novellhall Chapter 70 Two Ruthless People
Chapter 70 Two Ruthless People
Two days later, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the Jiangcheng Song and Dance Troupe.
The monthly internal meeting began again, while outside the window, the wind howled and the rain poured down.
Liu Xiaoli was restless and kept looking out the window.
I just received a call from my cousin. Her job as the emcee for the mall opening was delayed due to the weather, so she couldn't make it back and I had to take on the responsibility of picking up the kids.
She was so anxious that she was about to speak when someone interrupted her.
"Comrades, quiet down!" Yao Ping patted the stack of expense reports in front of him, interrupting the incessant chatter of complaints below. "I know everyone is suffering, but this month's funding has been reduced by 30% again."
Everyone stared at him expectantly.
Yao Ping looked at the worried faces and continued, "The higher-ups mean we have to find our own way. The economy is the top priority now, and policies support starting new businesses. Let's discuss what ways we can generate income?"
Last year, the song and dance troupe put on a show called "Chu Rhyme," which generated a lot of revenue for the troupe. However, there were too many performers and not enough revenue, so after deducting costs, everyone barely managed to have a good New Year.
But this is something that can't be forced; artistic creation is about inspiration, it's not something that can be given away just like that.
As the head of the delegation, Yao Ping was under considerable pressure. He couldn't make the decisions on policy matters; he could only point out the issues and listen to the opinions of those below.
After a moment of silence, the conference room erupted in chaos.
Huang Zhiqiang, who was in charge of logistics, was usually the quietest, but at this moment he was the first to raise his hand: "How about renting out the rehearsal hall? I heard that the drama troupe next door rents out their space to ballroom dance classes on weekends, and they can earn several tens of yuan a night!"
"Dozens?"
Sun Guoliang, a member of the band, scoffed. He usually does freelance work and knows the going rate. "It wouldn't even cover our electricity bill! If you ask me, organizing a band to perform at nightclubs would earn at least two hundred yuan a night!"
"A music troupe? We only sing folk music and bel canto here. Who would listen to us in a dance hall?" Du Yuping from the vocal group had ideas and connections. "If you ask me, we should just send the dance troupe to the countryside to take on big gigs. A lot of private dance troupes are going down there now, making a few hundred yuan a performance."
"No need to go down there, just set up a tent and a stage in a crowded area. We have plenty of people to sing and dance, so we can earn more money that way." Someone had a crooked idea.
Liu Xiaoli suddenly snapped, "Heh! What kind of organization is this song and dance troupe? You want us dancers to perform striptease in that kind of place? What are you up to? Are you trying to embarrass the troupe? Don't you care about your reputation?"
Originally, she was worried about her child getting wet in the rain.
But now these people, for their own immediate gain, have come up with such despicable ideas, which only fuels her anger.
Liu Xiaoli's words made the atmosphere in the meeting room heavy.
Everyone knows she was telling the truth; the risk of a dance troupe damaging its reputation by performing that kind of dance is indeed considerable.
Old Ma from the finance department sneered, "Reputation? At this rate, we won't even be able to pay salaries." He looked at Liu Xiaoli, his words laced with sarcasm, "The magazine 'Chu Yun' has a big reputation, but what about its revenue?"
Although these words were sharp, they hit a nerve.
"Chu Rhyme" is of high artistic quality, but it is too sophisticated for the general public; it is mostly supported by fellow artists, with few ordinary viewers willing to pay for it. This year, it would be considered good if it could be performed once every two weeks.
"You... if it weren't for my reputation, I would have accepted it long ago—" Liu Xiaoli didn't finish her sentence.
She thought of the invitation from Era Records for the song "Little Apple".
If it weren't for concerns about my reputation, or if I didn't suspect it was a setup, I would have already received the 300,000 yuan. Why would I be sitting here arguing?
Just as everyone was talking at once, Yao Ping, who had been silent all along, suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up:
"Why would someone dance if not for fame?"
"How can 'Chu Yun' win awards without a reputation?"
