Chapter 31 Back to the Propaganda Team (First Update + ...)

Chapter 31

As soon as he said that, the air seemed to fall silent instantly.

Zhao Yueru thought she had misheard, so she asked, "What did you say?"

There was still a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"I'm asking you, will you marry me?"

Zhou Jingsong smiled, and beneath the white gauze covering his eyes was an excessively handsome face.

Zhao Yueru had a lot of questions she wanted to ask him, but because Captain Meng was there, she couldn't bring herself to ask them.

Zhou Jingsong noticed something, smiled, and turned to Captain Meng, saying, "If Comrade Zhao and I get married someday, please invite Captain Meng to our wedding."

Captain Meng never expected that his original intention to drive Zhao Yueru away would end up like this.

He chuckled awkwardly, "Then I'll wait for your wedding and ask for a cup of celebratory wine."

After Captain Meng left.

Zhao Yueru's pent-up words poured out like a torrent of rain, "Zhou Jingsong, why do you suddenly want to marry me?"

Since Yingying left, she has shamelessly gone to the Zhou family many times, but Zhou Jingsong seems to have never given in.

In fact, towards the end, Zhao Yueru almost gave up. She even wondered if Zhou Jingsong also looked down on her because she was a capitalist's daughter.

Zhou Jingsong couldn't see her face, but based on her tone of voice, he could imagine a lively, vivid, and flamboyant female comrade.

He smiled, a slight upturn at the corners of his lips. "It's not that I'm rejecting you."

“Comrade Zhao, I am blind, and I am not sure if I can regain my sight. If I agree to your request under these circumstances, it would be taking advantage of your vulnerability.”

"That's not fair to you."

"And now?"

Zhao Yueru asked him, "Why did you agree to it now?"

How was Zhou Jingsong supposed to answer that?

He thought for a while, "Probably because I don't want to see Captain Meng make things difficult for you."

"Besides, now it's your turn to need me."

He would be helpful to Zhao Yueru once she needed something.

Moreover, once you feel joy, you can't bear to see the person you like suffer even the slightest hardship.

That's just how he is.

However, Zhou Jingsong was also insecure. He was blind and worried that he wouldn't be able to give Zhao Yueru happiness if they got together.

They were also afraid of dragging the other person down.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yueru's heart began to pound. "You mean?"

Zhou Jingsong thought he should give himself a chance, and he heard himself say, "Comrade Zhao."

“Let’s get married, but we’ll just have a banquet and not register our marriage. That way, if I ever lose my sight, you can leave me anytime.”

Zhao Yueru was initially quite happy, thinking that Zhou Jingsong finally realized how good she was.

Before she could even feel happy, she heard the second half of Zhou Jingsong's sentence, and Zhao Yueru's anger flared up instantly.

"You mean a fake marriage?"

She raised her hand and, for the first time, impolitely poked Zhou Jingsong's chest with her finger, hitting him every time, causing Zhou Jingsong to keep backing away.

"You, Zhou Jingsong, are such a kind person! You're even willing to give up your marriage to help me, a capitalist's daughter in distress?"

"Little Flower from the east end has lost her father and is being bullied. I wonder if you, Zhou Jingsong, would be willing to help her this once?"

Zhou Jingsong retreated step by step as she poked him, and he remained silent.

He was blind, or rather, blind with his eyes covered by a white gauze. The way he retreated made one feel inexplicably sorry for him.

Zhao Yueru sneered. She stood there, withdrew her hand, crossed her arms, and looked like a hedgehog. "If you, Zhou Jingsong, are really such a good person, then go help those who need help. You can have a fake marriage with whomever you want, just don't come looking for me, Zhao Yueru."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingsong had a sudden realization. He quickly understood and cautiously asked, "Yueru, are you angry that I said I wanted to have a fake marriage with you?"

Zhao Yueru remained silent.

Zhou Jingsong, however, seemed to have unlocked his full potential, saying, "No, if Xiaohua from the east end of the village is being bullied, I will help her, but I will not marry her."

"Yueru, it's only you."

"Only you, I'm willing to have a fake marriage with you, because I don't want to see you being bullied, and likewise, I don't want to see you being dragged down by me."

