Chapter 1953 - 1953: Tit for Tat (1)
Saying goodbye to Chen Xueniang and Zheng Jinrui, the group hurriedly returned to the compound.
Grandma Ye was waiting in their house, and upon seeing them, she said, "You've finally come back, what a situation! I even went to the performance troupe and saw several art soldiers who had performed abroad with permed curls. Most of the art soldiers dug out their performance costumes from over a decade ago, each wearing a skirt."
"Let's not worry about how they dress for now. If they dare to wear it, it must comply with the regulations. Yunyun, you and Jiaoyang go and ask Commissioner Liu what exactly the rules are." Now that her sister was an adult, Feng Qingxue let her handle it herself.
Feng Qingyun didn't change clothes either, she just braided her curly hair into a big braid and took Li Jiaoyang with her.
Faced with such a matter, Commissioner Liu was also quite troubled. Looking at Captain Li standing in front of him with her mouth pressed and a serious face, he said, "Haven't I said it already? I'll investigate properly. Without an investigation, there's no right to speak. Why have you come again? How many times have you come today? Don't you have training, rehearsals, or visits to conduct in the performance troupe?"
"I heard Feng Qingyun is back. She's bound to come to you." Captain Li, once the lead in the performance troupe and as beautiful as a flower in her youth, was now getting on in years, with deep lines at the corners of her mouth that made her look older.
Commissioner Liu rubbed his eyebrows, "So what? You can come to me to complain, but others can't?"
If it were anyone else, it would be whatever, but this was Feng Qingyun.
Although Feng Qingyun had been abroad and away from the troupe for a few years, she used to be a core member of the ensemble, excelling in both performances and dance. She went abroad for further studies.
Commissioner Liu wanted her to stay, not because she's Lu Jiang's sister-in-law, or because she's Elder General Rong's future daughter-in-law, or because she's a student of Guan Yufeng, Yang Fengying, and Fang Ning, but because of her lengthy study abroad. Her vocal skills must have greatly improved, and such talent shouldn't be lost.
Captain Li didn't think so. She simply couldn't stand Feng Qingyun's enchanting looks, boldly declaring, "I'm afraid you've been corrupted by capitalist ways, so I'm here to check!"
"Old Li, how can you say that?" Commissioner Liu slammed the table in anger, not daring to take on such an accusation.
Captain Li pressed her lips and said nothing, her attitude unchanged.
Commissioner Liu's hand hurt from the slam, so he quickly pulled it back, pretending to sip water from an enamel mug, finally regaining his composure, "Old Li, you've taken members of the performance troupe abroad for performances multiple times. There have been quite a few asking me for introduction letters to get their hair permed in the past half-year, right? Let me ask you, is Comrade Feng Qingyun's dressing abroad considered outrageous?"
"Not outrageous abroad," Captain Li spoke the truth. Abroad, it's common for female comrades to wear skirts and shorts. Skirts and shorts are so short they reach the thighs, and short sleeves don't even cover the navel.
"If that's the case, why do you say Comrade Feng Qingyun doesn't conform to the military image?"
"It's just not up to the military image. Haven't you heard? Red skirt, big curls, lipstick on, and wearing weird jewelry, what does this even look like? Once she steps onto the stage, are the military and civilians watching the show or the person?"
Commissioner Liu laughed in exasperation, "Old Li, didn't you think that through when you said it? Who in the performance troupe doesn't wear performance costumes on stage? Could Comrade Feng Qingyun just go on stage in that red dress of hers? Don't fool old Liu like I've never seen the world. Civilian clothes, what does civilian clothes mean? Outside of work hours, no one's required to wear military uniforms or performance outfits!"