Chapter 118 The day before the competition, destruction precedes construction...
Chapter 118
Seeing that she remained silent, Han Mingbing said to Wu Yanzhou with some concern, "Teacher, if this continues, I'm worried that Meng Yingying will break down."
She had never met anyone who could withstand pressure as well as Meng Yingying.
I've never seen anyone who, after failing a hundred times, can still get up and keep practicing.
Wu Yanzhou was also worried, "I'll go ask her."
Don't go.
Yang Jie grabbed her wrist, "Old Wu, don't go."
Wu Yanzhou turned to look at Yang Jie, who said calmly, "Let her have some peace and quiet. She doesn't want to be disturbed right now."
Meng Yingying had encountered even more difficult competitions before.
She had heard Coach Zhao say that she had practiced the "Fairy Scattering Flowers" dance countless times, but she had never succeeded before going on stage.
Her only success was during her performance on stage, where, under the gaze of hundreds of people and facing formidable competitors, she achieved the highest score on her first attempt.
Meng Yingying's situation at that time wasn't much better than it is now, but she ultimately turned the tide and won the championship.
And this time, will she do it too?
Yang Jie stood at the podium, gazing at Meng Yingying lying on the mat with vacant eyes.
She looked up at the spider web on the roof beam. In winter, the spider's limbs seemed to be frozen as well, and its web-weaving was not as agile as in summer.
So much so that weaving the web is extremely difficult, and it breaks again and again. But the spider clings tightly to the broken spider thread, climbs back up, and starts weaving the web all over again.
Meng Yingying's eyes widened slightly as she watched the spider rise again from each broken section and begin weaving its web anew.
Once, twice, three times.
After countless attempts, the spider finally finished weaving its web. It then hid at one end of the web and began its hunt.
Meng Yingying watched, and finally, a small black flying insect stumbled and flew in.
The spider didn't rush to move, nor did it rush to collect the web. Instead, it let the little flying insect roll, struggle, and flutter inside the spider web.
The more the little black flying insect struggled, the tighter the net tightened. Finally, the little black flying insect was too weak to move, and the white net wrapped it up like a silkworm pupa.
The hunting spider slowly crawls from one end to the other to enjoy its victorious dinner.
Meng Yingying watched from beginning to end, and she had only one thought: this spider was really persistent.
It not only has perseverance, but also composure.
It remained calm and unhurried throughout, but whenever it gave up or became nervous, it would suddenly appear before the little flying insect died.
This dinner is unlikely to go as smoothly as it is now.
Meng Yingying closed her eyes and began to think about herself.
urgent.
She was in too much of a hurry.
Everyone was telling her that the competition was approaching, and that every day of practice meant one less day to practice. Every day, someone would whisper in her ear, "Do you want to change your dance?"
Dujuan Mountain is too difficult.
Cliff jumping is too difficult.
Did they really not affect themselves?
No, they did have an impact. Although Meng Yingying didn't listen, she began to feel a sense of urgency and started forcing herself to practice more over and over again.
She wanted to prove to these people that she could do it.
So, amidst these repeated voices of opposition, she began to feel anxious and impatient, driven by an intense belief in her ability to win.
She failed to jump from the 2.4-meter-high platform nearly a hundred times.
So she started to feel anxious, and even wanted to give up.
Indeed, Meng Yingying, lying on the floor mat, did have a fleeting thought of giving up, but she was unwilling to do so.
So she didn't say anything.
As she watched the spider spin its web again and again, wasn't she seeing herself in it as well?
She had the spider's persistence, but she lacked its patience. She became impatient and eager for quick success, which is why she began to doubt herself after repeated failures.
She even began to have thoughts of escaping.
But that's not right.
Meng Yingying was never one to give up easily in either of her lives. She got up again and walked to the 2.4-meter-high platform.
She didn't rush to practice, but instead slowly walked around the 2.4-meter-high platform, her mind replaying the scene in slow motion.
They replayed her failed attempts and began to analyze how she should have jumped, how she should have properly engaged her limbs and core in mid-air to achieve the most perfect landing posture.
