Chapter 152 Auspicious Offerings for a Peaceful and Prosperous Land
They were all quite tall, but they were insignificant compared to the throngs of people rushing forward. They held the ends of their chopsticks tightly, barely managing to touch the leaping flames of the flower cake. After several passes, the cake slowly changed color and began to steam.
Seeing this, Bai Ming quickly tiptoed and withdrew his already numb arm. The slightly charred dough mixed with the sweet aroma of red dates suddenly filled his lungs. He bent down and held the flower cake in front of Yang Xiao, gently blowing on the steam rising from it.
"It smells so good!" Yang Xiao sniffed the flower cake in front of her and couldn't wait to break it off, but she was burned and gasped.
"Hey, slow down!" Bai Ming stopped Yang Xiao with a wry smile, gently blew on the flower cake, carefully broke off a piece, and held it to Yang Xiao's lips, "Be careful, it's hot."
Yang Xiao didn't care about anything else, just gave it a couple of perfunctory blows, and then took a bite.
The aroma of caramelized bread fills the air as you bite into it. Beside the crispy exterior and tender interior of the pastry are sweet and delicate red dates. The soft, crumbly pastry and the sweet, juicy dates blend perfectly, filling your mouth with fragrance.
Yang Xiao was so hot that she couldn't speak for a moment, and could only nod vigorously at Bai Ming in a daze.
Seeing this, Bai Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud. He broke off another piece of flower cake and placed it in front of Yang Xiao before it was pushed back.
"Don't always worry about me," Yang Xiao said, chewing on the flower cake and smiling as she pushed it back in front of him. "You've been baking it for so long, you should try some too."
"Okay." Bai Ming nodded with a smile and put the piece of flower cake into his mouth.
Yang Xiao swallowed the flower cake in her mouth, looked at his surprised expression, and nodded in satisfaction. She smiled and put her arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder, "What good taste, Xiao Yan. You like Yangquan City so much, it's not just for this flower cake, is it?"
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Xiao Yan said with a smile, shaking his head. “Look at the firewood, how vibrant it is! Folk customs and traditions are everywhere, it’s just that you’re too busy fighting to notice them.”
“That makes sense.” Yang Xiao nodded while chewing on a flower cake. “When we get back to Chang’an, I’ll recommend that Tongxi come here for a visit. The local customs are something that she, as the music director, can only dream of.”
Bai Ming, who was standing nearby, also chimed in, "So where are we going later?"
“Naturally, it’s Dragon City.” Xiao Yan looked up at Bai Ming. “Such a strategically important place, the Lantern Festival must be exceptionally lively.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao leaned against Xiao Yan and said, "Then what are we waiting for? It's getting dark."
"Don't rush," Xiao Yan shook his head with a helpless smile, "Let's talk after we finish eating the flower cake."
"Oh dear, let's go, let's go," Yang Xiao said impatiently, taking Bai Ming's hand. "We can take the food with us, let's go get the horses."
Everyone laughed at the sight, quickly shared the baked flower cakes, and then Yang Xiao pulled them along as they galloped towards the horses.
As the sun gradually sank in the west and disappeared from sight, it was replaced by a clear night sky, twinkling stars, and a bright, incomparable moon.
Yang Xiao gazed at the full moon, and without saying a word, she took Bai Ming's hand and went up to the highest covered walkway in Longcheng.
I ask for nothing more than to get closer to the moon.
A burst of gongs and drums sounded, and the famous actors on the city's stage suddenly rang out their voices. Their melodies were enchanting, graceful, and moving, each tune expressing their hopes and aspirations for the coming year.
Bai Ming leaned on the railing, peered down, then turned back and tugged at Yang Xiao's sleeve. "Xiao, listen, these words sound so familiar."
"I never expected that after so many years, Chen Mo would make a comeback in Bingzhou with Lingyue Pavilion." Yang Xiao looked down at the stage and leaned over the railing, listening to the opera with great interest.
“Lingyue Pavilion?” Bai Ming also looked in the direction of the voice. He closed his eyes and pondered for a long time. “This poem seems to be the new poem from Bingzhou that Tongxi showed you some time ago.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao stood up, listened attentively, then looked up at Bai Ming and nodded, "Indeed, Chen Mo is quite adept at using this. This will surely satisfy the people of Bingzhou."
Bai Ming looked up at the full moon and gently took Yang Xiao's hand. "Xiao, look at the moon. Doesn't it remind you of the jade disc hanging at home?"
