Beyond the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, fragrant green grass stretches to the sky. Evening breezes brush the willows, the sound of a flute lingers faintly, and beyond the sunset lie mountains upon mountains.
Another scene: a cowherd boy sits atop an ox, the sun gradually setting, as a melodious flute drifts in from afar.
These were Zhou You's first impressions of the flute.
In the past, busy with work and facing the pressures of survival, he never had time to consider his hobbies. Seeing people from Europe and America with so many interests, he used to envy them.
Unfortunately, it was just distant envy.
There were flute clubs in college, but Zhou You felt too embarrassed to learn alongside university students.
Besides, now that he wasn't short on money, finding a private teacher would be much more convenient.
So, he decided to act. He started searching for information on online forums and, surprisingly, found something.
Zhou You drove to Central City, parked the car, and went straight to the second floor. There was a large musical instrument store filled with all kinds of instruments: pianos, guitars, zithers, trumpets, even suonas, along with some niche ones like hand drums and maracas.
There were also many instruments Zhou You didn't recognize.
Hmm, there was only a female clerk sitting in the store. Zhou You was curious—this place didn't look like a music teaching studio at all.
"Excuse me, I saw online that I can learn the flute here?"
"Yes, but the teacher hasn't arrived yet. You can look at the flutes or sit and wait a bit," the clerk said casually. After all, people who come to a music store usually have a goal in mind; few wander in without purpose, and those who do are generally interested.
"Could you recommend a good flute for a beginner?"
The clerk blushed slightly. "I just started here. My main instrument isn't the flute—it's the zither. So, I'm not really the best person to recommend. When the teacher arrives, you can discuss it with them."
Zhou You had no choice. Though music theory is universal, everyone has their specialty. Beyond their expertise, they only know a little, not enough to be professional.
Zhou You looked at the flutes alone. The prices varied greatly—cheap ones were a few hundred, while pricier ones were several thousand.
No wonder poor kids can't learn instruments. With today's prices, a single flute could cover a year's tuition.
Before long, a woman walked into the store.
She had short hair with a slight curl near her ears—whether permed or natural, he couldn't tell. She wore a loose jacket, jeans, and leather boots, standing at least 170 centimeters tall.
She gave off a spirited, dashing vibe.
Just then, the clerk approached. "Teacher Sun, someone's here to learn the flute."
Zhou You was taken aback. In his mind, flute players should have long hair, wear long skirts, and be serene, right?
But he only thought it—stereotypes weren't helpful.
Teacher Sun walked over, her voice crisp. "Hello, are you here to learn the flute?" She seemed a bit puzzled too. Most flute students nowadays were kids signed up by their parents, and they usually didn't come to her.
"Yes, I found this place online. I've been a bit bored lately and wanted to try learning the flute," Zhou You said, instinctively extending his right hand.
Teacher Sun paused, then shook his hand.
As they shook, Zhou You noticed her hand was strong, with slightly rough palms—probably from practicing other instruments.
"I'm Sun Li. I mainly play drums and the flute," she said, noticing Zhou You's confusion. "When I was a kid, my parents wanted me to learn the flute, but I saw the drums and wanted to learn those instead. In the end, I learned both."
"I'm Zhou You, a teacher at Luzhou University. I've loved the flute since I was young, and now I have some time to learn," he introduced himself.
"Good thing I graduated early—I'm from Luzhou Art Academy. Otherwise, I'd be too intimidated to teach a teacher," Sun Li joked.
"How does the teaching work here? How long until I get the basics?"
"It's hard to say. Fast learners might take half a month; slower ones need more practice. It depends on talent. If you have time, it'll be quicker; if not, slower."
"Alright, since I'm here, I'll take it slow. What's the fee?"
"Guaranteed to teach until you learn, charged per session—300 per class, about an hour each."
Zhou You knew art was expensive, but this was pricier than he thought. Ten sessions would be 3,000, a hundred would be 30,000, plus the cost of a flute. Just starting out would cost tens of thousands.
And this was only the beginning. If he wanted to improve later, he'd need to hire renowned teachers and keep practicing.
"No problem. Could you recommend a flute for me? I'll start today. How do I pay—per session or all at once?"
"Usually, you pay for a course upfront. Just put down 10,000 for now. After you finish, if you're interested in continuing, we can go from there."
Without hesitation, Zhou You went to the clerk and deposited 10,000.
Seeing him pay, Sun Li breathed a sigh of relief. Rent was due soon, and running this tiny shop was a hassle.
Good thing another sucker—no, a customer—had shown up. She'd make sure to teach him well. Letting this one slip away, who knew when the next would come?
"Teacher Sun, help me pick a flute—good quality, easy to play," Zhou You said, looking like money was no object.
Sun Li was delighted. "That flute around 2,000 is great for beginners. The tone and quality are solid, and it should last you a while."
After choosing the flute, Zhou You followed Sun Li to the back of the store. To his surprise, there was a practice room behind it, its walls lined with soundproofing material to keep the noise from bothering others.
The room held a drum set and a zither, making the already cramped space feel even smaller.
Since it was just the two of them, similar in age, there was no need for formalities.
Sun Li picked up her flute and said, "Let me play 'The Partridge Flies' first, so you can see your money's not wasted."
Hearing a live flute performance for the first time, Zhou You was fascinated. The sound was crisp, sometimes lively, sometimes deep.
Though he couldn't understand it yet, he knew it was beautiful.
What struck him most was the contrast Sun Li presented. She seemed like a cool, rock-and-roll punk girl, yet when she played the flute, focused and serene, she took on a gentle, Jiangnan-like elegance.
After she finished, Zhou You clapped sincerely. "Teacher Sun, that was amazing. I may not understand it, but it felt professional."
Sun Li laughed heartily at his praise, unable to hide a hint of pride—after all, she was a professional. More than that, she felt relieved; at least the next two months' rent was covered.