Chapter 9: A Perfect Success

When Feng Hui arrived, she brought a pound of beef. Chen Siyu left before she could repay her.

Though not a large piece, in these times it was extremely precious.

If conditions were better, with no shortages, this prime lean beef would be first frozen to remove acid, then marinated with red wine, rosemary, pepper, and olive oil, and finally pan-fried into a tender, juicy steak.

But now, she had to make do. She stir-fried it simply with fresh green onions to enjoy the original flavor of the beef.

One meal couldn’t finish it all. Without a fridge and in hot weather, she salted a big chunk to preserve it. To prevent the recently moved-in rats from stealing it, she had to hang it up.

Eating beef in a crowded courtyard was like showing off.

So when cooking, Chen Siyu deliberately closed the door, not daring to let the aroma escape.

When Chen Xuan’ang came back from the boiler room, looking like a thin charcoal stick, he opened the door into the stuffy room. Chen Siyu, staring blankly at a plate of green onion beef, hurriedly started scooping noodles when she saw him.

“Wash your hands quickly. If you don’t eat soon, the noodles will burn,” she said.

There was still a chunk of beef hanging from the beam, at least eight taels.

Because pork was scarce and had to be grabbed, plus Chen Siyu’s bad reputation for taking things, the boy immediately got upset: “I’m not eating.”

“Chen Xuan’ang, you even refuse beef. What do you want to eat then?” Chen Siyu retorted.

“I can eat sweet potatoes. I just don’t want you to take other people’s stuff anymore,” Chen Xuan’ang said angrily.

“My mom gave it to me. What’s wrong? If you don’t want it, don’t eat it forever. I’ll eat it myself.” Chen Siyu got mad too. She had already made her stance clear yesterday, but this kid still didn’t believe her. Fine, she’d just let him have it.

Of course, once he learned it was from Feng Hui, Chen Xuan’ang realized he had misunderstood his sister.

Today, with Chen Nianqin deliberately accusing Chen Siyu of misconduct and urging him to report her, it backfired. Chen Xuan’ang actually began to doubt: Maybe Nianqin wasn’t as innocent and pure as he thought, and maybe Siyu wasn’t as scandalous or bad as the rumors said.

After all, these days discipline is paramount. Reporting someone for moral issues is practically a death sentence!

And Chen Nianqin obviously wanted Chen Siyu dead.

Blushing and guilty, Chen Xuan’ang was stubborn. His sister even picked noodles for him and covered half the plate of beef with sauce-soaked noodles.

Yet he still refused to eat and went back to his rotten sweet potatoes.

“Xuan’ang, Xuan’ang, mad and angry all the way to Mid-Autumn Festival,” Chen Siyu teased as she slurped a bite of noodles.

Her little brother paused, then continued washing the sweet potatoes.

Chen Siyu: “On Mid-Autumn Festival, they slaughter pigs, and Xuan’ang’s craving makes him cry.”

The boy couldn’t help it: “You’re my sister, grown up now. Can you stop being so childish?” Spitting out a rhyme to tease her for being dumb.

“Then can you stop being childish and refusing to eat when you’re angry?” Chen Siyu shot back.

The boy picked up his bowl and took just one bite before being surprised. In his memory, no matter how much seasoning Mao Mu used on beef or lamb, there was always a gamey smell he disliked. He didn’t like that flavor, so he rarely ate beef or lamb growing up.

But the beef Chen Siyu cooked had no gamey smell at all—it was tender yet chewy, and full of rich meaty aroma. Just one bite was enough to satisfy.

“I’ve been reported by Chen Nianqin for a disciplinary issue. Tomorrow I have to go to the Ideological Committee. You should ask for leave again. Let’s go together,” Chen Siyu said.

Chen Xuan’ang frowned—partly shocked by Chen Nianqin’s ruthlessness, and partly because Old Mao in the boiler room had beaten him up today and asked if he had given the family’s antiques to Chen Siyu.

He also said that if Chen Siyu wasn’t driven away, he would report her and have her branded with shackles and a tall hat.

