Singing competition
The award certificates were successfully issued, and the school's competition was also in full swing.
Ever since the homeroom teacher mentioned the singing competition before class, children have been flocking to Xu Tangmian's desk to sign up. Some even mistook her for someone else and went to Li Yutao's workstation.
Although several rather stubborn teachers said that it would be better for the teachers to designate the students to participate, they couldn't help but be infected by the enthusiasm of these children.
Ultimately, the five assigned spots were also given to Xu Tangmian, and the competition would eventually determine ten spots. The time was set for Friday, and the location... was an empty warehouse inside the vegetable market near the entrance.
Early in the morning, about a dozen old-fashioned bicycles were parked in front of Hongxing Elementary School.
There were more vendors at the school gate than usual, and parents gathered together for the first time in a long time, chatting and laughing.
Suddenly, a loudspeaker on a utility pole emitted a sharp, piercing screech, drawing the attention of students on the street. After a whoosh and two "hellos," a lifeless male voice with a heavy rural accent came from the loudspeaker.
"Class teachers, please hurry and lead your students to carry stools to the warehouse inside the east gate of the market. Our singing competition is about to begin. I'll repeat myself..."
The vegetable market mentioned in the broadcast was the former location of the village committee. The village committee used to be located in the same area as Hongxing Primary School. After moving to the new location, this area was left vacant and became a trading place for villagers to sell vegetables and free-range eggs from their own fields.
This was the first time Hongxing Primary School had held such a competition. With the principal's strong support, many teachers, including Li Yutao, enthusiastically participated.
The competition is open to all grades and consists of individual and group events. Four spots will be reserved for individual participants, while the group event is limited to three-person teams, with the top two teams advancing. The winners will then form a ten-person choir.
The students selected and submitted their pieces early on. The four soloists were led by the music teacher, while the two group pieces were assigned to two teachers in the school who were proficient in playing instruments, Xu Tangmian and Li Yutao, because the teachers were unable to attend to both.
In the past, the two sisters would definitely have cooperated. But ever since that confused argument at the clinic, they have been in a cold war, and even though they are in the same office, they hardly interact.
A school had closed down before, and Principal Ding brought back a lot of musical instruments from that school. Xu Tangmian chose to accompany her on the piano, which she was good at, while Li Yutao chose the violin.
Although Xu Tangmian also wanted to have a duet with Li Yutao, Li Yutao ignored her previous attempts to befriend her. After thinking it over, she could only bring Yu Chunsheng's accordion as a substitute.
Although the venue address was chosen in advance, Xu Tangmian couldn't help but frequently glance at the entrance while preparing, as she was worried about whether Yu Chunsheng could find the address.
Soon, amidst her anxiety, she finally saw that familiar figure at the entrance of the venue.
Yu Chunsheng wore a well-tailored suit, and his hair was styled into a slicked-back look with hair oil from who-knows-where, making him appear exceptionally mature.
Taking advantage of a lull in her hands, Xu Tangmian quickly went to greet him and led him backstage, asking with a smile, "How was it? Were you nervous about going on stage for the first time?"
Yu Chunsheng smiled, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes, as if she were making a fuss over nothing.
"It's nothing to be nervous about."
Xu Tangmian raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, but said nothing.
Out of the corner of her eye, Xu Tangmian saw Li Yutao carrying a violin and walking back to the stage. Her heart softened, and after much deliberation, she went over to ask if there was anything she could do to help.
Filled with enthusiasm, she pretended that there was no past estrangement between them and walked over generously, smiling as she asked, "Xiao Tao, is there anything I can help you with?"
Li Yutao merely glanced at her up and down, then coldly said, "No need."
Just as Xu Tangmian was feeling disappointed with the expected reply, a male voice came from beside her, "Xiao Tao, this isn't right."
Upon seeing the person who arrived, Li Yutao immediately ran over with a beaming smile, patted his cane, and said playfully, "Aren't you supposed to be back in a few more days?"
Song Weidong smiled faintly and put a little distance between himself and Li Yutao, saying, "I saw a train leaving in the early morning, so I asked my uncle to buy tickets to come back early."
