novelraw Chapter 378: Fifteen Lanterns Festival
Chapter 378: Fifteen Lanterns Festival
Tong Huaqiong took Huang Jingshan’s hand, sizing her up and down, turning her head to call out to Lu Zhaoyang, "Come, come, Zhaoyang, it’s such a coincidence to meet Jingshan here. Didn’t you say you wanted to win the lantern riddles? Jingshan is good at guessing riddles, why not accompany her and go solve some together."
Every year during the Lantern Festival in Yan Guan Town, shops set up word puzzles, and the winner can choose a lantern to take home.
Both Huang Jingshan and Lu Zhaoyang blushed at this comment.
Huang Yuanwai’s lips twitched; Manager Tong was being a bit too deliberate.
Deliberate to the point of overdoing it.
Old Mrs. Huang laughed so heartily that her face gathered into a chrysanthemum, admiring Lu Zhaoyang’s charismatic demeanor—there’s not a second like him in the entire county, not even in the town.
The townspeople all knew her granddaughter was engaged to the Lu Family, yet few had seen the real Lu Zhaoyang.
Those envious of the Huang Family spread rumors about Mr. Lu.
About how he was hideously ugly, how he was so frail he’d fall with a gust of wind, how his temperament was explosive...
It infuriated Old Mrs. Huang to the point where she wanted to knock on doors and scold them all.
At this moment, she wished for the whole town to stop admiring the lanterns and start admiring her grandson-in-law Lu Zhaoyang.
"Manager Tong, I was just saying in this cold weather, Zhaoyang is thoughtful; the large coat I have on is a gift he gave me for the holiday, and wearing it cured my arthritic leg."
Old Mrs. Huang’s voice was even louder than Tong Huaqiong’s.
She deliberately patted her luxurious large coat.
Huang Yuanwai thought, no wonder the old woman was so insistent on wearing this; she wanted to show it off.
"Since we’ve run into Zhaoyang here, Jingshan, accompany him to guess the lantern riddles then. Zhaoyang is the talented prodigy of Wanliu Academy, guessing a riddle should be simple for him." Before Tong Huaqiong could echo Old Mrs. Huang’s sentiments, Huang Yuanwai boasted aloud.
Sure enough, passersby were drawn by the mention of Wanliu Academy’s talented prodigy.
News exploded in Yan Guan Town before the year-end about Huang Jingshan breaking off her engagement with the Lian Family in Pingchuan County and getting engaged with Mr. Lu from Imperial Merchant Lu Family in the town. Naturally, people were curious about Wanliu Academy’s prodigy, Mr. Lu, and couldn’t help but stop to observe at the mention of Lu Zhaoyang’s name.
More and more people gathered on the bridge.
It was almost causing a traffic jam.
Tong Huaqiong nudged Lu Zhaoyang, "Zhaoyang, you’re a talented prodigy, Jingshan is our Yan Guan Town’s talented lady. Hurry up and go, together you’ll surely win the lantern riddles."
Tong Huaqiong wanted everyone to know who Lu Zhaoyang was to avoid any mix-up.
After all, both Gu Jingzhe and Su Chengmin were also there, and in terms of appearance, they too were among the top in Yan Guan Town.
Lu Zhaoyang turned red from the collective praises sung by Old Mrs. Huang, Huang Yuanwai, and Tong Huaqiong.
"Oh, the one standing beside Manager Tong is Mr. Lu from the Lu Family."
"Whoever said Mr. Lu is hideously ugly must be blind or jealous. Isn’t it obvious his looks compare to Pan An? Tsk tsk tsk, he’s genuinely handsome."
"No wonder the Huang Family flaunted all through the New Year; if I had a son-in-law like that, I’d flaunt too."
"His physique doesn’t look weak either, he’s just a bit slim and fair, looks healthier than the young master of the Lian Family, definitely capable of bearing sons."
...
The crowd kept commenting on Lu Zhaoyang.
The townsfolk of Yan Guan were more outspoken than those from the town; hearing such blunt comments about himself, especially regarding the potential to bear sons, left Lu Zhaoyang quite flustered.