What is she doing?
Han Mingbing was puzzled. Everyone saw Meng Yingying walk to the platform again, but instead of practicing, she circled around it.
She would sometimes close her eyes, but her hands never stopped; instead, she would make the same movements she had made in the air before.
When she exerts force with her hands, her waist and abdomen must contract, and at the same time, her lower limbs and torso must begin to store power.
They begin to prepare for the moment they leap off the cliff.
Only when all her strength is concentrated in her legs will her lower body be stable when she lands. Only when her lower body is stable enough can her waist, abdomen, and arms use the momentum to roll away.
Meng Yingying suddenly opened her eyes, and those eyes, which had been dim before, were now brighter than stars.
No one had answered Han Mingbing before, but Yang Jie suddenly spoke up, "She's found a way."
She could tell from Meng Yingying's face that the other party had found a way.
It took Han Mingbing a while to understand Yang Jie's words. "What?"
She herself was still somewhat incredulous, "But she didn't even do the experiment, how did she find it?"
This really stumped Yang Jie, because she didn't know when Meng Yingying had been found.
All she knew was that her apprentice's demeanor had changed.
Before, Meng Yingying had some restlessness, anxiety, and self-doubt, but after she walked around the 2.4-meter-high platform, those feelings disappeared.
Her bright eyes had already told her that she had found a way, but Yang Jie really didn't know exactly how she found it.
She thought for a moment, "Maybe it's my comprehension."
"She must have figured it out."
That's a really mysterious statement.
Not to mention Han Mingbing, even Wu Yanzhou was somewhat shocked, "This child's talent is too good."
To find a way out of a dead end is something that ordinary people can't do.
"Let's see what happens next. This is just my guess," Yang Jie said. "Whether she's made it out or not depends on Yingying's reaction later."
Unfortunately, to Yang Jie's disappointment, Meng Yingying walked over leisurely after circling the 2.4-meter-high platform a few times.
Yang Jie, “?”
She was stunned for a while. "Yingying, aren't you going to go up and jump again?"
Meng Yingying shook her head. She stretched out her arms and legs, which were covered with dense bruises and old wounds overlapping with new ones. She said frankly, "I'm not jumping anymore. My body is too tired. I need to go back and rest."
She already had a method, but her body couldn't take it anymore; she needed to give her arms, waist, abdomen, legs, and feet a break.
Seeing her so calm and directly suggesting that she go back to her dormitory to rest, everyone present was somewhat shocked.
"How can anyone rest at this hour?"
"She has three days until her competition."
"If we rest any longer, it will be too late."
It was Wu Yanzhou who said those words. Meng Yingying heard them, but she ignored them and left resolutely.
She just wants to rest now.
Give her limbs a good rest.
Yang Jie understood her, so she spoke up for her, "Old Wu, Yingying has her own rhythm, don't be too demanding of her."
"Let her rest. This child isn't one to slack off. You've seen how hard she works since she came to the Capital Song and Dance Troupe. Since she says she wants to rest, then let her rest."
Since Yang Jie had already said that, Wu Yanzhou naturally wouldn't object anymore.
She murmured as she watched Meng Yingying's retreating figure, "I hope she can get over this soon."
Because the hopes of the entire Capital Song and Dance Troupe rested on Meng Yingying.
The group practice piece was "Moonlit Night," and although the piece was good, the team's coordination wasn't perfect.
This has resulted in the team still being in the process of coordinating even at this stage.
To be honest, Wu Yanzhou was under immense pressure at that moment. Only after the children had all left did she find Yang Jie, still carrying a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).
Clearly, Wu Yanzhou was also on the verge of collapsing under pressure.
"Yang Jie, do you think our Capital Song and Dance Troupe can win this Red Star Cup competition?"
In fact, at this point, Wu Yanzhou himself had no idea what to expect.
Yang Jie looked at the liquor. She didn't say anything, but silently poured herself a glass. She murmured, "Wu Yanzhou, I don't know either."
"But when I was stationed in Harbin, Coach Zhao and the others told me that wherever Meng Yingying was, miracles would happen."
