Chapter 108 Arrival at the Capital Song and Dance Troupe
Chapter 108
Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying, who had been too afraid to turn around, suddenly turned back and saw Qi Donghan waving from outside the station.
Meng Yingying paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Goodbye, Qi Donghan."
Only she knew the bitterness behind that smile.
Qi Donghan noticed it too. He lowered his hand and stood outside, staring at Meng Yingying's back until she completely disappeared.
He then murmured, "Yingying."
After Meng Yingying entered the station, Yang Jie and Director He were waiting for her not far away, carrying their luggage.
Seeing her approach, Director He looked up and sized her up. "Were you crying?"
Meng Yingying didn't want to admit it. She didn't say anything, but simply pulled her scarf up a bit, covering most of her face.
It also covered her bright red eyes.
Seeing this, Director He sighed to Yang Jie, "Youth is truly wonderful."
"People like us, halfway to the grave, even if we died now, no one would care."
Watching Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan, it's all about youth, so bittersweet.
Yang Jie ignored her, feeling quite apologetic, "It's someone else's child's wedding."
"Let's do this underhanded thing." Anyway, when she went to say this to Meng Yingying, she was completely ashamed, but she had no choice but to say it.
"Stop with that."
Director He was much calmer than her. "They are stationed with the team. Let alone sending them to the competition on their wedding day, even if they were sent to the battlefield on their wedding day, it would just be a matter of issuing a transfer order."
Yang Jie understood this principle, but understanding is one thing, reality is another.
She sighed softly, boarded the train, and Director He went to find his seat according to his queue number. "Stop being sentimental. What you need to think about now is how to help Yingying establish herself in the Capital Song and Dance Troupe."
This is the most practical problem.
Hearing this, Yang Jie perked up a bit. Because they were in a hurry to leave and it was an express train, the stationed team used their connections to get them three sleeper tickets for cadres.
Entering the carriage brought a bit more warmth, which slowly brought them back to life after they had been frozen stiff.
After putting her luggage away, Yang Jie rubbed her hands together. "This time, when I go to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe, there's still a tough battle ahead."
Meng Yingying was initially feeling a bit sad, but hearing Yang Jie's words shifted her attention.
Seeing her sitting on the edge of the bed looking at her, Yang Jie said directly, "The deadline for the Capital Song and Dance Troupe's recruitment has passed, but you'll still have a chance to get in this time—"
Several times Yang Jie wanted to say Song Fenfang's name, but Director He interrupted her, saying, "She used special connections with the stationed team."
She glanced at Yang Jie with a warning look on her face, clearly indicating that she shouldn't say things she shouldn't.
The matter between Song Fenfang and Meng Yingying is between the mother and daughter; outsiders should not interfere.
They have no right to acknowledge Song Fenfang on her behalf.
Yang Jie naturally understood this principle, but she didn't know why she felt extremely sad.
Director He was worried that Yang Jie might reveal the matter prematurely, so she took over the conversation, saying, "The reason you were able to get a spot in the Capital Song and Dance Troupe this time is because the troupe has taken care of your Beijing residency issue."
At this point, she patted the paper bag she was carrying, "Your household registration is in here. I'll be in charge of handling the paperwork for you this time. For any professional issues, just ask Yang Jie."
Meng Yingying was somewhat shocked, "The household registration has been transferred so quickly?"
Director He glanced at her and said, "Without a household registration, you won't be able to get into the Capital Song and Dance Troupe this time."
“Yingying, you have a Beijing residency permit—” she paused, “and you’re the only one in the entire Harbin Cultural Troupe and the Provincial Song and Dance Troupe who has one.”
For many people, a Beijing hukou (household registration) is an insurmountable barrier, a barrier that separates ordinary people from those living in the capital.
Meng Yingying nodded, her eyes lowered, her fine eyelashes casting a shadow on her eyelids. "I will work hard."
Seeing that she had misunderstood, Director He sighed softly and stopped trying to elaborate.
After sitting for a while, Meng Yingying got a little hungry. As if she had a treasure chest, she took things out of her bag, starting with canned yellow peaches.
