As soon as the girls entered the room, their behavior was exactly the same as Yuan Yanyan's before. They all touched the books on the shelves and exclaimed in amazement.
Now, a group of orioles really flew into the bookstore, which was as small as a bird's nest, and made the originally deserted bookstore lively with their singing.
There is just one little oriole that can't sing.
The mute girl followed the round-faced girl, took the book she handed over with a smile, and listened to her chattering.
After everyone had chosen their books and the two maids had poured them tea, Xu Jiang invited them to sit down and talk. She served some snacks and fruit, then asked the two maids to help keep an eye on the stall before leaving.
It’s getting late and everyone has gone to the Lantern Festival. It’s better to wrap up early and treat these friends well.
When the servants saw Xu Jiang packing up her stall, they came forward to help, and soon they had packed all the things into the house.
The girls also brought their maids and servants with them, so Xu Jiang simply asked them to rest under a tree, and provided them with tea, cakes and snacks.
There was a table inside and outside with people, new and old friends, gathered together, talking about both elegant and vulgar things, and sharing the joy.
Xu Jiang watched with pleasure, chatting with them from time to time, or explaining things to them, until the lights came on and the music of drums and harps began, and then the girls realized that it was time to go see the lanterns.
Song Yi invited Yuan Yanyan to join him. Yuan Yanyan looked at Xu Jiang with pleading eyes. How could Xu Jiang bear her expression? She had no choice but to nod and agree.
The crowd cheered again and went out in a crowd. Before leaving, they paid for the books they had chosen and took them away.
Xu Jiang extinguished the fire, tidied up briefly, and went to the backyard to lead the donkey. Then she locked the door and followed Yuan's carriage to Jinchangfang.
The road is full of flowers, red and green are flying, and passers-by are all smiling and full of joy.
The closer they got to Jinchangfang, the more people there were and the harder it was for carriages and horses to move. The patrolling guards had to stop the carriages at Tongshan and Dayefang, two blocks near Jinchangfang, and order them to get off and walk.
The donkey could go in, so Xu Jiang helped Yuan Yanyan onto the donkey and led her away. Seeing this, the other girls all looked envious.
The Lantern Festival in Jinchangfang is as bright as day, with all the avenues brightly lit and all the lanterns exquisite. As soon as the little girls enter the street, cheers are heard. Sometimes they go in groups of three or two, and sometimes they gather in a group to appreciate and comment on the lanterns they like.
Only Yuan Yanyan was sitting on the donkey, led by Xu Jiang, looking at the passing lanterns one by one.
Xu Jiang asked, "Do you want to come down?"
Yuan Yanyan touched the donkey's head and shook her head, "That's good."
Seeing her like this, Xu Jiang guessed that the girl would definitely ask Yuan Zuzhi to buy a donkey when she returned. Then she looked at the stupid donkey, which was so docile that it looked so happy when being stroked.
There are not only lanterns in the Lantern Market, but also various toys, rouge, fans, silk and other things that girls like, as well as many food stalls.
"Are you hungry?"
"Not hungry," Yuan Yanyan shook her head. Her spleen and stomach were weak, so she had to strictly follow a diet that restricted her from eating too much or too many different foods. The pastries she had eaten at Xujiangsi earlier were enough.
Xu Jiang did not try to persuade her. She knew that Yuan Yanyan had many rules to follow, and she had maids and servants following her. If she was hungry or tired, they would provide for her, so she didn't have to worry too much.
"Sister, let's take a look at that." Yuan Yanyan pointed to a stall selling ribbons and begged Xu Jiang to go over.
"Okay." Xu Jiang smiled and led the donkey over.
The stalls were filled with ribbons of all colors, all tied in various styles. The most common ones were auspicious knots. After all, this was near the Da Ci'en Temple, and auspicious knots originated from Buddhist temples, so naturally they sold well.
Yuan Yanyan leaned over and picked up a pair of jade rings and ribbons. She looked at them over and over again, then compared them to her body and asked Xu Jiang, "Sister, do they look good?"
Xu Jiang nodded, "It looks good."
Yuan Yanyan handed the jade ring and ribbon to the stall owner, asked the price, asked her maid to pay, and asked the stall owner to pack it up.
"I want to give it to Red Hoe."
"Thank you for thinking about her. I thank you on her behalf." Xu Jiang touched her head and took her hand to continue walking forward.
Song Yiben was walking in front when he saw the towering flaming trees in the distance. He quickly turned back and pointed at Yuan Yanyan, saying, "Yanyan, look! It's a flaming tree."
The fire tree is made by lighting hundreds of lights and tying them onto a tall tree. From a distance it looks like a burning tree, hence the name fire tree.
Behind the flaming trees was the Ci'en Temple Pagoda, also ablaze with Buddhist lanterns. Xu Jiang pulled Yuan Yanyan to a stop in front of the Great Ci'en Temple and said to her, "There are too many people inside. How about we just watch from outside?"
Yuan Yanyan looked at the crowds of well-dressed people inside, and remembered her mother's instructions. She nodded and said, "Okay, I can also see the Buddha lights and listen to the scriptures here."
Xu Jiang felt that she was docile and well-behaved, and couldn't help but pinch her face again, then took her to the side, afraid that she would block others' way. After they found a suitable place, they went to look for Song Yi and others, but found that they had disappeared.
"They went inside." said a maid.
"Then we'll wait here until they finish looking at the lights and come out."
"good."
Yuan Yanyan looked around, Xu Jiang looked around, Yuan Yanyan looked at the lights, Xu Jiang looked at people.
There were patrol posts in Da Ci'en Temple, one every ten steps, with five people on each post. Xu Jiang looked over one by one and finally saw the patrol guards wearing the official uniform of Dali Temple, but did not see Lou Yunchun.
He must be patrolling somewhere else.
Suddenly, cheers were heard in the temple, mixed in with the cheers was the chanting of monks, and Buddhist lamps were lit, and sutras were chanted and worshipped.
Xu Jiang and Yuan Yanyan stretched their necks to look inside, and saw rows of Buddhist lamps being lit by monks, and the people followed the monks in worshiping and praying sincerely.
Xu Jiang was just about to perform a Buddhist ritual when she suddenly remembered that Lou Yunchun had hit her hands last time. She couldn't help but chuckle and untied her hands.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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