Chapter 7: The Art Troupe

“What’s going on? Calm down and tell me slowly.” As he spoke, a pair of large hands gently pushed the girl, who was about to fall into his arms, back two steps.

Chen Siyu looked up—and what do you know? She had struck gold.

The soldier she had randomly bumped into had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a perfectly straight nose—classic features of an Eastern beauty. His skin was strikingly fair, but not in a sickly, sun-deprived way. It was a healthy, vibrant fair, with a faint rosy glow.

Having been surrounded by all kinds of men in her past life, and with her ex-boyfriends perpetually frozen at 25, Chen Siyu could tell at a glance—this man wasn’t over 25.

In this era, to be under 25 and already wearing a four-pocket uniform? He had to be an extraordinary talent.

But even though his appearance was captivating, she hadn’t forgotten her mission.

So, she widened her eyes, welled them with tears, took two steps back, covered her face, and stamped her feet again.

In the man’s eyes, this delicate little sister—with a face like peach blossoms in spring—looked heartbreakingly frail, full of unspoken grievances and bashful sorrow. It was a scene that screamed of being bullied by street punks.

The man swept his sharp gaze around, and there they were—not far off, a few cocky teenage boys pretending to be adults.

Being a man himself, he understood instantly. “Are they harassing you? Do you know who their parents are? I can go talk to them.”

No need for that. If he actually went after their parents, it would just turn into a messy dogfight.

“I do know them, but I don’t want trouble. I just don’t want to be treated like some floozy by them. Officer brother, could you help me? Just tell them not to mess with me anymore.” Chen Siyu said.

The man’s mind was as sharp as his looks. He didn’t rashly storm off to find parents. Instead, he barked, “You few, come here.”

The punks exchanged glances, baffled as to what was up with their precious “Guo’er” today. But sensing the danger, they tried to slip away. The man didn’t give them the chance.

“Don’t even think about running. I’ve memorized all your faces. Next time I catch you, it won’t be as polite as today.”

Reluctantly, the boys shuffled forward on their beat-up bikes.

“She—”

“I’m Chen Siyu.”

“—Siyu is my younger sister. I’m Leng Jun, from the Flying Squadron. If your skin’s itching, just drop by the Air Force compound and ask for Captain Leng. I’ll be happy to scratch that itch for you.” His voice was flat and cold, enough to send chills down spines.

He casually draped an arm around Chen Siyu’s shoulders, sweeping his sharp gaze over each punk. “If you dare lay a finger on my sister again…”

“You… you’re the legendary Captain Leng?!” The group of punks visibly blanched, immediately dropping their bikes and snapping into a salute. “Good morning, Captain Leng.” One by one, they turned silent as the grave.

Leng Jun. Chen Siyu had read about this name in a book. He was a top-tier, big-shot figure.

Wow. A blind cat stumbles upon a dead mouse, huh? She’d run into a hidden boss.

Leng Jun suddenly turned his head, meeting a pair of eyes so beautiful they defied description—like a galaxy contained within them.

“Brother!” she murmured, her cheeks tinged with red, eyes wide with admiration and awe. Her smile, with twin dimples on either side, was filled with genuine adoration, painting her entire face with innocent charm. Even her voice seemed to carry a sweet, melodic lilt.

Yet, faced with such a gaze, Leng Jun didn’t respond to Chen Siyu directly. Instead, he walked up to Chen Xuan’ang, pointed northward, and said, “If anyone dares to bully your sister again, go to Building 23 in the Air Force family compound. Ask for Leng Jun. Just say you’re my brother.”

At that moment, Chen Xuan’ang seemed to transform into a little man. “Got it, brother. I’ll remember.”

As for Chen Siyu, Leng Jun’s gaze was calm, like an untroubled lake. “Where are you heading? I’ll escort you.”

“No need. We’re already at our destination. Thank you, brother. Goodbye, brother.” Chen Siyu said, casually reaching to hold Chen Xuan’ang’s hand. To her delight, the boy didn’t resist this time. He even tightened his grip around her fingers.

Hearing that he wasn’t needed to escort them further, Leng Jun didn’t insist. He simply stepped aside to let them pass.

Chen Siyu led her brother away, but after walking some distance, she couldn’t resist turning back. There, still standing firm, was Leng Jun. The seven or eight punks stood before him, heads bowed low, not daring to move.

He stood tall and straight, like a slender cypress tree—true to his name: cold and commanding.

As she turned a corner towards the family compound, she glanced back once more. Leng Jun’s eyes, calm as ever, were watching her. Their gazes met, and Chen Siyu instinctively smiled bashfully, lips curving with subtle charm.

Under normal circumstances, men couldn’t resist that kind of smile. They’d definitely make a move—maybe follow her to ask for her address, or insist on treating her to lunch. Chen Siyu hadn’t intended to flirt in this era, but seducing men was like second nature to her.

