Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Movie Show

After the show ended, some of the family members sitting in the back row got up to go to the toilet, some went to drink water, and most people sat there waiting for the movie to start.

The leaders in the front row stood up and left their seats one after another, walking to the open space in front to talk.

Meng Yufei walked over and said with a smile, "Master, what do you want to ask me for?"

Teacher Li turned around and looked at her, smiling and praising her: "Xiao Meng, this event was a great success. You are indeed a college student. Your director said that you are in charge of this event, but you are praising me in front of me."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "You are overjoyed. It's mainly because of your good leadership and command."

Deputy Mayor Wu next to him smiled and said, "Teacher Li, our city is also going to hold an event next month, and we are in need of talents like Director Meng. Why don't we let Director Meng go to our city to help out for a few days?"

Commander Li said, "I can't make the decision. Xiao Meng came to my island to join the army. He is not one of my soldiers. I can't just give him orders."

Deputy Mayor Wu asked Meng again: "Director Meng, what do you think?"

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Mayor, you are too kind. I just did a minor act. I am grateful for the support of the leaders and the sisters-in-law in the family compound. If I were to go to your city, I would be embarrassed."

The leader's polite words were just for show; Meng Yufei didn't really think there was a shortage of people in the city.

After a few more polite words, Deputy Mayor Wu said goodbye as he had to catch the boat leaving the island at 3:30.

Teacher Li persuaded him to stay, "Why don't you stay and watch the movie? You can stay at my house tonight. Let's have a good drink tonight."

Deputy Mayor Wu waved his hands repeatedly and said, "No, no, maybe next time. There's a party in the city tonight, I have to hurry back to attend it."

Today was May Day, and Commander Li knew that Deputy Mayor Wu was busy, so he did not try to keep him. He told the messenger to drive his jeep to the gate, and he personally accompanied him to the dock.

Deputy Mayor Wu then spoke up, "Teacher Li, the children's song and dance performance just now was great. I just remembered that there will be a youth chorus competition in the city next month. The applicants are always elementary school and middle school students, but never kindergarten children. How about letting them participate together?"

The younger the children are, the harder it is to manage them. For kindergarten children, it is good enough to get them to stand still and sing a song, let alone add dancing to the mix.

Children of this generation don’t have any rich cultural and artistic activities. Most of them just sing, and even if they want to dance, they can’t find anyone to teach them.

There are even fewer musical instruments, but the most popular one is the harmonica, which is cheap, easy to carry and learn.

Seeing this performance by kindergarten children today was truly refreshing.

Deputy Mayor Wu happened to be in charge of education, so he mentioned it.

Teacher Li said, "This is a good idea. It will also allow the children in our courtyard to go out and see the world. It's boring to stay on the island all the time." Then he turned to Meng Yufei and said, "Xiao Meng, who taught the children to sing and dance?"

Meng Yufei replied: "It's the kindergarten teacher - Zhou Wenqian."

Teacher Li raised his eyebrows and said to Zhao Zhengliu who was behind Xia Junshan: "Zhengliu, so she is your wife. I remember she used to be in the art troupe."

Zhao Zhengliu smiled and nodded: "Yes, you have a good memory. Qianqian is not only a good dancer, but the students she teaches are also amazing." He boasted proudly in front of everyone.

Teacher Li said with a smile: "You are lucky, kid."

"Xiao Meng, then you can go talk to Teacher Zhou later to see if she is willing to take your child to the city to participate in the competition." Teacher Li instructed.

Meng Yufei nodded: "Okay."

The car stopped at the gate. Commander Li and Political Commissar Yu sent Deputy Mayor Wu to the pier. The others stayed here to watch the movie, and those who had something to do were free to move around.

Xiao Zhang brought a few family members from the Women's Committee who had just performed a show, and hung curtains on the windows. The cafeteria gradually became darker.

Master Zheng and Chen Yanze walked to the back, took out the projector and film from their bags, and began to prepare to show the movie.

Xia Junshan walked up to Meng Yufei and said with a smile, "Congratulations, today's event was a success."

Meng Yufei quietly stepped on the ground and whispered to him, "I haven't worn high heels for a while, and my feet are sore." Her tone was a little coquettish.

