Shi Man knew Ling Zhen was watching her from nearby, as if afraid she might lose her mind and bash her head against a rock.
They couldn’t communicate, so she gave up trying to talk to him and stopped caring whether he slept or not.
With the afternoon performance looming, a brilliant idea struck her as she woke from a nap: a dance she’d seen in a dream might be perfect for the occasion.
Squatting down, she examined the flat area Ling Zhen and his team had cleared and prepared. It was ideal. She closed the door and began practicing.
Yes, the dance she wanted to perform required very little space and could be done indoors.
No acrobatics, no props needed—just a chair.
By lunchtime, Shi Man had choreographed the chair dance and practiced it so thoroughly that she could perform it flawlessly to the music.
After the midday rest, the farewell ceremony for the senior commander officially began.
First, the quarry leaders delivered speeches, then it was Shi Man’s turn to take the stage.
The laborers below craned their necks in anticipation. When Shi Man emerged, radiant in her crisp green military uniform, their eyes lit up.
Even before she began, their fractured spirits felt cleansed and nourished.
She was so beautiful, standing in the small open space at center stage, bowing and smiling, her teeth as white and perfect as seashells.
Sometimes, a truly genuine and warm smile can instantly touch everyone’s heart.
This was especially true in the barren, sun-baked quarry, where years of monotonous labor had dulled people’s spirits. But Shi Man’s dance breathed new life into their faces.
Using just a single chair, she performed a dance unlike anything they had ever seen before.
She twirled and leaped on the chair, her toes pointed perfectly straight, her white ballet slippers translucent in the sunlight.
The hard wooden chair and the young woman’s supple waist created a striking contrast, arching together to form a bridge of youthful vitality.
Many of the working women watched spellbound, tears streaming down their faces as memories of their own bright and vibrant pasts flooded back.
Shi Man’s dance was not only visually stunning and emotionally resonant, but also remarkably original.
As the final note faded, the audience rose to their feet, applauding wildly. The women, especially, wiped away their tears and cheered with all their might.
Even the elderly senior commander nodded approvingly, a satisfied smile on his face.
When he took the stage to deliver his farewell speech, he made a point of thanking the art troupe and Shi Man for giving him such a beautiful send-off, leaving him with unforgettable memories.
He was certain that the people of the quarry would never forget his time here.
***
The people would never forget Shi Man.
She had appeared when everyone was least expecting it, bringing a spark of extraordinary beauty to their endless, exhausting days.
Her dance was like a magical dream.
Even after the dream faded, its aftertaste lingered, becoming a source of solace during future hardships.
The men gathered to bid farewell to the senior commander, while the women swarmed around Shi Man, chattering incessantly.
Shi Man embodied everything they yearned for: youth, beauty, radiance, dance, and being a female soldier—things they could only dream of.
Though unattainable, simply being near and admiring her was enough.
Whether they were twenty-year-old laborers or women nearing middle age, none could bear to take their eyes off Shi Man.
“Comrade Shi Man, thank you for your performance. I’ve never seen such a beautiful dance. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
“Little Man, these are sesame crisp cakes I baked myself. I was saving them for New Year’s, but you can try one. There’s more here—take them all!”
“Shi Man, what’s your unit’s address? If I ever go back to Jingbei City, can I visit you?”
“Xiao Man, you’re so talented! Do you have a boyfriend yet? Should Auntie introduce you to someone? Don’t let the fact that I work at the Quarry fool you—I still have plenty of relatives in Jingbei City. All sorts of smart and handsome young men, I guarantee you’ll find one you like!”
“…”
Everyone was so warm and welcoming.
Some wanted to set Shi Man up on dates, others pressed their treasured snacks into her hands, and still others gave her hand-knitted gloves. Some showered her with flowery compliments, while others simply gazed at her in awe.
In their own ways, they all expressed their fondness and gratitude.
In this desolate quarry, where material wealth was scarce, Shi Man had brought them a spiritual treasure beyond measure.
***
Shi Man had seen the faces of everyone at the quarry. The initial ambition to impress the Senior Commander and earn an opportunity had long faded from her mind. For the first time, she truly felt the power of dance and the importance of art.
Before, Shi Man had never understood why the military needed an art troupe. She believed the army needed strong soldiers like Ling Zhen and various specialized units to handle different kinds of battles. But she had always thought art soldiers were pretty useless—just dancing and singing in the rear to entertain the commanders and soldiers, mere distractions, like optional extras.
But now, as she watched the tears welling up in the women’s eyes and saw the blank faces of the others light up with emotion, she finally understood. Art soldiers could bring joy and laughter to others, nurturing their barren spirits. It was meaningful and deeply fulfilling work.
The women surrounding Shi Man still wanted to see more of her performances. They were curious and longed to hear about life in the art troupe and the different kinds of dances.
