Spring Festival lights
While others celebrate the New Year by visiting relatives and friends in a lively atmosphere, the people at Sushan Market have few relatives or friends. Pei Qingwu, a transmigrator, is an exception. In the 21st century, a thousand years later, her only relatives and friends are her uncle and aunt who cruelly sold her.
Gu Heng's mother is dead, and he doesn't know who his biological father is. If Yin Lan and Qian Tao had any reliable relatives, they wouldn't have been sold.
So, during this year, people either stay at home cooking and entertaining themselves, or they go out to visit temple fairs, take a break for a late-night snack, and go see the lanterns and such.
That day, the silver charcoal burned warmly, with occasional small sparks crackling and splashing, reflecting off the red floral patterns on the window. Yin Lan was skillful and had cut them all herself, saying she wanted to add a touch of festivity.
Pei Qingwu sat at his desk, holding an account book in one hand and fiddling with an abacus in the other, pondering the profits of Sushan Market over the past few months.
As I looked at the ink characters, they floated before my eyes, bringing a sense of stagnation that quietly settled in my chest, making me dizzy and disoriented.
She rubbed her sore eyes and looked around.
Yinlan caught a cold yesterday and is currently wrapped in a thick blue cotton quilt, curled up on a low couch in the corner, occasionally letting out a suppressed cough; Qiantao, who is menstruating, also has a slightly pale complexion and is tending to the earthenware pot over the small stove where medicine is being decocted, the aroma of the medicine filling the air.
“Master, you must be getting bored sitting in the accounting office all day. Why don’t you go out and look at the lamps?” Qiantao suggested.
Pei Qingwu thought for a moment, then got up and walked to the side of the silver brocade couch. He reached out and touched the temperature on her forehead, which was still warm.
"Why do you still have a fever? You should lie down and rest properly, so you don't catch a cold." She tucked Yinlan's blanket in and asked a few more questions with concern before turning her gaze to Qiantao's slightly haggard face: "You too, if you're not feeling well, you should rest early. Don't force yourself to do these things in the house."
Qiantao responded and bent down to fiddle with the fire in the stove.
For a moment, only the faint crackling of the charcoal fire and intermittent coughing could be heard in the warm room.
At this moment, the warm house during the New Year holiday is surprisingly quiet.
Pei Qingwu walked to the window and gently pushed open a hinged window. A chilling blast of air, carrying the smell of sulfur, rushed in instantly.
In the distance, the streetlights swirl like a giant dragon, and the bustling voices and faint drumbeats seem to pierce through the deep night, reaching you from afar.
She stood by the window, gazing at the bustling scene, and sighed softly, "It's really stuffy inside. I'll go outside for some fresh air and then come back."
As he spoke, he reached for the large red feather cloak that was draped on the rack.
“Master, there are many people and distractions at the lantern festival, and the government offices may not be able to take good care of everyone. Why don’t I accompany you?” Gu Heng’s voice sounded from behind him.
Pei Qingwu turned around and met the boy's clear eyes.
In the dim light, his tall figure was reflected on the plain screen painted with cranes and auspicious clouds, and he was already dressed in his outer robe.
Pei Qingwu did not refuse, but simply nodded slightly: "Then I'll trouble you."
The moment you step out of the shop, the hustle and bustle of the Spring Festival in Qinzhou hits you and instantly engulfs you.
The lights were brilliant, like a celestial river pouring down. The tall cedar wood lantern wheels stood majestically, with layers of colorful glass and plain silk lanterns hanging on them. The burning candlelight reflected the crystal-clear glass, making it shimmer and sparkle, and brought the flowers, birds and figures on the silk lanterns to life, swaying in the night breeze.
The long street was teeming with tourists, shoulder to shoulder.
The bustling crowds included noblemen and ladies dressed in fine clothes and furs, ordinary people in coarse cotton clothes, merchants from foreign lands speaking with foreign accents, and monks and nuns in robes of various colors.
A troupe of performers beat drums and gongs in the open space in the street, while a bare-chested strongman performed a feat of breaking a large stone on his chest, drawing cheers from the crowd. Stilt walkers dressed as Zhong Kui, the God of Longevity, swayed and staggered over the heads of the crowd. There was also a magician from the Western Regions who breathed flames, eliciting gasps of amazement.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of food: freshly baked hot sesame cakes, sizzling roasted mutton from Gulouzi, sweet cherry biscuits drizzled with sugar cane, and steaming sweet soup noodles from a vendor's cart... Mixed with the smoke from firecrackers, it was the most intense human warmth.
