A few more days have passed, and the scenic spot project by the lake is nearing completion. The stone-paved road planned by the village has been built to the lakeside and is currently undergoing final finishing touches.
By this time, people had already come to the lakeside to admire the lotus flowers.
This place has become the best place for leisure in the village, but not many people know about this attraction.
To boost popularity, Zhao Xian plans to hold an event here to promote this lakeside attraction.
He quickly came up with the idea of inviting the teachers and students from Wufang Academy and Linfuzi School to stroll by the lake, and then inviting a few teachers to write some articles to promote the scenic spot.
Since most of the tourists here are children, it is essential to take precautions. Zhao Xian plans to assign more than ten guards to be responsible for safety.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xian found Chen and asked her to prepare more jelly and herbal tea for the children who came to visit.
Of course, these snacks were provided free of charge, and the cost was paid by Zhao Xian.
Soon, Wufang Academy and Linfuzi School received Zhao Xian's invitation. Linfuzi and Ruan Fang were very happy and began to make preparations.
The children were overjoyed to hear that they wouldn't have to go to school the next day, could go out to play, and would get free snacks.
The children in the countryside certainly knew about lotus leaves and flowers, but the teacher had already instructed them that the lotus leaves and flowers there were not allowed to be picked; they could only be admired.
The children weren't particularly interested in the lotus leaves and flowers; what truly captivated them was the free snacks they could enjoy there.
The following morning, Ruan Fang and several elderly teachers led all the students along the neat stone path to the lake. When they saw the scenery, everyone was stunned.
They never expected that a row of pavilions and towers would be built along the lake, and a wooden boardwalk would be constructed on the lake, allowing them to get up close to the lotus leaves and flowers in the lake.
A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of lotus blossoms, a truly intoxicating experience.
The koi in the lake, the birds flying on the lake surface, and the lotus leaves and flowers together form a beautiful picture.
Master Lin was an acquaintance of Mr. Fang, but he did not know Ruan Fang and the other two gentlemen. Mr. Fang introduced them, and the group quickly became familiar with each other, feeling as if they had known each other for a long time.
Ruan Fang and the other elderly gentlemen were all very knowledgeable, and they quickly got into a conversation.
The scenery was so captivating that several people were inspired to compose poems in response to the beautiful view before them.
Several people began composing poems, one after another, from lotus leaves to lotus flowers, from koi carp to flying birds, from pavilions and towers to lakeside boardwalks—all were subjects of their verses.
The scholars were indeed very learned; before long, each of them had composed several poems, and it seemed they wouldn't be able to stop anytime soon.
Zhao Xian had more than ten guards look after the children and protect their safety. Seeing that all the children were having a great time, he felt relieved.
Seeing Ruan Fang and several elderly gentlemen chatting animatedly in a pavilion, Zhao Xian decided to go and see what was going on.
Upon seeing Zhao Xian arrive, several elderly gentlemen immediately surrounded him.
"My lord, I heard that at last year's poetry gathering in Qing'an Prefecture, you composed two poems that were widely circulated in the Great Northern Dynasty. Could you perhaps compose a poem for us today, based on the scenery before us?"
Zhao Xian immediately felt a headache coming on. If he had known that several old gentlemen were having a poetry contest, he would not have come to join in the fun. Wasn't this just asking for trouble?
Judging from this situation, I won't be able to leave unless I compose a poem.
Seeing the expectant looks in the eyes of the old gentlemen, Zhao Xian had no choice but to bite the bullet and randomly pick an ancient poem to fool these old scholars.
After thinking for a moment, he spoke:
"I will use the lotus leaves and flowers in front of me as the subject of my poem."
After all, the scenery of Fairy Lake in June is different from that of other seasons;
The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green; the lotus blossoms, bathed in sunlight, are a vibrant red.
This poem is by Yang Wanli of the Song Dynasty. The lake in front of us is said to have been formed by a fairy who stopped here and left his footprints.
Currently, the lotus flowers and leaves are only in this area, and have not yet reached the point where the lotus leaves stretch to the sky in an endless expanse of green, but that does not mean they will not be in the future.
The poem was so well-written that several elderly gentlemen were stunned, and Ruan Fang stared wide-eyed at Zhao Xian.
The level of the Imperial Academy was too high; they were ashamed of their own inferiority. While the old scholars were still in a daze, Zhao Xian quickly made his escape.
Playfulness is in children's nature. In ancient times, children learned by studying the classics, rarely having a chance to relax.
Today they didn't have to go to school, and the teacher took them out for a trip so they could play to their hearts' content. They ignored the beautiful scenery in the lake and instead became interested in the small stream next to it, starting their shrimp-catching and turtle-catching mode.
The girls were captivated by the lotus flowers in the lake, but their teacher had instructed them beforehand that they could only admire them and not pick them. So they could only stand on the boardwalk and look at the lotus flowers in front of them.
There are many beautiful wildflowers along the lake shore; why not pick a few and wear them in your hair?
Before long, the temperature rose and the weather began to get a bit hot. Chen took the prepared jelly and herbal tea to the lakeside by horse-drawn carriage and set up a stall.
Qin Shiyu and Qin Yingying also came to help. The two of them had dressed up carefully, wearing pure white silk dresses, like fairies descending to earth.
Not only that, they also dressed up Chen Chunni, gave the little girl a special hairstyle, and paired her with a red silk dress, completely transforming her image.
She was just a little girl in the countryside before, but she immediately became a noble little princess.
When the children saw that they could enjoy the cold noodles and herbal tea, they immediately gathered around. The guards also rushed over to maintain order and let them line up to receive the snacks.
"What beautiful young ladies!" the children exclaimed, captivated by the elegant demeanor of the girls.
"Are they fairies?" the children asked each other in a soft voice.
"I don't know. I didn't see them when I came. It seems like they came suddenly. They must be fairies."
The children started whispering amongst themselves. After receiving a bowl of jelly and a cup of herbal tea, they immediately dispersed and began to enjoy their treats.
When Er Ya arrived at the stall and received her snack, she was stunned.
She couldn't believe that the fairy-like girl in front of her was her older sister. How could she be so beautiful today?
Chunni handed a bowl of cold noodles and a cup of milk tea to Er Ya, and was a little puzzled by Er Ya's exaggerated expression.
"Er Ya, what's wrong?" Chun Ni asked.
Er Ya then realized that the fairy-like girl in front of her was her older sister Chun Ni, and she looked so beautiful today.
"Chunni, who is she?" Qin Shiyu asked.
"My younger sister, Chen Erya, attends Lin Fuzi School."
Chen Chunni said these words with a hint of pride.
"Your little sister is so well-behaved and beautiful." After saying that, Qin Shiyu didn't forget to pat Er Ya's little head.
Er Ya, carrying the snacks, ran off excitedly.
The girls nearby immediately looked on with envy.
"Chen Erya's older sister is so beautiful, just like a fairy."
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