Chapter 18: Jiangyang has many customs on Shangsi Day. "Open a back door for the common people's women. ...
Xiyan came forward, took the tongs from Song Linsheng, and started the charcoal fire. When Wen Yu asked the question, he explained the reason to the two of them.
"I sent Brother Ayuan all the way back. After settling them down, I hurried back. I was worried about the young master's meal, and I only remembered to hurry on my way. But I ran into Master Mu in the East Market..."
Song Linsheng nodded, motioning Xiyan to continue, and raised his hand to pick up a teacup from the tea tray and poured a cup for Xiyan.
After drinking the hot tea, he washed his inkstone, rubbed his hands, and continued, "It seems Lord Mu just came out of the government office. He said that the lantern exhibition for the Shangsi Festival has been scheduled at the Jiangyang Restaurant in the East Market. He is personally supervising it and is setting up there right now!"
"So this lantern was given to you by Mu Jingli?"
Song Linsheng also took a rabbit lantern and played with it in his hands. The lantern had not been lit yet. If it was lit at night, it would be full of light and sparkle. Song Linsheng tilted his head to look at Wen Yu through the rabbit lantern. Her fluffy collar really looked a bit like a little rabbit.
"How can it be a gift to me?" Xiyan laughed happily, "It is a gift to Lord Song!" Xiyan folded his hands and raised them to the upper left, and saluted Song Linsheng in a proper manner.
Wen Yu was overjoyed when he heard this, and he burst into laughter when he saw Xi Yan's playful and funny look.
Song Linsheng rubbed his temples helplessly. After Xiyan and Wenyu had finished laughing, he asked, "Did Mu Jingli have anything to say?"
"Lord Mu instructed us to bring these lanterns back to the mansion for you and Madam Wenyu to enjoy, and said that he would hold a Shangsi banquet at Jiangyang Restaurant in three days, and invite you to attend to see how he arranged it." Xiyan conveyed Lord Mu's words to Song Linsheng while thinking.
"Bring it to me and...Madam Wenyu?" Song Linsheng asked for some reason. Upon hearing this, Wenyu turned her gaze from the fish lantern to Song Linsheng.
"Yes! He specifically told me so!" Xiyan answered quickly without thinking.
Mu Jingli... must have never met Madam Wenyu before? Why did he ask Xiyan to bring it back to him and Madam Wenyu?
Song Linsheng's mind was clouded with suspicion. He shifted his gaze slightly. Wen Yu was holding the fish lantern, examining it carefully from head to toe. Her expression was focused, as if she was quite fond of it. Her face was expressionless, unfazed by Xiyan's words. Song Linsheng couldn't figure it out, so he gave up.
He didn't ask any further questions, only replying, "We'll go see the excitement then. I haven't been back to Jiangyang Prefecture in years, and I wonder if there are any new things to do at the Shangsi Water Feast..."
"Water Feast?" Wen Yu was very good at grasping the key points. He put down the lamp and asked about the Shangsi Water Feast.
Song Linsheng ordered Xiyan to put away the lanterns first and light them up together and hang them in the yard on Shangsi Festival. Xiyan followed the order and went into the house with the lanterns. Only Song Linsheng and Wen Yu were left in the yard.
"I gave you a general account of the customs of Shangsi Day this morning. If you want to know in more detail, there are still many things to pay attention to." Song Linsheng added water to the teapot and replied.
"Oh! Lord Song! Please tell me more!" Wen Yu did not sit as straight as Song Linsheng. She put her hands around her knees, rested her chin on them, and tilted her head to look at Song Linsheng.
This time Song Linsheng didn't keep the secret any longer and talked about the activities of the Shangsi Festival in detail.
"Shangsi Day is the third day of March..."
March 3rd is Shangsi Day, also known as "Double Third" or "Spring Purification". Generally speaking, people will continue the activities of the first day in the following days, and the excitement may last for ten days or half a month.
The Shangsi Festival is divided into three parts. Early in the morning, men and women wash and dress, then head to restaurants, poetry societies, and other places in the city where Shangsi activities are held. There, they sit on either side of a stream, holding orchids and washing their hands, performing the "Puxi" ritual. "Pu" (楓) means to expel disease and bad luck, while "Xi" (禊) means to purify and cleanse the body. Purification and "Xi" (楓禊) aim to eliminate harmful diseases through washing the body.
Later, this custom further evolved into a waterside banquet, where people would sit on either side of the canal, place wine cups on special trays, and let them float down the river. Whoever the wine cup landed in front of would take the cup and drink.
The flowing water evokes the wine, hence the saying "Qushui Liushang." Not to mention various activities like poetry composition, ping-ping (a game of cuju or ping-ping), and ping-ping (a game of cuju or ping-ping-ping), where participation is open to all, regardless of gender. This is also where many marriages begin.
Later, this custom was extended to dining, with tables being designed to resemble mountains and rivers, with water flowing into them. Bowls and cups containing food were placed on top, flowing with the current so that diners could taste every dish. Because it originated from the practice of flowing wine cups on a winding stream, it was called a water banquet.
After noon, officials and civilians would go out of the city together and head towards Houchun Mountain to hold a sacrificial ceremony to worship the God of Spring. Generally speaking, a young woman would play the role of the God of Spring, and she would lead an old ox, which would make the ceremony even more vivid. The "God of Spring" and the ox led the way, and the people followed behind, sowing seeds and watering along the way, expressing people's beautiful wishes.