"I will not marry anyone but you."

finally.

Zhao Yueru finally managed to force Zhou Jingsong, this seemingly reserved but actually passionate man, to reveal his true feelings.

She changed her previous anger and instead raised her eyebrows, asking with curiosity, "Really? You're not a pushover. You won't help others get into fake marriages."

Zhou Jingsong smiled wryly, "Yueru, am I really that casual in your eyes?"

Zhao Yueru snorted, her eyebrows and eyes proud and arrogant, like a haughty fox, "You have good taste."

"I knew it! How could Zhou Jingsong be such a pushover?"

A person who can kill enemies on the battlefield is never just a person who is indecisive and hesitant.

"Zhou Jingsong".

Taking advantage of Zhou Jingsong's inability to see, Zhao Yueru leaned forward, only a centimeter or two away from his chin. She raised her eyebrows and smiled smugly, "Admit it, you like me, Zhao Yueru."

It's no wonder she's been so attentive for so long; her efforts haven't been in vain.

The two were so close that Zhou Jingsong could even smell a faint fragrance emanating from Zhao Yueru.

Like a gardenia in May, exuding a pure and sweet fragrance.

Zhou Jingsong felt a little uncomfortable, so he took a step back, and Zhao Yueru took another step forward to bully him.

Zhou Jingsong was about to step back again.

Seeing him chuckle, Zhao Yueru quickly grabbed his arm, "Don't back down, or you'll hit your head on the wall."

Zhou Jingsong was a little embarrassed; his ears turned bright red, as if they were about to burst into flames.

No, Zhao Yueru actually saw the smoke above Zhou Jingsong's head, wisps of white smoke.

This shocked her. She pointed at Zhou Jingsong's head and said, "Zhou Jingsong, is there smoke coming out of your head?"

Zhou Jingsong was a little embarrassed, but he didn't want Zhao Yueru to notice, so he pretended to be calm and explained, "It's a bit hot today."

"Excessively hot."

That's nonsense.

It's only May 2nd, and Mengjiatun is in the countryside where the temperature is low; you need to wear a jacket in the mornings and evenings. But here in Zhou Jingsong's village, it's excessively hot.

Zhao Yueru didn't expose his lie. Instead, she grinned, a very happy smile, and circled around Zhou Jingsong as she laughed.

"Zhou Jingsong, I'm so happy."

Zhou Jingsong couldn't see her face, but he could hear her lively, bell-like laughter. "What's so funny?"

He didn't realize that he had a smile on his face when he asked that question.

Zhao Yueru pounced on Zhou Jingsong, made a face at him, and said with a mischievous grin, "I won't tell you!"

When she pounced on him, she carried a cool, fragrant scent, which made Zhou Jingsong hesitate to move.

Zhao Yueru also realized that she was too close to Zhou Jingsong. She could even hear the pounding of Zhou Jingsong's heart.

"Zhou Jingsong?"

Zhao Yueru tilted her head slightly, pressed her ear against his chest, listened for a moment, and then said very seriously, "Are you nervous?"

Zhou Jingsong's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't speak.

Even if he were blind, he could sense the ambiguous atmosphere at this moment.

Why are you so nervous?

Zhao Yueru chuckled, "I'm a woman and I'm not nervous at all, I'm just happy, but you're more nervous than me."

"Zhou Jingsong, have you never been in a relationship before?"

Zhou Jingsong clenched his fists, the white cane in his hand turning white from gripping it so tightly. "Hmm."

He heard himself answer like that.

"Have you ever been in a relationship?"

Zhao Yueru shook her head, "No, but I've never eaten pork, let alone seen a pig run."

"I'm self-taught."

Zhou Jingsong really likes her vibrant energy and vitality, something he has never had before.

So, he was like a mouse outside the window, watching the radiant Zhao Yueru.

He suddenly couldn't bear to part with it.

Even if it's a fake marriage, he can't bear to let her leave.

"Let's not have a fake marriage."

"What?"

Zhao Yueru was stunned for a moment.

The next second, she heard Zhou Jingsong say, "Let's really get married."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yueru immediately grabbed Zhou Jingsong by the ear, laughing and scolding, "You idiot, you're only realizing it now?"

