Chapter 32 Tree Mid-Autumn Festival

After enjoying a rich reunion dinner, the family snuggled in bed and took a nap. When they woke up, it was still early.

"How about going to Baoan Park? I heard that the osmanthus flowers by the Lixin Lake are in full bloom!" Wang Xiuren suggested as he sat up.

Lin Qiu also thought it would be nice to go out for some fresh air. Staying in the rented house, he did nothing but eat and sleep, with no room for movement.

Not to mention Wang Shan, as soon as she heard that they were going to the park, she quickly put on her shoes and waited at the entrance of the station.

Outside, the breeze is not dry and the sun is shining brightly.

The autumn sun is warm and bright. It shines through the gaps between the leaves and falls on the ground, forming mottled light and shadows. The dust is clearly visible in the light and shadows. Although it is autumn, the leaves in Pengcheng have not turned yellow. They are still shiny and glow moistly in the sun. The grass is also lush and green, making people want to lie down.

Probably because it was Mid-Autumn Festival, most locals were reuniting at home, so there were not many people in the park, and most of them were migrant workers similar to them.

Wang Shan ran and rolled happily on the grass like a horse that had broken free from its reins, with fine strands of grass sticking to her clothes and hair. Wang Xiuren and Lin Qiu sat on a bench beside the lawn, looking at Wang Shan and enjoying the warmth and tranquility of autumn.

When the sun sets and the cool breeze starts to blow, the family finally returns home happily after enjoying the rich fragrance of osmanthus flowers by the lake.

The dinner was simple, with the leftovers from lunch, but the family of three did not complain and still ate with relish.

When it got dark and the moon rose, Lin Qiu placed moon cakes, grapefruits, grapes, pomegranates and other foods on the table by the window, opened the window to let the moonlight in, and then burned incense and worshiped.

At this time, the streets gradually became lively.

Every household in Pengcheng puts a table in front of the door, offers moon cakes, grapefruit, taro and other offerings, lights incense and candles, and pays respectful respects. The tables stretched out along both sides of the street like two long dragons, and the candles on the tables lit up the entire street.

Guangdong Province, where Pengcheng is located, is a province with particularly good inheritance of traditional customs. All places have unique and interesting customs during the Mid-Autumn Festival to express good wishes for future life and young men and women's yearning for love.

In Shenzhen, in addition to appreciating the moon and worshipping the Moon Goddess on Mid-Autumn Night, there are also activities such as setting up Mid-Autumn Festival trees. "Shu" (tree) can also be written as "shu", which means to stand the lanterns high. With the help of their parents, children make rabbit lanterns, star fruit lanterns or square lanterns out of bamboo paper, hang them horizontally on short poles, and then erect them on tall poles. The lanterns shine brightly, adding a beautiful scene to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

There are no such activities during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hunan Province. The noisy voices on the street made Wang Xiuren unable to help but look out through the window. The moon was high in the sky and the lights were bright on the world.

"The Mid-Autumn Festival in Yancheng is not as lively as this!" Wang Xiuren was very excited, "Shall we go out and see the excitement?"

Lin Qiu also wanted to watch the fun, but was worried that there were too many people and something might happen, so he was a little hesitant.

Wang Shan couldn't wait to pick up the small lantern she brought back from the nursery, held Lin Qiu's hand, shook it constantly, and shouted that she wanted to go out.

Lin Qiu couldn't stand his daughter's coquettish offensive, so he had to repeatedly remind Wang Shan: "You must hold daddy tightly, don't let go!"

After saying that, he stared at Wang Xiuren again.

"I will hold Shanshan tightly and never let her get down to the ground!" Wang Xiuren promised solemnly.

The east wind blows thousands of flowers into bloom at night, and blows down stars like rain.

Lanterns of various colors, hung high, illuminate the streets as bright as day. Children who could no longer contain their excitement were running around the streets, carrying their homemade lanterns. Adults also went out in twos and threes to admire the moon and the lanterns, adding to the beautiful scenery.

Small vendors who had already smelled the business opportunity had set up their stalls under the lanterns on both sides of the street early. The stalls were filled with all kinds of delicious and fun things. They shouted loudly and greeted enthusiastically the adults and children passing by.

Wang Xiuren and his family walked slowly, looking at the lanterns hanging on both sides of the street, and discussing from time to time which lantern had the better color. Which lantern has a more novel style? When Lin Qiu comes across delicious snacks, he will buy one and share it with the whole family. Walk, look, and eat along the way, from one end of the street to the other, then turn around and continue shopping. Like everyone else on the street, their faces were filled with festive joy.

The climax of the whole event, or the most anticipated program of the whole evening, is the lighting of sky lanterns. Sky lantern is also called Kongming lantern. A large lamp is made of paper, with a candle lit underneath it. The heat rises and causes the lamp to fly in the air. People often write blessings or wishes on Kongming lanterns, or express their thoughts or hopes for their dreams to come true.

As the first Kongming lantern flew into the sky, the second and third followed closely and slowly rose up. Before long, one after another Kongming lanterns rose up in the night sky and gradually drifted away, injecting infinite warmth and hope into this Mid-Autumn Night.

Almost everyone was shocked by this scene. The lights and the moon shone together, and the colorful light and shadows illuminated the fireworks and reunions of the world.

"Dad, hurry up! Hurry up!" Wang Shan urged Wang Xiuren anxiously, "The light is over there! Dad, chase it!"

Like all other children, Wang Shan wanted to chase the flying Kongming lantern. Her eyes were fixed on the group of children chasing the lights in front of her. She even twisted her body, trying to break free from Wang Xiuren's arms and follow them.

Wang Xiuren certainly couldn't let go, so he could only resign himself to following the group of children. Lin Qiu could only follow the father and daughter at a close distance.

The children ran very fast, rushing from the street into the alley, and then ran away to who knows where.

The lanterns in the alley were not as densely packed as those on the streets; they were sparsely scattered, and the candlelight was dim, so one could only faintly hear sounds coming from the distant streets.

"Dad, over there!"

Sharp-eyed Wang Shan pointed to the corner of the alley and shouted, "They're there!"

Wang Xiuren followed the direction of his daughter's finger and slowly walked towards that direction.

Suddenly a man of medium height came out carrying a child. He seemed a little anxious and walked very quickly. The child on his shoulder seemed a little unhappy, and kept crying and kicking his feet hard. If Wang Xiuren had not reacted quickly and turned his body, he would have been kicked.

Wang Xiuren felt something was strange for some reason, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Dad, it's Brother Ahao!" Wang Shan suddenly spoke, pointing at the back.

Ah Hao is the fat grandson of the landlord and goes to the same nursery as Wang Shan. Although I'm not very familiar with him, I can still recognize him.

A thought suddenly flashed into Lin Qiu's mind, "Oh no! That might be a kidnapper! Go after him!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuren put Wang Shan into Lin Qiu's arms and ran after him.