Taking small bites of steamed cornbread soaked in porridge, Lin Yiqiao finally managed to finish the meal with great difficulty.
Su Min hadn’t spoken at the time because she had been grinning from ear to ear beside her after hearing that Lin Yiqiao had choked.
Lin Yiqiao didn’t blame her—she herself had wanted to laugh.
But being shameless was truly liberating, and she quickly forgot about the incident, shifting her focus to preparing for the morale-boosting performance.
First was the skit, followed by the chorus.
The skit was called “Tunnel Warfare,” and Lin Yiqiao played the role of Xiao Cui, a spirited and fiery young girl.
Dressed in a pink floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket with a side braid, she stood out vividly even while standing in the crowd with her hands tucked into her sleeves.
Lin Yiqiao knew her acting skills weren’t particularly strong, so she didn’t compete for the female lead role.
Zheng Qinghui assigned her the role of Xiao Honglian. Though it was a supporting role, it had plenty of stage time, making the most of her striking appearance.
Her fair, delicate skin carried a hint of charming blush, and even the simple floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket couldn’t conceal her allure, making it hard for anyone to look away.
Although Lin Yiqiao was usually a bit frivolous, she took serious matters seriously.
She glanced in the direction of the temporary command post.
Though her heart itched with curiosity, she knew she had to focus on the performance first.
Rehearsals went smoothly, and soon it was time for the official performance.
The soldiers had helped set up the stage. Though simple, the venue was spacious enough for the actors to give their all.
Lin Yiqiao peeked out from behind the heavy curtain. The villagers had brought their small stools and gathered in front of the stage, chatting casually and sharing homemade roasted sunflower seeds.
Thanks to the timely rescue efforts, the losses had been minimal, and with the help of the PLA soldiers in relocating, everyone had adapted quickly.
Children ran around in small groups, while the adults pretended to scold them with laughter, occasionally handing them snacks and drinks.
Everyone was looking forward to the performance, having heard that it was a cultural troupe from the capital.
The area in front of the stage was packed, as if all the residents of Nanping had come to join the excitement. Many young men even climbed trees to get a better view.
Lin Yiqiao touched the floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket she was wearing. She had initially found it too warm, but now she felt it was worth it.
“Deng deng deng~ dang”
The seasoned musicians brought out their instruments and began playing and singing with deep immersion.
Lin Yiqiao was the first to appear on stage. With smooth, circular steps, she entered like a delicate flower, then casually sat down to wash clothes while pounding them.
All eyes followed her, so much so that even the female lead, Xiuying, made her entrance unnoticed.
Lin Yiqiao thought washing clothes was tiring, and since the focus was now on the female lead, she could slack off for a bit.
But as soon as she looked up, she realized everyone’s eyes were still on her, startling her into almost turning into the “Hammer King of the Northwest.”
Fortunately, her scene soon arrived. Xiao Honglian was Xiuying’s sister-in-law, a minor antagonist in the early part of the story, whose fiery and sharp-tongued nature often tormented Xiuying.
During previous performances in rural areas, the straightforward villagers had nothing good to say about Xiao Honglian in the early scenes.
But today, everyone was unusually forgiving toward her. Even when she acted foolishly, no one muttered complaints below the stage. It was no wonder—who could bring themselves to speak harshly to such a lovely face?
As the plot neared its climax, everyone worked together to cover the troops as they attacked the Japanese base. The enemy’s firepower was intense, with machine guns from the bunker sweeping the area, making it difficult to advance.
Xiuying was the organization’s liaison, but at this moment, she wanted to step forward and blow up the bunker.
Everyone disagreed. Amid the struggle, Xiao Honglian grabbed a grenade and ran toward the bunker.
“Sister-in-law! I was wrong to you before, please take care of my mother for me!”
With a deafening “boom,” the bunker was gone.
The explosion was so realistic that some villagers stood up and asked if anyone was hurt.
Some women even shed tears—they were those who had lived through that era.
After Lin Yiqiao came off stage, she didn’t even have time to take a sip of water before being hurriedly dressed in an army-green military uniform.
The uniform of the cultural troupe was tailored to accentuate the waist, and as soon as Lin Yiqiao put it on, her slender yet curvaceous figure was highlighted.
She put on a military cap in front of a simple backstage mirror, a red star in the center complementing her fair, rosy-cheeked beauty.
She braided her hair into two pigtails, draped over her shoulders and hanging down to her chest, making her lively black eyes appear even more innocent.
The main actors also came off stage one after another, but before they could exchange more than a few words, the host began announcing the next act.
Lin Yiqiao saw Su Min secretly giving her a thumbs-up. She waved her hand, signaling that no words were needed.
Lin Yiqiao couldn’t play any instruments, but her voice was pleasant, so she was naturally chosen as the lead singer.
As the curtain rose, she started the tune as the lead singer. Everyone was watching her, but her gaze was fixed solely on the man in the audience.
Qi Jun sat upright in the audience. A fellow villager beside him offered him a handful of peanuts and melon seeds, but he declined with a smile, his well-defined hands gently pushing them away. The watch on his wrist reflected a faint gleam of light.
Lin Yiqiao wondered when he had arrived.
“We walk on the broad road, spirited and full of fighting spirit.”
As the powerful lyrics began, she took a step forward, her eyes meeting his directly.
Her resounding singing voice, her soft face.
A cool breeze blew from the depths of the mountains, tousling her bangs.
The sky gradually darkened, and the villagers lit bonfires, their flickering light sparkling in Lin Yiqiao’s eyes. She smiled radiantly—truly, a beauty seen under the lamplight.
The man was the first to look away, and Lin Yiqiao smiled even more brightly. She loved to laugh, revealing her pearly white teeth, making others feel her sincerity and joy, and drawing them irresistibly closer to her.