She hoped that this miracle would happen.
Wu Yanzhou took a sip of the strong liquor, the spiciness shooting up her throat, which made her feel much more relaxed.
Perhaps it was this spiciness that stimulated her brain that gradually calmed her down.
People speak the truth when they're drunk.
Wu Yanzhou had been in this position for too long. The higher she sat, the lonelier she felt, and there were many things she couldn't say to the people around her.
But Yang Jie was different; she was someone who had walked the same path as him.
Moreover, Yang Jie was more courageous than her and came out of the situation earlier.
Yang Jie looked at her with some confusion, "Haven't the Capital Song and Dance Troupe been suppressed by the Central Ballet for so many years?"
"I've never seen you under so much pressure before."
Ultimately, once you get used to being oppressed, you should adapt, not harbor deep resentment like you do now.
When this was mentioned, Wu Yanzhou said bitterly, "Yang Jie, if our Capital Song and Dance Troupe still can't win the championship this time, I will have to step down."
During his more than ten years with the Capital Song and Dance Troupe, he achieved nothing and was suppressed by the National Ballet of China at every turn.
The higher-ups won't let her continue like this forever.
Yang Jie finally understood, "Did your superiors put pressure on you?"
"Um."
Wu Yanzhou said, "I gave it to them the year before last, but I've been struggling to hold on for the past two years. Now I can't hold on any longer. If I can't win this time either, I won't have any achievements during my tenure, and barring any unforeseen circumstances—"
She pursed her lips and drank another cup of strong liquor. The spiciness of the liquor went straight to the top of her head. She gasped for breath and tried to calm herself down before saying, "This year should be my last year in office."
Hearing this, Yang Jie didn't know what to say. She toasted her with a glass of wine, "Although I sympathize with you, I don't want you to put your work pressure on Yingying."
"She came here to fight for her own honor, not to compete for someone or something."
"Her pressure should come from herself, not from your promotion or demotion."
It must be said that in some ways, Yang Jie was a really qualified teacher. At least in places where Meng Yingying couldn't see, she shielded her from a lot of storms.
Upon hearing this, Wu Yanzhou paused for a moment, then said, "You're right."
She put down her wine glass. "The problem and responsibility for this matter do indeed lie with me. I put pressure on those below me."
She looked out the window; in November, the north wind howled in the capital, and the gnarled old trees rattled in the strong wind.
“Yang Jie, I’ve been the head of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe for eleven years.” She murmured, “Every year, every day has been agonizing. Sometimes I wonder, if I had your decisiveness back then, would I be living the same life as you now?”
To be honest, she was quite shocked when she met Yang Jie again. Although they were the same age, she looked more than ten years older than Yang Jie.
She was weathered, weary, and overworked, while Yang Jie was the opposite; her brows revealed a sense of tranquility and lightness.
That was a state Wu Yanzhou could never return to.
After hearing this, Yang Jie shook her head and clinked glasses with Wu Yanzhou, saying, "Don't mention it. You've held power for over ten years. I'm different. I'm used to living a carefree life."
"Yanzhou, don't put so much pressure on yourself, and don't put so much pressure on the children. Even if the Capital Song and Dance Troupe doesn't win the Red Star Cup this time, so what?"
Will you die?
Will the children down there die?
Wu Yanzhou shook his head subconsciously, "That won't happen."
"Isn't that it?" Yang Jie said nonchalantly. "That's enough. Since it's not life-threatening, then there's no problem."
"As for your question about stepping down, isn't that normal? You've been in this position for eleven years, working hard and physically. You should be happy to step down."
Yang Jie's voice was calm, revealing no emotion, "Yanzhou, knowing when to retreat at the peak is also a kind of wisdom."
Wu Yanzhou murmured, "To retire gracefully at the height of one's career?"
Yang Jie nodded and said, "Think it through yourself. Think about the worst possible outcome. If you can accept it, then you can hand the competition over to the children."
"The children will finish the race on their own. Don't put any more pressure on them. At times like this, the less pressure they have, the higher their chances of winning will be."
