1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 159 Days, Play and the Forever First Reader

The next day, May 1st.

"There is an activity at school today. I really don't know what the school leaders are thinking. They are organizing students to plant trees and perform..."

In the Wutong Courtyard kitchen, mother Xu Yuxiu complained as she stirred the food in the pot.

Today is International Labor Day. Generally speaking, the whole country has a day off, but the actual situation is obviously not the case.

Some schools will organize activities for teachers and students, and factories will organize labor competitions and art performances for workers, and will also select labor models in the unit...

Compared with later generations, it was much more lively.

"Hey... go ahead. There aren't any activities at Beijing Normal University today anyway."

Cheng Kaiyan stuffed a handful of twigs into the stove. He didn't care because today's itinerary had already been booked.

"I shouldn't be back until the afternoon, remember to prepare dinner, I don't want to move when I get back."

Xu Yuxiu instructed that the school affairs would be finished by noon, but she also made an appointment with Wang Qiang to go to the temple to fulfill a vow in the afternoon.

"Okay, I'll make sure you have food."

After dinner, Cheng Kaiyan sent Xu Yuxiu to Dengshikou Primary School, then turned a corner and headed towards the Ministry of Culture's guesthouse.

Early in the morning, red propaganda banners were hung on the streets, and various propaganda slogans were posted on the walls and doors.

"Workers are great, labor is glorious!"

“Be brave and face challenges head-on! Unite and work hard to strive for excellence!”

"Be indifferent to fame and fortune, and devote yourself to glory!"

……

The streets are full of new atmosphere, and the sounds of gongs and drums can be heard in the distance, making it very lively.

"Dong dong dong dong..."

"Dongqiangdongqiang~"

"Uncle! What's going on in front?"

Cheng Kaiyan braked to stop, then asked an old man selling vegetables on the roadside.

"The waist drum team! I didn't know that. It's a must-see on Labor Day every year. I heard it's from the Dongcheng Cultural Palace. They'll be marching in Tiananmen Square later!"

The old man raised his eyes and explained.

It is indeed just as the old man said, there have always been these activities in Beijing during the May Day holiday.

I still remember that when the Labor Day was celebrated for the first time in 1951, the people of Beijing sang and danced in joy. Workers, farmers, soldiers, students, and literary and art workers from all walks of life held an event to celebrate the "May " Labor Day in Tiananmen Square. More than people participated in the rally.

Today, almost thirty years later, Labor Day has grown and developed.

On this day, people in every city and region will sing, dance and hold parades to celebrate.

"See you later!"

After hearing this, Cheng Kaiyan understood, kicked her feet, and left in a flash.

After a while we arrived at Hepingli Street. In front of us was a five-story building with a gun-wielding guard at the door. A white sign read: Ministry of Culture Guesthouse.

A few people were standing under a Sophora japonica tree not far away.

It was a group of people from the dance troupe, six in total, but it seemed that not all of them were going out to play together.

"Hey... here it comes!"

Seeing Cheng Kaiyan, Teacher Jiang Ling raised the camera in his hand and took a picture of him.

Cheng Kaiyan rode closer and immediately saw Liu Xiaoli in the crowd, wearing a white skirt that revealed her long, straight calves.

"Good morning everyone."

"Good morning, Comrade Cheng."

"You will be our tour guide today. We will have fun all morning!"

The girls responded with a chattering sound. For some time now, they have been living a life of going back and forth between the guesthouse and Beijing Dance Academy. Today is a day off and they can finally see the beautiful scenery of Beijing.

"No problem, don't worry."

Cheng Kaiyan patted his chest and promised.

He has been to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Badaling Great Wall, but he probably couldn't finish visiting all of them in half a day.

"Then let's go to the Forbidden City first."

Teacher Jiang Ling suggested that the Forbidden City is a must-visit attraction in Beijing.

"can!"

"I agree."

After clarifying the destination, everyone followed Cheng Kaiyan forward.