"You only just realized why I was angry? Who wants a fake marriage with you? From the very beginning, I wanted to really marry you."

"You're only realizing it now?"

"You're so slow! You're so infuriating!"

Zhou Jingsong's ear was twisted, but instead of being angry, he felt a strange sense of wonder. He used his eyes, which were wrapped in gauze, to search for Zhao Yueru's expression.

His lips curled slightly.

Yue Ru pinched his ear.

She must really like him, right?

Otherwise, why doesn't she go and twist other men's ears?

*

Meng Yingying traveled by train for three days, and on the morning of May 7th, she finally arrived at Xiangshi Railway Station again.

Compared to her hasty departure that morning, she returned this time with more confidence.

Things are different now.

From the moment she passed the exam to be a staff member of the performing arts troupe, she was no longer the orphan girl who could be manipulated by others.

She had a way out.

“Yingying, I’ll go to your local performing arts troupe first, and then to the propaganda team. I’ve thought about it, and I think you should come with me.”

Initially, the two planned to split up, but Secretary Xu suddenly had a change of heart.

“You’re a local, so I’ll take you to meet some local organizations. If you ever go back to your hometown and something happens, these organizations will be willing to help you out.”

People in the workplace are actually quite exclusive, but they treat their own people very well.

Meng Yingying's nose tingled with emotion, "Sister Xu."

"Alright, alright, it's nothing serious. I'll show you around so you can get to know some people, so you won't be left wondering who to ask for help if you get bullied when you come back."

Officer Xu really does what he says.

She wasn't familiar with where the Xiangxi Cultural Troupe was, but Meng Yingying did. After the two left the train station, Meng Yingying took bus number nine and then transferred to bus number seven.

Finally, they arrived at the Xiangxi City Cultural Troupe smoothly. Because Officer Xu had a letter of introduction, he was able to enter without any problems.

However, what was even more coincidental was that it was Secretary Ming who received them.

"Officer Xu, we've finally been waiting for you."

Clearly, Officer Ming was very polite to Officer Xu. Although they were of similar rank, the treatment within the cultural troupe was different.

The Harbin Cultural Troupe was almost on par with the Capital Cultural Troupe, and Harbin was also known as the "eldest son of China."

The benefits and compensation here are naturally different.

Officer Xu remained calm. "Thank you for your help, Officer Ming. I wonder if the message has been relayed over here?"

"The message has been delivered." There was none of the arrogance he had shown when he went to the propaganda team. Instead, he was all smiles. "Now we're just waiting for you to come over. I'll take you to the propaganda team."

"Basically, you just need to make one trip to inquire about the situation, and if there are no problems, that's fine."

Officer Xu nodded, "Then I'll trouble you."

"Let me introduce you. This is one of the selected members of our performing arts troupe. Her name is Meng Yingying."

Ming felt that the name Meng Yingying sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

She looked up and sized up Meng Yingying, noticing that she was wearing a pale yellow dress, had fair skin, and beautiful features.

Her exposed calves were slender and straight, and even her limbs were stretched out.

She's truly a promising dancer.

Ming, who also came from the cultural troupe, could tell at a glance that Meng Yingying was probably quite talented.

Adding to this, Officer Xu's attitude—personally bringing Meng Yingying over from so far away to complete the formalities—is also noteworthy.

Meng Yingying's talent seems to be even better than she imagined.

Thinking about this, Secretary Ming felt a little regretful. She didn't understand how Meng Yingying could be so talented.

Why didn't the city propaganda team select this person back then?

Meng Yingying had no idea what Officer Ming was thinking. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "When are we going to the city propaganda team?"

"What's wrong?"

Ming was somewhat surprised.

Meng Yingying rubbed her rumbling stomach. "Can we eat something before we go?"

She and Officer Xu spent three days on the train, mostly just getting by.

"Look at me." Secretary Ming slapped his forehead. "I was so busy with important business that I forgot to ask if you guys had eaten."

"Come on, I'll take you to the canteen of our Xiangxi Cultural Troupe so you can try our local food."

