Madam Qidie and the others could not hear what was said, but Ye Zelin, who was beside Hua Fushu, heard it clearly. He then recalled that Hua Mingqian had said that Hua Fushu had a love-hate relationship with Duwu.
He thought that there must be something going on between the two sisters that made Hua Fushu say that she hated dancing alone the most.
Duwu smiled. She knew her sister said it on purpose and her sister would never hate her.
The fireworks gradually faded out of the background, and sky lanterns slowly rose up.
The Kongming lantern is named Kongming lantern because its shape resembles Zhuge Kongming's hat.
Kongming lanterns are generally used for praying for blessings, commonly known as wishing lanterns, also known as prayer lanterns or sky lanterns.
Ye Zelin looked at the Kongming lanterns in the sky and counted them roughly. There were no less than a hundred of them.
Madam Qidie said, "Duwu, make a wish quickly. Don't waste your sister's efforts."
Hua Mingqian said: "Yes, Duwu, make a wish quickly."
Sanqiao also said, "Miss Wu, the Kongming lantern will bring your wish to the gods, and the gods will bless you to have your wish come true."
Hua Duwu clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and looked very serious. She recited something in her heart before opening her eyes.
Hua Fushu asked her what wish she made, and Duwu said, "It's a secret. If I tell you, it won't come true."
Hua Fushu was not interested in asking further questions, but instead talked to Duwu about the origin of the Kongming lantern.
There are two theories about the origin of Kongming lanterns.
One of them was invented by Zhuge Wuhou. It is said that Zhuge Wuhou was trapped in Pingyang and could not send soldiers out of the city to ask for help. Zhuge Wuhou calculated the wind direction and ordered people to make floating paper lanterns and tie a message for help to them. After that, he was able to escape danger. Later generations called this paper lantern Kongming lantern.
The second story goes that a woman named Shen Qiniang accompanied her husband to war. She used bamboo strips to tie a square frame, covered it with paper, and fashioned a lantern. She lit pine resin in the base, and the heat from the lantern soared into the sky for military communication. The lantern's shape resembled the hat worn by Zhuge Liang, hence the name Kongming Lantern.
After Hua Fushu finished recounting Shen Qiniang's story, Ye Zelin added, "Shen Qiniang was a remarkable woman. She was well-educated and well-versed in the art of medicine. Born during a time of war, she accompanied her husband on his campaigns while also practicing medicine and helping the needy. Later, her husband tragically died of illness in Mingxi. Mingxi was impoverished, and Shen Qiniang took up residence there, using her medical skills to heal the dying and the wounded. She gained considerable respect and was buried in Mingxi after her death. Shen Qiniang was a kind-hearted woman, saving the sick and benefiting the people, working silently and without asking for anything in return."
He looked at the solo dance and sighed, "The man should be Master Qu, and the girl should be Shen Qi Niang."
Hua Duwu said, "Sister, you will be the next Xin Qiniang."
Hua Fushu laughed and scolded her, "You little bitch, you're meddling in other people's business. Why don't you just take care of yourself and stop worrying about your mother?"
Hua Duwu was annoyed with her sister. She looked at the Kongming lantern flying farther and farther away, wishing that this moment could be frozen forever.
But time will never stop, but this beautiful and warm moment will be forever engraved in Duwu's heart and mind, and will never be forgotten.
The next day, Ye Zelin and his party set off for Wuyin. Hua Mingqian and his wife and Hua Feimo saw everyone off to the door, except for the solo dance.
Madam Qidie blamed her youngest daughter for not seeing her sister off, but Hua Fushu knew that Hua Duwu would not come to see her off.
It turned out that she had done something and gave Duwu a little bit of aphrodisiac so that she could sleep a little longer. Her sister was a difficult one, and she didn't want to have a little girl around to get in the way.
Hua Mingqian and his son were saying goodbye to Ye Zelin and his brother. Madam Qidie took Hua Fushu aside to say goodbye and instructed her on some important matters, even concerning the issue of offspring.
