funbook-pk Chapter 82 Just watching the fun, how did it turn into a crowd?
Chapter 82 Just watching the fun, how did it turn into a crowd?
Chapter 82 Just watching the excitement, how did it turn into a gathering of thousands?
September 6, evening.
China Conservatory of Music
Summer days are long; even past 6 p.m., the sky is still bright, though the heat has subsided slightly.
The campus was much livelier than usual at this time, with people clearly moving in the same direction.
That's where concert halls gather.
"Hey, did you hear? Two girls from the affiliated high school are having a fight over a few words and they're going to have a public singing contest tonight to compete for a spot to perform at their graduation party."
"Two little girls arguing, is it really necessary to make such a big fuss? I just came from over there, and good heavens, the concert hall entrance was almost overflowing. Weren't they supposed to just do something casual in the lecture hall?"
"Hey, who knows? They say whoever loses has to bow and apologize on the spot. It's all about saving face. The students from the affiliated high school have such high standards."
"They've temporarily moved it to the concert hall, and I heard you need tickets to get in, and each ticket costs one yuan! Wow, you have to buy tickets to watch students compete?"
"One dollar isn't much, just consider it support for student activities. Besides, with so many people supporting us, regardless of winning or losing, it's a good opportunity for those two girls to experience the pressure of performing in a big venue. It might not be a bad thing."
"That's true, but with so many people watching, the loser will lose face. I heard the loser has to apologize on the spot? That's ruthless."
"That's why it's worth watching. Let's go, let's go see. I heard that one of them is a student Professor Jin Tielin just accepted into the affiliated high school this year, named Zu Hai. He is said to be very talented. He must be quite good to be noticed by Professor Jin."
"The other one is named Wang Xiaolan? Her family seems to be quite wealthy. Both her parents work in arts and culture organizations, and she was taught by famous teachers from a young age, so her foundation must be solid. Now it's an academic talent versus a family-based resource-rich one. Interesting."
The students, in twos and threes, discussed the sudden singing competition as they quickened their pace toward the concert hall.
A ticket costing one yuan is not a burden for most music conservatory students.
However, this also added a touch of formality to this competition, which was originally confined to a small circle.
A fairly long queue had already formed at the entrance of the concert hall.
The student council members were extremely busy.
Zhou Hua, who was in charge of the main organization, had his hair parted to the side and was wearing a fashionable plaid shirt. He was standing at the entrance, wiping his sweat as he directed, "Everyone, don't push. Line up and enter with your tickets. There are plenty of seats inside."
"Zhou Hua, you're something else! You've managed to turn the squabble between two junior school girls into a ticketed performance," a familiar classmate joked.
Zhou Hua chuckled, unable to hide his smugness.
This is also an opportunity. Students have entertainment needs, female students need a stage to showcase themselves, and the student union needs activity funds. It's a win-win-win situation.
Besides, Wang Xiaolan sponsored the band with 160 yuan in service fees.
Organizing and arranging the venue, lighting, sound system, and band accompaniment—all of these cost money.
Charging admission fees to balance expenses is perfectly reasonable.
Soon, Zhou Hua discovered that the situation was even more intense than he had anticipated.
Not only did the students who had registered come to watch the spectacle, but it seemed that those who hadn't registered also came after hearing about it.
Seeing that the queue was growing longer and longer than the initial number of tickets, Zhou Hua's eyes lit up and he immediately ordered his subordinates: "Quick, go print some more numbered tickets, stamp them with our student union's seal, and keep numbering them. Remember, one ticket per person. After entering, find your seat randomly. First come, first served, good seats."
The student union officers demonstrated great efficiency, quickly moving in tables and chairs and writing numbers and stamping documents on the spot.
The line continued to move forward in an orderly fashion, the money falling into the makeshift tin biscuit box with a clinking sound.
Looking at the ever-increasing amount of money, Zhou Hua felt a little smug.
"987————988——————Okay, please take your ticket and come in."
"—1125, 1126, 1127."
Ultimately, ticket number 1127 was issued.
Although there may be a very few ticket holders who couldn't make it due to unforeseen circumstances, the concert hall was definitely packed with over a thousand people.
The normally solemn concert hall was now filled with the boisterous energy unique to young people.
Zhou Hua roughly calculated that the ticket revenue was 1127 yuan, plus the 160 yuan given by Wang Xiaolan, for a gross income of 1287 yuan.
In the evening, I treated the band and the student council members who helped out to a meal at a small restaurant off campus. It would cost at most a hundred or so yuan, but I could still make a net profit of over a thousand yuan.
This was far more than the ordinary sponsorships he had managed to secure in a semester. He was overjoyed, but he tried his best to maintain the serious expression of an organizer.
"Everyone, stay alert and keep a close watch on the gate. No one is allowed in without a ticket. Those kids from the affiliated high school, thinking they can sneak in to cheer for Wang Xiaolan? They have no chance. This is a fair competition, and we need to ensure that those who vote are all students from our college with discernment."
Zhou Hua sternly instructed the gatekeeper, emphasizing the word "fairness."
In reality, he still leaned towards Zu Hai.
After all, she is the teacher's student, and can be considered his junior sister.
Just then, Wang Xiaolan arrived, surrounded by a group of her classmates from the affiliated high school.
She was clearly dressed up today, wearing an expensive lace-trimmed dress, her hair was carefully styled, and she wore light makeup.
Seeing the crowds outside the concert hall and at least a thousand people inside, she was clearly taken aback for a moment, then a hint of nervousness flashed across her face, but it was quickly covered up by pride.
She found Zhou Hua and asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother Zhou Hua, why are there so many people here?"
Zhou Hua said with a serious face, "Wang, this shows that everyone cares about the talent show of your classmates from the affiliated high school. This is a good thing. With more people, there is more attention. No matter the result, it is a rare opportunity for you and Zu Hai to train and gain exposure. Relax, sing well, and show your strengths."
He spoke eloquently, both appeasing Wang Xiaolan and absolving himself of responsibility for deliberately promoting the issue.
Wang Xiaolan was skeptical, but with the die already cast, she could only nod in agreement.
Her friend Lili cheered her on: "Xiaolan, don't be afraid. You're so well prepared. You sang 'Beautiful Taihu Lake' so well. You'll definitely be fine."
The middle school students who followed tried to enter but were stopped by the student council.
Only Wang Xiaolan and Lili went inside.
The students from the affiliated high school left, grumbling and cursing.
After the student council heard about it, he chased after the student and got kicked several times.
This includes the two boys who bullied Zu Hai last time.
Zhou Hua looked at these young men with a smile, thinking they were just asking for a beating.
A short while later, Lin Hanjiang arrived with Zu Hai.
Zu Hai was dressed very simply today, wearing a clean white shirt and a blue suspender skirt. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead. Her face was clean, with only a little bit of lip balm.
She was clearly startled to see so many people, and her little hand involuntarily grabbed Lin Hanjiang's sleeve.
"Senior Brother, there are so many people!" Zu Hai's voice trembled slightly.
The stages she's performed on certainly didn't have that many people; a few hundred would be considered good.
Being able to perform on the graduation gala stage was already the biggest stage she could get on.
"How could there not be many people? More than 1000 people have already gone in."