Chapter 56

Chu Lei was lying on the bed with all kinds of toys placed beside the bed.

Toys are hard to buy these days. Even in the supply and marketing cooperatives, there are not many toys. After all, the average monthly salary of employees in state-owned units in the city is only 30 yuan. Who would waste money to buy toys for children from time to time?

However, Chu Lei's parents are different from other parents.

They have been pampering their child since she was born, and try their best to satisfy her whatever she wants.

This time, Chu Lei fell down the stairs of the art troupe's dormitory building and broke her lower leg. She cried every day because of the pain. Chu's father and mother were very distressed and even asked someone to buy toys for her from Shanghai, just to make the child happy.

In the kitchen, Chu's mother was stewing bone soup.

"They say you are what you eat, but my child has been drinking bone soup for several months and she's getting tired of it," she said.

Father Chu sighed and took out a few White Rabbit candies from his pocket: "I have prepared the candies. If she doesn't want to drink, just feed her candies."

Bone soup is not traditional Chinese medicine and it is neither astringent nor bitter when you drink it. But because Chu Lei loves to make trouble, Chu's father always coaxes her with candy.

Sometimes, after drinking a few sips, she would ask for a White Rabbit snack, and her parents would always satisfy her request unconditionally.

"Everyone says that we spoil Leilei too much, but we have to spoil our own children ourselves." Mother Chu stirred the pot with a large spoon and took a sip to test the saltiness.

She still remembered that in the past, before Chu Lei was born, there was almost no laughter in the house.

At that time, Chu You was already a teenager, an age that was neither awkward nor embarrassing, and he was too shy and reserved. Even when he laughed, he was too embarrassed to laugh too loudly. His ears and cheeks were red, and he looked particularly shy.

Come to think of it, it's not her fault. The child was raised by her grandparents since she was young. Although she was taken to live with them after she grew up, most of the time, the couple felt that she was not close to them.

At that time, Chu's father and mother occasionally felt that their daughter was well-behaved and cute, but this love was all taken away after Chu Lei was born.

When Chu Lei was a child, she looked different from other children. She was white and chubby, and would laugh out loud when she was tickled.

This child is lively and cheerful, likes to be clingy, and especially likes to perform. When eating with relatives and friends, other children are shy, but she can stand up and sing.

How could such a child not be likable?

Human energy is limited. After Chu's father and mother put all their attention on Chu Lei, they gradually began to ignore Chu You.

"Chu You is really going too far. She went to Ling City to perform today, packed her own luggage, and left without saying goodbye. Does she take us seriously?" said Chu's mother.

Father Chu quickly shook his head, signaling her not to continue.

But who knew that Chu Lei in the room had already heard it.

She cried out, "I want to go to Ling City, too! I want to take the train, too!"

Mother Chu ran forward distressedly: "Leilei, don't cry, didn't you say you didn't want to dance anymore?"

Chu Lei sobbed, "If Lei Lei doesn't dance, Chu You can't dance either! It was Chu You who caused Lei Lei to fall like this. Why can Chu You go to perform while Lei Lei is taking medicine and drinking pork rib soup at home?"

Chu's father knew how much his child cared about this performance.

She was looking forward to going on stage to perform, but unexpectedly, she was pushed down the stairs by that madman.

The madman was caught, but when Chu's father saw his little daughter's aggrieved look, he immediately became angry.

"How could Chu You get involved with such a person!" said Chu's father.

"It must be my sister who asked him to push me down." Chu Lei cried, "My sister never liked me in the first place."

"Don't talk nonsense." Chu's mother stopped him.

Chu Lei couldn't stand it anymore. She rolled around on the bed and insisted on going to the art troupe, so she stopped Chu You.

The child's leg is already injured, so he should be taken good care of. What if rolling around like this affects the healing of the bones? Chu's father and mother were heartbroken and agreed immediately. They changed Chu Lei into going-out clothes and carried her out.

Chu Lei hadn't gone out for several months. Although it was very sunny outside, she felt better when she could feel the fresh air.

The child lay on Chu's father's shoulder, staring at everything around her, until the bus stopped in front of the art troupe, she pouted.

When the guard at the art troupe saw the strangers, he immediately stopped them.

Chu's mother didn't really want to stop Chu You from going to Ling City, so she pretended to be helpless and said, "Leilei, we can't get in. Let's not bother my sister, okay?"

