Chapter 78: Copyright Registration (Please Support with Monthly and Recommendation Votes)
The large-frame bicycle creaked as Yang Qing approached and spotted Li Dongning in the distance, sitting in the square and eating an ice cream.
He found a place to park his bike, walked over, and apologized, “Sorry for making you wait.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Li Dongning replied, finishing his ice cream in one bite and raising his brows with a grin. “Summer’s great—your Yangcheng girls are really something.”
Yang Qing: …
Yet, after hearing Li Dongning say that, Yang Qing suddenly found him to be genuine and straightforward, without any of the usual pretense.
Unconsciously, the awkwardness of a first meeting faded a little.
Yang Qing smiled. “Not only are the people beautiful in Yangcheng, the scenery is wonderful too. If you have time, you should explore.”
“Yeah, I have time right now, but let’s settle your business first,” Li Dongning stood up, looking serious. “This is important!”
“All right, let’s go.”
“Let’s!”
They took a cab to the copyright registration center in Yangcheng and started the process—filling out forms, applying, submitting documents, and so on.
Li Dongning stood by, guiding Yang Qing through the paperwork. Watching Yang Qing’s crooked handwriting, he couldn’t help but ask, “Is that… your actual handwriting?”
Yang Qing said nothing. He quietly moved the pen to the education column and wrote: “Primary school.”
Li Dongning: “…You… you… Primary school?!”
“Yeah, is there a problem?” Yang Qing responded with a calm smile.
“Um… no, no problem!”
At that moment, Li Dongning didn’t know how to describe his feelings. Was it shock, disappointment, or something else?
Primary school—such a familiar yet distant phrase. But it was someone with only a primary school education who composed the astonishing and much-praised erhu piece “Galloping Horses”!
Can you believe it?
Was it that I’m just not good enough, or is the world just unreal?
He began to doubt his own life choices, but little did he know, this was only the beginning.
“Um… could I get six more—no, seven more application forms?” Yang Qing suddenly asked.
“Huh?” The staff member was stunned, as was Li Dongning. He wondered if he had misheard and asked, “What did you say?!”
“Seven application forms,” Yang Qing repeated.
Li Dongning said, “Wait, why do you need so many? If you made a mistake on the first one, just ask for another and fill it out again!”
“That’s right,” the staff echoed. “Take your time. If you make a mistake, I’ll give you another form.”
“Uh…” Yang Qing realized they misunderstood. He gave an awkward smile and handed over the completed form. “I finished this one, and there aren’t any mistakes.”
A light seemed to dawn in Li Dongning’s eyes. He stared wide-eyed and stammered, “Then… you want seven more forms because…”
“To register more works,” Yang Qing replied, a little embarrassed. “I figured, since I’m here, I might as well register more. No sense in wasting the trip.”
Li Dongning: …
Staff: …
Are you even human?
After a long pause, the staff finally handed over seven more forms. Yang Qing took them and was about to start filling them out when Li Dongning stopped him.
Looking at Yang Qing with trembling eyes, he said seriously, “You can’t just fill these in randomly. If the works don’t have value, they won’t pass review, and you’ll waste money on the fees.”
“I know, don’t worry,” Yang Qing assured him, then immediately picked up his pen and started writing—one after another.
Li Dongning went from suspicion, to shock, to disbelief, and finally to numbness.
The songs: “Mohe Ballroom,” the suona piece “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” the guzheng piece “Early Summer After Rain,” the piano piece “Labors of Spring, Summer, and Autumn,” as well as “Memories of Time,” “Symphony of the Kitchen,” “From the Tip of the Tongue to the Heart”—all different instrumental works.
Seven in total! Plus “Galloping Horses” on the erhu, that made eight!
When you’re so shocked that you grow numb, all that’s left is calm. That’s exactly how Li Dongning felt now as he calmly asked Yang Qing, “Aren’t you going to register the song your sister sang?”
“No.”
Yang Qing shook his head. “Actually, I hope that more people will sing that song, so that even more people can hear it and pass on—and believe in—the spirit it represents!”
“Mm.” Li Dongning nodded softly, silently agreeing. He hoped the same; as a young idealist of the new era, he too cherished a sense of justice.
Otherwise… he wouldn’t have come all the way from Jinghua to Yangcheng to find Yang Qing, nor would he have devised any bold plans.
…
After leaving the copyright registration center, Yang Qing checked his phone for the time. It was almost noon. He looked at Li Dongning and said sincerely, “Thank you so much for today.”
“Oh, don’t mention it,” Li Dongning waved a hand, then asked curiously, “Those pieces you just registered—when do you plan to let them see the light of day?”
Yang Qing paused, “Uh, I’ll see how things go. But a few of them should be released in the next few days.”
Li Dongning’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Can I come and watch?”
“Probably,” Yang Qing replied. “I can check for you.” He didn’t agree immediately, since he was invited by Qin Xue to do the arrangements, and didn’t know if he could bring someone along.
But seeing the anticipation in Li Dongning’s eyes, he thought for a moment and said, “You’re in the Instrumentalist Association—what instruments do you play?”
Li Dongning was caught off guard, then smiled shyly. “I know a bit of all the traditional instruments, but I majored in the erhu. I’m not so skilled at the rest.”
“Mm, so you play strings and woodwinds?”
“Yeah, why?” Li Dongning was a little confused by Yang Qing’s questions.
But hearing his answer, Yang Qing broke into a smile. “Since you do, I can invite you to help me work on those pieces. Would you like to?”
Li Dongning was so surprised, he burst out laughing. “Would I! Of course I would!”
Yang Qing nodded. “Great. Are you free now?”
“Absolutely! Are we going there right now? Just tell me what instruments you need, Brother Qing, and I’ll get in touch!”
Li Dongning’s enthusiasm was contagious, though he didn’t actually know which pieces they’d be working on. But did it matter? Every one of Yang Qing’s works was a marvel, and they all moved him deeply.
“Not yet,” Yang Qing said with a wry smile at Li Dongning’s sudden excitement. “I mean, if you’re free, come home with me for lunch. It’s the least I can do to thank you for your help today.”
“Ah, lunch…” Li Dongning hesitated, then smiled awkwardly. “Guess I got ahead of myself. Um, is it all right for me to visit your home?”
“Of course,” Yang Qing chuckled. “It’s just a meal. Besides, I’ll introduce you to the person who needs us for the recording, and we can set a time.”
He added, “Honestly, your timing couldn’t be better. Otherwise I’d have to find someone else to help, which would be a hassle. I’m starting to think fate brought you here.”
Li Dongning laughed, “That’s destiny for you! And thank you for giving me the chance!”
“Come on, enough with the formalities—let’s go.”
“Yeah, let’s! Oh, but let’s stop by the supermarket first.”
“Hm? What for?”
“Heh… I need to buy a gift. It’s my first time visiting your home, after all, and I can’t show up empty-handed. Don’t refuse, or I’ll be too embarrassed to come.”
“You… Fine, just get a case of Little Bear drinks. My sister and the others love those. Nothing else, we’ve got everything.”
“No way—a gift shouldn’t be so simple.”
“You… honestly…”
“Haha, let’s go!”