But after flashing that smile, she immediately realized it wasn’t appropriate. Fearing that Leng Jun might think she was being frivolous, she hurriedly turned the corner. Yet, when she doubled back moments later, Leng Jun was already gone.

The punks, however, were still standing there, heads bowed, frozen in place.

She had not only succeeded in holding her little brother’s hand, but had also shaken off the pesky delinquents who used to cling to the original Chen Siyu.

Today, Chen Siyu was glowing two shades fairer!

All the necessary documents were ready. After worrying the whole day yesterday, Feng Hui spotted her adopted daughter downstairs this morning, grabbed the paperwork, and hurried down, carrying two frosted sugar cookies in her hand. She offered one to Siyu and watched as Siyu tried to pass a piece to Chen Xuan’ang, immediately frowning in disapproval.

Chen Siyu pretended not to notice and deliberately gave both cookies to Xuan’ang.

As they left the courtyard, Feng Hui kept a three-meter distance from the siblings, sneaking around like a thief.

The household registration transfer was urgent. Once the sent-down youths had been dispatched, the youth office would conduct a sweep to check for anyone who hadn’t boarded the bus. If they couldn’t find them, they’d issue a public notice of criticism and a major demerit. There was no time to waste—off to the Public Security Bureau.

At the bureau, the household transfer window wasn’t crowded. As long as the documents were complete, moving from a military family registration to a regular citizen registration—a downgrade—was relatively easy. Check, fill, stamp—just like that, the transfer was done.

Feng Hui wouldn’t be publicly criticized anymore.

“You’ve lost so much weight in just two days,” she said, now free of her heavy burden, her guilt surfacing. She cupped her adopted daughter’s face, sighing, “Now that you’re a private citizen, with no work unit or job, what will you do?”

Chen Siyu reached out to hug her, letting Feng Hui fuss over her, then pulled out a form from her pocket and winked. “Mom, don’t you remember? The North City Art Troupe’s recruitment doesn’t consider background. So we…”

Feng Hui glanced at the paper. It was an application form for the City Art Troupe.

Originally, Siyu had been accepted into the military art troupe, while Nianqin had been assigned to the city troupe. Since Siyu could go to a more prestigious place, Feng Hui had agreed to that plan. But now, with Siyu’s background deteriorated, the military troupe was no longer an option.

However, the city art troupe didn’t care about one’s political background and would admit purely based on merit.

In other words, with her household registration separated, she now qualified to enter the City Art Troupe.

Feng Hui sighed, “They say it doesn’t matter what your background is, but when it really comes to transfers, it’s not that simple.”

Chen Siyu started to act cute, “Mom, let’s just try once, okay?” Then she shook her head playfully, “Nianqin went to the Song and Dance Troupe, and look—I’m applying for the Opera Troupe. If I get in, on Wednesdays you can watch Nianqin’s singing and dancing, and on Saturdays you can watch my opera. Just imagine, two artistic talents in one family, the only ones like this in the whole city! Wouldn’t that be something?”

Using her sweet “little candy” charm, she added with full coquettishness, “The Opera Troupe has more family tickets. If you don’t watch yourself, wouldn’t you want to give some to relatives and friends, and enjoy the perks your daughter brings?”

Two daughters—one in the Song and Dance Troupe, one in the Opera Troupe—that kind of glory would be truly unique.

Coincidentally, yesterday when she went to register Nianqin, she met Director Lu from the City Art Troupe’s Archives Department. They found out they were both from the same hometown in southern Sichuan. Director Lu immediately gave her a jar of homemade fermented bean paste from their hometown. Feng Hui, feeling obliged, had prepared a string of cured sausages to give as a gift today.

Since Siyu was no longer under her household registration and her background wouldn’t affect her, this was just a simple courtesy.

But Nianqin had been unusually rejecting Siyu these days. Whenever she mentioned her, she would cry. Feng Hui didn’t want to argue with her biological daughter, so she hardened her heart and decided to give up on the child she had already pushed away.

However, before she could say anything to refuse, the small hands that had been holding hers suddenly relaxed, and her foster daughter pouted, then started crying!

“I don’t know why Nianqin suddenly got mad at me,” Chen Siyu sobbed, “I guess I’m just a bit greedy and like to ask others for sweets. But if I get one candy, I share half with her; if two, Mom and brother each get one, Grandma gets half, and we split the rest. I’ve never eaten alone. I always thought Mom was my real mom, and Sister was my real sister.” Tears streamed down like a running faucet as she sniffled, “But why did Mom stop loving me all of a sudden? Why does Sister hate me now? Boohoo…”

The truth was, Feng Hui treated Siyu differently because she was the foster daughter—she didn’t discipline or educate her strictly. Meanwhile, Nianqin was greedy and kept pestering the original body to ask boys for candy and snacks. The original body was frivolous, but Feng Hui never taught her proper behavior.

