Yue Wumu left behind many lyrics. He once ascended Yellow Crane Tower to write poetry and also penned parting words for friends. Among them, Man Jiang Hong and this particular piece are the most famous.
Adapting Song dynasty poetry into modern lyrics is not unusual in the entertainment industry. So after Professor Zhang Fengye was momentarily surprised, he simply continued listening.
"There's something here, though not much," Zhang Fengye thought.
đ” "Few are those who truly understand, when the strings snap, who will listen..." đ”
At this point, the original words should have ended. Zhang Fengye thought the song was about to enter a chorus shift, but to his surprise, there was moreâsomeone had written a continuation.
đ” "In dreams, clad in iron armor, I cut through thorns and brambles. Last night's strong winds have carried me eastward on the river's tide. Outside the city, horses stomp and shake their heads, while Pengju gazes at the cold rain. I can only sigh that under heaven, celebration and grief are shared alike." đ”
This was more than Zhang Fengye expected. He listened silently until the very end.
"Well?" Xiao Yue asked, making sure to reclaim his earphones.
Men always had this strange fate of losing their thingsâlike smokers whose lighters would mysteriously vanish after a meal with friends.
"What do you think of the lyrics?" Zhang Fengye asked. Seeing his old friend nod, he continued, "The structure works fine. The first half ascends step by step, the second half rises onto the stage. 'Pengju gazes at the cold rain' is a brilliant flourish. Everyone knows Yue Fei's courtesy name was Pengju. The word here could mean the great roc from Li Bai's poetry, soaring ninety thousand li, or it could directly refer to Yue Fei himself."
"Though the phrasing feels a bit rushed, the level isn't the main point. What matters is that Last Night's Letter received a continuation," Zhang Fengye said. "Besides, the composition is quite interesting. It wraps Western minor scales with traditional instruments, and the chorus moves from 356 back to 3. Complex yet clever."
"Exactly. I think this continuation deserves attention, and the composition is worth discussion," Xiao Yue agreed.
"Mm." Zhang Fengye leaned back. "So, do you have more for me to hear?"
"Oh?"
"If not, then your next move should be returning my earphones." Zhang Fengye knew his friend too well.
"Hahaha, you make me sound stingy," Xiao Yue chuckled. "But yes, one more. Online discussion about it isn't as high compared to the other tracks in the album, but I really like it. I think you will too."
He immediately played Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao (A Laugh from the Vast Sea). The opening blend of qin and xiao filled Zhang Fengye with a sweeping martial atmosphere.
đ” "A laugh from the vast sea, the rolling tides on both shores..." đ”
It was sung in Cantonese. The previous album Ode to the Orange also had a Cantonese track, so Zhang Fengye wasn't surprised. But this melody...
"La, so, mi, la, do, mi, la, do, la, so... an inverted pentatonic. Such a simple opening."
The song lasted four minutes. When it ended, Zhang Fengye sat dazed. His first thought: "That's it? You can actually do it like this?"
"So simple in arrangement. But this score... it's really beautiful," he said. "I want to hear it again."
"Of course... but if you want more, use your own phone." Xiao Yue was already breathless from holding back laughter as he took back his earphones.
"You're not stingy? You've just aged into still being as stingy as when you were young," Zhang Fengye muttered, nearly breaking his cultivated composure. He opened the song on his own phone. But he would never play music aloud in publicâit was rude.
Borrowing earphones from Xiao Yue was impossible. His friend's face already said so. After all, whenever he found good music, he would replay it over and over while analyzing and taking notes, a habit built over more than twenty years of teaching.
"Excuse me, I'll use the restroom." Zhang Fengye stood. His friend was so childish. His kids were already in college, yet he still acted like this.
It was a perfect excuse to sneak away, leaving Xiao Yue to pay for the coffee. More importantly, he wanted to go home and carefully listen to Chu Zhi's album. Perhaps this one would be even more surprising than the last.
That very afternoon, after listening through the album several times, Zhang Fengye wrote an article and submitted it to the Central Conservatory Journal.
Don't underestimate a school journal. In China, most core publications in music are linked to universities: Huang Zhong, Symphony, Qilu Arts, Tianlai. The Conservatory's journal was among the most authoritative.
Of course, being authoritative meant it was only published quarterly, so no one would see his review for a while.
As a teacher of traditional music, Zhang Fengye focused on composition and arrangement. Without a doubt, both elements shone brightly in Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao.
He was not alone in his view. Music critic Gu Duofu, known for his solid foundation, also wrote a review.
His article carried the title: Some Things Remind You That You Ought to Recharge Yourself.
