The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year. It is said that the gates of the underworld open on this day.
Every household prepares paper money and ingots in advance to burn for their ancestors, hoping that their ancestors will be prosperous in the other world and bless their living relatives with peace and happiness.
Almost as soon as the sun sets, there is no one on the streets.
Even during the day, the children are kept at home by their parents and not allowed to go out.
Even in the new capital, right under the emperor's nose, a place where dragon energy rises, this is the case.
But there is one exception: the best restaurant on the commercial street—Cyclamen.
Ten years ago, after the last battle at Tianwu Border, the barbarian cavalry of the grasslands were wiped out, and the Northern Expeditionary Army had completely completed its mission and began to slowly fade from the world's attention.
But from that time on, cyclamen had an unwritten rule.
They don't operate on the 15th of each month, but the stove in the back kitchen is always lit.
On this day, wounded soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army would come to receive subsidies, two hundred coins per person, not much, but enough for one person to eat and drink their fill.
Moreover, there are doctors on duty, and the consultations, medicines, ointments, and medicinal wines are all free.
In May, there are two sets of summer clothes, and in September, there are padded jackets, trousers, and cotton boots.
After receiving the money and goods, you can find a table to sit down and eat and drink as you please.
This food and drink was not limited to wounded soldiers; anyone who came from the Northern Expeditionary Army, whether they were generals or soldiers, or whether they were still in the army, could sit down and get together.
The source of this subsidy, along with the medicine and clothing, is also subject to much speculation.
Some say it was given by the imperial court, some say it was left by the missing marquis for the wounded soldiers, and others say it was from the Li family's business profits.
But neither the new emperor nor the Li family ever offered an explanation, and things remained ambiguous.
When the wounded soldiers received the gifts, they all held their heads high and chests out, never feeling that it was charity.
Some of them lost their hands and feet, some lost their ears, some went blind, and some even walked with crutches.
This is a permanent wound they sustained while fighting for Tianwu.
Tianwu will ensure they have enough to eat and wear for the rest of their lives and live with dignity!
Year after year passed. Some people got married and had children, some found a way to make a living, and some simply stayed at home to farm.
No matter what they do, as long as they can make a living, they will stop receiving subsidies.
However, coming to the celestial restaurant for drinks on the fifteenth of each month has become a habit and a source of joy.
On this day, before the sun had even climbed halfway up the sky, the Cyclamen restaurant was already packed.
The veterans, holding their teacups, reminisced about their bravery and valor on the battlefield back then, while also talking about how most soldiers today are cowards. Their spittle flew as they spoke, creating a lively and animated atmosphere.
"Back in the day, I killed two barbarians with a single stroke! Heads flew everywhere, and blood spurted like a fountain!" An old soldier who had lost his ears boasted especially loudly.
Unfortunately, the old buddies sitting next to him all knew his background.
Someone bluntly exposed him, "Haha, Brother Sun, don't brag. Two heads in one stroke? That's the Marquis's skill! His battle sword is long and sharp, making it the easiest for him to do. Our waist knives are lucky if they can cut off a barbarian's head without getting stuck in the bone!"
"That's right, that's right! Back then, our knives weren't anything special. They're nothing like the waist knives these kids have now. They're sharp and sturdy. I'm so envious!" The others chimed in.
Just as Sun Laosan was about to shout again, someone entered the room.
Everyone turned to look, then burst into laughter and stood up.
"Commander Wei, you've finally decided to go out!"
"Erniu, haha, you're not busy at home taking care of your grandson anymore!"
"What a rare sight! A guest who's come all this way to brag to us!"
Wei Erniu was once the commander of the Marquis's guards, and in terms of fierceness and bravery, he was definitely among the top three.
But over the years, he stayed in the new village, leading everyone to protect the Broken Gold Beach. He ate and drank his fill every day, and didn't have to work hard, so he inevitably gained weight.
Putting everything else aside, his belly is bigger than that of a woman who is five months pregnant!
He was wearing a thin satin shirt and a rich man's hat, looking like a wealthy merchant, and his smile was harmless.
As he bowed to his old buddies, he joked, "You all take advantage of my good temper these days. I just had a grandson last month and was taking a day off at home, which delayed me from drinking with you, and you treat me like this. You're so heartless! If I had known you would act like this, I wouldn't have brought that cart of jade melons outside!"
The crowd immediately became excited and started shouting.
"Haha, you actually brought a jade melon!"
"Exactly! You should have said so earlier! If you had, I wouldn't have bothered with you, and it would have been so much more enjoyable to just watch the drama unfold!"
As soon as he said this, a dozen or so people ran out from the doorway, each carrying in two jade melons.
The young men, all smiles, took knives from the kitchen and went from table to table helping to cut open the jade melons.
Before long, everyone was enjoying the jade melon to their heart's content.
Wei Erniu also grabbed a big piece, munching on it while scolding his old brothers.
"It's just you guys, living a life of luxury without end! Go back thirty years, not one of you came back from the battlefield with half-crippled arms and legs, yet you still managed to live such a respectable life!"
"These jade melons are two taels of silver each! The master specifically instructed me to bring a whole cartload, a full hundred taels of silver! I was so heartbroken on the way here that I almost shouted out and sold them off!"
Everyone burst into laughter and bantered with him.
"So you're just a head guard, not a master, because you're not magnanimous enough! We're happy that the master cares about us! You can't be jealous!"
"That's right, that's right! Everyone in our village says that if they had known that they should have followed Hou... followed the master to fight, they would have never had to worry about food and clothing for the rest of their lives. He insisted on sending his son to the Northern Expeditionary Army!"
Some people, seeing that everyone upstairs and downstairs was one of their own, asked in a low voice, "How has the host been feeling lately? Where is he staying? Is there anything we can do to help him?"
The others, upon hearing this, all stared expectantly at Wei Erniu.
Wei Erniu, of course, knew they were referring to the Marquis, so he smiled and waved his hand, "Don't worry, the Marquis is doing well. I heard he recently went out with the Princess to travel and enjoy the scenery. I wonder where they are! Don't worry, our Marquis won't be bullied wherever he goes!"
That's true, unless someone's tired of living!
Everyone nodded and resumed eating with smiles.
Soon, the sun climbed high overhead, and the food and wine were served.
Wei Erniu looked at the account books and got an understanding of the situation of his old brothers.
For example, how many people received subsidies, and how many people suffered from chronic ailments such as leg pain.
Finally, he ate a bite haphazardly and then planned to go home and hold his grandson.
"Brothers, eat and drink your fill, and head home early. It's the Ghost Festival today, don't stay up too late. Be careful, or some unclean spirits might follow you home!"
He gave a few instructions and then got up.
The crowd curled their lip in disdain and waved them away.
"Go back now, and stop saying such embarrassing things!"
"That's right, I've lost at least eighty, if not a hundred, of my men! Even ghosts would run away in fear if they saw me!"
"Haha, that's right!"
Wei Erniu shook his head, cursed a few times, and quickly retreated.
The remaining veterans, as if they had won a battle, laughed heartily and then raised their glasses in unison.
"Come, brothers, let us toast this peaceful and prosperous age, let us toast the peace and freedom of our master, let us toast our past, and let us toast the invincible Northern Expeditionary Army!"
Cheers! Cheers!
"cheers!"
A hundred or so people clinked glasses together. As the strong liquor went down their throats, the past glories in their minds did not become blurred, but rather became clearer!
A hero grows old, there are regrets, but no sorrow.
The world has not failed them for their perseverance in the face of adversity and their unwavering spirit.
They shed blood, but they never shed tears!
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