Chapter 194: On the Lantern Festival, the old lover?

It is hard to work for a year. Taking advantage of this first month of the year, Huang Laifu greets New Year during the day and rests and has fun at night.

Starting from New Year's Day, various entertainments have been launched in Wuzhaibao and various places in the Ming Dynasty. During the day, all the streets are filled with people walking on bridges, touching nails, hitting Taiping drums, jumping all the ropes, and playing big-headed monks. At night, everyone will rush to stumble, picking up red dots, throwing small songs and other activities. Huang Laifu is the same, and he has a lot of fun.

Soon, it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

This day is the Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival and Lantern Festival. Everyone has to eat Lantern Festival (called Tangyuan in the south), Lantern Festival, etc. From the Ming Dynasty palace to the people, everyone has to enjoy these five days of Shangyuan Night.

Wuzhaibao through Wuzhaibao Propaganda Bureau and Wuzhaibao Chamber of Commerce organized. From dusk, the streets of Wuzhaibao have been laid out into a vast ocean of lights. There are many lanterns, and there are flying bridges and pavilions on the Lantern Mountain, hundreds of opera characters, and thousands of torches emerge, shining brightly. Just using oil alone requires thousands of kilograms to be used in one night.

Naturally, there were lanterns in the Huang Mansion. On the flower building facing the street, Huang Laifu held a dinner party to entertain his family and a group of military generals and officials in the fort. Everyone ate Lantern Festival cakes, listened to the music playing and singing lantern lyrics, and then watched the lanterns outside. Gu Yunniang and the girls were dressed up in a colorful manner, looking out with Huang Laifu and others.

I saw that there were thousands of lamps outside, shining, as if the stars in the sky flipped to the ground, and a lively sound came. Not far away, fireworks were coming into the night sky from time to time, bringing flowers, such as "big pear blossoms", "one plum blossoms", "one zhang chrysanthemums", etc. As soon as they rushed into the night sky, they fell like rain regularly, which made children such as Huang Dalang applaud.

It was reported in the Huang Mansion that the military gate would set off fireworks at night and enjoy the people. On all four sides of the mansion, there were many people gathered in the streets downstairs. Everyone was very happy, eating lactose balls, crystal stews and other snacks sold by the vendors, while waiting for fireworks to set off fireworks at the mansion.

Looking at this lively situation, Wang Qinian suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. Compared to a few years ago, Wang Qinian has achieved success now, but the loneliness and loneliness in his heart are deeper. Seeing that the people around him are all in pairs, Lord Huang enjoys the joy of his wife and children, Wang Qinian feels deeper and deeper.

He secretly went downstairs and wanted to go out for a walk. Zhou Wendong, who had already paid attention to him, chased him and said with a smile: "Brother Donglu is not kind. He goes out alone to have fun and enjoy it alone, and doesn't call me."

Wang Qinian shook his head with a wry smile, looking at his best friend, leaving behind his wife and children and the opportunity to gather with Lord Huang to accompany him, he felt a warm feeling in his heart, and he also smiled and said, "It's better to have fun than to have fun alone, so let's go and visit this lantern market."

The two talked and laughed, and walked around the streets of Wuzhaibao, especially on the Dadong Street. There were dozens of lamp stands built around, including seating lights, robe ball lights, ball lights, spear silk lights, sun and moon lights, poetry silk lights, mirror lights, character lights, horse riding lights, phoenix lights, water lights, glass lights, shadow lights, etc.

Especially the horse riding lamp, commonly known as the lantern, where candles are lit inside and the people and horses with paper cuts are constantly rotating, and the lamp painting on the impeller is displayed in front of people in a cycle like a horse, which is unique.

Wang Qinian and Zhou Wendong were both excited to see it. They walked along the way, and there were dancing teams coming from time to time, followed by crowds of people, making the entire street seem crowded and jubilant.

