The 124th Division (1948–52)

  Guā Wǔ Héng and Wáng Xuě two simple, after breakfast in a hurry to the exhibition hall, according to the rules, contestants must arrive an hour before the start of the competition, if late, will be directly eliminated. When they arrived at the exhibition hall, Xú Zǒng was already waiting at the door.

  After getting off the car, Zhang Ziheng saw Xu Zong hurry over and smiled: "Xu Jie, why are you here too?" "You're participating in the competition, of course I have to come. How is it? Are you nervous?" Xu Zong smiled.

  "When coughing, there is a little."

  "Huh? You look like you haven't woken up yet. Didn't you sleep all night?" Xu asked.

  "I did tell him not to come. He was sleeping at home, but he didn't listen. Xu Jie, isn't that infuriating?" Wang Xue said.

  Xu Zong smiled slightly and said, "Wang Xue, you can't blame him for this. You have to know that the Creative Cup competition is a dream for all designers. Once their work is selected, it means they've received recognition from the industry. For young people with dreams, this is an excellent opportunity. You should be encouraging him instead."

  Wang Xue shook her head and said: "I don't understand those things of yours, anyway. Alright, hurry up and go in. Hurry up and finish the comparison so he can go home and sleep."

  Three people entered the exhibition hall and looked around. A lot of people were gathered there. Zhang Ziheng looked around and found the passage for contestants, then said hello to Wang Xue and Xu Zong before leaving, while the two of them found a place to sit in the audience seats.

  An hour later, the exhibition hall gradually quieted down. A handsome young host took the microphone and walked onto the stage, smiling and saying: "Hello everyone, this is the seventh Creative Cup Flat Advertising Design Competition preliminary round, sponsored by Yiniu Sweet Milk Crown. I am your host Xiao Zuo, welcome to the competition."

  After a round of applause, the host continued: "Everyone has dreams, and designers are no exception. What do they want? That is, their works are recognized by the audience and recognized by professionals in the industry. Today, we will witness this glorious moment here. First, let's get to know today's judges."

  The host turned sideways, stretched out his hand and made a please gesture, smiling: "One of the judges is a famous aesthetic artist. Teacher Dai Cheng, everyone welcomes with applause."

  After another round of applause, the host continued: "The second is a famous graphic designer, Mr. Steven, who has just flown in from Paris, France. Everyone welcome. The third is Vice President of City Design Academy, Professor Gao Dajin." After introducing the first three judges, the host smiled and said: "So the last judge I think everyone should know, she is the most famous original singer today, Xu Jie. Everyone welcome." As soon as the audience in the venue saw their idol, they immediately became excited, and some even whistled.

  After a round of applause, the host smiled and said: "Alright then, let's have our judges say a few words. Everyone, please welcome them with applause."

  A judge smiled and nodded, picked up the microphone and said: "Thank you, thank you host. Thank you everyone. Today is a flat advertising design competition, many designers have come here. I want to say that everyone's aesthetic view is different, especially for those who do design, hoping that today's contestants can give me surprise after surprise, thank you."

  "Great, that was said too well." The host applauded and said, followed by the other two who spoke a few more sentences. Although foreigners don't speak Chinese, fortunately, there is an interpreter beside him, so what he says can be understood.

  It's Xu Jie's turn, she picked up the microphone, smiled a little awkwardly and said: "Hehe, actually I don't quite understand design, because when I was in school I studied music, so for now I can only rely on my feelings to score, hope you all won't scold me, hehe."

  "Hehe, Xu Jie, you're too modest." The host smiled. "Alright, next I'll tell everyone about the competition rules. Today is the preliminary round, with a total of 62 contestants, and the questions were sent to all contestants three days ago. All the questions are randomly drawn, which means they're all different. In a moment, I'll read out the numbers. Please have the contestant whose number is called bring their work to the stage, first introduce themselves, then show their work to the judges and explain their concept and creativity. Finally, the judges will score them, and the top 10 with the highest scores will advance to the final round. Did the contestants in the back hear clearly? Did the judges hear clearly? Alright, the 7th Flat Advertising Design Competition preliminary round is now beginning. Please welcome contestant number one."

  Watching one contestant after another on stage, holding their own work and talking about their ideas, Wang Xue yawned and said: "Xu Jie, what's the point of this? I've been watching for half a day and don't think it's anything special. Are those contestants not even one of them is good?"

