1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

The pen tip paused gently at the lower right corner of the manuscript paper, drawing a full period.

Cheng Xuemin stopped writing!

He then picked up the manuscript paper, gently blew on the still-wet ink, and quickly scanned it from beginning to end. His eyes swept over the lyrics and melody, and he nodded slightly, as if making a final confirmation.

Then, he turned the manuscript around and gently pushed it in front of Gong Xue, who was still in shock and had his mouth slightly open.

"Look! The tune is quite simple and the melody is catchy, it should be suitable for the soldiers to learn and sing!"

"Take a look at the lyrics and see if there are any parts that need adjustment, or if there are any taboo words or phrases. Your cultural troupe is more knowledgeable about political vetting than I am."

Cheng Xuemin's voice rang out, but his tone was as indifferent as if he were simply handing over a glass of water.

Gong Xue suddenly snapped out of his daze and came to his senses!
My gaze fell upon the manuscript paper before me, which still exuded a faint scent of ink!

The black ink stood out clearly and powerfully on the pale yellow paper, and the four characters "Green Flowers in the Army" seemed to carry warmth.

She reached out, her fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly, and gently pinched a corner of the manuscript paper. She picked it up and brought it close to her eyes, as if to confirm every word and every note on it once more.

It's real, not an illusion!

Lyrics, melody, key signature, rhythm, and even simple vocal cues are all included.

A complete new song!

She looked up at Cheng Xuemin!

He was looking at her too, his face expressionless.

There was neither the pride of completing a work nor the tension of waiting for evaluation; he simply looked at her calmly, as if watching something very ordinary.

The afternoon sun shone through the window, and a ray of sunlight fell on his profile.

You could clearly see the faint bluish tinge under his eyes and the newly sprouted, untrimmed bluish stubble on his chin.

He looked tired, but his eyes were still clear, and he even looked a little relaxed because he had just finished something!

"This...so fast?" Gong Xue finally found his voice, but it sounded dry and filled with disbelief and astonishment.

She even forgot to use the more intimate term "Xuemin," and forgot to use more appropriate language to express her shock and gratitude.

But in the most direct way, he blurted out the biggest question in his heart.

This doesn't make sense!

Any creative work requires time, time to develop, and time to revise!
Even geniuses need a spark of inspiration and the moment to capture it!

But he... from the moment he agreed to the moment he picked up the pen to the moment he finished writing, he didn't even spend a long time thinking about it.

He was silent for a few minutes, then his pen moved swiftly and smoothly, completing the work in one go!
This is beyond description; it's simply... a miracle!
At least, based on Gong Xue's limited knowledge and past experience, this was absolutely impossible!

Cheng Xuemin looked at Gong Xue's stunned expression and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.

It was a very faint, almost imperceptible smile, carrying a hint of understanding, and also a touch of...

Perhaps it's self-deprecation, or perhaps some other complex emotion!
Instead of answering the question directly about whether it was fast or not, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of him.

His gaze was fixed on the lush sycamore tree outside the window, as if he were reminiscing or organizing his thoughts.

"Actually, it wasn't that fast!" he said, his voice steady and objective, stating a fact. "After returning from Cannes, while in Hong Kong, on the plane, I knew you would definitely be returning to the team, and I also knew that your troupe's annual August 1st performance was a highlight!"
So I was thinking... is there anything that can help, or something that can... well, make your group's performance even more outstanding!

He paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words and avoiding certain more direct expressions.

"In my mind, there were just fragments about the army, about soldiers, about leaving home and missing home. The melody was also a somewhat blurry shadow from that time, swaying along the road, slowly becoming clearer!"

He withdrew his gaze and looked back at Gong Xue, his eyes calm and unwavering: "Just now, when you mentioned going to visit the troops and wanting a new song, these fragments and shadows seemed to automatically come together!"

"Perfect timing, I should write it down before I forget. Otherwise, once I head south in a couple of days and get busy, I might forget about it or even forget the tune."

His explanation sounded reasonable, even somewhat understated.

This near-miraculous speed of creation can be attributed to having a vague idea beforehand and being triggered at just the right moment.