Meng Yingying went to see Officer Xu, who nodded and said, "Let's go, we've eaten, then we'll go to the cultural troupe."

Only after hearing this did Meng Yingying feel relieved. After all, the original owner of this body was a native of western Hunan and loved spicy food.

The food served in the performing arts troupe was also of this standard.

Stir-fried red chili peppers and pickled cabbage in rice porridge that has been cooked until it bursts open – one bite and it's both spicy and fragrant.

Spicy and sour cabbage is also a great dish to eat with rice.

The potatoes were also stir-fried with chili.

Meng Yingying ate with great relish, but Officer Xu next to her couldn't stand it, saying, "This won't do, it's too spicy."

"No wonder people from western Hunan can eat spicy food; it's truly remarkable."

Every side dish contained chili peppers, including the steamed buns. They were filled with green beans, but then red chili peppers were added inside the green beans as well.

Finally, having no other choice, Officer Xu ate two cornbread buns and drank a bowl of cornmeal porridge, which finally solved his breakfast problem.

Seeing that Officer Xu was eating with great difficulty, Meng Yingying thought for a moment and said, "Come to my house for lunch, and I'll cook you a non-spicy dish."

She cooked for her father during his last few days, so she basically learned some cooking skills.

Officer Xu sensed Meng Yingying's concern and touched her head, saying, "Then I'll have to experience it."

Meng Yingying smiled, her brows relaxed, her eyes full of trust.

This made Officer Ming even more impressed, and he thought to himself, "It seems that this comrade named Meng Yingying is highly regarded by Officer Xu."

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so affectionate.

"Would you like to rest first, or should I take you to the propaganda team now?"

After the meal, Secretary Ming asked them.

Meng Yingying went to see Officer Xu, but Officer Xu was in a hurry. After finishing the formalities here, she wanted to take Meng Yingying back to the art troupe as soon as possible.

They'll be going out to compete in a few days, and the sooner they get back, the sooner Meng Yingying can start training.

Their performing arts troupe would have a better chance of winning.

"Go now and finish this quickly."

She wanted to finish all the formalities in one day and take Meng Yingying back tomorrow.

"Alright, let's go now."

*

City propaganda team.

Director Lin had already received the news, so she instructed her subordinates, "Everyone, do your best today. Not only will the leaders of the Xiangxi Cultural Troupe be coming, but the leaders of the Harbin 101 Cultural Troupe in Heilongjiang Province will also be coming."

"I heard that a remarkable person came from our cultural troupe."

"They're here today to do a background check. If you perform well, this might be your only chance to be selected for the performing arts troupe."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone became excited. "Really?"

"If we perform well, will they really be able to select us for the performing arts troupe?"

Ever since the day Meng Yingying left, when Secretary Ming came to inform them that the cultural troupe would no longer select talent from the propaganda team, their world had collapsed.

Although the propaganda team hasn't officially disbanded, it's practically the same as it has been, with everyone still struggling to keep going.

I was just thinking, what if the higher-ups change their minds and come to the propaganda team to select people again?

Coach Chen, however, was not so optimistic. He thought more deeply that the people there were there to conduct background checks, not to select talent.

But seeing everyone's high spirits, he couldn't bear to dampen their enthusiasm.

Someone, quick-witted and astute, asked, "Director Lin, who was selected from our propaganda team to join the Harbin Municipal Cultural Troupe?"

Clearly, the Harbin Cultural Troupe is more difficult to assess than the Xiangxi Cultural Troupe.

Director Lin didn't know either. She shook her head and said, "It's not clear yet. You'll know when they arrive."

"However, no matter who gets selected, remember to flatter them and ask them about their experience. See how they were selected. If they actually tell you, you'll have really benefited."

Faced with Director Lin's suggestion, everyone nodded in agreement. Just as everyone was becoming curious...

There was a knock on the door. "Is Director Lin in?"

Upon hearing this, Director Lin immediately went out to greet them with a beaming smile, saying, "Here."

Upon seeing that it was Officer Ming, Director Lin's smile became even warmer. "Officer Ming, you've arrived."

Ming, the clerk, remained calm. "I brought Xu, the clerk from the Harbin Cultural Troupe, with me. The main purpose of our visit is to conduct a background check on Comrade Meng Yingying."

