Chapter 253 Dragon Boat Festival
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival.
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of China's four major traditional festivals, a grand folk culture festival that integrates worshiping gods and ancestors, praying for blessings and warding off evil, wishing for good fortune and health, celebration and entertainment, and food.
The origins of the Dragon Boat Festival encompass ancient astronomical culture and humanistic philosophy. Due to differences in regional cultures, the details of the customs also vary.
There are many legends about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival.
There are commemorations of Qu Yuan, Wu Zixu, and Cao E, as well as the Xia solstice festival that originated in the Three Dynasties and the Wu-Yue ethnic totem worship festival, etc. The most profound and widespread influence is the legend of Qu Yuan.
Legend has it that during the Warring States period, Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the State of Chu, witnessed the invasion and conquest of Chu by enemy forces. His heart was breaking, but he could not bear to abandon his homeland. So, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, he embraced a stone and jumped into the Miluo River to commit suicide.
Later generations, deeply saddened and in remembrance, designated the fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year as a festival to commemorate Qu Yuan.
In May 2006, the Dragon Boat Festival was included in the first batch of the "National Intangible Cultural Heritage List" by the State Council.
In September 2009, UNESCO officially approved the inclusion of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it the first Chinese festival to be included in the World Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
The Dragon Boat Festival has a wide influence in the world, and many countries and regions also have activities to celebrate it.
Since ancient times, China has had festival activities such as dragon boat racing, sacrificial rites and prayers, and eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).
The annual dragon boat race in Pingcheng is the most prominent feature of traditional cultural festivals.
When Bai Lu, Xiao Cheng, and Xiao Wei set off, the streets were already filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and enthusiastic people were crowding around the lion dance troupe heading to the riverbank. Firecrackers were set off from time to time, and the air was filled with laughter and joy, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
Today is a sunny day. The sun is high in the sky, the sky is blue with white clouds, and the river breeze is gently caressing our faces.
Forty-five participating teams have gathered on the banks of the Gui River, encouraging and inspiring each other on the green grass.
Family, relatives, and friends who came to cheer for him had already arrived in the new town, strolling through the streets, buying some roasted chestnuts and other snacks, and making plans to go to the riverbank to watch the dragon boat races.
Everyone has a holiday for the Dragon Boat Festival.
The boys and girls who dedicate their youth, acquire knowledge, and shape their future at school can finally put down their pens and give their tense brains a break.
Enjoy the holiday with joy, watch the games with passion, and cheer for your favorite team.
"Brother Cheng! Brother Cheng!"
"Look, look! Brother Cheng is here!"
"Our new town's champion team is here!"
The young people in the new town cheered excitedly when they saw Xiao Cheng and quickly made way for him as the champion.
Yesterday, the entrance could only accommodate five or six people, but today it has been widened to allow more than ten people to pass side by side.
The thorny bushes around the entrance and exit had been trampled into dust by the excited people, and all that could be seen was the entrance.
Outside the bamboo grove, by the river, children played and frolicked under the watchful eyes of adults, while simply dressed elderly people discussed which team would be this year's champion.
The energetic young people argued fiercely over who would win the dragon boat race.
No matter how poor life is, festivals always ignite the passion in people's hearts, allowing them to forget their troubles with joy and celebration.
"Brother Xiao Cheng, Bai Lu, wait for me!" Wang Cuihua caught up from behind, holding a small bag of melon seeds in her hand, and her brightly colored new clothes stunned passersby.
Passersby quickly made way for him.
Bai Lu was very fortunate to witness Xiao Cheng being given melon seeds for the first time in both his past and present lives.
"Brother Xiao Cheng, these melon seeds are delicious! They're fragrant and crunchy, you should try some!"
Comrade Wang Cuihua completely ignored Bai Lu and Xiao Wei, and presented Xiao Cheng with a bag of freshly bought, fragrant melon seeds, looking at him expectantly.
Passersby nearby stopped to watch out of curiosity.
Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu are husband and wife; everyone in Xinzhen knows this.
The outsiders who came to participate in the competition were unaware of the situation, and in the few words of discussion around them, the sparks of gossip were ignited.
Xiao Wei thought his older brother definitely wouldn't want Wang Cuihua's melon seeds, but the next second, something completely unexpected happened.
The eldest brother actually accepted Wang Cuihua's melon seeds in front of everyone.
Then... I gave it to my sister-in-law!
He even used that doting tone, which even a deaf person could hear, to say to his sister-in-law, "Eat some melon seeds."
Bai Lu glanced at Wang Cuihua's thunderstruck expression and smiled tactfully, "Thank you for the melon seeds."
Of course, we should also thank the generous person who sent the melon seeds. Bai Lu cracked open a melon seed and gave it to Xiao Cheng.
After tasting it, Xiao Cheng commented, "It tastes good."
Wang Cuihua: "..."
Was Bai Lu doing this on purpose?
He deliberately took her sunflower seeds in front of her, peeled them, and gave them to Brother Xiao Cheng, just to provoke her!
Before even watching the dragon boat race, the onlookers had already received an appetizer, filling them up in a second.
This gossip is too big to swallow in one bite.
Let's save it for watching the game and having it with friends.
After Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu parted ways and Xiao Cheng went to the dragon boat team in Xinzhen, Wang Cuihua immediately ran over.
"Bai Lu, I'm coming to your house for dinner tonight!"
"No." Before Bai Lu could even speak, Xiao Wei decisively refused on her behalf.
Wang Cuihua ignored the refusal: "When I left, I threw a chicken over the wall into your yard. That's my dish for tonight. I'm going to your house for dinner tonight. I also made some zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). I'll take them to your house after watching the dragon boat race. I want to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with you."
Upon hearing the first sentence, Xiao Wei stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "You threw the chicken into our yard?"
After Wang Cuihua nodded in confirmation, Xiao Wei looked both angry and exasperated: "What are we going to do about the chickens running around the yard and pooping!"
Wang Cuihua looked innocent as she was glared at, and explained, "My feet are tied, so I won't run around."
It's certain that he'll poop.
Xiao Wei was so angry that he spun around on the spot: "Big Brother hates a dirty house the most. If he comes home and sees chicken droppings in the yard, he'll be furious. You still want to eat? Just wait until Big Brother throws you and the chickens out the door!"
Wang Cuihua was terrified by the terrible consequences and looked anxious and helpless: "What should we do?"
"What else can we do? Go back and catch the chickens, clean the yard, or we're all doomed."
Xiao Wei keeps all his old hens and chicks in the backyard, not allowing them to step into the front yard.
Wang Cuihua actually dared to throw chickens into the yard; Xiao Wei was so angry he wanted to breathe fire and roast the chickens.
Bai Lu was speechless at Wang Cuihua's actions; in order to stay for dinner, she actually threw the chicken into someone else's yard beforehand.
Everyone has a brain, but hers is the most clever; she always manages to walk right into the line of fire.
Bai Lu glanced at the dragon boat team that was already ready on the river and sighed helplessly, "Let's go back first."
Wang Cuihua meant well but caused a bad thing. Frightened and flustered, she immediately turned around and walked back.
Xiao Wei blocked Bai Lu's steps as she walked back: "Sister-in-law, give me the key. Biao's wife and I can go back. The competition is about to start, and my brother will be worried if he can't see you. You stay and cheer for him."
(End of this chapter)
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