Chapter 39 It’s time for Tian Gang to leave

"Move out?" He Jingxian wanted to, but she didn't want to. If she moved out so soon, what would others say about her?

Will those people say that she is too nosy?

He Jingxian hesitated. If they moved out, they would have to pay for rent and living expenses. He Jingxian's current base salary was low, as she hadn't yet officially performed. After that, she would receive a stipend for each performance, but He Jingxian would also need money for clothes and other things. Not just her stage costumes, but her daily clothes.

In front of those people, He Jingxian liked to dress nicely, not wanting others to think she was living a poor life. He Jingxian had high expenses, and Qi Shixin gave her little money. He Jingxian didn't want to spend time cooking. Living with her in-laws, someone else would cook, and He Jingxian didn't have to. She could just help out occasionally.

"Yes, move out." Qi Shixin nodded.

"If we move out, we both have jobs. We can go out to buy buns for breakfast and eat at work at noon. We still have to cook for ourselves when we get home in the evening. Wouldn't that be too hard?" He Jingxian knew that Qi Shixin would not be able to cook dinner, so He Jingxian would have to cook dinner.

He Jingxian didn't want to have to cook soup after coming back from work. She wanted to sing opera, not be a chef.

"We can come over to my parents' house for dinner in the evening." Qi Shixin said, "We can only eat once a day. My parents won't stop us."

"It's not good to come here for dinner after you move out. You have to come here every day." He Jingxian said, "How about waiting for a while? Just wait for a while."

After a while, He Jingxian thought that if she participated in the performance, she might perform well and become famous, and perhaps the Qi family would look at her differently. He Jingxian thought about how famous she would be and how great her abilities would be, and she had a very beautiful idea.

"Next time, don't go to the theater so late." Qi Shixin said, "If you come back so late, Mom will be unhappy if you live here."

"I asked you to go with me, but you didn't want to go." He Jingxian told Qi Shixin that Qi Shixin said he had something to do, so he wouldn't go. He Jingxian couldn't force Qi Shixin, so she could only let him do something else.

"I'm busy, aren't I?" Qi Shixin asked. "You're all going to act out the same play, and you're still going to watch the same play. Is that interesting?"

Anyway, Qi Shixin felt that it was meaningless, as they all looked the same.

"You..." He Jingxian wanted to say: You don't know how to appreciate.

After thinking about it, He Jingxian decided to give up. She already knew that Qi Shixin didn't like opera that much. There were many people singing Yue Opera in their province, but not everyone liked opera, and not everyone could sing a few lines.

"I'm just watching," He Jingxian said, "to see how others perform. When I perform myself, I'll have a better feel for it."

"You can't act the same as everyone else, right? The lines and plots are all the same, and you can't really act like a flower." Qi Shixin said, "The people on the provincial Xiaobaihua side are already better than you. It's useless if you're the only one who's better than others. You still have to look at the whole group."

"Well, it depends on the whole group." He Jingxian wondered if it was because the whole group was so powerful that Jiang Moli could perform so well in Provincial Xiaobaihua.

Before He Jingxian graduated from school, she didn't go out of her way to see Jiang Moli's performances. Knowing that Jiang Moli had a performance was one thing, but going to see her was another. When they were in school, they couldn't go to see those performances for free. If they wanted to go, they had to buy tickets. Sometimes the school teachers would ask them to go to a certain performance, but they would have to buy tickets themselves.

"You don't have to compare yourself with others. Others are not like you. With Second Aunt around, your life will be much easier." Qi Shixin still said the same thing. With Second Aunt Qi around, He Jingxian didn't have to worry so much.

He Jingxian thought this path was easier, but not by much. He Jingxian wanted a more important role, but it wasn't something she could easily get. Second Aunt Qi would also warn He Jingxian not to overdo it.

Others said that He Jingxian had connections and that she would be able to play a good role right away, but she herself was somewhat panicked inside, afraid that she would not play the role well.