These days, canned food is hard to buy; you need coupons and money. Winters in Harbin are cold, and the train is a bit dry with poor air circulation. After sitting for a long time, even my throat gets dry.
A bite of sweet and juicy canned food is just perfect.
Even Director He thought it was beautiful, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "You were in such a hurry to leave, yet you remembered to bring canned food?"
Meng Yingying also had a mouthful of sweet canned food in her mouth, which was a little cold but surprisingly comforting.
"It wasn't me pretending, it was Qi Donghan who did it."
Then, like a hamster, she took out all the food and supplies at once.
The table was scattered with food; you can imagine how comfortable the journey must have been.
"Was this also prepared by Commander Qi?"
He pointed to the snow frog oil, peach shortbread, and milk candy.
Meng Yingying nodded, "He prepared everything."
After eating and washing her hands, which were a little dry, she dipped some snow frog oil in it and carefully rubbed them. "Teacher, Aunt He, would you like to try it? It's quite moisturizing, and my hands won't be dry after rubbing them on."
Director He was completely bewildered. "You didn't get married, you married a Thumbelina!"
No, what man in the world is this attentive?
*
After a nearly 36-hour train journey, we finally arrived in the capital from Harbin. October in the capital wasn't as cold as in Harbin; the leaves on the plane trees were fluttering down, and judging by how quickly the weather was turning, by November, the entire plane tree would probably be nothing but bare branches.
It wasn't as cold as Harbin, but the air was exceptionally dry.
Meng Yingying had just come down to breathe for a while when she felt a stuffy, uncomfortable feeling in her nose.
She took off her cotton coat, leaving only a white turtleneck sweater, and to make it look better, she also wore a red scarf over it.
With red lips and white teeth, the colors are clean and bright, giving her a very stylish look.
As soon as she stepped out of the train station, many people kept looking at her.
He Chang couldn't help but sigh, "Good-looking people are always the center of attention wherever they go."
Meng Yingying was once a member of the Harbin Cultural Troupe, and she remains so now at the Capital Railway Station.
And because of her dancing, her aura was absolutely stunning.
Meng Yingying smiled and said, "Aunt He, please don't tease me."
She looked around and asked, "Are we on our way to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe?"
Director He nodded, "Let's go now."
The car sped all the way to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe. This was the first time Meng Yingying had ever seen the Capital Song and Dance Troupe in the 1970s.
It lacks the grandeur and magnificence of later generations.
The building retains the Soviet-style architectural framework from the 1950s and 60s, with a two-story gray cement main building and two tall square pillars standing outside the main entrance, topped with faded red flags.
A row of five-star bronze badges are inlaid under the porch, jingling in the wind; this is a kind of prestige that only cultural and artistic units in the capital have.
It is something that all local cultural troupes and provincial song and dance troupes collectively aspire to.
"Let's go in."
Seeing that Meng Yingying was still in a daze, Director He had already greeted her. Obviously, she had been here once before, and now she seemed to know the way very well.
Yang Jie, on the other hand, stood at the entrance of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe, seemingly lost in thought.
When He Chang called out to Meng Yingying, she snapped out of her daze and said, "Yingying, let's go in."
She seemed to be encouraging Meng Yingying, "Walk in with your head held high, your talent is far superior to theirs."
She was worried that Meng Yingying might be intimidated by the name of the capital city as soon as she arrived, so as not to make her nervous.
Meng Yingying smiled and said, "Teacher, I'm not nervous."
That's the truth.
Decades later, she stood on the stage of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe, where she was once the lead dancer and a pillar of the troupe.
Unexpectedly, when I returned to this place, it was different from the place of later generations. However, the expressions of the female and male comrades I encountered were surprisingly similar to those of the people in later generations.
His chin was raised, carrying a hint of pride.
That's a pride that only members of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe have; they're born superior to others.
All the people coming and going were looking at Meng Yingying and her friends.
Who are they?
"Never seen it before."
"However, I think I know the person leading the way. She caused a scene at our song and dance troupe a while ago, saying that our Capital Song and Dance Troupe was unfair and had canceled the promotion process for some local art troupes. At that time, she was kicked out by Deputy Director Wu."