Xia Junshan held her arm and said, "Let me help you sit over there for a while and take a rest. Or should I go home and get you a pair of shoes?"

"No need. You're not that delicate. Your heels are not that high." Meng Yufei patted his hand lightly and took his hand to walk to the backstage.

Xia Junshan followed her with a smile on his face.

The light in the house was dim now, and everyone's attention was drawn to the movie, so no one noticed the two of them holding hands.

Xia Qinqin and the children in her class were sharing candies in the backstage. The children were chattering and from time to time parents came to pick up their children.

Yang Yongming held his mother's hand and refused to leave: "I don't want to leave, I want to play here."

"What are you doing here? There's a movie coming up, do you want to go?"

Yang Yongming was a little hesitant. He was playing with the kids and watching a movie at the same time.

Fangfang said, "You should go to the movies with your mother. We will go out to watch one later."

"Really? Then can I watch it with you?" Yang Yongming asked.

Fangfang shook her head: "I want to watch it with my mom, second sister, and little brother."

Yang Yongming looked at Xia Qinqin again.

Xia Qinqin said, "I want to watch it with my parents too. Xiao Ming, do you want to join us?"

Yang Yongming chewed his fingers and said hesitantly, "Ah...Qinqin, do you want to watch it with me and my mother?"

Lu Yannan frowned and glanced at him, then looked past him at the two people coming from behind, and raised her voice and asked, "Uncle, aunt, are you here to pick us up to go to the movies?"

Xia Junshan smiled and said, "Yes, the movie is about to start. Let's go. The room will be completely dark after the curtains are hung up."

Liu Qiuju immediately pulled Yang Yongming and said, "Hurry up, don't dawdle, or you won't be able to find a seat later."

After saying this, he said hello to Meng Yufei and the others and left.

Meng Yufei said to Xia Junshan, "Take Qinqin and Yannan to the movies first. I have something to discuss with Teacher Zhou."

"Okay." Xia Junshan nodded and took the two children back to their seats.

Xiao Zhang had already hung up all the curtains. When he put them down, the room suddenly became dark.

Suddenly, a beam of light came from behind and projected onto the white wall in front, and then the movie screen appeared.

The crowd suddenly became lively, but as sounds came from the loudspeaker, everyone quieted down and focused on watching the movie.

Xia Qinqin was held on her father's lap and sat in the first row. The other children had no seats, so they either sat on the adults' laps or moved a small stool to squeeze in next to them.

Lu Yannan sat in Li's seat. He was now considered Li's child. Li had gone to see someone off and had not returned yet. As a child, he sat alone in his seat like an adult.

A black handprint suddenly appeared on the screen, and then was pressed down. It was a child who curiously reached out to touch the beam of light emitted by the projector.

After Commander Li came back from seeing the guests off, Lu Yannan stood up and gave his seat to him. Commander Li directly let him sit in the seat next to Deputy Mayor Wu.

In this way, Lu Yannan sat next to Xia Qinqin.

He had watched this movie when it was first released last year. He has a good memory and still remembers every line in the movie.

Watching the characters inside speaking the lines he already knew, Lu Yannan turned around in boredom. The people around him were watching very seriously.

He turned his head to look at Xia Qinqin beside him. She squinted her big round eyes and watched the movie seriously. The light and shadow on the movie screen were reflected on her face, flickering.

"Xia Qinqin, come and sit next to me." Lu Yannan suddenly spoke.

Lu Yannan's voice was very soft, and Xia Qinqin was concentrating on watching the movie and didn't pay any attention to him.

Xia Junshan heard it, and he lowered his head and said softly, "Yannan, you're welcome, Qinqin can just sit here with me."

Lu Yannan pursed his lips.

Xia Qinqin watched the movie intently. Although she didn't quite understand the plot, she still watched it with great interest.

Suddenly she felt someone pulling her arm, she turned her head and found a candy next to her hand.

It’s the same candy that Teacher Tang gave them just now.

Xia Qinqin looked carefully and saw in the light of the movie that it was the candy that Lu Yannan handed over. She happily took the candy and said with a smile, "Thank you, Brother Yannan."