After listening, Wu Yanzhou sighed deeply, "Yang Jie, to be honest, my mindset is really not as good as yours."
Yang Jie smiled and drank the last half glass of wine. "It's not that you're inferior to me, it's just that you're too caught up in the situation to see things clearly."
"Yanzhou, take a step back and look at things from a different perspective. Rights, competitions, winning and losing—these are all external things."
"What is the inner essence? It is your body, your physical and mental health, your happiness, that is what is your inner essence."
"As for the rest, they're all fake."
It can be said that Yang Jie, having lived alone for more than ten years, has thought through all these complexities clearly.
Therefore, she was able to feel joy, while Wu Yanzhou felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
That's the difference between the two.
"I'll try your method." Wu Yanzhou didn't really have a better idea. "This time, let the children go all out. As for me, I'll leave it to fate."
"If the children do well in the competition, I will continue to serve as the head of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe. If the children do not do well in the competition, then I will step down."
Han Mingbing originally just came to chat with Wu Yanzhou, but she didn't expect to hear such a conversation after she arrived.
Han Mingbing's hands and feet were ice cold. She didn't know how she got out. She felt flustered and uncomfortable.
Because Wu Yanzhou has always been her strong support, she has become accustomed to him sheltering her from the wind and rain.
Unexpectedly, her teacher was under tremendous pressure in private.
For years, their Capital Song and Dance Troupe has been consistently outshone by the National Ballet of China. Actually, the one under the most pressure isn't them, but her teacher.
The thought that if they lost the Red Star Cup competition, their teacher Wu Yanzhou would have to step down as the head of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe.
She panicked.
Wu Yanzhou's presence provided a safe haven for all of them. She dared not imagine what would happen if she left, or if the head of the Capital Song and Dance Troupe were someone like Lin Rujuan.
Then they'll all be finished.
You'll know if you see the National Ballet of China, especially Gu Xiaotang. Although she wins every competition, people in private say that Gu Xiaotang is too pitiful.
She's not even a person anymore.
She is a very typical puppet.
She did whatever Lin Rujuan asked her to do. She had lost all her own thoughts, and Han Mingbing didn't want her future to become like that.
She staggered out and found Meng Yingying.
Meng Yingying had been resting and recuperating in her dormitory for the past few days, so she was somewhat surprised when she saw the panicked Han Mingbing come in.
She placed the book she had borrowed from the Capital Song and Dance Troupe on the table and asked softly, "Han Mingbing, what's wrong?"
She was reading a book while cracking pine nuts, and her expression was very relaxed.
Han Mingbing was actually quite flustered, but when he saw Meng Yingying sitting by the window, reading a book and cracking pine nuts, her tranquil and relaxed demeanor seemed contagious, instantly calming Han Mingbing down as well.
Han Mingbing didn't sit down in the chair Meng Yingying pulled out; she stood. Han Mingbing didn't know how she started speaking. She took a deep breath, and then another.
This allowed him to calm himself down.
“Meng Yingying, I just went to ask my teacher something, but I heard something very terrible.”
Meng Yingying handed over the pine nuts she had cracked open, "Want some?"
She was very relaxed.
When people are nervous, this relaxed feeling is contagious. Han Mingbing subconsciously took it, but forgot to kowtow.
Aren't you going to ask me what I heard?
Meng Yingying shook her head, then ate another pine nut. The fragrance lingered in her mouth, and the pine aroma was unforgettable.
It must be said that the pine nuts from the Harbin Forest Farm really do taste good.
"Whether I ask or not, you will tell me."
These words left Han Mingbing speechless for a long time before she murmured, "After hearing this, I felt like the sky had fallen. How come you're acting like nothing happened? I must not have told you yet."
“Meng Yingying, I overheard a conversation between my teacher and your teacher.”
"If we can't win first place in this Red Star Cup competition, my teacher will very likely have to step down."
Meng Yingying replied nonchalantly, "Hmm."
"Why aren't you in a hurry?" Han Mingbing was very dissatisfied with Meng Yingying's reaction. "Once my teacher steps down, the higher-ups will very likely appoint Lin Rujuan as our head coach."
