The Lotus Festival is the most lively unofficial festival in Nanguan Town every summer.
There are thousands of acres of lotus ponds in the Huaihe River. The lotus flowers are stimulated by the summer sun and bloom like a canopy.
It can also be regarded as the grand scene of summer in Nanguan Town.
Every year during the Lotus Festival, all villages and towns stop working in the fields and business in stores, and the whole family gathers friends to go to the Huaishui River to enjoy the lotus flowers.
Shenshu Village is no exception.
Every household prepares clothes and dry food for the town early.
Even repairing private schools has been temporarily suspended.
Lao Bai's family got up at dawn, had breakfast, and planned to rush to town while it was still cool in the morning.
Qiuniang dressed up Xiao Fuyuan.
The pink dress has a double bun with a lotus-shaped velvet flower on one side.
"Aunt, sister Xiao Yuanbao's replacement clothes are in this bag, and the Xingnao mints are also in it." Qiuniang packed up Xiao Fuyuan's things and handed them to Zhen.
Since Qiuniang arrived at Lao Bai's house, Xiao Fuyuan's daily life has been almost taken care of by her.
She took care of little Fuyuan very carefully, and everyone in the Bai family was very satisfied with her.
Madam Zhen said in surprise: "You won't come with us?"
Qiuniang smiled and said softly: "I won't go. There is still a lot of work at home. Grandma's vegetable field needs to be watered, and the noodles are running out and the wheat needs to be washed. And you must have hot meals when you come back in the evening. The water is waiting.”
Qiuniang didn't want to go, but she felt that her status was not suitable for joining in the fun.
Her external image is that of a widower, and she is not afraid of being criticized, but now that she lives in Lao Bai's house, she has to think about Lao Bai's family.
What's more, the Lotus Festival is nothing to see.
In the past, in Huaicheng, there was a festival that was more lively than the Lotus Festival. She was often used as a singer to add to the fun, and she was really not interested in such excitement.
"Sister Qiu, go ahead." Xiao Fuyuan said, holding Qiu Niang's hand.
"Your sister has said, let's go together. Everyone in the village will go to this annual event." Zhen also advised her.
Qiuniang touched Xiao Yuanbao's head and smiled at Zhen: "Auntie, I'm at home."
While saying this, Old Mrs. Bai came out after changing her clothes and said to Qiuniang: "I don't need you to water my vegetable field. The noodles at home can last for a few days. You guys can go to town and have money to buy food so you won't starve to death. Use it. I don’t want you to be at home, but you can go if you are told.”
Qiuniang knew that Mrs. Bai kindly asked her to go, so she didn't dare to disobey.
"Your grandma cares about you. Everyone in the village has gone, and she is worried about you being home alone." Madam Zhen said with a smile.
Old Mrs. Bai sent Qiuniang to change clothes and said, "Qiuniang, even if you are a widow, you have to wear something bright."
Qiuniang entered the house and changed into new clothes.
"Brother A Zhen." Xiao Fuyuan saw that A Zhen was already standing at the door. There was a luxury carriage parked next to him. The carriage was pulled by a strong horse and the driver was Wu Xiaoying.
"You ride in the carriage with me." A Zhen said.
He Shun came out and said to Old Mrs. Bai, "Mrs. Bai, my young master said, please go together in the carriage."
Mrs. Bai smiled and said, "Just walk on this mountain road. You'll be there in a short while."
He Shun carried little Fuyuan out and said, "It's okay, sir. Little Fuyuan is so small and tired from walking so many mountainous roads. The young master's carriage is very spacious and can seat seven or eight people. Just to take you with me, the young master asked me to I have prepared two carriages."
Xiao Fu looked at Old Mrs. Bai with his big round watery eyes and said, "Grandma, Brother A Zhen and I are riding in a carriage."
Old Mrs. Bai had no choice but to agree to her, and got into the carriage with Zhen Qiuniang, Xie Chuntao and Eugene Gui.
Bai Banban, Bai Dazhuang, and Bai Zhaomei's uncle and nephew who were on vacation were sitting in another carriage.
