First Night with the Army: The Stoic Big Shot Is Done Pretending

Devil’s Week referred to a period of extreme training held every two months. Each cycle lasted seven days, with all training conducted in the field.

At these words, the few people who were chatting immediately fell silent.

The moment the morning training bugle call ended, everyone swarmed over to Huo Jingyuan. His single subordinates carefully examined the marks on his neck.

It wasn’t that they’d never seen such things before; their commissar would show his off from time to time, too.

But Huo Jingyuan’s marks were on a completely different level.

Huo Jingyuan’s expression was nonchalant, but he was inwardly thrilled.

-

Wen Ci had just arrived at the hospital.

She overheard her colleagues saying that military art troupes from other regions would be coming to the Northwest Military Region for a performance tour. When the time came, the Northwest Military Region would also have to put people on stage.

The Northwest Military Region Hospital would also need to provide performers.

The Military Art tour was held every six months as a reward for the soldiers stationed in the Northwest. Conditions in the Northwest Region were harsh, so the tour was considered a special perk.

All eyes fell on Wen Ci.

Although Wen Ci’s official registration was rural, she had grown up in Beijing. Even if she couldn’t do anything, just having her on stage would be a beautiful sight.

Wen Ci blinked. "I don’t know how to do anything..."

She had never liked performing on stage, not even in school, let alone in the 1980s. With a gentle smile, she said, "If I go on stage, I’ll just be eye candy."

"What do you mean, ’eye candy’?"

"It means all looks and no substance."

A few people laughed. Su Wanqing walked over to their group and asked, "The Military Art tour... will the officers from the Northwest Military Region be in the audience?"

"Yes."

Su Wanqing’s eyes darted thoughtfully. "Can I participate? I can play the piano, the guzheng, and the xiao. I also know some Western dance."

"Of course."

Then, the head nurse’s gaze fell on Wen Ci. Taking in her fair complexion, she asked, "Comrade Wen Ci, can you perform the Water Sleeve Dance?"

"Oh, but I don’t know how..."

"If you don’t know how, you can learn! We have half a month."

Wen Ci frowned slightly, wondering whether she should agree. ’The Water Sleeve Dance demands a lot of flexibility.’ After a moment, her eyes crinkled in a smile.

"I’m not very flexible. If I were to perform the Water Sleeve Dance, I’d probably embarrass our Northwest Military Region Hospital."

"We’re not asking you to dance alone."

Wen Ci was speechless.

’From the head nurse’s tone, it’s clear she’s dead set on making me join this performance.’

The head nurse’s gaze shifted to Yu Qing. Aside from the newcomer, Su Wanqing, Yu Qing was the only other single and attractive woman at the hospital.

"Doctor Yu, can you participate?"

"I’m fine with whatever."

Wen Ci sighed softly to herself. Now that Yu Qing had agreed, it would be disrespectful to refuse the head nurse.

"Then the two of you will perform the Water Sleeve Dance. How does that sound? You can leave work two hours early every day to practice."

Wen Ci asked, "What about the costumes?"

The Water Sleeve Dance depended not only on the dancer’s flexibility but also on the material of the costume. If a cheaper fabric was used, the effect on stage would not be nearly as good.

"How much of a budget do you need?" the head nurse asked.

Wen Ci shook her head. "We’ll have to go to Sea City to buy the fabric."

"How about twenty-two yuan for now, then?"

The bus from the Northwest Military Region to Sea City cost fifty cents. A round trip for two people would be two yuan, which meant the remaining twenty should be enough.

After everyone dispersed, Wen Ci began to rack her brain. ’There are much better-looking versions of the Water Sleeve Dance in later eras,’ she thought. ’In the 1980s, the dance wasn’t very standardized yet.’