Otherwise, could he really tell Gong Xue that he directly copied and paid homage to it?

Even if I told you, nobody would believe me!
Gong Xue knew that this was by no means a simple coincidence or a mere coincidence.

He had a vague idea for a while... This shows that even when he was at his busiest and most stressed after returning from Cannes with honors, he was still thinking about the tasks she might face after returning to the group, and how he could help her with her work.

It is a kind of amazing ability that is triggered just in time, and can instantly integrate scattered thoughts into a form that perfectly fits specific requirements.

He didn't just write a song!

The moment he received the request, Xuemin precisely extracted and presented the song from his well-prepared material library, which he had stored up for her.

This realization stirred Gong Xue's emotions even more than witnessing him compose a masterpiece.

A huge, surging warm current, without warning, broke through a dam in her heart, instantly flooding her chest and rushing towards her eyes and the tip of her nose.

That warm feeling was mixed with shock, gratitude, disbelief, and a deeper emotion—the feeling of being so carefully and quietly held in one's heart and remembered.

So, he had remembered all along!

Remember her job, remember her possible needs!
It turns out that those seemingly natural acts of help, those seemingly casually convenient gestures, were all backed by prior considerations unknown to her.

Her classmate from the Loess Plateau is still the same classmate from the Loess Plateau!
Even though he has now reached a height that she can only look up to, even though he faces unimaginable pressure and turmoil, even though there seems to be an invisible distance between them due to changes in their respective paths and environments!
But in some ways, especially when it comes to her, he seems to have never changed!
That meticulousness, that thoughtfulness, that silent, selfless support remains, only now it's hidden deeper and expressed more subtly.

The office fell silent again, but the atmosphere was completely different!

The silence just now carried a hint of awkwardness and Gong Xue's unease, but the quiet now flows with a warm, unspoken understanding and the intense emotions surging within Gong Xue's heart.

She gripped the light yet incredibly heavy manuscript paper tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

She lowered her eyes, her gaze falling once more on the four characters "Green Flowers in the Army," as if trying to etch them into her heart.

She wanted to say something—thank you, thank you for going to so much trouble, say the song was wonderful, say she didn't know how to thank you… But when the words reached her lips, she felt that any words would seem so pale and superfluous at this moment!
In the end, she simply took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the surging emotions in her heart.

When she looked up again, her eyes were slightly red, but her gaze had returned to its usual clarity.

But in that clear depths, there ripples of light, soft and sincere, unlike anything seen before.

"I...I understand!" She heard her voice tighten slightly, but tried to keep it steady. "This song...is really good!"

"Really, the commander, comrades, and... soldiers will definitely love it!"

Gong Xue paused, looked intently into Cheng Xuemin's eyes, and added, "Thank you, Xuemin, really... thank you!"

She said "thank you" softly for the last two times, but it carried a thousand unspoken words!

Cheng Xuemin looked at her slightly reddened eyes, and his gaze softened.

He didn't say anything more like "you're welcome," but simply nodded slightly, as if accepting the gratitude was a matter of course.

It was as if this was such a trivial matter that it didn't warrant such a formal expression of gratitude.

He raised his hand and rubbed his temples, the gesture revealing obvious weariness, but his tone remained gentle as he said, "The piece is simple and the melody is catchy. Those in your troupe who understand music should be able to provide accompaniment soon."

"Take a look at the lyrics. Is there anything that needs to be adjusted, or anything that doesn't meet your performance requirements? Just change it directly. You don't need to ask me."

"No, no need to change it!" Gong Xue immediately shook his head, carefully holding the manuscript paper as if it were a fragile treasure, pressing it against his chest with both hands, and said, "It's very good as it is, exceptionally good!"

"I...I'll take it back to the commander right away!"

As she spoke, she stood up. This time, her movements were much calmer, but her inner turmoil was still evident.

"Okay!" Cheng Xuemin also stood up, without trying to stop him any further. "Take care on the road, and get back to the troupe to prepare for the performance! If there are any filming assignments later, we'll talk about it after you return from the performance!"

