Chapter 1323: What sort of a Spring Festival Gala will it be this year!
Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
At night.
In the office of the Spring Festival Gala production team.
After Zhang Ye returned, the news started spreading.
“What?”
“A deaf-mute dance troupe?”
“Laborer singers?”
“A cross-gender actor?”
“Wh-What’s with all of these performers?”
“What is Director Zhang thinking?”
“Yeah, just what kind of acts are in this new program list?”
“They won’t do. How can we possibly have it like that!”
“That’s right. This…this program list is too casual!”
When the new program list was first released, everyone was very excited. No one had expected Zhang Ye to finish planning it within a night. But when they learned about the performers that Zhang Ye had invited, everyone felt like puking blood. They felt that these choices weren’t even as good as those that were rejected during the first approval session!
The leaders were alarmed!
The executives on the Spring Festival Gala’s organizing committee couldn’t sit still any longer!
Over there, Zhang Ye was just leading some people from the production team to check on the progress of the stage. Before they could get there, they were stopped by some executives on the organizing committee.
…
Not far from them.
The Naval Song and Dance Troupe were rehearsing. They were the star act of the Spring Festival Gala and had appeared on its stage almost every year. But this year, they had encountered a problem. After the first approval session had left the status of all the acts hanging, the coach, Liu Dazhi, became very anxious. They only managed to secure another meeting to put a new act up for approval by the Spring Festival Gala’s production team after approaching many of their contacts.
But unexpectedly, Zhang Ye was also here!
And there were also executives on the organizing committee!
From behind, a group of young ladies and men were getting excited!
“Quickly look!”
“It’s Zhang Ye!”
“What are they talking about?”
“Why aren’t they walking over here anymore?”
Among them, the most excited person was a young lady.
She was not old and was probably around 20 years of age.
It was Teacher Zhang!
It was him in the flesh!
Hu Die’s 1 eyes were staring straight ahead. She wanted to run up to Zhang Ye to have a closer look at him more than anything!
She really liked Zhang Ye very much. From the time before Zhang Ye became famous, Hu Die was his fan. Just to catch a glimpse of Zhang Ye, she had spent the money that she had worked so hard at saving to buy a last-row ticket from a scalper to attend the King of Masked Singers’ concert. When she saw Zhang Ye singing in the rain, she even got so emotional that she cried.
After she learned that Zhang Ye had been appointed as the Spring Festival Gala’s executive director, Little Hu Die decided that she must definitely get on the Spring Festival Gala as well. She went to plead with the teachers and leaders to bring her along with them. But as her standard was not up to par, and she couldn’t compare with her brothers and sisters in the troupe, she did not manage to go to the first approval session. As such, Hu Die cried to herself under her bedsheets for an entire night when it happened.
However, she didn’t expect that there could be a turnaround. The Naval Song and Dance Troupe did not pass their first approval session and the leaders had to make last-minute changes to the act for their reattempt. They lacked several dancers for this revised act, so Hu Die went about doing favors just to be considered for a role. She brought food for the teachers and washed clothes for the troupe’s brothers and sisters. In the end, she managed to get a chance to be included for a role. And now that they had arrived at Central TV, she actually got to see Zhang Ye as well. They were only 50 meters apart, and this was the closest to him that she had ever gotten!
She felt so fortunate!
Hu Die was getting a little overwhelmed!
The coach, Liu Dazhi, whisper-shouted, “What are you all doing! Where is your organizational discipline? Little Hu Die! Look at how you’re behaving!”
Hu Die said, “They’re all having a look too. Troupe Leader, why are you always picking on me?”
Liu Dazhi rolled his eyes and said, “You’re the only lass who’s staring so fixedly!”
“Little Hu Die’s eyes were almost popping out.”
“Heehee, you little infatuated fool.”
“Little Top 2 has become an infatuated fool.”
The big brothers and sisters were all teasing her.
Liu Dazhi harrumphed. “Go, stand to the side and start your punishment.”
