Chapter 290 New Year (Part 4)

This Sichuan opera performance was extremely impressive.

Many people were reluctant to leave when the show ended, lingering there with unfinished business, waiting for the next performance.

Yun Zhao and his group then went to visit the lantern festival.

The group weaved through the bustling crowd, occasionally drawn to the colorful lights along the roadside.

The lanterns, made using traditional techniques, are colorful and hang at varying heights on the frame. The intricately woven bamboo strips create a majestic silhouette.

It felt like being in an ocean of light.

The crowd was bustling, with laughter and chatter rising and falling.

The little bluebird stood on her head, craning its neck curiously to look around.

Yun Zhao had already erected a barrier to shield Xie Tu and the rabbit from noise coming from all directions.

The rabbit was very happy. "Sister Yun Zhao, let's go win the lantern!"

As he spoke, he pulled her toward a crowded area.

Xie Tu followed behind at a leisurely pace, followed by Qi Ling, who dared not look up.

The base organizes events with the aim of getting more ordinary residents involved. Most of the lanterns are won through the events, but you can also buy them with points.

There were just too many people who wanted to win the lantern.

Let alone participating in the event, Yun Zhao and her friends couldn't even register. There was a long registration line over there, and according to the people in front, they would have to wait for one or two hours.

Finally, Xie Tuhua used his points to buy a cup.

Yun Zhao received a lantern with only a phoenix painted on it. The phoenix on the paper was lifelike, and the delicate brushstrokes depicted it as being surrounded by raging flames.

It's a scene of a phoenix rising from the ashes.

It symbolizes new life.

Yun Zhao looked around but didn't see any lanterns related to Qingluan.

The Azure Phoenix is ​​not as famous among the common people as the Fire Phoenix.

When most people think of the phoenix, they seem to automatically picture a crimson fire phoenix.

Qi Ling's bird is a red-crowned crane.

The lanterns at the base are the most numerous and are also the most popular style and pattern among the public.

Of course, the rabbit specifically asked for a rabbit lantern.

Yun Zhao turned to look at Xie Tu, who was gently holding the lantern rope. The lantern swayed gracefully in the night sky, and he looked up at Xie Tu.

Their eyes met.

The surrounding noise seemed to be quietly covered up, and the dim lights seemed to have become a hazy background.

The warm lamplight cast dappled shadows, yet it alone illuminated Yun Zhao's clear and bright face, much like a single star reflected on a tranquil lake.

"What's yours?" Yun Zhao asked.

Xie Tuju showed her the inscription: "Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix."

Yun Zhao looked at it carefully for a while, then asked suspiciously, "Aren't you going to choose the Fire Phoenix?"

Xie Tu: "I'm tired of seeing it."

Fire Phoenix: [...]

Unfortunately, she wasn't there.

Perhaps I could suggest that the image of the Azure Phoenix be included in future similar events.

The rabbit came closer and asked curiously, "Why did people in the old days put dragons and phoenixes together? They are clearly two different species."

"It has a good meaning."

Qi Ling, who received the lantern, was clearly moved and subconsciously replied, "The dragon and the phoenix are the most representative auspicious beasts in traditional culture, symbolizing good fortune and happiness."

"Okay, let's go take a look over there."

The rabbit didn't hesitate and happily continued strolling around with Yun Zhao.

The four people carried the lanterns and walked forward.

The flow of people was like a surging tide, wave after wave, yet it did not appear chaotic at all; instead, it was brimming with vitality.

As they strolled around, they couldn't resist any longer and lined up to sign up for a lantern riddle game.

Across the crowd.

Yun Zhao also saw the town's children standing up, gazing at a giant lantern with their mouths slightly open, full of amazement and longing.

Before we knew it, it was exactly twelve o'clock.

The New Year's bells rang.

A complete stranger suddenly shouted into the crowd, "Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year..." someone replied instinctively.

At first, there were only a few voices of agreement, but later more and more people joined in.

"Happy New Year!" The voices suddenly rose in pitch, converging in layers, surging in from all directions.

Shouts rose and fell, weaving together a moving melody that echoed under the night sky.

Yun Zhao also whispered, "Happy New Year."

May the sentinels find a way out of dire situations and always be safe on every mission.

We hope the base will be as impregnable as an iron fortress, with a continuous supply of energy, warmth in the cold winter, freedom from famine, and an end to the nightmares of darkness.

May the spark of science and technology be rekindled, restoring the world to its original state, so that children can play carefree and laughter can fill the streets as it does today.

By then.

The harsh winter will eventually pass, and the dawn will eventually break.

May spring bring warmth and flowers, and may smiles always be with you.

＊

The festivities continued until late at night before the crowds gradually dispersed.

After dropping off the rabbit and Yun Zhao at home, Xie Tu drove Qi Ling back to their residence outside the city.

Fearing she would damage the car, Qi Ling squatted alone in the back of the vehicle.

He was deeply moved by what he had seen and heard that evening, and his gaze became somewhat vacant.

Outside the car window.

The sentries standing guard and patrolling everywhere, along with the desolate scenery rushing by, all contrasted sharply with the clamor of the crowd just moments before.

This makes the brief moment of excitement all the more precious.

“I haven’t said ‘Happy New Year’ for many years.”

Qi Ling said, "Back in our day, we would receive a bunch of New Year's greetings in our contact list. Everyone just did it as a routine, sending and forwarding them to the same group. Several people would even use the same format."

That was a superficial form of social interaction.

For people in the old days, the Lunar New Year was simply a celebration that was taken for granted in ordinary days, an excuse to eat, drink, and have fun.

"Times have changed. Ordinary people in the wasteland era lived a very hard life. They were trapped inside the base, and some never even left the base in their entire lives."

Xie Tu focused on driving and replied calmly, "World peace and abundance make it easier for people to become complacent and morally deteriorate."

Countless monsters roam outside, and polluted areas spread everywhere.

People are overwhelmed by the pressure of survival.

The base needs to give them hope, not let them live like zombies. This is the original intention behind the base's willingness to spend resources to hold events.

Qi Ling murmured, "I can't believe that humanity has endured for two hundred years in such a terrible world."

Xie Tu nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed straight ahead, and told him about something else, "Professor Qi sent me a message this afternoon."

Qi Ling froze upon hearing this, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes until her knuckles turned white. She lowered her head and said in a muffled voice, "You don't need to tell me these things."

He didn't want to hear it.

Qi Ling once fantasized about finding a sliver of solace in those similar eyes and brows.

Qi Shiqi, however, dealt him a heavy blow.

The cold word "experiment" was like a poisoned arrow, piercing straight through all his aspirations and embedding itself in the softest part of his heart.

The two did not exchange a single word from beginning to end.

Qi Ling doesn't have a communication device; outsiders can only contact him through others.

But Qi Ling guessed that Qi Shiqi wouldn't have anything nice to say.

It's probably because he left the research institute that the data collection changed from daily to weekly. That research fanatic probably contacted Captain Xie to urge him to provide more data.

After all, it is hoped that the base has also joined the ranks of those studying him.

Qi Shiqi had all of his data reports.

It's not what you think.

Xie Tu looked out the window, paused for a moment, and slowly said, "He just asked me to tell you that he wishes you a Happy New Year."

Qi Ling froze, as if rooted to the spot.

He hesitated, his lips trembling, and remained silent for a long time.