Chapter 2, Stepping on the Moon with the Xiao (Part 2)
The envious Yuanbao, with eyes wide open, immediately exclaimed and jumped up, only to be pulled back by Gui'er by the collar: "Little brat, don't get carried away. Have you forgotten what you promised me? We have no money and don't know the way, so you are not allowed to run around!"
She was suddenly filled with panic and immediately pushed her way in the opposite direction with all her might. However, there were simply too many people, and she could only catch a glimpse of the gray cloth garment of the yuanbao flickering through the gaps before it was completely submerged among the various brightly colored outfits and painted masks
The rural woman Mo Guier, aged twenty-two, although she has a son who is said to be four years old, does not remember at all how she and her husband fell in love with each other in the beginning
It seems he is just a passerby, so let us quickly take the ingot and leave to watch the fireworks with his father.
Gui Er can finally take the opportunity to observe this person openly and honestly
The paper lanterns drift along with the water, the wax seal on the base gradually melting away. Once the lantern paper is soaked, it carries with it blessings and wishes known only to those who release the lanterns, quietly sinking to the bottom of the water
However, this distance is not far; why would he prefer to use his internal energy to throw the mask over rather than walk over with it in hand
The originally bright and sparkling eyes of the ingot dimmed noticeably, and it pouted its small mouth, nodding in a wronged manner after a while: "... ... Mm."
Ziyu is a land of etiquette, and the closer one gets to the imperial city, the more rigorous and proper the customs become. It is only here, due to the presence of many descendants of the Xiaoyang merchants, that some of the free and simple customs of neighboring countries can still be preserved
Yuanbao ... ... Yuanbao ... ... where are you? She weaved through the scattered crowd, disregarding the curious glances of passersby, loudly calling her son's name, until a faint sound of crying pierced through the gaps of the blooming fireworks, reaching her ears
"Because it is said that if the Fairy Xinya sees your appearance, you will be taken back to the moon." Han Jin's voice came from behind the two. Gui'er turned around and saw him standing at the door with a small package in his hands, which contained three painted masks.
Who said I want to go
"Bad boy, I don't know where you learned that sulky temper, it's nothing like me!" Gui'er muttered, retracting her hand and making a face at him. But then she suddenly thought, isn't Yuanbao's father Han Jin? However, he is steady and reliable, and his temperament is very gentle; Yuanbao doesn't resemble him at all. It seems that children without fathers are lacking in various ways, and in the future, they will need proper guidance and education.
Having said that, the figure in blue swiftly vanished into the throng of people like a tide
Early that day, they were informed that all the medical clinics had closed their doors. Even those with signs saying "Please knock for consultation" only had some junior disciples who had not yet completed their training inside. Gui'er could not understand why those elderly doctors with white beards were so eager to participate in a festival meant for the young. Did they also wish to rendezvous with their lovers on this day to enjoy the lanterns?
I only heard a strange voice softly saying: "Little brother, don't cry, how about I give you my mask as compensation?"
Whether it is a gold ingot or a child, even though they have become somewhat mature due to their unreliable mother, they are still only four years old. Upon witnessing such a lively and beautiful scene, their heart has long been captivated. They tug at Gui'er’s hand, constantly standing on tiptoe to gaze, wishing they could personally release a lantern.
Gui Er furrowed her brow, then stepped out decisively, calling out softly, "Yuanbao?"
Gui'er couldn't help but tease him: "Yuanbao, there are too many people over there, shall we not go?"
As the evening light begins to fade and the lamps start to glow, the entire Yanzhou City gradually comes alive with joy. The streets are bustling with pedestrians, even more lively than during the day. From the window of the inn on the second floor, one can see the twinkling of colorful lights, as young people dressed in vibrant and beautiful garments, adorned with masks painted in various characters, walk hand in hand through the streets and alleys, converging towards the Moon Lake at the center of the city.
Please!
The crowd erupted in excitement, pushing and shoving as they made their way toward the lakeside, all hoping to secure a good spot to fully enjoy the magnificent display of fireworks blooming in the sky
Having spoken, he gently flicked his finger, and the mask gracefully fell into the embrace of the ingot.
Mother, you clearly want to go as well
How old are you, Gui? Still bullying little children
He smiled so gently that Gui'er immediately lost her earlier bravado, lowering her head and softly uttering a small "mm" in response, which earned her a disdainful glance from Yuanbao
Yuanbao reached out with a pair of chubby hands and tugged at her clothing, saying in a sobbing voice: "Mother, I... I am fine, but the mask... the mask was..."
Gui Er momentarily enumerated countless possibilities, yet the more she thought, the more anxious she became. Regardless of the situation, as long as it involved the ingot, she felt completely disoriented and helpless, even cold sweat began to bead on her forehead
Lost in thought, I was suddenly startled by a loud noise, and the surroundings instantly brightened. Looking up, I saw brilliant fireworks blooming in the deep blue sky, one after another, in a riot of colors, overlapping and illuminating the area around the Moon Lake as bright as day
Gui'er and Yuanbao were also looking up in astonishment at the breathtaking scenery they had never seen before, when suddenly they were jostled by the crowd surging in from all directions. Gui'er felt a slip in her hand, and when she looked down again, the little figure was already gone.