Pei Qingwu felt almost dizzy and instinctively wanted to take a step back to avoid the overwhelming crowd, but at that moment, a hand gently supported her elbow.
Gu Heng had quietly moved to her side at some point, separating her slightly from the surging crowd.
"Watch your step, sir." His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the surrounding noise.
She felt the support of his palm through several layers of clothing at her elbow. She steadied herself and looked up. The young man's handsome profile appeared exceptionally calm under the changing, hazy lights. His gaze, like that of a hawk, swept across the surroundings, creating an invisible barrier between them.
He guided her around, always managing to guide her just in time to avoid being pushed. Occasionally, he would turn his head and whisper a reminder such as "There's a hurdle ahead" or "Watch out for the children playing," his voice calm and steady.
“Aheng,” Pei Qingwu couldn’t help but call out to him, “It’s kind of you to go to such lengths.”
Gu Heng turned his head upon hearing this, the lamplight reflecting in his eyes, revealing a gentle luster: "This is my duty."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over a steaming food stall nearby: "I've heard that the mutton at that Gulouzi restaurant is excellent. Would you like to try some, sir?"
Pei Qingwu smiled and said, "Okay."
This stall was quite popular. The two of them waited in line for a long time, watching the stall owner deftly hook the golden-brown and crispy mutton out of the oven, chop it into large pieces while it was still sizzling, and then sprinkle it with a thick layer of cumin and pepper powder from the Western Regions.
Finally, it was their turn. The piping hot chunks of meat were served on freshly peeled banana leaves, and the rich, spicy aroma filled their mouths and noses.
Pei Qingwu's fingertips recoiled slightly from the heat, and she gasped. Gu Heng, who was standing nearby, quickly reached out and took the banana leaf from her.
His fingers were long and nimble; with a few deft movements, he held the scalding hot leaf firmly in his palm. With his other hand, he took a clean, plain handkerchief from his robes and handed it to her: "Please use this as a cushion, mistress."
Their fingertips touched by chance, and that slight warmth seemed to carry a tiny electric current, making Pei Qingwu's heart skip a beat.
She quickly took the handkerchief and whispered, "Mm."
He then lowered his head and took a small bite of the perfectly roasted lamb.
The rich aroma of meat juice burst in her mouth, instantly dispelling the chill. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the young man beside her, one hand steadily holding the scalding hot leaf tray, the other gently brushing aside the crowd. His upright figure, like a pine tree, created a small, peaceful space for her.
Following the flow of people, I unknowingly strolled to the West Market entrance.
The lights here are especially bright, with all kinds of lanterns vying for attention. The most eye-catching thing is the huge lantern array, with hundreds of colorful lanterns arranged in several rows, each with a red paper riddle hanging under it. From a distance, it looks like a burning colorful cloud.
Those who guess the riddle correctly can receive a corresponding lantern or some prizes. As a result, the stall is crowded with people, filled with laughter and chatter, illuminating half of the street as bright as day.
Pei Qingwu's gaze was drawn to a dazzling sight in front of the lantern array—on the shelf set up by the stall owner hung a crystal lotus lantern, its entire body translucent, its walls as thin as cicada wings, with crimson-gold light flowing inside, condensing into a lotus flower quietly blooming.
The glass is pure and flawless, with the lotus petal patterns clearly visible. Amidst the colorful lights, its inner radiance shines, exuding a refined and noble elegance that far surpasses all the noisy and vulgar surroundings.
"What a beautiful glass lamp." Pei Qingwu couldn't help but stop and sigh softly, his eyes reflecting the lamp's dazzling brilliance.
The stall owner was a lean old man with a goatee. Seeing a customer admiring the lamp, he immediately put on a big smile and said loudly, "This young lady has a good eye! This is the 'Golden Lotus in Fire,' a top-grade glass lamp! If you can guess the three riddles under this lamp, I will give it to you with both hands!"
His loud voice immediately drew the attention of many people around him.
Pei Qingwu was drawn to the lamp, and after hearing the stall owner's words, he became interested: "I would like to hear more details."
The stall owner took down a piece of paper and said loudly, "First question: the product of two characters is twenty-one. Guess the medicine."
A murmur arose from the crowd.
Pei Qingwu frowned in thought. The product of the two words was twenty-one. Was it a number? Or a shape? Various possibilities flashed through his mind, but he couldn't figure it out for the time being.
"Is it Banxia?" someone asked tentatively.
The stall owner smiled and shook his head.
