Chapter 84
The four affiliated towns were making intensive preparations, and New Year's Eve finally arrived as scheduled.
All the residential buildings were full of people, and even the rooms in Shanhai City, 50 kilometers away, were packed.
Many people racked their brains to grab accommodation spots for this event. When the quotas allocated to the affiliated towns were used up, they traveled thousands of miles by train to Taoyuan to make reservations.
But train tickets aren't easy to buy. Everyone waits in line at the ticket window, and tickets are often snapped up as soon as they're released. Not only are all the seats packed, but even standing room tickets are hard to come by.
Many people were trying to buy tickets from other people, offering double, triple, or even triple the price, but no one was willing to sell. Everyone was just thinking about going on a Spring Festival trip, so who would give up the tickets they had worked so hard to get?
Several affiliated towns received feedback from the public, suggesting that more trips be made.
This is a rare Spring Festival, and Ye Qing didn't want to spoil everyone's fun, so he followed everyone's wishes and increased the number of trains to the maximum. The train ran day and night just to bring these people over.
But this can only solve the tip of the iceberg. Most people still have to stay at home for the New Year. But even if they stay at home, this year's New Year will still be different from previous years.
Xiaoyuan's family is one of the many families who want to go to Taoyuan to celebrate the New Year. They have been looking forward to it since the news was announced. Since the shelter and Taoyuan reached a cooperation, everyone's living standards have risen and their mental outlook has undergone earth-shaking changes.
In the past, they had trouble filling their stomachs with the crystal cores they had worked so hard to earn, let alone having a happy trip.
Taoyuan not only has abundant food but also low prices. Ticket prices have been reduced twice in a row. Even ordinary people like them can earn back these expenses by working hard for a week.
So they all wanted to go and have some fun on this special opportunity and experience the legendary paradise on earth.
They waited at the ticket office every day and finally got three standing tickets on the last day for carriage 8. The train's frequency of transportation has increased dramatically in the past month, from the original 5-level to 8-level, with 8 carriages.
The family of three happily packed up their things and came to the square in front of Fengyun Supermarket early, where the train was connected.
"Girl, do you want to sell me a ticket? I'll pay double the price!" A man in a stylish yellow cotton-padded jacket came up to ask when he saw a newcomer.
"You only offer twice as much, I'll offer three times as much. Girl, will you sell it to me at three times as much?" Another man in black heard the voice and came over.
Xiaoyuan clutched the three tickets tightly in her hand and hurried away, pulling her parents away: "No, no, no!"
"Then I'll offer four times! Five times? How about five times?" The two men still didn't give up.
Xiao Yuan, however, was not moved at all. She had lived in the apocalypse for so long and had suffered all kinds of hardships. In the past, no amount of money was as important as a bowl of rice in their minds. Now that they had no worries about food and clothing, enjoyment was put first.
Residents who bought tickets arrived one after another, and the shuttle train also arrived with a "beep beep" sound. They were shocked and squeezed onto the last train of the Spring Festival with their packages on their backs.
The car was crowded and extremely congested, but it did not affect everyone's high spirits. Everyone was talking and laughing, and the atmosphere in the car was particularly good.
"I'm so lucky, I got the last ticket!" A young man held up the ticket and shared his joy with everyone.
"Me too, they were all sold out, but the guy in front of me had something to do and couldn't go, so I got a bargain, hehe~"
"The people in this last section of the car are all lucky geese."
"By the way, where are you planning to stay? I heard that all the rooms are sold out." Someone asked the key question.
"I was planning to squeeze in with my buddy, and he grabbed a bed in the four-person dormitory room!" said the young guy at the beginning.
"Well, you're fine. I don't have anyone I know here, and I don't know what to do!"
"You can ask the indigenous people if they can give you a room for a little more money."
Those who have permanent residence in Taoyuan are called indigenous people. Whenever there is an activity, they will be pulled out to envy.
"Oh, this is the only way I can try."
"By the way, what are you going to do? Have you found a place to stay?"
Seeing everyone's eyes turned to her, Xiao Yuan smiled awkwardly: "I don't have a place to stay, but I brought two quilts and planned to find a place to sleep on the floor. I heard that the school is on vacation these days, so I thought I could stay there."
They had seen the school in Taoyuan in the brochure. It was built better than the house they lived in. It could shelter them from the wind and rain, so sleeping on the floor was not a big deal.
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene suddenly became lively. Everyone who had been anxious about having nowhere to stay finally found a solution.
"Oh, right! I'm also planning to live in school. I didn't bring my bed, but I can buy one at the supermarket."
"The underground mall is also fine, or the lobby!"
"Hehe~ I think this method is feasible."
The last group of guests came from afar, and Taoyuan had already made all preparations to welcome these enthusiastic residents.
The next day is the Spring Festival. The beautiful day begins with the continuous sound of firecrackers. Everyone gets up early and starts today's Spring Festival feast.