Qi Shixin and the others couldn't understand He Jingxian. They all thought this was just an ordinary job, and that He Jingxian's future would be easy. He Jingxian herself was worried about other things. He Jingxian wanted too much. The Qi family thought that He Jingxian was fine as she was, but He Jingxian didn't think so. She wanted to keep moving up. Sooner or later, she would be able to enter the provincial Xiaobaihua Academy and become a famous actress.

He Jingxian's former supervisor wasn't happy—perhaps even more so. He Jingxian, who was assigned to a specific training program, had gotten a transfer order and simply walked away. The company was short on talent, and no one could fill the role. The supervisor considered assigning someone else to the training program, but was worried someone might resort to connections like He Jingxian had.

Society is a vast web of favors. People in smaller organizations still value those in larger cities. When a transfer order arrives, they generally don't dwell on it and simply let the person go. As for compensation, that's not something that can be solved simply by paying. Asking someone to pay money might not make them happy, and it might even offend them, leading them to try to make things difficult for them in the future.

When talent is scarce, we still have to delegate training, even if those being delegated might consider transferring elsewhere. There are still requirements. The leaders of He Jingxian's previous unit held a meeting, stipulating that those who were specifically delegated must serve a sufficient number of years after graduation before they could leave. For those who received transfer orders, the specific nature of the order depended on the specifics. Ideally, they wouldn't be transferred outright, but rather seconded, moving to another unit while retaining their personnel relationship with their original unit.

In short, those leaders need to come up with a policy that won't let the company train those people in vain. The company doesn't send people for targeted training every year, and not everyone can get such an opportunity.

The Provincial Xiaobaihua Troupe's production of "Five Daughters Paying Homage to Their Parents" has been a resounding success, receiving exceptionally positive feedback. The group's leadership is delighted, feeling that Jiang Moli was the right choice for the role of Cuiyun. Choosing the right person is crucial, which is why the director insists on finding the right person; you can't just cast someone casually, as this can be ineffective.

Some leaders weren't very knowledgeable about opera; they primarily worked in administrative roles, and when they went to listen to opera, they couldn't quite discern the difference. But after seeing the huge difference this time, they had to admit that the director's idea was right: professional matters should be left to professionals.

It was a new day. Jiang Moli went to the company. Other people in the company greeted Jiang Moli. Jiang Moli was happy and not so nervous.

At noon, Ma Yuwen brought a tray of food to Jiang Moli.

"You really sing very well." Ma Yuwen really didn't want to admit Jiang Moli's excellence, but the facts were there, and anyone with eyes and ears could feel it. Ma Yuwen couldn't pretend to be ignorant. Even if Ma Yuwen didn't admit Jiang Moli's strength, the facts had already proved Jiang Moli's ability.

"You're not bad either." Jiang Moli took a small piece of corn. She didn't like corn very much because it would easily get stuck in her teeth. Jiang Moli occasionally ate some corn and some whole grains. It seemed that some health knowledge said that you can't eat all the refined food, but you should eat some whole grains, which is really good for your body.

"When you first came, I was actually not satisfied with you. You stole my opportunity." Ma Yuwen said.

"Uh..." Jiang Moli thought that someone in the unit might be eyeing Cuiyun's role, but she didn't expect Ma Yuwen to come to her and say it directly.

"When they saw you rehearsing, others said you did well. I thought we'd only see your true performance potential during the actual performance," Ma Yuwen said. "Some people perform well in rehearsal, but when they perform in front of an audience, they can't perform well and they easily make mistakes. Actually, at that time, I knew I was wrong. You've already performed in front of an audience before, and you don't just perform with our unit."

"Oh." Jiang Moli didn't know how to tell Ma Yuwen that she was transferred here. She didn't argue for anything when she was transferred here. She just let things take their course.

"You performed well, so it's normal for the leader to take a liking to you," Ma Yuwen said. "After watching your official performance, it would be unfair to you if the leader asked me to perform instead of you."

