Chapter 123 The Sleeping Dragon and the Young Phoenix: Everyone breathed a sigh of relief...
Qin Xiangxiang sat with Chen Shulan, the director of the silk weaving factory, surrounded by leaders from various factories. She secretly rejoiced that she had good luck today, drawing the sixth number, which put her in the front row, so the performance would end in the morning and the results would come out sooner.
At this point, Qin Xiangxiang no longer felt that the ranking was important. She hadn't even thought about winning an award in the first place, so she might as well think about something more enjoyable.
She was in a good mood. She wanted the competition to end soon so she could take her sister-in-law and daughter sightseeing in Mingzhou. She would let everyone rest for a day tomorrow and celebrate no matter what the rankings were. The day after tomorrow, they would take a boat back together.
Qin Xiangxiang was secretly delighted; this way she could skip a few days of work, how wonderful!
The only downside is that the dormitory-style sleeping quarters are uncomfortable; I really want to buy an imported mattress!
"Director Qin, I heard that your performance today has more than a hundred people?"
While Qin Xiang was lost in thought, Chen Shulan was constantly observing the young and beautiful textile factory manager beside her. Chen Shulan was shocked to find that this factory manager, Qin, was so young and so composed; she wasn't nervous at all!
"Yes, more than a hundred of us went on stage!"
Chen Shulan's lips curled up slightly, and she said with a hint of sarcasm, "You still lack experience. It's better to have quality over quantity when it comes to performers. In our silk factory, we carefully select and strictly control the selection of performers, and we've only chosen eight outstanding dancers."
Qin Xiangxiang raised her chin: "We don't follow that kind of thing in our factory. Everyone in Feiyan Textile Factory is talented, and everyone in our factory has the opportunity to shine!"
She would never lose face, and with her years of experience, she could always speak with confidence and conviction, no matter what she said!
Even if their factory isn't full of talented people, but mostly mediocre ones, like Gao Rong, or like herself.
Qin Xiangxiang declared, "We textile factory workers are all confident that we can take first place!"
Chen Shulan was shocked.
Although Chen Shulan felt that the first place should belong to their silk weaving factory, she only thought it to herself and did not say it out loud. However, the young and ambitious factory director Qin beside her was full of confidence.
At that moment, Chen Shulan was intimidated by Qin Xiangxiang's aura and felt an invisible domineering presence, which made Chen Shulan no longer dare to underestimate the young female factory director beside her.
Little did she know that Qin Xiangxiang next door was just making empty promises.
Factory Director Qin: Anyway, it's not me who will be embarrassed on stage.
Qin Xiangxiang and Chen Shulan watched the show together. The first program was a song and dance performance by the machinery factory, the second was a crosstalk performance, and the third was an acrobatic performance. The acrobatic performance drew gasps from the audience, but a mistake occurred halfway through. The fourth... soon it was the fifth turn.
After the host announced the program, the female workers from the silk factory appeared on stage dressed in beautiful silk garments, shocking and uproaring the entire audience.
Chen Shulan heard the cheers from the audience, and she raised her chin high, like an incomparably proud blue peacock.
Qin Xiangxiang clapped her hands: "Your silk factory's performance was truly a delight to watch!"
Chen Shulan smiled but didn't answer, thinking that they would definitely be the first place winners today, and that movie projector was a prize belonging to their silk factory.
"Next up is a program from Feiyan Textile Factory – 'Me and My Master Step into the New Era'."
Qin Xiangxiang: "..." Hearing this unlucky name, Qin Xiangxiang felt her scalp tingle.
And this program still has twenty minutes left, I'm going to go numb.
No matter what it takes, I can get through it all.
"Pfft—the name of your program is really good, quite down-to-earth." Chen Shulan tried hard to suppress her laughter. "Me and my master step into a new era?" That's a bit too down-to-earth.
The show opened with a play, and Li Jinling's loud voice was amplified by loudspeakers from all directions, reaching everyone's ears.
Even if people in the back rows can't see what's happening on stage, they can still hear the actors' conversations through the loudspeakers.
Hahahaha!!!
As the plot unfolded, everyone in the front row was laughing, and Qin Xiangxiang was laughing too. To be honest, even though she had heard it several times before, she still found it particularly amusing every time she heard Li Jinling's loud and boisterous voice.
She acted in both humorous and touching scenes, and Li Jinling's performance was very dedicated and emotional.
Chen Shulan almost wiped away tears.
She praised Qin Xiangxiang, saying, "These people from your textile factory who act in plays are quite talented; they could go into film."
"I think your show might be able to get into the top three!"
Qin Xiangxiang: "Thank you for your kind words."
"It would be great if we came in third place. Our factory has just been built and we're still in the early stages. We don't even have a TV. If we had a black and white TV, it would be convenient for the workers to watch programs. We'll put the TV in the cafeteria in the future."
Chen Shulan was speechless: "..." She thought to herself, "You're really getting cocky now that I'm telling you you're fat."
After the play ended, the song and dance performance began. The first act was an incredibly dazzling backflip entrance, which instantly won thunderous applause. One hundred and eight actors filed in one after another, like an army in formation, creating a tremendous shock for everyone in the stadium.
