Chapter 132 A Perfect Union (Part Two)
Only when the big man got closer could one see the smiling face beneath his full beard. Hey, he was one of the Hu people who had come to the wedding of Tuva and Shen Qiuniang.
"Why didn't you tell us you were coming, Mr. Li? Do you think we're outsiders?"
Li San Niang could clearly see that, before the big man got close, everyone from Li Da Xiong to Li San Lang, except for Xiao Si Lang, looked tense, especially Li Da Lang standing next to Li San Niang, whose arm muscles were flexing.
However, once they realized that it was someone they knew walking over, the tense atmosphere immediately disappeared.
Brother Li naturally said that the Li family only wanted to come and watch the show on a whim, and in the end they couldn't refuse. Not only did they not have to pay for tickets, but the big man also arranged a perfect VIP seat for them. Now, Li San Niang is sitting here with Lu Zhu'er in her arms.
Li San Niang originally wanted to give the central seat to her mother, but her mother felt that since Li San Niang was holding Lu Zhu'er, it would be better for Li San Niang to sit there.
Sister-in-law Li said from the side, "Since the tickets are free and such good seats have been arranged for us, we should give them extra tips when the show ends. We shouldn't take advantage of them."
Mr. and Mrs. Li nodded in agreement, showing their strong support for Mrs. Li's words.
This time, the performance was much more elaborate than the last time Li San Niang came with her elder brother, elder sister-in-law, and four little ones.
Last time it was neither a New Year nor a holiday, but this time it's the Mid-Autumn Festival, a national statutory holiday!
Besides ordinary people, many wealthy and powerful individuals would come to the West Market to join in the fun, as it was a time to make a fortune.
Of course, it's impossible to compare it to Dongshi. Dongshi is truly a money pit that's spent every single day of the year.
So this time, Li San Niang and her companions at the circus in the West Market, hosted and performed by Hu people, really opened people's eyes and allowed them to see many different kinds of performances.
Cockfighting and horse training are both essential, and this time the horse training is not the simple fire-jumping exercise we saw last time. There are valiant Hu women with bells hanging on their bodies, riding on the horses and directing them to avoid obstacles. As they move, the bells on the Hu women's bodies will ring. This horse control skill is not only impressive, but also really beautiful and melodious.
I didn't see Tuva or his Han-looking friend; I guess they're not playing today.
Most surprisingly, the circus's final performance involved driving a tiger out of its cage!
Of course, Li San Niang was not pleasantly surprised, but rather terrified.
After all, you're with a child, and this place is completely unprotected. The seating area may have a good view, but if something happens, it's also the place where you're most likely to be harmed.
Dewdrop, being young and fearless, pointed at the big, furry tiger and said to Li San Niang, "Mother, big cat."
Dewdrop had seen several tabby cats with tattooed arms roaming freely on the street. But what Dewdrop said was right; both are felines, except that the tiger was much bigger than the tabby cat.
In the end, we watched the tiger show without any major incidents. I don't know how they did it, but the big cat deliberately roared at the end to scare people.
Interspersed throughout are displays of fire-breathing qigong, ventriloquism, and martial arts duels, making it quite interesting.
In the end, Brother Li not only gave him a generous reward, but also bought him roasted sunflower seeds and a whole honeydew melon.
“Last time you all said this melon was delicious. Since there are so many of us, we cut a piece to eat when we got home. Father and Mother, you should try it too.”
Originally, Li Dalang wanted to carry the melon himself, mainly because he hadn't thought to bring a cloth bag or wicker basket to carry his belongings. The melon seller had only made a straw rope cover for people to carry.
Later, Li San Niang Lang volunteered that he and Li Er Lang would just carry each other, and Li Da Lang could hold Xiao Si Lang's hand himself.
The Li family was very satisfied with the circus performance, and then went to the same mutton restaurant they had visited before.
After playing for most of the afternoon, everyone was hungry, and the smell was incredibly delicious.
During the holiday, the restaurant was quite crowded, and there was a wait. They waited outside for about 15 minutes before it was finally Li San Niang and her family's turn.
Freshly baked flatbread with a sweet wheat aroma, mutton soup sprinkled with plenty of pepper, and two large plates of hand-pulled mutton. Sister-in-law Li was worried that Sister-in-law Li Er would have trouble relieving herself because she was still breastfeeding, and that Little Silang and Luzhu'er were small and had weak stomachs, so she specially ordered two bowls of soup flatbread with only a little salt for flavor.
The restaurant didn't have tables big enough, so the Li family of more than ten people had to put two tables together to have enough room to sit.
While eating, the group chatted about the circus they had just watched, unanimously agreeing that the grand finale tiger performance was truly amazing.
Li San Niang also overheard a well-dressed man with a hat and a beard at the next table talking to his companions about how Prince Xiang would be holding a moon-worshiping ceremony in the imperial city today.
Li's mother also heard this. "When we get home, when the moon is full, we will go to the crossroads to worship the moon." At this point, Li's mother smiled and continued to say to Lu Zhu'er, whose face was covered in oil from eating, "At that time, we will also have Lu Zhu'er worship the fairy Chang'e in the yard, so that Lu Zhu'er will be as beautiful as a fairy in the future."
Dewdrop didn't understand what that meant at all. She just nodded habitually, swallowed the meat in her mouth, and said, "Yes, Dewdrop will listen to Grandma. Grandma is the best to Dewdrop."
These innocent words made Li's mother feel that none of the delicious food on the table could make her happier than what Lu Zhu'er had said, and she hugged Lu Zhu'er and kissed her sweetly.
True to her word, Li's mother led her eldest son and others to worship the moon at the crossroads. Li's mother set up a table in the courtyard, on which were placed red dates, mooncakes, and a honeydew melon that her eldest son had bought at the West Market.
Mother Li lit two red candles and, along with her sisters-in-law Li Dasao, Li Ersao, Li Sanniang, and Xiao Luzhu'er, knelt on the prayer mats, murmuring prayers and leading everyone to kowtow to the moon.
Although it is said that the moon is fullest on the 16th of the lunar month, Li San Niang looked at the bright moon in the sky and wondered if, across countless light-years away, in her original time and space, there were also people looking at such a bright moon and thinking, "This moon is truly round and bright."
Brother Li took the knife handed to him by Sister-in-law Li and quickly and accurately cut the melon in half, then cut it into individual slices so that everyone could have a couple of pieces to taste.
"These melons from the Western Regions are indeed quite sweet, much sweeter than our local honeydew melons."
"Father, this melon is much bigger than the local melons."
Mr. Li nodded in agreement, and after finishing this bite, he didn't plan to eat any more.
"Father, why aren't you eating another tooth?"
While washing his hands, Mr. Li said, "I'm getting old, so I need to take care of my health. Just eat a slice of this melon to taste it, don't worry about me, you guys eat."
After eating the melon, everyone started eating the flatbread and sunflower seeds they had bought, which were laid out on the table.
Brother Li even solemnly asked Little Fourth Brother to recite a poem for everyone, just to fit the occasion.
Xiao Silang showed no fear whatsoever, and facing everyone, he recited the poem in a clear and resonant voice:
The bright moon rises over the sea; we share this moment though we are far apart.
Lovers lament the long night, their longing rising with the passing of time!
Extinguishing the candle, I cherish the remaining light; donning my robe, I feel the dew's dampness.
I cannot bear to give you all this; I will return to my bed to dream of our happy reunion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com