Previously, Ma Yuwen felt that her boss's decision to assign Jiang Moli the role of Cuiyun was unfair to her. She had been at the provincial Xiaobaihua Opera for several years, never getting a significant role. She wanted to move up, and she feared she would be marginalized. In their industry, many people are no longer able to play young, important roles after reaching a certain age.

"God is so cruel," Ma Yuwen said. "Just when I thought I had seen everything, something changed."

"There will be another chance." Jiang Moli said.

"Opportunities are becoming increasingly rare," Ma Yuwen said. "Not every opera can become this popular."

A hit drama can bring them more fame and more profits.

"As for me, I'm a bit too ambitious," Ma Yuwen said self-deprecatingly. "There are always people who are better than you."

"Work harder." Jiang Moli said, "Let's work together."

"I heard that you started singing opera when you were very young, participated in many competitions at a young age, and also took part in performances when you were very young." Ma Yuwen said.

"It's considered a performance by young actors, with many people of similar age performing together." Jiang Moli said, she started performing very early.

When I was little, I was fearless and didn't worry about whether I performed well on stage, because my parents were in the audience. At that time, Jiang Moli thought that she would not be embarrassed. If she didn't perform well, it would be her parents who would be embarrassed.

"In the few years I've been at the company, you've given me the most pressure," Ma Yuwen said. "From our batch to yours, very few people make it to the provincial Xiaobaihua (Little Hundred Flowers) each year. They're all transferred here because they're outstanding enough, and you're even better."

"Thank you." Jiang Moli couldn't say she wasn't that great. Too much modesty could easily lead to problems. If she wasn't modest enough, others would think she was too arrogant.

During the days she had been at the company, Jiang Moli had gotten to know some people there, chatting and having meals together. However, Jiang Moli and those people were more like ordinary colleagues, unlike her and Zhou Yiran, where they could talk a lot.

Jiang Moli dared to say some things to Zhou Yiran, but she didn't dare to say them to other people in the unit. Especially since Jiang Moli had just come to this unit not long ago, she didn't understand many things, and she was not familiar with other people either. She had to be more careful when speaking to avoid offending others and getting herself into trouble.

"Maybe..." Ma Yuwen said the word 'maybe' and paused.

Jiang Moli looked at Ma Yuwen, she didn't know what to say.

"It's an honor to stay in Provincial Xiaobaihua, but sometimes it may not be a bad thing to go out." Ma Yuwen said.

"Ah?" Jiang Moli didn't quite understand.

Ma Yuwen didn't say much; she was pondering the issue. There were so many talented people in her workplace. She'd assumed her predecessors were already excellent, that she was the best among her peers. But who could have imagined that someone new would surpass them? In this line of work, it wasn't just the oldest who was the best; someone younger could be more capable than them.

Opportunities slipped away from Ma Yuwen again and again. If he was in the local area, she could directly play the main role. Ma Yuwen was thinking, what is the meaning of her staying in the provincial Xiaobaihua, how many years can she stay here, and how many years of her youth will she have?

Jiang Moli looked at Ma Yuwen. She didn't understand Ma Yuwen. She bit her chopsticks, thought about it, but still didn't understand.

About a month after Jiang Moli arrived at the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers Academy, Ma Yuwen submitted an application to leave the Academy to join a local theater troupe. When her supervisor learned of this, he advised her to think it over, saying that once she left, it would be difficult to return, essentially impossible. Ma Yuwen still insisted on leaving, and her supervisor asked her to think it over for a few more days, just in case she regretted it.

In front of her boss, Ma Yuwen wanted to say that she didn't regret it, but since her boss had given her a few days, she decided to think it over. Ma Yuwen didn't make this decision rashly, but after careful consideration. Ma Yuwen couldn't seize opportunities, and opportunities always slipped away. When Ma Yuwen saw Jiang Moli, she knew that Jiang Moli would become the mainstay sooner or later, and she would not even be a spare tire.

