Chapter 232: Righteousness
"Dad, is the Dragon King Banquet delicious?" Si Niang couldn't help but licking the corner of her lips.
Liu Ji thought of the longing looks of the scholars in the front hall, and said uncertainly: "It must be delicious. If it's not delicious, can it be called the Dragon King Banquet?"
Si Niang immediately raised her hand: "I want to participate!"
The little girl thought anyone could participate in the competition.
Liu Ji said that several major families in the city had already booked the team and had started practicing a month ago, so ordinary people could just watch.
Si Niang sighed, "Okay."
But it would be great if we could join in the fun!
"Mother, shall we go?" Dalang, Erlang, Sanlang, and Si Niang looked at Qin Yao expectantly.
Could Qin Yao still refuse?
"When does the competition start?" Qin Yao asked Liu Ji.
Liu Ji replied: "The game will start on time at noon, but we have to go early. If we go late, we may not be able to find a good seat!"
"Well, then wake up, finish your morning reading and go over there."
As soon as Qin Yao said this, cheers broke out in the house. Qin Yao quickly made a hushing gesture, and the four children laughed and quickly covered their mouths.
"Be quiet and don't disturb other guests." Qin Yao instructed gently.
The four siblings nodded, but they couldn't stop the happiness in their eyes.
For the first time ever, the four brothers and sisters got up very early the next day just to finish their morning reading and then find a good spot to watch the dragon boat race.
But Liu Ji was earlier than them. He deserved the title of the King of Kaiyang County Academy!
He finished his homework ahead of time, borrowed a vegetable basket from Aunt Zou who managed the kitchen by using his face recognition, and went out to buy vegetables.
I bought some vegetables to make this morning and put the rest in the room.
Because Qin Yao was still sleeping, she walked in and out of the house very quietly, like a thief. Seeing this, Dalang, Erlang, Sanlang and Si Niang, who were sitting in a row at the door and reading quietly in the morning, they couldn't help but grin.
Fortunately, Qin Yao chose a room on the first floor facing the inner courtyard patio yesterday, with stone steps to sit on.
Otherwise, if there were other guests coming in or out of the guest room, they would have to step over the four siblings.
There were many people who got up early to recite their lessons. Ninety percent of the people in the inn were scholars who came to take part in the provincial examination. Not long after daybreak, the patio, a good place, was discovered and many scholars came one after another.
The sound of reading aloud is as sweet as the sound of bells and drums.
This was a morning reading atmosphere that Dalang and his siblings had never experienced before. They were immersed in it for a moment and forgot where they were.
A tender child's voice was heard, and the scholars looked in surprise, only to see four little children, holding books, sitting neatly in a row on the stone steps, also absorbed in their reading.
The two sides looked at each other inadvertently, and the corners of their mouths couldn't help but rise slightly.
Those who are outgoing and cheerful come over and read an article with them.
So one person told two people, two people told four people, and the sound of reading in the whole courtyard merged into one.
As the sun rises, the whole city is shrouded in golden light, shining brightly.
When people passed by the inn, they would stop involuntarily when they heard the neat and loud sounds of reading.
They are hawkers who get up early to do business, women who buy vegetables, hardworking people who are about to go to work, and officers on duty who have just got off their posts.
Perhaps they do not understand what those words mean, but they are inexplicably attracted.
Because what they heard was the righteousness of the scholars, and what they saw was the prosperous future of the country.
"The sound of reading is so beautiful." The lady who was buying vegetables exclaimed.
Only when the sound of reading stopped did the people standing at the door of the inn reluctantly leave.
"Mother, many older brothers studied with us this morning."
When the family gathered around the table for breakfast, the twins were particularly excited to tell Qin Yao what happened to them that morning.
There were only four benches, and Liu Ji consciously ate while standing. Dalang gave his seat to Qin Yao and ate while squatting on the ground.
Anyway, there are no outsiders here, so there is no need to be too particular.
Qin Yao didn't play the game of you let me and I let you. She ate quickly, finishing in just a few bites. She stood up and left her seat, waved to Dalang to sit down and eat slowly, and listened to them talk about what happened in the morning with a smile.
In fact, the little person in my heart is shouting wildly: Thank you, I can't even get a nap in the morning!
But for such a rare experience, shouldn't we write a diary?
"I'll teach you how to write a diary when we come back tonight. Let's record this special day." Qin Yao said with a smile.
The twins, a boy and a girl, who were talking excitedly, all changed their expressions.
Dalang and Erlang almost choked on the food they hadn't swallowed yet.
Qin Yao asked doubtfully: "Are you unhappy?"
The four siblings shook their heads stiffly, tried to force a smile, and said woodenly, "Happy."
"Okay, get ready, let's go watch the dragon boat race."
Four siblings: "Okay!!!"
You can see that he is really happy this time.
Liu Ji asked if he should ask Liu Li. Qin Yao nodded and asked him to go and ask.
Liu Li readily agreed and called Da Zhuang. The two families happily left the inn together and walked towards the competition venue in the south of the city.
I thought I had arrived early enough, but I didn't expect that everyone had the same idea. Everyone thought they could predict others' predictions, and ended up arriving earlier than the other.
When Qin Yao and others arrived at the race point, the best viewing spot - the stone bridge above the finish line - was already crowded with people.
Even the banks of the river were filled with human heads.
Qin Yao secretly sighed, it felt a bit like a zombie siege.
Dalang was sharp-eyed and noticed that there was an empty platform next to the stone bridge. He was about to call his parents over when he heard Liu Ji, who saw through his thoughts, say:
"That side is reserved for the prefect and the masters and ladies of the city's noble families to watch the game."
Liu Li asked: "How do you know?"
"I've asked around, of course I know!" Liu Ji said proudly, "But I also know a great location, come with me."
Under Qin Yao's suspicious gaze, Liu Ji proved with practical actions that he was seriously making strategies for today's dragon boat race.
Under his leadership, the crowd squeezed through the people on the river bank and came to a big tree on the east side of the stone bridge.
There were people under the tree, too. Dalang looked at his father distrustfully, "You can't see this."
Limited by his height, he looked over and felt that he was about to be buried by people's legs. How scary!
Qin Yao held Sanlang in one hand and Si Niang in the other. He looked at the sturdy tree in front of him, and thought of Liu Ji's unruly temper. He raised his eyebrows in disbelief, "You don't want us to climb the tree, do you?"
As soon as the question was asked, Liu Ji showed an ecstatic expression of "you understand me", "Yes!"
"Your father is such a talent!"
Qin Yao looked up at the branches above her head. The nearest one was more than four meters above the ground, and most people could not climb up.
But for her, it was not challenging at all.
"Are you afraid of heights?" Qin Yao asked the youngest twin boy and girl in her arms.
The brother and sister said excitedly: "Don't be afraid!"
"Okay, let's go up!" As Qin Yao finished speaking, she threw her hands up. Amid the frightened gasps of Liu Li and Da Zhuang, Sanlang and Si Niang landed steadily in the middle of the tree branch.
(End of this chapter)