Chapter 20

“If I say no, these people will definitely try to introduce me to someone. If I say yes, I can avoid a lot of trouble.”

Besides, Lin Jian She felt deep down that these people weren’t good enough for his sister. She worked in the military art troupe, and she was beautiful and sang amazingly well.

To find a boyfriend, he had to find someone with a formal job, at least 6 feet tall, and handsome.

Short and ugly wouldn’t do. It would affect the next generation’s looks.

The educated youth who came with Lin Jian She was named Zhao Feng Nian. He said,

“It’s okay. My cousin is also in the army, in the same military region as your sister. He’s 26 this year and doesn’t have a girlfriend. My aunt’s husband is in a panic. I thought if your sister didn’t have a boyfriend, I could introduce them.”

Lin Jian She, “…….Well, my sister’s boyfriend is from her hometown. They should have broken up.”

Zhao Feng Nian, “Broken up?”

Lin Jian She touched his nose, “They should have broken up…”

Did he mess up his sister’s relationship? “What’s your cousin’s name? Is he a cadre?”

Zhao Feng Nian, “His name is Shen Guan Nan. He’s a cadre, a battalion commander. He’s 26 years old, and he joined the army at 17. He’s been in the military for almost ten years.”

“Oh, oh.”

Lin Jian She thought it sounded good. The other guy was a cadre, but he was a few years older than his sister. He asked, “So, is your cousin good-looking?”

“Is he tall?”

Zhao Feng Nian, “My cousin, I don’t know what he looks like in the eyes of girls, but in my opinion, he’s pretty handsome, the kind that’s considered good-looking.”

“As for his height, he’s 6’2″, quite tall.”

That sounded pretty good.

Lin Jian She said, “How about we arrange a meeting sometime? You invite your cousin, and I’ll invite my sister. We can all have dinner together and see.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Jian She, you’re my brother. You’re thinking the same way I am.” Zhao Feng Nian put his hand on his shoulder.

“You can ask Ao Dun’s mom to sew your clothes.”

They often worked together, so their relationship was pretty good.

Lin Jian She, “Okay.”

But before they could arrange a meeting, the art troupe received a notice that they were going to perform in the countryside, including San He Village.

Sa Ren, “The more I don’t want to go, the more I have to go.”

They also had to perform. Now she couldn’t avoid seeing him, and she might even see her ex’s fiancée.

“Sa Ren, don’t pay attention to them. I don’t think they’ll take the initiative to talk to you.” Lin Shu Yin comforted her.

This art troupe was really busy. They had just finished performing at the company and hadn’t had a chance to rest for a few days before they had to go perform in the countryside again.

Counting the time it would take to get back after the performance in the countryside, it would be July 1st and August 1st, the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army.

Su Xiang Wei, “I heard that when we go to the countryside, we have to work for the team during the day and perform at night.”

Li Jin Yue, “That’s right.”

Sa Ren wasn’t afraid of farm work. She was from a rural area, so farm work wasn’t a problem for her. What bothered her was her ex.

She said, “Don’t worry, it’s not the busy farming season in May and June. We can just help out a little. The team won’t force us to do anything.”

Lin Shu Yin, “Sa Ren, tell your uncle to let us herd cows.”

Sa Ren, “That’s okay too. But besides herding cows, cutting grass is also pretty easy. We’ll see then.”

The art troupe was going to perform in the countryside, and Shen Guan Nan was going with them.

Song Wei Wei was excited, “Li Ting, Battalion Commander Shen is going to the countryside with us. Do you think he’s doing it for you?”

This time, Li Ting wasn’t happy. She shook her head, “No, his cousin is in San He Brigade.”

“His cousin is an educated youth?”

Li Ting nodded, “Yeah.”

Song Wei Wei, “Okay.”

Li Ting wasn’t in a good mood because during the performance at the company, Lin Shu Yin had almost all the solo singing opportunities, and she only had one or two chances.

She realized that Captain Meng Jia really favored Lin Shu Yin.

Lin Shu Yin had finished learning the horsehead fiddle and the erhu, and Meng Jia suggested that she learn other instruments. But she didn’t suggest this to Li Ting. She only asked Li Ting to play the harmonica and the pipa well.

Li Ting didn’t understand. How was she worse than Lin Shu Yin? Was her singing worse than Lin Shu Yin’s? Not necessarily. Was her instrument playing worse than Lin Shu Yin’s? Not necessarily either.

So why did Meng Jia favor her so much? She had only been here for half a year.

They had to prepare for two days for the performance in the countryside, arranging the program they would perform. The next day, Meng Jia found Li Ting, “Li Ting, for this performance in the countryside, I’m planning to give you the solo singing opportunity. Prepare your song.”

Li Ting shook her head, “Captain, let Shu Yin do the solo singing. I’ll just sing a duet with Cha Su.”

She wanted to sing solo in front of the leaders in the army, but she didn’t want to sing solo in front of these country people. Would they be able to tell if she sang well or not?

Meng Jia frowned, “Didn’t you always want to sing solo?”

Li Ting said with a smile, “Captain, let Shu Yin do it. I’m used to singing a duet with Cha Su.”

Meng Jia looked at her, “Okay, but Li Ting, our task as military art troupe members is to spread positive energy through our singing and dancing, not to distinguish between the audience in the stands.”

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I understand, Captain.”

Li Ting felt a little guilty when her thoughts were exposed. Her voice was much quieter than usual.

Meng Jia, “So, do you want the solo singing opportunity?”

Li Ting, “Captain, I’ll just sing a duet with Cha Su.”

“Okay, then I’ll give the solo singing opportunity to Shu Yin.”

Meng Jia shook her head. This girl was too impatient. As the head of the singing team, could she not tell who sang well and who sang poorly?

When Li Ting sang high notes, she couldn’t reach them and her voice cracked. She didn’t practice regularly, and she always messed up at critical moments.

And she blamed her for not giving her the solo singing opportunity. How could she give it to her? After all, the solos were all difficult songs.

Song Wei Wei didn’t understand, “Li Ting, why don’t you want the solo singing opportunity? It’s such a rare chance.”

Li Ting muttered, “Rare for what? Performing in the countryside. Will those people down there know if I sing well or not?”

Song Wei Wei, “You can’t say that.”

Solo singing was a great opportunity to show off. If the captain didn’t give it to her, she would definitely seize the opportunity if she had it.

Actually, when she first came to the art troupe, the captain had given her a solo singing opportunity. But there were too many people in the audience that time, and she got a little nervous and sang the lyrics wrong. She also went a little off-key.

After that, the captain asked her to sing duets with others.

“If you want to sing solo, just ask the captain for the opportunity.” Li Ting saw through Song Wei Wei’s thoughts.

Song Wei Wei, “That wouldn’t be good. The opportunity has already been given to Shu Yin.”

Li Ting snorted, “What’s wrong with that? She’s already sung so many times. This time, she’s hogging the spotlight during the performance at the company.”

“It’s time for someone else to sing.”