Huang Jingshan shyly turned her head.
The most pleased was Old Mrs. Huang, who’d finally dispelled rumors about her grandson-in-law.
By tomorrow, the entire town would be spreading news about their talented grandson-in-law and the excellent match her granddaughter had found.
"Walk, don’t just stand here blocking the way, move forward. The lanterns ahead are beautiful, and the riddles are there too." Seeing the crowd obstruct the path, Tong Huaqiong urged.
So, everyone moved forward together en masse.
Tong Huaqiong walked together with Man Er, a few children, and Old Mrs. Huang.
Lu Zhaoyang and Huang Jingshan walked ahead.
Followed by Gu Taohua, Lu Zhaozhao, Gu Jingzhe, while Su Chengmin walked beside Gu Taohua, staring intently at Xiao Long.
"Grandma, the lanterns over there are beautiful; I want to go see those," Man Er said.
Xiao Long also demanded to go.
Tong Huaqiong said, "You can’t go, there are kidnappers."
In this era without surveillance, during the Lantern Festival, with crowds of people, almost every child from Yan Guan Town was out, kidnappers would certainly be hiding among the crowd, seizing the opportunity to snatch people.
It’s said that after each Lantern Festival, children went missing in various villages.
The children around her were dressed nicely, which made them prime targets for kidnappers.
"Lai Fu, keep an eye on these kids," Tong Huaqiong instructed Su Chengmin.
No choice, there were four children with her.
She would be distracted from keeping watch on the kids while enjoying lanterns and chatting with Old Mrs. Huang.
Liu Yueer had already vanished into the crowd, enjoying the festivities.
Gu Taohua was engrossed in admiring the lanterns.
As for the always cautious Gu Jingzhe, all his attention was on Lu Zhaozhao, leaving him no time to watch the kids.
After considering everyone, only Su Chengmin could take care of the children.
Su Chengmin said, "Don’t worry, Aunt Tong."
Even without Tong Huaqiong’s reminder, he would still watch over the kids properly.
Especially Xiao Long, if anything were to happen, who could bear the consequences?
Crossing the bridge, they arrived at Yan Guan Town’s busiest street.
The street was lined with trees, under the eaves, and the sky full of hanging lanterns.
Each lantern had its unique design, be it figures, animals, flowers...
The array of lanterns dazzled Tong Huaqiong, marveling at the ancient craftsmanship.
The bustling crowd was reminiscent of the temple fairs Tong Huaqiong had attended in recent years.
"Look ahead," Old Mrs. Huang nudged Tong Huaqiong, looking merrily at Lu Zhaoyang and Huang Jingshan ahead.
Tong Huaqiong glanced ahead, first seeing Huang Jingshan walking in front, followed by Lu Zhaoyang, who quickly caught up.
When the match was discussed, Huang Jingshan’s height was dismissed most by potential suitors, yet standing beside the similarly tall Lu Zhaoyang, from a distance, they appeared perfect together.
"They really do make quite the pair," Tong Huaqiong said.
Old Mrs. Huang’s eyes gleamed, seemingly enraptured by the couple.
Tong Huaqiong’s gaze landed on another familiar pair.
Gu Taohua walked, releasing Lu Zhaozhao’s hand, and mingled into the crowd, leaving Lu Zhaozhao alone. As people constantly passed her, when someone almost bumped into her, her good boy Gu Jingzhe stood in front of Lu Zhaozhao.
The two exchanged smiles and walked side by side.
Arriving at the lantern riddle area, Lu Zhaozhao pointed to the lanterns above, Gu Jingzhe saying something that made Lu Zhaozhao laugh, Gu Jingzhe laughed too.
"Manager Tong, see how much the Lu Family’s lady and your son look like a painting," Old Mrs. Huang remarked.
Under the glowing lanterns, a handsome young boy and girl gazed up together, truly making the most beautiful scene in Yan Guan Town.
If not for recalling the frustrating things Gu Jingzhe did to Lu Zhaozhao in the past life, Tong Huaqiong would also want to praise this couple.