Ma Yuwen recalled the past few years at the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers. At first, she thought she had come to the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers, that she was very good, that she would soon get a great role, that she would make a big splash...

Reality gave Ma Yuwen a hard slap in the face. There were too many outstanding predecessors, and Ma Yuwen had no way to stand out. Before Jiang Moli came to the unit, Ma Yuwen could still tell herself that there was a gap in opera talent. Those who came to the unit before and after her did not play important roles and did not become pillars.

When Ma Yuwen saw Jiang Moli open her own unit, she was initially reluctant to admit that her skills were inferior to hers. However, after Jiang Moli participated in the performance, Ma Yuwen realized it more deeply. The idea of ​​steady progress and taking things slow was all fake. Others were talented and willing to work hard, so they could just overtake her.

The news that Ma Yuwen was leaving the company spread throughout the company. When Ma Yuwen submitted her resignation application, there were other people working there, so the news spread very quickly.

When Jiang Moli learned about this, she was a little confused.

"There are so many outstanding people in our unit." Teacher Li looked at Jiang Moli's bewildered expression and said, "You are outstanding enough. You can continue to play Cuiyun when you come to our unit. Others, who used to play important roles in local theaters, are now playing marginal roles at the provincial Xiaobaihua Theater."

Teacher Li has been at the Provincial Xiaobaihua Opera for many years and has been a mainstay. She is still playing some important roles, but she knows that she needs to step back gradually instead of always being at the forefront, which is not enough.

"If she goes back to the local theater, she might still be able to compete with others," Teacher Li said. "If she stays here, there's basically no hope for her."

If Jiang Moli hadn't suddenly appeared, Ma Yuwen could still have stayed in the provincial Xiaobaihua, perhaps even played a slightly more important role, but that was it. Jiang Moli's appearance made Ma Yuwen see the light, and she immediately understood.

On the other hand, Zhu Zhixuan, who was good friends with Ma Yuwen, didn't dare to believe the news, so she ran to ask Ma Yuwen.

"This can't be true, right?" Zhu Zhixuan asked.

"It's true." Ma Yuwen said.

"Are you really going to leave? If you play Cuiyun, will you not leave?" Zhu Zhixuan asked again.

"Even if Jiang Moli wasn't there, the director wouldn't have let me play Cuiyun. He would have continued to look for other suitable people." Ma Yuwen said, "Before, I didn't understand it."

"The fact that you're able to make it into the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers Awards proves that you're exceptional, truly exceptional." Zhu Zhixuan said, "Don't be discouraged. Didn't I also not get to play an important role? If we work hard together, we'll get a chance sooner or later. There are only a few people as young and capable as Jiang Moli, after all. Look, we've only been in the unit for a few years, and we've only met someone like Jiang Moli. This shows that we still have many, many opportunities. As long as we prepare well, we'll have a chance."

Zhu Zhixuan was reluctant to leave Provincial Xiaobaihua. She had finally gotten in, and she didn't expect Ma Yuwen to leave at this time. In Zhu Zhixuan's opinion, Ma Yuwen was better than her and worked very hard.

"If you leave, I... I... I..." Zhu Zhixuan was anxious and stamped her feet. "It's just a little difficulty. Don't be defeated. You still have to keep going. Let's keep going. We will definitely be able to do it."

"That's what they say. They say if you keep going, there will be opportunities," Ma Yuwen said. "I'm not trying to force the boss to give me a big role by leaving, Zhixuan. I've really figured it out. Not everyone can succeed. There are advances and setbacks. Not everyone can leap over the dragon gate."

Ma Yuwen laughed self-deprecatingly, "Everyone has to grow up and figure themselves out. If I go back to the local theater, I can still sing the main role. Local theaters are short of talent, so I'll be the mainstay."

