OBS Chapter 71 What? The Great Hall of the People?
Chapter 71 What? The Great Hall of the People?
Chapter 71 What? The Great Hall of the People?
A simple dinner quickly ended with a discussion about the details of the song.
I glanced at the clock on the cafeteria wall; it was already getting late.
As usual, Lin Hanjiang and Zhang were about to take a bus from the school gate to the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe's concert hall, just as they needed to rush to rehearsals.
The evening breeze in June carried no coolness, but rather a hint of dry heat.
Students strolled and chatted in twos and threes on campus, while the radio played a different song, "Young Friends, Let's Meet Again," which was full of youthful vigor.
[Young friends]
Let's meet today.
【Rowing a small boat】
A warm breeze is blowing gently.
The flowers are fragrant and the birds are singing.
Springtime beauty is intoxicating.
Laughter and songs fill the air amidst the colorful clouds.
..
"Hey! Lin Hanjiang, Zhang Ye, wait a minute!"
Lin Hanjiang and Zhang Ye had just arrived at the school gate.
Old Sun, the gatekeeper at the entrance, leaned half his body out of the window and shouted at them.
The two stopped and turned back, somewhat puzzled.
Old Sun pointed to the side and said, "There are people waiting for you over there for ages. They said they're here to take you to a performance."
Following the direction Old Sun pointed, a black Hongqi sedan was quietly parked under the shade of a sycamore tree on one side of the school gate.
Beside the car stood a man with a pine-like posture.
He looked to be in his early thirties, wearing a perfectly pressed black suit without a single wrinkle. He had short hair, a strong facial structure, and skin with a bronze tan from years of training.
He simply stood there quietly, his gaze fixed straight ahead, yet he naturally exuded a reserved yet capable air, which was completely out of place with the relaxed campus atmosphere around him.
Zhang was also somewhat surprised, "Someone else is picking us up? Was it arranged by Teacher Li Shuangjiang?"
Lin Hanjiang's mind was racing at that moment: "????????????"
A Hongqi sedan? A soldier from the military?
No matter how powerful the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe is, they wouldn't use a Hongqi car to receive them.
Hongqi high-end sedans only resumed production in 1993. Who owns these existing cars?
This made Lin Hanjiang a little nervous.
Even with all his thoughts, Lin Hanjiang still didn't think he could get a seat on the Red Flag!
It's just about two songs, why make such a big fuss? It can't be that serious, can it?
Upon seeing Lin Hanjiang and Zhang Ye emerge, the man immediately strode over with standard and brisk steps.
"Comrades, are you going to tonight's 'Ode to the Times' gala?"
The man spoke, his voice not loud, but his enunciation clear and forceful.
Lin Hanjiang now understood that this was clearly not an ordinary pick-up or drop-off service.
"Yes," Lin Hanjiang nodded in reply.
"Comrade Lin Hanjiang? Comrade Zhang Ye?"
The man confirmed again, his sharp gaze sweeping quickly across the two faces, as if verifying information.
"Yes, it's us," Zhang replied, his tone unconsciously becoming more formal.
Zhang was completely bewildered. Why was Lin Hanjiang being so polite today?
This junior brother used to be polite, but he always had a carefree and irreverent attitude.
My face was completely frozen just now.
It's just going to a party, isn't it?
Isn't the pressure of the CCTV Young Singers Competition greater than that of this gala?
The man's face showed no extra expression; he simply turned slightly to the side and gestured for them to get in, his movements clean and efficient: "It's getting late. Please get in the car with me. My boss sent me to pick you two up."
There were no unnecessary explanations, no small talk, only extremely concise instructions and highly efficient actions.
He glanced at Zhang Ye, who was still smiling as usual.
It seems they didn't notice the problem.
Lin Hanjiang couldn't say anything more and followed the silent, exemplary soldier towards the Hongqi sedan, which looked particularly solemn in the twilight.
"Comrade Lin Hanjiang, Comrade Zhang Ye. Please get in the car."
There were no pleasantries, no explanations; everything was like a meticulously calculated instruction.
Lin Hanjiang didn't say much; he couldn't ask, nor should he.
We simply followed this silent, exemplary soldier toward the Hongqi sedan that looked particularly solemn in the twilight.
