Chapter 60: Signing Up for the Performance Program

Qin Yunfeng fell silent for a moment before nodding. “Then you do your best. Practice a lot during this time. Leave the banquet arrangements to me. I’ll go find someone.”

Bai Ruolin was finally satisfied and nodded happily. “We also need to hurry up with the new home decoration. If we wait until after we move in, it might be too late. Why don’t we buy the things first and store them in your dorm?”

Qin Yunfeng hesitated for a moment. “That’s good, but I’m a bit tight on money right now. How about we just do a simple decoration first, and then slowly add more things later when we have more money? Don’t worry, since I’m marrying you, I won’t let you suffer.”

Bai Ruolin pouted aggrievedly. “But I just told Su Yi that we’re going to invite her and everyone else to come to our house for a gathering. It would be embarrassing if it’s too shabby. What will people think?”

The two of them talked outside for a long time, but couldn’t reach an agreement.

Seeing that there was no other way, Bai Ruolin finally agreed to use her own savings first, with a huff.

She also promised to write a letter back home to ask her family to send some money over.

Even if she was annoyed, she couldn’t let Su Yi laugh at her!

Su Yi was completely unaware that the two of them had worn themselves out arguing and emptied their pockets because of her!

As usual, she was busy until all the prepared ingredients were sold out. She was just about to clean up and go home.

But then, Master Ma suddenly sent someone to call the three of them to a meeting in the back.

When Su Yi and the others went in, they found everyone was dejected.

The three of them exchanged glances and silently found a secluded spot to sit down.

Seeing the three of them arrive, Master Ma stood up and spoke. “Everyone’s here now, so let’s finalize the performers for the New Year’s Eve show!”

Su Yi was taken aback for a moment. “Isn’t the New Year’s Eve show something the Cultural and Arts Troupe handles? Why does the cafeteria need to put on a performance?”

Master Ma sighed. “That’s right, this year’s show is supposed to have performances from all departments, not just from the cultural and Arts Troupe.”

As soon as they heard this, everyone began to protest. “What kind of logic is that? We’re just a bunch of old men, how are we supposed to put on a performance?”

“Exactly, who came up with this stupid idea?”

“Who else could it be? It’s those people from the Cultural and Arts Troupe themselves. They probably came up with this to drag us amateurs onto the stage to show off their own skills!”

“If we had that kind of talent, we’d all be working in the Cultural and Arts Troupe, why would we be here slaving away?”

“Yeah, it’s their job in the first place. Why are they making us do it? Why don’t they come to the kitchen and cook for us instead!”

Everyone started complaining, each one taking turns to vent their frustrations.

Seeing that the complaints weren’t subsiding, Master Ma slammed his hand on the table. “Enough! What’s the point of complaining here? Either go complain to the Cultural and Arts Troupe yourselves, or just pick a program and do it. It’s just a walk-on part anyway, no one expects you to win an award!”

Su Yi immediately caught the key point. “There are prizes?”

Everyone fell silent as soon as they heard that.

Master Ma nodded with a smile. “That’s right, they said they’re going to award the best programs. First prize is a woolen blanket, second prize is a woolen scarf, and third prize is a fountain pen!”

“I heard they’re all good stuff from Shanghai. The blanket is thick and soft, and it’s pure wool!”

Su Yi’s eyes lit up. She had been worried about the thin blankets in her dorm.

But singing was just her hobby, and she wasn’t sure if she was good enough, so she decided to keep quiet for now.

She would see what others said.

Everyone was excited when Master Ma announced the prizes, but they quickly sobered up.

“There are only three prizes, what does it have to do with us? It’s going to be swept up by the art troupe anyway.”

“That’s right, it’s just a formality, a walk in the park, just to make us envious!”

Seeing that everyone was reluctant to go, Master Ma turned his attention to Su Yi and the other three, “You’re young, do you want to consider giving it a try?”

Zhang Tianhua immediately shook his head, “No, no, I can’t do anything, I’ll be nervous on stage!”

Xu Xiaoqin also had a troubled look on her face, “I learned to play the Hulusi ^[1]The hulusi  is a traditional Chinese musical instrument made from a gourd and bamboo pipes. It is a free-reed wind instrument, often associated with the ethnic minorities in southwest China, … Continue reading  from the village’s educated youth before, but I’m not very good at it. I’m afraid I’ll just make a fool of myself if I go up there.”

Su Yi smiled with pursed lips, “I can sing a few songs, but I’m not very good either. I’m afraid I’ll just embarrass our canteen if I go up there.”

Master Ma comforted them, “It’s good enough to be able to go up there, at least our canteen won’t be empty.”

Chef Wang saw that Su Yi and Xu Xiaoqin both had a look of fear and hesitation, as if they really couldn’t do it.

He immediately changed his tune, “Then let’s settle on those two. They’re the only young girls in our canteen, they’re the most suitable.”

The rest of the people also chimed in, “Yes, yes, those two girls are basically the face of our canteen. They can just go up there and blow a few notes and sing a few songs.”

Seeing that everyone was adamant about choosing them to go on stage,

Su Yi pretended to be hesitant and rubbed her hands together, “We can go up there, but can we also have some kind of reward within our own canteen? It’s like an encouragement for us two sacrificing for the collective.”

Chef Wang snorted, “What kind of reward do you two want?”

Su Yi smiled, “Not much, can we have a day off after the evening party?”

Master Ma thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement, “Okay, I’ll give you a day off. How about the day when commander Qin holds his wedding banquet? They’ll have a lot of people there that day, and the canteen windows won’t be as busy.”

Su Yi immediately agreed with a happy smile, “Okay! That day.”

With the performers decided, everyone dispersed.

Xu Xiaoqin nervously grabbed Su Yi’s arm, “We’re really going to go up on stage and perform?”

Su Yi nodded, “I thought about it, the worst that could happen is we make a fool of ourselves, but at least we three get a day off. And maybe if we perform well, we might even win a prize?”

Xu Xiaoqin had no confidence at all, “Have you thought about what you’re going to sing?”

Su Yi thought for a moment about what songs were popular in 1980.

Then she cleared her throat and sang a couple of lines from “The Night of the Military Port.”

Xu Xiaoqin and Zhang Tianhua, standing nearby, were stunned. “You sing so beautifully? We’ve never heard you sing before.”

“Yeah, Sister Su Yi, you were too modest just now. You should have signed up a long time ago.”

Su Yi smiled with pursed lips, “Didn’t you see Chef Wang’s expression? If he knew we had this kind of skill, he wouldn’t have given us this opportunity.”

Xu Xiaoqin grinned, “That’s true. If you don’t mind, I’ll practice this song hard for the next two days. I’ll be your backing singer, and I’ll try not to hold you back!”

Su Yi hugged her arm and laughed, “Okay, let’s go sign up now, before all the good songs are taken.”

With that, the two of them went to the art troupe together and successfully signed up.

After they left, the young comrade in charge of recording the sign-ups went to find Bai Ruolin.

She told her about Su Yi’s sign-up.

Bai Ruolin was stunned for a moment, then she made a phone call to Qin Yunfeng, “Brother Qin, can Su Yi sing?”

Qin Yunfeng was also taken aback, “Sing? She’s been tone-deaf since she was a child, she can’t sing.”

Bai Ruolin was relieved, and she specifically instructed that Su Yi’s performance be scheduled before her solo.

This time, she would make sure Su Yi became the laughingstock of everyone!

She would make Qin Yunfeng see the vast difference between her and Su Yi!

As for the first prize, the woolen blanket, she was determined to get it. It would be perfect for her dowry!