Interview and Reading: The Missionary

"Dear Teacher Yin, thank you for your kind words in writing about my visit. I am deeply moved."

"Teacher Yin, you should also know a little about my piano. You'll have more insights into my experience of starting to learn the piano on my own at the age of 20, entering the Shanghai Conservatory of Music as a complete novice. Thank you for entering my life and helping me discover the true meaning of hard work!"

"Alas! Dear Teacher Yin, you are interpreting my life and reinterpreting the essence of life. Your words are full of meaning: Where do people come from, and where do they go?"

Ah! Your pen is sharp; no one can escape your gaze. And so swift—that is the essence of your writing! Thank you!

—The above three paragraphs are the interactions that Mr. Dong recently sent me!

The following two paragraphs are my reflections from my readers and friends, who sent them to me on the morning of August 15, 2024, after reading my story about Teacher Dong. They are as follows:

"Mr. Yin, Mr. Dong's humility stems from his reverence for the music hall. Ignorance is bliss, and his character is worthy of our learning and respect. Judging from his piano learning process, he, like you, is a person with a strong sense of mission."

"99% perspiration + 1% talent = 100% success, but the most crucial and the most lacking element is that 1% talent, which is the most important '1' in 100% success."

I'll continue now!

(Four)

Mr. Dong was sitting right next to me that day, and I deliberately, out of curiosity, wanted to peek at his hands to see what they looked like.

At first glance, they are large, thick, and seemingly strong hands, not thin and long like scallion roots. (Once, I had dinner with Kong Xiangdong, and we happened to sit next to each other, so I saw his calloused hands as well. It's surprising how similar their hands are.) It seems they put so much effort into practicing the piano. Yes! Their hands, like the strong, steel-forged hands of "our workers," possess just as much strength!

From his words, I learned that back then, he was a worker practicing the piano. He endured so much contempt from others. Although he didn't say it explicitly that day, I could tell that Dong Jun used his personal will to overcome the snobbery of others and the loss of face. It's quite poignant to think about. He and other students like Kong Xiangdong had completely different learning backgrounds.

Here I want to ask those teachers, like Chen Gang, whom students once called "teachers," how much do you really know? Who will ultimately become the best, and who will shoulder the mission of life? Aren't these the very social realities that Mr. Dong encountered during his formative years?

Yes, let's not forget this golden saying in society: "Life is the source of art!" And let's not be like Lord Ye who loved dragons but was terrified of them.

In life, how could one write "The Butterfly Lovers" without love? (Yes! Chen Gang himself said that he happened to be heartbroken when he was composing the music for "The Butterfly Lovers"!)

Without the hardships of life, how can one know the suffering of humanity?

I think Mr. Dong's life experiences must have been valuable to him. Only through such experiences could he truly understand the coldness and warmth of human nature. Otherwise, how could he have developed a sense of mission as a human being? What practical significance would that have?

During our conversation, I twice wanted to utter my habitual phrase, "Bullshit!" But his subsequent words shut me up. I was truly impressed. This man is a genuinely extraordinary musician, far more so than the description of "20, novice, learning piano." How could this be? Was it another act of divine intervention from the Virgin Mary?

The first thing is his skill in playing the piano. If it were just an introduction as a pianist, I would have muttered some "bullshit" thoughts about him in my head!

The reason is quite simple, and this is what I've observed:

There are undoubtedly many outstanding musicians in the world, too numerous to mention! I won't name names here! But I'm disgusted by the rigging of so many social selection processes—the unspoken rules, the shady operations, the money-for-power deals…etc. Isn't "The Voice" on television a prime example? So, who can we trust? Of course, if Li Yundi didn't have a fair international stage, his current situation might be very different—

Therefore, in my mind, if someone claims to be a xx musician, I will take a closer look at him/her, because I am just an amateur watching the show!

Mr. Dong is different. After learning to play the piano, he immediately turned to studying composition. Hearing this, I swallowed back the word "bullshit." His image in my eyes instantly became much more impressive. If he were to produce truly good compositions, they would immediately become a shared spiritual sustenance for all humanity. Aren't all the world's great musicians like that? Similarly, there's no need to name too many big names here to pretend I'm an expert! Your playing can be shoddy, muddled, or incoherent… but only your compositions can be critiqued by everyone! (In my daily life, I once told one of my grand-disciples, Yao Kairui, "Even if you play the piano very well, it's still bullshit! It's just for your own amusement. Only when you compose, and produce truly outstanding works, will you make the greatest contribution to humanity!")

Mr. Dong before us, he did it, and he has succeeded!

No! Later, I talked with him about how there was a mission in his life behind this!

As for my second "bullshit" remark, it was his words that made me back down.

In the fifth line of the poem Mr. Zhang Xiangyu wrote for Mr. Dong, he wrote:

"Forty years of hot currency have left their homeland."

Yes, I already know that he is now an overseas Chinese musician, and we are meeting!

In his self-introduction, he said: In 1985, he left his homeland with only forty US dollars and came to a foreign land, where he was at a loss at the beginning!

(Back when Chen Yifei first went to the US, he only had fifty US dollars on him. I really can't believe Mr. Dong had even less. How did he manage to get by?)

No, no, no! I have a question I'm curious about. You were already working with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, so why did you decide to go across the ocean to the West? Wouldn't the voice of the Virgin Mary be echoing in your ears again? (Part 1)