Chapter 9: The Morale-Boosting Performance

Taking tiny bites of the steamed corn bun soaked in porridge, Lin Yiqiao finally managed to finish her meal.

As for Su Min, the reason she hadn’t said anything when Lin Yiqiao got her jaw stuck earlier was because she was too busy grinning from ear to ear beside her.

Lin Yiqiao didn’t blame her. Even she wanted to laugh about it now.

Shamelessness really was liberating — she quickly forgot the incident and turned her focus to preparing for the morale-boosting performance.

First up was a dramatic skit, followed by a group choral performance.

The skit was called “Tunnel Warfare”, and Lin Yiqiao played Xiao Cui, a bold and spirited village girl.

In her pink floral padded jacket and a side braid, she stood out from the crowd even when she had her hands tucked in her sleeves.

She knew her acting wasn’t great, so she hadn’t tried for the lead.

Zheng Qinghui cast her as Xiao Honglian instead — a supporting role, but with plenty of scenes, perfect for showcasing her looks.

Her fair face carried a hint of shy mischief, and though she wore a simple big-flowered cotton coat, it couldn’t hide her natural charm. People couldn’t help but stare.

Though Lin Yiqiao usually joked around, when it came to serious matters, she was focused and diligent.

She glanced toward the temporary command post.

Her heart itched with curiosity, but she knew she had to do the performance right first — business before pleasure.

---

The rehearsals went smoothly, and soon it was time for the actual performance.

The soldiers had helped build a stage. Though simple, it was large enough for the troupe to perform properly.

Peeking out from behind the thick curtain, Lin Yiqiao saw the villagers seated with their small stools, chatting away and sharing their homemade roasted seeds.

Thanks to the swift response during the disaster, damage had been minimal, and with the help of the PLA soldiers, the relocation went smoothly. The villagers adapted quickly.

Children ran around in groups, laughing and shouting, while the adults scolded them with mock sternness and slipped them snacks.

Everyone was looking forward to the show — after all, it was a performance by a troupe from the capital.

The crowd was packed. It felt like all of Nanping had shown up. Some young men had even climbed trees to get a better view.

Lin Yiqiao touched her floral cotton coat. Earlier she’d thought it was too warm, but now she felt it was worth it.

“Deng deng deng~dang!”

The veteran musicians brought out their instruments and played with passion.

Lin Yiqiao was the first to appear. With a smooth, circular step, she gracefully walked on stage like a blooming flower, then casually plopped down to do laundry.

Every eye followed her, to the point that even the heroine, Xiuying, was barely noticed when she came on stage.

Washing clothes on stage was tiring. Lin Yiqiao figured this part of the scene wasn’t focused on her, so she could relax a bit.

But just as she looked up, she noticed all the audience’s eyes were still locked on her — startling her into frantically pretending to scrub laundry, looking like a hammer queen from the Northwest.

Luckily, it was soon her scene.

Xiao Honglian was Xiuying’s sister-in-law — a somewhat villainous role early on. She was fiery, brash, and often gave Xiuying a hard time.

During past rural performances, simple-minded villagers had nothing good to say about Xiao Honglian’s character.

But today, the audience was unusually tolerant. Even when she acted foolish, no one muttered a word of complaint below the stage.

No surprise — who could bring themselves to criticize such a pretty face?

As the story reached its climax, the villagers helped cover for the soldiers’ attack on the enemy’s stronghold. The enemy’s machine guns in the bunker were fierce, making it hard to advance.

Xiuying, the liaison for the resistance, wanted to step up and blow up the bunker herself.

No one agreed — as they argued, Xiao Honglian rushed forward with a grenade.

“Sis-in-law! I’ve wronged you in the past — take care of my mom for me!”

BOOM — a loud explosion, and the bunker was gone.

The effect was so realistic that some villagers stood up in alarm, asking if anyone was hurt.

Some women even wept — they’d lived through those times.

Backstage, Lin Yiqiao hadn’t even had time to drink water before she was pulled into a military-green uniform.

The tailored uniform of the cultural troupe accentuated her curves. When she put on the military cap — a red star centered on her forehead — her rosy-white face became even more striking.

She braided her hair into two plaits that hung over her shoulders, drawing even more attention to her bright, shiny black eyes that sparkled with purity.

The other performers returned backstage as well, but before they could exchange more than a few words, the emcee was already announcing the next act.

Lin Yiqiao saw Su Min secretly give her a big thumbs up. She waved it off — no words needed.

Lin Yiqiao didn’t play any instruments, but she had a beautiful voice, so naturally she was chosen as the lead vocalist.

As the curtain opened, she stepped forward to sing the opening lines — all eyes on her.

But she only looked at one man in the crowd.

Qi Jun sat upright in the front. A villager offered him a handful of peanuts and sunflower seeds, which he declined with a polite smile. His long, elegant fingers gestured gently, and the watch on his wrist caught the light.

Lin Yiqiao wondered when he had arrived.

“We march along the great road, high-spirited and full of pride…”

She sang the powerful opening line, stepping forward, eyes locked on his.

Strong, rousing lyrics paired with a soft, beautiful face.

A breeze drifted through the mountains, blowing her bangs slightly out of place.

As night fell, villagers lit bonfires. The flames reflected in Lin Yiqiao’s eyes like sparkling stars. Her smile was radiant under the glow of firelight — truly the beauty beneath the lantern.

He was the first to look away.

And Lin Yiqiao smiled even brighter.

She loved to laugh — showing off her gleaming white teeth — a smile that made people feel her joy, her sincerity… and made them want to get closer.