Although the Lunar New Year is approaching, the liveliness of this small town feels more down-to-earth compared to the hustle and bustle of Beijing.
Hong Xiaoduo walked with Tian Shu on the street, listening to the locals and vendors haggling over prices, the smiles on the faces of shop assistants welcoming and seeing off customers, and the children who looked at the food with longing but were ignored and dragged away by adults, looking aggrieved. These ordinary and slightly noisy scenes made Hong Xiaoduo feel at ease and comfortable.
More than once, he realized that it wouldn't be so bad if he didn't return to the modern era and just stayed in this dynasty.
She is now surrounded by family, and she has the ability to protect herself, others, and punish evil and promote good.
She wasn't good at scheming and didn't need palace intrigue or domestic power struggles. She could go wherever she wanted, and if she encountered someone who didn't know what was good for her, she didn't need to hold back or be tolerant; she just had to do it.
Back in modern times, there are all sorts of pressures and challenges in the workplace and business world. Just thinking about them makes me feel mentally exhausted.
Even if you become a powerful and wealthy person, you can't do whatever you want.
Those you've offended, those less fortunate than you, those who envy you—they're just waiting for you to make a mistake. Once they seize the opportunity…
No matter how smart you are, how tactful you are, or how meticulous and skillful you are in planning, there will always be times when you make a mistake. Once you fall from a high place, only a very few people can successfully make a comeback.
Why are there so few people at the top of the pyramid? Are all the people at the bottom stupid?
No, successful people are not simply those with ability; it requires a combination of factors, including personal ability, luck, timing, family environment, and the influence of the larger environment.
Many people who have strived don't realize that they were actually just one step away from success, but gave up due to a lack of perseverance. They spend their days lamenting their bad luck, saying they were born at the wrong time, didn't have any benefactors to help them, and that their family and friends couldn't lend a hand!
Those who ultimately succeed in reaching the top of the pyramid are those who, while you are complaining, are steadfastly continuing to work hard.
Even if they didn't reach the very top in the end, they had already fought their way to a position that most people could look up to and envy.
For Hong Xiaoduo, who originally had no great ambitions and admired the heroines in ancient romance novels who fought against evil, life now felt like a version tailor-made for her conscience.
Free and unrestrained, carefree and happy!
She's no longer too concerned about whether she can return to the modern world. So, even though Old Man Luo hasn't appeared or contacted her for many days, she's only a little curious about what he's been busy with, rather than eagerly waiting for him to unlock the key and determine the purpose of her mission here!
"Tian Shu, the lanterns here are very exquisite. Remember to buy a few to take back with you before you leave. Pick one you like too. Yao Guang will definitely like the little rabbit one, and as for Yu Heng, I think she will like the lotus lantern."
"Feiyan, Tianxuan, and the others, we'll think about it later," Hong Xiaoduo instructed as they passed a lantern shop.
She was afraid she might forget if she didn't tell Tian Shu.
Tian Shu agreed, then turned his head to look at the lantern shop again. Looking at her again, he couldn't help but mutter to himself that with her tendency to buy things wherever she went, she would probably need to buy carriages and horses again soon.
If this continues, in another two years, they will undoubtedly own a fleet of cars. Just imagining that scene is quite impressive; anyone who doesn't know the situation would think it's a family relocating over a long distance!
Anyway, it's not like a caravan; those caravans are focused on making money. Which caravan only spends money along the way?
After walking for about 15 minutes, the two arrived at Tangjia Village outside the town. As soon as they reached the village entrance, they were surrounded by villagers.
"Oh my, what a pretty young lady! Young man, which family are you related to?" A woman in her forties greeted her with a smile.
"Hello, Auntie. We're back in our hometown for the Chinese New Year. We've been traveling for days and are so tired that we're resting in this town for a couple of days. We're just taking a stroll around the neighborhood since we have nothing else to do," Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile as she stepped forward.
She was beautiful and had such a good personality that the women sunbathing there adored her and invited her over to sit on the straw mats.
This was exactly what Hong Xiaoduo wanted, so she immediately went forward and sat down.
Tian Shu, who was following closely behind, stared at Hong Xiaoduo, who was sitting among several women and old women with a smiling face. He paused for a moment and then looked at the several packets of pastries in his hand. Could it be that this was the same thing that happened when they returned to the inn before, where they traded food for gossip?
The next moment, she looked at me and, as expected, said, "I just bought some pastries in town. Aunts and grandmas, please don't mind, have a taste."
"No need, no need, young lady and young man, keep it for yourselves." The women and servants hurriedly waved their hands in refusal. Snacks were a delicacy to them. Even if they bought some at home, they would save it for the children. It was something the adults would not be willing to eat.
However, this was just a polite greeting; how could they possibly accept their food?
"Aunties, grandmothers, don't be afraid, eat with confidence, it's not poisonous, and we're not scammers." Seeing this, Tian Shu quickly untied the thin hemp rope on the pastry package, tore open the paper package, and even picked up a piece and put it to his mouth to eat.
If everyone is too polite and doesn't eat the snacks, then someone won't be able to enjoy the gossip to their heart's content, and that won't do!
She only brought him along this time. If he doesn't do something useful now, she might not have the chance to come along next time she travels alone.
Tian Shu clearly remembers that opportunities must be earned through one's own efforts.
"Haha, young master, you're joking. You two don't look like child hunters. Besides, child hunters target children, and they wouldn't do it in front of so many of us. Hahaha, then I'll have a piece without being polite." The woman who greeted Hong Xiaoduo first responded with a smile as she reached into the pastry bag on the millstone in front of her and took a piece of red bean cake.
Seeing her reach out, the others also stepped forward to take the pastries.
"Look, there are so many of us, and if each of us gets one piece, the young lady's bag of pastries will be gone," an old woman joked.
Hong Xiaoduo looked at Tian Shu with an approving smile. "Wow, not bad! I didn't even tell him beforehand, and he actually knew to cooperate with me!"
"It's just a few packets of pastries, nothing much. When traveling, we're most curious about the local customs and traditions. We were even thinking of trying our luck to see if we could stumble upon a wedding or birthday banquet, so we could send a small gift, have a cup of celebratory wine, and share in the joy," Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile.
"Wedding banquet? There weren't any in our village before the Lunar New Year, but there was a wedding for a daughter on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month after the Spring Festival," a woman said upon hearing this.
“Tangquan’s family, what you’re talking about can’t really be considered marrying off a daughter, can it? Their daughter is going to be a concubine, so it can’t be considered a happy occasion, can it?” an old woman immediately said.
Upon hearing the date "the sixteenth day of the first lunar month," Hong Xiaoduo, who had been listening intently, raised an eyebrow. "It must be that family..."
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