The Lantern Festival.
It was a fine night.
It was the beginning of spring.
Winter hadn't gone far, and the wind was still cold. Xie Lian carried a large bag and slowly walked on the side of the road. His face was slightly red from the wind.
The bag was filled with a mess of things he had just collected. He didn't know if they were useful or not. In any case, it was useless.
From now on, he could only rely on this to make a living.
After a while,
He passed by a stall on the side of the street.
The stall was called "He Ji Snacks".
It sold some snacks. It seemed that the owner's family of three sat at a small table inside.
A slender and pretty girl walked around the table, busying herself.
The owner told her to stop working and sit down, but she didn't listen. She only said, "I'll be right there."
Her voice was like an oriole. The other tables were occupied by customers in twos and threes.
However, it seemed that they were only here for the young girl. They just sat and chatted.
After a while, he went home. After all, today was the Lantern Festival.
There was a small pot in front of the stall.
The white, round, and piping hot little things in the pot made him slow down his pace.
Xie Lian thought to himself, "Lantern Festival."
When he was a child, during the Lantern Festival,
The Emperor and Empress of Xian Le Kingdom would eat Lantern Festival with him. Xie Lian was very picky about food.
He didn't like Lantern Festival. Even when famous chefs served the best desserts in golden bowls and jade cups, he didn't like them. He thought they were too sweet.
He ate them until his teeth itched. He didn't eat this filling, nor did he eat that filling. He only ate two mouthfuls.
Later, when he grew up a bit, he ran to Mount Taicang to cultivate. He didn't return during the Lantern Festival, so he didn't eat many meals. Now that he thought about it, he actually couldn't remember what Lantern Festival tasted like.
Xie Lian cautiously glanced at the side of the stall a few times. Then, he cautiously put the ugly big bag down from his shoulder. Finally, he cautiously stepped inside.
He took off his bamboo hat and held it in his hand. "Boss, please give me a bowl of Lantern Festival. Do you have it here? "
The proprietor was quite old. He glanced at him, but before he could answer, the slender lady smiled and said, "Yes, please come in and take a seat!" Then she got up and started preparing. Xie Lian sat down, but he saw the boss shake his head. He felt strange, wondering if he was dirty somewhere on his body that the boss didn't like. He specially looked down at his sleeves and confirmed that they weren't dirty. Feeling slightly relieved, he asked, "What's wrong?"
He thought that if the boss didn't like him bringing the bag in, he would just leave it outside. The boss glanced at him again and shook his head. "Miserable. How tragic. "
Xie Lian said, "Ah? What did you say? "
The boss said, "It's the Lantern Festival. It's too miserable to eat yuanxiao at a stall in the freezing weather."
"… …" Xie Lian said, "You can't be like this. Do you still want to do business? "
The boss did not speak to him and went to get the bowls. After sitting for a while, Xie Lian felt that people around him were sizing him up. In other words, they were sizing him up and down with the abnormally large bag beside him.
The boss's daughter also sneakily came over. She squatted on the ground and poked at the bag with her finger, seemingly curious about what was inside. Only after her mother called her a few times did she go back. At this time, Xie Lian still hadn't cultivated the kind of thick skin that would be impervious to swords and spears in the future. He couldn't help but use his foot to kick the large bag under the table, wanting to stuff it somewhere others couldn't see. Unfortunately, this stall was small, and the tables and chairs were also small. There was simply no place to hide things. Xie Lian could only cough lightly and do his best to ignore the gazes of others.
He would get used to it. It wasn't a big deal.
Suddenly, he thought of something and hurriedly reached into his chest. His expression suddenly changed as he thought, "This is even worse! Not only is it the Lantern Festival, but I'm also eating yuanxiao at a stall in the freezing weather. I don't even have enough money!!! "
Originally, he wanted to quickly slip away, but at this time, the boss came over with a large porcelain bowl. He placed it on the table and said, "Five coins."
"… …"
Xie Lian felt slightly suffocated and said, "Uh … … I … …"
He coughed a few times and put his fist in front of his mouth. He heard the boss say, "You don't have it?"
