Chapter 35: Yongxi and Xiaohong

Just as Chen Xiaotao had said, Mei Qijie was so incensed that he had not set foot in the literary studio for several days. In any case, members of the cultural troupe were permanent staff, and they were entitled to up to a month of leave per year.

This month of leave was his to spend as he pleased.

For the most part, the writers in the cultural troupe were merely a facade; they served little practical purpose other than allowing the director to boast about how formidable the troupe's writers were when he was out and about.

Li Yousi had now taken over this role, becoming the third face of the Zhanqi Troupe, and could be brought along whenever there was bragging to be done.

Beyond this, the writers were also tasked with drafting scripts, short stories, and propaganda slogans—jobs that others could easily handle—so Wang Hai had approved Mei Qijie’s leave without hesitation.

There was another matter.

Zhang Li had been in Beiping for two or three months with no word on whether she had been selected. Short-handed as always, the Zhanqi Troupe had sent her a "harassment" letter demanding her return for performances. It seemed the dance troupe was also short on personnel, much like how the instrumental section was always making Li Yousi fill in for them.

It didn't matter; Li Yousi was happy to be a good Samaritan to the end. Relying on his status as a "core" member of Zhanqi, he helped her resolve the trouble.

As it turned out, she truly owed him a great deal.

In a Jin Yong novel, this would be the kind of favor that required one to repay the kindness with a gushing spring.

February 1st.

Today was the start of the holiday. Troupe members without scheduled performances were free to come and go or return home for the New Year. A seven-day break!

In the past, this would have been unthinkable.

This year's Spring Festival celebration was being held within the cultural troupe, with soldiers from the garrison and their families invited to watch. The scale was quite significant, so today, the troupe was holding its final dress rehearsal.

After all, it was the New Year! The atmosphere in the troupe was incredibly festive, and red lanterns were already hung above the stage.

Li Yousi was the supervisor—which was to say, he had no real work to do and was just wandering around, going through the motions.

A middle-aged woman with curly hair, large eyes, and a high bridge of the nose approached. Her appearance and demeanor were quite striking, typical of someone from an ethnic minority. She was holding the hand of a girl, roughly eleven or twelve years old.

Wang Hai introduced them: "This is our Zhanqi singer, Comrade Yongxi! She is here to perform for the gala this year!"

"Oh!" Li Yousi feigned surprise. "Comrade Yongxi..."

Ethnic minority surnames were often difficult to address, so "Comrade" was the safest bet.

"Hello, Comrade Li. I have heard about you from the director." Yongxi looked him up and down and offered a faint smile.

Comrade Yongxi was pure and kind-hearted, having dedicated her entire life to the military. During her lifetime, she had visited the borderlands and front-line outposts countless times to comfort the troops, never complaining about hardship or fatigue, and taking great pride in being a soldier.

She had received countless citations. In truth, she had already achieved fame and success and could have easily retired to Beiping to enjoy a life of leisure, but these comrades possessed genuine faith and were committed to serving the people's army.

The little girl beside her trembled slightly and huddled behind her mother.

"This is my daughter, Han Hong. She has been living with her grandparents in Beiping, but I brought her here to stay with me for a few days during the New Year!"

"Call him Uncle," Yongxi said, gesturing toward the two men in front.

"Uncle Wang..."

Xiao Hong looked at Li Yousi, but he stopped her, smiling and saying, "No need to call me Uncle. Call me Big Brother."

Xiao Hong was only twelve; her diet was usually quite plain, so she wasn't plump. She would likely gain weight later in life...

It was interesting to think of her as an adult; she was deeply influenced by her mother and would later dedicate herself to charity, even founding her own non-profit organization.

Xiao Hong turned her head away reluctantly. Yongxi frowned slightly and continued, "Do you remember the novel you liked reading so much yesterday? The author is right here in front of you. Don't you want to say something to him?"

Hearing this, Xiao Hong took another look at Li Yousi. He was handsome, but he didn't look like a writer.

"Oh, Big Brother Li."

Li Yousi nodded gently. Strictly speaking, in his previous life, he hadn't even been a fraction of the person Han Hong would become, but having her call him "Big Brother" now was quite amusing.

"Hello, Xiao Hong," Li Yousi said.

The little girl, whose parents were often away, was naturally timid and didn't reply.

After the introductions, Wang Hai turned to business. "Comrade Yongxi, you just arrived today, right?"

"I just rushed over from XZ and came straight to the troupe by car. The gala is tomorrow night, right? Where is it being held this year?"

Wang Hai nodded. "It's being held here at the troupe. Has He Dehua talked to you about the program?"

"He has," Yongxi replied. "I remember the order; I'm the first one."

Wang Hai glanced at the stage and then at the mother and daughter. Since they had just arrived, they looked a bit disheveled. "Comrade Yongxi, you don't need to participate in today's rehearsal. Just let He Dehua remind you tomorrow."

"Is that really all right?"

"What’s the harm? Everyone is just happy you made it here in time to perform! Besides, you should get some rest." Wang Hai, who could manage so many talented people in the studio, was nothing if not perceptive.

Li Yousi also chimed in, "Indeed, Comrade Yongxi. It’s already the afternoon, and you haven't eaten yet, have you? Rehearsals will last until the evening! And Xiao Hong needs to rest and eat, too!"

He glanced down at Xiao Hong again. She had indeed inherited her mother's double eyelids; she was quite cute when she wasn't chubby.

Yongxi thought about it for a moment and agreed.

"Then why don't you have Comrade Li take you to the dormitory?" Wang Hai added.

"Take her where?" Li Yousi was bewildered.

"The room next to yours is empty," Wang Hai explained. "We just cleared it out yesterday. Isn't that what we keep those rooms for?"

"Oh..."

Li Yousi walked ahead, carrying their luggage, while Yongxi held Xiao Hong’s hand behind him.

Li Yousi tried to tease Xiao Hong: "Can you sing?"

"..."

Xiao Hong kept her head down and didn't speak.

"Xiao Hong doesn't like to talk much! I’m not sure if she ever learned to sing from her grandmother, but I’m thinking of having her apply to an arts school later," Yongxi said on her behalf.

Li Yousi was a stubborn one. He refused to give up; he was determined to get a word out of her today.

"You're going to apply to an arts school? Are you going to study singing or acting? Or perhaps musical instruments... If you study instruments, I can teach you. Your mother and I are colleagues; I won't charge you for lessons."

Xiao Hong finally blurted out, "Aren't you a novelist?"

Li Yousi smiled. "Oh! You actually heard that part. I do write novels, but that’s just my side job. My main job is playing the flute—the transverse flute. I know a bit of *suona* too, if you want to learn that."

???

Xiao Hong was filled with question marks, but she eventually nodded. "Fine. But I think I'll just stick to vocal music."

"But can't you teach writing classes? Aren't you a writer?"

Li Yousi stroked his chin. "Haven't you had Chinese composition classes at school? Actually, writing classes are pretty much the same thing."