Chapter 122: A Song Ruined the Celebrations
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Greetings, comrades, squad leaders, and commanders. I’m Cai Xu from Class One, and I’m excited to present you with a song called ‘Green Flower in the Army.”‘
It wasn’t that everyone didn’t want to attend the individual talent show; in fact, it was quite the opposite. In the recruit company, it was essential not to be overly timid or humble. Showing off one’s abilities was encouraged and celebrated.
Take Wang Ye, for instance. He became the vice squad leader due to his outstanding performance in the 400-meter obstacle. His talent caught the attention of the company commander and even the chief of staff. He fearlessly stood up for justice and sought recognition from the chief committee. It’s only natural that everyone envied such treatment.
Even if some individuals didn’t join the army voluntarily, it didn’t mean they didn’t want to be recognized and appreciated. This talent show was an opportunity for them to showcase their personal value.
When Wu Jianfeng asked for volunteers, everyone in the class immediately raised their hands. While not every class might have someone with a talent for performing, at this moment, everyone had to participate. The company commander may have said it was voluntary, but the squad leader’s unspoken expectation made it necessary.
Besides, they couldn’t forget what happened the first time he commented on the news. They knew they had to be more proactive; otherwise, they might face punishment from the class monitor later.
So, even if they weren’t fully prepared for the show, they raised their hands eagerly. Perhaps some of them would go up and sing the song Unity is Strength with all their heart and soul.
Of course, in this case, there were people who raised their hands to give the highest level of performance among the five classes. One such recruit was Gu Yingnan. He had expressed his passion for singing and dancing when he joined the army, and now was his chance to showcase his talent.
Wang Ye, recognizing his interest and ability, assigned him to be the first representative for Class Five. However, before Gu Yingnan could take the stage, Wu Jianfeng, the captain, decided to let Class One go first since everyone in their class had raised their hands.
As the recruits enthusiastically announced their performances, Wu Jianfeng’s smile suddenly froze, and even Kang Hua, another recruit, looked concerned and quickly turned his head. The platoon leader seemed ready to intervene, but the captain signaled him not to, not wanting to ruin the cultural evening.
Caqi Xu began singing, and his voice and singing skills were surprisingly good. The recruits listened with smiles at first, but as the song continued, the atmosphere shifted. The lyrics were unexpected, and for many of the recruits, it seemed to strike a chord.
“The cold wind blew the fallen leaves…The military camp was a green field…
My dear comrade, don’t miss home, don’t miss Mommy…”
The song went on, and it was evident that this military song wasn’t something they were used to hearing. The once-smiling faces turned serious, and some even covered their mouths in surprise or emotion. It was clear that this song had a deeper impact on the recruits than anyone anticipated.
The recruit singing in the middle of the canteen could clearly see everyone’s reaction, but he didn’t let it deter him. Instead, he closed his eyes and sang even more passionately, believing that if his song could elicit such emotions from everyone, it meant he was singing well.
He started to imagine winning the first prize in tonight’s individual talent show, envisioning how it would change his status among his peers. He fantasized about gaining the class monitor’s approval and even being promoted to the vice class monitor position.
However, he was unaware of the expression on the platoon leader’s face, who stood behind him.
Then, suddenly, a sobbing sound broke the atmosphere, coming from a nearby table, close to Class Five. The emotion in the room started to intensify as more people broke down in tears one after another.
The recruit continued singing, not realizing the impact he was having on those around him. With each tear shed, he became even more impassioned, pouring his heart and soul into the performance. In his mind, he felt like he was standing on the grand stage of the Spring Festival Gala, ready to make his debut.
But then, amidst the emotions and tears, a loud roar pierced through the room.
“Stop, don’t sing that song!”
The outburst left everyone in the canteen startled and bewildered, wondering why someone would stop such an emotional and moving performance. The recruit singing froze mid-song, opening his eyes to see who dared to interrupt him.
The platoon leader’s face remained gloomy as he strode forward and confronted the recruit who had been singing. Holding back his anger, he sternly shouted, “What the hell are you singing for? Get down!”
The recruit felt confused and helpless as he saw the platoon leader’s expression. He couldn’t understand why his performance was interrupted. He thought to himself, “1 was singing so well, why is he stopping me? And what’s wrong with my singing? The others seemed to enjoy it!”
Before the recruit could express his thoughts, the platoon leader pushed and pulled him towards the table of Class One, away from the center of attention.
Wu Jianfeng, the captain, was also affected by the emotional atmosphere. He lowered his head, seemingly touching his eyes, and then spoke in a slightly hoarse and low voice, “Alright, this is a little too sad. Today is a festival, so we have to be happy. Let’s not sing such melancholic songs anymore. Next up, let’s do something cheerful.”
He tried to force a smile and added, “Of course, this time, we won’t choose such emotional songs.”
Despite the announcement, no one responded immediately. Many of the recruits in the audience were still covering their faces, tears streaming down their cheeks. Some even embraced their comrades, seeking comfort in each other’s arms.
The impact of the emotional song lingered even after it had stopped. The recruits’ longing for their mothers and hometowns, stirred up by the performance, wasn’t easy to suppress.
Wu Jianfeng’s expression turned even more somber. The situation had become more serious than he had initially imagined. The emotional outpouring from the recruits showed just how deeply these songs touched their hearts and reminded them of their loved ones back home. He realized that they needed a careful approach to maintain the positive spirit of the event.
Wu Jianfeng felt a sense of regret for not intervening earlier to stop the emotional performance. He realized that the recruits were not in the right mood for a party anymore.
“Alright, it seems like everyone isn’t in the mood now,” he said with a heavy tone. “Let’s cancel the party for today. Instead, let the class leaders write a letter to everyone. Even though the previous letter hasn’t come back yet, it won’t hurt to send another one.”
Seeing the solemn expressions on the recruits’ faces, Wu Jianfeng knew that pushing forward with the party would only dampen the spirits further, so he decided to end it right away.
As they left the field, many recruits from different squads supported each other, visibly affected by the emotional performance. Wang Ye was also there, supporting a fellow recruit who seemed to be feeling homesick.
Although Wang Ye missed home a little, he didn’t cry. He had experienced separation from home before his rebirth when he was a member of society, and he had grown accustomed to it.
The evening took an unexpected turn, leaving the recruits and the captain feeling a mix of emotions. It was a reminder of the challenges and emotions they all faced during their time in the army, highlighting the importance of camaraderie and support among them.
“We are soldiers now, and all of you are already eighteen years old. You are no longer children. It might be challenging to adjust to this new environment, but as men, whether you join the army, go to university, or work outside, you can’t stay by your mother’s side all the time,” Ye Sanshi spoke with a serious expression in the dormitory.
He continued, “Regarding the song from before… Well, forget about it. 1 just want to emphasize that you are adults now, and you need to be strong and resilient.”
After conveying this message, Ye Sanshi’s tone softened a bit. “Alright, let’s all write a letter home now.”
One of the recruits, with teary eyes, asked, “Class monitor, have you received any letters from home?”
“I don’t know yet,” Ye Sanshi replied. “We use the post office for mailing, and it can take some time, especially since our location is a bit remote. Some letters might not have arrived yet, but don’t worry, they will eventually.”
Ye Sanshi was trying to comfort everyone, and he was being honest, to an extent. However, he concealed one thing: the process of sending letters from the army was more complex, and the letters they had written last time might not have even been sent yet..