He quoted lines from Chu Zhi's other works:
đ” "Rain falls on my hometown, grass grows deep, I heard you were always alone." đ”đ” "The inn of mortal dust, winds cut like blades, sudden rain beats against fated doors." đ”đ” "Sky blue waits for misty rain, as I wait for you." đ”đ” "Who plucks the pipa, playing an Eastern Wind Break." đ”đ” "Flowers too fragrant, under them love turns fleeting, blossoms fall and die." đ”
Gu Duofu wrote:
"Chu Zhi's new Chinese-style album feels like cutting through crowds in a musou gameâtoo many lines that stun on first listen. If Chu Zhi wrote poetry, he would surely be a great poet. But today, I want to talk about Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao. At first, the lyrics feel rough, the melody bold and sweeping, a style Chu Zhi has never attempted. Yet in a single song, he sings the essence of the jianghu.
Chu Zhi opens his mouth and it is already chivalry. Personally, I think his voice may be too smooth. Perhaps a bronze gong-like voice would suit this song even better."
Writing such comments was risky. Even though Chu Zhi himself and fan leaders tried to restrain the "Little Fruits," many young fans could not bear to see their idol criticized.
Still, compared to some other fandoms, they were more reasonable. But danger remained. Critics had to eat, so Gu Duofu slipped in only one "personal opinion" before covering the rest with praise.
"What surprised me most was not Chu Zhi's expansion into new styles, but the sheer quality of Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao. The Book of Rites: Music Records says: 'Great music must be simple, great rites must be plain.' For such a grand song to have such a 'simple' arrangement is remarkable.
I examined the score: it begins with '65321, 32165,' an inverted pentatonic. Then the development and resolution are even simplerâso la so la do re miâbefore returning to the opening motif, this time leaving a lingering 'Re.'
So yes, Chu Zhi's composition is simple, but never crude. The more you listen, the more you feel the melody and words are strokes of genius.
Inversion may sound like a flash of inspiration, but that flash only exists with deep classical grounding.
Every time I review Chu Zhi's music, I am shocked again. His progress is visible to the naked eye. While many others stagnate, Chu Zhi is that rare kind of personâmore talented than you, and also working harder than you."
Online, Little Fruits reacted instantly.
"Hahaha I don't get all that, I just know our brother Jiu is the best. Protect the world's greatest brother Jiu!"
"It's simple. The front says brother Jiu writes lyrics like a poet. The back is basically fan gibberish."
"I think brother Jiu's success isn't just talent. It's his sheer persistence, the daily grind, rain or shine."
"Um, can someone explain what 65321 and 32165 mean? And what's an inverted pentatonic?"
"+1. I don't get it but it sounds amazing."
The internet never disappoints. One user, "Niuniu-hen-m," stepped forward to explain:
"The traditional Chinese pentatonic scale is Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu. That's Do, Re, Mi, So, La. This song literally flips it upside down, starting with Yu, Zhi, Jue, Shang, Gong. The melody then develops on top of that. That's why Gu Duofu said 'great music is simple.' No wonder you can remember it after just one listen. It's simple yet classic."
With someone explaining, everyone finally realized how brilliant the arrangement was.
And soon, the comments filled with the chorus: "Same here." Humans were, after all, natural echo birds.
Wang Yuan kept her eyes glued to the online feeds, wary of certain haters using any excuse to stir trouble. Even though Chu Zhi's reputation among the public was very good now, there was no room for carelessness.
First of all, as "Brother Jiu," Chu Zhi had offended far too many people. Those celebrities who had been caught using drugs, for instanceâcutting off someone's money was like killing their parents. And before that, there were the capital brands that turned to America and insulted China.
Secondly, even without enemies, the entertainment industry was a place where one less person meant one more slice of the cake. Given the chance, even strangers with no grudge would happily step on him.
[Is his only label "Chinese-style music"? Can't he step out of his comfort zone and try a breakthrough?]
Reading this comment, Wang Yuan frowned. "So if he writes Chinese-style music, he's staying in a comfort zone. If he doesn't, then he's surpassing himself. No matter what he does, people like you always have something to say." Her mood soured. No matter what Chu Zhi did, there would always be people dissatisfied.
"boss, is about to take off, time to switch to airplane mode," Lao Qian reminded her.
"Got it," Wang Yuan answered while lowering her head to type a reply. She understood well enoughâno matter how popular someone was, they couldn't expect everyone to love them. Still, she couldn't bear seeing those comments tearing Chu Zhi down.
Ten minutes later, the plane cut through the night sky. Their nine o'clock flight was bound from Shanghai to Tokyo.
Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was awarding Chu Zhi for being one of the "Eight Most Outstanding People in Sino-Japanese Friendship Exchange, 2012â2022."
It was no surprise. Chu Zhi had once been sent to perform at the Hokkaido Song Festival by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, where he made his name, and now he even served as a chief consultant for the department. This award was natural.
