Chapter 459: Chapter 459 Provocation
Yang PeiMin saw her in military attire and knew she was about to perform on stage.
People were surrounding her, discussing the performance with her. Wen Qing was responding seriously, but her peripheral vision never glanced at Yang PeiMin, which made him believe it even more.
After speaking for a while, she walked over to Yang PeiMin, greeted him, and said, “Pei Min, you’re here too! I didn’t see you just now and thought you hadn’t come. Have you had dinner yet?”
The people around them also looked at the two of them, especially those who knew about the issues between them, whose eyes shone even brighter.
Yang PeiMin smiled lightly, “Thank you for your concern.”
“By the way, I still don’t know what you’re going to perform on stage later. We’ve all arranged and prepared for it. I know you’ve just come back and probably don’t know about this event, but that’s okay. You can go and participate next time when there’s a chance.” Wen Qing said with a teasing smile, her eyes full of provocation.
“I almost forgot, Pei Min, you’re from the countryside. I guess when you were little, all you learned were planting seedlings, weeding, and harvesting wheat. Those farm tasks hardly count as a talent show!”
Yang PeiMin just laughed, “Wen Jing, you really don’t understand country folk. What rural people can do isn’t limited to just that, you know!”
A smile flickered across Wen Qing’s face, full of disbelief, “Oh, then tell me, what else can you rural people do?”
“You’ll find out later.”
Wen Qing raised an eyebrow and asked with a laugh, “Are you implying that you’re going to show us something?”
Yang PeiMin nodded, “That’s right, don’t worry. I’m not going to perform any farm work, and I hope you won’t be too disappointed then.”
A Military Wife nearby also joined in the fun, “Yo, little sister Pei Min, do tell us what you are going to perform?”
“Let’s all guess, shall we? I’ll start. Are you going to sing?”
“I don’t think so. Pei Min is so handsome. If he dances, it must be very nice to watch!”
Wen Jing’s face stiffened slightly as she looked at Yang PeiMin and asked, “I heard that Pei Min went to school and must have sung in class before. It’s not that unusual. Nowadays, anyone who can sing is common, not just those who’ve been to school. Even the old men working in the fields can belt out a tune.”
When she mentioned having attended school for just a few years, Shen Yixiang couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied, “Just a few years of school? My sister-in-law is a university graduate, Mr. Wen. I suppose you may not have been admitted to university, right?”
Shen Yixiang had a very poor impression of Luo Dahua’s cousin Wen Qing, feeling that having such a cousin meant there was no way she could be any good.
Her remark made Wen Qing look a little uncomfortable. “Mr. Yang, you’re wrong. I joined the army at seventeen and devoted myself to military service. I couldn’t focus on schooling, but our accomplishments are no less than those of university graduates. They’re even more honorable. You should think more along those lines,” Wen Qing retorted.
Shen Yixiang smirked after hearing this.
Wen Qing didn’t bother looking at her, dismissing her as an insignificant clown. She was more interested in what Yang PeiMin was actually going to perform.
She thought if he was going to sing, she’d simply dance and sing simultaneously herself and outshine him. Besides singing, she really couldn’t imagine what other talents he could have.
Yang PeiMin finished speaking and didn’t bother with her anymore, turning her head to talk with Luo Dahua and the others.
Wen Qing also turned around, discussing something with the few who were about to go on stage.
Luo Dahua, too, nervously confirmed the best details with her companions. In truth, they kept repeating the same few words. The movements were already second nature to everyone, but there was still some nervousness. Continuously talking could relieve it a bit.
There were other Military Wives eager to try, and most of them were from the city. Besides singing and dancing, there were those who played instruments, such as students who had taken classes in school. Some of them could play the flute, either the vertical or horizontal kind. Even if they couldn’t remember the tune entirely, they could still play a segment, which seemed more than enough for everyone.
The logistics had quickly arranged the lighting and the stage; there was no need for taking numbers to queue, and anyone prepared could go up.
At that time, the soldiers had also arrived, finding places to sit down. Shen Yiguang found a spot and pulled Yang PeiMin over, finding a few seats for the family members to sit down. They were close to the stage. Suddenly, four people went up together, held hands in a row, and began to sing in unison. They sang a well-known military song. Their singing wasn’t great, but their courage was commendable. Everyone was very tolerant and encouraging, listening intently.
After they finished, Wen Qing and her group went up. There were three of them, but they were mainly supporting Wen Qing’s dance. They performed a military dance, which was intense and had big movements. You could see that some people were quite stirred up.
From below the stage, Luo Dahua told Yang PeiMin to get ready. “As soon as Wen Qing comes down, we’ll go up. Follow behind me, let’s get ready now.”
Yang PeiMin didn’t have much to prepare. She held a harmonica in her hand, always ready to go up. There was no need for makeup or costumes; just standing and starting to play was enough.
The dance by Wen Qing received thunderous applause. Watching it, Yang PeiMin thought it was quite good—clearly, a lot of effort had been put into it.
Yang PeiMin even overheard someone in the back praising Wen Qing’s husband, saying he had married an exceptional wife.
Dong Lixing just laughed with a “hehe,” modestly downplaying it, but from his tone, he really seemed to enjoy the compliments.
Listening, Yang PeiMin couldn’t help but curl her lip and turned to look at Shen Yiguang. “What do you think of her dancing?”
“It’s just for fun.”
Yang PeiMin smiled. “Then, would you like a wife who makes others envious?”
Shen Yiguang turned to look at her, pinched her hand, and winked. “Ever since I married you, I have been the object of constant envy!”
“Really? What do they envy you for?” Zhang Pei Min asked with interest.
Shen Yiguang shook his head with an amused smile. What else could those guys envy but a wife who was both pretty and young? And now there was one more thing; his wife got into college. “They’re all envious, let alone me who married such a beautiful, gentle, and well-educated wife. They are so envious their eyeballs are about to fall out.”
Yang PeiMin could barely keep from laughing out loud.
Besides that reason, her primary goal was for the children. Not just because of Luo Dahua’s children but mainly her own. She hoped to set an example for her children, to be a brave and self-confident role model.
When Luo Dahua came down from the stage, she signaled for Yang PeiMin to go up.
Yang PeiMin went up and took the harmonica. “I used to look after two children. They loved it when I sang this song to them before they slept. It was their strong wish that I came up here. Their eagerness to share touched me deeply. I hope they are happy every day. Now, I shall humbly perform.” Then she played a lullaby for everyone.