Zhang Yangjing, Wu Langzhong and Wu Chaojing also got on the carriage.
Walking to the door of the village chief's house, he picked up the village chief's family.
The village chief's wife sat next to Old Mrs. Bai, looked at Qiuniang, and quietly said to Old Mrs. Bai: "Your natal grandnephew is quite good, but it's a pity to be widowed at such a young age."
Qiuniang hugged Xiao Fuyuan and sat motionless.
Old Mrs. Bai guessed that the village chief's daughter-in-law was possessed by the matchmaker, so she politely declined on Qiuniang's behalf: "That's why I took over the family life. I only need a pair of chopsticks, so I can afford it even when I'm old."
The village chief’s wife was no longer mentioned.
She also praised Xiao Fuyuan's good fortune. If she hadn't had a good relationship with A Zhen, she wouldn't have been able to get on such a good ship.
The carriage soon arrived at the Huai River.
I heard that this year’s Lotus Festival not only includes flower viewing, but also lantern viewing at night. It is said that some wealthy families set up lanterns along the river and put lotus lanterns in the river at night.
Therefore, there were so many people here this year, so many people gathered by the river that it was impossible to squeeze in.
There were also small vendors, some juggling and storytellers, which made the entire Lotus Festival even more lively.
Even the county magistrate Liu Hong came by boat with his family.
Xiao Fuyuan and A Zhen got off the carriage and saw two beautiful large ships parked near the shore.
"Brother Azhen, are these these two big ships you're talking about?" Xiao Fuyuan said, staring at the big ships.
"Well, do you like it?" A Zhen said with a smile.
"I like it." Xiao Fuyuan sighed in her heart that it would be better to have money!
"Let's go, I'll take you up." A Zhen took Xiao Fuyuan's hand and walked towards the boat.
The Bai family and the village chief's family were invited by He Shun early to take a boat ride to enjoy the flowers, but they did not expect these two ostentatious and beautiful boats.
Village Chief Zhao's nervous hands didn't know where to place them.
Everyone followed He Shun to the boat. This was their first time taking a boat to enjoy the lotus at the Lotus Festival.
"Wow, it's so beautiful." Xiao Fukuoka exclaimed as she entered the cabin.
The entire ship is very beautifully decorated, like a miniature version of A Zhen's daily life.
There were food and drinks on the table, and there was a stove at the stern of the boat. Liu Yishou, who had arrived early to serve on the boat, was threading meat skewers and making barbecue for everyone.
Opening the curtains, the blue waves are rippling, and thousands of acres of lotus flowers are reflected in front of you.
"I don't dare to sit on this rich ship." Xie Chuntao smacked his lips.
Except for Zhen, everyone else had the same thoughts as Xie Chuntao.
Eugene Gui looked around, very excited, and felt a little sincere gratitude to Xiao Fuyuan in his heart.
When Bai Erzhuang walked into the boat, Eugene Gui was even more happy.
"Sit wherever you want. Since Brother Azhen invites everyone to come and take the boat, you are not a stingy person." Xiao Fuyuan said with a smile.
Little Fuyuan lay in front of the window and looked out. There were many boats dotted among the lotus bushes.
Many people stood on the shore and pointed at A Zhen's two big boats, praising them one after another. They wondered which boat was so beautiful and spectacular. This was the first time they had seen it. It was bigger than Shopkeeper Xu's boat.
When I saw Xiao Fuyuan and A Zhen, I was even more amazed. Whose children were they? They looked like a pair of people in a painting.
Xiao Fuyuan heard people talking outside through the window.
"By the way, why isn't Shopkeeper Xu's boat there?" someone asked.
"Don't mention it. His daughter fell into the water and a poor scholar saw it all over her body. The whole town is spreading this story."
"Poor scholar? Now that you've seen it, just marry him. Shopkeeper Xu is not short of money anyway."
"What do you know? I heard that it was all planned by a poor scholar from beginning to end."
"What if I don't get married? Her whole body is being looked at. Who will want her in the future?"
(End of chapter)
