Sunlight filters through dappled leaves, casting golden shadows on the open space in the center of the village. This is where the villagers rehearse their cultural performances, surrounded by several ancient trees that stand like loyal guardians, witnessing the cultural changes taking place in this small village. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, as if applauding and cheering for the rehearsal to begin.
Lin Yue arrived at the rehearsal venue early, wearing a plain-colored dress that swayed gently in the breeze. Her eyes shone with excitement and anticipation, and a slight smile revealed two shallow dimples. As she set up the simple rehearsal props, she hummed a cheerful tune, wondering what interesting things would happen that day.
Soon, the villagers and the educated youth arrived one after another. The educated youth were dressed in neat and clean clothes, exuding the vigor of city dwellers. They chatted and laughed, holding papers filled with song lyrics and dance moves, ready to show off their skills. The villagers, on the other hand, were mostly dressed in simple coarse cloth clothes, some women even wearing aprons. Their eyes showed both curiosity about the new things and a hint of nervousness.
"Everyone's here! Let's continue rehearsing today and try to make the show even more spectacular." Lin Yue clapped her hands and said loudly, her clear and melodious voice echoing in the open space.
Rehearsals began, and the first activity of the day was dance practice. The educated youth stood at the front, ready to demonstrate the modern dance again. One of them smiled and said to the villagers, "Watch closely, everyone. This move isn't difficult. Like this, step forward with your left foot while extending your right hand straight up." As he spoke, he demonstrated, his movements fluid and confident.
However, the villagers' reactions were quite amusing. Aunt Liu stood in the middle of the group, her brow furrowed, her eyes fixed on the educated youth's movements, trying her best to imitate them. But her hands and feet seemed to have a mind of their own; her left foot would step out, but her right hand wouldn't know where to go, making her face flush with frustration. "Oh dear, what kind of dance is this? Why is it so difficult?" Aunt Liu complained, her voice thick with a rural accent, her eyes full of helplessness.
An old man next to him wasn't much better off. He was hunched over, his movements stiff. As he danced, he muttered, "This is much more tiring than farming. I know how to farm, but dancing is killing me." A bitter smile appeared on his face, and fine beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead.
The younger villagers, though more agile than the older ones, still encountered numerous mishaps. One young man, usually quite efficient at work, was clumsy when it came to dancing. While imitating a turn, he lost his balance and nearly bumped into someone next to him. He awkwardly scratched his head, laughing, and said, "This dance is too difficult! I feel like a wooden doll." A hint of shame flickered in his eyes, and his cheeks flushed slightly.
Seeing everyone's expressions, Lin Yue couldn't help but laugh. She walked over to Aunt Liu, gently took her hand, and said, "Aunt Liu, don't rush, take your time. Dancing is about having fun, there's no need to rush." Her eyes were full of encouragement, and a gentle smile played on her lips.
Aunt Liu looked at Lin Yue, sighed, and said, "Lin Yue, you're such a patient child. With my old arms and legs, I really don't know if I can learn it." There was a hint of frustration in her eyes, but with Lin Yue's encouragement, she cheered up again and continued to practice diligently.
During the dance practice, a funny little incident occurred. A group of children were also learning to dance nearby, not caring about whether the movements were correct or not, just happily jumping and skipping to the music. One little boy imitated the movements of the educated youth sent to the countryside, raising his hands above his head and spinning them like a little windmill. He spun too fast and fell to the ground. However, he immediately got up, dusted himself off, and said with a grin, "I want to spin again!" His innocent smile infected everyone present, making them forget the difficulty of the dance and immerse themselves in joy.
After the dance practice, the singing session began. The educated youth chose a classic old song to teach everyone, writing the lyrics on a large sheet of paper and pasting it on a nearby tree. The educated youth sang it once as a demonstration, their voices melodious and pleasant to hear.
When it was the villagers' turn to sing, they all belted out their songs, their voices varying in pitch. One older woman sang with particular enthusiasm, her voice loud and clear, though she kept singing off-key. Someone next to her laughed and said, "Auntie, you're off-key faster than a rabbit!" The woman, however, didn't seem to care, laughing and saying, "So what if I'm off-key? As long as I'm happy!" Her face radiated a happy smile, a smile that reflected her love for life and her enthusiasm for the rehearsal.
During the singing, an amusing interaction occurred between a young couple of villagers. The girl's voice was a little soft, and the boy encouraged her, saying, "You're singing very well, sing louder." The girl glanced at him shyly and whispered, "I'm afraid I'll sing it wrong." The boy smiled and said, "Don't worry, if you make a mistake, we'll start over." As he spoke, he gently patted the girl's shoulder, and her face immediately turned red. However, this time she mustered her courage and sang loudly.
Next was the rehearsal of a short play. The play, created by the educated youth and young villagers, was adapted from an old village legend. During rehearsals, everyone was unfamiliar with the lines and performances, leading to many humorous situations.
A young villager was playing a hero, and he was supposed to deliver his line with an air of authority: "I will protect our village!" But in his nervousness, he blurted out, "I will protect our pigs!" The moment the words left his mouth, everyone around him burst into laughter. Realizing his mistake, he blushed and scratched his head, saying, "Oops, what did I do wrong? Let's try again!"
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