Hu Die pulled a long face. “Again?”
Liu Dazhi said, “You’re the worst performer in the troupe. I’ve already made an exception by bringing you along to let you gain some experience, yet you’re still not making the effort to work hard. If I don’t punish you, who will I punish?”
Hu Die said aggrieved, “Whatever.”
Liu Dazhi said, “If I don’t say that you can stop, don’t stop.”
Hu Die went off to the side with everyone laughing around her. There, she began twisting her body and started turning around and around again—this was the standard punishment of the Naval Song and Dance Troupe. The person being punished would have to turn around in circles until they became dizzy. Not anyone could take such a punishment. Ordinary folks would often lose their balance the moment they spin around ten times. But for these dancers, they would have to last longer than that. Some of them could go on spinning for five minutes, while others might be able to do so for up to ten minutes. Of course, there was also an oddity that existed in the Naval Song and Dance Troupe. And that oddity was Hu Die!
How long could she keep spinning for?
No one knew!
That was because no one had seen her getting dizzy before!
Hu Die was not comparable to the big brothers and sisters of the troupe in all other aspects. Singing? She was only average. Dancing? She was not amazing either. Only in the aspect of taking punishment was she better than everyone else in the entire troupe. As such, she was given the nickname: Little Top.
Hu Die started twirling in circles on the balls of her feet. Each time she completed a circle, she would take a look at Zhang Ye.
She felt so blessed!
Hu Die was overjoyed!
Liu Dazhi speechlessly shook his head, thinking about how this child was beyond help. Then he instructed the others in a low voice, “Director Zhang is having a discussion over there. When they finish and start walking over, I’ll signal with my eyes to all of you so that everyone knows when to start the performance. We have to make the best of it so that we can catch Director Zhang’s attention. That would be half the mission completed. Remember, our Naval Song and Dance Troupe must make it onto the Spring Festival Gala this year as well. Otherwise, none of us will have it good when we get back!”
“Understood.”
“We know.”
“Don’t worry about it, Coach.”
…
The discussion over there ended.
Zhang Ye finally convinced the executives of the organizing committee.
An official from the Ministry of Culture said, “Alright then, we’ll see how everything goes during the second approval session.”
Another executive gave a bitter smile and said, “Director Zhang, these are the only three concessions we can make. If the acts don’t have a great effect, they will definitely be rejected.”
Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Trust me on it.”
They talked as they walked.
Liu Dazhi quickly gave the wink!
The troupe members immediately began performing!
A female executive asked, “So far, there are only three acts that have been firmed up?”
Zhang Ye acknowledged and said, “I already have in mind the candidates for the other acts. I’ll gather them up within three days and put them through rehearsals.”
Ha Qiqi was distracted by something.
Zhang Zuo looked across to the front.
An executive on the organizing committee said, “Is this a rehearsal?”
Another executive said, “They’re people from the Naval Song and Dance Troupe, aren’t they?”
Zhang Ye seemed to have noticed and was momentarily stunned as he stopped in his tracks.
The other people also gradually stopped in their tracks and watched the troupe’s performance.
Liu Dazhi was silently cheered up by that. They were successful at catching their attention.
Hu Die also got excited at this. She wanted to stop turning so that she could rejoin the group of big brothers and sisters in their dance. But when she remembered the instructions of her coach, she could only carry on with her punishment. She was in pure anxiety. Teacher Zhang saw us! He saw us! Heavens! Can I stop spinning already! There goes my image!
Eh?
Is Teacher Zhang looking at me?
No, no, that must be an illusion!
Assistant Director Zhang Zuo asked, “Coach Liu, are you rehearsing?”
Liu Dazhi hurriedly came over. “Yes, we’ve arranged a new dance for our act and would like to show it to the Spring Festival Gala’s organizing committee executives. We’re hoping that they could reexamine our act and consider us for the gala?”
The official from the Ministry of Culture was amused as he pointed to the side. “Why is there someone standing away from the group? And her movements are different from the others too?”
