London, known as the Fog City, has become increasingly bad after the Industrial Revolution.
Some people who do not have a very good family background but want to show their gentlemanly character began to use umbrellas instead of expensive walking sticks.
After all, London is shrouded in thick fog and it is difficult to see clear skies all year round, and it will rain lightly from time to time.
The rain hitting the bricks gave off a smell of earth.
It doesn't smell good because London is very polluted.
Under the humidity, there is not the fresh smell of earth or grass, but a kind of gasoline smell that makes people feel a little unenergized.
"Good morning, Mr. Thain."
On the street, a middle-aged man wearing a coat seemed very happy to meet someone he knew.
Although the ridicule in his eyes is so obvious.
The man called Thane is almost fifty years old.
In that era, someone over fifty was considered an old man.
"Good morning, Mr. Danny."
Thain took off his hat and bowed slightly to show his gentlemanly demeanor.
His clothes looked a little shabby, but they were neat.
Under the blessing of this mist, it looks very stylish from a distance.
It's just that you can't take a closer look.
If you look closely, you will find that this barely maintained dignity is actually vulnerable.
Mr. Danny smiled and said:
"Mr. Thain, are you planning to go to the Grand Theater again?"
Thain forced out a smile and nodded slightly:
"Yes."
"You know, there's a show today."
Mr. Danny nodded:
"Please let me know when Mr. Thain can 'really' take the stage, and I will definitely buy a ticket."
"Let's go first."
Mr. Denny seemed to just want to know that, as always, Thain couldn't come on stage in person.
Then, he will feel happy.
Thain was already accustomed to Mr. Danny's disdain.
He held a mended black umbrella and walked towards the Grand Theater.
He is a pianist.
At least, that's what Thain himself thinks.
…
He was born in a very ordinary working-class family, and his family's financial situation can only be regarded as... to make ends meet.
At the very least, bread and cheese are still affordable.
However, expensive vegetables and meats can only be served once every ten days and a half.
Thain grew up in such an environment.
Around the age of ten, Thain showed his obsession with music.
At that time, he was held by his parents' hands for the first time and went to the Grand Theater to listen to a concert.
Thain didn't know why his parents, who had always been reluctant to spend money, were suddenly willing to spend so much money on things that were "meaningless" in their eyes.
However, when at the concert, the soaring sound of the piano, combined with the other instruments, composed a gorgeous movement, Thain suddenly felt that this was the life he wanted!
After returning home, he found his parents hanging in the room the next morning when no one answered.
The bodies of my parents were already cold.
Even...in order to save a little money on charcoal fire, no charcoal was added to the fireplace.
…
Thain, who is fifty years old, can no longer recall whether he cried or felt sad when his parents left.
What impressed him most was when he opened the door and saw his parents' faces were extremely swollen because they had died of suffocation.
What's more, their eyes turned white and their tongues stuck out unconsciously.
That miserable appearance once turned into a nightmare.
It also became... Thain's inspiration.
…
When Thain first played the piano, there was no one to teach him.
After he shouldered the heavy responsibility of supporting himself, he used the extra time from odd jobs to lie down at the door of the glass display window of the piano shop, watching the elegantly dressed gentlemen intertwining their fingers and playing the music left by their predecessors.
sheet music below.
Then, he finally couldn't help it and entered the piano shop.
Amid everyone's surprised gazes, he sat in front of a relatively cheap piano.
When he touched the cold keys for the first time, Thain trembled all over, and an inexplicable feeling of joy was born in his heart.
This feeling is like being addicted.
He did it in one go, putting emotions that he couldn't understand into the music as he pleased.
The impassioned music quickly attracted the attention of passers-by outside.
They all stared at the window, watching Thain, who was wearing a somewhat shabby dress, playing music that they were not familiar with as if no one else was around!
This music has a kind of magic.
A... kind of magic that makes people fear.
Pedestrians unconsciously walked into the piano shop and saw Thain in front of the piano, his expression gradually turning red and his eyes becoming ferocious.