Lu Yannan said: "Come sit next to me and eat."

Xia Qinqin skillfully peeled off the candy wrapper, put the candy in her mouth, and shook her head and said, "I don't want it. I want to sit here with Dad."

Lu Yannan said, "If you sit on Uncle Xia's lap for a long time, Uncle Xia's legs will get sore." Then he took out another candy, "Come here, I have another candy."

Xia Qinqin turned around and asked, "Dad, are your legs sore?"

Xia Junshan touched his daughter's head and said with a smile, "No."

Xia Qinqin smiled, turned to Lu Yannan and said, "My dad said my legs won't be sore."

Teacher Li heard their voices and smiled softly, "Qinqin, Yannan is bored sitting alone, could you please sit with him?"

Xia Qinqin looked around and it seemed that all the children were sitting with adults. Brother Yannan was alone without a father or mother. He looked quite pitiful...

She nodded and said, "Okay."

Sliding down from her father's lap, Xia Qinqin sat in the seat next to her. The chair was wider, so the two children could sit together without feeling crowded.

"Brother Yannan, I'm here to accompany you." Xia Qinqin leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Do you still want to eat that candy?"

Lu Yannan curled the corners of his mouth, took the candy, and slowly peeled off the candy wrapper.

Xia Qinqin's eyes lit up as she stared at the candy, watching Lu Yannan peel off the candy wrapper, pick up the candy, and put it into his own mouth!

"Brother Yanan, aren't you going to give me this candy too?" Xia Qinqin complained.

"I just said I had some candy here, I didn't say who I was going to give it to." Lu Yannan said lightly, his eyes fixed on the movie in front of him.

Xia Qinqin jumped off the chair angrily, ready to turn around and go back to Xia Junshan. Fortunately, she was small and short, and could not block the beam of the projector when she stood up.

Lu Yannan held her and stuffed a candy into her hand.

Xia Qinqin looked down and found that it was White Rabbit Milk Candy!

"Brother Yanan, you have a White Rabbit at home, too." Xia Qinqin sat back down.

"Well, just concentrate on watching the movie." Lu Yannan whispered.

"Oh, okay."

Backstage, Meng Yufei told Zhou Wenqian what Teacher Li and Vice Mayor Wu had just said about the youth chorus competition.

"What do you think? Are you willing to bring your children to participate?" Meng Yufei asked.

Zhou Wenqian said, "Okay, it's good to take the kids out for a walk, it's also a rare experience."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "The most important thing is to participate, not to place in the rankings. The main thing is to let the children see it. I'm sorry to bother you, but you still have to continue to work hard to take care of them."

Zhou Wenqian smiled and said, "It's not hard at all. This is my job, and the children are all very cute. By the way, Sister Meng, please tell Principal Tian."

"Yeah, I'll go talk to you later."

After finishing the business, Meng Yufei took Zhou Wenqian out to see a movie.

"Heroic Sons and Daughters" tells the story of the bravery of the volunteers during the Korean War. The adults watched it very seriously, especially the soldiers who had experienced the battlefield, and they could empathize with them.

The children didn’t quite understand what was going on. Many of them watched for a while, and when the novelty wore off, they quietly slipped away, carefully lifted the thick curtains, and went out to play.

Xia Qinqin finished eating two candies, then went to Lu Yannan's ear and whispered, "Brother Yannan, do you have any more candies?"

Lu Yannan frowned and tilted his head, "You've already eaten four candies this afternoon."

"Yeah, that's right."

"I can't eat any more. Eating too much sugar will cause toothache."

After thinking about it, Lu Yannan pulled Xia Qinqin away from her seat.

Xia Junshan noticed that the two children had left their seats and asked in a low voice, "Where are you going?"

Lu Yannan turned around and said, "Uncle, let's go out and play. We're just outside the door."

Xia Junshan nodded and said, "Don't run too far."

Xia Qinqin followed Lu Yannan in the dark room. She asked curiously, "Brother Yannan, where are you going?"

"I need to find my bag."

When they came, they put their bags on the table against the wall. Lu Yannan remembered that it was by the east wall, but in the pitch-black environment, he couldn't tell which was east.

Xia Qinqin heard it and said, "I know where it is, Brother Yannan, just follow me."

