Chapter 329: Singing Competition

Wang Xia and the Lianfang Team members completed the final evidence-gathering work in the Siheyuan overnight.

Ever since Lao Jia passed away, everyone had initially been very tolerant of Jia Zhangshi, but as she used "Lao Jia died to save people in the courtyard" as an excuse for extortion day after day, even the best patience was worn thin.

When the Lianfang Team investigated, not a single person spoke a good word for Jia Zhangshi.

After gathering the evidence, Wang Xia stood before Jia Zhangshi and said with a solemn expression: "Jia Zhangshi, after a detailed investigation, it has been confirmed that you have long been causing unreasonable trouble in the courtyard, insulting neighbors, and promoting feudal superstition, leading to a joint report against you by the entire courtyard. You are a bad element hidden among the masses. This time, you actually dared to fabricate facts and slander a combat hero, which is a particularly serious offense and has caused an extremely vile impact. It is now decided to place you under detention."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi plopped onto the ground, slapping her thighs with both hands and wailing: "Lao Jia—open your eyes and look! The officials are shielding each other, not letting the common people live—"

Seeing that she had no remorse, Wang Xia's eyes turned stern: "Put on the Handcuffs, take her away!" Two team members stepped forward in response and nimbly hoisted her up.

Jia Dongxu hurriedly squeezed out from the crowd and blocked Director Wang, pleading: "Director Wang, my mother was just confused for a moment. Please show mercy; I guarantee I will send her back to the countryside and never let her cause trouble again!"

"It's too late!" Director Wang said firmly, "She must complete her Labor Reform and truly realize her mistakes before we can talk about anything else."

Jia Zhangshi was dragged out of the courtyard gate while crying and cursing, and the Siheyuan finally returned to its former tranquility.

In the days that followed, He Yuzhu was exceptionally busy.

Every day during the day, he had to drive to Huaqing University for classes, and upon returning in the evening, he would dive into the Time Cabin in his space to build a Computer.

Zhang Shuying invited him to her home for meals several times, but he declined each time due to being busy with experiments or coursework.

Zhang Shuying still insisted on coming to the He Family two afternoons a week to teach, and the crisp piano music and children's voices continued to echo in the courtyard right on time. Her relationship with He Yuzhu also became closer because of this.

He Yushui's four-person choir group actually cleared all obstacles and made it into the city's top ten without any mishaps. The finals would be held on Children's Day.

In order to attend his sister's competition, He Yuzhu specifically asked for leave from Huaqing University to go watch the performance.

On the day of June 1st, the City Cultural Palace Auditorium was packed with parents accompanying their children to watch the show.

He Yushui and the other three little girls were wearing snow-white dresses sponsored by the Snow Clothing Store, with their cheeks painted rosy red, jumping around excitedly.

When it was time to draw lots, He Yushui didn't go to draw, but ran over and whispered: "Brother, you help us draw the lots!"

"Why do you want me to draw?"

"Sister Daya said you can do magic!" He Yushui's big eyes rolled around.

He Yuzhu thought to himself that this girl looked silly, but she wasn't actually silly at all. He lowered his voice and said: "You can't tell outsiders about this."

"I know!" He Yushui giggled.

Among the ten competing groups, the seventh and eighth performance slots were considered the best.

He Yuzhu took the initiative and drew the seventh slot.

Before the competition, leaders from the Cultural Bureau came to visit the young contestants who were about to compete.

He Yushui saw her uncle Shen Wenqing at a glance and was about to go up to acknowledge him, but was held back by He Yuzhu.

"You can't acknowledge him now. Even if you achieve great results, others will think you pulled strings."

He Yushui pouted in dissatisfaction.

The performance officially began, and the female host went on stage and announced: "The first to perform is the Beijing Second Elementary School Choir, singing the song 'Unity is Strength'. Please enjoy!"

It had to be said that this song was sung with great momentum by a group of boys; it was simply full of passion.

After they finished singing, a judge stood up and said: "The voices are loud enough and full of vitality, but the pitch was a bit off in the ending part... I give it 8 points."

During the scoring session, there was a significant divergence; one gave 9 points, two gave 8 points, one gave 7 points, and one gave 6.5 points.

The total score was 38.5 points.

