I was stunned. If we're talking about who worried about this school the most, I'd undoubtedly be the one, but I did it under the guise of helping a friend—my role was more like a lackey. I never intended to say a word on the stage. The only time I ever spoke on stage was when I stole exam papers, but I also learned a method of breaking glass silently—something Shi Qian didn't know…
Shi Qian came back this morning. I'll have to ask him later if he heard me call him that day. That son of a bitch thinks he's some big shot just because he's clinging to Tony Leung.
Seeing that I was standing there blankly, Principal Zhang waved to me from upstairs. Bai Lianhua said apologetically in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I forgot to arrange your seat upstairs."
I waved my hand repeatedly at Principal Zhang. The heroes started to cheer, and Zhang Shun and the Ruan brothers made a mysterious appearance with Ni Siyu. Zhang Shun didn't forget to shout, "Xiao Qiang, give us a try!"
Yan Jingsheng, for some unknown reason, quick-wittedly led the applause, followed by a resounding ovation from 300 people...
I knew I had no choice but to go up, so I reluctantly walked onto the stage. Principal Zhang stood up and gestured for me to sit with him, but I quickly pressed him down, took the microphone, blew on it, and said, "I only have one sentence to say..."
The entire room fell silent.
"Everyone, lunch will be provided!"
People were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances. Then, the first sound to erupt was a thunderous roar of cheers and applause from the villagers outside the hall. Sun Sixin, unaware of the situation, assumed the meeting had reached its climax and directed people to light firecrackers…
Amidst the clamor and accompanied by the athletes' march, Bai Lianhua, her brow beaded with sweat, announced the successful conclusion of the meeting, and then proceeded with the performance...
The leaders on the platform, still in a daze, pulled up their chairs and sat down below. Many of them, assuming the meeting would last at least another hour or so, had automatically drifted off to sleep. Startled, they realized I had finished speaking and patted me approvingly on the shoulder. Principal Zhang gave me a sharp pinch, but didn't seem angry.
The first performance was by the 300-person team. I had already informed Yan Jingsheng to prepare. After Bai Lianhua finished announcing the program, Xu Delong gave the order, and the 300-person team of "Iron Blood" suddenly stood up and split into two groups, going up from both sides of the stage, which had been converted into a platform, and forming two square formations. I noticed that Yan Jingsheng was walking a bit like the Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz," probably because he had become stiff from sitting too long.
The 12 kung fu guys who had fought Li Jingshui and his companion were excitedly talking to their friends, probably thinking that 300 was about to put on a group fight.
The sight of 300 students standing up astonished many, as they had never seen such imposing and swift students before. Then, the 300 students split into two groups facing each other, their gazes fixed firmly on the opposite side, their imposing presence almost suggesting a fight. Given that this was a school specializing in both academics and martial arts, the audience was filled with anticipation.
Yan Jingsheng walked to the middle of the two teams, and Xu Delong gave the command: "Turn left and right!"
With a loud crash, 300 simultaneously turned towards Yan Jingsheng.
The audience erupted in uproar: Was this refined young man about to perform a legendary kung fu act of taking on 300 people?
Now I'm confused too. What is Yan Jingsheng trying to do?
At this moment, Yan Jingsheng stretched out his hands and led the singing: "We all have a home, ready—" He waved his hand, "All!"
300: "We all have a home called China, with many brothers and sisters and beautiful scenery..."
Everyone burst out laughing; it turned out to be just a big chorus.
I noticed that many of the leaders in the first row had also disregarded decorum and rested their heads on the table.
Later, it was Tiger's apprentices who went up and chopped a bunch of bricks that made the leaders turn from anger to joy. After Du Xing's two little female apprentices went up and danced a modern dance, everyone was overjoyed.
After the department's most beautiful girl and another girl finished their dance, they said with smiles, "We were just setting the stage. Now, please welcome the real dancers to perform for everyone."