"Find her former coach for me, we'll go and ask him some questions."

Director Lin had been all smiles, but her face froze when she heard the name Meng Yingying. "Who did you say?"

Ming glanced at her, "Meng Yingying."

"What? You don't recognize him?"

No sooner had these words been spoken than Meng Yingying and Secretary Xu came up from behind. The two of them had just gone to find the public restroom, so they were a little late.

She went up the steps and entered the gate, and saw Director Lin's almost stiff face. Meng Yingying smiled slightly and said, "Director Lin doesn't recognize me, but I do."

She didn't say a word, but to Director Lin, it felt like being slowly tortured to death.

She never expected that the talent selected from the propaganda team would be Meng Yingying.

Who is Meng Yingying?

That was the person she personally drove out of the propaganda team back then.

When Meng Yingying left, things got very ugly between them, but Director Lin didn't expect that so little time had passed.

Half a month?

A month?

Meng Yingying has actually returned, and in this new capacity, which is quite surprising to Director Lin.

It was a blatant slap across her face.

She didn't speak.

Ming, the clerk, noticed something. "What's going on?"

How is Director Lin supposed to answer this?

It was Meng Yingying who spoke first, "I was expelled by Director Lin from the propaganda team."

A seemingly casual remark made Director Lin's face tighten, as if his secrets had been exposed.

"Meng Yingying".

She wanted to interrupt Meng Yingying.

Meng Yingying noticed it too, and she forced a smile. "Director Lin, it's been a long time."

What was clearly an ordinary sentence sounded like a thunderclap to Director Lin.

The person she once fired has now been accepted into the Harbin Cultural Troupe, while she, the head of the propaganda team, faces the risk of being fired at any time.

This is so ironic.

Coach Chen noticed something and immediately stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Yingying, congratulations!"

“I thought you were talented from the beginning, but you just couldn’t let go. Looking back now, it was actually the right thing for you to leave the propaganda team.”

Meng Yingying had feelings for Coach Chen. During her three years in the propaganda team, Coach Chen was the only person who treated her well.

"Coach Chen, it's been a long time."

The same words not only didn't frighten Coach Chen, but also made him feel gratified.

"I remember now."

Upon hearing Coach Chen speak, Secretary Ming suddenly realized, "When I came to inform you that the cultural troupe was no longer selecting people from the propaganda team, didn't I just watch for a while behind the dance studio?"

"That comrade who dances so well, is that Meng Yingying?"

She said the name Meng Yingying sounded very familiar.

Coach Chen recalled for a moment and remembered. He nodded, "It was her. You praised Meng Yingying back then, saying that she danced very well, and if the performing arts troupe had held selections back then, she might have been the only one selected to join the troupe."

It really is her.

Upon suddenly learning the truth, Secretary Ming subconsciously remarked, "So it really is the person I've set my sights on."

She said sourly to Officer Xu, "The person I had my eye on was snatched away by you guys."

Officer Xu calmly replied, "Your Xiangxi Cultural Troupe has no openings for external recruitment, and so has our Harbin Cultural Troupe. However, our troupe's Director Fang went to a high-ranking leader and got a position, which is how Yingying was able to join the troupe."

"If you can persuade your troupe leader, Director Liu, to ask the higher-ups for a permanent position, Yingying would probably already be a member of your troupe."

Ming thought to himself, "I don't have that kind of ability, and their regimental commander doesn't have that kind of courage either."

She smiled but didn't reply.

"You were Yingying's former coach, right?"

Officer Xu asked Coach Chen with a gentle expression.

Coach Chen felt flattered and replied, "Yes."

"Would it be convenient for us to talk in private?"

Coach Chen subconsciously looked at Director Lin, who immediately stepped forward and said, "This is the leader. I am the person in charge here. If you want to know everything about Meng Yingying, you can come and ask me."

Officer Xu glanced at her. "Are you asking how Yingying was kicked out of the propaganda team?"

Director Lin's face immediately stiffened, and he dared not speak again.

