If you actually reject them, you'll only end up causing trouble for yourself; that would be truly foolish.
She was never one to make things difficult for herself, and readily nodded.
"Okay! I need ten models. Ideally, they should be available to start intensive rehearsals after get off work tomorrow, and also have all of Sunday free to attend our press conference."
She thought for a moment and added, "As long as the selection is suitable and the rehearsals are serious, in addition to the coat you promised, every girl who comes to help will receive a brand new coat, plus an extra twenty yuan reward."
This coat would cost at least thirty yuan outside, and with the payment, it would be fifty yuan in total.
In addition, since it's helping military families, those young girls will definitely be happy to do so.
Upon hearing this, Lei Yuhua's smile widened, and she clapped her hands.
"Great! No problem! Leave it to me. You can come to our performing arts troupe and pick people tomorrow at noon!"
When people are busy, time seems to be wound up like a clockwork, and in the blink of an eye, it's noon the next day.
Zhou Qiqi was busy all morning at the No. 1 Garment Factory, so busy that she didn't even have time to eat lunch before hopping on her bicycle and rushing to the military region's cultural troupe.
As soon as she arrived at the door, she saw Lei Yuhua waiting for her.
Without saying a word, Lei Yuhua pulled her into a small auditorium.
Pushing aside the heavy curtain, Zhou Qiqi's eyes were suddenly opened to a bright light.
In the small auditorium, about thirty girls dressed in military green training uniforms stood in a row, like rows of budding poplars.
Each of them had an upright posture, a fair complexion, and a classical charm between their brows.
Zhou Qiqi felt like she couldn't take it all in, and the weight on her heart lightened considerably. This trip was definitely worthwhile!
These girls hone their skills on stage every day; their poise and stage experience far surpass what those inexperienced students from the teachers' college could achieve yesterday.
Lei Yuhua had clearly done her homework beforehand; she had conveyed Zhou Qiqi's requests clearly and thoroughly over the phone last night.
The two stood at the edge of the stage, and the girls went up one by one and walked around the stage as required.
Although she wasn't walking the trendy "catwalk," her gait was composed, her eyes were bright, and she exuded an indescribable energy and stage presence, far exceeding Zhou Qiqi's expectations.
After seeing twenty girls, Zhou Qiqi already had a rough idea of who was best suited for the role and quickly narrowed it down to eight.
At this press conference, the "Ink Splendor" series featured a total of five color schemes, each with two different styles, requiring exactly ten models.
There are only two spots left.
Just then, a little girl at the back of the line suddenly couldn't hold back anymore.
She darted to Zhou Qiqi and Lei Yuhua like a little rabbit, her voice trembling with urgency:
"Sister Yuhua, Sister Qiqi, can...can I try?"
Lei Yuhua frowned, her tone becoming serious:
"Wang Chunyan! What's going on? How have I been emphasizing this all along? We are soldiers, we must follow rules and discipline! Don't you know how to line up? It's not even your turn yet, and you're rushing out like that, what kind of behavior is that! People will think our cultural troupe has no rules!"
She was genuinely annoyed, fearing that Wang Chunyan's recklessness would leave a bad impression on Zhou Qiqi.
Wang Chunyan's face flushed red, and her eyes welled up with tears.
"I'm sorry, Sister Yuhua! I really didn't mean to cause trouble! I... I just really wanted this opportunity! I don't want money, I don't want new clothes, I just... I just want to repay Sister Qiqi!"
As she spoke, she mustered her courage and looked at Zhou Qiqi.
Zhou Qiqi was taken aback and carefully examined the beautiful girl in front of her who was so anxious she was about to cry.
She looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, and did look somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she had seen her before. She spoke softly.
"Repay me? Do we...know each other?"
"Sister Qiqi, it's me! Wang Chunyan!"
Wang Chunyan's voice was choked with sobs.
"You forgot? Four months ago, at the gate of the teachers' college, my mom... my mom falsely accused you of selling clothes with needles in them, and even had the police arrest you! Later... later on the roof of the military hospital, I... I was having a moment of despair, and you saved me! Also, I was able to get into the performing arts troupe because you told me the news!"
She became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, her little mouth pouting, "You...don't you remember any of this?"
Wang Chunyan? Needle-covered clothes? Hospital rooftop? News from the performing arts troupe?
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiqi's eyes widened suddenly, and her memories returned instantly!
That incident was so dramatic at the time, how could she possibly forget it?
But in my memory, the sixteen-year-old girl on the hospital rooftop, scolded by her own mother to the point of wanting to die, was thin, desperate, and had lifeless eyes, like a withered leaf.
The little girl in front of me, wearing a military green training uniform, with rosy cheeks and bright eyes, is like a sunflower growing towards the sun.
The change is incredible! It's like a complete transformation!
"Oh! It's you! Chunyan!"
Zhou Qiqi was both surprised and delighted, and couldn't help but grab Wang Chunyan's hand, looking her up and down.
"I really didn't recognize you! You...you got into the performing arts troupe? How are you doing now? Your mother...she hasn't come to pressure you to get married or beat you anymore, has she?"
She asked quickly and urgently, her questions full of concern.
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