Chapter 161: Lantern Festival

 Chapter 161: Lantern Festival

In the first month of the year, the provincial capital was bustling, with various street performances taking place every day.

Lately, Li Xingnian had often taken Daohua and the other three children from the Li family out for strolls, either shopping, drinking tea, or listening to stories. The younger ones were enjoying themselves immensely every day.

In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival arrived.

"Cousin Zixuan, do we really need to leave so early?" Daohua asked as she checked her pocket watch. It was already past the fourth quarter of Shen (around 6 p.m.), and the sky was still bright.

Li Zixuan, while pulling Daohua onto the carriage, replied, "It’s not too early. You’re new here, so you don’t know. On Lantern Festival, the streets are always crowded. If we leave late, we'll definitely get stuck in traffic." 

"If we want to see the lantern parade, we need to get there early. Otherwise, by evening, the main street will be packed with people, and we won’t be able to squeeze through."

Hearing this, Daohua didn’t say anything more and quietly followed her cousin onto the carriage.

For safety reasons, both uncles and aunts were also going. At this moment, they were already seated in the front carriage. After the younger ones got settled, their carriage set off towards the main street.

When they were still two streets away from the main street, Daohua and the Li family got off the carriage.

"We have to walk the rest of the way on foot. There are too many people here, and the carriage can't get through," Li Zixuan explained softly to Daohua.

Daohua nodded. She had already figured it out without needing the explanation.

Even though it was still a bit light out, the street was already packed with people.

After Li Xingnian arranged for the carriage to be parked, the group began walking toward the main street.

"Chenyi, you boys don’t just focus on your own fun. Keep an eye on the three younger girls!" Li Xingnian reminded.

Li Chenyi immediately responded, "Don’t worry, Second Uncle, we’ll take care of the girls."

Then, Li Chenyi led the way, with several younger siblings quickly heading toward the prearranged restaurant.

"Big cousin is so thoughtful!"

As they walked, Yan Wenxiu stayed by Daohua’s side, occasionally reaching out to clear the way, helping her and the other two girls avoid being jostled by the crowd.

Hearing Li Zixuan's words, Daohua smiled and covered her mouth. "Big Brother is naturally good. It would be even better if he didn’t always talk about rules and manners."

Li Zixuan laughed upon seeing Daohua’s playful expression. "You should be content. We’d love to have an older brother who’s so refined, knowledgeable, and well-mannered, but we don’t."

Daohua responded, "Your three older brothers are great too. The eldest is steady, the second is cheerful, and the third is gentle and thoughtful. They always think of you when there’s something good or fun. They’re great older brothers!"

Li Zixin snorted, "That’s only because you’re here. If it were any other time, they wouldn’t bother playing with us." 

Daohua laughed. "Boys and girls enjoy different things. I think a good older brother is one who protects his sisters."

Suddenly, Li Zixuan pulled Daohua into a light jog. "Stop talking, we’re almost at the restaurant."

On the main street, every shop was brightly decorated with lanterns, and the major restaurants were packed with people.

"My little ancestors, slow down, don’t get separated!" Aunt scolded playfully.

Although Daohua and the others had left early, by the time they reached the prearranged restaurant, it was already dark.

"My goodness, we’re finally here! I feel like I’ve been squashed!" Yan Wenkai exclaimed dramatically as they entered the private room of the restaurant, making everyone laugh.

It was like a battle.

On the fifteenth day of the first month, the weather was still quite cold, and after walking so much, Daohua was sweating. Upon entering the room, she had to use a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Li Zixuan and her sisters led Daohua to the window, where they looked out at the dense crowd in the street below.

Li Zixin said, "We’re lucky Dad reserved this restaurant in advance. Otherwise, we’d have to stand outside and squeeze with everyone else."

Li Zixuan looked around, feeling a bit regretful. "If only we could’ve reserved a spot on the upper floor. Then we could have had a better view."

The room was on the first floor, and it was only because Li Xingchang used his connections that they had managed to secure it.

Li Zixin sighed, "On Lantern Festival, it's impossible to get a seat at any of the restaurants on the main street. Dad reserved this room ten days in advance."

Daohua couldn’t help but click her tongue in surprise.

"Hey, isn’t that Li family’s little sister?"

Suddenly, a lively female voice came from outside the private room.

The door was open, and Daohua turned to see several well-dressed young ladies looking at them curiously.

Li Zixuan smiled and nodded in greeting.

Li Zixin turned her head, pursed her lips, and whispered to Daohua, "Those are the daughters of the president of the Provincial Chamber of Commerce. They’re usually so arrogant because of their family background. When they see us, they act like they don’t even care."

"Now, they’re greeting us to show off their family’s wealth and connections, boasting about how they got a good room."

Sure enough, the girl at the front smiled and loudly asked, "Li family’s little sisters, why are you sitting on the first floor? Why not go upstairs?"