Wang Qinian and Zhou Wendong were involuntarily squeezed forward. Whenever they passed by the Lantern Festival Qu Bridge, they either saw young men and women stop and tease, holding hands and shoulder to shoulder without any scruples. They could hear the sound of men and women gathering under the Qu Bridge.

Men and women are active on the Shangyuan Night. As long as they fall in love with each other, they can become a good thing. When they are in a strong sense, they can also go to the city bridge to "wild together" and then say goodbye and break up, just like drinking a glass of water. This kind of carnival and nakedness are unique to the Shangyuan Night of the Song and Ming dynasties. Wuzhai Fort is still conservative, and is even more open in the capital and Jiangnan of the Ming Dynasty.

Seeing this situation, Zhou Wendong would be better. He has a wife. Whenever he needs it, he can find a wife to solve the problem. However, Wang Qinian looked a little uncomfortable. Seeing his appearance, Zhou Wendong smiled and said, "Brother Donglu, it's not my brother who said you, you should really be a family. There are so many good women in Wuzhaibao, so you don't like it?"

He glanced in front and smiled, "There is Nanmen Lantern Market in front of him. There are many women walking on the bridge to touch nails. Let's go and take a look. Maybe a woman that makes you fall in love with will appear."

Wang Qinian's expression changed and he was pulled away by Zhou Wendong.

Walking on the bridge and touching nails is a custom in the Ming Dynasty. On the day of the Lantern Festival, groups of women and women in various parts of the Ming Dynasty were wearing white silk shirts and walked to the gates of the city. In the darkness, they touched the nails with their hands. If they touched it, they might have a son, which is the so-called touching nails.

When we arrived at the south gate, it was indeed crowded with people, laughter and the fragrance was blowing. The lights were intertwined, and most of the girls and wives gathered next to the lamp stand were girls and wives. Many women were wearing white silk shirts, lined up in line to touch the door nails on the city gate. They smiled when they touched them, but they didn't touch them. Some people sighed, and some smiled.

Of course, where there are women, there are men. How come so many big girls and little wives are here, why don’t they attract many men to feast? Many adult men or young men are also gathered here to find their own good marriages and flirt with each other. Some people who are in love, even if they just met, they hold hands and don’t know where to go to have fun.

Seeing this ambiguous and romantic situation, Zhou Wendong couldn't help but smile and said, "It's amazing, don't urge the jade-leaked copper pot, the iron gate and gold lock are opened all night. Brother Donglu, don't let down this beautiful scenery."

Wang Qinian was about to speak when he suddenly heard a woman's voice not far away: "My husband, I'll touch the nail, I hope to have a son in the future." A man said impatiently: "Go, I hope I can get a lucky head. Don't be like a hen that can't lay eggs, and even a son can't give birth to."

Wang Qinian was trembling all over. He could never forget the woman's voice. He slowly turned his head and saw a colorful woman next to the lantern. A woman wearing a white silk shirt and a warm sable sieve and a marten rat around her neck was standing there.

Then Wang Qinian felt ache in his heart. He saw a little girl about five or six years old next to the woman, holding her tightly. Next to the two, there was a middle-aged man in a silk robe, dressed in a merchant, obese body, and had two rat whiskers on his lips. It seemed that she was her man.

Wang Qinian couldn't help but clench his fists, thinking to himself: "It turns out that the merchant you were going to marry back then was this person."

At this time, the little girl beside the woman also said, "Mom, mom, I want to touch too, I want to touch the nail too."

The woman smiled and said, "Okay, my daughter is good, my mother will take you to touch it."

But the man shouted impatiently: "You are a little yellow-haired girl, you are not old yet, why are you touching?"

The man's voice was a little hoarse, but his fierce look at this time made the little girl very scared. She burst into tears. Her woman hurriedly comforted her: "Oh, Xiang'er be good, Xiang'er won't cry."

She turned her head and said to the man in a flattering manner: "Honey, Xiang'er is young, but she just wants to have fun for a while, so she will do what she wants..."