"I just want to find Chu You!" Chu Lei said stubbornly.

The security guard recognized Chu Lei and said, "You are the girl who broke her leg last time, right? Your sister hasn't left yet. She and a group of art soldiers are getting their hair done in the state-owned barber shop in front."

Chu Lei yelled, "Let's go to the barber shop!"

Chu's father and mother couldn't persuade their child, so they had to take her to a state-owned barber shop.

The barber shop was not far away. After they walked a few steps, they heard the laughter of young girls coming from inside.

"Chu You's hairstyle is so beautiful!"

"That's right, your eyes are so beautiful. Don't cover them with bangs in the future."

Chu You smiled and said, "I rarely cut my hair, but I didn't expect the effect to be so good."

Following the direction of the voice, Chu's father and mother saw their eldest daughter.

She had a haircut. The bangs that usually pressed down on her forehead were trimmed and pushed behind her ears, revealing her smooth forehead and a pair of watery almond eyes.

The corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and the temperament she exuded was no longer the gloomy one in the past, but became gentle and soft.

Unexpectedly, she had friends, got along well with everyone, and even smiled...

Chu You's parents had never seen her like this, and for a moment, they were overwhelmed with emotions.

"Chuyou! You've hurt me, how can you go to the performance by yourself now?"

"I won't let you go, I won't let you go..."

"Mom and Dad, let her go home!"

Chu Lei was making a fuss and pointing directly at Chu You. Her arrogant attitude made everyone present gasp.

Is this how Chu You was bullied by her sister when she was at home?

"Do you think we are the performers of our cultural troupe and you can just not go? Believe it or not, I will tell Director Xu right now and ask him to report you."

Father Chu knew the seriousness of the situation and immediately said, "Leilei is just a child, how can you take it seriously?"

Chu's mother also said: "We will definitely not stop Chu You from going to Ling City to participate in the performance."

Zhao Ya laughed when she heard this: "Stop? What right do you have to stop? Chu You performed well, was valued by her superiors, and got such a good performance opportunity. That's her own hard work. As parents, not only are you not happy for her, but you are also only concerned about your little daughter's feelings. Is that justifiable?"

Wang Qin also said: "Ever since Chu Lei came to our group to rehearse, I have never heard her call Chu You "sister"! She is really a shrewd person who knows how to deal with people. She is usually very affectionate in front of us, but she looks down on her sister!"

Why can Chu Lei walk sideways at home? It’s because she has a pair of parents at home who spoil her to the point of lawlessness!

But now, they were not at home, and these artists from the art troupe were not the kind of people who could endure it. With just a few words, they were scolded until their faces turned red.

Chu Lei was afraid of the strong and was stunned for a moment. Then, tears as big as beans fell down: "If it weren't for Chu You, I would have been the one taking the train to participate in the performance!"

But who would have known that as soon as she finished speaking, a chubby little ball walked out of the barber shop.

How aggrieved Youyou felt before getting your hair cut, and how happy she feels now after getting her hair cut.

Just now she looked at her new hairstyle carefully in the mirror. It was short hair that reached her ears, with a few bangs lying neatly on her forehead, which made her little face look even rounder. It was so beautiful and elegant!

Now, she walked out with her head held high, and her hair seemed to be dancing.

"Chu Lei, Director Xu said that she had already decided to let me be a small actor in our troupe and participate in the big song and dance performance."

Youyou's voice was soft and sticky. As soon as she finished speaking, she tilted her head and her soft hair fluttered in the wind.

After Su Jingjing came out of the barber shop, she realized that Chu's father and mother had brought Chu Lei to cause this scene.

It’s not her fault that she didn’t notice it. It was mainly because Chu You and You You’s new hairstyles were so surprising. Su Jingjing couldn’t help but look at herself in the mirror again and again, wondering whether she should get a haircut too.

"You're talking nonsense! Our Lei Lei dances so well, how could Captain Xu let you be a child actor? It's because our Lei Lei was injured, so -"

"You just feel too good about yourself." Su Jingjing interrupted Chu's mother calmly, "Captain Xu has long said that Youyou is more talented, and Chu Lei is just a candidate for a child actor. If you don't believe it, you can go directly to Captain Xu and ask him clearly."

Chu's father and mother were stunned.

Usually when the younger daughter comes home, she always brags about herself to the skies, and they think she is really outstanding.

But unexpectedly, she was so easily defeated by this kid named Youyou.