"You...sigh...a bigger place is better, but there are many powerful people here. It's really hard to become a pillar." Zhu Zhixuan sighed. She knew that Ma Yuwen was hit hard.

Before Jiang Moli came, Ma Yuwen was full of confidence and Zhu Zhixuan also thought that Ma Yuwen could succeed. At that time, Zhu Zhixuan thought that even if the director did not approve of Ma Yuwen now, he would approve of her in the future and let her take the role. After all, Ma Yuwen had been in the company for so long, and she had always played Cuiyun. What was wrong with letting her play Cuiyun? Why did they need to replace her?

Zhu Zhixuan had originally thought she could rely on staying at work long enough to get by, but now, seeing Ma Yuwen like this, she no longer believed that. Staying long doesn't necessarily guarantee a big role; it all depends on the director's arrangements and your own abilities.

"If you really go back, you'll never be able to come back." Zhu Zhixuan said, "It's always better in South City. If you go back like this... can you go to the South City Drama Troupe?"

"Do you think I can do well in the South City Drama Troupe?" Ma Yuwen asked, "I wasn't originally from the South City Drama Troupe."

"So you're going back to your original unit?" Zhu Zhixuan asked. "If you go back, you'll be laughed at. They'll think you can't stand being at Provincial Xiaobaihua anymore, so you're leaving. Plus, if you go back and argue with others, they'll give you a hard time. There's one good thing, you have acquaintances at your original unit."

"Let's go back to our original workplace," Ma Yuwen said. "In a big place, there are a lot of people who want to stay here, and the competition is fiercer. I've lost my temper and don't think about competing with anyone. I'm thinking about going to a smaller place and playing a more important role. In a smaller place, my progress might not be as fast, and in the end, I still won't be able to compare to those people in the big places. But there are gains and losses."

"You..." Zhu Zhixuan felt it was a pity. Ma Yuwen had been in the provincial Xiaobaihua for so many years. "If you leave, won't all the previous efforts be wasted?"

"It's not all wasted," Ma Yuwen said. "I've figured myself out and know what I want."

Zhu Zhixuan thought that if Jiang Moli had not come, even if someone else had come, and the other person did not perform as well as Jiang Moli, perhaps Ma Yuwen would not have been so shocked. Zhu Zhixuan felt a little resentful towards Jiang Moli, but what was the point of blaming her? Wouldn't it be helpful to ask her not to perform so well?

Jiang Moli did not try to persuade Ma Yuwen, nor did she say anything in front of Ma Yuwen.

Sheng Jiahao came to pick up Jiang Moli from get off work, and Jiang Moli told her that Ma Yuwen was going to leave Provincial Xiaobaihua.

"This role wasn't meant for her," Sheng Jiahao said. "Her skills aren't as good as others. The director didn't choose her, but instead chose to transfer someone from elsewhere. This speaks volumes. If it weren't for you, there would have been someone else."

"Yes, if I'm not there, there will be others. I don't think I've let her down." Jiang Moli said, "I just didn't expect her to choose to leave Provincial Xiaobaihua. You know, many people fight to the death to get into Provincial Xiaobaihua. It's like a besieged city. Those who are inside may not want to stay long, and those who are outside all want to get in."

Jiang Moli wanted to join the Provincial Xiaobaihua School. She knew the competition was fierce here. Even though there were many competitors, Jiang Moli would grit her teeth and persevere.

"Some people come in and some people go out. It's normal." Sheng Jiahao said, "It's not your responsibility."

"Of course it's not my fault. I won't rush to take it." Jiang Moli said, "Our industry is very cruel. Talent is one thing, age is another. Sometimes you're just born at the wrong time. You're obviously talented and amazing, but if someone more amazing comes along, there are only one or two spots left, and someone will be squeezed out."

Jiang Moli thought of the Olympics. Only a small number of people can participate in the Olympics. Once someone more capable emerges, those who were not strong enough will be replaced. This doesn't mean that the previous ones weren't excellent. They were also excellent and top-notch. But when someone is more powerful, the previous ones have to give way. Competitive sports are cruel and are considered a job that depends on youth.