Speaking of this, she exclaimed and turned her eyes to Wang Qinian. The man snorted coldly: "What's so fun? No matter how she plays, she is afraid that she will be like you in the future, and will be a hen who can't lay eggs." He noticed the woman's expression and looked at Wang Qinian.

Wang Qinian could no longer help and walked towards the woman. Zhou Wendong was still watching the beauty lantern festival. Seeing Wang Qinian's appearance, he was stunned and said, "Brother Donglu, what's wrong with you... Hello, wait for me." He shouted and followed him anxiously.

Wang Qinian walked to the woman and saw Wang Qinian coming. The woman looked at her man with some anxiety, made up her clothes, and turned into a cold look, with a bit of arrogance in her expression. The man looked at Wang Qinian with confusion and looked at her wife.

Seeing Wang Qinian walking to him, the woman raised her eyebrows and said, "Oh, isn't this Wang Ge'er? How could she meet in Wuzhai Fort?"

Wang Qinian looked a little excited, and had a lot of words to say in his heart. Finally, he just murmured: "Bai Xiu'er... are you okay?"

The woman's name is Bai Xiuxiu. She was originally the wife of Wang Qinian who had been engaged since childhood. She had seen Wang Qinian become a scholar and was optimistic about him. However, Wang Qinian dealt with beasts all day long, and Bai Xiuxiu felt hopeless and embarrassed, so she retired from marriage with Wang Qinian and married the richer businessman in front of her.

At this time, Bai Xiuxiu said, "I am very good. My husband loves my family very much and has a wealthy family. But are you still doing things to serve livestock?"

Wang Qinian said: "Yes, yes..."

The merchant stood beside Bai Xiuxiu, with an ugly face at first, but at this moment he felt relieved, laughed sneered, and said, "So he is an old acquaintance, who is serving livestock? Should he raise pigs or sheep?"

Seeing that Wang Qinian was still in such a down-and-out manner, Bai Xiuxiu was secretly grateful for her choice back then. Fortunately, she did not marry Wang Qinian back then, otherwise she would have suffered now.

She showed disgust on her face, slapped her nose lightly from her hand, and looked at Wang Qinian coldly and said, "No wonder I smell a scent of sheep. Brother Wang, it's not that I said you, you're too unrest, right? You've been tired for so many years... Have you not married a wife yet?"

Wang Qinian looked at Bai Xiuxiu's face. She hadn't seen her for a few years. She was still so pretty, with a bit of a mature young woman on her face. However, the words she said in her mouth were so vicious. For a moment, Wang Qinian felt completely disappointed. Over the years, he worked hard, but he still had a faint expectation in his heart. Now this sense of expectation has been completely shattered.

He was originally introverted and arrogant, but after all the words were said, he remained silent. Looking at Wang Qinian's appearance, Bai Xiuxiu and her husband looked even more disdainful. Only the little girl looked at him with curious eyes.

Zhou Wendong had come to Wang Qinian at this time, and he had heard the conversation between everyone. He felt extremely unfair. At this time, he said, "This lady is a bad word. Brother Wang is indeed serving livestock, but he is not ordinary serving livestock. He is the director of the Animal Husbandry Bureau of our Wuzhai Fort. He manages more than a dozen livestock farms and has thousands of officials under his command. He is deeply favored by our military. How can he be compared with ordinary people who raise pigs and sheep? Yes, Brother Wang has not gotten married yet, but in the Wuzhai Fort, who doesn't want to be a relative of Brother Wang? Even the generals inside and outside the fort are interested in recruiting Brother Wang as the son-in-law of the East! It's also a good girl who is so dazzling that he hasn't yet attracted the attention of Brother Wang."

As soon as Zhou Wendong said, the merchant's expression was stunned, and Bai Xiuxiu's face also changed. Then the two looked at Wang Qinian. The merchant immediately smiled and sang a big fat look. He stepped forward and said, "It turns out that he is Director Wang, who has been heard of for a long time and has been heard of for a long time. I will see him today. It is really a blessing for the villain Yang Gui, a blessing... I was a little negligent just now, so please don't be surprised by Director Wang."