I thought Du Xing was about to go on stage, but instead, a gorgeous young woman leaped onto the stage. She wore a jingling beaded dress, revealing a slender waist, and a sheer veil as light as a cloud covered the lower half of her face, revealing only a pair of bright, slightly cool eyes. Her attire suggested a medieval Arab girl.
Then she swayed her waist gently, her arms rising slowly like willows sprouting in spring, the beaded curtain rustling crisply, a sight of exquisite grace.
To this day, I still don't know what kind of dance she was performing. I only remember that this girl with slightly cool eyes could intimidate the entire audience by dancing with half her face covered, including the 300 ruthless Yue family members who were indifferent to women, the group of unruly reincarnated bandits, and those worldly-wise men with this long and that long...
I was completely mesmerized, watching from below the stage, my eyes squinting like cracks in a brick wall, contemplating asking the most beautiful girl in our department for her phone number. Liu Bang, after all, is Liu Bang; he casually glanced at the stage a few times, then gazed at Black Widow with infatuation. This guy, he's already fallen for someone else so quickly.
Just then, a gentle breeze seemed to come from nowhere, lifting the thin veil that covered the lower half of the beautiful woman's face. Many people in the audience could see clearly that she was beautiful, but not stunning; her face was rather thin.
However, in that fleeting glimpse, Liu Bang's expression changed drastically. He suddenly raised a finger and pointed at the stage, unable to utter a single word.
Black Widow said jealously, "Isn't it beautiful?"
Liu Bang remained frozen in that position, still in shock. Sensing something was amiss, I whispered, "What's wrong?"
After a long silence, Liu Bang finally uttered two words in a trembling voice: "Yu Ji!"
Chapter Seventy-Eight: Brothers are like hands and feet
I gasped when I heard those two words. Seeing Liu Bang's unusually serious expression, I knew he couldn't be mistaken. I suddenly nudged him and said, "Go to the front and see if she still recognizes you."
Liu Bang said with a bitter face, "Yu Ji is a skilled martial artist; even a dozen or eighteen men can't get close to her..."
I said, "Even if she recognizes you, she can just beat you up. Besides, she can't outrun you in that outfit." Liu Bang stubbornly refused.
Black Widow asked curiously, "What are you whispering about?"
I pointed to the stage and said, "That girl is my buddy's long-lost girlfriend. I'm not sure if she's right, so I wanted Brother Liu to go and check her out, but he won't go."
Black Widow said to Liu Bang, "Go ahead, why aren't you going?"
I told her, "Because he had a grudge against that guy; they fell out over territory."
Black Widow sighed, "Back then, my girlfriends and I had similar experiences. Looking back now, it all seems like a dream. We were so naive back then."
I whispered in Liu Bang's ear again, "Don't you want to reconcile with Xiang Yu?"
Liu Bang shook his head and said, "Whether we reconcile or not, it's all the same. In a few months, we'll go our separate ways. Besides—will he forgive me?"
Seeing that things were looking promising, I quickly said, "Isn't his hatred for you mainly because of Yu Ji?"
At this moment, Black Widow kicked Liu Bang's heel: "Hurry up, can't a grown man like you even have this much magnanimity?"
Forced into a corner, Liu Bang hesitantly made his way to the front of the stage. He'd only gone halfway when the legendary Consort Yu suddenly grabbed a sword, twirled it with a flourish, and unleashed a flurry of swordplay. The stage was instantly filled with a chilling glint of light, and Liu Bang turned tail and ran back.
I sighed, knowing that I couldn't count on Liu Bang.
After Yu Ji's performance ended, the last item on the agenda was watching the 300s move into their new homes. I accompanied the leaders and guests outside first, and then the 300s stood in neat rows in front of the tents. Suddenly, a reporter appeared out of nowhere. With his back to the tents, he addressed the camera: "Hello everyone watching at home, welcome to the midnight news. Today, a technical college called Yucai Martial Arts School in our city has officially opened. Behind me are the students of this college, and these tents are a testament to their hard work over this period of time..."