"Ladies and gentlemen: the plane has landed at Narita International Airport. The outside temperature isâŠ" The flight attendant broadcasted in Japanese, Chinese, and English, rousing the drowsy passengers.
As the plane began to circle for landing, Lao Qian, sitting by the window, noticed something unusual on the ground. He immediately nudged the person next to him.
"Boss, look down at the ground."
The altitude wasn't clear, but the view was. From the ground below, clusters of lights had formed into Japanese hiragana characters.
By the time their plane reached Narita's airspace, it was already 12:15 a.m. Tokyo time. Most of Narita City in Chiba Prefecture would have been asleep at this hour. It wasn't like the neon streets of Ginza or Shinjuku's Kabukicho.
Yet right now, they could clearly see the glowing lights spelling out: ăăăăăââ9ăăă.Â
This was no coincidence. Every curve and stroke was accurate, the arrangement precise.
As the plane descended further, the details became sharper. The long dash was actually a man-made stream surrounded by bands of light.
Lao Qian knew Japanese. He quickly translated: "Welcome, Mr. Nine? Wait, could it be⊠welcome Jiu-yé?"
Wang Yuan fell into thought. The itinerary had been published on the Ministry's official website. If someone really wanted, they could look up Chu Zhi's flight.
But to arrange something on this scale, visible even from high altitude, required at least a thousand people.
A thousand people, all to set up this one formation. If it wasn't organized by officials, just imagine how much it would cost!
"Quick, take pictures. If this really is for Jiu-yé and we miss it, that would be a tragedy," Wang Yuan snapped back to herself.
Lao Qian understood instantly. He whipped out his phone. Everyone who had been to college knew you could still use your camera with airplane mode switched on.
Click, click, clickâhe snapped several shots before the plane came down low enough that the view disappeared.
The plane touched down smoothly, and soon the passengers disembarked.
"Who was that ground display welcoming? Do we have some big celebrity on this flight?"
"They said it was for Mr. Nine."
"Could it be some official event?"
Quite a few passengers had witnessed the spectacle and now chattered in groups. Most assumed it was some government ceremony. Some Japanese passengers pulled out their phones to search online.
Wang Yuan also checked Yahoo and Google, but found nothing.
Even Mixi, the Japanese social platform, had nothing in Chu Zhi's category. Could it really have been an official arrangement with no publicity?
"Jiu-yé, did you see it? That thing outside." Lao Qian gestured, ready to pull out his photos if Chu Zhi hadn't noticed.
"I saw," Chu Zhi nodded. "To gather so many people after midnight⊠it should be official."
Lao Qian thought about it and nodded. It made sense.
They boarded the shuttle train along with the other passengers, riding from the tarmac to the terminal building.
It was late, so the restaurants and souvenir shops were already closed. The lights still burned brightly, but the shuttered storefronts left a lonely impression.
That quiet atmosphere shattered the moment they neared the exit. A dense crowd of fans stood waiting.
Banners stretched across the hall: [Welcome Ragdoll], [You are our everything], [We will always love you], [Forever our Circuit Breaker], and more.
"So that ground display really was for Jiu-yé? Amazing," Lao Qian said, realization dawning on him.
Wang Yuan nodded. Since there had been no mention online, this meant the fans had organized it offline. The amount of effort required was staggering.
She remembered the Orange Festival, where just coordinating three hundred people had been exhausting.
Now thisâthis was bigger than even the airport reception in Singapore.
The moment Chu Zhi appeared, even with a hat pulled low, fans recognized him instantly. Their screams and shouts roared louder than a heavy metal concert.
Ever since Singapore fans had staged such a grand welcome, they had been showing off. The Japanese fans thought, if they didn't step up, they'd be looked down upon.
Chinese fans went without sayingâChu Zhi belonged to them. But fans in Korea and Vietnam also felt the need to show their spirit. Tokyo's award ceremony had given them the perfect chance.
If not now, then when?
Among the fans who came to the airport, there were some familiar faces. For example, Ojima Matsushika contributed one-fifth of the funding for the event. He didn't have much energy to organize, so he made up for it with yen.
"Chu-san, welcome to Tokyo."
The lead organizer, Yasufu Kako, stepped forward representing the fans. She presented Chu Zhi with a large bouquet of yellow camellias.
In Japan, yellow camellias symbolize love and admiration. Yasufu Kako had arranged a proper and orderly welcome. She was around forty years old, and her identity was strikingâshe was a practicing lawyer. In Japan, for a woman to reach the level of bengoshi, a fully qualified attorney, spoke volumes about her capability.
"In each of our hands we hold a branch of winter cherry blossoms," Yasufu Kako explained. "The flower language of the winter cherry is 'I hope.' We all hope that Chu-san can spend every moment with happiness."
