Ye Xiaoming, upon learning that Rui Xiaodan was bringing Ding Yuanying to the shop, immediately notified Feng Shijie, who arrived at the audio shop as quickly as possible.
Rui Xiaodan drove Ding Yuanying to the shop. As they entered, they saw Ye Xiaoming chatting with a friend who was in his thirties, holding one of Ding Yuanying's CDs. They wouldn't have known that this seemingly casual encounter was not entirely a coincidence.
Ye Xiaoming stood up to greet them warmly, offering them seats.
Rui Xiaodan handed Ye Xiaoming the disk, saying, "We won't stay long. Check the contents on the disk, and if you have any questions, you can ask Mr. Ding."
Ye Xiaoming took the disk and said to Ding Yuanying, "Thank you, Mr. Ding. I'll probably need to bother you again in the future. I was going to return the CD to you tonight, but since you're here, you can take it back now." He reached out to Feng Shijie for the CD.
Feng Shijie handed over the CD, praising, "This CD is great, really great."
Ding Yuanying accepted the CD from Ye Xiaoming and casually replied, "It's alright."
Feng Shijie froze for a moment and then, displeased, asked, "Alright? Is that all?"
This odd question made everyone pause.
Rui Xiaodan, puzzled, looked at Feng Shijie and said to Ye Xiaoming, "We'll leave now if there's nothing else."
As Ding Yuanying turned to leave, something unexpected happened. Feng Shijie stood up angrily and said, "Wait a minute."
Rui Xiaodan, baffled, asked, "What's the matter?"
Feng Shijie, clearly upset, said to Ding Yuanying, "The CD is yours, but the music and performance are not. Why be modest? Do you know that Mutter was Karajan's prized pupil? What's wrong with this CD? Is it Sarasate's composition or Mutter's violin playing that you think isn't good?"
Rui Xiaodan was also getting annoyed, "Aren't you being a bit too serious?"
Ye Xiaoming quickly explained to Ding Yuanying, "He's a huge fan of Mutter. Her performance of 'Zigeunerweisen' made him cry, and he even went to Beijing to see her live. You should go; don't mind him. Audiophiles are just like this."
Feng Shijie retorted, "You're being vague on purpose. How can I sleep if you don't explain? If you don't make it clear, don't blame me for thinking less of you."
Rui Xiaodan felt that this audiophile was being unreasonable and sympathized with Ding Yuanying, thinking, apologizing wasn't appropriate, and arguing wasn't worth it. She thought, "This must be what an audiophile is like."
Ding Yuanying smiled faintly and asked, "Which one of us is being vague?"
Feng Shijie said, "Let's talk facts!"
Ding Yuanying nodded and said, "I personally feel that Mutter's performance of 'Zigeunerweisen' doesn't quite deserve the word 'good.'"
Feng Shijie demanded, "Why?"
Ding Yuanying replied, "Comparing Mutter's and Friedemann's violin renditions of the same piece, Mutter interprets it as melancholic and sorrowful, while Friedemann's interpretation is filled with rage and grandeur. Mutter's performance has a bit too much aristocratic lament and lacks the indomitable spirit of the Gypsy wanderers."
Feng Shijie was stunned, and Rui Xiaodan was captivated by his explanation.
Ding Yuanying continued, "Heifetz is a great violin master, but his interpretation of 'Zigeunerweisen' may not be the pinnacle either. Perhaps he focuses too much on technical perfection, which adds a touch of craftsmanship but lessens the sincerity. Comparing the three versions, I feel Mutter's is heart but not fully hands-on, Heifetz's is hands-on but not fully heart, and only Friedemann's is both heart and hands-on."
Feng Shijie asked, still puzzled, "You said Mutter lacks something, so how can she be heart but not hands-on?"
Ding Yuanying explained, "Heart refers to intent, spirit is the realm, a blend of culture, experience, and talent. We believe Mutter wants to play it well, but her gender gives her a touch of femininity that she can't transcend. Her hands are a woman's hands."
Feng Shijie was convinced, repeatedly saying, "Convinced! Really convinced! I'll definitely buy and listen to all three versions."
Ding Yuanying said, "Then we'll take our leave."
As Ding Yuanying was about to get into the car, the situation took a dramatic turn. Feng Shijie chased after them, stopping Ding Yuanying, with Ye Xiaoming following behind.
Ding Yuanying asked, "Is there something else?"
Feng Shijie sincerely said, "Brother, it's fate that we met today. My name is Feng Shijie. Tonight, I'd like to treat you to dinner. You must give me this face. If you have things to do, I'll wait here."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Sorry, we're going to dinner now."
Feng Shijie looked like he had been doused with cold water, feeling very awkward but still unwilling to give up, "Oh, what a coincidence. If you don't mind, can I treat you all to dinner instead?"
Ye Xiaoming took this crucial moment to interject, "Miss Rui, Feng here is the one making your speakers. We were just discussing it. He has experience, and his village has a woodworking shop."
Rui Xiaodan suddenly realized: this was premeditated and aimed at Ding Yuanying. Thinking that the main guest and the other guests didn't know each other well, adding one more stranger wouldn't hurt. Moreover, since there would be more contact regarding the speakers, she said, "Mr. Ding, if you don't mind, let's all go together."
Ding Yuanying said, "Alright."
Ye Xiaoming, not missing a beat, said, "I can't leave the shop, so I won't be joining you."
Rui Xiaodan and Ding Yuanying didn't say anything further and got into the car, with Feng Shijie following in his Beijing 213 Jeep, leaving Ye Xiaoming standing alone at the shop entrance.