Pei Qingwu frowned even more deeply. Suddenly, he felt a very light touch on his cuff.
She subconsciously turned her head and met Gu Heng's gaze. His hand, hanging by his side, concealed by the wide sleeves of his robe, extended a finger and traced two characters on the edge of her outstretched palm: "Sanqi".
As his fingertips traced the edge of his palm, a strange, warm tingling sensation lingered on his skin. Pei Qingwu's heart skipped a beat, as if struck by a tiny electric current.
She forced herself to calm down and said to the stall owner, "It's Panax notoginseng!"
"Good!" The stall owner stroked his beard and praised, "Young lady, you are clever! It is indeed Sanqi. Now listen to the second question, 'The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, whether you are sad or happy, it is still a day,' guess the Chinese character."
This one seems even more tricky.
Pei Qingwu's mind raced. After pondering for a while, she tentatively asked, "But... the 'Dan' in New Year's Day?"
"Excellent, excellent, it is indeed Dan." The old man said with a smile, "Young lady, you are truly intelligent. If you guess one more, this lantern will be yours."
Pei Qingwu, full of fighting spirit, said, "Speak."
"Flying side by side, wings never parting. Sharing this path to the ends of the earth, dwelling together until old age... The answer is an idiom."
Pei Qingwu guessed quickly this time, almost shouting out, "Flying wing to wing!"
Gu Heng, who was waiting on the side, quickly turned his head away and looked away when he heard this sentence.
"That's right. Alright, this lantern is for you, young lady." The stall owner handed her the lantern with a smile.
Pei Qingwu happily accepted it, examined it closely, and thought it was good no matter how he looked at it.
"Aheng, do you think this lamp is pretty?" she asked.
Gu Heng nodded gently: "Yes, it looks good."
Just then, a flute melody rang out, piercing through the clamor of the waterside. At first, it was faint, like melting snow in early spring, murmuring and flowing tentatively. Then, it gradually became clear and open, transforming into a winding stream that meandered through the forest and around the rocks, spreading tenderly and affectionately in the night.
The flute's melody sometimes lingered softly, as if endless whispers were unspoken; at other times it soared high, like a lone crane crying in the heavens, expressing a deep and lingering longing.
It was clearly a tender and lingering melody, like a whisper in his ear, wrapping itself around Pei Qingwu, causing his fingers, holding the glass lotus lantern, to unconsciously tighten a little.
The clamor of the surrounding crowd seemed to recede into the distance, but the sound of the flute and the boy's presence so close at hand were exceptionally vivid.
"Ahem..." Pei Qingwu coughed lightly, "Aheng, come with me to release a river lantern?"
Gu Heng withdrew his gaze from the direction from which the flute music came and landed on her slightly reddened earlobes. His eyes darkened, and he replied, "Okay."
The number of people along the canal had decreased, and vendors were selling simple lotus-shaped water lanterns on the bank. Pei Qingwu chose a plain white one, while Gu Heng opted for a blue-green one.
The candle with its wick lit flickered, and the warm yellow flame danced between the thin paper.
Pei Qingwu held the lantern, looking at the shimmering light reflected on the water and the glow of the lotus lantern in his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he finally closed his eyes and silently made a wish in his heart.
May everyone at Sushan Xiaoji be safe and healthy, may the bonds between us in this world last and remain stable, and may our friends and family in this world be safe and sound.
River lanterns, carrying wishes, sway in the shimmering water.
After making her wish, she bent down and carefully placed the lamp into the water.
The lotus lantern, with its candle flame supported by thin paper, swayed gently twice before drifting slowly away with the current, merging into the floating starlight.
Gu Heng also placed his turquoise lotus lantern into the water. The two lanterns, one in front of the other, were not too far apart and drifted gently with the current until they gradually disappeared from sight.
"What did Ah Heng wish for?" Pei Qingwu asked casually.
“It won’t work if I say it out loud.” He stubbornly refused to answer.
Pei Qingwu didn't press him for details, but just smiled at him and said, "Let's go, it's time to go back. Yinlan and Qiantao are still waiting."
"Master Pei? What a coincidence."
As I turned to leave, a clear, cheerful male voice came from behind me.
Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng turned around at the same time.
In the dim light, a man dressed in a royal blue brocade robe with an eight-tone collar, a jade belt around his waist, and a black fox fur coat, stood tall and handsome with a smiling face. It was Zhao Xu, with a capable attendant half a step behind him.
"Captain Zhao?" Pei Qingwu was genuinely surprised to run into this distinguished person at the bustling lantern festival on New Year's Eve. "Wishing you a blessed New Year, Captain, are you here to admire the lanterns too?"