This refers to the situation when Director He visited last time.
He Chuchang's expression remained unchanged, but Meng Yingying hadn't expected that He Chuchang's last visit had been so difficult.
She subconsciously turned to look at Director He, who smiled and said, "Don't worry about me, this is a very normal thing."
“Yingying, Deputy Director Wu is driving me away, just like when I drove away the local cultural troupe from the provincial song and dance troupe to give gifts and send people away.”
"We are in different places, but we are in the same situation. We are all defending our respective units."
"Nobody is wrong."
However, the process was a bit too undignified.
Meng Yingying truly admired He Chuzhang. She was incredibly strong-willed; anyone else would probably not have had the courage to come back in.
But it grows wherever it is.
She and Yang Jie exchanged a glance, both sensing that it was Director He who had brought two greenhorns to cause trouble.
"Commander He, Regiment Commander Wu wants you to bring the person to his office."
Listen to that, even the tone of voice has changed.
Last time Director He came, she was addressed as Comrade He, and he kept calling her "you." But this time, she was addressed as Director He.
Director He turned and glanced at Meng Yingying, who was still somewhat confused. Director He smiled and said, "Follow me."
Meng Yingying responded with an "oh," and followed closely behind Director He like a primary school student.
Haven't you heard?
"What did you hear?"
"The night before last, Commander Wu was furious in his office, saying that the recruitment period had ended and no more people could be added."
"But the other side still wanted to add more, and Commander Wu had no choice but to agree."
"So, according to this logic, the person who came before was someone with a very high reputation?"
"I don't know."
"However, following in the footsteps of Director He, who was dismissed last time, one shouldn't have a particularly high reputation, right?"
If it were really that big, then Director He wouldn't have been fired last time.
Li Shaoqing and Shen Meilan came over together. Seeing everyone talking, she casually asked, "What are you talking about?"
The previously lively crowd instantly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Li Shaoqing, who seemed somewhat at a loss.
The others remained silent, exchanging glances. "Let's go, let's go to the rehearsal hall. We still have three moves to practice today."
They completely ignored Li Shaoqing.
This made Li Shaoqing's face turn pale instantly. Shen Meilan, who was standing next to him, couldn't bear to watch any longer. She whispered, "Shaoqing, you know how the people here look down on us newcomers."
Li Shaoqing took a deep breath and bit her lip. "I know."
She was also known as a genius. When she was in the Harbin Cultural Troupe, her grandfather was the director, and she was envied and flattered by many of her comrades.
However, after joining the Capital Song and Dance Troupe, she became the one who held everyone back.
Anyone can look down on her.
Shen Meilan patted her on the shoulder, "Now that you know, just take it easy and focus on practicing your dance."
"This place doesn't like people who get in through connections; they only like geniuses."
Li Shaoqing wasn't unaware of this, but she was still unwilling to accept it. "We didn't get in through connections; we got in with graduation certificates from Moba Affiliated School."
Shen Meilan glanced at her and said, "If you didn't get in through connections, why didn't you compete with these people for the opportunity to study and exchange in the Soviet Union?"
Upon hearing this, Li Shaoqing immediately fell silent.
Shen Meilan knew her because her family members held high positions, so she was also treated with great respect when she went out.
“Li Shaoqing, this is the Capital Song and Dance Troupe. There are countless female and male comrades with connections here. Relationships are important, but not that important.”
"Both connections and talent are indispensable; having connections alone is not enough, nor is having talent alone."
Because Shen Meilan came from the youth team of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe, she was much more adaptable than Li Shaoqing.
"If you still don't understand this, then I suggest you go home as soon as possible."
Li Shaoqing lowered her head and remained silent for a long while before murmuring, "Shen Meilan, if Meng Yingying were here, would you say such things to her?"
Mentioning Meng Yingying, Shen Meilan's expression became somewhat dazed. "Her? She is talented, and people here respect those with talent, but there's nothing we can do about it."
"She's from a local performing arts troupe; even with the best talent, she wouldn't be able to get in."
