Chapter 170: At the End of My Rope, I Suspect There’s No Path ①
But now, they stood on the stage, their faces resolute as they sang the song 《My Future Is Not a Dream》, completely unlike the Class 10 they remembered.
They were different now, yes, they were different now. Regardless of what their future held, they were already much better than before. At least, they weren’t living life by the book like they used to. With effort, things would change.
Class 10 would use their actions to tell them that as long as there is hope, as long as they put in the effort, their future would not be a dream!
After bowing, the members of Class 10 walked off the stage in unison and returned to their seats in an orderly fashion. Huang Yan and Zhang Haiyang led the dancers to the front of the stage, bowed again, and then smiled as they walked off.
The applause continued for a long time. The Principal and the Directors smiled and nodded at the performers. No one understood better than they did what this program would bring to the school. Even if it didn’t inspire hundreds or thousands to study hard, it could at least motivate ten, or perhaps dozens, of people to study.
There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?
Nie Aifang stood up and clapped vigorously. This was her daughter’s performance, and in her eyes, it was the most brilliant program of the entire art festival. Of course, she was happy and proud! She was so excited she wanted to shout, but she felt too embarrassed to do so. So, her hands clapped louder than anyone else’s, unaware that they were turning red.
Nie Aiwen, holding the camera, smiled at Nie Aifang, who was acting like a child for once, and chuckled. He then looked at the stage. Another program was already underway, but many people were still immersed in the previous one.
As an elder, watching a junior’s performance, he naturally hoped to see something uniquely brilliant. However, before coming, he had only expected a typical song and dance performance. He was unexpectedly amazed, which explained Nie Aifang’s excitement and joy.
Nie Qiu and the participating classmates removed their makeup backstage, changed their clothes, and came out from the back, then entered the auditorium from the front, sitting in their class’s designated seats. Nie Qiu naturally sat with Nie Aifang and Nie Aiwen. “Mom, Uncle.”
“Qiu Qiu, you were wonderful! Your dancing was amazing.” Nie Aifang gave a thumbs-up with one hand and placed the other on Nie Qiu’s shoulder, praising her.
Huang Yan, sitting in the back row and talking to her parents, squeezed her head over and asked with a smile, “Auntie, what about me? What about me? How was my dancing?”
Upon seeing Huang Yan, Nie Aifang knew this girl was her daughter’s very good friend. She nodded vigorously, “Beautiful, you all danced beautifully. And that song… that song was good too!”
Huang Yan lifted her head and proudly said to her parents, “See! Mom and Dad, Nie Qiu’s mom said our program was good.”
Huang Yan’s mom poked Huang Yan’s forehead. “Always so vain!” she said, then looked at Nie Aifang, recognizing her as her daughter’s good friend’s mother.
Huang Yan’s mom had been working in a textile factory. Textile factories generally had three departments: warping, network silk production, and weaving. She worked in network silk production. Her daughter’s poor grades weren’t a recent issue. She had always planned for her daughter to learn weaving at their factory after junior high school. Weaving paid significantly more than network silk production and was also much easier.
However, last month, her daughter’s monthly exam results showed she could get into an ordinary high school. This discovery filled her with surprise and joy. What parent wouldn’t want their child to have good grades? On a larger scale, it was for her future; on a smaller scale, it meant they, as parents, could hold their heads high among their neighbors.
But all of this stemmed from her daughter’s best friend. Even if this person wasn’t her daughter’s best friend, just the fact that she finally put down her novels and started studying was enough for Huang Yan’s mom to think highly of Nie Qiu. Therefore, she was even more amiable towards Nie Aifang. After finishing her conversation with Nie Aifang, Huang Yan’s mom greeted Nie Aifang with a smile, complimenting her black, shiny hair and her youthful appearance.
Nie Aifang, feeling flattered, reciprocated by constantly praising Huang Yan’s mom for her good upkeep.
Nie Aifang usually interacted with vegetable vendors at the market and lacked refined language. Her compliments were somewhat crude, but Huang Yan’s mom was still very happy. Firstly, her daughter was someone who loved praise. Secondly, compared to Nie Aifang, Huang Yan’s mom was much younger.
For a moment, no one paid attention to what was happening on stage. The two daughters began chatting animatedly.
Huang Yan pulled Nie Qiu aside to talk. Huang Yan’s dad nodded at Nie Aiwen, smiling awkwardly, and then took out a cigarette from his purse, offering it to Nie Aiwen.
Nie Aiwen looked at Nie Aifang and Huang Yan’s mom and felt as if two friends’ parents had met by chance on the street. He was immediately delighted. He accepted the cigarette offered by Huang Yan’s dad, but since smoking was not allowed in the auditorium, he didn’t light it and instead placed it behind his ear.
Huang Yan’s dad genuinely believed Nie Aiwen was Nie Qiu’s father and kept praising Nie Aiwen for his excellent upbringing. Nie Aiwen, of course, was pleased and reciprocated by showering Huang Yan’s dad with flattery.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the meeting between the two families was a pleasant one.
Peng Yu Yang’s mom sat with Peng Yu Yang. After chatting about the recent performance, she looked at Nie Qiu and, after some hesitation, approached with Peng Yu Yang to greet the two families’ parents. Nie Aifang remembered this restaurant owner who had invited her and her daughter to dinner and was about to stand up.
Nie Qiu knew this was Peng Yu Yang’s mom. Seeing her with Peng Yu Yang, Huang Yan also recognized her as Peng Yu Yang’s mom and quickly said with a smile, “Auntie.”
Peng Yu Yang’s mom had heard from her husband that both girls were good. Their family didn’t care much about a girl’s family background; what they valued more was her character. She smiled and nodded at Nie Qiu and Huang Yan, “After the event, why don’t you come to our place for dinner?”
Huang Yan really wanted to go but frowned with difficulty. “But… Auntie, you can leave early. The school regulations state we can’t leave until the art festival is over.”
“That’s fine, our restaurant usually doesn’t close until midnight!” Huang Yan’s demeanor amused Peng Yu Yang’s mom. She smiled, ruffled Huang Yan’s hair, and then looked at Huang Yan’s parents and Nie Qiu’s mom and uncle, saying with a smile, “After the art festival, bring the children to my place for dinner! My treat…”
“This… this is too kind…” Nie Aifang felt a bit flustered. She had dined at Peng Yu Yang’s family’s restaurant and knew it was a large establishment. Nie Aifang still felt embarrassed about always being treated.
Huang Yan’s parents also looked embarrassed. Huang Yan tugged on her mother’s sleeve and said loudly, “Auntie, thank you! We won’t be polite then!”
Huang Yan’s mom helplessly flicked Huang Yan’s forehead and gently chided, “You child.” Then, she looked at Peng Yu Yang’s mom and smiled, nodding, “Then we’ll trouble you.”