After hearing this song, He Yushui was a bit stunned. She walked up to He Yuzhu and said: "Brother, they sang really well. Can we do it?"

He Yuzhu smiled and encouraged her: "They sang very well, but you have more unique characteristics. You must believe in yourselves."

The second to go on stage was Zhao Yuting, a primary school student from Chongwen District Huashi Elementary School, singing a solo of "Erlang Mountain".

The little girl was a bit nervous and sang out of tune for several lines, eventually only getting 30 points.

The third was the choir from the Bayi Children's School singing "Selling Newspaper Song".

They demonstrated a professional standard, and both the harmony and the lead vocals were excellent, eventually receiving 43.5 points.

"The score is so high," Zhang Shuying said, filled with worry, "Xiao He, do you think we can do it? I always feel that I, as a music teacher, have held the children back."

He Yuzhu smiled calmly: "I cast a divination; they will make it into the top three."

"At a time like this, you're still doing superstitious activities!" Zhang Shuying pouted in dissatisfaction.

The sixth to go on stage was the Beijing Children's Palace Representative Team, and they sang the "March of the Volunteers".

"They are worthy of being a professional group; they sang really well!" He Yuzhu couldn't help but praise them.

"What should we do?" Zhang Shuying began to feel anxious again.

"Why do you have to compare yourself to them? Isn't it fine if we get second place?" He Yuzhu said.

Zhang Shuying nodded.

A white-haired judge stood up and said: "Well sung! Very passionate, accurately conveying patriotic feelings and the spirit of resistance. If I have to point out flaws, it's not that there aren't any; the transitions between some vocal parts were a bit stiff, and the high notes weren't stable enough. It hasn't reached a seamless feeling yet. I give it 8.5 points."

The final total score for this song was 45.5 points.

"The average is almost nine points; that's too high!" Zhang Shuying said.

He Yuzhu smiled, "I believe the four little girls will definitely create a miracle."

Soon it was He Yushui and her group's turn to go on stage.

He Yuzhu encouraged them: "Little sisters, don't think about winning or losing. Just sing out the feeling of running carefree in the countryside. For you, just being able to stand here is a victory. Go for it!"

The four little girls were wild children to begin with, the type that could shine with just a little bit of sunshine. Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, they immediately became spirited.

When the four girls appeared in their snow-white dresses, they caught the eyes of the children who had come to watch the performance, and they shouted one after another to cheer for the four little girls.

The crisp children's voices rang out with the piano accompaniment, like a breeze sweeping across the auditorium: "Let us row the oars, the little boat pushes aside the waves... The White Pagoda is reflected on the surface of the sea, surrounded by green trees and red walls... The little boat drifts gently in the water..."

Their eyes were bright, their smiles were pure, and their arms swayed gently with the rhythm, as if they were truly swaying in a little boat.

When the singing ended, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

A middle-aged judge in his forties stood up excitedly and commented: "Although the children's pitch had flaws, their singing was full of innocence... This, this is exactly the meaning of our bloody battles—for the happiness of the next generation. It is you who perfectly interpreted this beauty! I give it 9.5 points!"

Another professor stood up and said: "From a professional perspective, there are certainly many flaws, but your song sang out the beauty of our new society... I also give it 9.5 points."

Two of the five judges gave high scores, and their final score was a high 46 points, which actually surpassed the Children's Palace Choir and temporarily placed them in first.

Some teams that had already finished competing had never taken the Red Star Elementary School Representative Team seriously, and faced with this sudden dark horse, they were momentarily at a loss.

A team that had just finished competing immediately raised an objection: "These four kids didn't sing that well, why did they get such a high score? There must be something shady going on! I'm going to protest!"

Two other groups were also getting restless; after discussing it for a long time, they lodged a protest with the judges.

It didn't take long for the protest to be rejected.

Zhang Shuying finally set her mind at ease; even if the next three were all formidable, they were safely in fourth place.

He Yushui excitedly hugged her few little companions in a flurry of emotion.

Zhang Shuying also ran over and gathered them into an embrace, shedding tears of excitement.

Although the two that appeared next both sang quite well, neither of their scores surpassed theirs.

Only the last team remained, which was the uncrowned king, the Broadcast Art Troupe Representative Team, and they sang the "Battle Hymn of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army."