Chen Xuan’ang hated both Mao Mu and Old Mao, but for now, he was holding back. If it got too bad, he would take them down with him. But to avoid pain, he shouldn’t provoke Old Mao anymore.

Still, chewing the beef bite by bite, savoring the rare sweetness and fragrance, he nodded, “Okay.”

He couldn’t let the only family member he had in this world face trouble without a single supporter by her side.

The next morning, at 8:30, in the large courtyard of the Ideological Committee, birds chirped in the branches.

It was only just starting work hours, so not many people had arrived yet, but Gao Daguang, tall, handsome, and dressed in a freshly polished green uniform, stood out conspicuously.

He was from the last graduating class before the university closed and was very outstanding.

His mother had come as well, standing with Feng Hui, chatting occasionally and looking anxiously outside the courtyard.

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out, “Uncle Fang!”

The two women exchanged a glance. That bright, cheerful voice was unmistakably Chen Siyu.

She was calling Director Fang, naturally.

“Kid, I don’t usually hear you call me that. Today you suddenly recognize me as your uncle?” Director Fang was just about to enter when Chen Siyu stopped him.

Chen Siyu, wearing a patched earth-yellow shirt popular a few years ago instead of her usual green, curled her lips slightly and said, “I’m not scared of you. When I see you, I’m like a mouse avoiding a cat—I just want to run away.”

Indeed, children from the military academy were all afraid of Director Fang and would run whenever they saw him. But Chen Siyu wasn’t one of them; she didn’t respect authority. Smiling, Director Fang said, “I’m here to question you today. You’re not afraid of me now?”

Chen Siyu straightened her chest and raised her head, “I’m scared, but I don’t like others throwing mud on me, so I have courage.”

Director Fang rolled his eyes in exasperation, “Kid, your mouth is tough. I’m going to properly interrogate you.”

Feng Hui and Gao’s mother exchanged a knowing glance. Chen Siyu hadn’t even stepped inside the courtyard and was already protesting. They quickly nudged Gao Daguang, signaling him to come outside with them.

Right, Gao Daguang had just passed the selection. Over in the Air Force courtyard, his superior, Captain Leng, had also been notified to come understand the situation. The two women said together, “Captain Leng, the other person involved has arrived too and is already talking outside. You should come along; let’s have a look.”

Putting Captain Leng and Gao Daguang together showed the difference clearly. Though Gao Daguang was handsome, he was clearly a bit naive.

As a third-generation Air Force offspring, Captain Leng was tall and sharp but lacked the usual roughness of soldiers. Instead, he had a refined and scholarly air few soldiers possessed. He politely gestured, “Aunties, please go ahead.”

Director Fang happened to have Chen Nianqin’s complaint letter in his hand. Since Chen Siyu wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed, he wasn’t either. He pulled out the letter and, working on the spot, said, “Kid, Chen Nianqin reported that you went to the Six Nations Hotel with Gao Daguang. Is that true?”

Chen Siyu raised her head proudly and answered frankly, “Yes.”

The Six Nations Hotel?

At this time, it was the only foreign affairs reception hotel in all of North City.

How novel! People coming to work, handling business, or just passing by all gathered around.

A young girl going to a foreign affairs hotel with a young man—what could they be doing? How did she have the nerve to openly admit this in front of the crowd? Everyone was extremely curious.

At this moment, Gao’s mother hurried out and chimed in, “Director Fang, it was Siyu who invited my Daguang. Given how much Siyu likes my Daguang…” She grudgingly said, “Might as well marry her first, then sort things out afterward.”

As she spoke, she motioned for Gao Daguang to step forward.

But Gao Daguang, though he liked Chen Siyu, liked her because she fawned over him and played along. He was just a young guy barely over twenty, pressured to marry, so naturally, he was reluctant.

His mother was desperate; his superior was standing coldly behind with folded arms, but he stubbornly refused to step forward.

Gao’s mother was frantic. If her son didn’t admit it, this would really turn into a moral scandal.

