118 Chapter 118
◎Lantern◎
He looked at her silently. Cheng Mu didn't know what he was thinking, but this posture was extremely inappropriate. She supported her body with her hands behind her back, which gradually became weak. She simply freed one hand and placed it on his chest.
After putting it on, she realized that something was even more wrong. What she was holding down was his pounding heart.
No matter how dark the environment is, you will see more and more clearly if you stay there for a long time. His eyes, which were staring at her, were bright and wild, with silent desire. Cheng Mu felt uncomfortable all over.
She couldn't help but ask: "When did you have this idea about me?"
"Always," he said.
Cheng Mu reminded him, "We are uncle and sister-in-law."
"Not really."
He was playing dirty, crossing the line without permission. Cheng Mu was distraught. "You're acting like this today. Are you prepared to stop communicating with me in the future?"
"Since sister-in-law said so..." He lowered his head and touched her forehead, then raised one hand to stroke her cheek, "I don't want to suffer any loss."
Cheng Mu realized that something was wrong and quickly withdrew the hand that could no longer suppress his heart, blocking his mouth.
The back of her hand was warm and wet, which made her feel itchy.
She couldn't bear it any longer and collapsed on the table, but he quickly picked her up and held her tightly in front of him.
Was this a dream? It had to be a dream. Occasionally, she would have such dreams under the influence of hormones, which made her long for a strong embrace. She never knew who the person in the dream was, but why was she so clear at this moment that the man was Mu Yun? Was he a man? No—
Reason suddenly returned, and Cheng Mu shouted sharply: "Mu Yun!"
Mu Yun hugged the person he had been thinking about day and night, a soft and fragrant ball in his arms. His blood rushed to his body and he wanted to do more, but she had already made it clear that they didn't need to have any contact in the future. People like her were very tenacious and could break off the relationship without any hesitation. It didn't necessarily mean that she had to do it with him. You have to eat one bite at a time and food doesn't grow in a day. He could only suppress it.
He let her go and sat down at the table dejectedly, his eyes dim. He said, "Don't bother me."
Cheng Mu was furious and annoyed: "Don't pretend, you know what you did!"
Mu Yun looked at her in silence.
Cheng Mu gritted her teeth and said coldly, "Leave here."
What about the future? Mu Yun didn't dare to ask, and Cheng Mu didn't say anything absolute.
There were sporadic sounds of firecrackers in the distance, and the new year had arrived.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi got up very early, dressed neatly, and came together to pay New Year's greetings to Cheng Mu. Huaihua and Yapo were also very happy. They put on new clothes and kowtowed to the host to wish him a happy New Year.
Cheng Xi handed out the red envelopes that she had prepared late into the night.
Xiaoliu greeted them and then went to wish his little father a happy new year.
Cheng Mu thought of Mu Yun and felt uncomfortable. Last night, because of his transgression, she tossed and turned until dawn, when she finally fell into a drowsy sleep.
What made her even more uncomfortable was that he came to wish her a happy new year a little while later.
She had no mood to listen to the New Year greetings. All she was thinking about was how to get along in the future. It would be too unlucky to bring up this matter during the New Year. In the end, she decided to put it aside and settle the score after the New Year.
Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi took Mu Yun out to visit their neighbors to wish them a happy new year.
Cheng Mu asked Wanli to put a basket of fried peanuts in the gatehouse, and give a handful to anyone who came to the door to say auspicious words and wish a happy new year.
Early in the morning, the streets and alleys are bustling with activity.
When Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi returned, their cloth bags were overflowing. They eagerly dumped the food onto the table and explained to Cheng Mu that it was all gifts from so-and-so's family. Among them was a handful of sorghum malt candy, each one meticulously wrapped in oil paper, from Master Zhuang's family.
"The village chief's family gave us malt sugar." Xiaoliu picked out two long white hard candies. "This can be broken up and eaten. Mom, why didn't we make candy? Children like to eat candy."
"Pulling candy is a strenuous job. It's not easy to pull it off this white. I'll do it next time."
Xiao Qi said as a matter of course: "Let Dad do the hard work, he has plenty of strength."
Yes, turning her over and throwing her up, there was so much strength that had nowhere to go - what was she thinking! Cheng Xi came to her senses and put the back of her hand against her hot cheek.
"Your young father will be moving out soon, and it's not convenient for someone who's getting married to live with us. You have to learn to do everything by yourself in the future." Cheng Mu gave a warning first.
Fortunately, the two children were very receptive to this matter and did not think there was anything wrong with it.
"Mom, what's the most beautiful lantern you've ever seen? I just heard at the village head's house that the government is holding a lantern parade during the Lantern Festival, and we want to make the best one and take it over." Xiaoliu said, "The prize is ten taels of silver."
Time was too tight, what could they possibly accomplish? Folk artisans were even more skilled, capable of designing any exquisite lantern. But Cheng Mu didn't discourage the two children, instead searching through all her memories of her past life and her original self.
"There are moving fish and dragon lanterns, shrimp and crab lanterns, and cicada lanterns, which are very interesting. There are also rolling lanterns whose candle flames will not go out no matter how much they roll, which requires exquisite design. There are also box lanterns, which display different scenes layer by layer when lit. These are not easy to make and are the secrets of lantern making families."
Xiaoqi was stunned, and Xiaoliu was very envious, "We have never seen either." Last year in Tianma Town, she had only seen bowl-shaped lanterns and revolving lanterns.
"It's possible that we'll see it this year." Cheng Mu comforted her. Puyang City is a county town after all, and the lantern festival is led by the government, so we'll see some good things.
