The weather on April 8th is really nice.
Not only is the sky clear, but there are also some white clouds floating in the air, blocking the bright sunlight. There is also a slightly cool breeze blowing, allowing pedestrians to feel a hint of coolness.
The temple fair is very lively.
Let’s not talk about the various snack stalls for now.
Even the tea stalls, rouge and powder, incense, candles, paper money, needles and thread, baskets and mats, root carvings and wood carvings, jade and stone tools, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, gold, silver and jewelry, etc., are all available.
There were even somersaults and acrobatics; crosstalk and clapper talk; people performing stone-breaking performances, stilt walking and land boat racing, jumping through fire rings and swallowing swords; people setting up stages for martial arts competitions; people setting up stages for opera performances; magicians; people setting up chess games; people reading faces, telling fortunes, drawing lots, and reading bones; there were even monkey trainers, cockfighting, and Guanpu (a Chinese poker game)…
In short, there is nothing it doesn’t sell, except what you can’t think of.
Except for the old couple and Xia Yujiao, all the Xia family members came to visit the temple fair, but each branch went separately.
The old couple didn't come because they were too old to move, and the weather was getting hotter, so they were even more impatient with crowds.
Xia Yujiao said she wanted to accompany the old couple, but in fact she simply didn't want to go out.
However, the other branches really came to visit the temple fair, while Wu and the fourth branch of the Xia family came to see Lihua.
The eldest wife originally lived in the town, so it was more convenient for her to come to the temple fair than her relatives in the countryside.
The second wife and her husband were both very fond of festivities, so they naturally wouldn't miss the temple fair. Almost everyone in the second wife's household went out, leaving only Erlang at home.
The third branch of the family was relatively small, so if Wu came, she could easily bring along Xia Youxi and her two children, Lanhua and Juhua. It would have been more natural for the two families to meet the Dai family together.
Cheng from the fifth room didn't like crowds, but Liu Lang and Zao Hua had been looking forward to the temple fair for a long time, so they had no choice but to come along.
However, with so many people, it would not be a good idea to have a large crowd everywhere, so when the Xia family entered the town, they consciously dispersed and went about their own business according to the houses.
The third and fourth wives walked together for a while, then found a tea stall and sat down for a while to rest their feet and have a cup of tea.
After a while, the time agreed with the Dai family was approaching.
The Xia family hurriedly paid the bill, got up and walked out of the tea stall.
In less than half a quarter of an hour, the Dai family showed up as promised, and their timing was spot on.
The moment the Dai family saw Lihua, they all smiled with satisfaction. Except for Dai Sanlang.
Dai Sanlang first looked Lihua up and down critically, and then nodded rather reservedly, indicating that Lihua had passed his test.
Seeing Dai Sanlang's attitude, Xia Daohua felt a nameless anger rising to her forehead.
This Dai Sanlang can indeed be considered good-looking.
But Xia Daohua, who is used to seeing all kinds of modern beauties, doesn't quite understand what there is to be proud of in growing up to be such an ordinary handsome guy.
It is obvious that their family is satisfied with Lihua, but Xia Daohua is not satisfied with Dai Sanlang.
Regardless of other factors, just looking at their looks, there is a huge gap between Dai Sanlang and Lihua.
Lihua's looks were top-notch. Dai Sanlang's were just average, regular-looking. Or, to put it another way, he was one of those "slightly flat-headed, straight-faced" types.
What's more, it doesn't seem like a good character to be so proud just because of his appearance.
Lihua looked at Dai Sanlang openly, without saying a word or blushing.
Xia Daohua quickly realized that Lihua felt the same way she did—this guy looked okay, but just okay, not particularly handsome. What on earth was he so proud of?
"Lihua, talk to your aunt..."
Among the people from the Dai family, the woman who looked more than ten years older than Jiang was probably Dai Sanlang's mother. She had already taken Lihua's hand affectionately, carefully observing her appearance while starting to chat and ask questions:
"I heard that you are very hardworking and capable. Are you the one who takes care of your younger brothers and sisters at home?"
Unexpectedly, Lihua pulled her hand out gently:
"Auntie, just talk, there's no need to be so affectionate."
Mother Dai's expression turned grim for a moment, but she quickly suppressed it and returned to a kind smile.
"Oh my, why are you still shy, kid?"
Lihua didn't respond, but just stared at her quietly with her big eyes until she couldn't say anything more. Suddenly, a wave of awkwardness filled the air.
Xia Daohua smiled beside him and complained quietly in her heart:
"Hey, Lihua is not an ordinary young lady. If you want to use the same tricks on ordinary young ladies, I'm afraid it won't work!"
Mother Dai seemed a little angry. She let Lihua go and went to find Wu:
"When you mentioned your niece to me, you praised her to the skies. How come she's such a rude person?"
Wu's expression also turned ugly:
"Aunt Dai, we have been neighbors for many years. When have I ever boasted to anyone?
I wouldn't say my niece is anything but amazing, but she's definitely exceptional in every way! She's always been filial and sensible, and she's extremely respectful of the elderly. How could she possibly not know etiquette?
I think you must have done something rude and irritated her first!"
Mother Dai's expression turned even uglier. She had been filled with joy when she had just held Lihua's hand. But she hadn't expected this girl to be so stubborn and give her the cold shoulder.
At this moment, she came to her senses and felt that Lihua's expression clearly showed that she didn't like Dai Sanlang!
Otherwise, shouldn't I try my best to please my future mother-in-law? How dare she contradict me in public?
However, before she could say anything more to complain, Dai Sanlang's father, the one Wu called "Uncle Dai", had already spoken to stop her:
"Okay, who told you to get so close to her so enthusiastically and even startle her, scaring her child?
You are already so old, and you behaved inappropriately, yet you still have the nerve to complain to your beloved!
I think Lihua is a good kid. She is graceful and neither humble nor overbearing, and there is nothing wrong with her etiquette.
While talking, Dai's father winked at Dai's mother:
"If you ask me, let's not just stand there like idiots. Let's walk a little further, take in the sights, chat, and it won't interfere with our visit to the temple fair, right?"
Dai's mother noticed Dai's father's look, smiled embarrassedly, bowed to Wu, apologized sincerely, and turned to talk to Jiang.
On Dai's side, he went to find Xia Youtian with a smile on his face.
The two pairs of parents walked forward slowly, leaving Dai Sanlang, Dai Sanlang's sisters Dai Ping'er and Dai Chuan'er with the children.
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