"It's getting late, let's go." Chu You said.

Su Jingjing nodded and took her hand: "Let's go."

Several cultural and art soldiers also followed, and when they passed by Chu Lei and her parents, they even protected Chu You intentionally or unintentionally, just to prevent these people from rushing over and doing something to hurt Chu You.

Chu You knew that although his parents were too doting on his sister, they were not without bottom line.

But even so, she still felt warm in her heart as she felt everyone's care and concern for her.

However, after returning from Ling City, her family might still cause trouble.

She really didn't want to be treated as a victim or a foil by her family anymore.

It would be nice if I had a chance to leave this house.

Chu Lei's face remained ugly even after a group of cultural soldiers and Youyou turned around and left.

She cried and made a fuss, but her parents refused to take Chu You home.

My parents said that I couldn’t do this recklessly, otherwise I would be reported and that would be disastrous, but Chu Lei didn’t care.

She just felt wronged. Why could Chu You dance but she couldn't?

"Don't cry, Leilei. Mom and Dad will buy you whatever you want."

"It's not good to buy candy? Why don't we go to the department store and see if there is anything fun--"

Chu Lei stopped crying. She pointed at the door of the state-owned barber shop while hiccuping and said, "I want to get a haircut like Youyou's."

However, just as Chu's father and mother took her to the door of the barber shop, they saw the old barber inside slam the door with a bang.

"This child is so annoying. I won't cut her hair." These are the words he left before closing the door.

These days, the barbers in state-owned barbershops are just as arrogant as the sales clerks in supply and marketing cooperatives, department stores and state-owned restaurants. Although it is very frustrating to be turned away by them, Chu Lei's parents can do nothing about it.

Finally, they had to search all over the city and found a barber shop and sent the child there.

It’s a pity that when the child went in, she was still a pretty little girl, but when she came out, her hair looked like it had been chewed by a dog.

This time, Chu Lei grabbed her rough hair and cried even louder.

…

This is Youyou’s first time taking a train.

The train made a "rumbling" sound, which was very rhythmic. Little Dumpling stared at the scenery outside the window, not even daring to blink.

However, Su Jingjing found that the little one did not seem as relaxed as usual. Looking again, she saw that Youyou was clutching the corner of her clothes tightly.

"Youyou, what's wrong with you?" Su Jingjing asked with a smile.

Youyou looked around, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in Su Jingjing's ear: "Sister Jingjing, my mother said that if a child takes the train alone, he or she may be abducted by human traffickers. I have to be careful and follow the adults around me."

The atmosphere in the carriage was lively and harmonious, but the little girl's whispered words inexplicably added a sense of urgency to Su Jingjing.

Su Jingjing immediately prepared for battle and held Youyou's hand tightly with her backhand: "Don't worry, I will protect you!"

After that, Su Jingjing protected Youyou all the way and never left her side for a moment.

When the train arrived at the station, it was already early morning the next day.

Captain Xu asked everyone to wake up and get off the bus with their luggage first.

Youyou was sleeping so soundly that after being woken up, she felt groggy and groggy.

Chu You took her little hand and led her out of the station.

The group first went to the military guesthouse to put down their luggage and had breakfast before starting training.

Xu Zhilan called Chu You and You You aside to talk.

"Chu You, the other six comrades in our troupe all have performance experience. Except for you and You You, this is your first time on such a big stage. However, as long as you work closely with the comrades in the drama troupe as you did in previous rehearsals, there will basically be no problems. I believe in you."

Chu Youdian nodded: "Captain Xu, I won't hold you back."

Xu Zhilan nodded.

Although Chu You is usually quiet, she can complete any task assigned to her very well. Xu Zhilan is relieved about this.

So, she turned her gaze to Youyou again.

I don’t know if this child is too young, but he doesn’t look nervous at all, as if he knows nothing. From the moment he got off the train, he has been visiting this place with a look of curiosity on his face.

For such an important performance, Xu Zhilan didn't know whether she could trust her.

She took a deep breath and said, "Youyou, the performance will be completely different from our rehearsal in the training room. There will be many soldiers, leaders, and audiences watching you. If you are nervous, hold your breath and try not to look at them, okay?"

"Never cry on stage, it will cause a serious performance accident."

The little girl blinked her eyes and whispered, "Youyou doesn't like to cry."