  Xu smiled and shook his head, saying: "No. You're wrong. Among the contestants who have made it to the top 10,000, every single one of them has exceptional abilities. Take the previous contestants, for example, their designs were very good and fit perfectly with our current advertising ideas. If those two works were brought to our company, they would definitely be profitable."

  "Huh? Really? I didn't notice that at all. Well, I don't understand it anyway, might as well just watch the excitement." Wang Xue said with a shake of her head.

  When all the contestants have finished competing, the scoring begins. The host then walks onto the stage with a card in hand and says: "After about three hours of competition, I now hold the list of the top ten contestants who will advance to the final round. I think everyone's mood is as tense as mine right now. So, without further ado, let me announce those who have advanced. Please take one step forward if your number is called."

  At this time, everyone was particularly tense. Especially the sixty-two contestants on stage, each of whom held their breath, and almost every one of them had sweaty palms.

  The host lifted the white paper on the card and said: "The first player to advance is, Luo Hao."

  After a round of applause, one contestant was very excited and waved his hands, taking a step forward and also letting out a sigh of relief.

  The host continued: "Next is the new number, then the old number, and the dynamic number." The host read out all nine of the promoted candidates, but there was still one left, and Zhang Ziheng had not been mentioned. However, he did not give up and was still watching the host nervously, hoping that the last one would be himself.

  Xu and Wang Xue in the audience were also very nervous. Although Wang Xue was not very concerned about this, she still hoped that her boyfriend could advance.

  The tense drumbeat has started. The host smiled slightly and said, "It's so tense, I don't know who the last qualifier will be! Okay, let's go to a commercial break first... Haha, just kidding, we're not recording a show, of course there won't be any commercials!" The host's words amused everyone present and lightened the mood.

  "So, who will be the last contestant to advance? He is... 'Gu Dao' contestant, congratulations, you are the last one to advance!" The host shouted loudly.

  Stone knife? Is it really a persuasion? Zhang Ziheng took a step forward with excitement, his heart racing to the extreme. And Xu and Wang Xue sitting in the audience were also overjoyed, both of them stood up and applauded for him.

  The host laughed and said: "Okay, the top ten contestants who advanced to the final have been determined. Congratulations to them. But for those who didn't advance, don't be discouraged, you are also excellent, I hope next time you will achieve good results. Audience friends, today's competition is over. Two days later, still at the City Exhibition Hall, the finals will be held, I hope everyone won't miss it. Thank you, thank you all. Thank you to our judges, goodbye."

  The game finally ended, Zhang Ziheng excitedly hugged Wang Xue together, and then also hugged Xu with a bit of resistance, but looking at his excitement, he just let it go.

  As they came out of the exhibition hall, the three of them started discussing where to go to celebrate. At this time, Xu Jie walked over and smiled at Zhang Ziheng, saying: "Old classmate, congratulations!"

  Zhang Ziheng glanced at her and laughed. "Thanks, thanks a lot. Honestly, I really didn't expect you to be a judge. If I had known earlier, I would have bribed you in advance."

  "Oh dear, it's been so long since we last met, how did you become so poor? Ah, right, I saw you two earlier... Didn't you say you weren't boyfriend and girlfriend? How come..." Xǔ Jié said to him and Wáng Xuě.

  Zhang Ziheng smiled and said, "That's a long story. Oh, right, let me introduce you to my boss at the company, Director Xu. Thanks to her this time, otherwise I really couldn't have produced such a good work."

  Xu and Xu Jie shook hands with each other, nodded and smiled. Then Xu Jie said: "Hey, I gave you such a high score just now, how are you going to repay me?"

  "Hey, isn't this all because of you? Speak up, what do you want to eat? I'll treat you. It's just in time, we haven't figured out how to celebrate yet." Zhang Ziheng said with a smile.

  Xu Jie smiled and thought for a moment, saying: "Hmm, I want to eat roasted duck, preferably two, so that every bite can bring out the oil."

  "Wow, two? Can you finish them? Aren't you afraid of getting fat?" Zhang Ziheng laughed.

  "I'm not afraid, I haven't eaten for a long time. It should be fine to eat occasionally. How about it? Is it okay?"

  "Haha, okay, of course. Hmm, 'roast duck', not bad at all, that's a great suggestion! Let's go eat roast duck and supplement our brains for the final match in two days, come on!" Zhang Ziheng laughed.