Chapter 31: Born Defiant

"Mr. Huang, you wanted to see us?"
Zhang Liang was the first to knock and enter the music classroom, greeting Huang Guolun with utmost respect.
Guan Qiangguo and Liu Zhongjie followed behind, both much more reserved than Zhang Liang. They hadn't interacted much with Huang Guolun before and secretly thought this teacher, who was rumored to read racy magazines, was a bit of a pervert—otherwise, why would he keep picking on Zhang Liang?
"Come in and have a seat. I have something to ask you."
Huang Guolun motioned for the three students to sit on the chairs behind the piano. He sat facing them, his back to the piano, and asked without pretense, "I heard the three of you are planning to sing 'Lights Out Legend' at the school anniversary performance?"
Zhang Liang boasted, "That's right! It's a song that reflects the energy, vitality, and new ideas of our generation. It's perfect for the school celebration!"
"How could a song that goes from 'f*ck' to 'd*ck' be suitable for a school event?" Huang Guolun's left eyebrow involuntarily furrowed.
Guan Qiangguo, with a voice even rougher than Zhang Liang's, tried to explain, "It's true, some of the lyrics are a bit vulgar, but we've already changed those parts to something proper."
"The entire tone and message of the song aren't proper to begin with. It's pure parody," Huang Guolun replied. That morning, he'd already listened to the song. "I can't understand how the anniversary committee could let you enter with that. Frankly, I predict the school leaders will be very displeased. Sure, your performance might make you famous among the students, but the teachers and leaders will only get a very bad impression. And if your performance goes badly and embarrasses the school, you’d better think hard about how to survive the next two years here."
"Sir, that's really discouraging! We've been working so hard! Maybe our foundation isn't strong, but even if it's an iron rod, we'll grind it down to a needle!" Zhang Liang protested passionately.
Guan Qiangguo and Liu Zhongjie silently nodded their agreement.
"Children without umbrellas have to run harder when it rains, and you're not wrong to do your best. But you need to be running in the right direction. If you're grinding a piece of iron, you might get a needle; but if you’re grinding a piece of wood, all you’ll ever get is toothpicks."
Zhang Liang was struck speechless. He wanted to argue, but didn't know how.
Huang Guolun continued, "Let me give you some advice: choose a different song. Find a real piece of iron to grind."
Liu Zhongjie mumbled, "But there's less than a week until the performance. How can we change now?"
Guan Qiangguo agreed, "Yeah, it's too late."
Huang Guolun told them, "It's not too late. I'll coach you. I’m confident I can help you master a new song I wrote in under a week."
Zhang Liang was shocked. "What? A song you wrote?"
Huang Guolun waved the lyrics in his hand. "Yes, I wrote it especially for you three, for this anniversary."
Zhang Liang nearly wailed, "No, please! Mr. Huang, we appreciate the thought, but we'd really rather sing 'Lights Out Legend'!"
Liu Zhongjie and Guan Qiangguo didn’t dare say much, afraid of offending the notoriously sensitive Huang Guolun. But from their frustrated expressions, it was clear they were not eager to sing his song. To them, what could an ordinary music teacher possibly write? It was sure to be corny, sycophantic—a tribute for the school anniversary.
"Don't be so quick to decide. At least look at the song I wrote for you."
Huang Guolun handed each of them a copy of the lyrics.
The title, "Born Defiant," gave a decent first impression.
But as they read further, all three couldn't help showing expressions of disdain.