"Shaoqing, these are the rules."
Otherwise, the Capital Song and Dance Troupe would have been monopolized by outside talents long ago.
Although Li Shaoqing was a beneficiary of the rules, she always felt that it was very unfair.
To be fair, she didn't like Meng Yingying that much.
However, she also felt sorry to see the talented Meng Yingying being buried in obscurity.
Regiment Commander Wu's office—no, I should say Deputy Regiment Commander Wu's office.
Wu Yanzhou was entertaining Director He. "Director He, it's been a long time!" he said.
She didn't have this attitude when Director He came last time.
Director He was very good at creating a facade. She smiled and said, "Commander Wu, it's been a long time."
She handed over the documents in her hand, saying, "This is Comrade Meng Yingying's personal information."
Wu Yanzhou took the document but didn't rush to open it. Instead, he first looked Meng Yingying up and down. Because it was late autumn, she was wearing a white sweater and corduroy pants that were a bit baggy.
You can only vaguely see his figure; he's a promising talent.
She was somewhat surprised. "Comrade Meng, right? Show me around."
Meng Yingying nodded, then reached out, squatted down, and spun around in one smooth motion; even her slightest movement revealed the finer details.
Long limbs, perfectly proportioned.
Moreover, it is extremely flexible.
Wu Yanzhou nodded. "He's a promising talent."
She then opened the document and looked at it. When she saw Meng Yingying's household registration, her pupils contracted. Then she tried to pull Director He aside.
Director He knew what she was going to ask, so she kept her in suspense, saying, "Commander Wu, at your level, you should know a lot of things. Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."
After saying this, Commander Wu paused for a moment, then said, "He Meifeng, you've given me a real challenge."
He turned to look at Meng Yingying, who was talking to Yang Jie. Since joining the Capital Song and Dance Troupe, Yang Jie had become much quieter.
It's obvious that it wasn't Meng Yingying who was with her.
"I've delivered the person to you. Commander Wu, do you still want him or not?"
He Chang laughed and joked, "Then we'll all be in trouble."
Commander Wu had a headache. "They're just causing me trouble. The registration deadline was already twenty days ago, and now the people have finally come."
"I'm still thinking about how to introduce her to the children below."
He Chang said, "I'm sending you a genius, and you still complain about the trouble. Wu Yanzhou, you really don't know how lucky you are."
"If my provincial song and dance troupe hadn't been struggling to find staff, do you think I would have sent people over to you?"
They themselves were heartbroken to send their own fine cabbage seedlings to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe.
Commander Wu smiled but didn't say anything. "Alright, the person has been delivered. I'll keep an eye on her. As for how far she can go next, that depends on her fate."
“He Meifeng, it’s not easy to get by in the Capital Song and Dance Troupe. You should give that kid a heads-up beforehand.”
Director He nodded and said, "Don't worry, we already discussed this before we came."
Even now, Commander Wu was still unwilling to give up. "Can't you really tell me whose connections she has?"
When Commander Wu received the message, it came from above, and she was directly instructed to accept Meng Yingying.
He Chu smiled without saying a word, "What if I said I followed the path of the Harbin Municipal Cultural Troupe?"
Upon hearing this, Regiment Commander Wu sneered, "You never tell the truth all day long, do you think I'd believe your lies?"
Instead of asking Director He, she went straight over to Meng Yingying and was about to speak to her.
As a result, he then noticed Yang Jie, who was standing next to Meng Yingying with her head down.
Commander Wu stared at her for a while before he realized, "Yang Jie?"
"Are you Yang Jie?"
When Yang Jie arrived, she was not only wearing a scarf, but also a hat, which covered most of her face.
To be honest, in terms of mentality, she is indeed not as good as He Chang, but she was recognized this time.
So it doesn't matter anymore.
Yang Jie took off her hat and greeted him as calmly as possible, "Wu Yanzhou."
When Director He calls out to Wu Yanzhou, he also calls him Regiment Commander Wu.
But when it came to Yang Jie, she called out Wu Yanzhou.
Actually, you can see the difference here.
