Time flies like an arrow, and six years have passed in the blink of an eye. The wheat fields of Hongqi Production Brigade have turned green and yellow again, and the suburban planting base has long been fertile land with bountiful harvests year after year. The signboard of "Natural Delight" food workshop has resounded in several surrounding cities. And Shen Nianxi, who used to be a little girl who wanted to help her mother "look at the flowers," has grown into a graceful young woman, entered the county's key junior high school, and started a new chapter in her life.

The early autumn breeze carried a refreshing coolness, brushing against the camphor tree branches of the county junior high school and scattering a shower of golden light across the ground. The flag-raising ceremony of the first week of school had just ended when the gentle voice of the Youth League teacher came over the loudspeaker, announcing that students of all grades with artistic talents could sign up for the school's art troupe, which covered multiple categories including vocal music, dance, and musical instruments. The selection process would take place this Friday afternoon.

Shen Nianxi, who was lining up on the playground, lit up instantly upon hearing this, like a stream filled with starlight. She tilted her head slightly, listening to the chatter of her classmates, but her heart was already rippled with excitement. From a young age, she had a natural love for music and dance. She learned to sing model operas from the village broadcast, practiced spinning in front of the sycamore tree in her yard, and even hummed her own little tunes when Lin Wanqiu taught her how to make pastries. Over the years, as her family's financial situation improved, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou never suppressed her interests, buying her a harmonica and even having someone bring back dance fundamentals training manuals from the city. Nianxi's talent gradually became more and more apparent.

"Nianxi, are you going to sign up? I heard it's really hard to get into the art troupe. Last year, more than a hundred people signed up just to dance!" Chen Xue, who sat next to her, whispered, her eyes filled with envy and hesitation.

Shen Nianxi gripped her textbook tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white, but a determined smile appeared on her face: "I want to try!" Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable resolve. Over the years, she had watched her parents overcome countless obstacles in their careers, from improving saline-alkali land to expanding their food processing workshops, encountering far more difficulties than this, yet they had never backed down. This resilience was deeply ingrained in her very being.

The selection process took place on Friday afternoon in the school auditorium. The auditorium was an old-fashioned brick building with a faded red banner hanging from the roof and a slightly worn red carpet on the stage, but this did not dampen the students' enthusiasm in the slightest. Applicants from all grades lined up in long queues, some carrying musical instruments, others wearing faded dance shoes, all with nervous yet expectant expressions on their faces.

Wearing a clean blue cotton jacket and a simple ponytail, Shen Nianxi stood in the dance group, discreetly observing her competitors. Many of the girls had undergone professional training, their leg stretches and backbends performed with practiced ease, and some even wore special dance costumes, making them stand out. In comparison, Nianxi's preparation seemed somewhat rudimentary. She had simply practiced a self-choreographed dance at home, accompanied by the melody of "The East Is Red," incorporating the postures of people working in the fields that she had observed. Though not professional, it exuded a natural charm.

When it was Chen Nianxi's turn to perform, she took a deep breath and walked to the center of the stage. As the familiar melody began, she closed her eyes, and images of her hometown's wheat fields, vegetable greenhouses at the planting base, her parents' working figures, and the villagers' smiles of harvest appeared in her mind. Her body stretched, twirled, and leaped with the melody. Although her movements were not perfect, they were full of vitality. Every raised hand and every turn was filled with sincere emotion, like a butterfly freely dancing in the fields.

A hint of amazement flashed in the eyes of the judges in the audience. Li Mei, the dance teacher of the art troupe, was a former actor in the city's cultural troupe. Having seen many children who had undergone formalized training, Shen Nianxi's unadorned purity and agility were like a breath of fresh air, deeply attracting her.

As the dance ended, Chen Nianxi, slightly out of breath, bowed and left the stage, her heart still pounding. She didn't know how well she had performed; she only felt that in that moment on stage, all her tension had vanished, leaving only unbridled joy.

The selection results were announced at Monday's morning assembly. When the Youth League teacher read out "Dance Group Admission List: Shen Nianxi...", Shen Nianxi could hardly believe her ears until Chen Xue next to her patted her shoulder hard and cheered, "Nianxi, you've been accepted! That's great!" She then reacted, a bright smile spreading across her face, though her eyes were slightly red.

On her way home from school, Chen Nianxi rode her bicycle, the wheels rolling over the country road covered with fallen leaves, her mood as bright as the autumn sky. She couldn't wait to tell her parents and brother the good news.

At this moment, the Shen Family Manor (originally an expansion of the Hongqi Production Brigade's residential land) was filled with the aroma of food. Lin Wanqiu had just returned from the planting base; her dark blue overalls were slightly stained with mud, but her capable demeanor was undeniable. Shen Tingzhou sat in the living room, reviewing the food workshop's sales reports. Since completing his last confidential mission a few years ago, he had officially retired from the military and devoted himself entirely to the family business, becoming Lin Wanqiu's most capable assistant. Shen Nian'an, meanwhile, was engrossed in math problems in his room. Now a high school student, he had won numerous provincial competitions thanks to his exceptional mathematical talent and was a recognized academic star at school.

"Mother! Father! Brother! I'm back!" Shen Nianxi pushed open the door, her cheerful voice breaking the tranquility of the courtyard.

Lin Wanqiu wiped her hands and came out of the kitchen. Seeing her daughter's happy face, she smiled and asked, "What good thing happened? You look so happy."

Shen Nianxi ran to Lin Wanqiu's side, grabbed her arm, and excitedly said, "Mom, I got accepted into the school's art troupe! The dance group!"

"Really?" A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Wanqiu's eyes. She reached out and ruffled her daughter's hair. "Our Nianxi is really amazing! All those dance moves you spent practicing at home weren't for nothing."

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