Madam Qidie said softly, "My daughter, although your husband's family doesn't value family background and they have a bond with ours, we are not aristocratic after all and can't compare to the noble family of the Ye family. You and Zelin have been married for some time now. The Ye family has been loyal to the Song Dynasty for generations and has made outstanding contributions. It's not long before they are granted titles of nobility and appointed as prime ministers. Ye Zelin is not the eldest son, so he will not be the heir to the Ye family in the future. His grandfather is not an easy person to deal with. In the families of prominent families, wives and concubines are inevitable. Having a son will help consolidate your position as the main wife. Now, it is urgent for you to quickly add a grandson to the Ye family."
Hua Fushu said dissatisfiedly: "Mother, why are you talking about this? I won't give birth to a child."
Madam Qidie added, "Mother doesn't want to rush you. If your father hadn't resigned, with our family's status, we would be more than enough to marry into the Ye family. Mother is doing this for your own good. We women can't compare to men. If you don't have a son, I'm afraid others will look down on you in the future."
Hua Fushu added, "Mother, even though women are inferior to men, one day I will tell you that we women are not inferior to men."
Madam Qidie was quite dissatisfied, but she had no choice but to say, "You are just talking nonsense, kid."
Hua Mingqian asked her and her mother if they had finished talking. Hua Fushu didn't want to listen to his mother nagging, so he went to her father.
Hua Mingqian asked her mother what she said, and Hua Fushu said it was nothing. She then had a long chat with her father, and finally dragged Hua Feimo to a place not far away, and pushed what her mother said to her onto Hua Feimo.
Hua Feimo understood immediately and refuted her, "It was obviously your mother who urged you to do this, why are you putting the blame on me?"
Hua Fushu whispered, "I don't care."
Hua Feimo was extremely reluctant, "Why?"
Hua Fushu said, "If you don't do this, I'll make you suffer the same way I did two years ago!"
Hua Feimo was annoyed with her and pushed her to the carriage. At this moment, he wished she would leave quickly.
Ye Zelin said goodbye to Madam Qidie again. Madam Qidie exchanged a few words with him and then asked him to set off for Wuyin.
Ye Zelin and Ye Songyan got on their horses, while Hua Fushu and Sanqiao rode in the carriage.
Just before they were about to set off, Hua Fushu suddenly became worried. She noticed someone was missing, so she opened the small window and looked at Ye Zelin on horseback. "Ye Zelin, where's your little follower?"
It turns out that the four virtues are missing.
Hua Fushu didn't mention it, and Sanqiao also forgot about this person.
Ye Zelin said Side was going to Yuzhu County to do some things and would meet up with them later.
Hua Fushu was not interested in asking. As for what Si De was doing, only Ye Zelin and Si De knew.
Ye Zelin rode the horse first, the coachman followed with the carriage, and Ye Songyan walked at the end.
The next day, Hua Fushu and his companions met up in a small town called Liyang, and after another two or three days' journey, they arrived in Wuyin.
Ye Zelin was not in a hurry to visit his uncle at his maternal grandparents' house. Instead, he booked a private room in the restaurant and gave one to Ye Songyan and Side, asking them to recuperate.
Hua Fushu wanted to take a break, but Ye Zelin didn't allow it.
He was measuring the lush flowers, and his old clothes were quite an eyesore. He was carrying a cloth bag that was washed so much that it looked bleached. He did not look like a lady, nor did he look like a married woman.
He handed a package to Sanqiao, "I asked the waiter to prepare hot water for you to wash up. It's not good to be so casual when meeting people."
Hua Fushu was not happy, "What's wrong with me? I wear whatever I like, why do you have to control me?"
Ye Zelin said, "It's not that I want to control you, but my great aunt is a person who values rules. If you were in your family or the general's house, you could do as you please, but if you act like this in the Ouyang family, it's a good thing that my great aunt doesn't make things difficult for you."
After a pause, he said, "Have you ever seen a woman who went to see her elders not dressed neatly and dignifiedly?"
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