When it came to learning music, Qi Xiaoyan's attention was completely diverted.
“Sister Tian, I forgot to tell you, I wrote to my second brother as you suggested, and he said that the military unit there will indeed recruit a batch of performing arts soldiers next year. However, it won't be in the commune, but in Huai City. If you want to apply, you can only go to the city.” Qi Xiaoyan said that Huai City is far away, and she was worried that her parents would not support her going.
"What are the conditions or restrictions?" He Tiantian asked. These days, whether you're a regular soldier, an arts and culture soldier, or a medical soldier, you're in high demand.
If this were in Taoyuan County, Secretary Qi might be able to pull some strings. But now that we're in Huai City, it's unlikely Secretary Qi can offer any help.
"Although my brother said in his letter that children of workers, peasants and soldiers could apply, everyone knows that the girls in the city are prettier than me, know more than me, and sing better than me. I guess my chances are slim." Qi Xiaoyan's voice grew softer and softer, and she became more and more disappointed.
He Tiantian wanted to change Qi Xiaoyan's fate, and getting rid of Li Mingkai by sending Qi Xiaoyan out of Qijia Village was the best way. Li Mingkai only left after the college entrance examination; if the two were separated, Qi Xiaoyan's tragedy might not have happened.
"Xiao Yan, believe me, your voice is very beautiful. As long as you study hard, you will definitely be able to sing better than them. You are beautiful, much prettier than those city girls, about the same size as me..." He Tiantian praised, unconsciously praising herself as well.
"Hehe..." Qi Xiaoyan covered her mouth and laughed. She didn't expect Tian Tian to be so narcissistic!
But Sister Sweetie is really beautiful; she's the most beautiful girl she's ever seen!
"Haha..." He Tiantian laughed at herself. "I'm telling you the truth, I'm from the city, I know what city girls are like. Trust me, you won't go wrong."
Qi Xiaoyan was moved and nodded, saying, "Since I have the opportunity, I will naturally seize it. If I try my best and am not accepted, I will accept it. If I don't participate, then I will have no chance at all."
"Yes, let's do our best together," He Tiantian said. If she weren't tone-deaf, she would have given it a try too.
Starting tomorrow, most villagers can rest.
However, He Tiantian had to clean the cattle pen every day at the livestock team. But with those elderly people around, Aunt Liu, remembering their kindness, would eagerly do the work. After cleaning, she would usually sit for a while and then go home. She could earn one work point a day, and as long as she did her job well, the village never interfered with the livestock team's affairs.
Qi Xiaoyan would come over with He Tiantian every day to secretly find Professor Wang.
"Professor Wang, I remember my grandfather telling me when I was little that you used to teach music elective courses at school?" He Tiantian asked cautiously, hoping that Professor Wang wouldn't deny it.
Actually, He Tiantian didn't learn this from her grandfather, but rather from what Professor Wang told her in her previous life.
If they don't deny it, then Qi Xiaoyan's plan to learn music from Professor Wang might succeed. If they deny it outright, then it wouldn't be appropriate for them to have a severely traumatized elderly woman teach them music.
Professor Wang looked up at He Tiantian, then at Qi Xiaoyan, and asked with a smile, "Is it Xiaoyan who wants to learn?"
She was the one who asked the question, so Professor Wang should have asked her first. He Tiantian asked, puzzled, "Professor Wang, why didn't you just say that I wanted to learn?"
"Haha..." Professor Wang chuckled, "The little tunes you hum while working are always off-key..."
"Didn't you recognize that I was humming 'Purple Bamboo Tune'?" He Tiantian looked embarrassed. Although she had run away, it shouldn't have sounded that bad!
"Huh? That's the Purple Bamboo Melody? I thought it was the Tea Picking Song!" Professor Wang was too blunt, adding insult to injury for He Tiantian.
"Professor Wang?" He Tiantian was almost in tears. That was her best piece, "Purple Bamboo Tune"! It had been mistaken for a tea-picking song, and her tune was completely off-key.
"Actually, you don't need to be sad. It's a matter of talent. Your Grandpa Gu is tone-deaf too. Although he can't sing, it doesn't stop you from appreciating music, entertaining yourselves, and improving your own character," Professor Wang comforted He Tiantian, seeing her disheartened expression.
Qi Xiaoyan covered her mouth, worried that she would laugh.
"Is it you who wants to learn?" Professor Wang looked at Qi Xiaoyan. When it came to teaching, Professor Wang was very serious, which was an excellent quality of a teacher.
Qi Xiaoyan nodded and said, "Yes, Professor Wang, I want to study music and take the entrance exam for the arts troupe next year."
Professor Wang said earnestly, "As long as you are willing to learn, I will teach you. I have only one request: you must not expose me."
He Tiantian felt a pang of sadness; the helplessness of being a teacher!
Qi Xiaoyan nodded earnestly and said, "Professor Wang, I am learning skills from you, so you are my master. I am not a heartless person, and I will definitely not expose you. Whether I can learn it or not, I am grateful to you. Even if someone finds out, it is because I learned it myself. Besides, we are singing revolutionary songs, which are promoted by the country, so no one can say anything about it."
Hearing this, He Tiantian agreed, "Yes, Professor Wang, we can use revolutionary songs as examples, it'll definitely be fine. 'My Motherland,' 'We Are Walking on the Great Road'..."
"Alright then," Professor Wang agreed. "Little Swallow, sing a few lines, I'd like to hear them..."
Hearing Professor Wang's words, the other people in the courtyard all looked over, wanting to hear Qi Xiaoyan sing.
Qi Xiaoyan blushed and felt embarrassed when she saw everyone looking at her.
"You'll be singing in front of examiners and soldiers in the future, so you can't be nervous or shy," He Tiantian encouraged, patiently encouraging her best friend.
Qi Xiaoyan listened to He Tiantian's encouragement and thought about it. If she was embarrassed in front of familiar people, wouldn't she be even more embarrassed to sing in front of others?
"Then I'll sing 'My Motherland,' the song I learned in school!" Qi Xiaoyan took a deep breath, "A great river flows wide, the wind blows the fragrance of rice blossoms on both banks..."
Qi Xiaoyan's voice is melodious, light, and clear. Although there are some technical flaws, her emotions are sincere, and her songs express her deep love for her motherland.
However, Professor Wang, with tears in her eyes, listened to the song, which reminded her of her studies abroad. When the country needed mathematical talent, she resolutely returned to China for national development, participating in the calculations for several important projects. No matter how hard or tiring it was, she didn't care, because it was for her motherland, for the millions of people of the new China…
Even though she is now being persecuted because of her overseas connections, she still does not regret giving up her generous treatment abroad to return to China.
Not for any other reason than that this is her homeland, and because she is Chinese.
She loves the blue bricks and red tiles of her hometown!
She loves the small bridges and flowing water of her hometown!
She loves the joyful laughter of her hometown! (To be continued.)
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