She pinched his lower back hard, making him grunt in pain.

Under his mother’s pressure, Gao Daguang finally admitted it and was about to step forward.

But then Chen Siyu spread her hands and said, “We just watched ‘Peter and the Wolf.’ I love ballet and am rehearsing Alexander Rolf’s work, so I wanted to watch the movie version for inspiration. But it got too dark, and I was scared to go alone, so I asked Brother Gao from the academy to come with me. Uncle Fang, do you think watching a movie means I have to get married? Boohoo… I wish I hadn’t gone.”

Director Fang frowned, “What ‘Peter and the Wolf’? I’ve never heard of that movie.”

Early in the morning, many people came to the Ideological Committee, and a large crowd had gathered.

In the middle of the crowd, Chen Siyu suddenly spread her arms wide and formed loose fists with her fingers. Then she jumped twice in a row: “It’s ‘Peter and the Wolf,’ Alexander Rolf’s ballet. It’s my audition piece for my entry performance, and I’m playing the little wolf.”

Someone in the crowd commented, “Such a pretty girl playing a wolf—how can she pull that off?”

Though a bit cheesy, an actor’s self-discipline means always being able to get into character anywhere, anytime.

Chen Siyu spread her arms again, executed a small jump with bent knees, and seeing the crowd startled and stepping back, she leapt high. Despite her worn clothes, the agility in her jump, the straightening of her legs and back, and the clean foot placement upon landing all showed solid ballet fundamentals.

Suddenly, the startled crowd thought she was about to perform a ballet right there on the spot.

But instead, she knelt down, stretched out both hands like claws, bared her teeth in a grimace—eh, what a little wolf cub, not fierce at all, even a bit cute.

The onlookers burst out laughing at her antics.

Amid the laughter, she retorted, “Not like it?” Her big eyes blinked innocently. “That’s why I wanted to watch the movie—to learn some experience.” Then she pouted, tears welling up as she looked at Director Fang with a wronged expression.

How could Director Fang argue with that? This little flower of a girl, who could both sing and dance, was admittedly flashy, but her ballet was indeed good. To accuse her of misconduct just because she went to a movie with a boy was unfair.

But he furrowed his brow and said, “But Siyu…” Chen Nianqin claimed she and Gao Daguang had gone to see an adult film and had slept together. That would be a very serious offense, and more words were pointless; Director Fang needed evidence!

“That ticket was given by Aunt Gao. It’s precious, see, I even kept the stub.” She carefully pulled out half a ticket stub scavenged from the trash, her tear-blurred eyes blinking as she offered it to the crowd.

Actually, Gao Daguang had taken Chen Siyu to see Red Whirlwind. As teenage boys and girls in such a conservative era, they hadn’t even dared hold hands. And Peter and the Wolf was even purer—it was a children’s ballet!

Director Fang was somewhat skeptical, but at that moment, Gao’s mother stepped forward: “The ticket was given by me. Everyone, Siyu is a good child. Just going to a movie and being accused of misconduct—that’s a malicious report. Don’t you all agree?”

The crowd, unaware of the full details, just found the little wolf adorable and naturally nodded: “Yes, yes, yes.”

Gao’s mother continued: “I vouch for Siyu. She has good character and good conduct. Director Fang, we’ve all watched Siyu grow up. Don’t wrong the child just because of some personal grudges.”

Hmm, Director Fang hadn’t actually dragged personal grudges into this; he was just doing his job seriously.

But with everyone’s eyes on him, he had to make a statement.

With a stern face, pointing at Chen Siyu, Director Fang said, “Kid, for now, I don’t think you have any ideological problems, but…”

Gao’s mother interrupted: “I’ve watched her grow up from childhood, and I guarantee she won’t make mistakes in the future.”

The crowd also chimed in: “She’s just a teenager, Director. No need to blow things out of proportion.”

Intellectuals especially valued talent, and since Chen Siyu’s father was a war hero and an old comrade of Director Fang, it would weigh heavily on his conscience to brand the daughter of a comrade with a misconduct label.