She pulled Lu Yannan by the backhand and jogged to the table skillfully, "It's here, this table." Her tone was very certain.

There were a lot of things for activities piled up here. Lu Yannan rummaged through them and took out his bag. He said, "Well... let's go out."

"Okay." Xia Qinqin nodded.

After two seconds of silence, Lu Yannan asked, "Why don't you leave?"

"Hehe, Brother Yannan, don't you know the way?"

“…”

Lu Yannan emphasized: "It's too dark here."

Xia Qinqin took Lu Yannan's hand and said with a smile: "Let's go, I'm not afraid of the dark, I'll take you away."

"I'm not afraid of the dark." Lu Yannan emphasized again.

"Oh, I see. You just don't know the way, right?"

“…”

The two walked to the door, opened the curtain and went out.

As soon as she came out, she felt a white light in front of her. Xia Qinqin couldn't help but put her hands in front of her eyes to cover them, "Wow! It's so bright."

After a few seconds, his eyes adjusted to the light and he lowered his hand.

"Have some water."

Lu Yannan handed the kettle to her.

Xia Qinqin shook her head: "I'm not thirsty, I don't want to drink water."

Lu Yannan said: "You should drink water after eating candy. If you don't want to drink, just rinse your mouth with water, just like before brushing your teeth, hold the water in your mouth and spit it out."

He added: "This is what my grandfather's doctor told me."

Xia Qinqin thought of her mother's reminder that eating too much candy would cause worms. She had eaten four candies today, so that was probably too much...

She quickly took the water bottle and started gargling her mouth.

After watching the movie, Xia Junshan took his two children home and prepared to make hand-rolled noodles in the evening.

Meng Yufei helped Xiao Zhang take down the curtains and returned them to the sisters-in-law.

"Thank you all for your hard work today. Don't be in a hurry to leave. We will have event souvenirs for everyone later." Meng Yufei reminded the performers.

The souvenirs were bought at the supply and marketing cooperative, one enamel cup and one white towel for each person. Very practical things.

Everyone was very happy to receive the gifts. They thanked with a smile and helped to clean up the venue.

"Director Meng is very considerate. This souvenir is really a good deal."

"Yes, we had a free lunch at noon and watched a movie in the afternoon. We also received cups and towels. Today is really a holiday."

"It's not a holiday, it's May Day, the holiday for us working people."

"Haha, you're right."

…

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "I have to thank you all for your support. Today, the teachers and leaders are very satisfied with your performance. Even the deputy mayor said that there are so many talented people on our island, and everyone is multi-talented."

"Really? The deputy mayor really gives me face."

"What the leader said is true. We did perform very well. Look at today. It's not all singing and dancing."

"Haha, you're right. I think the evening parties in the city are similar to ours."

…

A few people chatted and laughed, and after cleaning, they happily took their things home.

Before leaving, Zhao Meixia walked up to Meng Yufei and said, "Director Meng, I want to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Today I met Director Fu, and he told me that someone will come to the supply and marketing cooperative after May 1st, and this person has experience working in the supply and marketing cooperative. I want to ask if you know who it is?"

Meng Yufei thought about it and shook her head: "I remember that no one in the family courtyard seems to have work experience in the supply and marketing cooperative. Maybe the troops were transferred from other places."

Zhao Meixia said: "Well, I guess so."

Meng Yufei said: "Anyway, we'll know who it is after May 1st."

Zhao Meixia nodded and said, "That's right, I'm just a little curious. Director Meng, I'll go back first."

"Well, take care. You've worked hard today."

The two people who were showing the movie had packed up their equipment. Meng Yufei walked over and said, "Master Zheng, you guys can have dinner in the cafeteria later. We'll have another movie show outside in the evening."

Master Zheng smiled and said, "It's okay, as long as everyone likes to watch it. We projectionists are here to bring joy to the masses."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "I can't have dinner with you guys, so let Xiao Zhang accompany you instead."

Master Zheng said, "It's okay, Director Meng, you go ahead and do your work. Xiao Chen and I will just order two dishes from the cafeteria."