Looking at the child's confident expression, Xu Zhilan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and the heart in his throat hadn't settled down yet.

I hope tomorrow night’s performance goes smoothly!

…

At this time, all the villagers of Tanqiao Village rushed to Gu's house.

The last time Mr. Gu came out of the hospital, he was not as strong as before. Just now, his lips suddenly turned pale and he was holding on to the wall, almost unable to stand.

Gu Qi hurriedly called the villagers, and everyone rushed the old man to the hospital.

The kind-hearted villagers helped him and went to Zhou's house to tell Liu Anqin the news.

Liu Anqin immediately took the purse and went out, but was stopped by her mother-in-law: "That family has nothing to do with you anymore, you can eat first, there is no need to rush over."

But Liu Anqin didn't listen to her and ran out directly.

Zhou Xin followed reluctantly: "Don't worry, I'll take you there."

After the couple left the house, Zhou's father slammed his chopsticks down fiercely: "This is outrageous! Once you marry into our Zhou family, you are a member of our Zhou family. Why do you worry about other people's affairs? Listen to what that country girl said just now? She said her father-in-law was in the hospital! Her father-in-law is fine!"

"Don't be angry first." Zhou's mother quickly comforted her husband and sighed, "However, there were so many troubles in her previous family. Why is it so difficult for her to live a good life?"

When Liu Anqin arrived at the hospital, she saw Gu Qi huddled in the corner.

The child has grown taller and lost a lot of weight recently.

The situation just now really scared him. He lowered his head and even his eyelashes were trembling.

Liu Anqin felt so distressed that she hugged Gu Qi tightly in her arms: "Don't be afraid, Xiaoqi, your mother is here."

Only after seeing his mother did Gu Qi come back to his senses.

He looked up and asked softly, "Mom, will Grandpa get better?"

Liu Anqin shook her head: "I don't know."

It's hard to say. Heart problems can be serious or minor. The old man's health is indeed getting worse every year...

"Let's go eat first." Zhou Xin said.

Liu Anqin looked at Gu Qi and knew that he couldn't eat, so she said to Zhou Xin: "Go to the state-owned restaurant and buy some buns, otherwise it will be closed soon."

As soon as Zhou Xin left, she put her arm around Gu Qi's shoulder and said softly, "Xiao Qi, grandpa may not get better for a while. You have to eat. Only when you are full will you have the strength to take care of him."

Gu Qi nodded, looking at the door of the emergency room, not moving.

Grandpa, please, please don't let anything happen to you.

His grandfather is his only relative.

How could Liu Anqin not know what the child was thinking?

She hesitated, and finally made up her mind: "Xiao Qi, during this time, Mom will find someone to take care of Grandpa. As for you, you can live in Mom's house first."

After she finished speaking, she couldn't help feeling a little guilty.

I don’t know whether her husband and parents-in-law can accept this child.

…

Meng Jinyu was worried for two whole days.

This is not the future. Now that the child has arrived in Ling City, there is no way for him to ask someone to send a message back to report his safety.

Su Jingjing was thoughtful. After everything was settled, she found a way to call the commune.

However, Meng Jinyu lived far away and certainly could not run to the commune to answer the phone, so she had to run several times a day to ask the comrades in the commune office if there was any news about Youyou.

For her, no news is the best news.

This means, everything went well.

"Mom, don't worry. There are so many adults taking care of Youyou, and Sister Jingjing is so concerned about her, they will definitely take good care of her. I think Youyou might be extremely happy right now!"

Jiang Guo also said: "Yes, Youyou is just like me, very adaptable."

Meng Jinyu couldn't help laughing.

Youyou is not as clumsy as her sister, but they are both equally clever.

"Okay, I won't worry about it. Youyou will be performing tonight, and should be back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." She stood up and packed up the fabrics. "I'm going to go to the village chief's house and discuss summer clothing styles with them."

In the past few months, Meng Jinyu and her friends have made a lot of clothes for the Red Star Garment Factory.

The director of the garment workshop said last time that when the dividends are distributed at the end of the year, he must give them a big red envelope.

Although they didn't say how much money would be in the red envelope, Lin Li helped them find out and found out that it was at least two months' salary!

Just thinking about this made them full of energy.

In addition, after the technical evaluation and assessment of the factory workers, Meng Jinyu, Ning Lan and Zhang Xiaochun received unanimous praise, and now the factory director seems to be determined to let them work directly in the factory.

