128. The Double Reduction Policy Takes Effect, Farewell to Blue Whale-Please, Go Home and Practice Your Instrument(Mozart Bay)

"The 'Double Reduction' policy might be written into law."

Qin Yong shared this piece of inside information, set down his chopsticks, and wiped his mouth.

"Double Reduction."

In internet slang, this refers to effectively easing the excessive burden of homework and off-campus tutoring for students in the compulsory education stage.

It originated from an opinion issued by the state in late July: "Opinions on Further Easing the Burden of Homework and Off-Campus Tutoring for Students in Compulsory Education."

The key points of the policy are as follows:

Local authorities will no longer approve new off-campus training institutions that provide academic tutoring for students in the compulsory education stage.

Local authorities must conduct comprehensive inspections of existing online academic training institutions, re-process approvals according to standards, and cancel original filings and internet information service business licenses.

Academic training institutions are strictly prohibited from going public and are banned from capital operations.

Listed companies are prohibited from using the stock market to finance investments in academic training institutions, and may not purchase the assets of such institutions through the issuance of shares or cash payments.

Non-academic training institutions are strictly prohibited from engaging in academic tutoring.

Off-campus training institutions may not organize academic tutoring during national statutory holidays, weekends, or winter and summer vacations.

In 2022, aesthetic education will be fully incorporated into the high school entrance examination.

Although Li An was just an ordinary citizen trying to make sense of the piano, it was easy for him to connect the information Qin Yong leaked with a hot topic from a few days ago.

It was about a statement posted on social media by a leader in the domestic K-12 education industry on their birthday.

The tycoon mentioned that due to various reasons, the career of New Hope Education and their personal life had, to some extent, fallen into a state of dilemma and confusion.

If the "Double Reduction" were truly written into law, the education industry would be turned upside down.

From a policy perspective, the survival space for academic tutoring institutions would be squeezed to a very narrow margin.

It could basically be declared that the golden age for academic tutoring institutions was over.

Quality-oriented arts education would inevitably become the new favorite under the policy, ushering in a new period of policy benefits.

"Blue Sky is preparing to establish a brand-new teaching department, targeting art students for the high school entrance exam."

"I am in charge of it."

Having said this much, Qin Yong felt it didn't matter to say a little more.

"Li An."

"Join my team."

He extended the invitation again. After a morning of in-depth understanding, his invitation now carried an added layer of genuine appreciation for the person.

"If you're willing."

"The position of Head of Piano Research and Teaching in this new department will be yours. The office location will remain at Yudong for the time being."

"Your performance-based benefits for boutique teacher lessons will remain unchanged, and I will apply to raise your base salary to 4,500 on top of the original."

"But let's be clear upfront: this job will be quite demanding in the beginning."

Qin Yong paused after speaking.

"No need to give me an answer right away. Take a good rest and relax for a few days."

"Here, have a cigarette."

After lunch, the two parted ways at the intersection of Yudong Street.

With the morning's conversation over, Qin Yong also looked forward to a little vacation of his own.

He couldn't take five days off like the other faculty members; the new autumn semester had already begun, and more complicated work awaited him.

However, two days were enough for him to take Taozi out to play around Rongcheng.

He had said everything he needed to say today; the rest was waiting for Li An's answer.

As for the issue of the three students, neither of them brought it up again.

Including why Li An's program wasn't arranged for the previous teacher performance stage—looking back now, it wasn't hard to understand Qin Yong's intention.

Balance.

That evening, Li An arrived at Blue Whale as usual.

According to the records in his work log, today was his 55th time stepping onto the small stage at Blue Whale.

During this period, he had played about 70+ pieces, ranging from classical to jazz miniatures and light music.

Among them, the ones most loved by everyone were those piano works that had been popular among listeners since they were introduced to the country in the nineties, such as those by Richard Clayderman and Bandari.

You might not have heard Debussy's "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair," but you must have heard Richard Clayderman's "Mariage d'Amour."

Through the small stage at Blue Whale, Li An had also gotten to know some regulars, and sometimes he would fulfill small requests from some of them by playing a popular tune.

Gradually, many old customers, like Song Sheng, began calling Li An "Teacher Li."

It could be said that over these past four months, Li An's work at Blue Whale had gone quite smoothly.

Especially in the beginning, he had relied on the daily settlements from Blue Whale to get by.

And the promised daily pay had never once been late.

Tonight, Li An played three extra pieces.

He ended his four-month stint as a part-timer at Blue Whale with Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2.

There weren't many guests tonight; after he finished playing, the entire ground floor seemed slightly quiet.

Occasionally, the clinking of glasses could be heard.

He took out the cloth he had specifically brought today to clean the piano and meticulously wiped the keys of the little grand piano that had accompanied him for four months.

Then, he gently closed the lid.

"Goodbye, buddy."

He stood up and patted the piano board.

"Wait for your next partner."

With a ritualistic farewell, Li An picked up the water beside him and drank it in one gulp.

He then stepped off the stage and walked toward Song Sheng's office.

All good things must come to an end.

The nights in Rongcheng in early September already carried a hint of autumn's chill.

Leaving Blue Whale, Li An set off on his way home.

It was evident that in the office just now, Song Sheng had really wanted to keep him, but Li An's mind was made up.

It wasn't that he was rich now—hell, had Father Ma allowed that?

It was just that, for the moment, he didn't have to worry about his next meal.

He needed to adjust his pace of life for the time ahead and reserve some time and energy to cope with it.

Back home, he took a shower and then focused on chatting with Chen Xuan.

From the time they met until now, the two had never been so far apart.

Suddenly being over a thousand kilometers away, let alone whether Chen Xuan missed Li An, Li An himself had been missing Chen Xuan even more since he got into bed.

"81,000: Do you dare to video call?"

"Xiaomi: Take a guess."

Li An didn't guess; he directly clicked the video call button.

After about ten seconds, the screen flashed. Chen Xuan, wearing no makeup and lying on the bed in her pajamas, appeared on the screen, looking as beautiful as ever.

"What are you smiling at?" Chen Xuan smiled too.

Li An: "Smiling at how pretty you are."

Although such words were cliché, what woman didn't like to hear them?

The two acted lovey-dovey for a while, and the topic returned to what they were discussing before the video call.

Chen Xuan: "So what's your plan? Are you going to join this new teaching department?"

Li An: "Yeah."

From every angle, he had no reason to refuse.

Chen Xuan was a little worried: "Then you won't be transferred away, will you?"

Li An smiled: "No, I'll still be at Yudong."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan was relieved.

Because Qin Yong hadn't said much about the specifics, Li An only personally guessed that since the newly established department had piano research and teaching, it would naturally include other popular subjects.

For primary and secondary schools, wind instruments must be the most popular.

Looking across the entire Blue Sky organization, no one should be able to surpass Chen Xuan's flute playing.