Those who initially sneered at Thain also stood up.
Among them, including George.
George was a famous pianist at that time, a pianist who... aspired to compose a masterpiece that would rival Beethoven and Mozart!
He stood aside, admiring with great interest Thain's emotions flowing freely from the piano.
That is a very aggressive emotion!
A kind of... It's like coming to hell, seeing the palpitations and panic under the sun!
…
Finally, the song ends.
Sean was breathing heavily.
All around, there was silence.
Suddenly, George took the lead and started applauding.
When everyone saw that the famous pianist also showed appreciation, even if they did not understand the meaning of the music, they all followed suit and applauded.
"A great performance." George's admiration was palpable: "Young man, can you tell me your name?"
Thain blinked his eyes, feeling indifferent and alienated from everything around him.
Because, when his parents died, the people who appeared next to him had the same expression.
However, George's expression still moved him slightly.
"Sean."
George smiled and said: "Okay, Thane."
"So, can you tell me, who composed this music?"
Sean showed a look of confusion.
He shook his head:
"No one composed it."
"I just...just saw you playing the piano just now..."
"I wanted to play too, and then I did!"
Thain's answer was seen by many as perfunctory and impolite.
Because Thain didn't have the etiquette that a gentleman should have.
There was no dramatic conflict as they imagined.
All this is too ordinary.
Arriving normally makes them less interested.
Thain looked a little embarrassed.
He just rushed in when his head got hot.
Now that the emotional outburst was over, he gradually calmed down and suddenly understood what a rude thing he had done.
However, George's smile became even brighter:
"Sean."
"I want to talk to your parents, is that okay?"
Thain was stunned for a moment, then shook his head:
"I'm sorry, they have been dead for a long time."
George was stunned for a moment, then looked up and down at Thain:
"So...you need to make money to support yourself?"
Thane nodded.
George seemed to have made up his mind, and then said:
"Would you like to be my student?"
"I will be responsible for your food and clothing."
"You are a very talented young man."
"You were born to play the piano!"
"You don't deserve to be buried!"
George's words shocked Thain and made the surrounding audience whisper.
In this era where pedigree is very important, students of famous pianists can only come from three types.
One type is top students from formal music conservatories.
One type is the descendants of famous families.
One is a musical family, a family that has friendship with each other.
Obviously, Thain doesn't fit into either category.
Thain himself seemed to be aware of the eyes of the people around him.
This strange look made him very uncomfortable.
He subconsciously wanted to leave.
However, George held him back:
"I'm serious."
"As my student, I will teach you everything you have."
"You will definitely become a better pianist than me."
At this time, gentle George slowly stretched out his hand.
Thane was shaken.
He likes the piano.
At that concert, he became deeply enamored with this instrument.
finally……
Thane took George's hand.
…
In the minds of the audience, the causes and consequences of George's acceptance of disciples are very absurd.
The piano is an elegant and noble instrument.
In the understanding of many people, this kind of instrument and this kind of environment are not something that people like Thain can taint.
There were even comments criticizing Thain and George in the newspapers the next day.
However, George didn't care about all this.
He deeply knows his own limits, and precisely because he knows it, he has always been eager for breakthroughs.
He saw something vague in Thain's body.
The kind of thing that allows you to break through.
Therefore, George went through the adoption procedures for Thain.
Thain not only became George's student, but also became George's legal son.
…
When Thain came to George's home for the first time, he found that George's residence was not as exaggerated as described in many newspapers.
Gorgeous and extravagant, these have nothing to do with George's residence.
But, it's very warm here.
This is the emotion Thane feels.
There is a beautiful piano placed on the soft carpet.
George walked to the piano and touched it gently while looking at his partner:
"Sean, this is my piano."
"It has been with me since the first day I started learning piano."
"Starting from today, you have to learn music theory from me."
"I look forward to you being able to play more exciting music than before!"