Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 402: Enjoying Lanterns in the County

The Cao Mansion occupies a large area. The stage is built on the open space in the front yard, and there are many flower sheds under the stage.

The shed was tightly fenced off on all sides, with only the side facing the stage being open.

There was a charcoal basin inside, with the best charcoal burning red and emitting heat.

In fact, it is quite warm today. There is no wind and the sun is shining brightly. Even if you sit outside and listen to the opera, you won’t feel cold.

But as a wealthy family, they always have to pay attention to the pomp and circumstance.

There was not only a charcoal fire in the flower shed, but also tables and chairs, with a variety of snacks, dried fruits and tea.

Everybody sat in the flower shed, eating snacks, drinking tea and listening to opera. It was so wonderful that they wouldn't trade it for anything even if they were gods.

The ladies sat down in the flower shed, and the leader of the opera troupe presented them with a play script.

Yu handed the playlist to Chen Xiuyun and asked her to choose a play. "Sister, you are a distinguished guest. It's rare for you to come here. Please choose a play first."

Among these people, Chen Xiuyun is the youngest. Besides, how could she, as a guest, take over the show?

So he quickly gave the play script back to Yu, saying that he didn't understand it and asked Yu to point it out.

The two of them were polite to each other, and then Yu ordered "The West Chamber" and Chen Xiuyun ordered "Huibei Ji".

Others have some of "Hong Yue'e's Dream", some of "Liang Saijin Rolling Noodles", and some of "Zhu Bajie Digging the Ground".

It’s the New Year, so we should have something festive. No one ordered those tragic dramas.

After ordering the play, Yu asked someone to bring fifty taels of silver and placed it in front of the troupe owner.

"Boss Feng, today is my sister's first time coming to the county town, and this is also her first time listening to your play.

Let everyone in your troupe cheer up and sing well.

If you sing well, you will be rewarded. If you don’t sing well, you will not be allowed to stay in Tonghua City from now on.”

"Hey, hey, Madam, don't worry, I will let them use their best skills and will never embarrass you."

The owner of the troupe nodded and bowed, responding repeatedly.

"Okay, take the silver back and make everyone happy."

Yu waved her hand, and the troupe leader Feng left with the silver and the opera script.

Soon, a small gong was struck, strings sounded, and a man and a woman, actually two men, came on stage holding handkerchiefs.

First show off your unique skills, then warm up your voice. "Um hi - hey hey hey yo..." Then you start singing.

While everyone was listening to the opera, the kitchen in the mansion was busy preparing the banquet.

By the time the play was over, the banquet was ready and ready to start.

The Cao family specially invited a great chef to make the banquet even more amazing. Everyone was chatting and laughing while eating, and it was very lively.

On the other side, Qu Shaoyang and others were in the county government office, also drinking happily.

The banquet was not over until the afternoon, when everyone had drunk enough.

Qu Shaoyang rushed to Cao's house again, took Chen Xiuyun home and rested together.

On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the couple did not go anywhere. They stayed at home with their children and took a break.

On the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the kitchen cooked Yuanxiao, which was filled with sesame, peanuts and lard. It was very fragrant.

Qu Shaoyang ate two bowls, Chen Xiuyun ate one bowl, and the two kids Gensuo and Gensuo ate one bowl each and were still not satisfied. They wanted to eat more, but were stopped by Chen Xiuyun.

Children have weak spleen and stomach, and Yuanxiao is made of rhubarb rice or glutinous rice, which are sticky and difficult to digest, so it is better to eat less.

"Be obedient, I'll take you to see the lanterns tonight."

When the two kids heard about watching lanterns, they stopped making noise and went to play over there obediently.

In the afternoon, the family made dumplings and prepared a few dishes. After dinner, when it was dark outside, Qu Shaoyang led his wife, children and entourage out to go shopping and enjoy the lanterns.

The Lantern Market is located on the most prosperous and lively street in Tonghua City. It was organized and built by the gentry, officials, and shops in Tonghua City.

The street, from beginning to end, is filled with lanterns of various colors, colorful and dazzling.

Some businesses also take the opportunity to organize small activities, such as winning gifts by guessing riddles.

Almost all the people in Tonghua city and the surrounding villages came out. The whole street was crowded with people and it was very lively.

Gensuo and Genyou were still young, and with so many people around, they could only see people's legs and couldn't see anything else.

So Qu Shaoyang carried his eldest son up and let Gensuo ride on his neck so that he could watch him.

When Genyou saw his brother riding on his father's neck, he became anxious and clamored to have his brother too. The guards nearby saw this and hurriedly carried Genyou up as well.

Just like that, the two children suddenly grew much taller and could see everything. People clapped their hands for being so happy.

"The last time we watched the lanterns was the year we got engaged. In the blink of an eye, our two children have grown up so much."

Qu Shaoyang carried the stick, turned his head to look at his wife beside him and smiled.

"Yes, in the blink of an eye, we have been married for five years. The time has passed so quickly.

You were a raftsman back then. When I first saw you, you had a wound on your head, your clothes were tattered, and you ran to my dad for help.

Who could have imagined that in just a few years, you have become an inspector and then a general manager, and have accumulated such a large fortune. "

Chen Xiuyun walked beside her husband, looking at her husband and two children, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Wife, tell me the truth, are you glad that you had good taste in choosing me?"

Qu Shaoyang joked as he looked at his wife who was becoming more and more beautiful under the light.

"Look how beautiful you are, what's the matter? Do you think I'm not worthy of you?"

Chen Xiuyun glanced at Qu Shaoyang, and her eyes were filled with deep affection.

"Hahaha, she deserves it, she deserves it." Qu Shaoyang laughed when he heard it and reached out to hug Chen Xiuyun.

With his lovely wife and two sons by his side, Qu Shaoyang must be so happy at this moment.

The couple was chatting and laughing when suddenly a few spots of light rose in the distance, exploded in mid-air, and with a bang, illuminated half of the sky.

Afterwards, one after another fireworks flew into the air, exploding with dazzling colors in the sky.

That is in the direction of the county government office. Today is the Lantern Festival, and the county magistrate is celebrating with the people. He has specially arranged a fireworks display for the whole city to enjoy together.

"Wow, so beautiful." Gensuo rode on his father's neck, looked up at the fireworks in the sky, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Do you like it? What if we can hold a lantern festival and set off fireworks in Maoer Mountain next year?" Qu Shaoyang asked Gensuo.

In fact, the Qu family also set off some fireworks during the Lantern Festival in the past two years, but not as many types as those set off in the county today.

"Really? Great, Dad. It's a deal."

Gensuo's vocabulary has increased dramatically since he started attending classes in school.

He can say many words that children of this age are not able to say, and he can even come up with a few lines of poetry occasionally.

Fang Xingwen had praised Gensuo in front of Qu Shaoyang several times, saying that Gensuo was a very smart child and would become a great man in the future if he was taught well.

"Okay, it's a deal. Dad will definitely keep his word." Qu Shaoyang stretched out his hand and shook hands with his son to seal the agreement.

It doesn’t cost much to hold a lantern festival, just have fun and make your family happy.

My parents have probably never seen a lantern festival in their lives. They are reluctant to move if I take them out, so holding it in Maoer Mountain is a good opportunity for them to see it all.

(End of this chapter)