After the announcement, Commander Zhang looked around and saw that the few people who had questioned earlier were still indignant.
“I know some comrades have opinions about this arrangement. From your expressions, the controversy seems to be focused on my choice of Su Yunyi as the lead dancer. However, in today’s performance, only Su Yunyi had the highest completion of movements, the strongest sense of rhythm, and most importantly, she was the only one who imbued the role with emotion, rather than performing mechanically.”
After speaking, he looked at Zhu Xiaomei’s follower, Su Yan, who was most fond of mocking Su Yunyi: “Su Yan, you’ve remembered all your movements, but because your body isn’t flexible enough, you haven’t done them well. Moreover, the expression on your face doesn’t match the emotions this dance is meant to convey. You’ll need to practice more.”
Then, Commander Zhang commented on each person’s performance one by one, pinpointing their strengths and weaknesses with sharp accuracy, leaving everyone convinced.
Finally, his gaze fell on Su Yunyi, and his expression was a bit strange: “Su Yunyi, I took a risk in making this decision. I am indeed very satisfied with your performance, but my biggest concern is your physique.”
Hearing this, Su Yunyi’s face instantly turned red.
“Commander, then perhaps you should choose someone else.”
“Change for what? Your meal portions will be halved every day. From now on, you will eat all three meals at the commune, and I will supervise you. You’ll also practice for an additional two hours every evening.”
Commander Zhang truly had high hopes for her.
Su Yunyi stood at attention and said with a stiff neck, “Don’t worry, Commander, I will definitely meet your requirements before the performance.”
In the following days, Commander Zhang indeed shadowed Su Yunyi during meal times. Su Yunyi also wanted to lose weight quickly, so she ate very self-disciplinedly.
After Commander Zhang watched her for a few days and saw her conscientiousness, he stopped following her.
Because Su Yunyi had to finish her meals in the cafeteria and was afraid of delaying the donkey cart that came to pick her up from the brigade, she ate her dinner very quickly.
Upon returning home, Mother Xiao was overjoyed to hear that she had become the lead dancer.
She clasped her hands together and kept bowing, “That’s wonderful! The house is being built quickly, and in two more days, the main beam can be put up. And you performed so well at the commune. Mom is truly happy.”
“Mom, but the commander wants me to practice for two more hours in the evening. I’ll have to trouble you with Xiao Ze’s meals.”
“Don’t worry about practicing. Can Mom let Old Third starve?”
As the mother and daughter-in-law were talking, they didn’t notice the envy overflowing from Jiang Yunxia, who was slacking off in the room.
She grabbed the clothes of Er Tou in her arms, pulling so hard that the child’s small clothes became wrinkled, and she muttered in a low voice, “Ever since Old Third’s wife went to the commune, she’s become more and more radiant. When she first arrived, she didn’t look like a city girl at all, fat and rustic. But in just a few days, not only has she become much slimmer, but her skin has also become fair and rosy, with no visible pores, just like lard in a basin.”
After the mother and daughter-in-law exchanged a few words, Jiang Yunxia heard Mother Xiao preparing to go out and quickly carried the child to push open the door.
“Mom, I’ll help you deliver the food.”
“You’re holding a baby. Why are you going to that smoky place?”
Mother Xiao looked at her suspiciously, surprised by her sudden diligence.
Jiang Yunxia’s eyes darted around. Recalling what she had overheard outside the door earlier, she quickly said with a smile, “Didn’t you agree with Aunt Wang Er just now to go and make the bed for their new house?”
Mother Xiao slapped her forehead, “Right, right, look at my memory, I almost forgot about it.”
No one had ever asked her to help make a bed before. Although she had given birth to three sons, their family lived a tight life, and her third son was not promising. Such tasks were usually not entrusted to her. People generally looked for “complete blessings” – a happy family, good health, and many grandchildren.
But since Xiao Laosan and his wife were building a house and performing at the commune and were praised by leaders, everyone wanted to share in her family’s good fortune, which is why they invited her.
Mother Xiao had been proud of this for several days.
Hearing Jiang Yunxia say this, she handed the tin lunchbox in her hand to Jiang Yunxia.
“Second daughter-in-law, be careful on the road.”
Su Yunyi felt embarrassed to let Jiang Yunxia go and stepped forward to take the lunchbox.
“Then I’ll go deliver the food to Xiao Ze. Second sister-in-law is also inconvenient with Er Tou, and it’s getting dark. If Er Tou gets scared later, it will be my fault as his aunt.”
Jiang Yunxia was displeased by her words.
She was already dark-skinned, and her face looked even fiercer when she frowned.
“It’s just delivering food. I want to help the family, so people don’t say I’m taking advantage of this family. Besides, our Er Tou is a man, he won’t be scared.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she walked out the door with the lunchbox.
She bumped into Zhou Juanjuan.
“Yunxia, going out?”
Jiang Yunxia snorted through her nose as a reply.
Jiang Yunxia didn’t understand why this person was upset with her.
She continued walking into the house, “Yunyi, you are the pride of our brigade, standing at the forefront. The brigade leader told me to accompany you in practicing well. The brigade will also have a quota to watch the performance.”
Mother Xiao pulled Su Yunyi’s sleeve, “Let her go if she wants to. Third daughter-in-law, practice well with Zhou Yuan’s wife. Turn on the lights. Mom is going to Aunt Wang Er’s house to make the bed.”
While speaking, she deliberately looked at Zhou Juanjuan.
Zhou Juanjuan was also perceptive and immediately showered her with praise, making Mother Xiao leave with a happy smile.
Meanwhile, Zhou Juanjuan and Su Yunyi practiced while singing, until Su Yunyi’s legs were trembling.
On the other hand, when Jiang Yunxia arrived outside Xiao Ze’s house, she found the room very quiet, unlike the usual crowd.
She tiptoed into the house, and suddenly Xiao Ze’s deep voice came to her ears, “Finally, your conscience kicked in, and you remembered your man is still hungry?”
The man’s voice was like a small hook, making Jiang Yunxia’s cheeks flush.
She couldn’t help but envy Su Yunyi in her heart. She had looked at the entrance earlier; the blue brick walls had already been built higher than a person. It seemed that in a few more days, the main beam could be put up. Su Yunyi was truly blessed to live in such a large house as soon as she got married.
This Xiao Laosan was also strange. After marrying Su Yunyi, he actually reformed. If Xiao Laosan hadn’t been so much of a scoundrel back then, her mother wouldn’t have disagreed to her marrying him, and she would be the one enjoying the blessings now.
Xiao Ze saw that the person at the door hadn’t spoken for a long time and stood up to walk towards the entrance.
Seeing that it was Jiang Yunxia, he frowned slightly.
“Second sister-in-law?”
Xiao Ze had short, neat hair today. His elbows were slightly bent, his muscles bulging, and his lines were smooth. His hand, casually resting on the pile of bricks, was exceptionally long.
Jiang Yunxia was mesmerized.
A child’s cry interrupted her gaze.
“Your wife needs to practice dancing, and Mom is too busy to bring you food. I was afraid you’d go hungry, so I brought Er Tou over.”
Xiao Ze took the tin lunchbox with a blank expression.