"Okay!" Gong Xue nodded, carefully folded the manuscript paper in half, then in half again, and put it into the side pocket of his military trousers. He even gently pressed it down with his hand to make sure it was in place.

She looked at Cheng Xuemin, wanting to say something to say goodbye, such as "Take care of yourself" or "Be careful on your journey south."

But when the words were about to come out, I felt that I had already said them, and saying them again would be repetitive.

In the end, she simply pursed her lips and said softly, "Then I'm leaving."

"Ok!"

Gong Xue turned around and walked towards the door.

The moment she grasped the doorknob, she hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't help turning back to look at him again.

He was still standing behind his desk, the afternoon sun casting a faint golden glow on him, his shadow stretching long behind him.

He looked slightly tired, but his posture remained upright.

Seeing her turn around, he slightly raised his chin, indicating that she could leave, his eyes calm and gentle.

Gong Xue opened the door, went out, and gently closed it behind him.

He left the office, filled with the aroma of tea, ink, and documents, and the atmosphere of a near-miraculous creative process, behind him.

The corridor was quiet, with only the sound of her own footsteps and her heart pounding like a drum.

The texture of the manuscript paper still seemed to linger in her palm, while the thin paper in her pocket felt as if it had a burning heat, soothing her heart.

She didn't leave immediately, but stood quietly at the door for a few seconds, leaning against the cold wooden door, tilting her head back, closing her eyes, taking a deep, slow breath, and then exhaling slowly.

It was as if he wanted to exhale all the surging emotions in his chest, a mixture of shock, emotion, warmth, and some indescribable feelings.

It's as if I want to firmly etch this feeling into the depths of my memory!

Then, she opened her eyes, her gaze becoming clear and resolute once more.

She straightened her back, took a few steps, and walked towards the stairwell.

Footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, firm and powerful.

In his office, Cheng Xuemin listened to the footsteps outside the door, which grew closer and then disappeared at the top of the stairs. Only then did a faint, almost helpless, bitter smile appear on his usually calm face.

He looked down at the fountain pen he had just used to write "Green Flowers in the Army," where a few traces of ink still remained on the nib.

Of course, he wouldn't tell Gong Xue that the melody and lyrics of this song were already classics that had been sung for many years and deeply resonated with people in the ocean of his past life's memories.

He simply brought them out as a tribute at the right time.

Seeing her incredulous, shocked, and then moved to tears, he felt little pride in his creative work.

Instead, there was a subtle, complex emotion mixed with a sense of deception and comfort.

The sense of deception lies in the fact that this is not his true talent; the sense of comfort lies in the fact that, at least, this song can truly help her and the warriors who are about to hear it.

As for inspiration? Brewing?
He rubbed his throbbing temples; those things were utterly insignificant to Cheng Xuemin!
Because he has a cheat code in his head, he can create anything with a flash of inspiration!
Before long, the warmth and complexity on Cheng Xuemin's face faded, and he regained his calm and focus as he was at work.

Gong Xue's visit, and the brief interlude of the song "Green Flowers in the Army," were like a short and gentle interlude in a busy main melody.

Now that the interlude is over, he needs to throw himself back into the more complex and urgent realities at hand!
With the trip to Hong Kong imminent, the agreement needs to be finalized, and those four hundred million US dollars in cash from those Japanese devils and their wives must be brought back to the country in full!
Things at the factory also need to be arranged properly, and there's also the lingering aftershock of the self-imposed seclusion of "Redemption"...

Each and every one of them requires him to concentrate on dealing with it!
But just then, the secretary, Fairy Mom, slipped in unnoticed and jokingly asked Cheng Xuemin, "Teacher Cheng, what did you write to Comrade Gong Xue?"

"I saw her go out just now, and when I greeted her, she ran away like a startled bird!"

Cheng Xuemin raised his eyelids. This fairy mother, Liu Xiaoli, was becoming more and more mischievous, just like her daughter. She was actually making fun of him!
He said irritably, "What could I possibly write? Gong Xue is about to go south to perform for the August 1st military exercise, so I just wrote a new song for her!"

……

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