The stage of the Grand Theater was spacious and bright, and the audience was full of spectators.
The host stood on the stage and introduced with great emotion: "This year is 2006, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Provincial No. 1 Middle School! A century of history, a century of changes. Next, the students of the Grade 2 (17) class will bring us a large-scale drama program "Changes"!"
The lights on the stage gradually dimmed, and Jiang Yubai appeared calmly.
The high-definition camera lens was pointed at Jiang Yubai, and the screen showed how good his appearance was. The audience really became quiet, and the spotlight fell on Jiang Yubai's head.
Jiang Yubai faced the audience, looking very natural.
Duan Qiyan was infected by Jiang Yubai and immediately got into the role. He was a new teacher in a new-style school, and also a stubborn old man. He held a ruler in his hand, which was the embodiment of his majesty. He half raised his head, looked down at Lin Zhixia, and a sense of arrogance and pride came out from his bones.
Lin Zhixia stood at the school gate, carrying a bamboo basket. She tried her best to fight for an opportunity for herself. She wanted to receive a new-style education and enter the school gate with dignity like a man.
She raised her voice, angry and helpless, even though her eyes were full of tears, her expression was still noble and calm. She grabbed a stack of rice paper from the bamboo basket, which was the article she had written.
Jiang Yubai refused to read her work, and Duan Qiyan was still mocking her. Lin Zhixia raised her arm, and the rice paper was scattered all over the floor. She loudly declared: "One day, women can also go to school, and women can also become officials!"
The theater used "floor microphones" and "hanging microphones", and the sound amplification effect was very good. Lin Zhixia's voice reached the ears of the audience, and a group of students in the front row couldn't help but start applauding.
Lin Zhixia's performance was so vivid. She is the core character of the 1906 scene of "Changes".
In 2006, the entire stage became Jiang Yubai's home court again. The audience followed him closely, and together with him, they explored the rise and fall of history a hundred years ago.
He plays a middle school student. He has a heated debate with a group of classmates, and everyone suddenly realizes that the meaning of education is to provide more opportunities, explore broader horizons, and create a more equal world.
At the curtain call, all the actors stood in a row and chanted the school motto of "Broad Learning, Prudent Thinking, Self-cultivation and Virtue" in unison. Principal Shen, who was sitting in the audience, was the first to stand up and applaud them, and the atmosphere in the theater immediately reached its peak.
Mr. Zhang, the head teacher of Grade 2 (17), stood in the aisle of the auditorium, looking at his students with a proud face. His colleagues all praised him politely, saying that the students in his class were creative and had brilliant ideas.
Normally, Teacher Zhang would have answered modestly, "Not at all." But today, Teacher Zhang smiled brightly and said, "The students in our Class 17 are quick thinkers and have strong practical skills. They wrote this script themselves, and I didn't pay much attention to them."
After saying that, Teacher Zhang stood up straight and enjoyed the envious looks of his colleagues.
Mr. Wang, the head teacher of Class 18, sat upright in his seat, not even a glance at Mr. Zhang.
However, Teacher Zhang knew that Teacher Wang had specially directed the students of Class 18 to perform a play called "Green Grasshopper" for the school anniversary.
"Green Grasshopper" is a text in the first grade Chinese textbook. The author of this text is French entomologist Fabre. Teacher Wang wants to express the spirit of "caring for animals and caring for nature" through "Green Grasshopper". His idea is of course very good and excellent.
However, this play seems out of place on stage.
The actors of Class 18 put on green katydid headgear and jumped back and forth under the bright lights, imitating a group of lively and cute katydids. The audience all laughed, and no one cared what the katydids said - in a sense, the performance of Class 18 was also successful. They have a high level of attainment in comedy.
After the curtain call of Class 18, the actors left the stage one after another. They took off their green katydid headgear and happened to run into the crew of Class 17 backstage.
The Class 17 crew gathered together like a small team. Lin Zhixia stood in the center and said happily, "I'm so happy! Did you hear it? The audience applauded so loudly! They all agreed with our point of view. Even Principal Shen liked our performance very much."
Jin Baihui suddenly said, "Principal Shen is Shen Fuxuan's mother. Shen Fuxuan is from your Class 17."
Shen Fuxuan was called by Jin Baihui. He frowned and said, "The principal is my mother. What, did she offend you? Can't my mother applaud our class 17?"
Jin Baihui raised one hand and held up the green katydid's headgear. Many students from Class 18 stood behind her. She confronted Class 17: "I don't mean anything else. I just want to say that you didn't perform very well."
"I am dying of laughter," Duan Qiyan pushed Shen Fuxuan aside and started arguing with Jin Baihui, "Our class 17 didn't perform well, so how strong are the green katydids from class 18?"