Since Siyu said she followed Gao Daguang simply because she wanted someone to accompany her at night to watch a movie, it proved her focus was truly on her career. Out of respect for an old comrade, Director Fang couldn’t say she was at fault.

He immediately wrote a note on the report, gave Chen Siyu a fierce glare, and slapped the report in front of her: “If you dare make misconduct mistakes again, just wait!”

Chen Siyu shrank her shoulders, frightened like a startled little bird by the stern old man.

But that meant it was all settled.

Gao’s mother was naturally happy—her son didn’t have to marry so soon, and she could look for a more suitable daughter-in-law.

Gao Daguang, however, felt a bit bitter. Although reluctant, he had just prepared himself mentally to be a groom, but the bride slipped away.

The crowd’s excitement died down, and they dispersed.

The most upset person in the crowd was Feng Hui.

A report was a double-edged sword: Siyu was cleared, but Nianqin was the one with problems.

The Thought Committee would notify the Art Troupe to clarify the situation, and Nianqin’s hard-won job would be lost.

Looking at her husband, she was speechless, wanting to cry but unable: “Her father!”

Originally, Siyu couldn’t clear her name, but that silly girl somehow kept the ticket stub. That stub was crucial—it turned Gao’s mother to Siyu’s side. And once Gao’s mother sided with Siyu, Director Fang had to believe it; if not, Gao’s mother could complain to higher-ups.

In short, Siyu overturned the situation with just a ticket stub.

Of course, that meant the end for Nianqin.

“Is it my fault? No, it’s yours for not educating your daughter properly,” Chen Gang was angry, sighing but declaring, “Today I’m going to the Art Troupe to withdraw her file and send Nianqin to the countryside.”

Feng Hui gasped sharply: “If you really send Nianqin to the countryside, she won’t handle it and will commit suicide. I… I won’t live either.”

Huh, in just one night, the tables turned—now it was Feng Hui who wanted to jump into the well. Did Chen Siyu try to stop her?

“Mom, you still have me! You can’t do anything to yourself for me, Mom!” Chen Siyu burst into tears instantly, her voice shaking the skies. If she didn’t make a fuss, it was fine, but once she did, Chen Gang was even more determined to send Nianqin away.

Feng Hui, both angry at Siyu and helpless, still had to care for her own daughter and think of a way out, so she hurried off.

Chen Gang comforted his adopted daughter: “I’ll watch over your file and urge Uncle Gao to hurry up and get you in…”

“Practice dance, work, and earn money to buy Dad some Da Qianmen and Fenghu, and Yuxi cigarettes!” Chen Siyu snapped to attention.

This charming girl made him smile, but thinking of Nianqin, Chen Gang’s face darkened again.

Wouldn’t it be better if the two sisters loved each other? Nianqin was acting crazy all day—what was she trying to do?

A perfectly good family was on the verge of falling apart because of her.

Early the next morning, after an exhilarating performance, Chen Siyu felt it was a complete success!

After seeing her father off and looking around, she walked toward where Gao Daguang stood, a smile on her lips.

Gao Daguang saw her smiling so brightly, thinking she had just made a statement in front of the adults and was now back to her old ways, coming to bother him. He didn’t mind the attention—he enjoyed the fun of being chased by her—but this place wasn’t suitable.

So he quickly cleared his throat and gave her a warning glare, signaling her to stay away.

She could play around later quietly, but he hadn’t officially started working, and the bosses were watching.

This girl was great in every way except she was too willful and lacked tact.

Seeing her getting closer, he told the leader, “Captain Leng, this girl, well, her brain isn’t quite…”

“Brother!” Chen Siyu stopped in front of him, smiling like a blossoming flower, fresh and charming like a spring day: “Why are you here too?”

What?

When did Leng, the fearsome squad leader of the flight team, become Chen Siyu’s brother?

Her biological brother? Or just the boy who rides behind on the bicycle? Or maybe a sworn brother?