Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 408 The Great Gong, the Stabilizing Force

"Don't be nervous just because the stage lights are on. People below can't really see your face. It's like when we shout slogans. Whoever shouts the loudest is the one who isn't afraid of the stage."

Chen Luyang patiently gave the economics students a "pre-competition pep talk".

Few of these students had any stage experience.

I'm fine during rehearsals, but when it's time to go on stage and face the audience in the auditorium, I get a little nervous.

Chen Luyang was patiently trying to ease everyone's psychological pressure when Tao Runze swept a sharp look across the group and asked:

"Where's Du Qiming? Why isn't he here?"

Chen Luyang also checked the headcount and found that one person was missing.

"Yeah, where's Qiming?"

Sun Legen said, "He just went to the toilet."

Chen Luyang didn't think much of it: "Does anyone need to go to the toilet? Go now, we're the seventh act. Focus on waiting for your turn, and try not to go if you can avoid it."

After settling everyone in, and seeing that the performance was about to begin, Chen Luyang, guided by her inner curiosity, secretly lifted the red curtain and peeked at the audience.

Name tags were affixed to the first few rows of red velvet seats below the stage.

The deputy secretary of the school's Party Committee, the secretary and deputy secretary of the school's Youth League Committee, representatives from the Student Affairs Office, Party officials from various departments, and teachers were all present.

"Oh~ even the teacher is here~"

Chen Luyang chuckled and watched as Lian Yinghua, sporting two large, fiery red eyebrows, happily followed Zhang Guozhen and two economics professors into the room.

Today's freshman welcome party is here, and almost all the teachers who teach freshman courses will come to watch the performances.

Look at how your students perform on stage.

Perhaps it was because the head peeking out from behind the red curtain was too conspicuous.
As soon as Lian Yinghua sat down, she saw Chen Luyang peeking out furtively, her eyebrows and eyes painted, and even her lips red like those for a stage performance—she looked exactly like a little spy who had infiltrated our party.

Lian Yinghua laughed, pointed at Chen Luyang, and said something to Zhang Guozhen next to her.

Zhang Guozhen also curiously turned his gaze over, looked at Chen Luyang with a smile, and even waved to him.

Chen Luyang waved to him happily.

As more and more people entered, Chen Luyang withdrew his head and went backstage.

A short while later, the performance officially began as the host stepped onto the stage!
Chen Luyang was waiting for the performance backstage with everyone when Sun Legen hurriedly came looking for her.

“Wenwei, Du Qiming hasn’t come back yet. I just went to the restroom to look for him, and it seems like he can’t get up.”

Chen Luyang was startled!
"What does 'can't get up' mean? Did you fall into the toilet? Are you injured or sick?"

Sun Legen quickly said, "He can't get up from his squatting position! He's been having diarrhea for over twenty minutes, saying his stomach is upset and he can't get up."

Chen Luyang's expression immediately tightened.

Du Qiming is the son of a supply and marketing cooperative cadre. He got into university through self-study and is a typical example of someone who is "rustic but cultured".

Although he usually speaks slowly and is not very brave, he is kind, honest, and has a strong sense of responsibility.

There's no way that someone would "deserve at the last minute."

Fortunately, the show has only just begun.
Chen Luyang was worried, so she and Tao Runze ran to the restroom.

Regardless of the quality of the program, we need to first examine the individuals involved.

The toilet was dimly lit, and a row of toilet doors were ajar.

Chen Luyang yelled, "Du Qiming? Are you still alive?"

A weak groan came from one of the rooms: "Alive... You guys go first, Wenwei... My stomach feels like it's full of landmines, it's making my ears ring..."

Chen Luyang was speechless: "What did you eat to get like this?"

Du Qiming felt somewhat humiliated: "I ate spicy fried noodles, from the place near the school gate. It was incredibly delicious, but I almost died after eating it..."

Impressed!

Tao Runze couldn't help but say, "Why would you eat spicy fried noodles out of the blue?!"

Hearing about Du Qiming's condition, the two men knew he wouldn't be able to play.

"What are we going to do?!"

On his way back to the backstage area, Tao Runze frowned, trying to think of a solution.

The dialogue is easy to handle.

Every line in the clapper talk is spoken by three people together, and the absence of one person will not affect the overall performance.

However, Du Qiming's position was responsible for the rhythmic percussion of the secondary part, although he only did it for "a moment" throughout the entire performance!
But it was the most crucial and important "sudden moment"!
Anyone can get on, but not everyone can.

"We'll have to conscript someone!" Chen Luyang gritted her teeth. "I'll go to the venue later and see if I can find a classmate to temporarily stand in for us."

Tao Runze asked with concern, "Will it work?"