"Wishing you a blessed New Year." Zhao Xu smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "I just finished my social engagements at home and came out for some fresh air, only to unexpectedly run into Master Pei and Brother Gu."
As he spoke, his gaze lingered briefly on Gu Heng.
"Greetings, Commandant Zhao." Gu Heng clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, subtly taking a small half-step forward to naturally protect Pei Qingwu's figure on his flank.
“It’s better to meet by chance than to invite someone.” Zhao Xu smiled warmly and pointed to a brightly lit three-story pavilion with flying eaves not far away, where carriages and horses were bustling in front of the gate. It was the famous Taibai Pavilion in Qinzhou City. “It’s rare to have such a quiet night. I wonder if Master Pei and Brother Gu would do me the honor of hosting? The new chef in the pavilion has a few signature dishes that I’m sure will suit Master Pei’s taste.”
Pei Qingwu hesitated for a moment, thinking of Yin Lan, who was still ill at home, and Qian Tao, who was unwell. Considering Zhao Xu's status, it seemed inappropriate to refuse outright. So he said, "The captain's invitation is too kind to refuse, but there is a shop assistant in the shop who is not feeling well..."
"It's alright, just a few drinks and a short rest will do. If your staff needs medical advice or medicine, I, Zhao, am willing to offer my assistance." Zhao Xu's attitude was sincere, and his words left no room for refusal.
Pei Qingwu then stopped refusing: "Then I will trouble Commander Zhao."
Inside the private room of Taibai Tower, the warm stove provided a respite from the hustle and bustle of the street, while the carved window frames, inlaid with bright tiles, let in the hazy light from outside.
The rosewood table was so shiny it could reflect a person's image, and the cups, plates, bowls, and dishes inlaid with gold and silver were all laid out, shimmering with light.
Zhao Xu was clearly a regular here; with a casual gesture, the waiters would bring out a constant stream of delicious dishes.
There was a whole sheep roasted until the skin was golden and shiny. After cutting open the sheep's belly, a plump goose was revealed inside, which was even more tender. The goose was stuffed with glutinous rice, chestnuts, pine nuts, and raisins.
There is roasted camel hump, where thinly sliced camel hump meat is grilled on a hot stone slab, sizzling and crispy at the edges, while the inside is white and jade-like, with a fragrant aroma. Dipped in a special sauce made with spices from the Western Regions and honey, it melts in your mouth and is exceptionally delicious.
There is "Golden Minced Meat and Jade Slices," where paper-thin slices of raw sea bass, as white as jade, are laid on glistening ice shavings. Served alongside is a small dish of golden dipping sauce, carefully prepared from orange peel, minced ginger, minced garlic, fine salt, and light soy sauce. Dipping the fish slices in this sauce results in a crisp, sweet, and refreshingly cool experience, creating a wonderful contrast with the piping hot grilled camel hump.
There is a dish called Scallion and Vinegar Chicken, made by steaming a young chicken until the bones are tender and the meat is mushy. After being chopped into pieces, it is soaked in a rich sauce made with high-quality vinegar, shredded scallions, shredded ginger, and Sichuan peppercorn oil. The aroma is sour and fragrant, and it is extremely appetizing.
There is a cold toad soup②, which is served in a jade bowl with a clear soup that can be seen to the bottom. Plump clam meat floats in the soup, and it is garnished with a few tender yellow ginger shreds and emerald green coriander. The soup is incredibly fresh and delicious, with a lingering taste that warms the stomach and soothes the soul.
It comes in a royal red color, with the outer flaky crust baked to an enticing royal red hue, layered like blooming flower petals, and the filling is a delicate red bean paste or jujube paste, sweet but not cloying.
Another pot of mulberry wine: poured from a celadon wine pot, its color is clear and bright, exuding the unique mellow aroma of mulberry leaves and grains.
Faced with this dazzling array of delicious food, even though Pei Qingwu was still preoccupied with the illness at home, he couldn't help but be drawn in.
Gu Heng remained quietly seated to the side, his gaze calm and serene. He only responded appropriately when the waiter served the food or when Zhao Xu raised his glass, his demeanor respectful yet carrying a subtle distance.
Zhao Xu raised his glass with a gentle smile: "Manager Pei, Brother Gu, please. May everything go smoothly in the new year and may your business prosper."
Just then, someone outside announced, "Fifth Miss Li, the daughter of Prefect Li of Qin Prefecture, has arrived."
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