Xie Lian was about to bite the bullet and get up to leave when he saw a large porcelain bowl on the table in front of him with a bang.
He was stunned. He heard the boss say, "Forget it. Seeing how miserable you are, I'll give you a bowl. After you finish eating, I have to close up the stall. Hurry back. Today is the Lantern Festival. It should be a reunion! "
"… …"
Xie Lian sat back down. Although he was thinking that he had nowhere to go after finishing this bowl of yuanxiao, he still whispered, "Thank you."
The boss put down the bowl and went back. The small pot of leftover yuanxiao in front of the stall was carried to a small table by him. The little girl tilted her head and bit her spoon, saying, "When is Big Brother coming back? I want to wait for him to come back before eating. "
The boss also said, "It's too late. Coming back so late for the Lantern Festival is really outrageous!"
The woman said, "He's also worked hard. He'll be back soon. Don't scold him later. Miao Er, Miao Er, don't be so busy anymore. I'm really sorry for always having you come over to help me. Come over and eat with us. "
The young girl said, "I'm not busy!" Finally, she cleaned up a table and sat down to share the yuanxiao with them.
The four of them seemed to be waiting for the other family member to come back and reunite. They chatted and laughed. Xie Lian looked at them and picked up his bowl. He scooped a piece of yuanxiao into his mouth and drank a mouthful of sweet soup.
However, he still didn't know what it tasted like.
"Gege, Gege?"
Only then did Xie Lian return to his senses. Hua Cheng was staring at him from the side. His red clothes made Hua Cheng's eyebrows look even more beautiful. The lights added a layer of softness to his pale and lifeless face. Xie Lian was slightly dazed as he looked at him. "What?"
Hua Cheng said, "Gege, are you tired? Or can't walk anymore? "
Xie Lian casually nodded. Hua Cheng said, "I'm sorry. I was too much last night. "
After a while, Xie Lian finally realized what he meant. He hurriedly waved his hands and said, "… … What are you saying? It's not like that at all! It's completely fine! "
Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Is that so? If it's completely fine like that, then you mean, I wasn't too much yesterday? So I can … …? "
"… …"
Xie Lian suddenly remembered that they were still on the main street of the Ghost City. Startled, he swept his eyes around. Sure enough, at some unknown time, they were surrounded by a large group of grotesquely shaped creatures. Those with long ears pricked up their ears, while those with short ears stretched out their necks. Practically every single one of them had their eyes wide open as they stared at them. They were so shocked that they didn't know what to say. Finally, he said, "Ah, San Lang!"
Hua Cheng faintly smiled. With his hands behind his back, he said, "Alright, alright. It's my fault. I won't say anymore. "
Xie Lian had long since retracted his gaze from the Lantern Festival monster stalls on the side of the street. On both sides of the main street of the Ghost City, bright red lanterns were hung. The lanterns were filled with riddles. The ghosts shouted, "Guess lantern riddles! Guess lantern riddles! If you guess correctly, you'll get a prize! You'll get a big prize!!! "
Hua Cheng said to Xie Lian, "Gege, do you want to try? There's a prize. "
Xie Lian walked up and said, "Do you want to try?"
The ghosts all became excited and pushed each other. "Shh! Shh! Eldest Uncle is going to guess lantern riddles! Eldest Uncle is going to guess lantern riddles!!! "
"… …" This earth-shattering shouting made it seem as if he was about to perform a godly dance. Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Just as he was about to randomly pick one, a tentacle immediately extended out of nowhere and politely delivered a lantern to him. It said, "You first! You first! "
For Xie Lian, it didn't matter which one it was. Thus, he accepted the lantern and glanced at it. The riddle was four words: "Find white-haired man."
Xie Lian didn't even think about it and said, "'I'."
Hua Cheng clapped his hands and praised, "Gege, you're amazing." The ghosts also joined him in thunderous applause, wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves. There was even a pitch-black unknown object doing somersaults in the air and cheering. This was a bit too exaggerated. Xie Lian blushed with shame and said, "Actually, this … … is really very simple."
That tentacle delivered a second lantern and said, "You first! You first! "
Xie Lian accepted the lantern. This time, the riddle was "First day of the Spring Festival."