After Duan Qiyan finished speaking, several students in Class 17 burst into laughter.
Duan Qiyan and Jin Baihui have been enemies for a long time. Today is the centennial anniversary of the school, a happy day. Jin Baihui led the classmates to find fault. How could Duan Qiyan tolerate this? He directly sarcastically said: "For the script of your class, I can write more than a hundred with my eyes closed. What are you so crazy about, Jin Baihui?"
Duan Qiyan's simple few words deeply widened the gap between the two classes.
There were many people talking backstage at the theater. The staff behind the scenes were still walking around. Lin Zhixia looked around and tried to smooth things over: "Jin Baihui, although your class's script is relatively simple, the main idea of your class is very positive and shows the youthful vitality of middle school students. The audience in the audience laughed happily..."
After a pause, Lin Zhixia said, "I originally thought that you would not participate in the school anniversary performance."
"I heard that you were going to participate in the performance, so I came." Jin Baihui passed by Lin Zhixia holding a katydid headgear.
Lin Zhixia turned her head and looked at her back.
Although Jin Baihui joined the performance team of Class 18, she still seemed unable to fit in. Class 18 students rarely talked to her, and she always worked alone and silently. She found her schoolbag, sorted out her materials, and took out a book called "English Words in Your Hand". She put her schoolbag on her thighs and sat on a pure wooden bench backstage. With the help of a dim light, her lips moved up and down, practicing English words silently.
Jin Baihui's tenacity shocked Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia stood there in a daze. Jiang Yubai followed her line of sight and saw the diligent and hardworking Jin Baihui. The bustle of the centennial celebration had nothing to do with Jin Baihui. Jin Baihui was completely immersed in a lonely and secluded world.
"The path to the mountain of books is through diligence, and the boat to the boundless sea of learning is through hard work." Jiang Yubai commented.
"Are you like this at home too?" Lin Zhixia looked at him curiously. "My brother is very hardworking at home. But he also likes to play games, especially basketball. He probably won't memorize words backstage at the theater."
Jiang Yubai described: "I am at home..."
"Yeah!" Lin Zhixia nodded continuously. She listened to him very seriously.
Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai stood in a corner with little light. Jiang Yubai's expression and movements were all hidden in the dark. Lin Zhixia heard him chuckle softly. She didn't have time to see the smile on his face, and a faint regret rose in her heart. He said again: "I often take extra classes at home."
Lin Zhixia clasped her hands together: "I admire you, and I also admire Jin Baihui."
Jiang Yubai said, "You don't have to admire ordinary people like us."
As soon as he said this, Jiang Yubai felt a little surprised. He could actually calmly admit in front of Lin Zhixia that he was an ordinary person. Two years ago, when he was just nine years old, he dreamed of defeating Lin Zhixia and letting Lin Zhixia know all his strengths.
But now, at the age of eleven, his perspective has changed.
Lin Zhixia told him: "I admire all the students who work hard towards their goals. In essence, we are all the same."
She stretched out a hand to Jiang Yubai. Jiang Yubai stretched out his hand as well, and Lin Zhixia high-fived him immediately. She was so happy that she felt like she had just drunk a bottle of strawberry yogurt.
For Lin Zhixia, the three words "Jiang Yubai" mean even more than strawberries.
At the end of September, the celebration of the Provincial No. 1 Middle School was successfully concluded. The organizing committees of each grade jointly reviewed the celebration program and selected the first, second and third prize-winning classes of the junior high school.
The song "Changes" by Class 17 of Junior 2 won the first prize. The principal also praised the fighting spirit and spirit conveyed by "Changes" on the radio. During that time, the students of Class 17 walked around the campus with style.
The small red flag of "First Prize for Centennial Anniversary" was also hung in front of the classroom of Class 17. When Mr. Zhang came to teach the math class, he smiled from ear to ear. He admired the red flag and suddenly said, "I will treat everyone to a meal."
Teacher Zhang leaned sideways on the desk and said loudly, "I didn't put much thought into your rehearsal this time. I didn't expect our classmates to win any prizes, but everyone performed so well. Through this activity, I know that our classmates are not nerds. You love learning, have a sense of collective honor, and class cohesion. You are the best class of students I have ever taught."
Teacher Zhang's words touched some students in the class.
Jiang Yubai closed the book in his hand and turned his eyes to the head teacher. At this moment, his deskmate Lin Zhixia went to the high school department for training, and the seat next to him was empty.
At first, Jiang Yubai did feel lost every time Lin Zhixia left. But he quickly adjusted his mindset because he knew she would definitely come back. He welcomed her return with anticipation, and her appearance became a surprise.