Chapter 592: Quality of the Zither
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At this point, Zhou Linghuai smiled. “Later, I happened to find a type of spider silk. This spider was created near the copper mine. The silk is as thin as a woman’s hair strand. It’s difficult to see with the naked eye. It’s slightly reddish-yellow and extremely tenacious. Moreover, it’s not easy to break. It’s twisted into a silk string. Its sound is clear and distant, and it sounds like gold and jade. It’s very natural.”
Just making silk strings was very difficult.
More than 300 threads of spider silk of the same thickness were twisted into strings. The best strings had to be even and natural. It was impossible to tell with the naked eye that many of them were twisted together.
After forming the string, the silk string had to be firm and smooth.
It was tough and not easy to break. The sound lasted even longer. It felt slippery, was easy to play, and its sound was purer. It did not hurt one’s hands, and its sound was more round and clear.
It sounded simple, but it was even more difficult to make.
Zhou Linghuai was used to using silk as strings in the past. This was the first time he had used spider silk. It took him more time to explore and twist it. It took him half a year.
“This zither is really beautiful.” Yu Youyao was amazed. Her fingers gently stroked the strings. The silk strings were as smooth as jade. “Thank you, Cousin!”
“Sit over and play a song to see if you like it.” Zhou Linghuai smiled and sat at the side, giving the main sitting position to Yu Youyao.
“Okay!” Yu Youyao couldn’t wait. She sat where her cousin had just sat and placed her hand on the strings.
Zhou Linghuai noticed that the little girl’s hands were like jade, and her ten fingers were delicate. They reflected the slightly reddish-yellow strings. She had yet to play the zither, but she had already made his heart sway.
Yu Youyao took a deep breath and suddenly said, “No, I haven’t washed my hands and burnt incense.”
Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “It’s not that important. It’s not a formal occasion. Just do as you please.”
Yu Youyao quickly shook her head. Zhou Linghuai’s heart was in turmoil again because of the flower on her head. He heard the little girl say solemnly, “This is the first time I’m playing the zither that Cousin personally made for me. How can I be casual?”
The little girl had applied rose lipstick and was sitting side by side. She was used to looking into his eyes every time she spoke, so she tilted her head. When they were face-to-face, he could smell her lipstick.
Zhou Linghuai’s mouth was dry as he picked up his teacup.
Yu Youyao called Chang An over and set up an incense table. She burned a medicinal incense pill. The fragrance was cooling and refreshing. Burning a pill when the weather was hot could refresh the mind.
After that, Chang An brought over another basin of water.
Yu Youyao solemnly dipped her hand in the basin for a moment, took it out, and wiped it dry. She sat in front of the zither table, her mind stuck again. “What song should I play?”
Not only was she serious, but she was also nervous. Zhou Linghuai smiled brightly. “Just play the ‘Ode to the Zither’. The simplest song can best reflect the pros and cons of the zither music. Don’t be too nervous. Just try out the zither. If you don’t think it’s good, I’ll help you adjust it. You’ll definitely be satisfied.’
Yu Youyao pursed her lips.
When she came to The Green House just now, she had clearly heard that her cousin’s zither had already been adjusted very well. The song he played was sincere, lingering, and carefree. It was very pleasant.
“Alright, the ‘Ode to the Zither’ will do.”
Initially, she had learned the “Ode to the Zither” from her cousin. At that time, she was not too interested in the zither and only wanted to take the opportunity to spend more time with her cousin.
It was only when her cousin patiently taught her the zither technique that she gradually became interested in the zither and learned it diligently.
Everything from the past was still vivid in her mind, as if it was yesterday.
Yu Youyao thought of how she, who was only ten years old, had been sitting in front of the zither table and learning the zither clumsily but she couldn’t learn it no matter what. She regretted agreeing to her cousin’s request.
Her cousin didn’t think she was stupid either. He sat behind her and leaned forward, wrapping his arms around her and helping her correct her fingering over and over again.
Her cousin’s legs were inconvenient and he was in a wheelchair. In such a position, it was actually very difficult for him to lean forward.
The person teaching the zither had to work harder than the person learning it.
Sometimes, when she was mischievous, she would deliberately play the wrong fingering technique. Seeing her cousin’s helpless expression, she giggled because he couldn’t bear to criticize her.
At that time, she knew that there was someone in this world that would not be as harsh as her father. Even if she was mischievous and did something wrong.
This was called favoritism.
From then on, she had the confidence to be fearless and pampered in front of her cousin.
Time with her cousin was always filled with joy.
Yu Youyao played the zither happily.
Zhou Linghuai supported his forehead with his hand. Yu Youyao was delicate and jumped on the silk string. The spider silk was smooth. Even if she played occasionally, she wouldn’t hurt her fingers even if she didn’t wear zither finger nails.
As soon as the zither notes were played, the sound of gold and jade was clear and wonderful, completely expressing the five notes and nine virtues of the zither.
The reason why “Ode to the Zither” was a basic song was because this song was very simple.
The simple song played a clear and cheerful tone.
It could easily reveal the quality of the zither.
Unknowingly, she had finished playing the “Ode to the Zither”. Yu Youyao was a little stunned. “Cousin, how did I play?”
Zhou Linghuai smiled. “The sound of the zither is smooth and unrestrained. The effect is already achieved. Your heart will move accordingly, and you can play it freely. You can even play the zither with others.”
Yu Youyao smiled. “It’s because Cousin’s zither is well-made. When he played it, I felt that there was nothing bad about it. It was transparent, smooth, quiet, round, even, clear, and deep. There was nothing bad about it. Unknowingly, I felt comfortable.’
Just now, when she saw the zither, she only felt amazed and impressed. Now that she had played it a little, she was truly satisfied. Just now, when she played the “Ode to the Zither”, the sound of the zither entered her heart and her body. It was obvious that the sound of the zither was clear and wonderful. It was clear and untainted. It was not sad and suited her personality.
Zhou Linghuai was also happy. “As long as you like it.”
Yu Youyao leaned closer to her cousin and blinked. “Did you give this zither a name? What’s it called?”
Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “This is a zither for you. You should name it yourself. ”
Yu Youyao blinked blankly. “Which one of them doesn’t have a good and special name? Such a good zither has five notes, nine virtues, literary thought, and martial qi. It might even become peerless in the future.”
The zither was three feet and six inches and five centimeters long, which meant that there were 365 days in a year. The surface of the zither was curved, representing the sky, and the bottom of the zither was flat. It symbolized the ground and the “round sky and place.”
There were thirteen “zither emblems”, which meant that there were twelve months in a year and a leap month.
There were five strings that symbolized gold, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Later, in order to mourn his dead son, Bo Yikao, King Wen added another string. When King Wu attacked Zhou, he added another string to increase morale.
Therefore, it was also called the “Wenwu Seven -stringed Zither.” However, not every zither was qualified to be called a “Wenwu Seven-stringed Zither.
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