Zhu Yanli listened very carefully. "Then tell me, what am I good at?"
Zhu Yanyi spoke seriously. "You are good at music. I can see it. You like singing opera and songs with tunes. Why don't you study this specially? Being a music teacher is fine, but you could also study music deeply. You could become a music planner in the future. That is also very good."
"But didn't they say singers are low-class people?" Zhu Yanli’s face showed confusion.
Zhu Yanyi frowned slightly. "Who said that?"
"Grandma said it," Zhu Yanli replied. "Grandma said only low-class people sing opera to waste time. They are spendthrifts."
Zhu Yanli did not understand these words, but Zhu Yanyi did. Gan Juhua was clearly talking about the Xie family. Xie Zhong had squandered her fortune for the drama troupe, and Xie Xinyan had joined the troupe to make a living. Zhu Yanyi’s lips curled into a cold smile.
"Just ignore such words. Grandma has old-fashioned ideas and lacks education. She does not know what art is. Music is a form of art. It can express human emotions, joys and sorrows, life’s fun, and beautiful encounters. The world of music is unimaginable to others. Only those who do not understand pretend to know, calling it wasting time or being a spendthrift. Do not learn from Grandma."
Zhu Yanyi knew Zhu Yanli would not follow Gan Juhua’s lead, but she still reminded her gently.
"Don't worry. I won't learn from Grandma. I like that kind of music too. Sometimes I cannot say things with words, but I can sing them," Zhu Yanli said seriously. When she felt bad, she liked to sing. Singing made her feel better.
Zhu Yanyi said, "See? Everyone needs a way to express their own or others' emotions and stories. Music is a very good way. So, sister, keep trying. Become a famous musician. Let others look up to you. Let them know music is noble, not just wasting time like others think."
Simple words are often the easiest to understand. Zhu Yanli understood after hearing Zhu Yanyi’s words.
"Okay." Zhu Yanli nodded. "Then I will not be a music teacher. I want to be a professional musician. Ani, is there such a school?"
"Yes. The Capital Conservatory of Music is currently the best school for learning music in our country. But you have to pass an exam to get in. So, sister, study hard. In the future, you will take the exam for the music conservatory, and I will take the exam for the Military Medical University." Zhu Yanyi waved her small hand to encourage her sister.
Zhu Yanli’s eyes sparkled. "Good. In the future, I will take the exam for the music conservatory, and you will take the exam for the Military Medical University. We sisters will study together in the capital."
"Yes, yes." Zhu Yanyi nodded.
Zhu Yanli seemed to think of something. She went inside with a storybook, then came out quickly. This time, she was not holding a storybook, but primary school textbooks. Zhu Yanyi was surprised. "Sister, today is New Year's Eve. Do you still want to study?"
"Study has no rest days. I must study hard to pass the exam for the music conservatory in the future," Zhu Yanli said seriously.
Zhu Yanyi was slightly stunned. Had she encouraged her too much? Zhu Yanli wanted to start studying right now. She did not know what to say for a moment. However, this was a good thing. Zhu Shun Yao and Xie Xinlian also thought it was very good that their daughter liked to study. They would not stop her. Thus, Zhu Yanli’s enthusiasm for studying rose. If it were not for the New Year, Zhu Yanli might not have put down her books.