When Liu Dazhi turned to look, he nearly blew up in anger. He went over and whispered, “Aiyo, my young lady, why are you still spinning for! Stop, stop!”
Hu Die came to a stop. Her breathing was still very even, and she was not even panting.
Liu Dazhi said in embarrassment, “I was just punishing her for earlier.”
Ha Qiqi said with interest, “Your troupe’s punishment is pretty unique.”
“Haha, it’s normal, it’s normal.” Liu Dazhi laughed it off.
The troupe’s dance finally ended.
But Zhang Ye did not seem interested at all. His eyes were still on that person standing in the corner. When the dancers came to a stop, Zhang Ye suddenly asked, “You there, what’s your name?”
You?
Who are you asking?
Everyone looked to their left and right.
Hu Die had a startled expression on her face. She pointed at herself. “Me?”
Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Yeah, you.”
Hu Die got all excited and nearly fainted. “Me…My name is Hu Die!”
Oh my God!
Teacher Zhang has spoken to me!
Zhang Ye asked again, “How long did you spin for just now?”
Hu Die said excitedly, “I spun for ten minutes?”
Zhang Ye asked, “How long can you spin for?”
Hu Die blushed. “Me? I can spin for however long I want to spin!”
Liu Dazhi hurriedly intervened and said, “Don’t listen to her bragging. In the past when she was punished, the longest she went on spinning for was three hours. We didn’t allow her to spin any longer than that.”
The production team’s people were dumbfounded.
“Three hours?”
“That amazing?”
“Is everyone from your troupe able to spin for so long?”
Liu Dazhi said nervously, “How can that be possible? In the entire troupe, only she can do that. The others wouldn’t even last past 10 minutes of spinning. This lass seems to be born without a sense of vertigo. But other than spinning, she’s no good at everything else.”
Hearing that, Hu Die shyly bowed her head.
You freaking Old Liu!
Freaking Old Liu!
Why are you always putting me down!
But at this moment, Zhang Ye said something surprising, “Four hours, can you spin for that long?”
Hu Die was stunned. “—I can.”
Zhang Ye nodded. “Alright, then I’ll see you at the second approval session. I’ll leave an act for you to perform.”
The entire venue burst into an uproar!
“What?”
“Director Zhang!”
“What’s the meaning of this?”
“Ah?”
Everyone was stunned!
Liu Dazhi’s jaw dropped!
Hu Die was dumbfounded. “Me?”
Zhang Ye said, “Yes.”
Hu Die stared with wide eyes. “I’m going to the Spring Festival Gala?”
Zhang Ye said, “Yes.”
“I…Who will I be a backup dancer to?”
“You’re not going to be a backup dancer. The entire act is for you alone.”
Hu Die said in shock, “What act is it?”
Zhang Ye said matter-of-factly, “Spinning in circles, of course!”
When they heard this, everyone who was present was floored!
Spinning in circles?
How is spinning in circles even an act?
Can you fucking stop kidding me?
The few executives of the Spring Festival Gala’s organizing committee could hardly breathe. “Director Zhang, you…this—Aiyo, we are going to wash our hands of this. Just do whatever you like!” The executives were driven off in anger!
The remaining people looked at Hu Die in awe.
Liu Dazhi’s face swirled with a mix of emotions!
Her big brothers and sisters in the troupe were speechless!
Why was it Little Top?
Why did she get chosen out of all people?
Unbeknownst to them, the Spring Festival Gala production team members were even more horrified!
What a weirdo!
What kind of fucking wondrous acts are these!
Of the numerous singers there are, you found two laborers instead?
Of so many dance troupes out there, you had to choose a deaf-mute group?
Of so many actors around, you had to find a cross-gender actor?
Of all the dancers available, you looked for someone who could only spin around in circles?
The Spring Festival Gala’s production team members were utterly confused!
Christ on a bike!
What sort of a Spring Festival Gala will it be this year!
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