Chapter 55 Spring Festival
The Spring Festival in Beijing coincided with a light dance of snow, which covered this ancient city with a layer of dreamy clothes.
From the afternoon, the snowflakes in the city began to increase, gently falling on the eaves, streets, and shoulders of pedestrians. On the streets, the originally lively scene was covered by a thin layer of snow, adding a touch of tranquility and peace to this fireworks world.
Crunch~!
Walking on the long street where the snow had just begun to accumulate, Lu Yuan and his partner, wearing green and red plush cloaks, walked in it, leaving a few lines of shallow footprints.
The red lanterns in the distance were more bright and dazzling against the backdrop of snowflakes, as if they were flames in winter, warming the hearts of the returning family.
The vendors were still active in front of their stalls. Although the weather was cold, their enthusiasm was not reduced at all.
On the steaming snack stalls, people had already sat in a circle, tasting the freshly-cooked glutinous rice balls and dumplings, and the sound of slurping was mixed with laughter, dispelling the severe cold of winter.
Occasionally, one or two snowflakes fell on the food and quickly melted, as if they were seasonings from heaven, making the food in the bowl more delicious on this special day.
If you don't pay attention, a row of naughty children will run by your side.
They chased and played, blowing snowflakes with their mouths puffed, and laughter filled the entire street. Even if their faces were frozen red, their eyes still flashed with joy and excitement. The adults watched lovingly on the side, and occasionally joined the children, enjoying this short-lived innocence with reserve.
Taking everything into his eyes, smelling the unique flavor of the New Year in this era, Lu Yuan unconsciously put on a smile at the corner of his mouth.
In the past few years, he has been wandering around almost all the time and has seen the Spring Festival in many places.
Maybe it's not as lively as the capital, but it's also full of warmth.
The imprint of the times is acting on him little by little.
From the beginning of the journey, he thought he was the darling of this world, and he always stood at a very high angle to look down on this world. His overly transparent brain prevented him from being influenced by the time-travel novels he had read in the past. He thought that he should make a career or change the fate of some people.
But what does that have to do with him?
He has his own way of living and his own pursuits. If it is convenient, it is okay to help. If it is an obstacle, he will not blink an eye to kill.
There are only two people in this world who are worthy of his concern. One is gone and the other is still by his side.
Lu Yuan actually did not realize that it was a kind of arrogance.
Or maybe he has realized it, but he does not think it is wrong.
In short, he is like a passer-by wandering in the world, and there is always a slight gap between him and this world.
However, with the travels in recent years, his feet that wandered in the world have gradually landed.
Although his personality has not changed, he has begun to integrate into this world from the bottom of his heart.
He also gradually realized that he is just a person.
A person who eats, drinks, defecates, walks, sits and lies down, just like the tea seller on the street.
It seems that because he figured it out, the slight gap quietly disappeared.
The cold snowflakes fell on his face, and the touch was so clear; the smell of wontons not far away penetrated his nose, and the smell was so fresh and fragrant; and there was a naughty child sitting on the ground across the street, and the sound was... a bit noisy!
"Lu Yuan?"
"Well, what's the matter?" Lu Yuan turned his head and looked at the girl next to him.
The other party stared at him for a long time, "I feel that your temperament seems to have changed again, and it seems... it seems to be a lot more comfortable."
Lu Yuan's mouth curled up, "Hua'er, you have changed a lot too."
"What has changed?"
"It's like this snow that fell into the world." Lu Yuan spread his hands as if to catch it.
"What do you mean?"
"It's likable!"
"Tsk~! It's not serious again!" Lu Huaer rolled her eyes at him, and then showed a sweet smile. She was immune to shyness at this level.
She took Lu Yuan's hand that had just been raised, "Take you to a place."
The two of them quickened their pace, and it seemed that Lu Huaer was a little anxious.
Lu Yuan had some guesses in his heart.
Soon, the guess was confirmed. Far to the north of the street, an old house that had been sealed off stood alone there, as if it had been forgotten by the festival, and it was like two different worlds from the bustling market in the distance.
"That was my original home..."
Lu Huaer said softly, and then she didn't speak again, as if she was lost in memories.
