Li Zhenzhen and Sun Fangfang looked unconvinced, but there was nothing they could do.
Not long after, all the people who were queuing up to receive food in the team had received their food. However, no one was in a hurry to leave. After all, many people were looking forward to the good show that was about to begin.
Yu Lianzhou took a loud speaker in his hand and went on stage to announce the news, "To celebrate the villagers in our brigade, who have successfully passed the busy farming season and received food, a female educated youth from our brigade would like to perform for everyone. Do you welcome her?"
"Welcome, welcome, you must welcome."
"How could we not be welcome? Secretary Yu, who wants to perform?"
The people below laughed and cheered, and even clapped their hands. Yu Lianzhou held up the loud speaker and said:
"Zhu Zhiqing from our Zhiqing Point will come on stage next to perform "Carrying the Thorns to Apologize" for everyone!"
Hearing this, everyone present immediately remembered that Deng Zhilan was slandered for raising a ghost some time ago. That female comrade was full of evil intentions, spreading rumors to confuse the public, and shouting about feudal superstition.
Comrade Deng's punishment for her was not only to require her to write an apology letter, but also to perform a play on stage and to apologize for her crime.
Suddenly, the crowd around them became less crowded and a path was made for Deng Zhilan.
She became the one among the ones.
Wei Yanzhen supported Deng Zhilan and came to the front of the cement platform.
The old cement platform emitted a slight heat in the afternoon sun, and Zhu Qinghan walked onto the stage with heavy steps.
Her posture was slightly hunched, and the bundle of brambles on her back was like a small mountain, pressing heavily on her. The thorns on the brambles pierced her skin from time to time, and the pain spread throughout her body.
Zhu Qinghan stood still, cleared his throat, and began to sing the play filled with regret.
Her voice was a little trembling at first, and every note was filled with guilt and uneasiness.
Below the stage, Deng Zhilan stood quietly, looking at Zhu Qinghan on the stage with complicated eyes.
Halfway through the play, tears welled up in Zhu Qinghan's eyes. She thought of all her past mistakes, the words and actions that framed Deng Zhilan, and they flashed through her mind like a movie.
The more she sang, the more devoted she became. Her voice gradually became firmer and more sorrowful. Her performance was vivid and lifelike, as if she wanted to pour out all her regrets through the play.
After singing the song, Zhu Qinghan slowly walked down the concrete platform, came in front of Deng Zhilan, and knelt on his knees.
She lowered her head and cried, "Comrade Deng, I was wrong. These thorns are my punishment. I hope you can forgive me."
Deng Zhilan looked at Zhu Qinghan, whose face was covered with tears and whose back was covered with brambles. She walked forward, stretched out her hand to help Zhu Qinghan up, and said softly, "Get up."
Zhu Qinghan raised her head, her eyes full of surprise and gratitude, and they embraced each other, all the barriers of the past vanished at this moment.
However, in the sight that no one else could see, a hint of deep meaning flashed across the eyes of the two.
This hug was fleeting.
Others thought that the two had reconciled and everyone was happy. Only Deng Zhilan and Zhu Qinghan knew the truth.
It seemed that the two of them would never be able to reconcile.
It's just that the dispute has moved from being out in the open to being hidden in the dark, with undercurrents surging in a way that others cannot predict.
"Zhu Zhiqing, although you have finished your performance, I have not seen your apology letter, and...the earthen wall of our house has not been repaired yet."
The gratitude that Zhu Qinghan was showing in her eyes disappeared in an instant.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