"As long as you think more open-mindedly, there are still many other ways to go. You don't have to stay in the provincial Xiaobaihua." Jiang Moli said.

"Did you tell her?" Sheng Jiahao didn't think so. Jiang Moli was not the kind of person who would meddle in other people's business.

"No." Jiang Moli shook her head. "If I had said that to her in the past, wouldn't that have been the same as mocking others?"

Jiang Moli still understands this principle. Others can say it, but Jiang Moli cannot say it.

"That's right," Sheng Jiahao said. "You haven't been there long. There are some things that need less discussion. It's not necessary to communicate. Leaving Provincial Xiaobaihua was a very difficult decision. That person made this choice, so she must be responsible for her actions."

"Yeah." Jiang Moli said, "I heard that she wants to go back to her original unit. It's not bad to go back to her original unit. At least she can be considered an outstanding person there and have more opportunities. If she continues to stay here, it's not that there are no opportunities. There are opportunities, but the competition is fierce, and she may not be able to compete with others. If she doesn't have higher aspirations, she can go back to her original unit. What's important is to be happy."

Back at her original workplace, Ma Yuwen was able to play prominent roles and participate in performances regularly. Local opera troupes also performed elsewhere, though not without success, just not as widely known, and likely not in major venues. But for Ma Yuwen, who loved to sing opera, it was different. She could sing as much as she wanted; as long as she didn't care where she performed, she would be much happier.

"I grew up in South City and joined the South City Drama Troupe very early," Jiang Moli said. "I participated in competitions when I was young, and our teachers organized us kids to participate in performances. It was a good show for young actors. People still watched it, so it was pretty good."

Jiang Moli has been through a lot since she was little, and she worked hard to get to where she is today, not relying on family connections. Jiang Moli is afraid of pain, but she still has to practice her body shape and do a lot of things to make herself better.

"When I was little, I cried while I studied. My mother felt sorry for me and told me to stop. But I said no, and I had to study." Jiang Moli said, "I cried, but I still had to study."

"Did you cry very hard? Are your eyes red and swollen?" Sheng Jiahao asked.

"It's not good to have red and swollen eyes from crying, so I would cry less and sob more." Jiang Moli said, "My mom paid more attention to me at first, but when she saw me crying like that, she just stopped crying."

Jiang Moli recalled the past events, which were quite interesting.

"I haven't seen you as a child. You must have been very cute when you were a kid." Sheng Jiahao sighed.

"It's better not to see my childhood self." Jiang Moli said.

Sheng Jiahao took Jiang Moli out to eat. After they finished their meal, they played outside for a while before Sheng Jiahao sent Jiang Moli back.

He Jingxian participated in the Nancheng Drama Troupe's performance, but her performance was mediocre. Some audience members complained that Cuiyun had been replaced, saying she wasn't as good as before. Some even approached the troupe to ask why they had replaced her out of the blue. The troupe's response was that Jiang Moli had been transferred to the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers Troupe.

"Yeah, your unit is so rubbish, you should leave." One audience member said directly.

The audience was furious. They had always loved Jiang Moli's Cuiyun, and some had watched it over and over again, while others had accompanied their families. Some had heard someone else performed well and had asked them to listen carefully, only to find out it wasn't Jiang Moli, but He Jingxian.

He Jingxian's performance wasn't a revised version, so she didn't need to worry about accidentally singing the original lyrics. He Jingxian was a little restrained and reserved, her singing like a student doing homework, methodical and methodical. If you look closely and listen carefully, you'll find it a bit rigid.

When the unit leader learned about this, he was obviously not very happy. The unit held a meeting to review last night's performance, and He Jingxian was named.

"It's not my fault. They thought it was still Jasmine playing the role, so they couldn't accept me right away." He Jingxian said, "It will be fine once they get used to it."

