124: Steinway is not as good as a vending machine

The sensor doors slid open silently, shutting out the freezing cold outside.

What greeted them was not only the ample warmth,

but also the distinct scent of wood lacquer characteristic of new renovations.

Unlike the austere style of the teaching buildings with their plain white walls and terrazzo floors,

this place was practically another world.

The lobby’s ceiling was a full ten meters high, with a massive geometric chandelier hanging from above.

The soft light spilled onto the beige marble floor, reflecting the silhouettes of the people.

The walls were adorned with paintings and photography from past outstanding graduates,

each piece exquisitely framed, with spotlights even shining on them from below.

"Whoa."

A few accompanying staff members in the back couldn't help but let out low gasps of admiration.

Principal Jiang Changfeng walked at the front with his hands behind his back, slowing his pace slightly.

He wasn't in a hurry to start the introduction, leaving enough time for the guests to be impressed.

Walking at the very front, Vice Minister Zheng Songxue paused for a moment, looked around, and nodded slightly:

"Principal Jiang, these hardware facilities of your No. 1 High School,

even if placed in some professional academies in the province, would still be quite respectable.

Principal Jiang has truly invested a fortune into education."

Principal Jiang Changfeng bowed slightly, smiling so broadly his eyes were nearly closed:

"Minister Zheng, you flatter me.

Although we are in a small place, we hope to provide our students with an artistic starting point that is no less than those in big cities.

Building this hall involved facing pressure from all sides, but as long as the children can use good things, it’s worth any sacrifice."

Although these words carried an official tone, some sincerity could be heard in them.

Professor Yu Yan from Jinling Academy of Arts pushed up the tortoiseshell glasses on his nose,

reached out to touch the texture of the Roman column in the center of the lobby, his tone gaining a hint of approval:

"The acoustic design is well done.

I noticed when we entered that the echo treatment here is very professional,

not just some superficial project for the sake of looking good.

In this impetuous age, it’s truly rare for a high school to settle down and focus on these details."

"Professor Yu is an expert; you saw the quality right away."

Principal Jiang Changfeng offered a timely bit of flattery.

"When we were designing it, we specifically invited acoustics experts to oversee it, for fear of creating something that was all show and no substance, which would only mislead the students."

Lin Que blended into the end of the volunteer group,

listening to the professional flattery ahead, and actually found himself thinking a bit more highly of this fifty-something principal.

In this era where grades are everything,

to be able to withstand the pressure of college entrance rates and insist on building this hall—and building it professionally—

this principal really has something to him.

It’s no wonder he can tolerate the existence of an 'outlier' like Lin Que;

deep down, this old man is also an ambitious idealist.

Principal Jiang Changfeng stepped aside and made a "please" gesture.

"Let's take a look upstairs."

Lin Que blended in at the end of the group,

watching the principal’s smooth display of humblebragging, feeling secretly amused.

Old Jiang usually bickered with the logistics department over a few boxes of chalk, but right now, he was acting quite grand.

The group went up to the second floor.

This was the piano room area.

The hallway was covered with thick carpet, making footsteps silent.

The doors on both sides were closed, but the faint sound of piano music could be heard coming from within—intermittent, yet of high quality.

Principal Jiang stopped in front of a door and signaled Lin Que to open it.

Lin Que stepped forward and turned the handle.

The door was heavy; it was a professional soundproof door.

The moment the door opened, the piano music missed a beat.

The girl practicing the piano turned around abruptly and saw a dense crowd of leaders at the door.

Her fingers froze on the keys, and her whole body tensed up.

She quickly stood up.

"Prin... Principal, hello!"

"Don't be nervous, I'm just showing the teachers around."

The girl then bowed to the group of teachers behind the principal:

"Hello, teachers!"

Principal Jiang Changfeng nodded and smiled kindly, then looked at the group beside him:

"Even though today is an exchange day, the children's daily practice cannot be neglected."

Then he pointed to the piano and introduced it to the experts behind him.

"This is our standard piano room. Each one is equipped with a Yamaha upright piano.

The walls have been treated for sound absorption, and the fresh air system circulates the air twenty-four hours a day."

Yu Yan walked in, tapped the keys a few times with his fingers,

listened to the resonance, and nodded:

"The tone is well-tuned, and the humidity control is also on point. Not just the hardware, but even the instrument maintenance has been handled with care."

"Naturally."

Principal Jiang pointed upstairs.

"Three floors up, there are two more performance-grade piano rooms, equipped with Steinway grand pianos, specifically prepared for our top talents."

Hearing the word "Steinway," there was another stir among the accompanying staff.

For a high school in a third-tier city to have such equipment, it could indeed be called a "money pit."

Liu Hui stood next to Lin Que, her palms covered in sweat, and whispered:

"The principal is really showing off all his assets today.

Normally, those two Steinway rooms are locked, and only the top three students in the school can apply for a key."

Lin Que stood at the back of the crowd, his gaze passing over several heads to accurately capture Ye Xi.

This "Piano Witch" stood behind Minister Zheng,

smiling appropriately and nodding at just the right moments.

But Lin Que knew her.

Following her gaze, it wasn't on that expensive Yamaha,

but on the glowing vending machine at the end of the hallway.

"Student Ye Xi."

Principal Jiang Changfeng suddenly called her name, pulling Ye Xi’s soul back from the vending machine.

"As our province's piano representative, what do you think of the environment here?"

Everyone's eyes focused on her.

Ye Xi was slightly taken aback, then immediately switched modes, curtsied slightly, and said in a clear voice:

"Principal Jiang, it's so impressive!

I noticed when I walked in that the hallway walls use soft padding to prevent echo interference.

Such details might not even be noticed in many professional concert halls.

The students of Jiangcheng No. 1 High School are truly fortunate to be able to study here."

Principal Jiang Changfeng smiled even more happily, the wrinkles on his face almost burying his eyes:

"Listen to that; as expected of a young lady from a prestigious family, her perspective is different."

Minister Zheng also nodded with satisfaction:

"Environment nurtures people. This building, I believe, can serve as a benchmark case for provincial art education demonstration sites."

The surrounding staff quickly took out their notebooks to record, nodding as they wrote.

Principal Jiang Changfeng rubbed his hands excitedly, his back straightening even more.

"Let's go, let's go to the conference center on the top floor."

Principal Jiang Changfeng was in high spirits.

"The children are probably waiting anxiously."

Lin Que walked at the very back, looking at the back of the figure in the off-white coat.

This girl, in those words just now,

at least half of it was to quickly end the tour so she could find a chance to fill her stomach.

"Lin Que."

Liu Hui quietly tugged at his sleeve, her voice extremely low:

"Don't you think... when Goddess Ye Xi looked over at us just now, her eyes looked a bit green?"

Lin Que had his hands in his pockets and looked straight ahead, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"Be more confident; take out the 'don't you think'."

He lowered his voice.

"Maybe she thinks our school uniforms are too ugly."

"..."