CHAPTER 286: CHAPTER 286: COMPETITION IS GOOD

Shen Qinglan plucked the strings a few more times, then looked up with a smile and asked, "Does the song sound good?"

"It sounds good!" Duan Yunfei nodded, "Did you come up with this song yourself?"

"Sort of." Shen Qinglan nodded.

At least, here, she’s the only one who knows it.

She seemed to think of something, her eyes suddenly brightened, "Do you think if I open a Music House, people would come to listen?"

"Well..." Duan Yunfei hesitated before asking, "Do you want me to be honest?"

Shen Qinglan’s smile faded, her eyes slightly narrowed, "Could it be that you were lying just now?"

"Not really," Duan Yunfei laughed, "Your singing is quite good, it’s just that your piano skill... needs improvement."

Shen Qinglan snorted, "Get lost!"

Duan Yunfei couldn’t help but chuckle.

She rolled her eyes at him, who was laughing hysterically, and said irritably, "I never said I’d perform myself."

She was well aware of her piano skill level.

Duan Yunfei gave a light cough and sat up straight, "Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Shen Qinglan said, "Do you think this song sounds good?"

Duan Yunfei nodded, speaking earnestly, "Yes, the lyrics are clear, the melody is pleasant, there’s a distinctive Jianghu feel, it’s the first time I’ve heard such a song."

Shen Qinglan said, "I want to form a band and then open a Music House, people would have to buy tickets to go in and listen."

"I’m familiar with bands," Duan Yunfei pondered, "but these tickets... what are they? Something like a Passage Order?"

"Pretty much." Shen Qinglan explained, "If you want to go in and listen to the music, you have to buy a ticket. Then when the performance starts, someone at the door checks the tickets, and those with tickets can enter. Moreover, different seating has different pricing."

"Sounds quite innovative." Duan Yunfei raised an eyebrow with interest, "But, where will you find the people?"

"Well..." Shen Qinglan shook her head somewhat dejectedly, "I don’t know!"

Duan Yunfei said, "Speaking of Music Houses, someone once opened one in Jinxi Town, but it closed not long after."

"Why?" Shen Qinglan was puzzled.

"Because it lacked novelty." Duan Yunfei said, "No matter how good the tunes are, if it’s just the same few over and over, customers would get tired after a while."

Shen Qinglan hurriedly asked, "Where was that Music House located?"

"It’s gone." Duan Yunfei chuckled, "It’s now the Le Family’s teahouse, which will someday be your teahouse too."

Shen Qinglan: ...

Opening a Music House across from a brothel, no wonder it went out of business.

"It’s not impossible for you to open a Music House." Duan Yunfei suggested, "You can always wait until you get to the Capital to open it."

"Will the competition in the Capital be intense?"

She didn’t have any grand ambitions at the moment, she just wanted to fill her pockets enough so that in the future she could sit back and relax without worries.

"Naturally!" Duan Yunfei laughed lightly, "But, competition is good, isn’t that what business is about?"

"True!" Shen Qinglan smiled, "When are we heading down the mountain?"

"Tomorrow at noon." Duan Yunfei said, "I can’t delay you too long."

He stood up, "It’s getting late, I’ll walk you back to your room to rest."

"Okay!"

Shen Qinglan took his offered hand and let him help her up.

The nights on the mountain were cool compared to the scorching nights below.

As soon as they stepped out of the hall, a cool breeze greeted them.

Shen Qinglan closed her eyes briefly, whispered, "Suddenly, I don’t want to go down the mountain!"

"Why not stay a few more days?" Duan Yunfei suggested.

"No."

Without a second thought, Shen Qinglan shook her head.

As long as the teahouse remained untaken over, she couldn’t feel at ease.