"If you don't have a reputation, where did your salary come from for the past six months?"
"Can you sing Huagu Opera? Or can you do Yangko dance?"
"It's all thanks to the reputation of dancers like Liu Xiaoli."
As the general director of "Chu Yun", he is leading the play to compete for a national award, and Liu Xiaoli is the soul dancer in the play.
Now is a critical moment. If the troupe's star performer causes any negative impact by going to a nightclub to dance, the situation will be unimaginable, and the award might even be lost!
Winning this national award is not only a testament to the hard work of the entire creative team, but also a sign that the team has gained recognition from higher authorities.
Once they get through this hurdle, everything will get better for the dance troupe.
Seeing that everyone was still arguing, Yao Ping's eyes revealed helplessness: "The problem now is not about arguing about right and wrong, but about finding a way to solve the current difficulties."
He glanced at the entire room. "Since no one can come up with a good solution, it seems that salaries for the second half of the year may indeed be difficult to pay on time. Everyone here has a family to support, so I won't make things difficult for you—finding your own way, taking unpaid leave, or doing some freelance work are all options. Let's vote."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Yao Ping's meaning couldn't be clearer—he wanted everyone to fumble around on their own, and we'd caught the wave of going to sea.
"I object!"
The logistics team panicked. The equipment department echoed their sentiments.
For these support departments, being sent out to fend for themselves would be tantamount to starving—they lack the technical skills, connections, and influence.
The people in the performance department, on the other hand, felt relieved.
They are naturally not worried; taking on side jobs and conducting training might earn them more than they would with a fixed salary.
The argument resumed, and the rain outside seemed to intensify.
Liu Xiaoli looked out the window again. The downpour showed no signs of abating, and she grew increasingly anxious.
She knew this wouldn't end anytime soon, and her daughter and younger cousin were probably still waiting anxiously at the school gate.
Now, picking up the child is the priority.
She gritted her teeth, got up, and walked straight out of the conference room.
The wind and rain carried in her words: "Whatever decision you make, I will support you."
Liu Xiaoli ran quickly to the bike shed, but the rain seemed to intensify.
A thought suddenly popped into my head: I wish I had a car!
She shook her head, dismissing the unrealistic idea, and started the motorcycle.
She hadn't driven far when a gust of wind suddenly ripped off her raincoat, and rainwater poured in, instantly soaking her.
Undeterred, she braved the wind and rain and sped toward the school.
……
On their way home from school, two small figures trudged through the storm.
In less than three minutes, a cold rain, carrying the chill of late spring, lashed down on them, as if competing with the two of them to see who was more ruthless.
"Achoo!" Liu Qianqian sneezed from the rain, but smiled broadly. "Little brother, you should catch a cold now, right?"
Zhou Xiaobai took off his coat and put it over her head, saying, "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. You're a good girl."
Having spent so much time together, he could list a whole bunch of Liu Qianqian's bad habits, such as being scheming, domineering, and fond of framing others.
But there's one thing Zhou Xiaobai admires most—she never falters when it comes to important matters; she's a truly ruthless person.
"Of course! Achoo!" Liu Qianqian accepted the compliment without hesitation. She flung her wet coat over her head. "I'm not wearing a cover-up. If I don't catch a cold, then all that rain was for nothing!"
"Hmm!" Zhou Xiaobai gazed at the torrential rain, as if chanting a spell, "Let the storm rage even more fiercely!"
In the distance, the sound of a motorcycle engine pierced through the rain.
Liu Xiaoli was soaked to the bone and shivering. Through her blurry vision, she saw the two small figures huddled together in the wind and rain.
She suddenly remembered her failed marriage and those lonely moments when a little round face always comforted her.
At that moment, I couldn't tell if it was rain or something else, but it was streaming down my cheeks.
She twisted the throttle sharply, and the motorcycle came to a screeching halt in front of the two of them. Before the motorcycle had even come to a complete stop, she had already jumped off.
Without thinking, Liu Xiaoli hugged the two cold little bodies tightly into his soaking wet embrace.