to pick the prettiest flower,
"To offer to my little princess!"
Then Zhang Ye plucked out another flower and swiftly put it into Chenchen's hair again!
Chenchen suddenly laughed.
She was laughing very happily.
This was the first time Zhang Ye had seen her laughing in such a way. It was really the first time that it happened!
When he saw that, his singing became even more enthusiastic. He was already singing and skipping around mischievously. That bobbing motion of his head was especially funny.
It was obviously very funny to watch, but the parents of that little girl from earlier could not laugh at all. They knew that the sunglasses-wearing young man was not the girl's father and that her real parents had already passed away. Their eyes reddened a little and they couldn't hold back their tears anymore!
It was quite touching to see!
But they felt a sense of admiration even more!
Zhang Ye, who had Chenchen bouncing up and down on his shoulder, was laughing and singing.
"The king sent me on mountain patrol.
"Through the mortal realm, let me take a stroll."
Chenchen followed along and sang.
"Beating my drums.
"Sounding my gong.
"Life is full of the feel of rhythm.
"The king sent me on mountain patrol.
"To capture a monk as his dinner roll.
"This mountain stream is so sweet that I don't envy couples or immortals!"
Applause rang out!
Cheers were erupting from the audience!
This song had sent the atmosphere of the entire audience to its highest point!
This was not a children's song. At least, it was not like a nursery rhyme that was sung to children. The song carried a great meaning of the unconditional love between family members that even the adults could understand and be touched by it!