His gaze swept around the room before returning to Xu Tangmian, then looked at Li Yutao and said with a smile, "Aren't you and Xiao Xu on good terms? Why were you so rude just now?"
Li Yutao blushed, snorted, and walked away.
Song Weidong was puzzled. Xu Tangmian glanced at the cane he was using and stepped forward, saying, "So you disappeared for the past few days quietly to get your leg treated. I thought you two had a fight and you were running away from home." After saying that, she frowned and looked at Song Weidong's cane, "Why does it look even worse?"
Song Weidong shook his head. "The doctor said it's a minor problem. I had a small surgery, and I'll be able to walk normally once I recover. I heard your school is holding a competition, so I came to take a look."
Xu Tangmian couldn't help but boast, "I did it, wasn't it pretty good?"
But as soon as she finished speaking, she saw Li Yutao's gaze still on them from not far away. When she saw Li Yutao looking at her, she quickly turned her face away and pretended to be nonchalant. Xu Tangmian still kept a distance from Song Weidong.
Thinking about the inexplicable events of the past few months, she couldn't help but complain to the man opposite her: "What's wrong with you two these past few months? We were fine just a month ago, but after we had a fight, you disappeared, and Xiao Tao also took leave and I don't know where she went. When she came back, she wouldn't talk to me."
She tugged at the hem of her clothes in frustration. "I didn't say anything when you two were breaking up, so how come you two are acting like one big friend now, and I'm the one who doesn't get the short end of the stick?"
Song Weidong was taken aback and lowered his head somewhat embarrassed.
"I thought a lot after that argument. I didn't plan to break up with her, but I also felt that I wasn't good enough for her, so... I went to Peking Union Medical College Hospital to see if my leg could be treated. Fortunately, it was just a minor problem."
“Xiao Tao had told me before that there was a phone in your principal’s office, so I shamelessly called her from Beiping every day. Suddenly one day the principal told me that she had taken leave. I thought she was still angry with me and was worried, but she showed up at the hospital the next day.”
“She accompanied me during my surgery, but she still needs to recover for a while afterward. Her family wants her to focus on her work. If she insists on staying with me until I'm fully recovered, they suggest she quit her job and just get married.”
Song Weidong smiled and said, "How could I let her do that? So I told her to come back quickly. Anyway, my uncle and aunt are in Beiping. I've recovered enough. I heard from Xiao Tao that she tutored some students to participate in a competition, so I bought a ticket overnight and came back to see what was going on."
"So that's how it is." Xu Tangmian said with a wry smile, "What exactly did you say in the backyard of the clinic that day? I've thought about it over and over but I still can't figure out where I offended Xiao Tao."
Song Weidong's expression froze for a moment. "She hasn't spoken to you since that day?"
"Hmm." Xu Tangmian lowered her head. "I really don't know what's wrong. I've tried to talk to her several times, but she ignores me."
"I'll talk to her," Song Weidong said, heading backstage immediately. It was just a casual remark, and now that his relationship with Xiao Tao was back to normal, why was Xiao Tao still holding onto that thought?
"No." Xu Tangmian grabbed his arm.
She was just saying it casually, after all, she valued Li Yutao as a friend, and the silence she had been experiencing lately was not a good thing for her.
But if Song Weidong really went to Li Yutao to talk to her, the two of them would probably have another fight. They finally made up, and if they fight because of her, wouldn't she be seen as the kind of scheming, manipulative woman who stirs up trouble?
After thinking it over, she said sheepishly, "She's just childish. If there's a misunderstanding, we can explain it slowly later. Don't blame her."
Xu Tangmian pointed to the red banner hanging on the wall—"Warmly celebrate the successful holding of the first singing competition of Hongxing Primary School"—and said with a smile, "Xiao Tao will be performing on stage later, so don't spoil her good mood."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a middle-aged woman, around forty years old, at the backstage entrance. She looked unfamiliar.
Her dressing style was very respectable, like that of a cultured person. Xu Tangmian thought she was the parent of one of the outstanding students who had gone to the wrong place, and was about to go up and give directions when she saw the woman walking straight towards them.
