The same song, when sung by Li Yang, wasn’t as loud—but it was undeniably more pleasant to hear.
After finishing her performance, Zhang Xiaoping waited for the trainees to flatter her.
But judging from everyone’s expressions, they seemed to prefer Li Yang’s singing instead.
Li Yang even left her with a single comment: “Nothing special.”
No one noticed when Chen Lili quietly left the scene.
Just as Zhang Xiaoping was about to lose her temper, Jiang Nianxin and Chen Lili walked onto the stage together.
“Everyone, quiet down. Comrade Li Yang’s evaluation period has ended. She has achieved top marks in all three categories. I have other arrangements for her, so for the next three days, she will not need to participate in assessments.”
“Additionally—”
Jiang Nianxin paused before continuing.
“I hope everyone works hard. This Northwestern performance troupe will be divided into two teams. I now appoint Li Yang as the captain of Team One.”
As soon as the director said this, the room filled with whispers.
Li Yao was especially unwilling to accept it. “Why?”
She didn’t even realize she had shouted her dissatisfaction out loud.
The classroom instantly fell silent.
Li Yang naturally knew who had spoken. She pressed her lips into a faint smile—couldn’t even handle such a small setback?
Jiang Nianxin frowned and scanned the room.
“Who disagrees?”
…
No one dared to speak.
Chen Lili then handed out her recorded scoring sheets for everyone to review.
“I personally conducted the evaluations—fair and impartial. Take a look yourselves.”
The sheets showed each person’s performance scores. Li Yang, despite only being there for two days, had already achieved top marks across the board. Everyone had witnessed her abilities, so no one questioned the validity of her results.
However, one note on the sheet stood out.
Chen Lili had written: Li Yang vs. Zhang Xiaoping — Li Yang wins!
No one expected Teacher Chen to even record that—truly fair and just.
The small disturbance ended, and everyone returned to intense rehearsals.
Although Jiang Nianxin’s strong support for a newcomer puzzled many, as the troupe leader, she had her own considerations.
Even she wasn’t sure if her approach was too radical. In recent years, the troupe’s performances had become too monotonous. She had visited other troupes, and most performances were similar.
The Northwestern troops faced harsh conditions and lacked developed entertainment facilities, but that didn’t mean they were unsophisticated.
Jiang Nianxin had long wanted to create something new but never found the right approach.
Until Li Yang appeared.
This girl was special—so special that whenever she stood on stage, it seemed to glow.
Some people were simply born for this path.
In just two days, Jiang Nianxin had already seen Li Yang’s inner strength—resilient and unyielding.
She was intelligent, strong-willed, knew what she wanted, and never failed at anything…
Though the future was uncertain, Jiang Nianxin held hope.
…
At the same time, in the Northwestern base.
“Report!”
“Come in!”
Li Chengyun had just been called back from disaster relief work in the Gobi Desert.
“Commissar, you wanted to see me?”
“Chengyun, set aside your current tasks. The organization has a mission—you need to go on a trip.”
Li Chengyun was worried about his men. A village of nearly a hundred people in the Gobi had been severely affected, and there were still injured needing relocation.
“Commissar, please assign someone else. I can’t leave right now.”
Huang Guishan calmly took a sip of hot tea before replying,
“No. That’s a whole vehicle of delicate flowers—you need to protect them well.”
Li Chengyun: ???
What kind of “flowers” required a regiment commander to escort personally?
Huang Guishan glanced at him. “Just go. Why so many questions?”
In truth, Huang Guishan cared about his subordinate. Li Chengyun was excellent in every way—tall, from a good family, handsome—but too cold in temperament.
If he met the girls from the Nancheng Art Troupe, maybe he’d finally open up.
Though he thought this, his face remained stern as he handed over a prepared document.
Li Chengyun read it—it assigned him to lead a team to Nancheng and safely escort the art troupe members supporting cultural development in the northwest.
Their accommodations and training facilities were already prepared—only awaiting their arrival.
Realizing this, Li Chengyun could no longer refuse.
The soldiers had long been looking forward to the troupe’s arrival.
“Mission accepted!”
After saluting, he left to prepare supplies and arrange for experienced soldiers to oversee the remaining disaster relief work.
Meanwhile, in Nancheng, all the trainees ultimately passed the evaluation.
However, a few outstanding individuals were selected for key roles.
After several meetings, Chen Lili was appointed as the overall leader for the Northwestern mission.
The team of over fifty performers was divided into two groups. As planned, Li Yang was appointed captain of Team One, leading thirty-seven members.
Jiang Xue insisted on joining Li Yang’s team.
Li Yao, whose abilities were mediocre despite buying her way into the singing department, was placed in Team Two.
Team Two, consisting of twenty members and led by Li Meng, focused mainly on publicity materials and scriptwriting.
Dividing into two teams would encourage improvement—pressure created motivation.
Trust those you use; don’t use those you doubt.
To prevent internal conflict, Jiang Nianxin granted Li Yang special authority: if anyone performed poorly or formed cliques, Li Yang could report them to Chen Lili and revoke their stage eligibility. Repeat offenders would be sent back.
Even Team Two’s leader, Li Meng, fell under this authority.
Though some felt jealous, most accepted Li Yang’s strength. If a captain were chosen from among the seniors, disputes would be inevitable—better to let an outsider take the role.
But how could Li Yao tolerate seeing Li Yang rise alongside her?
She glared viciously at her cousin, who was surrounded by admiration, and that very night went home to complain.
Li Xiuqin was furious. The old woman stormed into the small courtyard the Li family had rented.
“Li Qinghui! You’ve made it hard for me to find you!”
“You think moving here with those two wretches means I can’t find you?”
A young man who had brought her, hoping to curry favor with his superior, realized something was wrong.
Hearing her harsh words, he became unsure whether to stay or leave.
Hearing the commotion, Li Yang helped Zhao Wanrou outside.
Li Qinghui frowned. “Why are you here?”
Li Xiuqin scoffed. “I ask you—what is that wretch Li Yang up to? Her cousin joined the troupe, and now she’s tagging along like a dog?”
“I already said she should stay home and prepare for marriage—waiting for Director Song’s family…”
Li Qinghui couldn’t believe she still refused to give up.
“Our families have cut ties. If you accepted the bride price, that’s your business. If Li Yao doesn’t want to marry, then you can go yourself.”
Li Xiuqin clutched her chest in shock.
Li Yang looked at her coldly.
“Dad, go to the Women’s Federation and ask them to bring the police. Tell them someone here is attempting human trafficking. Let them investigate—public humiliation, posters, and prison might follow.”
“I’ve never seen someone so foolish. Li Qingsong is already a department head, yet instead of taking care of his mother, he lets her handle this mess. Don’t end up selling her off just for a thousand yuan…”
Li Yang laughed at her own words.
Zhao Wanrou lightly tapped her. “You child…”
“You unfilial girl—!”
Though angry, Li Xiuqin found some logic in her words—perhaps she should demand servants from her eldest son.
The young man finally understood the situation and awkwardly asked,
“Editor, should I call the Women’s Federation and the local office?”
Li Qinghui hesitated—but nodded.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Realizing the situation, the young man quickly left.
Hearing she might be reported, Li Xiuqin lunged at Li Yang, trying to hit her.
Li Qinghui blocked her, getting scratched in the process.
When the Women’s Federation and police arrived, they finally restrained the old woman.
After hearing Li Yang’s emotional account, they sympathized deeply and took Li Xiuqin away, promising strict punishment for such behavior.