The man opened the car door from the outside, revealing a clean and tidy interior with dark leather seats.
The two sat in the spacious back seat.
The man closed the car door and returned to the passenger seat.
The car started smoothly, with almost no noticeable shifting, and quickly drove away from the gradually quieting school gate, merging into the nascent traffic on the main road in the early evening.
The street scene outside the car window began to flow by: bicycles, pedestrians, and shop signs gradually lighting up—all the familiar scenes of daily life rushed past.
Lin Hanjiang's body tensed slightly, and he placed his hands on his knees.
He had only one thought in his mind: this was no ordinary party.
This is impressive! This is a spectacle!
It was likely to be the highest-level performance he had ever experienced in both of his lifetimes combined.
The lights outside the window looked like flowing ribbons of light, but he had no interest in appreciating them.
At first, Zhang Ye looked around the car with some curiosity, but as the car moved, she seemed to sense an unusual atmosphere and gradually quieted down, only glancing at Lin Hanjiang with a questioning look from time to time.
Time passed silently, and the car drove smoothly.
As the car drove onto the wide, straight Chang'an Avenue, where the streetlights were just coming on, Zhang finally couldn't hold back any longer.
She leaned slightly forward, gazing at the magnificent scenery outside the car window. The streetlights stretched into the distance like golden chains of pearls, and the towering buildings on both sides stood out clearly in the twilight.
A look of obvious surprise crossed his face. He lowered his voice, his tone uncertain, and said, "Have we taken the wrong road? This doesn't seem to be the way to the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe."
Before Lin Hanjiang could answer, the man in the front row, who had been as silent as a statue, glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
"Comrade Zhang Ye, the route is correct, we're almost there."
Zhang was taken aback, turned to look at Lin Hanjiang, and gently nudged him with his elbow, his eyes almost overflowing with question: "Hanjiang, what exactly happened?"
Lin Hanjiang turned his head and met his senior sister's gaze. He smiled helplessly, a smile that looked worse than crying.
He leaned close to Zhang Ye's ear and whispered three words: "Great Hall of the People."
"What?"
Zhang Ye's eyes widened instantly, his pupils reflecting the lights flowing outside the window, and also filled with unbelievable shock.
"How could it be there?"
Her mind raced.
Why would a gala hosted by the General Political Department need to be held in such an important place?
Don't they have their own concert hall?
Lin Hanjiang simply shook his head and offered no further explanation.
In fact, he couldn't explain it either.
In my past life, I struggled at the bottom of society, working my way up to become the CEO of a small company. I only ever visited Beijing once during a tourist trip.
Where have you been?
Despite his past glory as a gold medalist in the CCTV Young Singers Competition, he never imagined that he would be taken there so unexpectedly in a Hongqi sedan as a performer.
The answer was quickly revealed.
The Hongqi sedan smoothly drove along Chang'an Avenue towards the magnificent buildings.
After a very brief but clearly effective inspection, the vehicle entered an internal passage.
Finally, we stopped in front of an inconspicuous but heavily guarded entrance.
The man opened the car door again.
The two got out of the car, where a tall and slender young woman in an elegant cheongsam was already waiting.
With a polite smile on her face and a clear, gentle voice, she said, "Please follow me, comrades. Teacher Li Shuangjiang is already waiting inside."
Stepping through that door reveals a completely different world.
The corridor was wide and brightly lit yet with a soft glow. The walls were thick and the floor was so smooth it was like a mirror, and each step made only a slight sound.
Every detail exudes a silent majesty.
They were led to a spacious lounge.
Li Shuangjiang was indeed inside. He was also wearing a formal suit today, and was looking at a painting on the wall with his hands behind his back.
Hearing the door open, he turned around, his face more solemn than usual.
But seeing the shock and confusion in Lin Hanjiang and Zhang Ye's eyes, he smiled.
He then stepped forward, patted Lin Hanjiang on the shoulder, and nodded kindly to Zhang Ye.
"You got a fright on the way, didn't you?"
Lin Hanjiang really wanted to say, "I was terrified!"
What's going on here? Why not just say something so important?
The venue was changed at the last minute, and we moved it to the Great Hall of the People.
"Teacher Li, why didn't you tell us sooner?"