"Let me tell you, Lin Rujuan is too ruthless. She's not even human. Didn't you see how she almost drove the people in the Central Ballet Troupe to their deaths?"
“If she were to teach us, we would definitely be in for a rough time.”
"It's over, we're definitely finished."
Han Mingbing started to feel anxious whenever this was mentioned.
Meng Yingying remained calm. She even blew on the pine nut shells on her hands to clean them before saying, "Han Mingbing, if it really comes to that, perhaps it's not a bad thing."
Han Mingbing's eyes widened instantly, and she became angry as well. "Meng Yingying, whose side are you on? Why are you still siding with Lin Rujuan?"
Meng Yingying got up and poured her a glass of water, saying, "Take a sip and calm down."
"I'm asking you, isn't it Mr. Wu's responsibility that the Capital Song and Dance Troupe has had such poor competition results for several consecutive years?"
Han Mingbing couldn't answer that question; she hugged the enamel mug and remained silent.
"Okay, if you won't answer that, let me ask you something else. The Capital Song and Dance Troupe always comes in last place. Is it because the people below aren't working hard enough and are focusing on dancing that this situation has arisen?"
"If the higher-ups really make Teacher Wu step down and transfer Lin Rujuan over, putting aside her character, just considering her ruthless methods, wouldn't she be able to bring out your talents?"
Han Mingbing remained silent.
Meng Yingying put the thermos aside and said very seriously, "Han Mingbing, this is the price."
"This is the price you pay for being lenient with Teacher Wu, while you scheme against each other instead of focusing on dancing."
"The higher-ups obviously couldn't stand it anymore, which is why they decided to change the leader."
At this point, Meng Yingying sat down. Her tone was very calm, but she could tell at a glance what the other person really wanted to do.
“I think the leaders above don’t just want to change the leader. They want to know if you’re still like this if Lin Rujuan comes in. They might want to replace the entire Capital Song and Dance Troupe.”
Han Mingbing turned pale with fright upon hearing this. "No way??"
She thought changing teachers was scary enough, but she never expected that something even scarier was yet to come.
Meng Yingying took a sip of water to moisten her throat. "If a team can't bring profits, why keep them around? Are we just going to let them stay for the New Year?"
"What would you do if you were in that situation?"
Han Mingbing remained silent, her anxiety making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. "Then what should we do?"
Meng Yingying calmly said, "Treat this Red Star Cup competition as your last competition. Go tell them that if they don't dance well, it's very likely that everyone will disband and be replaced by newcomers."
The consequences are truly terrifying.
But Meng Yingying knew better than anyone that the Capital Song and Dance Troupe was in dire need of serious treatment.
Han Mingbing sat up abruptly. "I'll go find them right now."
If we don't work harder, we'll lose our secure job.
After seeing her leave, Meng Yingying slowly began to stretch her body, unsure of how far Han Mingbing was capable.
But she knew that she needed to get her body into the most relaxed state within these three days.
She didn't even bother to check how well the teamwork had progressed with Han Mingbing.
She simply focused all her attention on herself.
On December 7th, the day before the Red Star Cup competition, the competition began.
Meng Yingying finally returned to the practice room, and this time she completely relaxed every cell in her body.
Although her body was resting for the past three days, she kept repeating the same action in her mind.
Cliff jump.
She broke down the cliff jump into countless small movements, simultaneously exerting force from four directions: waist, hands, legs, and feet, collecting, storing, and releasing power.
This is a complete set of movements.
She figured it out on her own, all by herself.
Meng Yingying didn't know if this method was right, but she wanted to try it again.
However, no sooner had she gone to the practice room than the news spread.
Meng Yingying went to the practice room.
Almost instantly, everyone gathered in the practice room. This included Wu Yanzhou and Yang Jie, as well as Coach Jin and her team, who were making their final preparations for the team competition.
After seeing Meng Yingying again in the dance studio.
Wu Yanzhou couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a low voice, "Yingying, how are you feeling?"
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Author's Note: There will be another update tonight, so stay tuned!
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