The leader was speechless when he heard this. What did they mean by "it's okay once they get used to it"? In their line of work, it's not about making the audience get used to them, it's about performing well and making the audience like them.

Second Aunt Qi glanced at He Jingxian and said, "If you don't know how to speak, then don't speak."

When Zhou Yaran heard what He Jingxian said, she wanted to laugh. Who did He Jingxian think she was? She wasn't a famous actress, and not many people liked her. Why did He Jingxian say those things? It was impossible for others to think that He Jingxian was good.

After the meeting, Aunt Qi talked to her leader for a while before going to find He Jingxian.

"You didn't act well, you weren't as good as others, and you just said you would try your best. You even said you'd wait until the audience got used to it. Do you feel guilty when you say that?" Aunt Qi said, "I don't know what to say after you say those things. Who do you think you are?"

"Second Aunt..."

"This is at work, Second Aunt." Second Aunt Qi said, "If it weren't for the fact that you're my niece's wife, I really wouldn't want to get involved in your affairs. There are so many crews performing this play, and we're in South City, so sometimes we're bound to run into the Provincial Xiaobaihua. Our tickets are cheaper, so there are still many people watching."

"The tickets are cheap, so isn't it normal that we didn't perform that well?" He Jingxian muttered.

"The audience is also mentally prepared, but they have mouths and can still speak." Aunt Qi said, "Jiang Moli originally performed in our unit, and some people have seen her performance. Some people even saw her performance when Jiang Moli was very young. They like Jiang Moli, that's normal. You are from another place, so you have to be patient when you need to. If you don't perform well, keep working hard and don't let others think you are bad."

"I..." He Jingxian felt uncomfortable again.

He Jingxian originally thought that she and Aunt Qi were in the same unit, and Aunt Qi would help her, so she wouldn't be criticized too much. But Aunt Qi always liked to lecture He Jingxian, telling her to work hard and not to cause her trouble.

On Thursday, Jiang Moli and Zhou Yaran had a day off, so they went to a dessert shop to eat dessert together. Zhou Yaran was studying what He Jingxian had said in the meeting, "Just let them get used to it."

"Did she really say that?" Jiang Moli was surprised. "That's work, not school."

"She really said that," Zhou Yiran said. "Even at school, she shouldn't say that. What do you mean by just letting the audience get used to it? She herself doesn't want to perform well and let the audience get used to her, but she's the opposite of what Tian Gang is doing."

"Have you been told about this too?" Jiang Moli asked.

"It's okay." Zhou Yiran said, "I'm just a small character, why should the leader tell me what to do? The leader is telling all of us to work harder and not to let our performance be affected by a few individuals, which would cause the audience to have complaints. He Jingxian's second aunt's face fell during the meeting. He Jingxian got in through connections, and she doesn't do her job well. She thinks our company is run by her second aunt, and as long as she's there, it doesn't matter."

"Her second aunt must have said something about her." Jiang Moli said. Second Aunt Qi was a very smooth person, and He Jingxian was almost becoming a stain on her.

"Yes, I talked about her." Zhou Yiran nodded. "How could I not talk about it? I have to do it for others to see, to let others know that even if someone has someone backing her up, He Jingxian still has to work hard."

"Don't you plan to replace her?" Jiang Moli asked.

"No," Zhou Yiran said sarcastically, "He got there through fair competition. How could he be replaced?"

It’s not that He Jingxian’s acting is particularly bad, but because of the excellent performance before her, He Jingxian’s acting is quite standard and it seems that there is nothing wrong, but in the eyes of the audience, it is different.

"Some of those who listen to our plays have heard them over and over again, and some have heard of them even if they haven't," Zhou Yiran said. "Some audiences are more discerning and wonder if the play is good. Some go with their partners, and they're not really there to listen, but to fall in love. It just so happened that the leader heard a group of people saying it wasn't good."

The leaders of the company often go to watch the performances to see how they are doing. They can also talk about it during meetings so that they don’t miss out on any issues.