"I only need to ask Coach Chen," Officer Xu said to Officer Ming. "Bring Coach Chen over for me. As for Director Lin, you can ask him yourself."

Ming, the clerk, said "Yes" and immediately split up to take action.

Watching Coach Chen being taken away by Secretary Xu, Director Lin felt a tightness in his chest. Seeing Meng Yingying still standing to the side, he even had trouble breathing.

"Alright, stop looking." As someone who dealt with the propaganda teams below, Director Ming understood all too well the intricacies involved.

She spoke very bluntly, "Comrade Meng Yingying has soared to great heights and is no longer the pitiful little girl you used to be able to manipulate."

"Director Lin, you should understand this, right?"

Director Lin's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

She didn't understand how Meng Yingying could have been chosen out of so many people in the propaganda team.

Meng Yingying stood aside without saying a word. During this background check, she was just a background character, so it was best not to follow along.

Seeing the angry look in Director Lin's eyes, Meng Yingying smiled and said, "Director Lin, thank you."

And sincerity.

“If you hadn’t forced me to pay double the tuition back then, I wouldn’t have left the propaganda team with such determination. And if I hadn’t left the propaganda team, I wouldn’t have the position I have in the cultural troupe now.”

"Really, thank you so much."

The more Meng Yingying said this, the more uncomfortable Director Lin felt.

Before her expression could change drastically, Secretary Ming pulled her away. Without these important figures, the scene erupted in chaos, especially among the women from the propaganda team.

Everyone looked over with curiosity and eagerness.

However, no one spoke up, mainly because their relationship with Meng Yingying hadn't been very good back in the propaganda team.

"Yingying."

Yu Xiaolian was the first to speak; she was considered one of the top students in the propaganda team. Everyone assumed she would definitely be selected for the performing arts troupe, but she wasn't.

The performing arts troupe has stopped holding external auditions.

Therefore, Yu Xiaolian's future path was also blocked. If she could not get into the art troupe, her parents would stop paying her tuition for the propaganda team.

No family can afford a dancer with a bleak future.

In an era when food was scarce, this was a considerable expense. And the premise of this expense was the ability to foresee a future.

Having a job in a performing arts troupe is like defying fate for an ordinary family.

Thinking of this, Yu Xiaolian abandoned all shame and disregarded the unpleasantness between them in the past. She immediately came over with a fawning smile and said, "Yingying, I want to ask you how you were selected."

Meng Yingying knew her purpose. She didn't like Yu Xiaolian, even though Yu Xiaolian had never bullied her in the past.

She will always be Meng Yingying's comparison point.

Meng Yingying's limbs were stiff, and she jumped around like a dog.

Yu Xiaolian is agile and her jumping is amazing.

While some criticized Meng Yingying, others praised Yu Xiaolian.

During the three years Meng Yingying was in the propaganda team, she was always the control group for the top student Yu Xiaolian. Thinking of this...

For the original owner of this body, Yu Xiaolian was the shadow of Meng Yingying.

Thinking of this, Meng Yingying suddenly smiled, "You want to know?"

Yu Xiaolian hesitated for a moment before nodding.

I won't tell you.

Meng Yingying said seriously, "If it were Zhao Yueru, I would definitely tell her, but you are not."

During her three years in the propaganda team, her only friend was Zhao Yueru.

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaolian's face immediately turned ugly. She wanted to say something, but her friend tugged at her, "Xiaolian, what were you saying to Meng Yingying?"

Yu Xiaolian didn't want to either.

But she had no other choice.

Her eyes were filled with tears, which Meng Yingying saw, but she lowered her eyes and showed no mercy.

Because during those three years, the original owner of this body had countless tears in her eyes, and apart from Zhao Yueru, no one was willing to help her or care about her.

Meng Yingying quietly looked at the place that had once filled the original owner with fear yet made her reluctant to leave.

Just like these people.

Meng Yingying used to feel so stressed about going to the dance studio the next day and meeting them that she would suffer from insomnia, heart palpitations, and sadness, and would cry at the drop of a hat.

All this pressure was put on her by the outside world.

Therefore, he asked Meng Yingying to share all the methods he had used to get into the performing arts troupe.

Sorry, she can't do it.