"Mom, please draw two for us." Xiaoqi blinked.
Cheng Mu thought about it and drew a bird-shaped handheld lantern and a handheld fish lantern. The fish was divided into three parts and the fish head could move.
The two children snatched the blueprints and ran away. It was good that she didn't have to do it.
In the afternoon, Xu Xiuying really came with her family to pay New Year's greetings.
Sao Hu came back this time, Li Yu came on behalf of Gui'er and the others. Cheng Mu asked if the road was easy to travel and who was looking after the manor.
Xu Xiuying told her not to worry, she had made all the arrangements at Zhuangzi and had sent two bodyguards over.
He asked about Yu and Jiuniu, mother and son, and Li Yu answered them one by one, saying that everything was fine.
"We all had New Year's Eve dinner together yesterday. We had two large tables. When we left this morning, Gui'er and her mother were still asleep."
"The heavy snow has blocked all the roads. Why do you have to come now? It won't hurt to wait a few days." Seeing that their boots were wet, Cheng Mu asked Sao Hu and Li Yu to use Wan Li's brazier to roast their boots and socks in the gatehouse, while Cheng Mu took Xu Xiuying and Badou to her room to roast them in a smoker.
"It's good that you're here. I have something for you to do. Stay here for a few more days."
"Madam Cheng, please give your orders."
Cheng Mu told Xu Xiuying about Wu Tao and the others' visit. The main point was that Mu Yun was about to get married. She let others imagine what was going on. As long as the matter was settled, it would be fine. "He's moving back to the escort agency soon. It won't be convenient for him to do many things in the future. I have some silver here. Ask Sao Hu to buy a donkey and a donkey cart. You can go back when you go back."
"That's not necessary. We're tough and can just walk back. Besides, there's no one clearing the snow, so driving on the road is inconvenient."
"I didn't buy it for you. Don't harness the cart yet, as there's so much snow. Drive the donkey back. Come pick me up on the second day of the second month. We can harness the cart then."
Xu Xiuying couldn't understand, "Madam Cheng, you already have several horses and a carriage, why did you buy a donkey?"
"I'll tell you later when I get back. Don't tell anyone. If anyone asks you about the donkey, just say you bought it yourself."
Xu Xiuying stopped asking questions. She had a feeling something was up, but after a few days, she couldn't figure out what it was. Everything was just like normal.
Because they wanted to buy a donkey and the market was not open, they stayed for a few more days and returned to Zhaojia Village on the eighth day of the first lunar month.
When Cheng Mu saw the donkey she had bought, she was quite satisfied with its black and smooth fur and strong hooves.
Badou was holding a small lantern and was lifted up by Saohu and sat on the donkey's back. Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi waved at him vigorously, his mind completely focused on the cute little lantern that looked like a chicken.
Xiao Liu sighed, "Badou has never seen anything good. He's so happy about a broken bird lantern that looks like a chicken."
These days, Xiaoliu, Xiaoqi, Badou and the others all gathered around Mu Yun, making lanterns day and night.
Mu Yun was there all day these days, and Cheng Mu tried to stay in the study to avoid running into him. If they met at dinner, she would ask Huaihua to bring food to her study. If she accidentally bumped into him when she stepped out of the room, Cheng Mu would just ignore him, not looking at him or responding.
If he dared to come forward and speak, she would immediately and rudely ask him to move out.
Fortunately, he was not so tactless.
On the Lantern Festival, Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi finally took out the bird lanterns and fish lanterns that they were satisfied with for Cheng Mu to appreciate. Xiaoqi held up the fish lantern, and the fish's body swayed, as if it were alive.
He introduced it to Cheng Mu: "The stick is hollowed out here, you can put a candle in it."
Cheng Xi praised: "It must be very beautiful at night."
Xiao Qi invited: "Mom, come out with us tonight. We have made masks."
Xiaoliu's mask was made of animal skin, Xiaoqi's was a paper rabbit doll, and the mask given to Cheng Mu was made of silver. Cheng Mu asked, "Did you make this? Don't lie to your mother." It must have been bought by Mu Yun. She would never wear anything bought by Mu Yun.
"We really did it," Xiaoliu said, his voice rising unconsciously. "We used a silver ingot I got from selling the Qianxi Box. We just melted it and poured it into the mold. It's not difficult!"
This prodigal girl.
Seeing Cheng Mu glaring at her, Xiao Liu quickly said, "I'm only lending it to you for one night, so you have to return it to me. Many women are going out tonight to get rid of their illnesses. Since you're so prone to illness, you must go out for a walk."
Xiao Qi echoed: "Yes, mother, go up to the top of the city wall, touch the door nails, cross the bridge when you see one, and go out for a walk to cure diseases and prolong life."
"Huaihua and the mute woman both made masks out of cloth."
Cheng Mu wanted to see what kind of masks Huaihua and Yapo would make.
At Xiaoliu's invitation, Huaihua and Yapo brought out the masks they had made for themselves.
Huaihua's mask is very simple, a piece of black velvet that covers the area above the nose, leaving the eyes exposed.
The mute woman's is very scary. She is made of a whole piece of green velvet, with eyes made into two balls of fire, a nose filled with cotton prosthesis, horns on her forehead, and teeth in her mouth, like an evil-faced demon.
In comparison, the silver mask prepared for her looked normal.
In the evening, several people dressed up, put on masks, and laughed at each other.
They all went out together, and the alleys were also filled with groups of people coming out.
On the Lantern Festival night, who can sit idle when seeing the moon? Where can I hear the lanterns and not look?
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