Meng Yufei said: "You have come all the way to the island, it's too hard, we don't have anything delicious on the island, but the cooking skills of the canteen chef are still good, you can try more tonight."

Then he said to Xiao Zhang: "Xiao Zhang, please entertain the two of you well tonight."

Xiao Zhang smiled and nodded: "Yes, I got it."

After Meng Yufei finished her instructions, she went home. She had promised to go back and have dinner with Qinqin tonight.

As soon as I opened the door, I smelled the aroma of noodles. Xia Junshan had already rolled out the noodles and was working downstairs in the kitchen.

Xia Qinqin and Lu Yannan were sitting on the sofa playing Huarong Dao. When she heard the door open, Xia Qinqin turned around and happily got up from the sofa and ran over.

"Mom, you're finally back." As he said that, he hugged Meng Yufei's waist.

Xia Junshan heard the sound and popped his head out of the kitchen. "You're back. Change your shoes quickly. We'll have dinner soon."

After hearing this, Xia Qinqin immediately opened the shoe cabinet, took out a pair of slippers and placed them in front of Meng Yufei. She tilted her head and smiled, "Mom, here are some slippers for you."

Meng Yufei touched her daughter's hair and said with a smile, "Thank you, Qinqin."

After taking off her high heels and putting on flat slippers, Meng Yufei's expression relaxed and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Xia Qinqin pulled Meng Yufei to the sofa, "Mom, please sit down and have a rest."

"Aunt Meng, have some water." Lu Yannan brought over a cup of warm water. This was what Xia Junshan had just brought and had placed it on the table to cool. Now the temperature was just right.

Meng Yufei took the cup and said with a smile, "Thank you, Yannan."

Xia Junshan came out of the kitchen with the bowls and chopsticks. Meng Yufei smiled and said, "It's good that the children have grown up. Now I also start to enjoy the service of the children."

Xia Junshan smiled and said, "Yes, Qinqin and Yannan are both little adults now."

Xia Qinqin said happily: "Hehe, I am a little adult now."

Xia Junshan said, "Then little Qinqin, can you help daddy set the table?"

"Okay, Dad, let me help you." Xia Qinqin hurried over, climbed onto the chair, and helped Xia Junshan place the chopsticks.

Lu Yannan also walked over, and Xia Junshan handed him the bowl, "You guys place it here, I'll go get the noodles out."

Xia Junshan put all the noodles into a large soup bowl, brought it to the table, and served a bowl to each person. Not only did he make the noodles, he also fried a poached egg for each person.

The golden fried egg is like a sunflower, placed on the snow-white noodles, with good color, aroma and taste.

A small dish of pickled cucumbers was brought out from the kitchen. It was sent by Mrs. Zhang from next door two days ago. The cucumbers used were just picked a few days ago and were very fresh.

Xia Junshan cuts the pickled cucumber into small pieces and sprinkles sesame oil on it, which is very appetizing.

"Eat the noodles while they're hot and try to see if the noodles I rolled this time have improved." Xia Junshan sat down and said with a smile.

Meng Yufei picked up a noodle and put it into her mouth, nodding and praising: "Not bad, better than last time."

Xia Qinqin raised her thumb and praised loudly: "It's delicious, Dad's rolled noodles are the most delicious noodles in the world!"

"Brother Yanan, do you think it tastes good?" He turned around and asked Lu Yanan beside him.

"Yeah, delicious." Lu Yannan nodded.

Xia Junshan ate the pickled cucumber and said, "Mrs. Zhang's pickled vegetables are really good. No one else can make them taste this good."

Meng Yufei said: "This can be considered a kind of talent, just like those old shops in the past, with secret recipes passed down from generation to generation."

The family chatted while eating.

Xia Junshan suddenly thought: "Oh, by the way, the family of Captain Jin of the Second Regiment will be here in a few days."

"Captain Jin? Is his house the one on the far right of our row?" There was no one in that house.

"Yes, he was stationed on the small island next door before, and will be transferred back next month." Xia Junshan said: "I heard that he seemed to get married in his hometown during the Chinese New Year."

"Newlyweds, how old is Captain Jin?"

"Hmm... seems to be four years older than me."

"Then he got married quite late."

"He's married for the second time."

"oh."