Yang Xiao also looked up, her eyes involuntarily reddening slightly. "It's so similar, so very similar." All sorts of scenes of gazing at the moon alone in Chang'an immediately flashed through her mind. The moon was beautiful even though they were thousands of miles apart, and at this moment, Bai Ming was truly standing beside her, their fingers intertwined, never to be let go.
"It's been a whole year since we broke through the formation." Yang Xiao stroked Bai Ming's knuckles, looked at the full moon, and sighed softly.
“Yes,” Bai Ming squeezed Yang Xiao’s hand tighter, “This year has gone by so fast.”
Yang Xiao raised her hand once again, just as she had a year ago, spreading her five fingers to grasp the moon in her palm. Just as she clenched her fist to catch the moon, the moonlight vanished from her fingertips like a fleeting shadow.
A few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. She tilted her head back, smiled freely at the moon, then turned around and hugged Bai Ming tightly.
"Hey, A-Xiao?" Bai Ming was taken aback by her hug and quickly hugged her back, asking softly and inquiringly, "What's wrong? Is it because you couldn't catch the moon?"
"I caught him." Yang Xiao buried her head in Bai Ming's chest and chuckled softly. She looked up at Bai Ming and tightened her arms around him. "Right here, you are no different from the bright moon."
Bai Ming laughed with emotion upon hearing this. His nose tingled slightly, and he held Yang Xiao tightly in his arms, gently swaying her in the moonlight. "If I am the moon, then you are the sun. Without you, I will not shine."
Before he could finish speaking, a blast of drums and horns sounded. Bai Ming looked down at the stage and patted Yang Xiao on the back with delight, “Xiao, look down at the flower shed, they’re going to put on an iron flower show.”
"Iron fireworks?" Yang Xiao's interest was piqued at the mention of it, and she leaned on the railing to look down. She saw molten iron boiling and the craftsmen holding willow sticks, shirtless, stretching their muscles to the beat of the drums.
"With a victory, the government is in good order and the people are at peace; iron flowers bring good fortune!"
The molten iron suddenly shot up, instantly exploding into thousands of golden flowers before our eyes, dazzling and brilliant, like stars suddenly rising, transforming into a cascading Milky Way.
The scene before her eyes blended with the ironwork from four years ago, and Yang Xiao became excited. She leaned on the railing and shouted along with the craftsmen.
"Two strikes bring a hundred blessings from heaven, and the whole nation rejoices!"
Ten thousand sparks of iron appeared in Yang Xiao's eyes and then fluttered down.
"Three strikes bring favorable weather and abundant harvests!"
Four years have passed, as if a lifetime has gone by. The dazzling displays of fireworks that lit up the sky back then, regardless of everything else, have long since carried the hopes amidst the chaos of war, taking root and sprouting in the hearts of each and every one of them.
The impromptu flower shed, however, contains the vast universe. Amidst the chaos of the world, some remember past favors and lend a helping hand; some risk their lives and willingly become pioneers; some are righteous and devise elaborate plans; some operate in harmony with the universe, connecting the dots and building bridges.
Some people are willing to be cursed by all generations to uphold the only righteous path in their hearts; some people have lofty ambitions and try their best to turn the tide; some people spend their lives seeking love and finally go where their hearts desire; some people are full of vigor and dedicate their most brilliant years to the common people without any regrets.
Some are born with resentment, endure all the hardships of the world, and finally seek the righteousness of a general, breaking through enemy lines with their own bodies and turning the tide of battle; others use guns as a medium, giving their all for the guiding light in their hearts, spending their lives in military campaigns, only wishing for her safe return.
"Ten strikes, and the land will be forever secure, and peace will last for ten generations!"
Yang Xiao and Bai Ming leaned against the railing, shouting at the top of their lungs. Tears and smiles bloomed on their faces, and the crisp clinking of glasses seemed to echo in their ears along with the final cheers.
Iron fireworks are played in good years, during celebrations, and in prosperous times; they are not played in lean years, during wartime, or during national mourning.
Today, the two iron flower shows transcend time and space, rising and falling, conversing and telling their stories. The prosperous vision that everyone held in their hearts back then has long since become a reality.
After that, the iron fireworks were performed every year and everywhere. People no longer needed to rack their brains for momentary jubilation. The most beautiful fireworks in the world four years ago were forever sealed in their hearts.
Fireworks illuminate the land, for this prosperous era was built step by step by them.
They are generals.
And they, too, are Chang'an.
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