She couldn't bring herself to smile at those who had bullied the original owner of this body.

This is a betrayal of the original owner.

She watched coldly.

The people who had been whispering to each other gradually quieted down.

I don't know who spoke first.

"Meng Yingying, I'm sorry."

Once one person speaks up, countless others will follow suit, saying, "Meng Yingying, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have laughed at you before."

"And me, I shouldn't have spoken ill of you behind your back."

"I shouldn't have poured water on your bed."

“I shouldn’t have reported you to Director Lin, saying that you got in through connections and that it affected the atmosphere of the propaganda team.”

As each "I'm sorry" fell...

All those past instances of Meng Yingying being bullied in the propaganda team have surfaced.

Meng Yingying paused for a moment. She could feel a comfortable and pleasant feeling in that part of her heart.

Even the occasional feeling of heaviness in my body that I used to experience has gradually disappeared.

Is that you?

Meng Yingying murmured, "Are you listening?"

No one answered her.

All she knew was that after saying "I'm sorry" again and again, her body felt completely relaxed.

Meng Yingying, who had been bullied so much, also felt relieved.

Meng Yingying thought that this trip had not been in vain.

*

office.

Xu, the secretary, had also reached the end of his questioning with Coach Chen. "In other words, Meng Yingying used to be very fat, which prevented her talent from being fully displayed."

"His talent only came to light after he lost weight?"

"Yes," Coach Chen recalled. "The day she left was the first time she showed her talent."

Even though a month has passed.

His eyes still held a sense of awe at the memory: "When I saw her dance, I was absolutely amazed."

Having noted this down, Officer Xu had a general understanding. She put a period at the end of her notebook and, as she was about to get up, suddenly asked a question.

How fat was Yingying at that time?

Coach Chen recalled, "It was at least 150."

Coach Xu, "?"

He had an expression that said, "Don't try to fool me."

Coach Chen: "No, really. When Meng Yingying first came to the propaganda team, she was as fat as a ball. The propaganda team shouldn't have accepted her in the first place. It was her father who gave her gifts—"

At this point, Coach Chen realized he had let something slip, but it was too late to take it back.

He covered his mouth.

"It's okay, you can continue. It's just chatting. I've put my notebook away, and our chat won't appear in my notebook anymore."

Coach Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Back then, you could get into our propaganda team just by giving gifts. That's how Meng Yingying got in."

"After she came in, she realized that she was too fat and was ridiculed by others, so she kept trying to lose weight. Later, she stabilized at around 130 pounds and just couldn't get any lower."

"To be honest, I almost didn't recognize Meng Yingying when I saw her this time. She probably weighs no more than 90 pounds now."

"I feel like if she hadn't given her name herself, I might not have recognized her even if we had walked right past each other."

Ms. Xu was also surprised to learn that Meng Yingying used to be so fat. She thought for a moment and said, "It seems she must have suffered a lot."

Otherwise, losing 30 or 40 pounds in a month is really too difficult.

Coach Chen's face fell when this was mentioned. "Yes, her father passed away, and I heard that her family members were also eating the blood of those who had died out, so she had no choice but to leave."

The death of a loved one, or being bullied by a loved one.

Officer Xu said that not only that, Meng Yingying also traveled a long way to stay with her fiancé, but her fiancé preferred to leave the army rather than marry her.

Actually, looking at it this way, Officer Xu can understand why Meng Yingying has lost so much weight.

In just one month, she experienced setbacks that most people never experience in their entire lives.

"I understand, thank you Coach Chen."

Officer Xu stood up. "I wonder if you'd like to change jobs?"

She asked it casually.

This surprised Coach Chen, who then shook his head, "It's not easy to find."

Otherwise, he would have left the propaganda team long ago.

After thinking for a moment, Officer Xu said, "I'll go to the Xiangxi Cultural Troupe to ask if there are any suitable positions here. If there are, you can go there."

She didn't make any absolute statements, "However, it's very difficult to get a permanent position."

"Now that the performing arts troupes are no longer offering positions to outsiders, if they really need people, they can only get in as temporary workers."

There was no other way; the team's funding was tight, so they had to cut corners from every available resource.