“It will work!” Chen Luyang quickly reconstructed the formation of the performance team in his mind: “Du Qiming’s position is fixed. As long as one person stands firmly, he can serve as a reference for the formation of the others.”

"Okay. Hurry up, we'll wait for you backstage."

The two parted ways at the backstage entrance.

Although Chen Luyang is a freshman, he has taught hundreds of students and knows quite a few people, so he can ask a classmate for help.

But when Chen Luyang arrived at the venue, she was dumbfounded.

He didn't know anyone in the surrounding area!
They wanted to conscript men but didn't know who to conscript.

The fourth performance on stage had already started.

Chen Luyang steeled herself and made her way through the crowded auditorium, pretending to be a staff member, crouching low as she ran towards the first few rows of the audience.

He spoke urgently, in a low voice that could be heard by those nearby:
"Teacher Lian, Du Qiming has encountered an emergency and can't go on stage. Could you please come up on stage and play the clapper for us?"

Teacher Lian was enjoying the program when suddenly a large face jumped out from beside him, giving him quite a fright.

"What?" Teacher Lian was shocked.

Chen Luyang could only repeat it quickly.

"Teacher, you don't need to memorize the words. Just stand in the back row and tap the last one after me!"

Lian Yinghua's face clearly said, "Are you kidding me?"

A teacher going on stage and performing clapper talk with a group of students?

"These are all student programs, why should someone my age join in?!"

"Teacher, this isn't just for fun, it's a life-saving call!" Chen Luyang said in a low voice, wiping her forehead anxiously while staring at the program on stage.

"You are the student we trust the most. With you around, we feel at ease."

In this situation, if a student is temporarily brought in to fill in, and something goes wrong, the audience will assume that the program arrangement or the student's performance is the problem.

But if a teacher goes on stage, the situation is completely different!

Firstly, it can not only create a lively atmosphere for the show, but also easily win the favor of the teachers and students in the audience.

Secondly, even if the teacher makes a mistake, this "surprise + contrast" effect will not make people feel that there is a flaw, but will instead bring the audience and the performers closer together.

Zhang Guozhen, who was standing next to him, understood what he meant and smiled as well:

"Old Lian, don't put on airs about this. The students have come to you for help, so let's just go on stage and perform openly and honestly."

Chen Luyang pleaded, "Yes, Teacher Lian, please help me out."

Lian Yinghua looked down at Chen Luyang's hand gripping her arm and said, "Are you inviting someone up on stage, or are you kidnapping them?" Chen Luyang quickly let go: "It's not kidnapping, it's a sincere invitation. The reputation of our Economics Department rests on your skillful hand!"

Lian Yinghua asked suspiciously, "Really, we don't need to say anything?"

Chen Luyang swore to the lamp: "We really don't need to say anything! We'll say the words, you just need to hold the gong and act as our anchor."

Lian Yinghua remained skeptical: "Why am I holding the gong? Isn't your program supposed to be a grand, fast-paced storytelling performance?"

Chen Luyang patiently explained, "We are a clapper talk troupe, and you are the only one holding the gong. That's why we say you are the pillar of stability! You play the role of the pillar of stability."

Although Lian Yinghua has a fiery temper and a very strong sense of personal ideology when lecturing,

But deep down, he has a very soft heart.

He softens his heart when others ask him for a favor and say some kind words.

Seeing that the performance on stage was nearing its end, Chen Luyang led Lian Yinghua back to the backstage area.

"Teacher Lian!?"

Upon seeing Lian Yinghua, the economics students were all dumbfounded.

Tao Runze had just told them that Chen Luyang had gone to the auditorium to ask for someone to be a temporary substitute, but no matter what, they never expected that Chen Luyang would actually invite Lian Yinghua!

"Classmates, Teacher Lian knew that our program was short of people, so she volunteered to come on stage to support us!"

Chen Luyang then shoved Du Qiming's gong into Lian Yinghua's hands, and while there was still some time, encouraged everyone:
"We've rehearsed exceptionally well, and now with Teacher Lian joining us, it's like adding wings to a tiger! Everyone, give it your all and show the spirit of the Economics Department! Today, we're performing on stage for the whole school, and we have only one goal: to deliver a solid, impactful, and memorable performance!"

Although everyone is usually a little apprehensive when taking political economy classes.

But when it really came down to Lian Yinghua filling in, they were actually more confident!

"Teacher, in a moment you will follow Jianmin and me and stand on the left side of the last row. Your position is facing the green light. After we finish our last line, you will strike the gong."

"We'll give you a signal with our eyes when the time comes."

Lian Yinghua nodded seriously: "I've got it."

At this point, the announcer had finished introducing the Economics Department's "Reform and Opening-up Disco" and stepped off the stage.