Wu Yanzhou never expected to see Yang Jie again in these areas of the capital, especially at the Capital Song and Dance Troupe.
She was somewhat surprised, and her tone was a little complicated, "Yang Jie, it's been a long time."
It's been almost ten years.
Yang Jie hummed in agreement, "Long time no see."
I thought you wouldn't come back.
Yang Jie, a prodigy and coach at the National Ballet of China, left in a rather unpleasant manner.
Yang Jie was too pure and innocent; she couldn't tolerate any imperfections. But whether it was the Capital Song and Dance Troupe or the Central Ballet Troupe, there were imperfections everywhere.
Those who cannot tolerate even a speck of dust will eventually become outliers.
So, Yang Jie left.
This departure lasted for more than ten years.
Yang Jie held her hat, touching the brim, trying to calm herself down. "If it were me, I wouldn't come back."
"But I will come back for my apprentice."
Wu Yanzhou subconsciously looked at Meng Yingying, his tone still carrying a hint of shock, "Comrade Meng Yingying is your apprentice?"
"But didn't you say back then that you would never take on any more apprentices?"
Yang Jie wasn't surprised she said that. She smiled and said, "My exact words were that I only accept geniuses."
"I don't like apprentices who are handed to me by others."
"For example, Gu Xiaotang."
Hearing this from the side, Director He couldn't help but facepalm. Yang Jie was really something, she was forty years old, how could she still be so naive and straightforward?
She could choose Gu Xiaotang, who was ten years old, but under pressure from various parties, she chose to leave the National Ballet of China rather than accept Gu Xiaotang as her apprentice.
Now, Gu Xiaotang is the leader of the National Ballet of China, and she is also a genius.
She said this in front of Wu Yanzhou, wasn't she worried that Wu Yanzhou would tell others about it?
Yang Jie seemed to know what Director He was thinking, and she said to her, "Don't worry, Wu Yanzhou won't tell anyone."
"Because when Gu Xiaotang was looking for his master, he also came to Wu Yanzhou."
Back then, she was a coach at the National Ballet of China, while Wu Yanzhou was a coach at the Capital Song and Dance Troupe.
Gu Xiaotang's family has great ambitions; from the very beginning, they wanted her to study under a famous teacher.
Yang Jie didn't approve. She was a straightforward person and said frankly that the child wasn't talented enough, so she wouldn't take him in.
Later on, Yang Jie began to be suppressed by people everywhere.
Although Wu Yanzhou didn't take Gu Xiaotang under her wing, she was much smarter than Gu Xiaotang. She chose Han Mingbing as her last disciple, which naturally kept Gu Xiaotang out of the door.
Therefore, Yang Jie eventually left the ballet company, while Wu Yanzhou stayed with the Capital Ballet.
Hearing Yang Jie mention what happened back then, Wu Yanzhou's expression was still somewhat complicated. He said in a low voice, "I thought you would send your apprentice to the Central Ballet to compete."
Instead of coming to her.
Yang Jie countered, "Do you think that place is a good place?"
Wu Yanzhou remained silent, and Yang Jie continued, "If I remember correctly, the Capital Song and Dance Troupe has been severely suppressed by the Central Ballet in recent years."
"Or rather, being thoroughly beaten."
As soon as he said this, Wu Yanzhou's face turned ugly. "Yang Jie, not everyone is as upright as you."
"After you left, the National Ballet of China became a mess, and they resorted to any means to win."
"so--"
She didn't need to finish speaking; she understood.
Yang Jie understood. She took Meng Yingying's hand and stood in front of Wu Yanzhou. "Wu Yanzhou, let me introduce you. This is my apprentice, Meng Yingying."
"Believe me, she can turn the tide for you, or even the entire Capital Song and Dance Troupe!"
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Author's Note: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
Sorry for the late update today. I got my period and my stomach hurt, so I went to buy ibuprofen. The pharmacist gave me a different kind of painkiller, which didn't work. I was in pain for three hours straight, so I went back to get ibuprofen. Ugh!
Menstrual cramps are absolutely agonizing!
We're giving away 100 red envelopes as compensation, and you'll also get nutrient solution for leaving comments!
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