By Li Shuyi

Stupid B ut Fast

By Li Shuyi

I t has long been my dream to be a fluent piano player.So when the piano crash class promised that I, though a complete layman,would be able to playSong of Joy,Für Elise, Moonlight SonataandFarewellafter half a year's training,I signed up and swiped my credit card without any hesitation.

It did take me a noon to learn to playSong of Joy.

The shortcut was the finger score: every finger was put a number,and if you pressed the key according to the finger numbers,you could play a complete melody.I didn't need to read staves,learn basic theory,double tune and chord.Even without Hanon and Czerny and sitting for hours in front of the piano practicing,I learned how to play the piano with no efforts.

I was overjoyed.This shortcut was really short!In my deep heart,I even began to look down upon my bosom buddy who is a piano teacher,looking forward to making an exhibition of my new ability before her.

After I practiced for a few days,I went to my bosom buddy's home and playedSong of Joywith satisfaction.

She said nothing,silently pulled me down and playedSong of Joyagain. Every note was full and melodious.It was very obvious who played better.I was so shameful.She blinked her eyes and teased,"Piano is only seasoning in life.It's OK if you can play it."

I couldn't help laughing and told herabout the shortcut of learning to play the piano.When she heard this,she said seriously,"There is no shortcut at all as far as piano playing is concerned. Like Da Vinci drew eggs,the shortest shortcut is the most stupid way."

The other day,my friend took me to arestaurantrenownedforinstant-boiled mutton.The owner of this restaurant is a legendary figure in the local catering industry.The private kitchen,steakhouseanddelicate snack bar he is running are all successful.Soon after this instant-boiled mutton restaurant was opened,it was always crowded with customers.It was because of the owner's special favor that we could reserve a booth.

When we put the mutton into our mouth,we found that the taste was indeed different.

As usual we asked for the secret recipe.The owner said proudly,"Do you think all the mutton slices put into the boiled water,taken out of as soon as its color changes and eaten with seasoningarecalledinstant-boiled mutton?The pot used to boil mutton must be old-used copper pot with a deep body and a large coal chamber. Only wood carbon can be used as fuel because the fire is fit for boil mutton and there is little smoke.The mutton is taken from the two or three-year-old lamb with a large tail raised in Inner-Mongolia.We get mutton only from special parts of the lamb and cut it into slices in a delicate way.Thanks to my chefs'techniques,the sliced mutton is as thick as a piece of paper and as beautiful as a flower when it is put on the plate."

The owner seemed to perform a talk show.Finally,he held out two fingers, "In order to open this restaurant,I spent two years looking for mutton.In addition,we specially look for farmers to plant the Chinese cabbage and only use the inner several layers.The Chinese cabbage sauce is made by our own chefs.What is a secret recipe?As long as the materials are good,the taste will be good too.If I am not satisfied with the taste,I will not allow it to appear on the table.This is the principle for all my restaurants."

This is another smart man who does things with a stupid way.

These smart men never take a shortcut.Instead,they persist in doing necessary work until one day the accumulated skills can make them stand on the great peak.(FromAll Beauties are Tough,Changjiang Literature and Art Publish ing House.Illustration:Chi Xingcheng)