Chapter 353: Burying Flowers

"Huh? Liu Qingyan?"

Li Qingshan also turned around and saw her, and spoke in surprise.

"Do you know her?" Chen Ling asked.

"I've met her a few times. She's also from our Liu Town." Li Qingshan nodded slightly, "Her family used to be in the silk business. Although they weren't rich, they lived a good life. But I heard that something happened later... After her father died, the family owed a huge debt. All the relatives and friends who had relied on her family ran away, and they fell into the abyss.

I remember last winter, she was still dragging a cart alone, knocking on doors and selling silk in the heavy snow. She was only sixteen or seventeen years old at that time?

Alas... Our family's living conditions were not very good at that time, otherwise, I would have to buy some."

Chen Ling nodded slightly, looking at the back of the girl walking forward, thinking.

Liu Qingyan lowered her head, as if she didn't dare to look up at people at all. After stumbling through the aisle, she sat down silently in the audience seat at the edge.

However, she had just sat down when a shout came from the front:

"No. 16? Where is No. 16?"

Liu Qingyan's body shook slightly, and she stood up slowly with her hands on the chair, holding the "No. 16" sign, and ran to the stage as fast as possible.

"I... I'm here." She whispered.

"Why are you so slow? Go up and perform quickly, don't waste everyone's time."

A judge said coldly.

Liu Qingyan walked onto the stage step by step. At this moment, she was wearing a dark blue wide-sleeved top and a black pleated skirt that was below her knees. Her hair was braided into thin strands and scattered on her shoulders, fluttering slightly with her steps.

She walked to the center of the stage, and after her eyes swept across the judges' seats in the front row, she saw the appearance of several of them, her body shook slightly, and she immediately lowered her head.

"No. 16 Liu Qingyan, what are you waiting for?" Seeing that she was slow to start, the judges became more and more annoyed.

Liu Qingyan took a deep breath and forced herself to close her eyes... The next moment, she moved.

Her slender arms swayed gently, like a lotus in the water, swaying in the breeze, and her black pleated skirt spun on the stage with her light footsteps, like an elf dancing on the bluestone road, touching the hearts of all the audience.

Completely different from the coquettish poses of No. 15, even Chen Ling could see that this girl had an excellent dancing talent. Every step she took was natural. At this moment, the entire audience was attracted by her movements, and even their breathing was lightened.

The hazy black braids drifted in the movements, and Liu Qingyan seemed to be intoxicated by them. Her figure leaned back softly, naturally outlining the curves of a girl, not dry or charming, but with a kind of fascinating beauty.

"What a beautiful dance." Even Li Qingshan couldn't help but praise, "She was born for dancing... Even in the main city of Hongchen, there shouldn't be many people who can dance as well as her, right?"

The applicants on the side also whispered, and seemed to be shocked by Liu Qingyan.

The judges in the audience were also stunned, as if they didn't expect Liu Qingyan to dance so well, but then they looked at the girl on the stage with more and more enthusiasm.

As Liu Qingyan's dance steps gradually accelerated, more and more difficult moves were added to it. Just when she was about to jump lightly, a feeling of weakness came from her legs,

Plop——!

The graceful girl was unable to jump up under the greedy and obscene eyes of several people, and fell heavily to the ground.

The dull sound woke everyone up from their immersion. They looked at the girl who fell on the stage in astonishment. She curled up like a wounded deer. Under the messy black hair, her pale face was bloodless under the light...

Even so, no one went up to help her. Several judges sat in the front, and their fiery eyes cut through her body like a bone scraper. After seeing her fall and scattered, they became more excited.

Liu Qingyan saw the whole scene. Her hands supporting her body clenched unconsciously, and her eyes were filled with resentment and anger.

She pursed her lips and climbed up from the ground with difficulty. Her knees were bruised, but she still stumbled to complete the performance... She finally stood on the stage with injuries all over her body and bowed deeply to the people below.

Applause rang out!

"Comprehensive score 65, congratulations on passing."

As the voice sounded, Liu Qingyan walked off the stage in silence, with her head down, still not daring to look at anyone. Only when she passed by Chen Ling, their eyes met for a moment.

Chen Ling looked at Liu Qingyan's staggering back as she left, with a gleam in her eyes.

Liu Qingyan's passing was not unexpected to Chen Ling. Compared with applicants like Li Qingshan who had not yet seen the situation clearly, this girl not only had talent, but also saw through the darkness, and even had the courage to take this step... Chen Ling did not despise or disdain her at all. On the contrary, he admired this girl very much.

Talent, intelligence and decisiveness all appeared in a 17-year-old girl, but this also meant that she would endure far more painful torture than ordinary people.

The next few contestants were nothing to watch. Li Qingshan was also constantly reviewing nervously because it was his turn soon. Every line and every action was perfect.

Finally, he walked onto the stage amid the shouts of the judges.

Seeing his costume and the exquisite makeup of the "sheng" role, several judges lowered their eyes and had no intention of looking at him.

"What era is it now? Who still watches traditional operas..."

"Yes, now it's all about singing and dancing, and appearance is all about appearance. Not many people like to listen to people babbling anymore."

"This year's headquarters quota has come down. Among the twelve quotas, only one quota for traditional opera... may even be none. I think there are many good talents from other people this time, so why not..."

"I think so too. If you take this path now, it's difficult to become a famous actor, let alone make money."

"Those old guys in the main city are almost dying..."

"This Li Qingshan has been here for four consecutive years, right? Why are you still so ignorant?"

"I think he looks pretty good, he's a young student, hehe... Unfortunately, I hinted at him before, but he doesn't seem to understand at all. He's such a fool. It's no use even giving him a chance."

"By the way, why aren't Director Sun here yet? What time is it..."

"..."

Li Qingshan stood on the stage and couldn't hear clearly what these people were saying. He just put on his posture and took a deep breath. His loud and penetrating voice echoed clearly in every corner of the venue.

"The flowers fade and the flowers fly all over the sky,

Who can pity the redness and fragrance?

Hands hoe flowers out of the embroidery curtain,

How can I bear to step on Luo Hua Tian Luo Hua Tian again..." (Note 1)

No one on the judges was listening, and only a few people were watching in the audience. Others were chatting and singing outside the door, making it extremely noisy.

But even so, Li Qingshan still straightened his back, his eyes were soft and his voice was clear. His penetrating power overwhelmed all the noise, and he performed on the stage as if there was no one else around, intoxicated by it.

Among the busy people, Chen Ling, who was wearing a bright red opera robe, looked at Li Qingshan quietly, with a complicated look in his eyes.

As Li Qingshan's emotional performance ended, a cold voice also sounded:

"Comprehensive rating 3, next one."

Li Qingshan on the stage was slightly shocked.

On the stage where no one is paying attention, the man in green clothes stood there for a long time,

He laughed at himself and bowed to everyone in the audience...

…………

Note 1: Taken from "The Song of Burial Flowers"