After collecting the last chapter, Cheng Qicai took it out and looked at it. "Ah, finally finished. Let's go see what the grand prize is?"
As the two walked to the prize redemption area, a large patch of warm white mist filled the air. A chef in a white uniform was stirring a pot with a huge strainer, and plump white glutinous rice balls bobbed up and down with the boiling water, looking exceptionally appealing.
Next door, staff members were scooping out the glutinous rice balls from the chef's pot and placing them in small bowls, then sprinkling them with a few yellow osmanthus flowers.
"Wow, it's glutinous rice balls!" Cheng Qicai exclaimed in surprise. "I was planning to go back and eat frozen glutinous rice balls today, but it looks like I won't need to go back and buy any later."
She then turned to Gu Rongqi and asked, "Did you eat tangyuan today?"
Gu Rongqi shook his head: "No."
"Haha, this event is great, we can get to eat tangyuan (sweet rice balls)." Cheng Qicai laughed.
Cheng Qicai and Gu Rong went to queue up; there were quite a lot of people.
After waiting in line for a long time, it was finally their turn.
Cheng Qicai handed the ticket to the staff and received a bowl of fragrant and sticky glutinous rice balls.
The two found an empty seat and sat down, intending to finish the glutinous rice balls before leaving.
Cheng Qicai scooped one up with a spoon, blew on it a few times, and took a small bite.
Black broth flowed out from the small opening. After the broth cooled down a bit, Cheng Qicai put the glutinous rice ball into her mouth in one bite, and the aroma of sesame and osmanthus instantly filled her mouth.
Perhaps because it was earned through hard work, this glutinous rice ball tastes especially delicious.
"Thank goodness you were nearby today, otherwise I would have missed this event." Cheng Qicai chewed on a glutinous rice ball. "I was even planning to head home, haha."
"It's really interesting. Why are you here alone?" Gu Rongqi quickly finished eating the glutinous rice balls and saw Cheng Qicai across from him still eating slowly with her head down.
Cheng Qicai replied, "Seeing everyone in pairs, I suddenly got the urge to come out and experience the festive atmosphere."
After eating the warm glutinous rice balls, Cheng Qicai felt her whole body warm up.
"These glutinous rice balls are quite delicious," Cheng Qicai exclaimed, still savoring the taste.
These freebies, obtained through promotions, are usually only a few in number; you can only really taste them.
From their position, they could vaguely see the performance on the other side. Although they couldn't see clearly, they could hear what the other side was saying.
"Everyone knows today is the Lantern Festival, right? We all know about eating tangyuan (sweet rice balls) and hanging lanterns, right? But there's a little-known fact: in ancient times, the Lantern Festival was considered our Valentine's Day. Of course, there's another similar festival, the Shangsi Festival." A man's voice, full of stories, eloquently recounted the facts about the Lantern Festival to the audience.
"The idea that Qixi Festival is Valentine's Day is a modern one, and the Valentine's Days that follow were introduced from the West..."
"Back then, women were only allowed to go out and meet young men during the Lantern Festival and the Shangsi Festival, so..."
Cheng Qicai frowned. This popular science article touched on a blind spot in her knowledge. She rested her chin on her left hand, her big eyes full of doubt. "Is what they said true?"
"What?" Gu Rongqi didn't listen to what the other person was saying.
Cheng Qicai repeated, "He said the Lantern Festival is the ancient Valentine's Day?"
Gu Rongqi was silent for a moment before replying, "You could say that, but there was no concept of Valentine's Day in ancient times; it's just that the two are very similar."
This time, it was Cheng Qicai's turn to remain silent.
Once Cheng Qicai found out, she immediately felt a little awkward about the two of them spending the Lantern Festival together.
Seeing her expression, Gu Rongqi changed the subject and asked, "Would you like to have another bowl? They sell glutinous rice balls over there."
"Forget it, things are valued for their scarcity, and we'll get tired of eating too much." Cheng Qicai waved her hand. "Once the activities are over, we can wander around and look around."
The lanterns here are quite nice, but there are so many people taking photos that it's impossible to squeeze in.
However, the performances here are quite good, including lion and dragon dances, stilt walking, and more...
Many lantern festivals are pretty much the same. Apart from a few games that are not bad, the rest is just about strolling around and is rather boring.
Seeing that the lantern festival would end in an hour, Cheng Qicai said to Gu Rongqi, "Let's go back first, otherwise it will be a huge traffic jam once everyone leaves."
Gu Rongqi had no objection, and seeing that Cheng Qicai wanted to leave, he nodded in agreement.
The two slowly walked towards the door, got into the car, and left.
Just as she was about to get off the bus, Gu Rongqi called out to her and handed her the glutinous rice ball pendant and the round fan he was holding.
"Are you really not going to keep it as a souvenir?" Cheng Qicai asked him to confirm.
"No, you can take it." Gu Rongqi nodded to her.
"Thank you." Just as the car door was about to close, she suddenly poked her head out from outside. "I forgot to mention, Gu Rongqi, Happy Lantern Festival!"
Cheng Qicai smiled at her. Compared to before, her facial features were now rounder, and her smile was more charming.
It's soft and fluffy, just like a freshly eaten glutinous rice ball, sweet and chewy.
"Happy Lantern Festival," Gu Rongqi said to the closed car door.
After a long pause, he spoke softly, "Let's go."
He then took out the two slightly wrinkled paper-cut mandarin ducks from his pocket.
Not only were his fingers stained red, but his lips were also stained with a smile.
Like the melting of the last snowflakes.
He closed his eyes gently, but his thoughts returned to the question Gu Liji had asked him that day.
Like... Dislike...
Her smile from just now flashed through his mind again, and his hand unconsciously began to stroke the mole next to his index finger.
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