Shi Man saw Ling Zhen packing up, getting ready to leave.
Gritting her teeth, she approached Ling Zhen. “Can you talk to Director Zhang for me?” she asked. “I’d like to stay here a couple more days and perform some more dances.”
If they left now, the quarry workers might not see another performance for ages. Besides, the art troupe didn’t have any major performances scheduled recently, so staying here made more sense.
Ling Zhen glanced at the group of women behind Shi Man, their eyes pleading. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded. “Alright.”
He was surprisingly agreeable this time, which made Shi Man like him a lot more. She gave him a bright smile.
When the Senior Commander heard that Shi Man had volunteered to stay and perform more, he gave her an approving look before leaving with Ling Zhen.
After dinner, the women finished their work and invited Shi Man to visit their homes.
They lived in makeshift shacks between the quarry, which were drafty and leaked in the rain, but they kept their homes spotlessly clean.
Seeing their efforts tugged at Shi Man’s heart and reinforced her decision to stay a few more days.
***
Ling Zhen rushed back for dinner.
Remembering his promise to Shi Man, he immediately sought out Zhang Zhixin to discuss the matter.
Zhang Zhixin readily agreed. Shi Man had not only fulfilled her performance duties admirably but had even volunteered for extra shows, demonstrating a high level of ideological awareness.
Qin Junbao, who happened to be present, overheard Ling Zhen’s words and reacted with disbelief. He even pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
That delicate woman? The one who’d cried on her first day at the Quarry and regretted going there? She actually volunteered to stay longer and perform more shows?
With Ling Zhen gone, what could she possibly be up to now?
Qin Junbao’s skepticism wavered, realizing he might have seriously misjudged Shi Man.
That very evening, the news spread like wildfire through the dance team.
Everyone was stunned.
They all knew Shi Man’s pampered, delicate nature. They had fully expected her to return that night, complaining endlessly about the hardships.
Instead, she hadn’t come back at all. She wouldn’t return for two more days, and by all accounts, she seemed content and even happy there—so much so that she’d volunteered for extra performances.
This isn’t like Shi Man at all! It was truly astonishing.
Yet it was also deeply admirable.
To perform, let alone volunteer for extra shows, in the quarry’s harsh conditions was truly remarkable.
Many of the female soldiers had previously seen Shi Man as approachable but overly delicate and aloof. But this incident began to subtly shift their perceptions of her.
***
Shi Man never thought about how she might change people’s minds, nor did she care whether others liked or disliked her.
She simply did what she wanted to do and what she believed was right.
That’s why she volunteered to stay for an extra performance, without expecting anything in return. It was just a sudden idea that she put into action.
Three days later, she waved goodbye as the women laborers at the quarry bid her a fond farewell.
They tried to give her a mountain of gifts, but she refused to accept any of them, quietly leaving them in her quarry quarters with instructions for the leaders to return them to the women after she returned to her unit.
She appreciated their kindness but couldn’t accept anything the people had given her, down to the last stitch.
This was a principle Ling Zhen had often emphasized in her dreams, and it had gradually taken deep root in her heart.
Shi Man’s return coincided perfectly with the final performance at the Great Hall of the People and Wang Dongyun’s return from her cultural exchange abroad.
After dinner, the dance team’s art soldiers gathered in the small courtyard for their weekly team meeting—their first full reunion in days.
Director Zhang Zhixin and Qin Junbao seized this opportunity to address the team.
Seeing the team members’ impeccable posture and vibrant energy, Zhang Zhixin nodded in satisfaction.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he remarked, “Everyone has worked hard these past few weeks. Your rehearsals and performances have received tremendous acclaim. Comrade Wang Dongyun’s outstanding performance at the Lunsakgisi Exchange Performance has brought great honor to our Huaxia.”
“The dance team’s performance at the Great Hall of the People was a huge success. I saw how hard they practiced every day.”
“Then there’s Comrade Shi Man’s solo dance at the Quarry. It was a tough job, but she not only completed it but also gave an extra performance! Her dedication is truly remarkable. Let’s give her a big round of applause!”
Zhang Zhixin led the applause, and everyone quickly followed suit.
Someone couldn’t resist asking, “Manman, it must have been hard to set up a stage at the Quarry. How did you manage all that by yourself?”
Before Shi Man could answer, Zhang Zhixin proudly interjected, “Comrade Shi Man truly lives up to her reputation as the talented star the creative team was fighting over! She’s even created a new dance—what’s it called again… the chair dance!”
“It’s a great dance that can be performed with just a chair. You don’t need a big stage. Everyone should learn it if they get the chance!”
Wang Dongyun beamed with pride. “Manman, you’re amazing! You created another new dance? Show me later!”
The audience listened, only half-understanding but deeply impressed.
Creating a new dance is no easy feat.
Wait a minute… why did Director Zhang and Wang Dongyun both say “again”?