Chapter 58: Nan Tuan, His Mother Has Arrived

“Yes, that’s what I said, you’re right.”

Wen Yanyan didn’t want to cause trouble on her first day, so she went along with her, but she didn’t want to leave either. She really wanted to hear her piano skills and playing technique.

However, it wasn’t allowed.

“Why aren’t you leaving yet?”

The woman with the wooden hairpin coldly watched her, hand resting on the piano lid.

“I’m looking at the piano, why can’t I look?”

Wen Yanyan thought this woman was arrogant and bossy, but on second thought, she had reason to be proud.

In this era, few people could play the piano; it was rare.

“I don’t like having people around when I’m practicing, go away!”

She actually lost her temper and chased her away.

Wen Yanyan’s eyelids twitched with anger. This eccentric woman, she didn’t want to put up with it anymore.

So what if you can play the piano?

She wasn’t incapable either. Just because you’re playing the piano doesn’t mean you’re necessarily better than her!

“You…”

Wen Yanyan wanted to say, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you so difficult?”

But after only saying two words, her arm was grabbed by another girl.

“Wen Yanyan, can you come over here for a second? I have a question for you.”

Huh?

Wen Yanyan looked at the girl, she didn’t recognize her. What question could she have?

At this time, the girl gave her a wink and pulled her away.

Although she didn’t understand, she still followed.

Only when they were far from the piano did the girl let go of her.

“Xu Meiyu has a princess-like temper; don’t mind her.”

Oh, Wen Yanyan suddenly understood; this girl was trying to mediate.

“Thank you for telling me, this woman is indeed a bit eccentric.”

Just from their few conversations, she found that she was indeed not easy to get along with.

She has a princess-like temper? Could it be…that her family background is very good?

“What did you say…pipa?”

The girl looked bewildered.

Huh?

Wen Yanyan immediately realized that people of this era might not have heard this word and quickly explained to her.

“It’s not pipa, it’s qīpá, it means this person is very strange.”

“Ah, haha, I didn’t hear clearly just now. It’s the first time I’ve heard this word. Yes, you’re right, she is an eccentric.”

The girl laughed, revealing a row of white teeth.

Wen Yanyan felt a liking for her.

“Let’s get to know each other. I’m Wen Yanyan, what’s your name?”

This friend was worth making.

“Tian Mimi, it’s an easy name to remember, the ‘tian’ of field, and the ‘mi’ of honey.”

Tian Mimi had a cute, round baby face, chubby cheeks, and two dimples when she smiled. Her eyes were neither big nor small, dark and double-lidded, her nose was medium-sized, but her skin was a little dark. She had long hair, tied in a ponytail.

Huh?

Wen Yanyan paused, Tian Mimi, sweet honey?

What a good name, a wonderful name, a name that’s perfect! The name of a popular song.

“Are you a singer?”

“Mm.”

Tian Mimi nodded, “I’m in the choir.”

Choir?

Wen Yanyan immediately thought of Yu Linglong; she was the lead singer of the choir in the art troupe.

Hey?

Why didn’t she see her just now?

She turned around and looked around the rehearsal hall again, but she wasn’t there.

“Wen Yanyan, who are you looking for?”

Tian Mimi looked at her strangely. Was there someone she knew here?

Wen Yanyan turned back.

“No one, I’m just taking a look. The director asked me to familiarize myself with the environment. Mimi, why are there men here?”

She initially thought that the art troupe was all women.

“Mm, there are five men, one plays the accordion, one plays the xiao, and the other three are in the choir.”

“Oh.”

Wen Yanyan thought about it carefully; it made sense. A large choir needs male harmony, playing the accordion is tiring, and women aren’t very suitable.

As for playing the xiao… heh, it’s not very elegant for women to play.

Indeed, these five men had their place.

At this moment, she heard the sound of the piano. Raising her eyebrows, she saw Xu Meiyu playing. She listened carefully for a while, nodded; for this era, her playing was quite good.

Wen Yanyan turned her head and saw Tian Mimi with one leg raised and placed on the horizontal bar, one hand holding the bar, doing barre exercises and leg presses.

“What are you doing? Does the choir also need leg training?”

“Yes, this is simple body training. Choir singers also need good posture and graceful standing. By the way, Wen Yanyan, what’s your specialty?”

Tian Mimi asked her.

“I don’t know yet, I just reported today.” Director Zhu didn’t say, and she forgot to ask.

She tilted her head, “Then what did you perform during your interview? Singing, instruments, or dancing?”

“Singing.”

“Oh, then you have a lot of opportunities in the choir, practice your posture with me. People who play instruments don’t need to practice.”

Tian Mimi gave her some advice.

“Okay.”

Wen Yanyan imitated her and put her leg on the horizontal bar. As soon as she put it on,

Damn, she winced in pain, pulling a muscle.

Tian Mimi saw her painful expression.

“Haha, lower it a little the first time, you can move back a little.”

“Okay.”

Wen Yanyan stepped back half a step and put it on the horizontal bar again. This time it was much better.

She had never done this kind of split-like movement before, her muscles were a little tight, but it would be fine with more practice.

“Mimi, doesn’t our vocal music department have solo performances?”

To be honest, Wen Yanyan didn’t want to be in the choir. It wouldn’t show her true ability, it felt like a waste of talent.

“There are soloists, it’s She Xiaofang, but she’s at home having a baby. She’ll be back when her maternity leave is over.”

Tian Mimi said.

“Only one soloist?”

Because Wen Yanyan wanted to be a soloist, she asked in detail.

“Originally two, but the other soloist married an officer from another military region three months ago, and she was transferred.”

Tian Mimi was very patient, answering all of Wen Yanyan’s questions.

“Oh, I see.”

She nodded, feeling hopeful.

One soloist in an art troupe wasn’t enough; at least two soloists should be arranged for emergencies.

For example, if one soloist suddenly gets a cold, a stomachache, or a sudden family emergency before a performance, then a substitute is needed.

Otherwise, it would affect the overall performance. Wen Yanyan felt relieved.

…

At 11:30, Wen Yanyan went home from work. On the way, some military wives greeted her, and she smiled back.

However, as soon as she reached her doorstep, she heard an old woman cursing in the yard.

“Little beast, get out! I’ll kill you if you come near again!”

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Then came Qiuqiu’s angry barking. Wen Yanyan’s heart sank, how did it get into the yard?

She had locked the door this morning!

Who was scolding it?

Wen Yanyan quickly opened the courtyard gate and saw an old woman in patched blue-gray clothes, her hair white and messy.

She was sitting on a faded canvas bag, holding a burning stick, cursing at Qiuqiu.

“Blind little beast, if you bark again, I’ll strangle you and eat your meat! So young and already…”

As soon as Qiuqiu saw Wen Yanyan, it immediately ran over, circling her constantly.

The old woman stopped talking and looked straight at the woman standing at the gate.

Wen Yanyan bent down and hugged Qiuqiu. Seeing that it wasn’t injured, she stroked its little head to comfort it.

“Qiuqiu, don’t be afraid, Mommy is back.”

“Woof~”

Xiaoqiuqiu buried its head in her arms in grievance.

Wen Yanyan then looked up at the old woman, “You are…?”