"Dear military families, good afternoon. I am Du Ruofang from the cultural troupe. I've called you all here for this meeting today because the Mid-Autumn Festival is just over a month away." Du Ruofang stood on the stage, her brows furrowed as she looked at the families below.
She didn't know what the higher-ups were thinking, insisting that the military families prepare a performance.
These military dependents are almost all rural women. Do they know how to dance or sing?
Even if they can dance and sing, how can they perform on stage without long-term training?
Isn't this a disgrace to the Southern Military Region?
However, the higher-ups had already issued the order, so despite her dissatisfaction, she had no choice but to speak up: "Our Southern Military Region has distinguished itself among the major military regions. Therefore, for this Mid-Autumn Festival gala, we require families to prepare a performance. Leaders from above will be sent to the military region to celebrate together."
As soon as Du Ruofang said that, everyone was in an uproar.
"My goodness! I can barely read any words, this is going to kill me!"
"Ah, I can neither sing nor dance."
"Commander Du, why do we need to prepare a performance? This has never happened before," one of the bolder members asked.
Du Ruofang's attitude was somewhat cold: "Our Southern Military Region has ranked first among the four military regions for three consecutive years, and the leadership attaches great importance to it. This Mid-Autumn Festival, we want to celebrate together. Asking you to perform a program is also to promote unity between the military and the people, to strengthen our bond, and to make us more united."
"We can't perform."
"All I know is how to grow vegetables, cook, and take care of kids."
"I don't perform. I have a ton of things to do at home, so I don't have any free time."
The noise started again.
"Don't make a fuss, don't make a fuss." Du Ruofang slammed her hand on the table, her head throbbing. She looked at the women below and said very eloquently, "You are all military families. While the men are fighting on the battlefield, you are the strongest logistics support for the military region."
"Now, for the military region and for your men, everyone must have a spirit of dedication."
"The military dependents who participate in the performance will receive basins, thermos flasks, porcelain cups, and towels as prizes."
Du Ruofang's few words quieted everyone down.
"You guys discuss what to perform yourselves, singing or dancing is fine. Come back and report to me in three days." After she finished speaking, she left.
The noise started again.
Ran Jinnian's head ached from listening: "Sister-in-law Zhou, let's go back first."
"Let's go." Zhou Hongying looked at the sleeping Sandan, and everyone walked out of the conference room.
Once someone left, everyone else followed suit.
"The people in charge are out of their minds, making us illiterate women perform. They have nothing better to do."
Qin Shulan was full of complaints.
"I can't go." Li Fengxia was terrified. She didn't know anything, and going on stage would only make her lose face.
“Jin Nian is young, beautiful, and educated. If she hadn’t gotten pregnant, she definitely could have performed on stage,” Zhou Hongying said regretfully, as she had some insight into such matters.
In the military region, it's not just men who need to achieve success; if women can bring honor to their men, they can also become their asset.
"I'm heavily pregnant and it's inconvenient for me, so I'll have to trouble all of you sisters-in-law for this important matter." Ran Jinnian was heavily pregnant and naturally wouldn't participate in this family performance.
At this moment.
A group of performing arts soldiers from the cultural troupe emerged from the training room after a morning of training.
They were all dressed in military uniforms, their thick black hair braided into two pigtails, radiating youthful energy.
The girl in the lead looked to be under twenty years old, with fair skin, a slim waist, and long legs.
Her attire was outstanding, making her the most eye-catching among the performing arts soldiers.
"I don't know what the higher-ups were thinking this time, they actually made the military families perform a show too," someone said.
"They're just a group of women who know how to cook and take care of kids. What do they know about acting?"
"If we do that, we'll lose face for the military region, and our cultural troupe will lose face too."
"Qingxue, tell your father to withdraw this request."
A girl stepped forward, looking at Yan Qingxue with a hint of ingratiation.
Yan Qingxue said haughtily, "I'll talk to them, but this isn't my father's decision."
As soon as she finished speaking...
"That woman's coat is really nice, and her shoes are so stylish."
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