The further Zhang Liang read, the less he could hold back. "This song is way too mainstream! What era is this? Why are we still singing about 'the Five-starred Red Flag fluttering in the wind'?"
"No matter what era it is, the Five-starred Red Flag should always fly high," replied Huang Guolun, leaving the students speechless.
Guan Qiangguo hesitated. "Sir, the lyrics are good, but they're just a bit much."
"A bit much how?" Huang Guolun asked.
Guan Qiangguo forced himself to continue, "'Facing history bravely, looking to the future, hoping heroes return safely, never compromising, the dignity of a great nation must not be violated, never yielding, every inch of territory sacred'—these lyrics sound like our patriotic essays."
Liu Zhongjie agreed, "Yeah, and then this part—'Riding the wind and waves, as if marching on the Long March, vowing to defend this land with eyes sharp as swords, proud of my homeland'—it’s more like an essay than a pop song."
Zhang Liang went further, "If we’re going to sing this, we might as well do 'Defend the Yellow River'."
Huang Guolun replied, "If you'd rather sing 'Defend the Yellow River,' I can help you rehearse that too."
Zhang Liang quickly surrendered, "No, no, please, Mr. Huang! Don’t mess with us. Let’s just do 'Lights Out Legend.' That song feels more like campus life."
Liu Zhongjie chimed in, "Exactly, we’re performing for the school anniversary, not National Day. Let’s not sing something so mainstream."
Huang Guolun grew serious. "National Day just passed; it’s still October—the National Day month. Isn't this the perfect time for such a song? Your performance isn’t just a tribute to the school but also to our country. Isn’t that your duty?"
He looked at the lyrics and addressed them, "You are the youth of this nation, sharing a common wish. We've experienced poverty and backwardness, once had nothing, yet must press forward, no matter how deep the water or steep the mountain. Stand up in adversity, walk the path of humility, let passion be rekindled, and remember the sacrifices of our forebears. Aren’t these lines what you, as spirited young people, should be shouting out with all your heart? I’m not looking down on 'Lights Out Legend,' but there’s a time and place. For an important occasion like the school anniversary, with leaders and distinguished guests present, I suggest you choose a song with more positive energy—you’ll win the applause of everyone. Compared to parody or profanity-laced rap, a rap with positive energy is truly powerful."
All three were stunned.
Zhang Liang asked, "This song is rap?"
"Yes. With your voices, I'd love to write you something as grand as 'Defend the Yellow River,' but could you really handle it?"
Guan Qiangguo reread the lyrics, half-joking, "Never seen rap like this before. Only a teacher could write it."
Huang Guolun smiled wryly, "Why does that sound so odd? Teachers can’t write rap?"
Guan Qiangguo quickly waved his hands, "No, no, Mr. Huang, don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying it’s very unique."
Zhang Liang, always direct, nearly made Huang Guolun choke on his tea: "Mr. Huang, are you sure this is rap and not a rhythmic folk chant?"
Liu Zhongjie burst out laughing, "A folk chant? Now that’s creative! If we do a folk chant at the anniversary, we’ll bring the house down! I don’t think anyone’s doing one this year. Maybe we should?"
It was clear that all three just wanted to make a splash at the event.
Zhang Liang thought for a moment. "That’s an idea! Mr. Huang, maybe you could adapt it into a folk chant for us?"
Guan Qiangguo, doubting Huang Guolun’s songwriting skills, nodded hard in agreement. They’d rather do a folk chant than sing his song.
Setting down his teacup, Huang Guolun said, "No more folk chants! This is real rap! Enough talk—let me sing it for you. If you don’t like it, I won’t force you. Do whatever you want."
Turning around, he lifted the piano lid, flexed his fingers, and prepared to give the three students a sample of "Born Defiant," using the king of instruments as accompaniment.

Zhang Liang and the others exchanged glances. Seeing that Huang Guolun was about to perform his "folk chant," they couldn't help but smirk mischievously.
Zhang Liang put a finger to his lips and whispered, "Whatever you do, don’t laugh when he finishes, or he’ll make us pay for it."
In the past, Huang Guolun might not have caught Zhang Liang’s barely audible whisper, but now his ears were as sharp as a lynx’s—no secret escaped him.
Hearing Zhang Liang’s lack of faith, a defiant spark lit in Huang Guolun’s heart: he’d show these students!
In that moment, Huang Guolun’s mindset was just like the song: the more you doubt our country, the more brilliantly and powerfully we must live!
We must show all the Western powers that Chinese people are born defiant!
Setting his ten fingers on the keys, Huang Guolun began to play and sing from the soul.
The first line rang out bold and powerful, stunning all three students.
"There is a force no one can withstand, never defeated, born defiant
There is an ideal lighting up the confusion, in that place filled with glory!
…"
For the next two and a half minutes, he rapped and sang, one breath, start to finish!
With a soul-stirring, blood-pumping performance, Huang Guolun gave the three rebellious young men an unprecedented lesson in patriotism.
Halfway through, their jaws were nearly on the floor, faces frozen in astonished awe.
Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined their music teacher—who usually stuck to theory and classic appreciation—could rap with such wild, cool, and jaw-dropping style.
Describing his rap as earth-shattering was no exaggeration.
At one point, Huang Guolun’s delivery was so rapid it sounded like a machine gun; the students couldn’t even follow the lyrics at his pace.
After hearing it, they finally understood what he meant: this kind of positive rap was on a whole different level from the usual diss tracks full of profanity they listened to.
Compared to this, their parody "Lights Out Legend" was utterly crushed—left in the dust by this electrifying, patriotic rap.
Listening to the song, a surge of national pride welled up in their hearts.
Their grandparents had never been defeated by natural disasters or war; their parents had never been defeated by poverty or hunger. Now, in better times, how could their own generation lose to games or lack of ambition?
They absolutely could not let their country fall in their generation!
By the end, Zhang Liang had tears in his eyes. As soon as Huang Guolun finished, he wiped his nose and said, "Mr. Huang, your song is amazing! Old Guan, Big Liu, let’s sing Mr. Huang’s 'Born Defiant' at the anniversary! Just listening to it, I feel like I’ve leveled up in style! If we perform it, we’ll be walking the high road from now on—unstoppable, dazzling, and brilliant!"