Chapter Six: Album Release

"Oh, look, look! Who might this be?"

"Heh! Mom, it’s me!"

"Sigh... Lin Guodong, take a look at this. How does he look so much like our young master to you?"

"Mom, haha, well, you see, I was just passing by, making a quick visit. Alright, I’ve seen you and Dad, so I’ll just be—"

"You get your butt back here!"

For the past month, between recording sessions and shooting music videos, Lin Jianlu had been busy—partly out of necessity, partly by design, and ninety percent because there was a recording budget that needed to be spent. Not wanting to leave any funds on the table, he used the late hours as an excuse to rent a room at the Xindadu Hotel.

Even in the nineties, the Xindadu was a hotel catering to foreigners. The rooms not only had central heating but also private bathrooms with 24-hour hot water. After a long day, being able to take a comfortable shower was a luxury.

His parents were undoubtedly his real parents, just not *his* parents. While he had inherited all the memories of his predecessor, he still felt a bit awkward. More importantly, the west wing of the courtyard house where the Lin family lived consisted of four rooms in total, split between two households. The Lins only occupied two.

One room served as the living room, dining room, and Lin Guodong’s office for grading papers. The other room was divided in half—not by a wall, but by a simple mat woven from hemp stalks. The resulting spaces were so small they could barely fit a bed, and soundproofing was non-existent. But the real issue was the cold.

In this day and age, a courtyard house wouldn’t provide heating. There was a coal briquette stove, but with the old house drafty enough to let the wind through everywhere, that little bit of heat was useless. Not to mention that his mother, trying to save money on coal, would seal the air vent at night and place a brick on top to preserve the heat. She’d pack in two briquettes at nine in the evening, and when she poked them open at six in the morning, they’d still be hot enough to cook breakfast.

Whenever he had the chance, Lin Jianlu certainly didn’t want to stay at home.

"Mom, you’re overthinking it! I just feel like you and Dad are still young—in your forties, the prime of your lives. If I’m always hanging around, I might just get in the way of your... private time."

The couple froze for a long moment before they processed what he said.

This little brat actually dared to make a dirty joke to his parents! And about them, no less!

Lin’s mother immediately grabbed the broom, and Lin Guodong’s face turned bright red.

"You little rascal..."

He didn't really need to dodge; the broom didn't hurt through his heavy trousers, and his mother didn't have the heart to hit him hard anyway. Still, he made a show of ducking. "Ow, ow, that hurts! Are you really my mother? I was just joking, you know..."

"Joking! Joking! I'll show you joking!"

After chasing him for a few swings, she grew tired. She glared at Lin Jianlu, panting heavily. Lin Jianlu leaned in and patted her back. "See, you’re exhausted! Mom, sit down, catch your breath, and then we can continue the beating!"

She threw the broom down. "Get out! Get out now! I’m sick of looking at you!"

***

However, once the three of them sat back down, the atmosphere shifted. Suddenly, it felt like a real family again.

"How have you been eating? Where have you been sleeping? Oh, still at the Xindadu? No wonder you don't want to come home. Your recording... oh, done already? Did they say when they'd pay the rest? No, no, I’m not rushing you, but those people in Taiwan... those Kuomintang types, who knows if they’ll keep their word? Money is only yours once it’s in your pocket!"

"What’s this? Lamb? Fine, perfect for lamb dumplings for the New Year, no need to buy more! Whoa! This must be over ten pounds! Why do we need so much? Split it into three parts. Tomorrow morning, you go to your grandfather’s, then go to your grandmother’s. One portion for each of the three families, and we won’t need to buy any more! Enough to make dumplings!"

"Don't be dense! Of course, *you* have to deliver it. Your grandparents are always worrying about you, asking if you’ve found work yet. You bring this over, and when they ask, 'New Year is ten days away, why buy lamb? It’s so expensive!', you tell them you bought it. Doesn't that show them you’ve already started earning money?"

"Don't mention the record company. Is that a proper job? It's run by a bunch of Taiwanese agents. Besides, at their age, what do they know about record companies? Just tell them you’re driving for a friend. You got your first paycheck and bought some lamb to celebrate."

"You don't know what you're talking about! A private business is better than an enemy-agent company! And 'record company'... sounds like you’d be starving! Living hand-to-mouth!"

"Sigh, it’s just the times. Those good units... you didn't even bring home a high school diploma, so you’d never get in. And those failing ones... it’s heartbreaking to see people being laid off. It’s easy to get out, hard to get in. Just endure it. Maybe in a couple of years, things will improve. Then we can pull some strings to get you into a proper unit. It’s respectable, and it makes finding a wife easier..."