"That's indeed a coincidence," Jiang Moli said, "but it's not exactly a coincidence. There are always some people who will talk about it over there. Whether they have seen it or not, they will all share their thoughts."

"Yes," Zhou Yiran said, "You performed before, and the performance was even better. Didn't you perform in another city a few days ago? It was even featured in the newspaper."

"Yes," Jiang Moli said, "When I was at my previous unit, our drama troupe was even received by the mayor and his wife."

"That was when you were here," Zhou Yiran said. "This is an honor for everyone. What does it have to do with He Jingxian? He Jingxian joined our company late, so she's just picking the ready-made peaches. I just don't like her. She picks the ready-made peaches and doesn't know how to do her job properly. Instead, she has to talk nonsense over there. I really don't know if she's mentally disordered, or if she treats the company as her own home."

"She was like that when she was in school. She was quite sharp, but she also thought she was the best." Jiang Moli said, "When she was at her previous unit, she probably performed well, so no one said anything. She was able to participate in the targeted training program, so she must have some ability and connections."

"She must have connections, so she came to our company," Zhou Yiran said. "Targeted training is her springboard."

At the Qi family, He Jingxian and Qi Shixin were having dinner at home.

"You two should have a baby sooner rather than later." Mother Qi said, "The sooner you have a baby, the faster your body will recover."

"Mom." He Jingxian was holding a bowl of rice. Her mother-in-law always liked to talk about having children. "We haven't held the wedding banquet yet."

"Wedding banquet?" Qi's mother had forgotten for a moment that Qi Shixin and He Jingxian had quickly obtained their marriage certificate and, after that, the two of them lived together again. "Are you asking us to hurry up and hold your wedding banquet? We have to hold a wedding banquet. Let's pick a good date for it."

Qi's mother had said a few words to He Jingxian before, but something happened in the middle, so she put it off until later.

He Jingxian thought about holding the wedding banquet first, and put it off for a while, so as not to let these people talk about the child. He Jingxian hadn't been doing well at work recently, and if she got pregnant and had a child at this time, others would look down on her even more.

Qi's mother took a glance and saw He Jingxian's little thoughts. Qi's mother didn't say it out loud, so she decided to wait until after the wedding banquet.

He Jingxian and Qi Shixin's wedding was scheduled for September. He Jingxian even sent invitations to everyone at her workplace, including Zhou Yaran. Some people at her workplace didn't want to attend He Jingxian's wedding, so wasn't this just a way of giving money to others?

Once you give this money, you may not be able to get it back in the future. Although their jobs are relatively stable and few people resign, some people just don't like to ask colleagues for help when doing good things.

"You just need to go, you don't have to give them any gifts." Aunt Qi said this to the people in the unit.

He Jingxian was mainly inviting her co-performers, as well as some individual leaders. Second Aunt Qi added a word to those people, so they wouldn't feel uncomfortable about having to contribute. Second Aunt Qi also told He Jingxian not to actually accept contributions from others.

It was already August, and mid-August was almost here. Niu Cuihua counted the money she had and realized she only had five or six yuan left. Zhao Guodong had given her some money after his salary, and she hadn't been buying much lately. Some people from her family called to ask for money, and she lent them out. When she finally came to her senses, she realized she had very little money.

"Well... the money for the child's registration may not be enough." Niu Cuihua told Zhao Guodong that the kindergarten tuition is not very low, and they also have to buy small school bags and stationery for the children, which all costs money.

"You've spent it all?" Zhao Guodong was shocked. "Didn't you say you still had more than 30 left? I'll give you some money when I get my salary later. It should be enough for us to live on."

Zhao Guodong paid the rent. He was worried Niu Cuihua would spend it recklessly, so he kept some money for himself. But he had only been working for about two months. Even if Zhao Guodong kept the money, it was still small. He would spend it quickly on things like meeting friends or having a meal.