This ceremony lasts until dusk, when the lanterns take center stage. People pray and light lanterns at the Spring Temple, letting their wishes soar high in the sky, allowing them to be heard by the gods in heaven. If they encounter a kind-hearted god, their wishes will be fulfilled.
Such a busy day ended with the excitement of watching the lanterns...
"Then! The people returned home..." Song Linsheng's voice was slow and gentle, with a hint of tempting thought, making people fascinated and as if they were there.
"So this is what the water banquet means... then..." Wen Yu pondered.
"Don't worry! Linsheng will definitely take Madam Wenyu to Jiangyang Restaurant to try new food!" Song Linsheng responded at the right time, making Wenyu feel embarrassed.
"Then how can we find a woman to play the role of the Goddess of Spring?" Wen Yu was curious. Could it be that before she gained spiritual wisdom, the people prayed beside her?
"It's probably selected from women of appropriate age. I haven't been in Jiangyang for a long time, so I'm not very clear about what the method is now..." Song Linsheng thought about sending someone to ask Mu about his experience, but then he changed his mind and asked again:
"Why is Madam Wenyu asking this? Perhaps you also want to participate and dress up as the Goddess of Spring?"
Wen Yu choked. What kind of Spring Goddess was she playing? If she were to play Spring Goddess, wouldn't that be disrespectful to her master? Wen Yu said awkwardly, "I'm just curious and asked one more question. Master Song, please stop teasing me!"
"The Shangsi Festival will be in three days. Manager Mu has already decided on the restaurant for the Qushui Liushang Banquet, and I'm afraid the people who will perform the sacrifices have also been decided." Song Linsheng imitated Wen Yu's tone.
"Madam Wenyu, I'm afraid it's too late for you to go..." Song Linsheng's dimples were faintly visible. He hadn't talked so much in a long time. Somehow, Madam Wenyu had the ability to make people unable to help but chat with her.
Wen Yu's ears turned red, and she was a little at a loss at first, but when she saw Song Linsheng trying to hold back his laughter, she breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed.
"Then I have no choice but to ask Lord Xiao Song to open a back door for me? Find that Mr. Mu of yours and replace me!" Wen Yu shook her head, and the small braid hanging from her bun also swayed, and she added.
"Your rank is higher than his, right?" Wen Yu's eyes were cunning. Song Linsheng felt as if the little rabbit in front of him had turned into a little fox at some point, with its big furry tail flapping back and forth behind her.
"As an official, you must first serve the people. It's said that you should focus on the big picture and start with the small details. If I use my official position to suppress Mu Jingli today and show favoritism to you—" Song Linsheng didn't finish his words, whetting Wen Yu's appetite before he said:
"Tomorrow, Madam Wenyu, please come to the prison in Jiangyang Prefecture to see me!"
Wen Yu knew he was joking, so she didn't take it seriously. Mortals have their own rules, and Song Linsheng has his own principles. Such a noble and righteous person has to face an unknown fate and an unclear direction...
Wen Yu sighed in her heart and secretly vowed that she would protect Song Linsheng and not let him feel disappointed.
"The stream is clear and as calm as a mirror, and a flying leaf creates ripples. Jiangyang Prefecture has abundant water resources, and its water conservancy and water transport are very prosperous..." Song Linsheng analyzed the current situation of Jiangyang Prefecture based on its terrain.
"However, I heard back in Shangdu that the Yuan River has a long dry season in autumn, which blocks the river channel and is detrimental to fishing. And when the summer flood season arrives, it's extremely prone to flooding and disasters..." It's a tricky matter...
"After meeting with the Tongzhi Lord at the government office tomorrow, we need to come up with a countermeasure as soon as possible..." Song Linsheng said in a low voice, not knowing whether he was talking to Tong Wenyu or just to himself.
Wen Yu heard him mumbling something about the Tongzhi Lord, and the previous delay suddenly flashed through his mind.
"Is that Tongzhi's surname Jia?" She spoke quickly, drowning out Song Linsheng's voice.
Song Linsheng raised his head, feeling very strange. First, Mu Jingli "sent" Madam Wen Yu a lantern for no reason, and then she took the initiative to mention the surname of the Tongzhi. These two people should have nothing to do with Madam Wen Yu, let alone friendship.
"How did you know that?" Song Linsheng's eyes were filled with surprise.
"Not only do I know his last name is Jia, I also know he has a misnomer: Jia Ren!"
Even though Wen Yu was not a great scholar, he knew that the meaning of benevolence was to teach people to love each other.
Jia Ren, with such a reputation in vain, actually committed such a despicable act as arresting people in the street.
Song Linsheng was even more surprised. This Lord Jia was out on business today, and he hadn't even had the chance to meet him yet. How did Madam Wen Yu know his name?
"you……"
Wen Yu didn't wait for him to say anything else and continued, "He was riding his horse in the street today, arresting people at random!"
Song Linsheng's thoughts quickened when he heard this. Today, only Mu Jingli had sent someone to report a conflict between officials and civilians in the East Market. When he rushed there, he only saw Wen Yu and A Yuan. Wen Yu's words now...
"Before Experiencer Mu arrived, Lord Jia and you had an argument and a conflict?"
"Mu Jingli?" Wen Yu repeated it, connecting it to the previous incident. "A little adult came to negotiate peace. So his name is Mu Jingli?"
"I think so. Why don't you tell me everything that happened in the East Market, no matter how big or small, one by one?" Song Linsheng spoke softly, and his gentle voice infected Wen Yu's heart, making her slowly calm down and no longer make a fuss like a little firecracker.
"It wasn't me who had the conflict with him. It was someone called Chen Mian..."
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