After a long time, Lu Yuan asked, "Since you are here, why don't you go in and take a look?"
"Go in?" Lu Huaer looked around subconsciously.
"Let's go, be careful, we won't be discovered."
As if encouraged, Lu Huaer nodded.
The two did not go directly over, but went around a block, performing Qinggong to pass by the roof.
After crossing a residential area, they fell into the courtyard quietly.
This is a three-courtyard compound. In this area of the capital, this size shows that the status of the former owner is neither high nor low.
After arriving here, Lu Huaer was not as sad as she had imagined, but she was full of nostalgia. She took Lu Yuan to introduce every part of the house to him, and attached a piece of her unforgettable funny story.
Lu Yuan listened quietly, even though the house had long been empty and the ground was covered with weeds.
"You know, at that time, my family didn't let me play with many things, but I would always hide some secretly."
As she said this, the girl came to a corner of the yard with great expectation, swept away the snow, and underneath was some solidified dry sand.
She used a piece of dead wood to dig up the sand, and soon, two pebbles with smooth surfaces were turned out by her.
One black and one white.
Lu Huaer showed it to Lu Yuan with a joyful face, as if she had found a treasure from the past in a forgotten sea of sand.
"Look, this is a treasure I picked up by the river when I went out as a child. There are two pieces in total. I'll give you one as a New Year's gift for you!"
Lu Yuan took the black stone, played with it for a while, put it in his arms carefully, and patted it, "Don't worry, this will be my treasure in the future."
The girl smiled like a flower, and she asked coquettishly with her hands behind her back:
"How are the fireworks you prepared for me?"
"Why are you in a hurry? You can see them tonight!" Lu Yuan raised his hand and smiled and rubbed the girl's snow-white head.
"Oh, don't press my hair!!"
......
As night fell, the lanterns on both sides of the street gradually lit up, reflecting the snowflakes, creating a warm and overflowing atmosphere.
The original strict curfew in the capital was slowly relaxed with the death of Mr. Zhang.
As pedestrians walked by, the reflections on the snow gently swayed with the swaying of lanterns.
When it was past midnight, the time came to midnight on New Year's Eve.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The New Year's bell sounded from the direction of the palace, and then the first firecracker was fired from the direction of the Qianqing Palace.
It represented a signal, and the whole country entered a state of excitement. Fireworks and firecrackers were flying all over the city, and everyone celebrated the prosperous Chinese New Year together.
In fact, the royal family of the Ming Dynasty would set off fireworks in the Qianqing Palace every day from the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month to the 17th day of the first lunar month of the following year to celebrate the arrival of the Spring Festival. During this period, various grand celebrations would be held in the palace, such as the Aoshan Fireworks and Lantern Festival.
Although Zhang Juzheng had fooled the little emperor into canceling the Aoshan fireworks on the Lantern Festival, this did not affect the widespread popularity of fireworks as a Spring Festival custom among the people.
What's more, the adult had left, and the former little emperor had entered the "rebellious period".
When the night sky was being decorated everywhere in the capital, Lu Yuan brought Lu Huaer to the top floor of Zuixianju in the city.
The square fireworks box was ready there.
Lu Yuan took out the fire starter and handed it to the girl.
"Come on, this is something I spent several days researching!"
In the dark night, Lu Huaer's eyes were unusually bright. She held the fire starter and carefully approached the fuse.
Chi chi~!
Tiny sparks began to spread along the fuse.
The girl immediately rushed behind Lu Yuan, covered her ears with her hands, and watched the sparks gradually spread to the main body of the fireworks box.
The next second!
Bang!
Amidst the muffled sound, a beam of fire rose up, far higher than all the surrounding fireworks, until it rose to the middle of the sky.
Boom~!
It bloomed in an instant, almost illuminating half of the capital. The golden-red fire outlined a gorgeous peach blossom in the air, dazzling and dazzling.
At this moment, the girl stared blankly at the night sky, her star-like eyes clearly reflecting the splendor of the peach blossom.
At this moment, countless people in the capital looked up at the sky, shocked to the point of losing consciousness.
At this moment, deep in the palace, the emperor, who was talking in secret with his concubine, dropped the jade bowl in his hand in shock.
"Jinyiwei! Check!!"