Coach Chen was pleasantly surprised to hear this. "Thank you for your help."

Meng Yingying didn't know what Officer Xu and Coach Chen said; she only saw the undisguised joy on Coach Chen's face.

"Yingying".

Officer Xu walked over and said, "Let's go. The background check here is over. I'll go with you back to your hometown."

Meng Yingying exclaimed "Yes!" and turned to look at Coach Chen. "Coach, is there some good news for you?"

Coach Chen immediately stopped smiling and seemed a little embarrassed.

It was Officer Xu who said, "Officer Ming, do you think your cultural troupe is still recruiting? Not for permanent positions, temporary workers are fine too."

“I think Coach Chen is a good person, and he is capable. He is also a married man. A person like him should be able to help out in the cultural troupe.”

The performing arts troupe was predominantly female, so much so that the daily odd jobs were often left undone.

As an officer herself came from a performing arts troupe, she naturally knew about these things.

Upon hearing this, Officer Ming was somewhat surprised, "How did you know that our cultural troupe is short of a male assistant?"

Officer Xu smiled but didn't say anything.

"Since you were recommended by Officer Xu, you can start working at our cultural troupe tomorrow."

Director Ming said this directly to Coach Chen.

Director Lin's pupils contracted slightly, and she turned to look at Coach Chen.

Coach Chen's joy at that moment was almost palpable, and he subconsciously bowed to Officer Ming and Officer Xu.

"Thanks."

"Really, thank you."

Officer Xu didn't accept the thanks, but Officer Ming helped him up. She was a sensible person and couldn't help but smile. "Don't thank me. You should thank yourself for bringing out such a good student."

“If it weren’t for Meng Yingying, Officer Xu wouldn’t have come to the propaganda team. And if she hadn’t come to the propaganda team, she wouldn’t have introduced you to our cultural troupe.”

It can only be said that Coach Chen did a good deed back then, treating Meng Yingying well, and now it can be considered that good deeds have been rewarded.

As soon as he finished speaking, Coach Chen gave Meng Yingying a grateful look.

Meng Yingying waved her hand, smiled with her lips pursed, "That's because you're a good person, Coach, that's how you got this opportunity. This has nothing to do with me."

Seeing this, Director Lin felt as bitter as if he had swallowed a bitter pill.

If she had known this would happen, why did she do it in the first place?

If she had known that Meng Yingying would have such good fortune, she should never have forced Meng Yingying away in the first place.

Unfortunately, it was all too late.

*

Mengjiatun.

Zhao Yueru and Zhou Jingsong finalized the details, but she hesitated, saying, "If you go back to the station to submit your marriage application, it will take at least ten days to half a month for you to go back and forth."

She wasn't embarrassed at all, saying, "Then we definitely can't wait."

"How about this, let's hold a banquet in Mengjiatun first, so that at least in Mengjiatun we'll be a couple."

"Once your eyes are better, we can go back to the station and get a marriage report and a marriage certificate, okay?"

This was the fastest way Zhao Yueru could think of to get married.

With his eyes covered by gauze, Zhou Jingsong's emotions were unreadable. After a long while, he said, "Yueru, it would be too unfair to you if we just had a banquet but didn't get the marriage certificate."

That's the truth.

Zhao Yueru was very open-minded. "No."

"Let's prioritize practicality and get the banquet done first." She said bitterly, "Once I become your wife, Captain Meng won't dare to come here every few days trying to get rid of me."

Zhou Jingsong paused for a moment, then said, "Then I'll go both ways. I'll hold the wedding banquet back home first, and then I'll send a telegram back to the garrison and ask them to help me apply for a marriage certificate."

Seeing that Zhao Yueru was about to refuse, Zhou Jingsong whispered to her, "Yueru, submitting a marriage application and holding a wedding banquet are not mutually exclusive."

This time, Zhao Yueru stopped objecting. She hummed in agreement, glanced back at the Meng family's house, and murmured, "If Yingying could come to see me off when I get married, that would be wonderful."

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Author's Note: Yingying: I have a surprise for you!

This chapter is giving away 100 red envelopes! You can also win nutrient solution by leaving a comment, so hurry up and participate!