Soon, the day of the audition arrived.
Lin Yiqiao had prepared thoroughly. She had revised the concept of her dance, renaming it “Red Blossom,” symbolizing the soldiers’ indomitable vitality and the nation’s flourishing prosperity.
The audition was held in the small auditorium of the military district. She observed the other candidates and realized that not many people knew about the opportunity—most of the participants were family members of military officers.
The girls mostly wore thick, glossy black braids, their faces vibrant with a touch of the era’s unique simplicity.
Lin Yiqiao’s turn was relatively late. Most of the girls before her performed similar styles—some wore prepared stage costumes, while others simply donned military-green uniforms.
Their dance moves weren’t particularly professional or aesthetically refined, but they exuded an undeniable sense of righteousness.
Backstage, Lin Yiqiao chatted with others and discovered that almost every girl had at least ten years of dance training, with impressive resumes—some had even attended university.
Was this the educational strength of the Northern Capital?
Soon, it was Lin Yiqiao’s turn. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage with a standard circular walk.
When she reached the center, she smiled, glancing at the judges below and the emblem of the Northern Capital Military District on the ceiling.
She couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly—a girl from a small southern town like her had actually made it to the grand stage of the Northern Capital.
The music began, and she stood poised before starting her dance.
Soft yet sharp, her water sleeves struck the ground like rhythmic drumbeats.
As she danced, Lin Yiqiao couldn’t help but recall the school dance performance in third grade.
When she mentioned the three-cent dance shoes at the dinner table, her stepfather’s face darkened instantly.
Her mother dragged her into the room without a word, berating and belittling her. Lin Yiqiao retorted only twice before her mother pinched her cheek hard, using no finesse—almost as if she wanted to tear off a piece of flesh.
Her stepsister, Jiang Li, watched mockingly, asking if she had been beaten. Lin Yiqiao gritted her teeth and denied it.
Jiang Li’s teasing words still echoed in her mind: “Stop pretending. Your mother pinched your cheek until it swelled. How dare a burden like you learn to dance?”
Even now, thinking about it made Lin Yiqiao want to rush back and beat them senseless.
What shameless people! Before leaving, she should have covered them in sacks and slapped their faces until they swelled.
But it didn’t matter.
The day I rise will be the day they’re buried!
Like a sharp blade cutting through smoothness, the fierce strikes of her water sleeves against the ground added a touch of resilience to the graceful and delicate dance.
At that moment, she was the female warrior, Red Blossom.
The hall fell silent for three seconds before erupting into thunderous applause.
Zheng Qinghui’s eyes lit up. As the head of the cultural troupe, she was the backbone of this audition.
In her eyes, dance was also a form of performance—the most captivating dance was the best dance.
In this performance, Lin Yiqiao was both the southern girl, Red Blossom, and the female warrior, Red Blossom.
Zheng Qinghui sensed Lin Yiqiao’s emotions.
Though her dance lacked professional polish, her strengths were prominent enough. The cultural troupe’s dances didn’t need to be overly refined—they only needed to convey strength to the soldiers and the masses.
As the dance ended, Lin Yiqiao stood still, her face flushed warmly, resembling a resilient and delicate red blossom.
Lifting her eyes, she met Zheng Qinghui’s appreciative gaze and responded with a shy, sincere smile.
Unaware that she had stumbled upon success, Lin Yiqiao walked off the stage amid the applause.
Backstage, the other girls also praised her dance with admiration.
“Your dancing is so powerful and full of energy,” said Su Min, the daughter of military commissar Su Shiqi.
“Thank you. Actually, I think your dancing is excellent too—it has the resilience of wild grass that springs back with the wind, yet also the soft beauty of a flower. You balance it perfectly,” Lin Yiqiao replied with a smile.
Lin Yiqiao quickly pushed thoughts of her damn stepfather and his family out of her mind.
“You watched my performance too?” Su Min asked, a little embarrassed.
“Of course. It was captivating—impossible to look away.”
Lin Yiqiao also felt that Su Min’s skill was impressive, and she found her very likable.
Maybe the two of them could join the cultural troupe together.
Zheng Qinghui was not one to drag things out, and she announced the results on the spot.
“Su Min, Lin Yiqiao. The rest of you can wait for the next round of recruitment or explore other opportunities.”
Lin Yiqiao was thrilled, and Su Min rushed over with a smile, giving her a high-five.
“From now on, we’ll be comrades fighting side by side.”
“Of course. I’ll be counting on your guidance, Comrade Su.”
The two walked back to the military compound together.
Being around a young girl like this felt good—Lin Yiqiao felt alive again.
Time in the capital passed quickly. Lin Yiqiao’s file was transferred to military status, and her household registration was moved to the capital.
Only then did she feel she had truly escaped that place and started life anew.
Lin Yiqiao soon officially began working in the cultural troupe. Her looks were among the best in the troupe.
Chu Qing, a member of the troupe, was an exceptionally skilled dancer with a strong, dominant personality—the kind who took charge as the “big sister.”
Lin Yiqiao knew how to read the big sister’s moods. Wherever she went, she knew how to align herself, and Chu Qing took good care of her and Su Min.
She also learned a lot about Zheng Qinghui. Most artists of that era were aloof and principled, and Zheng Qinghui was no exception.
In front of her, Lin Yiqiao maintained an image of integrity and hard work.
Overall, she was doing well in the cultural troupe, and good opportunities still came her way.
Not long after, a major natural disaster struck Nanshan, forcing local residents to evacuate. The higher-ups ordered the military cultural troupe to perform for morale support.
The unit responsible for disaster relief was none other than the 32nd Regiment.
Without a second thought, Lin Yiqiao signed up.