It hadn't been visible from the airplane, but now that he stood at the terminal, Chu Zhi could clearly see every fan holding a pale pink blossom.
To be honest, the Emperor Beast was a little moved.
The most striking part was that despite the massive turnout, not a single fan rushed forward to demand an autograph. They only expressed love and blessings when they saw him. Then, under Yasufu Kako's direction, the crowd dispersed quickly without causing any inconvenience.
"Please be careful on your way home. It's already past midnight, and with so many people, is everyone able to return safely? Do you need assistance?" Chu Zhi asked in Japanese.
"How gentle the Ragdoll was. So much gentler than domestic idols. No wonder he had become an Asian superstar."
Yasufu Kako thought this in her heart, but on the surface she answered smoothly. "We prepared enough buses to take everyone to their hotels. So Chu-san, please don't worry."
She even added, reversing the roles, "It's quite late now. Chu-san should rest early. For us fans, the greatest wish is always your health, and after that, more wonderful works."
Chu Zhi agreed with a nod and left the airport under Yasufu Kako's watchful eyes.
On the outside, Yasufu Kako showed the calm rationality of an elite: she commanded the fans with precision, she conversed gracefully with the idol. But inside, her heart was bubbling over.
"I talked to the Ragdoll for so long, hahaha! Best day ever!" she thought, barely containing herself.
The Japanese fan event had partly been fueled by competitiveness. The scene they arranged was grand, but in truth, there had been no guarantee that Chu Zhi would even notice. After all, who could be sure he would look out the window as the plane descended?
On the way to the hotel, Lao Qian was busy. He was already on the phone with Niu Jiangxue, describing the reception. Because of the one-hour time difference, it was only a little after eleven in China, and Niu Jiangxue had not yet gone to bed.
With such a large-scale welcome, tomorrow's Japanese internet headlines were practically secured. Lao Qian was asking whether their domestic side should follow up with publicity.
Niu Jiangxue considered carefully, then decided to wait and see.
Meanwhile, while Chu Zhi was being grandly welcomed abroad, his new album continued to dominate trending charts at home.
Free + excellent quality = wide distribution.
In bookstores, internet cafĂ©s, boutique shopsâeverywhere one could hear Chu Zhi's songs.
Cai Jia, a self-proclaimed internet-addicted girl, finally had a day off. She put on a mask and went out with her non-fan friend. Their plan was to spend the day playing games at an internet café.
As soon as they stepped inside, the speakers blared:
đ” I know the foreign moon isn't any rounder,
I know yoyoyo isn't my language,
So please, quiet down⊠đ”
Later, when they left the café and went to a movie theater inside a shopping mall, they heard:
đ” Who dares to cross the barrier of love?
Looking to the bright moon, my heart is heavy with sorrow⊠đ”
"Don't tell me the whole world has been conquered by Captain? Every place is playing his songs," Cai Jia sighed. "As a Little Fruits, what's your take on this situation?"
"Jiu-yé is invincible," her friend replied without hesitation. Then, uncertain, she asked, "Wait, what song is this? Is it from Jiu-yé?"
"Of course! It's from the new album, Moonlight." Cai Jia answered instantly.
Her friend gave her a suspicious look. Even as a diehard fan, she herself had needed a moment to recall, yet Cai Jia had blurted it out without hesitation. Was that really natural?
"Enough, let's go. The tickets are being checked." Cai Jia dragged her along.
While the two were watching their movie, several heavyweight media outlets were already publishing praises about Chu Zhi.
Guangming Daily wrote: "Chu Zhi's new work Chu Ci · Nine Songs reigns supreme in the music industry. Previous comments suggested Little Fruits is Sweet could never reach the heights of Ode to the Orange Tree. This new release shatters all doubts. It continues to lead the path of the new Chinese style."
It had been said before that even though the previous album was made purely for fans, its quality wasn't poor. In fact, compared to the so-called 'masterpieces' of other singers, it still stood shoulder to shoulder.
Yet people had still claimed Chu Zhi was falling from his peak.
People's Daily wrote: "Chinese society is currently in a period of openness. Any culture can spread through the internet. The internet era is restless: trends rise in an instant and vanish just as fast. The rapid globalization of the world also reshapes our aesthetics and desires.
Chu Zhi stands as a milestone where Chinese pop culture and classical culture meet. His milestone works Chu Ci · Ode to the Orange Tree and Chu Ci · Nine Songs cannot be avoided when discussing the history of Chinese pop music.
Some love his songs, others do not. But no one can question his influence."
To be honest, if not for the fact that People's Daily had posted it on their verified account and that it could be found on their official website, the latter half of this article would have read just like something written by fans.