Chapter 32: Dedicating a Song to Herself

But with the early days of reform and opening up, all kinds of businesses were emerging, and young people were starting to gather outside.

Still, it wasn’t like later years, where streets were crowded until 1 or 2 a.m.

Usually, by 7 or 8 p.m., the streets were already emptying out.

So, Xia Ruanruan would eat something simple, then carry her guitar and supplies to a spot under the overpass.

By the time she arrived, many vendors were already there.

They were selling necessities and depended on this to make a living, so they stayed all day.

Unlike her, who only showed up when it was nearly dark.

And on top of that, she carried a giant guitar.

Seeing such an odd yet beautiful woman, the other vendors couldn’t help but glance at her curiously.

Xia Ruanruan had been a big star in her past life, so she wasn’t afraid of being watched.

She calmly unpacked her goods, spread a checkered cloth over a cardboard box, and displayed the cassette tapes neatly on top, making them look like they were placed on a small, elegant table.

She also brought a small stool.

Though the guitar was a bit large to hold while sitting, it wasn’t too much of a hassle to play.

After tuning it, she started playing one of the most popular songs at the time.

As the rhythmic melody flowed from her guitar strings, the other vendors—and even some shoppers—turned to look.

But Xia Ruanruan wasn’t intimidated at all.

On the contrary, she confidently sang along with the music.

She was a triple-threat movie queen. While her singing wasn’t on par with top-tier professional singers, she could still easily outshine many others.

As soon as she started singing, someone couldn’t help but applaud.

Then came a wave of claps, one after another.

With the sound of applause, Xia Ruanruan’s lips curved into a smile, and she continued singing.

Dressed in a black trench coat, she looked youthful and stunning. The instrument in her hands was something unfamiliar to most people. Before long, a small crowd had gathered around her.

When she finished the song, another round of applause, as soft as flowing water, followed.

Some people even whistled, “That was amazing!”

“Sing another one!”

“Yes, one more!”

Xia Ruanruan put away her guitar and stood up. “Just finished a song—my throat’s dry. Let me rest for a bit.”

Her words hinted that she would sing again later, making those who were about to leave hesitate.

In this era, entertainment options were scarce. Watching movies required buying tickets, and attending a celebrity’s concert wasn’t something ordinary people even considered.

As the crowd eagerly waited for her next song, Xia Ruanruan picked up the cassette tapes in front of her and introduced them. “This is the song I just sang. If you buy this, you can listen to the singer perform it anytime at home.”

“I’m telling you, professional singers are on a whole different level—I’m just a nobody in comparison.”

“Their singing is incredible.”

“And these are all original cassette tapes, not expensive at all—definitely worth it!”

“Buy one, and you’ll have plenty to listen to.”

“If you take good care of it, you can even pass it down to your kids and grandkids.”

Her last remark made several people chuckle.

Someone finally asked, “How much for one?”

“The original tapes are 2.8 yuan each.”

At 2.8 yuan, it wasn’t prohibitively expensive, considering one could listen to it repeatedly. But it also wasn’t exactly cheap, especially since most people’s monthly wages were only a few dozen yuan.

Many people took a step back.

But a young man, impressed by her singing and looks, stepped forward. “Give me two.”

Xia Ruanruan immediately nodded. “Alright!”

“Which singer do you like?”

“The one you just sang—I want that. As for the other one…”

The young man hesitated, then asked, “Miss, which song will you sing next?”

Xia Ruanruan shook her head. “Haven’t decided yet.”

“How about this—you pick a tape, and I’ll sing one of the songs from it next.”

The young man was delighted. “Sounds good! I’ll take this one.”

“Alright, two tapes—5.6 yuan total. You can just give me 5.5.”

The young man promptly handed over the money, and Xia Ruanruan picked up her guitar again.

After another song, more people rushed over.

“I’ll buy one too!”

“Me too!”

Several people chimed in.

They even asked, “If we buy a tape, will you sing a song from it?”

Xia Ruanruan glanced at the growing crowd. If more people kept coming, she’d be singing until next year!

She smiled and said, “How about this—if you all choose the same ones, I’ll sing two songs from them. But if I sing every single request…” She glanced at the darkening sky. “I don’t think there’d be enough time, right?”

People in this era were simple and honest. They weren’t looking to make trouble—just excited about something new.

Hearing her reasoning, they quickly understood.

After some discussion, they settled on three songs.

While Xia Ruanruan was resting, more people bought tapes without requesting songs.

By now, the crowd under the bridge was getting denser.

Some were drawn by the music, while others simply wanted to see what was happening.

The packed crowd made the once-clear pathway completely congested.

After singing a few more songs, Xia Ruanruan had sold out of tapes.

And it wasn’t even 8 p.m. yet.

Not wanting to waste time, she packed up and said, “That’s all for tonight! If you want to hear more, come early tomorrow!”

People still wanted more. Someone asked, “You’ll be here again tomorrow?”

“Yes! I’ll be selling more tapes.”

“Does that mean you’ll sing every day when you sell tapes?” another person asked.

Xia Ruanruan nodded. “As long as you don’t think my singing is awful, I’ll bring my guitar and sing a couple of songs when I come.”

With her guitar strapped to her back and her box in hand, Xia Ruanruan waved. “See you all tomorrow!”

As the crowd dispersed, she followed the flow of people back home.

The bridge wasn’t far from the residential compound, and she arrived after a ten-minute walk.

It was still just past 8 p.m.

Carrying her guitar and her belongings, she moved lightly as she went upstairs.

People in this era went to bed early. She didn’t want to disturb anyone’s rest—

But more importantly, she wasn’t sure if Huo Beiqing had come home early.

If he was home…

She glanced at the things she was carrying.

Would he approve of her singing under the bridge?

Given his old-fashioned mindset, he probably wouldn’t.

And if he didn’t approve…

Divorce!

Xia Ruanruan’s eyes lit up.

Her footsteps became louder, and she hummed a little tune as she pushed open the door.

Inside, the room was pitch black—Huo Beiqing wasn’t home.

Her excitement faded a little.

After putting everything away, she quickly took a hot shower, washed her undergarments, and climbed into bed.

With little else to do in this era, even a time traveler like her had no choice but to tuck in as soon as night fell.

Snuggled under the blanket, Xia Ruanruan tossed and turned several times.

She was still brooding over the matter of the system.