As soon as Meng Jinyu arrived at the village chief's house, she brought up this matter.

"I heard that Zhang Xiaochun seems to want to work at the Red Star Garment Factory. The director said that although she cannot be given a permanent position for the time being, as long as she performs well and takes the internal exam, there will be no problem in getting her a permanent position!" said Xu Weiwei.

Meng Jinyu knew that the future development of the Red Star Garment Factory would not be good, so there was no need for her to go to the city for the sake of her children for the time being.

But Zhang Xiaochun is different.

Zhang Xiaochun is an educated youth who went to the countryside in the early years. Her family originally lived in the city. Now her parents are getting older and older, and they have headaches and fevers from time to time. She must want to go home to take care of them.

Besides, in this life, under their influence, perhaps the Red Star Garment Factory will not face the crisis of bankruptcy?

Therefore, Meng Jinyu did not think there was anything wrong with her decision to go to the city.

"What about Ning Lan? Will she go?" Meng Jinyu asked.

Xu Weiwei shook her head: "Ning Lan grew up in the village and has long been accustomed to life here. Besides, her parents are still in the village, and she is worried about them."

"That's right." Meng Jinyu turned on the sewing machine. "Ninglan went to the hospital for a checkup a few days ago. The doctor said that it would be difficult to restore her leg muscles to normal because they have been atrophied more and more. However, as long as she persists in treatment and exercise, maybe slowly, she will have the chance to stand up again and take a few steps occasionally. Then she can save money to buy a wheelchair, and her quality of life will be greatly improved."

Ning Lan is a girl who knows how to be content. She is extremely grateful for everything she has now.

While Xu Weiwei and Meng Jinyu were talking, Aunt Yuan and Ning Lan also arrived.

"Is Xiaochun not here yet?" Aunt Yuan asked.

Xu Weiwei and Meng Jinyu smiled at each other.

"Xiaochun's son came to the village to see her today, and she is at home with her children," said Xu Weiwei.

At this time, Zhang Xiaochun was preparing dinner for the children in the kitchen.

Not long after her ex-husband left Fenglin Village with their son, he filed for divorce.

At that time, she was desperate and wanted to keep the child, but she also knew that for Ji Xiaotian, life would be better if he lived with his father.

Over the years, she had only seen her child a few times. Seeing the relationship between mother and child gradually become estranged, she felt indescribable feelings in her heart.

"Xiaotian, how have you been lately?" Zhang Xiaochun asked.

Ji Xiaotian is already fifteen years old. After he was taken away a few years ago, he seldom interacted with Zhang Xiaochun. When they met occasionally, he didn't know what to say to her.

He casually talked about recent developments and looked outside the house.

Zhang Xiaochun felt her son's perfunctory attitude and felt a little disappointed, but she still pulled herself together and said with a smile, "Xiaotian, Mom can go back to the city now."

Ji Xiaotian was stunned for a moment: "Return to the city?"

"Yes, I got the opportunity to work in the Red Star Garment Factory." Zhang Xiaochun's face was full of joy.

Ji Xiaotian hesitated for a moment, wanting to speak, but stopped himself.

In fact, he wanted to ask if he could live with his mother after she returned to the city.

But he couldn't speak.

Because his father and stepmother said that he couldn't stay with his mother because his mother didn't want him...

Seeing Ji Xiaotian looking outside the house, Zhang Xiaochun sighed softly.

Her eyes fell on Jiang Cheng who was passing by outside, and she patted Ji Xiaotian on the shoulder: "Go and have fun, dinner will be ready in a while."

Zhang Xiaochun called Jiang Cheng and asked him to take Ji Xiaotian for a walk around the village.

Only after they left did she smile bitterly.

Zhang Xiaochun was always envious when he saw how close Meng Jinyu's children were to her.

She often thought, it would be nice if her son could always rely on her like he did when he was a child.

It’s a pity that, since some time ago, Ji Xiaotian’s eyes always avoided looking at her.

Sometimes she felt that the child was feeling aggrieved, but no matter how she asked, the child would never say anything.

Maybe she was overthinking it.

Zhang Xiaochun continued to pick up the spatula and cook.

The child rarely comes back, so she has to find a way to cook more of his favorite dishes.

In the house, Zhang Xiaochun was cooking, while outside, Jiang Cheng was already taking Ji Xiaotian for a walk.

After a while, Jiang Guo also came.