"That ten thousand yuan of yours... that’s worth nothing! Can you guarantee you’ll make another ten thousand every year? You need a stable job, even if it pays three hundred a month, it’s more secure than that!"

"And listen to me: keep your wits about you. Don't go messing around with those loose, disreputable types out there. If you dare bring some stray cat or dog home, you’ll see what I do to you!"

"I had your father put that ten thousand away. We have some savings, too. When the time is right, we’ll find a housing broker to trade for two rooms. If you have the ability, pick a good girl—we aren't asking for a college graduate, especially since you only have a middle school diploma—someone who looks like a good kid: obedient, good character, someone who will yield to you. Hopefully, she has a steady job, and we can bring her home..."

"Nonsense! Don't you know what kind of temper you have? If she doesn't yield to you, what then? Fight every day? I'm not going to mediate your arguments! A mother-in-law mediating is blamed by both sides!"

"What’s the point of being pretty? Once the lights are off, everyone looks like Yang Guifei. I’m telling you, don't just look for a pretty face. Find someone of average height, maybe a little plump—that’s a healthy build, they don't get sick... and getting sick costs money! Not only will she stay healthy, but she’ll be capable and easy to bear children! A girl like that is usually kind-hearted, won't cause trouble outside, and knows how to manage a household!"

"Stop with that! What year do you think this is? It's the era of commodities! A handsome boy has an advantage, of course, but once you start living life, what good is your face? Raising a family, a wife, children—nothing runs without money! Girls these days, as long as they’re a bit pretty, they’re all chasing money!"

"Remember, I’ll say it one more time: no stick-thin girls who could be blown away by a gust of wind! They’re delicate, pretentious, and can’t do any work! Always complaining of headaches or fevers—they’re just uncomfortable all the time!"

"Hey! Lin Guodong, did you hear that? Your son’s words... even a fart has more substance. Your son’s words have absolutely no humanity in them!"

"Don't give me that! With our family background, don't lose perspective. A good thrush might be beautiful, but we can't afford to keep it—that’s not a bird you can afford to play with!"

***

A young man sleeps on a cold bed, relying on his youthful vigor.

After a night in the freezing small room, he found he wasn't quite used to it anymore. Fortunately, the quilts were piled thick, so he didn't catch a cold. He went for a run in the morning and brought back a bag of breakfast as usual. While the family was eating, Lin Jianlu made a vow to his parents: "Dad, Mom, when I make some real money, I’ll buy a place in Fangchengyuan, and we’ll move there!"

"Get out! It's early in the morning, stop dreaming!"

Fine, talk less, eat more.

There’s an old saying on the internet: "Don't mock a youth for being poor!" Just you wait until I’m famous!

***

Without realizing it, between all the daily hustle, most of February 1996 drifted by.

The Spring Festival was just around the corner.

He met up with old childhood friends and touched base with new ones. The two daughters of the Gao family across the way were home from college. Unlike previous years, since Lin Jianlu had returned from the army, old Mr. Gao was on high alert, terrified that Lin Jianlu would lead his daughters astray.

Lin’s father followed the students' schedule at school and had an early break, so he spent time cleaning with his 1.83-meter-tall son and shopping for New Year’s supplies, rushing home so his wife could prepare them.

Eventually, Lin’s mother got her New Year’s break too. Even though her factory only paid half-wages throughout the year, the holiday was short—only four days.

The family was busy organizing supplies, preparing the reunion dinner and dumplings, and watching the Spring Festival Gala, setting off firecrackers.

At times like this, the "reputation" of Lin Jianlu as a local terror became apparent. All the kids in the courtyard, older or younger, were afraid of him!

The two Gao girls were so scared by one of Lin Jianlu’s firecrackers that they shrieked and hid behind him, while old Mr. Gao’s face turned black on the porch.

Then came the visiting of relatives and New Year greetings.

Lin Jianlu’s first Spring Festival in this world passed by, quite uneventfully.

Oh, right, he saw Guo Da and Cai Ming perform a sketch on the Gala called "Robot Fun," which was quite avant-garde for the time. And the screenwriter turned out to be the "Little Steel Cannon" Feng Xiaogang!

Then, just as the Spring Festival was drawing to a close, on the twelfth day of the first lunar month—March 1st—Lin Jianlu’s debut solo album, *Cold to the End*, was officially released across the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan!

And on that very day, as part of the pre-planned promotion, the Capital Television station aired the music video for *Cold to the End* during the 7:00 AM *Music TV* program!