Chapter 225 Acoustic Effects or Singing for Pigs?

"A performance? Can you get people to come?"

Qin Xiangxiang heard that there was a performance, and she was intrigued. Watching a performance was like slacking off, and the whole factory watching a performance together was like the whole factory slacking off together, which was great.

Life was just too boring, so I watched a performance to relieve the boredom.

Xue Xiaolin: "Sure, I've contacted the military arts troupe and we can organize a joint military-civilian event with our factory."

Qin Xiangxiang pondered for a moment, then said, "Should I call your cousin over?"

Xue Xiaolin was stunned for a moment, then her eyes widened: "Factory director, you found out again? We should invite a group of military officers to watch the show together. There are so many military wives in our factory."

Qin Xiangxiang: "There are still so many single officers on the island, like your cousin, and here at our naval base, of the four talented men who came this year, only one is getting married, and the other three are still single..."

The military arts troupe came, along with some officers and single female workers from the textile factory; this was a large-scale matchmaking party.

Great, it's perfect for her, the factory manager, to watch the drama unfold.

"Factory manager, then it's settled. I'll contact them."

Qin Xiangxiang readily agreed: "Okay, you guys go ahead and handle things. I'll talk to Representative Jie about this."

I heard that the military arts troupe was coming to perform, and they even invited army and navy officers and soldiers to watch the show together. It was practically turning into a large-scale matchmaking event. Everyone at Feiyan Textile Factory was very happy.

Married military family members like Qin Xiangxiang are just watching the show and having a good laugh.

As for someone like Representative Xie, he was thinking of having female comrades from the cultural troupe come over... and if they were meant to be, they could start a relationship.

Yang Zhixia complained: "This representative has worked in a textile factory full of female workers for so many years and still hasn't found a partner. Now that the cultural troupe has come, do you think he'll be able to find a partner? I doubt it."

Qin Xiangxiang, concerned about Su Peisheng beside her, earnestly advised, "Assistant He, this is also a rare opportunity for you. There are many beautiful girls in the art troupe; perhaps you'll find a partner."

"Factory Director, how could I care about such things?" Assistant He waved his hand, straightening his expression. "The most important thing right now is not finding a partner, but to do a good job of promoting our textile factory, especially you, Factory Director. With the people from the cultural troupe coming, we should publicize your achievements. If we can establish you as a role model, that would be even better."

"You are not only a good factory director, but also an outstanding representative of military spouses!"

Qin Xiangxiang: "..."

Assistant He's words made her feel a little uneasy.

But whatever, let's enjoy it first.

Qin Xiangxiang invited Zhuang Xiaoman's husband, as well as the Zhong couple next door... a whole bunch of people, to come to the textile factory to watch the show.

Zhong Li: "I'm not from your factory, how can I go?"

"A joint military-civilian celebration? Of course!"

Qin Xiangxiang was still waiting to watch the drama unfold with her neighbors. "Several single male military officers are coming over, like Zhao Rui, Dr. Bai, and Xue Xiaolin's cousin Zhou Zhenbang... Don't you think the scene will be exciting? Let's watch together and see who ends up with whom."

"OK!"

Qin Xiangxiang decided to make herself a new outfit, thinking that she had to dress up carefully before meeting so many talented young men.

Qin Xiangxiang said, "I need to see just how popular this Dr. Bai is before I go over and shake his hand."

"And Zhao Rui, go and talk to him too. He's a young naval technology engineer, he must be a knowledgeable person."

"That Zhou Zhenbang, I reckon he won't be able to find a wife..."

Li Jianzhi pulled out a few clothes from the closet and said in a calm tone, "That day I'm going to wear my whitest, brand-new military uniform and get a haircut."

"By then, my wife will realize that her husband, Li Jianzhi, is the real young talent."

Qin Xiangxiang: "...I watch you at night, and I want to watch other people for a while during the day. Don't be too domineering. I just want to have some fun."

"Little Fatty! Your dad is always jealous. Don't ever be like him when you grow up!"

Li Xiaopang: "My dad said that only by studying like him can he find a wife, otherwise he'll be a bachelor for life."

Sui Sui: "Do I want to be like Dad too?"

Li Jianzhi picked up his little daughter and said, "Baby, just learn from your mother. Learn from your mother, Factory Director Qin!"

Sui Sui nestled in her father's arms, a hint of worry in her eyes despite her young age, her beautiful eyebrows drooping: "...Want to be a model worker like Mom?"

"We must work hard and be like an old ox."

Li Jianzhi: "Uh... this."

Qin Xiangxiang stood to the side with her hands on her hips, thinking to herself, "Let's see how you deal with your daughter."

“Teach by example. Just be like your mother. Sui Sui, observe your mother carefully.” Li Jianzhi touched his daughter’s face. He felt that his daughter was smarter than his eldest son, Xiao Pang.

"Sui Sui, even if your mother is an old ox, she is the most beautiful old ox."

Qin Xiangxiang said with a dark face, "Li Jianzhi, you're the real workhorse!"

When the members of the military arts troupe learned that they were going to perform at the Feiyan Textile Factory on the island and participate in a joint military-civilian celebration, some were happy and some were worried. Many young girls set their sights on Xue Xiaolin's cousin, Zhou Zhenbang.

Others were thinking of other talented young people.

However, some who didn't care about these things couldn't help but feel dissatisfied. Bai Xuemei, the principal soprano of the military region's cultural troupe, was proud and outspoken: "What good conditions can there be in this island factory? There are many mosquitoes, the food is bad, and I have to prepare for the All-Army Art Performance, so I won't go. I have to stay in the troupe and practice singing in the best music room."

Bai Xuemei and Xue Xiaolin were friends, so she directly refused over the phone.