The three of them are of similar age, and when they get together, they have endless things to talk about.

Jiang Cheng smiled and said, "We played together when we were kids, do you remember?"

Ji Xiaotian nodded: "At that time, we went to the back mountain to play and dig a hole for the throttling ghost."

Thinking of the childhood memories, Jiang Guo's eyes lit up: "The hole of the throttling ghost is very thin, about the size of sorghum. We can see the big eyes of the throttling ghost by scratching it with our hands. When you can't catch it with your hands, you will use dry branches to dig it out."

Ji Xiaotian smiled and nodded: "It was really fun when I was a kid."

"It can be just as fun now!" Jiang Guo took Ji Xiaotian's hand and ran towards the back mountain.

Ji Xiaotian returned to the village in the morning. As soon as he arrived in the village, he saw many childhood friends.

But only Jiang Cheng and Jiang Guo would not look at him with envy, nor would they think that he was different from them because he was a city dweller now.

The three of them were having fun in the mountains just like they were kids, and for a moment, it seemed as if all their worries disappeared.

Ji Xiaotian showed a long-lost smile.

Tired of playing, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Guo took Ji Xiaotian to the pond.

In the past few years, every summer, many children would go to the river pond to play in the water, and Jiang Cheng also learned to swim there.

But later, many accidents happened in the river and pond, and many children drowned in it, so gradually, the adults in the family stopped letting them play there.

"I can only wash my feet here," said Jiang Cheng.

The three men sat by the pond, took off their shoes and put their feet in.

The river water was icy and cool. Jiang Guo squinted her eyes in comfort and said with a smile, "When I was playing in the back hills just now, I almost felt like I turned into Youyou."

"Who is Youyou?" Ji Xiaotian asked.

"My sister is only six years old this year." Jiang Guo smiled.

Ji Xiaotian also laughed.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his face, and the boy's facial features became clear and sharp.

"I'm so envious of those little ones." said Jiang Guo.

Ji Xiaotian's mouth corners also raised: "Yes, when I came back just now, some villagers pulled their children and said that they envied me for being able to study in the city. But I envy them for being able to play in the fields without worries."

"That's right." Jiang Guo wrinkled his nose. "What's so good about studying in the city? I studied there too, and I wanted to go home every day!"

The arc of Ji Xiaotian's mouth deepened.

"Sister Guoguo! Brother Jiang Cheng!" Suddenly, a child ran over anxiously.

This is the child of Aunt Niu Er in the village. His name is Da Zhuang. Jiang Cheng and Jiang Guo both recognize him.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Cheng stood up suddenly.

Da Zhuang ran out of breath and pointed to the river behind him: "There's no one over there - over there -"

Seeing him panting, Jiang Guo became even more anxious: "Speak slower."

“Can’t be slow!” Da Zhuang waved his hands vigorously, “It’s Yong Qiang! We were playing secretly just now, and I fell asleep. When I woke up, I found that he had fallen into the reservoir!”

As he spoke, he took out his friend's stinky shoes.

"Why are you still standing there? Go and call the adults!" Jiang Guo shouted.

"I'll go right away." Da Zhuang cried, "You guys stay here and watch for me, I'll ask the adults to rescue Yongqiang right away!"

"It's too late." Ji Xiaotian said and jumped directly into the pond.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Cheng also jumped in.

Jiang Guo stood on tiptoe and watched, extremely worried.

Even though this pond looks calm now, it is not shallow. Many children lost their lives here in the past!

She knew Yongqiang, the boy was chubby and would grin as soon as he saw her. He was so well-behaved.

Nothing can happen to Yongqiang!

"Brother! Brother Xiaotian! Both of you be careful!" Jiang Guo shouted loudly.

In the pond, Ji Xiaotian swam fast and agilely, eagerly looking for Yongqiang.

As for Jiang Cheng, he followed behind Ji Xiaotian, hooked his hands hard, and fluttered his whole body.

This is the doggy paddle style he learned a few years ago. Even though it doesn't look pretty, he swims very smoothly.

Jiang Guo stared at them for a while, and seeing that their figures were getting farther and farther away, he quickly chased after them along the shore.

But before she had taken a few steps, she suddenly heard Da Zhuang's voice coming from behind her again.

"Sister Guoguo! I found Yongqiang! It turns out that Yongqiang saw me fall asleep and ran home to eat!"

Jiang Guo was confused: "What about the shoes?"

