13: Chapter 13 Does your boss know you're promoting your songs like this?

Since the live broadcast was still ongoing and he couldn't interfere too much with the activities of the guest, Producer Zhao could only cough, trying to attract Lu Qingyu's attention.

Lu Qingyu was chatting heatedly with Big Brother Zhang and didn't even look at Producer Zhao. He had heard Producer Zhao's hint, of course, but the Program Production Team had stated at the beginning that only money earned during the program could be used, so he wasn't breaking any rules.

Upon arriving at Aiye Village, Lu Qingyu got out of the car with Big Brother Zhang, and the camera followed Lu Qingyu as he began live-streaming the scene of a traditional funeral ritual for everyone.

The man's surname was Zhang, and he was twenty years older than Lu Qingyu, but Lu Qingyu didn't call him "Uncle," preferring to call him Big Brother Zhang instead.

The camera crew filmed Lu Qingyu beside the band, incidentally capturing the proceedings of the rural funeral.

It was the audience's first time seeing something like this, and as the novelty kicked in, the popularity of Lu Qingyu's live stream skyrocketed, instantly surpassing everyone else on the program.

"Wow, they're actually live-streaming a traditional funeral."

"This is actually my hometown; our hometown has always used this form of funeral."

"I thought that when someone died, you just held a memorial at the funeral home and that was it. I didn't expect there to be so many steps in rural areas."

Producer Zhao had originally been thinking of ways to get Lu Qingyu to leave quickly to complete his tasks, but looking at the suddenly skyrocketing data, he thought, fine, let it be for now; traffic is king.

When Big Brother Zhang arrived, there was already someone in the band playing the large Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument. He played the erhu, and with Lu Qingyu playing the small Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument, plus someone playing the keyboard, the four-person band was complete.

The instruments belonged to Old Zhang. He didn't dare keep his things at home, so he always had the other Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument master carry them. Big Brother Zhang took out the Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument and pulled a new reed from a small box for Lu Qingyu.

Lu Qingyu expertly installed it and blew a few times to test the sound. Big Brother Zhang knew immediately that Lu Qingyu definitely knew how to play.

Big Brother Zhang said, "Let's start with 'Weeping Through the Seven Passes,' Little Lu, can you handle it?"

He knew 'Weeping Through the Seven Passes.' The name was the same as in his previous life, though he didn't know if the melody was the same. But even if he didn't know it, it wouldn't matter; funeral music was slow-paced anyway, so he could just play half a beat behind the others and follow them, which would be fine.

"Let's begin, Big Brother Zhang."

Big Brother Zhang nodded, and as the erhu sounded with a familiar melody, Lu Qingyu immediately followed along.

The sound of the Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument rang out, and a tragic, solemn feeling instantly arose.

Hearing the music, the deceased elder's son, who was burning paper, couldn't hold back his tears again, and they fell pitter-patter.

The atmosphere at the funeral scene instantly became intense.

Then, the program's live stream suddenly developed in a strange direction.

While guests in other live streams were flirting, making pottery, or teasing each other, Lu Qingyu was puffing out his cheeks, playing the Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument.

"Good, good. You're on a dating show, and instead of dating properly, you're off playing the Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument, huh? I like it—"

"I don't know what's so interesting about this, but I don't want to change the channel."

"When can't you watch people dating? It's not often you get to see a large-scale documentary-style educational scene like this."

"How can Lu Qingyu be so cute? He looks like a pufferfish right now."

"Little brother is playing so hard, ahhhhh, so cute."

Playing the Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument really tests lung capacity. Lu Qingyu played for an hour without stopping. The relatives of the elder in the funeral tent had also been crying for nearly an hour and were physically exhausted, so they were helped down to rest for a while.

The Big Brother playing the large Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument stopped first.

"Let's switch shifts; I need to catch my breath."

Big Brother Zhang said, "Usually Old Li and Old Zhang take turns resting. Today we really have been playing for a bit too long. How about this, Little Lu, can you still play? If you play solo for five minutes to let Brother Li rest a while, and we can also have a drink of water—we can't have everyone stop at once."

They were all paid by the hour. Although they could take a break, they couldn't all stop at once; the band had to keep making noise.

Among this group, everyone else looked quite tired, but Lu Qingyu looked very energetic. Being young is great; you have to admit it.

Lu Qingyu didn't have a trace of fatigue on his face. "Sure, Big Brother Zhang, leave it to me. You guys take a break first."

Big Brother Zhang laughed when he heard this. "It really has to be you young people."

So, Lu Qingyu began his solo on the Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument.

However, this time he wasn't playing pieces like 'Weeping Through the Seven Passes' or 'The Grand Funeral Procession.'

He remembered that his boss had released a new song two days ago. He had listened to it several times on the way here, and he was already familiar with the melody.

With such a good opportunity on a variety show, he had to help his boss promote it and get some exposure; you shouldn't let good resources go to outsiders.

Thus, at a funeral, Lu Qingyu played his boss's newly released song, 'courage,' on the Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument at half-speed.

Big Brother Zhang had never heard this song before, and upon hearing it for the first time, he found it quite refreshing.

"This song is not bad. We always listen to 'Weeping Through the Seven Passes' and such; everyone is tired of playing those pieces. We can learn this in the future; it really is suitable for a funeral."

The old man playing the keyboard nodded in agreement. "It sounds good."

The deceased elder's son, who had been mourning, had just stopped crying a moment ago, but upon hearing this melody, he couldn't stop his tears again, and they poured down.

The Big Brother playing the large Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument waited for Lu Qingyu to finish and asked him, "Little Lu, this song is not bad. What piece were you playing?"

Lu Qingyu turned his head back. The camera happened to be right next to the Big Brother playing the large Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument, and Lu Qingyu very naturally promoted his boss's song.

"This song is called 'courage,' sung by the singer Chen Ting, who is my boss. Please give it your support."

Comments: "I'm dying of laughter, does your boss know you're promoting his song like this?"

"I can't take it, I went to search for the original version of the song 'courage,' and it's clearly a cheerful rock song. You actually adapted it into a funeral dirge!"

"The key is that this song was actually approved by a professional Big Brother who has been in the funeral industry for decades as being suitable for funerals!"

"I want to know, Lu Qingyu's boss, Chen Ting, what do you think?"