Before this, no program had ever had such a grand scale. Even those sitting in the last row could clearly see the bright red in the center of the venue.
The sixteen lead dancers raised their bright red skirts together, like red flags fluttering in the wind, drawing everyone's attention. People couldn't help but gasp in amazement, followed by endless applause.
The repeated fluttering of her bright red skirt, coupled with the stiff and orderly backup dancers, brought a spiritual baptism and shock to all the audience.
As the music quickened, all fifty-four actresses in red dresses spun together, creating a breathtaking spectacle, like countless crimson umbrellas blooming. Many in the audience couldn't help but stand up.
"My God!"
"Is this dress, this color, imported?"
"This is a program from Feiyan Textile Factory; all the clothes are made in their own factory!"
"The color is so beautiful!"
...
"Director Qin, is this a program from your Feiyan Textile Factory?"
"Your textile factory is truly full of hidden talents!"
"The color of this fabric is so beautiful!"
Several factory managers came over to talk to Qin Xiangxiang, but Qin Xiangxiang humbly replied, "Not at all, we're just experimenting."
The factory's collection of talented young talents really makes her proud!
There's no chance for you to embarrass yourself!
"Director Qin, your program is truly amazing." Chen Shulan's expression changed. She thought to herself that Qin Xiangxiang, this young female factory director, was incredibly capable and unfathomable.
This is only the first year the factory has been open, and they've already put together such a stunning program. Qin Xiangxiang's abilities are not to be underestimated.
After a few more performances, the scores for the first five performances were released. The silk factory scored 97.45 points, currently ranking first.
But Chen Shulan showed no joy; she felt anxious inside.
After some time, the final scores for fifth to tenth place were also released, with Feiyan Textile Factory scoring 98.78 points.
We've been overtaken!
While feeling disappointed, Chen Shulan also felt that it was only right. "Director Qin, your program was perfect. The drama and song and dance were so well integrated. Did you spend a long time conceiving and rehearsing it?"
Qin Xiangxiang: "This is the result of everyone's collective wisdom."
Chen Shulan sighed. Their silk weaving factory was currently ranked second, and she was worried that they might not even be able to get third place in the future.
"We heard right, right? We have 98 points! We're the highest right now!"
"Never heard of that, Jinling, we got the highest score!"
Li Jinling sat in the audience, extremely excited. They had the highest score. "Will we get a ranking this time?"
"Ahhh, we should be able to get it, right? Our factory has the highest score among the top ten!"
Even if we don't get first place, we should be able to get third place.
"Black and white TVs are good too."
Zhuang Xiaoman: "After the rankings are announced, I'll take a group photo for you all. This is a day we should cherish, whether we win an award or not!"
Representative Jie said, "It's a rare experience in life to have this kind of experience."
Assistant He struggled to control his still trembling hands and said with a sigh, "Let's have a new person next year! My old back can't take it anymore."
Assistant Xiao He vowed that next year they would definitely expand the textile factory's workforce and recruit more workers!
"If we win a prize today, this will be the first collective honor our Feiyan Textile Factory propaganda team has received since its establishment!"
"This is also a collective honor for our factory!"
A female worker from Hongqiling Commune spoke up: "Do we have a chance to win first place? Do we have a chance?"
People from the nearby communes were even more eager to win a prize today than those from the factory—first place meant a movie projector! With a projector, their textile factory could set up its own factory movie projection team!
With their own factory's film projection team, they could show movies regularly at fixed times. The projection team would also go to nearby communes to show movies, which would be a real treat for the communes near their factory!
"I heard from Xiaoxi that someone in their village got married, and they hired a film projection team to show an open-air movie to celebrate."
"That's really amazing."
"Some people walk dozens of miles overnight to see a movie!"
...
The competition in the stadium didn't end until after 4 p.m. By the middle of the day, half of the audience had already left. Many of those who didn't perform well and knew they wouldn't get a ranking chose to leave early.
The people from Feiyan Textile Factory and the Silk Weaving Factory stayed in the stadium until the final results of the competition were announced.
"The last program, 86:05."
...
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Xiang suddenly exclaimed, "We got first place!!!"
Everyone in the factory cheered. When it was time for the awards ceremony, everyone went to the center of the stage, including Qin Xiangxiang. They took a group photo, received their certificates, and even the prizes were brought onto the stage.
—A movie projector!
The male workers treasured this projector, which also came with some movie copies, including classic films such as Tunnel Warfare and Mine Warfare, as well as films like The Red Detachment of Women.
Qin Xiangxiang said, "Once we get back to the factory, we'll immediately set up a film projection team for Feiyan Textile Factory!"
The actors behind him cheered in unison.
Chen Shulan, the director of the silk weaving factory, leaned closer to Qin Xiangxiang and whispered, "Our silk weaving factory has had a film projection team for a long time."
She didn't have any eye strain, humph, no.
The silk weaving factory came in second place, winning an imported camera.
Qin Xiangxiang asked, "Can I borrow a movie copy from your factory?"
Chen Shulan: "..."
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