Yongqiang scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "I took it off on purpose and put it next to his nose to tease him!"

"Is this fun? Do you deserve a beating?" Jiang Guo cursed angrily. Yongqiang was not obedient at all. She wanted to take back her praise for him!

When the two naughty kids heard this, they immediately ran away desperately.

Jiang Guo hurriedly shouted again: "Brother! Brother Xiaotian! We found the person, both of you come up quickly!"

However, on the empty shore, only her own voice echoed.

Jiang Guo was anxious and ran a few steps: "Brother! Brother Xiaotian!"

The more she ran, the more worried she became.

Among those who drowned before, there were not only children, but also adults in their twenties.

There are too many unexpected situations that can be encountered in rivers and ponds, so the village chief reminded everyone not to seek coolness or play too much, and not to go swimming in rivers and ponds.

Just now they all thought that something had happened to Yongqiang, and they were too anxious, so they jumped into the river directly.

But now...

Jiang Guo cried anxiously: "Brother, Brother Xiaotian!"

It was getting darker and darker, and if they continued like this, they would really be in danger.

Jiang Guo turned around and ran back to find an adult to help: "Something happened - something happened!"

…

The performance in Ling City has begun.

The audience was packed with people.

Backstage, the artists had already put on their makeup and were waiting anxiously.

Only Youyou gently pushed aside the curtain and looked at the audience below.

She heard that the people who watched their performance were all very awesome military uncles and aunts.

He is a soldier defending his country, and the person Youyou admires the most!

"Youyou, are you nervous?" Su Jingjing adjusted his breathing, trying to stay calm.

Youyou nodded, then shook her head, pinched her chubby face with her hands, and pulled off a small sequin.

The little sequins were sparkling and so beautiful that the little girl was reluctant to play with them in her hands, so she put them back on her cheek.

Su Jingjing was amused by her cute look, and even the tension in her heart seemed to dissipate a little.

"If you are nervous, just look at Sister Jingjing when you go on stage, and don't look at the audience below. This way you won't be afraid. When performing, we must focus on our work so that we can present the best work, do you understand?" Su Jingjing said.

Youyou seemed to understand, and asked the question she was most concerned about: "Sister Jingjing, I saw that the brothers and sisters who performed just now could give flowers to the military uncles and aunts. Can Youyou give them flowers?"

Su Jingjing smiled and nodded: "Sure, and you can also take photos with them."

Youyou's eyes lit up.

Now, she is even more looking forward to going on stage!

The performance on stage was halfway through.

The audience watched with great interest and praised the performance highly.

Xu Zhilan went backstage several times to check everyone's attire and to cheer everyone up.

But when she got in front of Youyou, she didn't repeat the previous reminder.

This child was originally carefree and usually completed every rehearsal very well. This time, if he was watched too closely, the little boy would have a psychological burden, which might even backfire.

"Youyou, just perform as you usually do. The group leader is watching you from the audience and will definitely applaud you."

Youyou blinked her eyes: "Then Aunt Leader, can you ask everyone else to applaud Youyou?"

Xu Zhilan couldn't help laughing: "Of course."

Youyou was eager to try: "We will definitely perform well!"

Finally, it was time for the last show to begin.

This was the finale of the show, so it naturally received the most attention.

When the people in the audience saw the cultural soldiers coming out, they immediately sat up straight, wanting to see them more clearly.

This is a program rehearsed jointly by the dance troupe and the drama troupe. The dance troupe is composed of female art soldiers, and each of them looks energetic and heroic.

As for the drama troupe, their makeup was more exaggerated. There were both men and women wearing neat and uniform military uniforms, which was very eye-catching.

only--

"Why is there a little baby in here?"

"I haven't heard that the art troupe recruited such a young artist! Could it be someone's child who accidentally sneaked in?"

"That's definitely not the case. This kid is wearing makeup. The glitter on his face is the same as the other artists' faces."

"Also, look at her hairstyle - isn't this the same hairstyle as the little martyr from before? Could she be playing that little martyr?"

Obviously, Youyou's appearance attracted everyone's attention.

But the more this happened, the more worried Xu Zhilan became.

She was afraid that too many people would focus on Youyou, and if so, any mistakes made by the child would be magnified infinitely.

Xu Zhilan's heartbeat became faster and faster, and she clasped her hands tightly, hoping that little Dumpling could perform normally.

