Yu Bing was also silently paying attention. Although there were people with ill intentions around Xiao Li, there was no lack of kind-hearted girls. Seeing that Xiao Li slowly relaxed, Yu Bing began to ask about the various matters concerning the gala.

The hosts were a man and a woman. In the past, these two people were paired up the most often. They could be considered tacit partners.

The male intellectual team leader, Wen Jiang, collected and registered the program schedule for the intellectuals. The villagers were registered by the female director, Zhao Lin. Because there were prizes this year, the intellectuals registered much more enthusiastically than in previous years. Before the gala began, many villagers also ran forward to register after initially hesitating.

It started at seven o’clock sharp. Most of the intellectual youths were performing artsy things like singing, dancing, memorizing poems, and performing comedies. The villagers had a lot of tricks up their sleeves. They danced, sang, played suona, cut paper, and performed military boxing.

There was also an old man who pretended to break a big rock with his chest! It was said that before the new regime was established, he had learned street tricks to earn money.

As for the other sixty-year-old man, he was a martial artist. He had grown up in Shaolin Temple and had only renounced asceticism more than ten years ago. He could chop stones with one hand. It was said that two fingers were enough. Now, he didn’t exercise enough, so his martial arts skills had weakened.

There was also a middle-aged woman who could stack ten different items on top of each other, such as bowls, chopsticks, small sugar jars, and a series of small items one on top of another. She could keep them from falling through the balance between the contact point of the items.

The knowledgeable youths all lamented at the fact that although the villagers weren’t as knowledgeable as them, everyone had something they were good at. They couldn’t do what others could either.

Compared to everyone’s brilliant talent shows, the purpose of Yu Bing’s program was that everyone could have a moment of relaxation and joy after a year of hard work.

Yu Bing’s show was scheduled for the second half, and it was the only skit show.

This skit might not be tonight’s best show, but some funny jokes did make everyone laugh and alleviate much of the fatigue and tension everyone felt in their daily lives.

In the end, everyone voted for the top three. Yu Bing didn’t expect to be nominated as the first place. The dragon and lion dance team got second place. Because it was the new year, this show had a festive theme. The old man who performed a one-handed handstand got third place!

At the end of the party, everyone sang a festive song together at Yu Bing’s suggestion. The song praised their motherland. Every morning, and before work started in the afternoon, the radio station would play this type of song for a while. Everyone knew how to sing it.

With everyone singing, the party reached its final climax and ended at almost half past eleven in the evening.

Whether it was the villagers or the knowledgeable youths, they all mingled together and chatted as they walked towards the village. They returned to their respective homes and waited for midnight.

Yu Bing, Jiang Chun, and the three Xiao siblings walked at the back of the group.

Xiao Li was very excited. She had sung a children’s song tonight. Wang Xia had taught her this song at school! After she finished singing, she heard many people clapping. Although everyone was clapping enthusiastically no matter what show it was, Xiao Li still felt very excited.

Xiao Li was very excited. She had sung a children’s song tonight. Wang Xia had taught her this after she learned it in school! After she finished singing, she heard many people clapping. Although everyone clapped enthusiastically no matter what show it was, Xiao Li still felt very excited.

When they passed by Yu Bing’s house, Xiao Sheng said, “Xiao Lin, bring our sister home first.”

Seeing this, Jiang Chun guessed that Xiao Sheng had something to do with Yu Bing, so she entered the house alone.

Yu Bing looked at Xiao Sheng blankly.

Xiao Sheng said to Yu Bing, “Thank you for tonight!”

Yu Bing raised her eyebrows and asked, “About letting Xiao Li perform on stage?”

Xiao Sheng smiled faintly. “Thank you for that too.”

Then, his smile faded and he continued, “My sister used to go out when she was young. Once, when I went out to work, Xiao Lin wanted to go out to play while our sister was asleep. When my sister woke up, she couldn’t find anyone. When my sister heard the sound of children playing outside the door, she climbed out to play with them, and then…”

Xiao Sheng stopped. Yu Bing didn’t interrupt and waited silently.

Xiao Sheng continued after a while, “When I got home, my sister was sitting at the door, crying so hard that she was twitching. Her face was covered in blood. From then on, I didn’t let her go out, and she didn’t want to go out again. It’s been three years. Seeing how happy she was tonight, I suddenly didn’t know if what I did was right or wrong.”