The family of five returned home late that night, her brothers practically vibrating with excitement despite their physical exhaustion. Even the strain of maintaining their disguises throughout the evening couldn't dampen their enthusiasm for the festival's success.
"Did you see how perfectly I botched that archery game?" Li Wei grinned as they picked their way up the well-worn dirt path, his feet settling firmly on familiar stones. His usually graceful stride had returned now that they were away from prying eyes, no longer needing to maintain his farmer's son's persona. Loose pebbles skittered down the slope with each step as he gestured animatedly. "Liu Mei's face when I completely missed the target—priceless!"