"Oh, Sister Xuemei, you're not coming?" Xue Xiaolin, who was on the other side, was still thinking of bringing Zhou Zhenbang and Bai Xuemei together. "My cousin is coming this time too."

Everyone wants to hear you sing!

Bai Xuemei's lips twitched, but she still insisted resolutely, "I need a better environment to practice singing. The conditions on the island are not good...it will have an impact."

She and Zhao Na from the same troupe were rivals, and Bai Xuemei was unwilling to lose to Zhao Na, so she needed to practice singing diligently during this period.

“Then I’ll go this time.” Zhao Na glanced at Bai Xuemei, not wanting to lose to her either, but it wouldn’t look good if neither of them went. “I was just thinking of going out to gather inspiration! The island scenery must be different! I want to go to Feiyan Textile Factory and see for myself!”

Bai Xuemei was stunned for a moment after hearing what she said, then secretly mocked Zhao Na for being foolish and only knowing how to curry favor with Officer Liu and Instructor Li.

"Okay, Comrade Zhao Na, thank you. Let me tell you, our factory's propaganda team rehearsal hall is great. The singing and talking in there has a really nice voice!"

Zhao Na: "Okay, I'll give it a try then."

"Seriously, I'm not kidding, it's even better than a concert hall!"

"Pfft—" Bai Xuemei sneered from the side, "Xiaolin, what kind of well-equipped rehearsal hall does a textile factory have? It must all be your imagination."

"Xiaolin, your family is so well-off, yet you went to work at the island textile factory... You really suffered."

Bai Xuemei's tone was full of superiority and sympathy for the harsh conditions in the island factory.

Liu, the propaganda officer standing nearby, said, "It's a good thing to perform in grassroots areas, but we need to be mindful of the impact and avoid causing trouble for the factory."

Team leader Instructor Li said, "The Feiyan Textile Factory is thriving under the leadership of Qin Xiangxiang, a military spouse. It's a great example. It's worth going to see it; perhaps we can develop a very good program from it."

The military arts troupe arrived on the island by military boat, then took a car to Feiyan Textile Factory. Qin Xiangxiang, along with Xue Xiaolin and others, came out to greet them, arranged accommodations at the guesthouse, and then went to the canteen for a meal.

Upon arriving at the guesthouse of Feiyan Textile Factory, a three-story building, all brand new, Instructor Li and his group were somewhat shocked, as it seemed to have quite good conditions.

At noon, we arrived at the textile factory canteen. The head chef served up the food: fragrant braised pork, braised pork, and boiled pork with minced garlic; there was also the textile factory's own sausage stir-fried with garlic sprouts; salted duck eggs that made your mouth water; tangy and flavorful borscht; and refreshing seaweed and pork bone soup...

Zhao Na's eyes widened in disbelief: "This...this pork smells so good! It's not dry at all!"

"This braised pig's ear is so delicious! I've never had such delicious braised meat before."

"This salted duck egg smells delicious!"

...

After the meal, in order to welcome the arrival of the cultural troupe, the canteen specially supplied cream cakes for the whole factory. This time, they were well prepared and made a large number of cream cakes... The cakes, which cost two cents a piece, were especially popular.

"I want two cakes!"

"I want five small cakes! Thanks to the cultural troupe, they provided cream cakes today. The children in my family are so lucky."

"I'll buy some to celebrate too!"

Looking at the bustling scene before him, Officer Liu pushed up his glasses, incredulous: "The factory canteen... has cream cakes? This standard of living..."

Instructor Li pondered, "It seems this factory is quite something; the factory manager is running it well."

"This cream cake is made in our factory. It was inspired by our patchwork embroidered shirts that we used to sell. Some foreigners really liked our clothes, saying they were artistic! They even gave us a lot of cans of cream. So the factory manager had someone develop the cream cake... The factory serves cream cake one day a week. Our factory is also an outstanding unit for foreign affairs hospitality! A foreign prince has even visited us before, and our textiles have been selected as provincial gifts..."

Zhao Na was stunned: "Xiaolin, tell me more about this Feiyan Textile Factory. It's only been a few years since it was built, less than five years, yet it has experienced so many stories."

Xue Xiaolin: "There are so many stories in our factory! I could tell you for days."

"Your factory manager is a remarkable person, and the benefits in your factory are excellent."

Xue Xiaolin laughed: "Right! Our factory has great benefits! The food in the canteen is especially delicious. It's all from pigs raised on our factory's affiliated farm. The sausages are all made by the factory itself, and the vegetables are all grown by the factory! Our factory manager said that you need to be well-fed to have the energy to work!"

"I'll take you to visit the 'pig farm'... Oh dear, I'm getting used to saying it! This pig farm is also the propaganda team's rehearsal hall, and it's very well built."

Zhao Na, Officer Liu, and the others were dumbfounded: "What? A pigsty?"

"How does the pigsty relate to the rehearsal hall? Raising pigs in the rehearsal hall? How awful would that smell? Or are you making the pigs sing?"

"Your factory raises pigs well, but performing arts is not the same as raising pigs!"

Xue Xiaolin: "The pig-raising room is not a place to raise pigs, but a place to learn how to raise pigs. I'll take you to see it."

The group of performers followed Xue Xiaolin to the pigsty with a mixture of surprise and doubt. In their imagination, the pigsty was smelly, with wooden fences and cubicles, and a straw shed...

But when they arrived at the pigsty and pushed open the door, everyone froze on the spot.

The spacious and bright hall has a smooth wooden floor, high-quality spruce wood panels on the walls, and a special sound wave diffusion treatment on the ceiling—this was done by Master Gu and his team.

"This...this is a pig-raising study room?" Zhao Na's voice trembled. "This wood...my god, is this spruce wood from musical instruments? With so much spruce wood, the acoustics are amazing..."