Beijing First Military District:
The unfamiliar middle-aged man hurried after Gu Li, explaining as he walked, “Comrade, I’m not asking for directions, and I’m not selling whatever thing you think I’m selling.”
It was his first time ever stopping a female comrade on the street like this.
Seeing that the middle-aged man would not leave her alone, Gu Li became a little impatient.
“You’re not selling what I said you were selling, then what exactly are you selling?”
“Comrade, it’s a misunderstanding, I’m not selling anything at all. I work in this military district.”
The man broke out in a cold sweat and quickly pulled out his work ID from his bag.
Gu Li took it suspiciously, and her eyes immediately lit up.
“Beijing First Military District Cultural Troupe Director, Li Dajiang?”
Li Dajiang was already overwhelmed. Above he had issued an order that this year’s artistic performance among the five major military districts in Beijing could no longer leave their First Military District as the perennial runner up.
Always second in name, second in military competitions, why was their cultural troupe always dragging them down?
Clearly, it meant his department was the weak link.
The cultural troupe had become stagnant and needed fresh blood.
So when he finally saw a promising candidate with excellent looks, figure, and temperament, he became anxious. He could not blame the young woman for being cautious either. He had just returned from leave and was not wearing his uniform, so her suspicion only showed she was careful and thoughtful.
“Director Li, what brings you to me?”
Gu Li wondered inwardly.
The cultural troupe was where Su Baozhu worked in the original story. This man was Su Baozhu’s superior. Why was he stopping her?
Li Dajiang looked at Gu Li with hopeful eyes.
“Comrade, I am Li Dajiang, Director of the Beijing First Military District Cultural Troupe. May I ask if you would be interested in joining our cultural troupe?”
Gu Li was slightly stunned.
Was recruitment really this casual?
No need to ask about skills, no need to perform on the spot?
She looked at him again, increasingly suspicious.
Was this man a scammer?
Brazen enough to run a scam right outside a military gate?
She quietly stepped back half a pace and smiled politely.
“Director Li, this is quite sudden. I’m honestly a bit overwhelmed. Let me think about it.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and ran toward the sentry post, glancing back at him warily.
She whispered something to the soldier on duty.
The soldier, already aware she had just been speaking with a military leader, did not chase her away. When she asked whether the man was really the cultural troupe director, he looked over, nodded, and could not help but snicker.
Li Dajiang froze in place, his smile stiffening.
She had checked on him right in front of his face.
Did she think he was a fraud? If he were really a scammer, would he still be standing here?
He suddenly wondered if it was too late to regret this.
After confirming with the soldier, Gu Li finally relaxed and walked back as if nothing had happened.
Strange, why did Director Li look like he had just suffered a setback?
Could he be trying to back out now?
“Director Li, I’ve thought it through. I feel like I was born for the cultural troupe. I’m willing to join. Shall we work well together in the future?”
She spoke with complete confidence and even insisted on a handshake to “seal the deal.”
Li Dajiang lightly touched her hand before quickly letting go. His smile looked more like a grimace.
“Pleasure working with you.”
And just like that, Gu Li successfully entered the Beijing First Military District.
Strictly speaking, she was placed in the military guesthouse for now.
Director Li explained that to officially join the cultural troupe, she needed to pass both political review and recruitment selection. Only after passing both could she enter.
Gu Li had a strong feeling that this so-called “selection process” had been added on the spot, but she had no evidence.
So she was temporarily assigned to the guesthouse, waiting for the cultural troupe auditions.
This round of recruitment would not include written tests, only interviews.
As for talent performance, Gu Li’s body was stiff and uncoordinated, so dancing was out of the question.
The only talent she could confidently claim was her title as the “Strongest Karaoke King.”
In the original story, Su Baozhu was known as the “Golden Voice.”
Then she, the “Karaoke King,” would go meet her properly.
…
Cultural Troupe Office, Beijing First Military District:
Bang!
Su Baozhu stormed into Li Dajiang’s office, slamming the list of interview candidates onto the desk.
“Director Li, why was someone suddenly added to the interview list?”
Li Dajiang, buried in documents, was startled by the noise. Seeing her attitude, irritation rose in him instantly.
Su Baozhu always acted superior because of her family background. She came and went as she pleased, and now she even dared to slap his desk. Anyone would think she was the director instead.
His face darkened.
“I am the director of the cultural troupe. Or are you? I have the authority to adjust the interview list.”
He threw down his pen and leaned back in his chair, staring straight at her.
Su Baozhu became even more furious.
If it had been anyone else, she would not have cared.
But why did it have to be that country bumpkin Gu Li, who always appeared like a nuisance?
She slammed her hands on the desk.
“She has no performance experience at all. No school recommendation, no workplace recommendation. Why is she qualified for the audition?”
Li Dajiang let out a cold snort.
“She meets the social recruitment requirements and passed a political review. She also has singing talent listed clearly in her file. I am acting strictly according to regulations.”
His eyes carried a hint of disdain.
With someone like Su Baozhu around, no wonder their cultural troupe had been stuck as the perennial runner up.
It seemed his decision was correct.
Let that girl Gu Li stir things up a bit.