Similarly, Xie Lian didn't even think about it. He said, "'Husband'."
Hua Cheng was about to raise his hands to clap again when Xie Lian said, "No need. This is also very simple."
Hua Cheng beamed and said, "Really? But, I truly feel that Big Brother is amazing. "
Xie Lian thought to himself, "You flatter me. If you personally answered the riddle on the lantern and I solved it, then that would be amazing … … "
At this time, the tentacle delivered a third lantern and sang, "You first! You first! "
Xie Lian took a look and frowned slightly. Everyone around him also said, "Wow! This time it's going to be difficult! "
Xie Lian nodded. Sure enough, this time, the riddle couldn't be seen through at a glance. "Bashful bowing to express affection."
However, it wasn't too difficult. After a short while, Xie Lian said, "'Bashful' means the mimosa, taking the part of the grass. 'Bowing' means the head of the word 'low'. 'Expressing affection' means the middle part of the word 'incline'. When these three parts are combined, it's … … 'flower'. The answer to the riddle is' flower '. "
After he finished speaking, he covered his ears. Sure enough, as soon as he announced the riddle, everyone around him began to dance in a frenzy. They boasted and flattered without any bottom line, exaggerating to the extreme and making people numb. Hua Cheng looked at him with a smile and said, "Gege, this time, you're really amazing."
That tentacle once again raised its lantern and quietly reached over. Xie Lian also laughed and said, "There's something even more amazing. This time, I can guess the riddle without looking at it. Do you believe me? "
Hua Cheng's eyes widened. "Oh, is that so? Gege actually has such a unique skill?"
Xie Lian took the lantern and said, "Of course. I'm guessing that the riddle this time is' City '. The City from Hua Cheng, right? "
Raising the lantern to look, sure enough, "Once the spear moves, the south settles." Xie Lian said, "Once the spear moves, it changes sides. It falls to 'earth'; 'spear' remains. 'South settles', taking the south of the word 'fang', it settles to 'earth' and 'spear' as the center, becoming 'City'. This should be the hardest riddle to solve. Unfortunately … … "
Unfortunately, Xie Lian had guessed the pattern first. When these four riddles were connected, what was it?
After being seen through, the ghosts no longer dared to cheer. Instead, they started coughing and looked up at the sky. Hua Cheng's gaze slowly swept across them. The ghosts were all scared out of their wits. Some crawled into the lantern while others crawled underground. One after another, they hugged their heads and said, "City Lord, please calm your anger!!! It wasn't my idea!!! "" It wasn't me either! "" Bullshit! You clearly agreed the loudest!!! "
Hua Cheng calmly said, "Scram."
In an instant, the ghosts and people on the street were swept away like scattered clouds in the wind. Not many were left. Xie Lian hung the lantern back on the shelf and said with a smile, "Let's go back."
The two walked side by side towards Thousand Lantern Monastery. On the way, Hua Cheng seriously said, "Gege, don't look at me like that. I really didn't ask them to do this. "
Xie Lian laughed and said, "I know. If it was you, you definitely wouldn't set up such a riddle. "
Hua Cheng said, "Oh? Then what kind of riddle does Gege think I'll set up? "
Xie Lian didn't put up any defenses and said, "Of course, it's' my husband San Lang '… …"
As he said this, he realized that 'disaster comes from the mouth' and immediately shut his mouth. However, it was already too late. Hua Cheng laughed out loud and said, "Gege, you've been tricked! Beautiful! "
"… … Sly, sly … …"
At this moment, the two of them returned to Thousand Lantern Monastery. As soon as they entered the main hall, Xie Lian discovered that there was actually a table of things placed on top of the jade platform. He was startled. When he went up to take a look, he saw that it was actually two bowls of yuanxiao.
He turned around and saw that Hua Cheng also walked up and said, "Gege was looking at this on the way here, right?"
Xie Lian nodded.
Hua Cheng said, "Sit down and eat together, Gege."
"… …"
However, Xie Lian didn't sit down. Instead, he suddenly ran into his chest and buried his face in his chest. He hugged Hua Cheng tightly and didn't let go.
Hua Cheng also hugged him back.