Passionate music sounded.

All the art soldiers stood in their positions.

Youyou was the first to step forward.

She stepped to the beat, one step at a time, her movements powerful, her expression serious yet lively, as if at this moment she had become a real little martyr.

The little martyr's dance moves are powerful. After an opening, she blends into the team of her older brothers and sisters. There is no mistake in her movements or positioning.

The next highlight is not on Youyou.

But she still didn't relax, and her little face no longer had the sweet smile it usually had.

She imitated the adults' expressions, pursed her lips tightly, and brought to life the little martyr's fearless determination to face death.

This performance amazed everyone in the audience.

The music slowly stopped until the very end, when the cultural soldiers on the stage lined up in two rows and stood in neat rows.

Since her brothers and sisters didn't move, Youyou didn't move either. She stood obediently at the edge, with her little feet tightly together and her bright eyes looking towards the stage.

It was pitch black.

There are so many people.

Youyou’s little feet are numb from standing so long.

I don’t know how I performed just now.

After a moment, everyone in the audience stood up.

There was thunderous applause.

Youyou tilted her head and showed a happy smile.

With so much applause, are they praising her brothers and sisters and her performance?

Xiaotuanzi likes this kind of stage very much!

Backstage, Youyou was overjoyed.

Xu Zhilan was also extremely happy.

As soon as Xu Zhilan came over, she immediately gave a big hug to every artist in her dance troupe.

"Your performance was great! It was better than any other rehearsal!"

At the end, she even picked Youyou up and said, "You are amazing. You can perform exceptionally well under such high pressure. You are really a natural little actor!"

Youyou’s little face turned red and her mouth curled up. The little sequins on her face were not as bright as her eyes.

The show is finally over.

Su Jingjing did not forget her promise to Youyou. She asked Xu Zhilan to prepare flowers for the child and specially gave them to the military uncles and aunts.

The little girl held the flowers in her hands, stood on tiptoe, and looked at them with admiration.

With a "click", someone took out a camera and captured this precious picture.

…

"Captain Xu, Zhang Lin has a stomachache. I have to go to the hospital with her." Su Jingjing said, "She had an irregular diet all day yesterday. It's not easy for her to stick to it until now."

"Youyou also wants to accompany Sister Zhang Lin to the hospital!"

Youyou is sister Jingjing’s little follower. She follows sister Jingjing wherever she goes.

Moreover, she can also help take care of Sister Zhang Lin.

Zhang Lin's stomachache was an old problem and she could just go to the hospital and get some medicine, so they both agreed to take Youyou with them.

The troops sent a car to take them to the hospital.

When Zhang Lin entered the clinic for examination, Su Jingjing took Xiaotuanzi to sit on a chair in the corridor outside.

The clinic and the inpatient ward here are very close to each other. Seeing the nurses coming and going with a kettle in their hands, Youyou whispered, "Sister Jingjing, can I go get a glass of water?"

"Sure." Su Jingjing took out the water bottle from her bag, "I'll get it for you."

"Mom said, when you are out, don't always bother others! Just do your own things!" Youyou said seriously.

Little Dumpling ran to the nurse's station with a "da da da" sound.

From a distance, I could hear the conversation between the nurses.

"Which unit is the patient in bed number eight from? Have you contacted them?"

"No, you said that the family picked him up, why didn't they send him to the hospital earlier? He has been in a coma for several months, and they just blindly took care of him for several months. Isn't this a waste of time? I don't know if he can wake up this time."

"Who knows? I heard that he was wearing a military uniform when he was picked up. Knowing this, the family didn't take the initiative to contact him. It's really ignorant. I don't know if his family and the army have been found. I won't say more. I'll send the kettle to them first."

Youyou held up the kettle and wanted to ask for water.

But the nurse's desk was high up, and the nurse didn't see her, so she walked towards the ward with the kettle.

Little Tuanzi hurriedly caught up with her and stopped her at the door of the ward: "Sister nurse, can you pour me a glass of water?"

Hearing the sound of milk gurgling, the young nurse's heart melted, and she squatted down with a smile: "Sure."

And just as she was opening the bottle cork, Youyou's eyes unconsciously swept into the ward.

An uncle was lying there.

Is this the soldier in bed number eight that the nurses were talking about?

Youyou looked over curiously.

Unexpectedly, this glance made the little girl shudder all over.

She had seen this uncle in her dreams.