Before Bai Xue had time to process Su Junlin’s words, the commanding officer lifted his head, "Yes, yes, listening to the songs of our surrounding artists and soldiers, my heart is boiling with passion! Comrade Bai Xue, use your skills, use your voice, give all of us a performance!"
Bai Xue could only stand up, cleared her throat, "Then, I will sing ’The East is Red’ for everyone."
The seated generals started to clap in unison.
Feng Qingxue found all of this amusing in silence. In a soldier-hosted gala, everyone was singing, whether from the Art Troupe or the border soldiers, why was Bai Xue putting on a pained and aggrieved expression as if she was a stage actor?
But singing, singing for the border soldiers was an honorable task.
As long as one is of sound character and dedicated to art, they are artists and deserve the respect of everyone.
"The East is Red, the sun is rising, China has produced a..." Bai Xue indeed had a good voice, her singing was exceptionally good, when her song ended, she received applause and cheers.
Even Xibao followed the crowd and cheered, "Good!"
His cute appearance earned him a piece of tender lamb as a reward from the cook.
The scent of the roast lamb leg filled the air, tantalizing everyone’s nose. The cook sliced off a piece of tender meat from inside, cooled it off and handed it to Xibao.
Xibao shoved the dried yak meat he was holding into the commander’s mouth, while reaching out his other hand to take the lamb meat, nodding and saying: "Thank you!"
After he learned to speak, Feng Qingxue would always teach him to say thank you whenever she fed him or helped him with tasks. After a while, his manners became second nature and he would naturally thank anyone who gave him food or items.
No one could resist a polite child, especially one so small.
His adorable appearance and innocent remarks endeared him to everyone.
Everyone kept praising Xibao when Bai Xue suddenly addressed Feng Qingxue, "Comrade Feng Qingxue, there are only two female comrades here. After I’ve sung, why don’t you perform for everyone?"
An icy chill, like that of a dagger, flitted across Lu Jiang’s eyes.
Feng Qingxue held his hand to stop him from speaking out and directly responded to Bai Xue with a smile: "Comrade Bai Xue, I am different from you."
"What’s so different?" Bai Xue retorted in dissatisfaction.
While the women were conversing, the men, knowing their place, remained silent even though the commander and Ye Zhengjun’s brows furrowed deeply. Even Su Junlin quietly called out Bai Xue’s name.
"I am Lu Jiang’s family. I came here to visit him and brought our child along. I am privileged to be joining in the New Year’s Day bonfire tonight." Feng Qingxue’s face wore a gentle smile, her voice steady and composed, neither loud nor angry as many had expected. "Meanwhile, Comrade Bai Xue, you are part of the Art Troupe. Your duty is to console the soldiers at the border on behalf of the nation, to inspire their morale and alleviate their stress with song and dance. You bring a touch of bright colors to their tough training lives."
"Well said! Isn’t that the original intention when the Art Troupe was established ten years ago? The Coal Mine Art Troupe received great care and support from the nation’s leaders in its early years." The commander spoke up, causing others to close their mouths, "Even though ten years have passed, every soldier in the Art Troupe mustn’t forget their true responsibility!"