Chapter 22

As a result, Lin Shu Yin, besides singing, also had to play the horsehead fiddle and the erhu with the other comrades in the band.

“It’s a pity you didn’t join our band, Shu Yin.” Yu Tie Nan still muttered as she left.

Meng Jia, “We only have a few promising talents in our singing team. Your band is still trying to steal people. It’s not fair.”

Of course, they were just joking. The art troupe was a whole. The art troupe members who worked in the art troupe were all versatile talents.

Those who sang had to learn instruments, those who played instruments had to sing, and the same went for the dance team. They had to learn multiple types of dance.

This trip to the countryside would last two months before they could return. When everyone was packing their luggage, they brought their quilts with them.

Sa Ren, “I don’t know about other villages, but if you come to our village, you can stay at my place.”

“My house has two bedrooms. One is empty. It’s perfect for the four of us.”

Their house had two rooms. Her parents slept in one, and the three siblings slept in the other. Of course, her sleeping area was separated by a curtain, making it a separate room, but they all slept on the same kang.

“Okay, okay.” The three nodded.

Staying at Sa Ren’s house was better than staying at a stranger’s.

It was good to be in the army. They had cars for transportation. Chen Mei Lian had come from the county art troupe. She said that when their county art troupe had to perform, they would travel by horse-drawn carriage.

But the army art troupe drove military trucks. Two large military trucks, one for instruments, luggage, food, and other things, and one for people.

The art troupe’s military trucks were not the kind with two people in the front and three in the back. They were large trucks.

Shen Guan Nan wasn’t just going to see his cousin on a whim. His family had written a letter, and since the art troupe was going to perform in the countryside, he took a ride.

Shen Guan Nan didn’t sit with the art troupe members. He sat in the front passenger seat.

San He Village was close to the city, and they were driving, so they arrived at their destination in half an hour.

The army art troupe’s performance in the countryside was naturally announced in advance to the brigade leaders, village secretaries, and others. But the villagers didn’t know.

It was the slack season for farming, and as soon as the two large trucks entered the village, children and adults gathered around.

“The army is here.”

“Is it the army art troupe? I heard the secretary’s wife talking about it a few days ago. She said the army art troupe was coming to our village to perform.”

“It must be. I saw Sa Ren. Isn’t she in the art troupe? When the car stops, let’s go ask.”

The car stopped at the entrance of the village brigade. The village secretary, brigade leader, and others were already waiting. Deputy head of the troupe, Zhang Xia, was leading the team.

She went to talk to the village secretary and brigade leader.

There were familiar faces all around, including her uncle. Sa Ren wanted to get off, but the captain hadn’t given the order, so she just sat in the car, feeling awkward.

“Comrade, can we set up the stage right in front of our brigade?” The village secretary asked Zhang Xia.

Their San He Village brigade was built in the middle of the village, with a wide and flat area, making it perfect for setting up a stage.

Zhang Xia looked around, “Okay, let’s do it here.”

“Everyone get off. First, let’s set up the stage, and then we’ll do everything else.”

They would be in the countryside for about two months, visiting the Red Star Commune, the Red Flag Commune, and the San He Commune, with two to three brigades in each commune.

They would stay in one brigade for a week to ten days, so they should set up the stage first.

The art troupe members were all beautiful girls and handsome guys. They all wore military uniforms and hats, making them look even better.

Guys like Shen Guan Nan were especially liked by the village aunties.

Just while they were setting up the stage, the area in front of the brigade entrance was crowded with people.

The educated youths, who lived in the east of the village, also received the news. Lin Jian She asked, “Ao Dun, are you saying the army art troupe is performing in our brigade?”

“So, is my sister here?”

Ao Dun, “Yes, yes. They’re all here. My sister is here, and your sister is here. Let’s go!”

Lin Jian She called out to Zhao Feng Nian, “Let’s go.”

Zhao Feng Nian muttered on the way, “I have a feeling my brother is here too.”

Ao Dun, “Your brother is in the art troupe?”

“No, but he should be here. He should be here by now.”

His brother had only come to see him once during the New Year. He hadn’t come for months.

Zhao Feng Nian wasn’t wrong. As he squeezed into the crowd, he saw his cousin, Shen Guan Nan, moving things. He excitedly pulled on Lin Jian She’s sleeve, “Jian She, my brother is here.”

Lin Jian She, “Ah? Really? Quickly tell me, which one is your brother?”

Zhao Feng Nian pointed, “That one, that one, the tallest one.”

Just then, Shen Guan Nan turned around, and Lin Jian She saw his face. He muttered, “Your brother looks…”

Zhao Feng Nian, “What? My brother isn’t good-looking?”

Lin Jian She, “No, he’s pretty good-looking. He has thick eyebrows and big eyes, but he looks a little serious… Is your brother hard to talk to?”

He looked a little intimidated.

Zhao Feng Nian, “No, my brother is easy to talk to. He’s always liked to have a straight face.”

“Where’s your sister?”

Lin Jian She looked around, “Over there.”

The two brothers went to find their respective siblings.

Zhao Feng Nian smiled and walked up to Shen Guan Nan,

“Brother, why did you come?”

Shen Guan Nan, “To see you.”

Zhao Feng Nian complained, “Brother, you finally remembered you have a brother in the countryside. You haven’t come to see me for months.”

“My friend’s sister comes to see him once a week. She even brings him delicious food.”

“I’m busy working in the army.” Shen Guan Nan said impatiently.

Being a battalion commander wasn’t easy. He was busy every day, and sometimes he couldn’t even rest on Sundays.

Zhao Feng Nian, “His sister is also in the army.”

Shen Guan Nan questioned, “In the army art troupe?”

“Yes, brother.”

Zhao Feng Nian remembered what he was supposed to do. He whispered, “Hey, brother, I’ll introduce you to a wife. Do you want to?”

Shen Guan Nan looked at him with a big question mark on his face, “What?”

Zhao Feng Nian, “It’s my friend’s sister. She’s really beautiful. Do you want to meet her?”

Shen Guan Nan shook his head, “No need.” He already liked someone.

Lin Shu Yin’s good brother, Lin Jian She, was also talking about this, “Sister, the only thing is that he’s a little older. He’s seven years older than you. But everything else is good. He’s good-looking and tall.”

“He’s in the same army as you. He’s said to be a battalion commander.”

Lin Shu Yin listened to her brother’s description of this person. He sounded familiar. She asked, “What’s his name?”

Lin Jian She forgot, “I think his last name is Shen, and his first name is something Nan.”

“Sister, he’s here with you guys. He’s setting up the stage in front. Come on, let’s go see him.”

Lin Shu Yin knew who her brother was talking about, “You mean Battalion Commander Shen, Shen Guan Nan, right?”

Lin Jian She, “Oh, right, right. He’s called Shen Guan Nan. That name is so hard to remember.”

“You know him? What’s he like? Is he okay?”

Lin Shu Yin said as she walked, “My dear brother, I’m only nineteen years old. I’m still young. I haven’t thought about dating, and I’m a new recruit. The army doesn’t allow dating.”

What about Shen Guan Nan? He looks pretty good, but she hasn’t thought about dating. At least not in the next two years.

“He’s a cadre. You can date.” Lin Jian She kept talking behind her.

As they came out from behind the stage, they ran into Zhao Feng Nian and Shen Guan Nan.

Zhao Feng Nian’s eyes widened. He whispered, “Brother, brother, this is my friend. That’s his sister. Take a look!”