Because the distance was not far and no one had a bicycle, Cheng Kaiyan simply parked his bicycle in the bicycle shed of the guesthouse and paid a parking fee of 1.5 cents.

It was not at all strange to see a group of people walking on the street, because there were so many people on the street today.

The wide streets are crowded with people.

Waving red flags and wearing red scarves and hats, the Young Pioneers marched in orderly steps under the command of their teachers.

Behind him, there were educated youth holding up the old man’s portrait, singing: “The East is Red! The sun is rising! China has produced a…”

And a group of women in their twenties and thirties, who had a small drum on their waists and beat two wooden sticks tied with red ropes in a rhythmic manner, attracting many people to stop and watch.

"So many people!"

Wang Danping exclaimed while chewing on a candied haws she had just bought from the roadside.

Cheng Kaiyan added, "There will be even more people when we get to Tiananmen Square later."

"It's possible. I think it would be great if I could visit the Forbidden City today."

Liu Xiaoli nodded in agreement. She was wearing a white long dress, which made her snow-white skin stand out even more. She had a ponytail tied with a black hair tie at the back of her head.

Hearing this, everyone quickened their pace and walked towards their destination.

Cheng Kaiyan and Liu Xiaoli walked side by side in the front to lead the way. There were too many people there and they were all talking at once.

He finally had time to talk to Liu Xiaoli, "It's only May, Comrade Xiaoli, and you're already wearing a skirt? Are your legs cold?"

"You just noticed it now. Your legs aren't cold. They'll warm up after you walk around."

Liu Xiaoli retorted to him, but she was in a good mood.

Didn't you buy this skirt? And you bought it in the middle of winter!
Wearing a skirt to meet each other was clearly an agreement we made at that time, okay?
This guy won't forget it, right?
"I noticed it a long time ago. It's very beautiful. It seems that I have good taste. This skirt was not bought in vain."

Cheng Kaiyan started to play straight ball, sincerity is the killer move.

"...and boasting!"

Liu Xiaoli snorted, indicating her satisfaction.

After nearly an hour of walking through the crowd, we finally arrived at Tiananmen Square. It was just as we expected:
The red flag is waving and there are huge crowds of people!
Some played gongs and drums, some played accordions, some played trumpets, some played drums...

When I went up to the city gate tower, I found that there were people performing there.

"Let's take a group photo!"

At the Red Pillar where the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China was held, everyone asked a tourist to help take a group photo.

After taking the photos, everyone rushed to the Great Man Memorial Hall south of Tiananmen Square like special forces on a tour. After paying respect and remembering the great man, everyone ran to the Forbidden City.

What surprised everyone was that a basketball court was built outside the Forbidden City, and several young people were playing basketball.

In addition, several buses were parked quietly under the city wall.

There were scaffoldings at the ticket office; it seemed that the staff of the Forbidden City were encouraged to paint the walls during the May Day holiday.

The tickets were quite expensive at that time, so I bought a ticket for two dollars and fifty cents at the ticket office and then went in.

“It’s so expensive!!”

Xiao Caiyun said with a painful feeling, holding the paper ticket in her hand.

"That's right! We only work for twenty-seven bucks a month!"

"Fortunately, my salary will increase when I go back. Xiaoli is over 30 now, and it will definitely increase when she goes back. I'm so envious."

I walked in listening to the girls chattering.

The bright red city walls have been through war and looting, and have faded and become mottled over time. There are many weeds growing on the ground and no one is taking care of them. In addition, there were not as many tourists to the Forbidden City as one might have imagined in the past seventy or eighty years.

Arrived in front of the Noon Palace.

There was a group of people standing here, in front of a black car, and next to it stood a billboard that read: "Without affecting my office work, the audience will pay for the second corner by car..."

"Car, what does this mean? Can we pay to sit in it and take pictures?"

"Sure!" the staff nodded.

Everyone went up one after another, took a glorious turn around, and then teacher Jiang Ling took pictures of them below.

The fare is very cheap, about the same as taking the bus, just a few cents.

Next is the Dragon Throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Nine Dragon Wall, and the Zhenfei Well...