Upon seeing her, Song Weidong seemed somewhat helpless; he recognized her at a glance. Xu Tangmian was wondering what the relationship was between the two, and why she felt she had seen this woman before, when the woman approached her with a smile and said:
"Is this the 'Little Peach' that Wei Dong mentioned? She's really beautiful. No wonder Wei Dong ignored my advice and came over even though he was on crutches."
It turns out they were Song Weidong's family members; this is a huge misunderstanding...
Xu Tangmian quickly explained, "No, no, no, Auntie, you've got it wrong. I'm not Xiao Tao. I'm Xiao Tao and Brother Song's friend, and I also teach here."
"A mistake?" The woman looked at Song Weidong with surprise.
"Auntie!" Song Weidong called out helplessly, "This is my friend Xu Tangmian, you can call her Xiao Xu."
The woman smiled awkwardly, then patted Song Weidong's shoulder and said with a laugh, "What about Xiao Tao? Your aunt came especially to see her. It's true, every time I go to the hospital, she's already gone."
She suddenly leaned closer to Xu Tangmian and joked, "Before I met you, I always doubted whether Xiao Tao even existed. How come this perpetual bachelor suddenly has a girlfriend?"
"Alright, alright, Auntie, find somewhere to sit." Song Weidong helplessly pushed her outside, and the woman, mindful of his legs, didn't dare resist too much. She followed his force and retreated outside, shaking her head helplessly, "This child..."
After she left, Song Weidong nodded apologetically to Xu Tangmian: "I'm sorry, Xiao Xu. My aunt and uncle took care of me during my time in Beiping. I kept missing them because I was in the hospital, and they just happened to have some free time, so they were determined to come and see me. They even misunderstood you. Please don't mind."
Xu Tangmian didn't take it to heart, shaking her head and smiling as she said, "It's nothing, Auntie is quite interesting."
But no matter how she thought about it, Song Weidong's aunt looked familiar. Could it be someone from her grandfather's side of the family?
Xu Tangmian tentatively said, "Your aunt is really good to you. She only dropped her job to come see you after she heard you had a boyfriend. I would never be able to give up my job."
Song Weidong chuckled twice and said, "No, she and my uncle run a factory together. She just happened to have some business to handle here, so she came to see me."
So he was in business; no wonder I didn't remember him.
Xu Tangmian probably assumed that the people who had brought gifts to her home before were just some insignificant passersby, so she didn't take it to heart.
She and Song Weidong took the woman to find Li Yutao. As they were chatting, a melodious accordion tune came from backstage. It was the Soviet lullaby that Yu Chunsheng sang to her before bed.
The woman's expression changed, and she looked around anxiously, as if she were looking for someone.
So Song Weidong asked her, "What's wrong, Auntie?"
The woman shook her head and forced a smile, "It's nothing. Does your competition even include accordion performances?"
Xu Tangmian proudly introduced, "It's a children's choir performance. I played the piano, and my wife played the accordion to accompany them."
"So that's how it is." The woman murmured, then smiled and said, "The younger generation is truly remarkable. Look at how talented you are at such a young age. We didn't have these opportunities back then."
Song Weidong urged her again, "Alright, Auntie, Xiaotao and the other friends will take care of me. You and Uncle should go back first. Didn't you bring my cousin? Who's taking care of him?"
“I sent him to his maternal grandmother’s house,” the woman continued. “I don’t have anything else to do, so I’ll stay a little longer.”
She then turned to Xu Tangmian with a smile, "You just said your husband plays the accordion? When I was young, I had a friend who was very good at playing the accordion. He came back from Moscow and loved to organize classmate reunions and sing Soviet folk songs and the like."
Xu Tangmian smiled and agreed, "Really? My husband speaks Russian very well too. He sometimes complains to me that nobody here understands him. If Auntie's friends were here, they would definitely get along well."
Whether it was her imagination or not, Xu Tangmian felt that the aunt's eyes dimmed instantly after she finished speaking.
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