This festival was particularly grand, with all official staff members out in force. They wore their newly issued fleece work clothes and red armbands on their wrists, waiting in various places to ensure the success of today's event.
In order to reward their hard work, Ye Qing thoughtfully prepared Spring Festival gifts for them, which were distributed yesterday. They included a new winter coat, a pair of winter boots, a Spring Festival gift package, and a red envelope of 200 crystal cores. They can also have a good meal after the event.
200 crystal cores were their four-day salary, and everyone was beaming with joy, taking the generous holiday gifts home to show off.
Lin Wenlong, Yao Qiong, and several other fellow apprentices received a gift bag each. They put their clothes back in their rooms and piled the other items on the living room table. One bag per person was quite a lot, and for four people combined, the bag was nearly overflowing.
Lin Wenlong smiled so hard that he couldn't stop, and opened a bag of nuts and started eating.
This is a pistachio, that is a pecan, and there are also melon seeds and peanuts. They were most common during the Chinese New Year before the radiation occurred. I didn’t expect to see them again after so many years.
Yao Qiong peeled a piece of Happy Fruit and put the flesh into her mouth. It was crispy and delicious.
As the main person in charge of this festival, Ye Qing walked around the shelter, and Zeng Yi accompanied him when he saw him.
The two first came to the Music Square.
After the expansion, the Music Square is several times larger than before. A tall red round stage is placed in the center of the square. On the stage is a wide curtain, on which various Spring Festival greetings are played in a loop.
At 6 o'clock in the evening, there will be a performance on the round stage. The performers had already rehearsed yesterday and are now putting on makeup and dressing up indoors.
Linzhi and Deng Hailong are in charge of this place. They are both in high spirits and laugh more happily than others even when they are working.
Various small stalls were set up at the edge of the square. Ye Qing had moved all the portable stalls to the square, selling sugar men, candied haws, grilled sausages, roujiamo, guokui, malatang, etc.
Every stall was crowded with people, and everyone had a happy look on their faces.
Ye Qing saw Sanmao and Zhou Xiaohua's daughter Xiaoya together. The two small figures walked from the candied haws stall to the candied man stall. Damao said that Sanmao had saved a lot of pocket money.
On the road next to the Music Square, several teams were ready to go, starting from the Music Square and preparing to tour around the city along the road.
The first to set off was the honor guard, twelve rows of three, all handsome men and beautiful women selected from the barracks. Carrying flags, they wore neat uniforms, stood straight, and walked with a firm step.
Next came the lion dance team. Amid the sound of gongs and drums, two lions cooperated with each other tacitly, leaping on the spot like mythical beasts descended to earth, their dancing postures charming and graceful.
After the lion dance team has been on tour for a while, they will have a float tour. The float is converted from a pickup truck. The originally green pickup truck looks extremely exquisite after being matched with colorful flowers.
In the back of the pickup truck, several fairies carrying flower baskets danced to the melodious music, and from time to time they scattered handfuls of colorful candies, attracting scrambles and cheers from passers-by.
Behind the float is a team of dancers. The performers are dressed in colorful costumes, with thick facial makeup on their faces. They hold two sticks in their hands and jump, turn and wave to the rhythm of gongs and drums, as if telling ancient stories with their bodies.
Ye Qing remembered that Xiao Qier and Ermao had joined this dance troupe, and they were dancing happily at the moment.
Residential buildings are relatively concentrated, and everyone is coming down from the buildings at this time. Together with people coming from other affiliated towns, the main roads of the city are crowded with joyful people. Most of them are wearing red cotton jackets, and they are joyful in the festive atmosphere.
As the touring team set off, enthusiastic cheers rang out from the roadside. Everyone cheered along with the drums and danced to the music.
Su Zhenghai and Tang Chao were standing by with their guards to maintain order.
Ye Qing stood outside the crowd, looking at the lively atmosphere and exclaiming enthusiastically: "Look, everyone is so happy."
Zeng Yi stood beside her, his eyes fixed on Ye Qing's face, his eyes full of tenderness: "Yes, they are all very grateful to you."
The touring team will last from noon to 5 pm. After a break, they will have the highlight of the day, the Spring Festival Gala.
The host was Lin Zhi, who was wearing a red fishtail skirt. She went on stage and gave a passionate speech, enthusiastically praising Ye Qing, the founder of Taoyuan, and thanking the staff of the event.
After the opening remarks, the performance began. They went up to the round stage one after another and performed the program they had carefully prepared for half a month.
Although it has some flaws, it brings endless fun to the audience.
At 12 o'clock in the evening, at this sacred moment, a bang was heard in the dark night sky, and colorful fireworks bloomed in the air, shining brightly, as if the entire universe was lit up.
Amid the dazzling fireworks, everyone's face is filled with a happy smile, which is the fire of hope.
And every day thereafter, they will reap happiness.
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