Wang Qinian bowed and returned the favor. Seeing that her husband was like a different person, Bai Xiuxiu whispered to the person she had despised before, she even looked at Wang Qinian incredibly. She really didn't understand why Wang Qi suddenly became famous. She first came to Wuzhai Fort, but she didn't know what the director of the Animal Husbandry Bureau of Wuzhai Fort meant. But she had heard Zhou Wendong say that Wang Qinian managed more than a dozen animal farms, and had thousands of subordinates, and was deeply favored by the generals of a town. For the little woman, this was an amazing event.

She didn't understand what the director of the Animal Husbandry Bureau of Wuzhaibao meant, but her husband Yang Gui understood that he had intended to go to Wuzhaibao to manage wool goods and other goods, and had heard of Wang Qinian's name for a long time and knew that he was one of the capable people of Wuzhaibao. He had never thought of Wang Qinian's words before. Thinking about his rude words just now, he couldn't help but secretly regret it.

At this time, Yang Gui tentatively said to Zhou Wendong with a smile on his face: "I wonder if this person is?"

Zhou Wendong said with a high hand: "I am Zhou Wendong, the director of the Accounting Bureau of Wuzhai Fort!"

Yang Gui was shocked and was a capable figure in Wuzhai Fort. He hurriedly stepped forward and sang a big fat roar, saying, "It turns out that he is Director Zhou, I have heard of Daming for a long time, and I have heard of Daming for a long time!"

Zhou Wendong snorted faintly.

Yang Gui said with a smile on his face: "I am really lucky to meet you today. It is better to meet you by chance than to invite you. I don't know if the villain has this blessing. Please give me a glass of water and wine?"

Wang Qinian was about to agree, but Zhou Wendong grabbed him and said, "Brother Wang and I are going to the dinner party at Huangjun Gate, so I won't be nagging! Let's go another day."

Yang Gui was shocked: "Huang Junmen?"

Bai Xiuxiu looked at the two of them even more.

Zhou Wendong nodded high. Yang Gui's mind was very fast, and he quickly took out his name thorn and smiled: "This is the name thorn of a villain. When you have free time, please give the two adults a glimpse of the scenery!"

Zhou Wendong nodded and casually put Mingtao in his arms. He pulled Wang Qinian and left.

Wang Qinian was a little reluctant and looked back twice. The first time he saw Bai Xiuxiu looking at him thinking, but the second time, Wang Qinian saw Bai Xiuxiu looking at her eyes, smiling at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes were flowing.

Walking on the street, Wang Qinian blamed Zhou Wendong and said, "Brother Zhou, why did you leave so quickly?"

Zhou Wendong didn't answer, but just smiled and said, "It turns out that the woman Brother Donglu mentioned is this..."

He shook his head and patted Wang Qinian on the shoulder. He wanted to say something, but finally sighed.

On Bai Xiuxiu's side, she held her daughter and walked home with Yang Gui. Neither of them had the intention to watch the Lantern Festival again for today.

Along the way, Bai Xiuxiu remained silent, just thinking about something. Yang Gui glanced at her and sneered: "This Wang Qinian is your old lover? If you have anything to do between you, you will attract me when you go back!"

Bai Xiuxiu still said nothing. Yang Gui was angry for a moment and shouted, "You are talking, have you become hoarse?"

The daughter Yang Xiangxiang in her arms was frightened when she saw her father so fierce, and she cried again.

Bai Xiuxiu coaxed her daughter softly, but she still ignored Yang Gui.

Yang Gui was embarrassed and angry, and was about to speak again, suddenly he saw Bai Xiuxiu looking at him with a contemptuous look, and then screamed in a voice he had never heard before: "Shut up, you are a useless person, poor, lazy and incompetent, I have had enough of you!"

Seeing that his wife, who had been bowing to him and who was obedient to him, suddenly became so fierce, Yang Gui was stunned for a moment.
Chapter completed!