Even though less than 40% of the Forbidden City is open to the public, it still took a whole morning to explore.

When everyone went back, there was still some residual excitement and deep fatigue on their faces, and their feet were sore.

After the tour, everyone took the bus back home, had a meal together, and then went back to the guesthouse to rest.

When they reached the door, Teacher Jiang Ling asked, "Comrade Xiao Cheng, is there a photo studio here? I want to go there and develop the film I took today."

"Leave it to me, you just go back and rest."

"Okay then. I'll leave it to you. Xiaoli, remember to come back in the evening."

Teacher Jiang Ling stared at Liu Xiaoli and Cheng Kaiyan and gave instructions.

Cheng Kaiyan took it and said, "Don't worry, I'll make sure she's returned safe and sound this afternoon."

Liu Xiaoli glanced at him, nodded and said, "I understand, Teacher Jiang."

"As long as you have an idea."

Teacher Jiang nodded, turned and walked into the guesthouse.

The two stood at the door and watched her go in. Cheng Kaiyan patted the seat of the bicycle and said, "Come on! Let's go home!"

Go home? What nonsense are you talking about?

Liu Xiaoli thought to herself as she calmly bent down to smooth her skirt and sat sideways on the back seat.

"Did I move? Hold on tight, be careful not to fall."

Cheng Kaiyan said it in front, but Liu Xiaoli didn't care.

How can they hug and kiss each other in public?

Until they reached a corner, the bicycle made two creaking sounds, causing the girl to panic and hug Cheng Kaiyan's waist.

In the blink of an eye, the car stopped at the gate of the yard.

The two pushed the cart into the house, and Liu Xiaoli looked around the yard with great curiosity.

Tall sycamore trees, courtyards paved with bluestone bricks, mossy ditches, deep wells...

'Is this where he grew up?'

Liu Xiaoli was so curious that even the hem of her skirt jumped up around her white calves.

At the same time, I was a little nervous because if I came to her house, I might run into Aunt Yuxiu.

Does this count as meeting the parents?

"Come in, this is my home."

Cheng Kaiyan unlocked the door and walked into the main room with a click.

In the bright and spacious main room, on the large table there is a TV, a radio and tea sets.

"Is Aunt Yuxiu not here?"

"No, my mom has an event at school, so she probably won't be back until the evening."

Liu Xiaoli breathed a sigh of relief, and a teacup was handed to her mouth.

"What's wrong? You're nervous."

Cheng Kaiyan joked, I didn't expect this girl would get nervous sometimes.

"..."

The two walked around the house and finally came to the place that Liu Xiaoli was most curious about.

Cheng Kaiyan's room.

Liu Xiaoli put her hands behind her back and looked around quietly.

It was different from what she had imagined. It was clean and tidy, and the facilities in the house were in good order.

There are desks, bookshelves, a small wooden sofa, a coffee table, and even a piano.

"Yeah, it's not bad. It's not as messy as the last time at the guesthouse of the Fangcao Editorial Department. I was going to clean it up for you, but it seems that I won't have to."

Liu Xiaoli herself didn't notice that there was some regret in her tone.

"Of course. By the way, don't you want to read my fairy tale? Here~"

A stack of manuscripts was handed over.

Liu Xiaoli took it, then sat on the sofa and read it quietly.

This viewing lasted two and a half hours.

During this time, Cheng Kaiyan listened to the radio and fed her some dried fruits, cakes, milk candies and the like from time to time.

This girl was so engrossed in watching.

"How about it?"

"A story of epic adventure...a quest across oceans and continents in pursuit of destiny.

Who or what is the destiny worth devoting one's life to?

It is worth everyone's thinking and making choices. This may be the most realistic fairy tale I have ever seen."

Liu Xiaoli closed the book, turned her head and looked quietly into Cheng Kaiyan's eyes, wondering how he could always write such unique stories.

This story is not amazing, and may even be a little bland, but if you think about it carefully, there is a unique charm in it.

(End of this chapter)