"Is it that the clothes don't look good? Should we try another store?"
Cuizhen replied, "No. This shop will do."
Cuizhen went to try on clothes.
The shopkeeper noticed that An Chaoli had an extraordinary demeanor and dressed in unusual clothes. He also noticed that An Chaoli had a non-local accent, so he started chatting with him.
"Is this distinguished guest visiting from out of town?"
"I'm just here on business, I'm leaving tomorrow."
An Chaoli had visited Nanwu Town before, but the streets seemed even more lively than usual today.
"Boss, is there some kind of festival in town today? Why are there so many people buying things?"
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "It's perfect timing that you've come. Today is the town's once-every-three-years Lantern Festival. Tonight, lanterns will be lined up and displayed all over the town. People of all ages will come to parade through the streets. It'll be incredibly lively."
"The Nandu River will also be open today. If you are interested, you can release river lanterns."
An Yuan'er perked up. She didn't go out often, so how could she miss out on something so fun?
"Father, how about we go back a little later tonight and go to the Lantern Festival? It's a once-in-three-years opportunity!" An Yuan'er's eyes lit up as she looked at her father expectantly.
An Chaoli was at a loss with his daughter: "Xiao Yuan'er, Father can agree to your request. But there are four of us here after all, so you should at least ask the other two for their opinions, right?"
An Yuan'er glanced over, and her brother nodded, saying, "Yuan'er rarely comes here, go and have some fun."
Cuizhen came out after changing her clothes. Before An Yuan'er could ask, she replied, "I'll go too."
Cuizhen always loved to contradict An Yuan'er, so she responded quickly.
*
Night fell quickly, and lanterns were lit one by one, looking from afar like golden flowers scattered by celestial maidens.
An Yuan'er, dressed in the clothes of a local girl, walked down the street, counting the lanterns.
An Yuan'er's favorite thing was the little rabbit lantern. The little rabbit had red eyes and a chubby body; it was very cute.
"Yuan'er, slow down!"
"Be careful not to fall."
Her older brother and father followed behind, giving instructions to the overjoyed An Yuan'er.
“It’s because you’re all walking too slowly. It’s understandable that Father is old, but Brother, you’re too slow.” An Yuan’er laughed heartily.
There were many snacks being sold on the street. An Yuan'er pointed to the candied hawthorns and said, "Daddy, can you buy me some?"
An Chaoli immediately took out his money to buy it for An Yuan'er. The old father politely bought two, and asked Cuizhen, who was also a child, about the other one: "Cuizhen, this is for you."
Cuizhen frowned in disgust and said, "I appreciate Uncle An's kindness, but I don't like these sweet street snacks."
An Chaoli awkwardly held up the candied hawthorn. Little Yuan'er had loved sweets since she was little, and her father subconsciously assumed that all girls liked them.
An Yuan'er took another candied hawthorn from her father's hand: "So what if it's a sweet snack? Humph! This fairy can eat two by herself."
An Yuan'er proudly took a bite from each side, eating the first candied hawthorn on each of the two candied hawthorns, declaring her ownership.
An Yuan'er found everything fascinating and applauded enthusiastically during the lantern show. Cui Zhen, however, couldn't focus on the dazzling lanterns and kept looking around...
Next came the grand finale of the lantern show, and suddenly the crowd grew even larger.
Everyone was jostling and pushing, making it look very chaotic.
"Little Yuan'er, hold your father's hand tightly."
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