Siyu would share whatever she got with the whole family, yet only the original body got a bad reputation.

Seeing her cry like that, Feng Hui lost her temper, “You little debt collector, come on, Mom’s taking you to register!”

Another thing settled.

Feng Hui went to pick up the sausages. The siblings stood waiting on the street when suddenly Chen Xuan’ang reached out, “Here’s your cookie.”

Two sugar-coated cookies, but they’d melted, and he’d been holding onto them without eating?

Chen Siyu’s eyes darted, and she pulled out two old coupons, went into the state-run store, and bought two bottles of soda.

Chen Xuan’ang immediately said, “I’m not drinking.”

“Our background’s too bad—we’re not supposed to enjoy good things. If Mom sees, she’ll nag. Quick, we have to finish it before she comes.” Saying that, Siyu stuffed the cookies into her mouth and gulped down the soda in one go.

Unable to refuse his sister, Chen Xuan’ang hesitated but then stuffed a cookie in his mouth. Just then, Feng Hui came downstairs, and he quickly hid the soda behind his back.

On the bus, he wisely sat far in the back.

Grateful and wanting to repay, Chen Siyu said, “Mom, I know I was wrong to run around before. From now on, I’ll work hard. Once I earn money, I’ll repay you for raising me.”

Because she was a foster daughter, Feng Hui had let Chen Siyu have more freedom and not imposed the same rules as on Nianqin.

But now that Siyu was willing to strive, Feng Hui didn’t hesitate to give some advice: “A woman needs her own job for a man to respect her. Even if you marry, having a good job gives you standing in your in-laws’ home. Otherwise, no matter how good the man is to you, it won’t matter.”

“Mom, from now on, I’ll bring honor to our Chen family on stage. I’ll be filial to you and Grandma. As for men, I won’t give them a second glance.” Chen Siyu said firmly.

That touched Feng Hui deeply. For parents, nothing was more precious than their children’s filial piety.

And from what she knew, Siyu was more thoughtful toward her parents than Nianqin.

“As long as you get into the Art Troupe, background won’t matter. I know you like Gao Dagang, and I have a good relationship with his aunt and uncle. Don’t worry, with me speaking up, the Gao family will agree.” Feng Hui said.

Chen Siyu almost couldn’t hold back her excitement.

The Gao family and Chen family got along well. Ever since Gao Dagang joined the Air Force, the original body chased him like a little hen, and both families had noticed. But neither family said a word because Gao’s mother didn’t take Chen Siyu seriously, thinking she was frivolous.

Feng Hui knew her foster daughter’s feelings but sided with Gao’s mother and ignored the matter.

In the first life, the original body had pestered Gao Dagang relentlessly until pregnant before marrying him.

But this time, Feng Hui was trying to play matchmaker?

Reflecting on this, Chen Siyu felt she was going too far and decided to hold back in front of Feng Hui to avoid her randomly setting up matchmaking.

Getting off the bus, looking up at the large sign reading “City Cultural Troupe Headquarters,” Chen Siyu was ready to embrace her artistic calling when a sharp shout came from afar: “Mom!” followed by a piercing scream: “Chen Siyu!”

She turned to see Chen Nianqin, leaning against the window of a bus across the street.

As the bus jolted away, Nianqin pounded on the window, shouting and screaming.

Feng Hui also looked back, “Siyu, didn’t I just hear Nianqin calling me?”

“Mom, you heard wrong. It was me calling you.” Chen Siyu, holding the sausages, affectionately linked arms with her foster mother, “The kindest, gentlest, most loving mom in the world is taking me to register at the Cultural Troupe!”

Since the 1960s, when ideological control tightened, standalone ballet troupes were disbanded, and ballet performances were absorbed into the Song and Dance Troupe.

The Song and Dance Troupe was the easiest of the three major troupes to get roles in.

Chen Siyu deliberately chose the Opera Troupe to avoid competing with the reborn heroine Chen Nianqin and to not overshadow her.

Chen Nanqin better knows her place—if not, she’d soon experience the tactics of the top director firsthand.

At the Cultural Troupe, Director Lu’s office.

Feng Hui said, “Hello, Sister Lu, this is a relative from my hometown, also here to register.”

Director Lu was a woman in her forties. She looked up and her eyes lit up, “Oh, I’ve seen this girl before. I had high hopes for her during the selection. When she didn’t show up to register, I thought she’d joined the military cultural troupe. Look at those eyes…”

Others’ eyes might speak, but you still had to guess what they meant. Chen Siyu’s eyes didn’t: her big, bright, clear gaze openly spilled sadness, joy, admiration, and delight—plainly and honestly.

She also had something rare in girls nowadays—a proud confidence and a bold spirit.

At this moment, her eyes seemed to say plainly: I, Chen Siyu, am the best.

Look at her upright posture, her small face, and the vibrant spirit like fresh spring buds!