A red curtain was drawn back, and a large clapper talk team composed of more than forty economics students appeared before the entire faculty and student body.

The moment the stage lights shone down, the entire audience was stunned:
"Isn't that Teacher Lian?"

"Who? Oh my god... it really is him!"

"Even the teachers are performing on stage!"

……

Upon seeing Lian Yinghua, the students below the stage erupted in cheers.

In addition to teaching political economy, Lian Yinghua is also the teacher of the economics section of the general education course "Basic Principles of Marxism" at the university.

Almost half of the students have taken his classes.

Upon seeing their teacher step onto the stage, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, cheers, and shouts of approval.

Accompanied by the sounds of "dong dong qiang, dong dong qiang," the rhythmic clapper resounded one line after another, like sparks falling into a frying pan, sizzling in every corner of the auditorium.

With Zheng Zhe's girlfriend rearranging the program's formation, the rhythm of the entire fast-paced storytelling became crisp and clean, with clear progression of the steps. Coupled with the fast-paced storytelling script written by Jiang Feng himself, it immediately ignited the atmosphere of the entire audience.

I don't know if it was because of Lian Yinghua's presence, but the clapper talk was performed exceptionally well today.

Lian Yinghua brought her meticulous academic spirit to the stage without reservation.

They strictly followed Tao Runze's instructions, closely following behind him and Luo Jianmin, keeping their eyes fixed on the green light ahead, without moving an inch.

His serious expression contrasted sharply with the enthusiastic and positive students next to him.

The teachers from the school's Youth League Committee were laughing so hard they were doubled over, and the more they watched, the happier they became.

"Is Lian Yinghua going on stage to perform or is she just standing there motionless?"

In the first row of the audience, the secretary of the school's Youth League Committee happily tapped his hand on his thigh to keep time with the clapperboard.

While hitting, he said to the deputy secretary next to him:
"This program is good; it's vivid, engaging, and thought-provoking."

The deputy secretary of the school's Youth League Committee nodded: "Secretary, this is the clapper talk performance I told you about last time, in the corridor of the Arts and Humanities Building."

The secretary of the school's Youth League Committee raised an eyebrow slightly: "The audience response, pacing, and content were all excellent. It was a program that combined the 'theme of the times' with relatable content. I'll contact their department later and ask them to include this program in the 'National Day Celebration Gala.'"

The secretary of the school's Youth League Committee nodded: "Okay, Secretary."

Accompanied by shouts from the stage:
"The spring tide of reform sweeps across thousands of miles, and the sons and daughters of China are full of vigor!"

The economics students on stage raised their arms in unison, their voices booming:
"Let's usher in a new era of reform!"

"Let us dedicate our youth to the glory of our nation!"

"Clang—clang—clang!"

Duang! ! !

A deafening gong suddenly exploded!

Lian Yinghua stood on the side of the stage, raised the gong with both hands, and struck it heavily like a war drum!
The entire auditorium erupted in thunderous applause and cheers!
The audience burst into applause.

As the red curtain slowly closed, the show came to a perfect end!

The students from Class 1 of the Economics Department rushed off the stage, their faces flushed with excitement and their backs covered in sweat.

Even Lian Yinghua was covered in sweat. She turned to look at Chen Luyang beside her and asked in a low voice, a little worried:

"Xiao Chen, did I type the wrong thing? Was the rhythm right? Did I drag our show down?"

Chen Luyang happily gave a thumbs up and said, "Teacher, your gong strike was perfect! Accurate! Loud!"

Before he could finish speaking, several students gathered around.

"Teacher Lian, your touch was absolutely brilliant!"

"The moment that gong sounded, I got goosebumps!"

"That's awesome!"

……

Hearing the students' words of affirmation and support, even the teacher shakily put down the gong.

"I'm glad I didn't let them down. Going on stage is more tiring than giving a lecture; it made me so nervous..."

"Alright, I'm going down to watch the show. You guys worked hard too, you did a great job!"

Lian Yinghua turned around, lifted the red curtain, and stealthily went down the steps.

When the teachers in the first row saw him, they couldn't help but reach out and gesture at him, making Lian Yinghua blush.

The following programs were also all very exciting.

To everyone's surprise, a French exchange student even sang and played an instrument at the welcome party.

This is a very rare thing for everyone.
Although everyone couldn't understand what he was singing, they were still listening with great interest.

After the welcome party ended, everyone thanked the audience on stage and then happily followed the crowd out of the auditorium.

With Sun Legen's help, Du Qiming walked out of the restroom unsteadily, looking apologetic.

Upon seeing everyone, Du Qiming's first words were:

"I was wrong... I shouldn't have eaten fried noodles..."

(End of this chapter)