Mother Xiao, along with the couple Xiao Laosan, carried their small stools and had just arrived at the meeting place when they saw Xiao Laoda had already saved them a spot and was waving at them.
“Mom, Laosan, over here!”
Just as Tang Xin’er squeezed past Xiao Ze to join her eldest brother and sister-in-law, her sister-in-law slipped a handful of peanuts into her hand, “Sister-in-law, we picked these in the fields a few days ago. Eat them quickly, they’re delicious.”
A kind smile appeared on her dark, thin face.
Su Yunyi happily sat down.
On the stage, the team leader had already started the meeting, holding a loudspeaker.
Their team leader was at most thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with dark skin, tall and strong, a square face, and a very upright appearance.
Amidst the surrounding chatter, the team leader’s voice could be faintly heard from the stage: “For National Day, the county is organizing a cultural performance. Today, we received a notice from the commune that each of our teams needs to select three children and two female members to participate in the rehearsal. Today’s meeting is mainly to finalize these people. Tomorrow, you will report to the commune. Is anyone willing to volunteer?”
As soon as the team leader finished speaking, someone shouted, “Captain, what about our work points if we go to rehearsals?”
The team leader cleared his throat, “Participating in rehearsals is a matter of bringing honor to our team. Whether adults or children, everyone who participates in rehearsals will be given work points. Children will get 8 points a day, and women will get 10 points a day.”
As soon as this was said, the crowd below erupted.
There was still a month and a half until National Day. A child usually got about 4 points a day. If they went for a month, it would be a considerable income. Thinking of the extra grain they could get at the end of the year, more and more people started asking questions.
The team leader shouted, “Ask one by one. Don’t ask questions that have already been answered.”
“Captain, are there any standards for these five people?”
As soon as he asked, discussions broke out below.
Su Yunyi ate peanuts and listened to the surrounding discussions.
“They definitely have to be good-looking.”
“Being good-looking isn’t enough, they need to be able to sing and dance.”
“Those who sing also need to be literate, otherwise, they’ll be embarrassed if they can’t understand the lyrics.”
When Mother Xiao heard this, she quickly squeezed next to Su Yunyi, “Third daughter-in-law, have you learned to sing or dance? You should try it. You don’t have to work and get such high work points.”
“Ah? Mom, I’m so fat, I won’t look good on stage.”
“Fat? Nonsense. What daughter nowadays can be raised as fair and plump as you? You’re so festive and healthy! You look better than all of them.” A daughter-in-law from an unknown family, overhearing the Xiao family’s discussion, suddenly interjected.
“Yes, yes, the third son’s wife is good-looking.”
Su Yunyi didn’t expect that her body, which she was very dissatisfied with, was seen by them as a sign of health.
Before she could be moved, Mother Xiao had already raised her hand, “Team leader, my daughter-in-law is literate. She wants to sign up.”
For a moment, all eyes turned to where the Xiao family was seated.
The team leader clapped his hands, “That’s great. Those with talent should come forward. Xiao Laosan’s wife, come up and perform something for everyone.”
In her previous life, Su Yunyi was a streamer. Although her talents weren’t top-notch, she had many. She could dance, and she danced quite well. However, dancing required basic physical training, and her current body probably made it a bit difficult.
Being pushed into a corner like this, she didn’t hesitate. She subconsciously glanced at Xiao Ze, who was also looking at her with a playful expression, as if he was watching a good show.
Su Yunyi’s competitive spirit was ignited. She walked onto the stage gracefully through the aisle cleared by the crowd and said loudly, “Thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity. Fellow villagers, I will now show off my humble skills and sing a song about a bountiful harvest, wishing our Dahe Village a great harvest every year.”
“Wheat waves roll and gleam with golden light, cotton fields are a vast expanse of white. News of the harvest spreads everywhere, and all the members are joyful…”
Su Yunyi’s singing voice was clear and pure, like a stream flowing by the ears. The scene depicted in the song was precisely the theme of their labor today, and everyone was immersed in it, unable to forget it.
Xiao Ze’s gaze had not left Su Yunyi since she went on stage. He had never seen Su Yunyi like this before. Her eyes were firm and confident. On such a small stage in the team, she performed as if on a grand stage, shining like a bright pearl.
When Su Yunyi finished her song, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
“Thank you, everyone.”
She bowed deeply, and the applause from below became even more enthusiastic.
Mother Xiao nudged her third son and said proudly, “Isn’t the daughter-in-law I chose for you a treasure? She cooks well and sings so well, no worse than the cultural troupe that performed here before. You must cherish her.”
Xiao Ze didn’t speak. He was still recovering from Su Yunyi’s dramatic transformation. The current Su Yunyi was so dazzling that one couldn’t look away.
“Mom, you don’t need to worry anymore.”
His second brother teased with a smile, “Third brother’s eyes haven’t left his wife. You can start looking forward to holding your grandchildren.”
His jokingly crude remark made everyone around burst into laughter.
After Su Yunyi came down from the stage, she was surrounded by the women around Mother Xiao. Their eyes held both pride and envy:
“Yunyi, you’re amazing, truly from the city.”
“Daughter-in-law, you’ve brought so much honor to our Xiao family.”
Mother Xiao hugged her third daughter-in-law and wouldn’t let go, wishing she could tell everyone that this was their Xiao family’s daughter-in-law, her eyes full of affection.
Xiao Ze felt Su Yunyi’s gaze and calmly looked away.
Su Yunyi bit her lower lip and looked at the expressionless Xiao Ze with a wronged look. It seemed he really disliked her.
She then turned her face away and remained silent.
That sour feeling in her heart returned.
Fortunately, as dusk fell, a child went onto the stage. No one was watching her, and Su Yunyi helplessly wiped away the tears she couldn’t control.
Little did she know that this scene was seen by Xiao Ze.
He felt a wave of irritation within him.
“Why is this woman so prone to crying? He saw the hopeful look in her eyes, but with so many people watching…”
Seeing her stifle her tears with frustration, Xiao Ze couldn’t help but switch places with Mother Xiao, sitting beside her. He reached out under the cover of their clothes in the darkness and took her hand.
Su Yunyi stared at him with her wet eyes in surprise.
She could only see the man’s delicate jawline and tightly pursed lips. She wanted to pull her hand away but was held tightly.
“Don’t move.”
In the noisy environment, the man’s warm whisper came to her ear. Su Yunyi couldn’t help but blush, her ears buzzing, completely unaware of what was happening on stage.
Until the applause came again, Su Yunyi finally heard the team leader’s concluding remarks: “Then our team has decided to recommend Xiao Ze’s wife, Zhou Yuan’s wife, and Accountant Wang’s twin daughters, and Zhou Weimin’s daughter to go to the commune for rehearsal. Let’s give them a round of applause. We hope the selected comrades will rehearse diligently and strive to bring honor to our Dahe Village and our commune. Tomorrow, the team will send a donkey cart to take you to the rehearsal.”