Chapter 290 - “To The Oak” saves the day! (2/2)
“Why didn’t she cancel her section?”
“Mengmeng sure is too much. She is too stubborn.”
“Are we listening to ‘Flying bird and fish’ again? Give me a break!”
Mengmeng’s cla.s.smates were all at a loss about whether to laugh or cry. They were worried for Mengmeng.
However, Lili was grinning as she said, “When everyone listens to it, let’s see whether Mengmeng’s or my recital of ‘Flying bird and fish’ is better.” With her reading first, she had all the advantage. Even if Mengmeng recited it very well, it was impossible for her to compete with her. She might even be criticized. After all, she had followed in Lili’s wake, so Lili was wis.h.i.+ng Cao Mengmeng would make a fool of herself on stage. She finally had a chance to see Cao Mengmeng shame herself!
The female host retreated.
Cao Mengmeng appeared from the side of the stage. With small steps, she walked up to the podium. As the previous person who did the poetry recital was a taller boy in high school, the microphone was adjusted a bit high. Cao Mengmeng had to struggle with her toes tipped to reach the microphone. She then adjusted it down.
“Aiyah!” With her feet stumbling, she nearly fell.
The female host rushed over to help with a smile when she saw this.
Mengmeng’s actions were quite cute, amusing several parents in the audience.
“That young lady is so cute.”
“Hur Hur Hur Hur Hur.”
There was laughter, and most of it was kindly.
Zhang Ye also smiled as he looked forward to see his third younger cousin on stage.
Lili and the other cla.s.smates stared at the podium. Teacher Leng was looking at Cao Mengmeng with worry. Mengmeng and Lili were both from her cla.s.s. If their poems clashed, as head teacher, it would reflect badly on her. The school’s leaders.h.i.+p would blame for failing to coordinating it properly.
The newspaper middle-aged parent exclaimed and said to Zhang Ye, “Your sister was just now very worried. Why does she look so confident now?”
Teacher Leng took a look and noticed too, “Did she find a new poem to recite?”
Another female parent said, “But all the famous love poems have already been recited today. What other work could she recite?”
The microphone was readied as Cao Mengmeng stood there silently. She suddenly closed her eyes. This was a reciting technique taught to her by Zhang Ye. If one could not use one’s emotion to read the poem, then one should put one’s actions into the recital. This would at least make people feel like you were bringing your emotions out into it. It was considered a trick.
One second…
Three seconds…
Five seconds…
Cao Mengmeng did not say a word.
“Ai, what’s going on?”
“Why isn’t she reciting?”
“Did she forget her lines?”
The students and parents looked at each other in wonder.
The princ.i.p.al of 15th Junior High also frowned. The female host was even more vexed. Just as she was about to remind Cao Mengmeng, and just as Teacher Leng and her cla.s.smates were having their hearts in their mouth…
Cao Mengmeng slowly opened her eyes.
“If I love you—I’ll never be a clinging campsis flower.
Resplendent in borrowed glory on your high boughs;
If I love you—I’ll never mimic the silly infatuated bird.
Repeating the same monotonous song for green shade;
Or be like a spring. Offering cool comfort all year long;
Or a lofty peak.
Enhancing your stature, your eminence.
Even the sunlight, even spring rain, none of these suffice!
I must be a kapok, the image of a tree standing together with you.
Our roots closely intertwined beneath the earth, our leaves touching in the clouds.
With every whiff of wind, we greet each other, but no one can understand our words. Y
ou have your bronze limbs and iron trunk, like knives, swords and halberds;
I’ll have my crimson flowers, like signs, heavy and deep, like heroic torches.”
Upon her reciting to here!
The princ.i.p.al was stunned! He nearly shouted ‘f**k’!
Teacher Leng and the middle-aged newspaper editor were also dumbfounded!
Then, more and more parents and 15th Junior High’s teachers began to stare stunned with their mouths agape. It was as if they had seen a ghost!
Cao Mengmeng recited,
“Together we’ll share, the cold tidal waves, storms, and thunderbolts.”
“Together we’ll share the light mist, the colored rainbows.”
“We shall always depend on each other.”
“Only this can be called great love, wherein lies the faith, true and deep!”
“Love—”
“I love not only your stateliness.”
“But also your firm stand.”
“The earth beneath you.”
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