The three individuals finally made their way along the long street to the Moon Lake in the city. The lakeside was already crowded with young people who had come to release lanterns. Along the shallow banks, various paper lanterns floated on the clear waves, their flickering lights scattered and shimmering, adorned among the shadows of the willow leaves, resembling stars in the sky from a distance
Little Treasure, do you want to go out and play with the books
Gui Er looked up to express her gratitude, and in that glance, she saw more clearly—though the young man's eyes were bright, there were faint dark circles beneath them, his breathing was somewhat unstable, and the hem of his black robe was stained with some dirt, which was—blood
The official language spoken by this Xiaoyang person is very good
His grip is well-controlled and applied with ease, indicating that his martial skills must be exceptional
As Gui'er lowered her head, she saw Yuanbao staring at her with a pair of big eyes, filled with grievance and anger, looking very mournful. Unable to resist, she wanted to reach out and pinch his face again, but this time he refused to let her, puffing out his cheeks and moving aside to express his protest
Listening to this voice, it should belong to a young person, with a slightly rising intonation, clear and bright. Gui'er quietly poked her head out, just as she was about to see the other person's appearance, when she heard a low reprimand: "Who?"
Gui Er and Yuan Bao do not have urgent illnesses. Since the customs of this place are such, they can only adapt to local practices and think of a solution after this day has passed
With just a brief glance, Gui'er concluded that this person was not a citizen of Zixu Kingdom, but rather from the southwestern Xiaoyang Kingdom
In the depths of the alley, Yuanbao was quietly crying while murmuring to himself, as if he were not alone in this place. Almost instinctively, Gui'er immediately lightened her footsteps, held her breath, and stealthily approached.
The other party chuckled and said, "It's alright, please accept it, sister. I have no use for this anyway. Meeting this little brother here is probably a kind of fate."
Mother
After extensive inquiries, it was learned that on the day of the Moonlight Festival, it is customary to avoid any bloodshed. The closure of medical establishments is intended to ward off misfortune. However, in the case of an emergency, one may still seek medical treatment, albeit with more complications than usual
She has never been to the Kingdom of Xiaoyang and does not know what the people of Xiaoyang are supposed to look like. However, a few days ago, during a casual conversation with Han Jin, she heard him mention some anecdotes about the four directions and eight nations of Zixu. Among the eight nations, Xiaoyang is located in the southwest, where there is a custom that adult men do not cut their hair before their wedding. Since Yanzhou is adjacent to Xiaoyang, the person before her, who is relatively young and has such long hair, must be an unmarried man from Xiaoyang, and perhaps he is even a wealthy noble.
Many years later, how many people's wishes have truly become reality
The weeping little figure, upon seeing the woman appear behind the wall, immediately turned and ran towards her, his small face streaked with tears, looking extremely sorrowful. Gui'er had already noticed the broken mask lying on the ground not far away, but pretended not to see it, forcing out a few glimmers of tears from the corners of her eyes.
While speaking, he pointed behind him. The young man leaning against the wall had no choice but to say, "I apologize for being too hasty earlier and accidentally bumping into your younger brother. If it is not too much trouble, please accept my mask. Would that be acceptable to you, sister?"
Han Jin helplessly tapped her forehead, and she chuckled, turning around to say, "I’m going to buy a lamp..." Before she could take a step, Han Jin pulled her back, saying, "With so many people, be careful not to get lost. I’ll go; you all wait here."
Gui'er immediately recognized that the sound was coming from Yuanbao. She followed the sound step by step and finally found the source of the crying in a secluded alley not far from the lakeside.
Despite having already made a judgment in her heart, she still presented herself as an utterly ignorant and fragile woman. As she looked at the mask being offered by the man, she repeatedly stepped back, shaking her head and softly declining: "There is no need to trouble you, my lord. I can simply buy another one..."
Did you perhaps fall in the earlier chaos
This is a young man of similar age to her, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, possessing a remarkably handsome appearance, especially highlighted by his thick, long black eyebrows, which exude a vibrant and spirited aura at first glance. However, his attire is quite peculiar, adorned with a long row of silver thread floral clasps on his chest, numbering in the dozens. Even more strangely, this man has hair longer than that of a girl, unkempt and not styled into a bun or adorned with a crown, merely tied back casually with a silver cord, with disheveled strands cascading down his back. Such a careless appearance starkly contrasts with the luxurious garments he wears.
Oh, Yuanbao! How much your mother has searched for you with great difficulty
Yanzhou is located in the southwest, adjacent to the Xiaoyang Kingdom, and the "Moonlight Festival" is originally a holiday of the Hongyi tribe in Xiaoyang. According to the legends passed down among the elders of the Hongyi tribe, on the eighteenth day of the third month each year, the Moon Fairy Xinya quietly descends to the human world. Young men and women can indulge in singing and dancing on this day, meeting under the lanterns and celebrating all night long. When the sun rises and the moon sets, their deep affections for each other will be taken back to the moon by Xinya, allowing the lovers who remain on earth to be together for a lifetime.
Next time, I will definitely save money to buy a piece of red cloth for Yuanbao's coat! Gui'er gritted her teeth and made up her mind while continuing to struggle to squeeze her way toward the direction of the fleeting glimpse she had just seen. After much effort, the crowd around her thinned out, allowing her to move more freely, but when she looked around, Yuanbao had long since been pushed to who knows where.
"Gui'er," Han Jin gently brushed Yuan Bao's forehead and extended a fair, delicate hand towards her. "It’s alright, we will go together."
Thus, when she saw the young men and women wearing masks all over the street, enjoying the lantern festival together, her eyes were filled with novelty and envy. She disregarded the fact that she was already a mother and needed to be more composed, constantly running around and exclaiming in delight, resembling a young girl who had never seen the world. This made Yuanbao shake his head and sigh repeatedly, quietly whispering to Han Jin, "Uncle Han, my mother is so embarrassing; let’s pretend we don’t know her."
Could I be taken away by someone I do not know
Yuanbao lay by the window, observing the masks on people's faces, and curiously asked: "Why do they wear masks?"
According to the previous plan, on the second day after arriving in Yanzhou, Han Jin was to take Gui'er and Yuanbao to see a doctor. However, plans ultimately cannot keep up with changes; just as they had arrived, they encountered Yanzhou's annual "Moon Treading Festival".