At this, the other girls giggled and whispered among themselves.

Li Zixin immediately replied, "We like sitting on the first floor."

The president's daughter covered her mouth and laughed. "What can you even see from the first floor? Just heads and backsides?"

Li Zixin, slightly angered, retorted, "We like looking at heads and backsides. This building only has two floors. You’re not seeing anything higher than us, so what’s there to be proud of?"

The president's daughter’s smile froze for a moment. She glared at Li Zixin, and her gaze suddenly shifted to Daohua, who was sitting beside them. She sized Daohua up from head to toe. When she saw Daohua’s elegant attire, she asked with a smile, "I don’t think I’ve seen this young lady before. Which family are you from?"

Li Zixin immediately answered, "Of course, you haven’t seen her. This is my cousin."

Upon hearing this, the president’s daughter’s eyes shifted. She recalled that Li Zixin’s aunt had married an official. Smiling, she said, "My family has a private room upstairs. Sitting on the first floor, you probably won’t even be able to see the flower cart. Why don’t you come upstairs with us?" Her tone was filled with a condescending offer.

Li Zixuan and Li Zixin didn’t respond, instead looking at Daohua.

Seeing both of them looking at her, Daohua glanced around the room, noticing that the uncles and aunts hadn’t paid attention to the conversation. She smiled and said, "I think the first floor is fine. Also, it looks like your family has many people here, so we don’t want to disturb you."

Li Zixin immediately nodded. "Exactly. We’ll stay here."

The president’s daughter furrowed her brows for a moment but quickly covered it up, continuing with a smile, "The Lantern Festival parade only happens once a year. Sitting on the first floor, watching heads and backsides, isn’t that great, is it? But since we know each other, I’ll let my younger sisters squeeze a bit. Why don’t you come upstairs with us?"

Hearing this, Daohua was a little stunned.

This girl from the Chamber of Commerce didn’t seem too sharp. Didn’t she hear them say they weren’t going upstairs?

Li Zixin snorted coldly, "If you want the best view of the flower cart, it has to be from the high tower. The second floor of a restaurant doesn’t make much of a difference. You’ll only see the flower cart’s frame, which is no better than the first floor."

The president’s daughter was stunned, and a trace of anger flashed across her face.

If she hadn’t remembered that the Li family had connections to officials, she wouldn’t have bothered standing here wasting her breath.

Meanwhile, the four adults from the Li family didn’t intervene in the children’s matters and continued chatting amongst themselves.

At that moment, someone else entered the restaurant.

This time, it was some adults, including the head of the Chamber of Commerce, Sun Dagong, and other businessmen.

Seeing Li Xingchang and Li Xingnian, Sun Dagong immediately smiled, "Boss Li, why did you only reserve a room on the first floor? Come, we have space upstairs. Let’s go up and take a look."

Li Xingchang smiled and declined, "Thank you for your kindness, Sun Dagong, but we’ve brought the ladies, and it’s not very convenient. We’ll do it next time."

One of the businessmen stepped forward with a forced smile and said, "Boss Li must have made a lot of money and doesn’t want to join us?"

Li Xingchang didn’t respond. Last year, when the Li family made a name for themselves by selling watermelon, a lot of people became envious.

Sun Dagong looked around the room, and his gaze landed particularly on the three siblings from the Yan family. "How about letting the children go up?" he suggested.

Li Xingnian chuckled, "Our kids are too noisy. It’ll be better if we don’t disturb you."

Sun Dagong smiled at the Li brothers but didn’t push further. After chatting for a bit, he turned and left with his daughter and the other guests.

"This Li family really doesn’t know how to take a hint!" A low, mocking laugh came from outside the room.

Daohua glanced at her uncles and aunts, seeing their indifferent expressions and constant smiles, and couldn’t help but feel admiration. At the same time, she felt a sense of emotional reflection.

Indeed, where there are people, there’s competition and subtle tensions.

The restaurant the Li family had booked wasn’t in the best location on the main street. The prime spots had been taken by prominent families and officials.

The flower cart parade would travel from the end of the street to the end by the Chong Tower, where they would light up the lanterns in a grand display of thousands of lights.

Thus, they could only watch the excitement from a distance.

Not long after, the crowd in the street began to stir, signaling that the parade was about to start.

Even though they could only see heads and figures, Daohua was still full of excitement. Being part of this festive atmosphere, feeling the joy and excitement of the people around her, was exhilarating.

At that moment, a group of guards hurried into the restaurant, heading straight for their private room.

"Miss Yan, Young Master Yan, we finally found you."

Seeing Zhao Ergou, Daohua was momentarily surprised. "How did you get here?"

Zhao Ergou smiled. "The master is up at Chong Tower watching the lanterns. He’s waiting for you to come over."

(The End of this Chapter)