Chapter Six: The Lantern Festival

  "Mr. Zhuge, I'm so sorry for the lack of a distant welcome!" Yang Sanpang hadn't even entered the main hall yet, but he bowed his fist from afar to show respect.

  Mr. Zhuge's original name was Zhuge Nandong, the most learned man in Xiyang City, who is now ninety years old and well-versed in Confucianism, can be said to be a great Confucian scholar. It is natural that Xiyang City, which has only developed for a few years, would not have such an antique, Zhuge Nandong also wandered from other places a few years ago and stayed here when he saw the low level of education in this place, almost all the educational undertakings in Xiyang City were done by him.

  When Zhuge saw Yang Sanfeng showing such respect to himself, his old eyes suddenly filled with a smile. The Confucian school emphasizes etiquette, and Yang Sanfeng's actions undoubtedly conformed to etiquette.

  Zhuge went forward to meet him, his white beard and hair fluttering in the wind. He bowed low: "I have come to pay my respects, I hope the city lord will forgive me."

  Yang San stretched out his hand to support him and said: "Mr. Zhuge is too polite, sir can come here, it must make my humble abode flourish!"

  Yang Sanweng burst into applause, causing Zhuge's old eyes to narrow into a slit, and he was delighted.

  Yang Sanwang invited Zhuge to sit in the upper seat, ordered his servant to go and make tea, then asked: "I just don't know, Mr. Zhuge came to my humble abode, what's the important matter?"

  Zhuge Nan Dong heard this, stroked his beard and said: "Today is the Lantern Festival of our Xiyang City, once a year. Every year tonight, all people in Xiyang City will come out to guess lantern riddles, recite poems and make couplets. This is the festival of our Xiyang City!"

  He paused, took the tea handed over by his servant, and sipped it lightly before continuing: "Originally, I was in charge every year, and this year is no exception. But just now, I received a message that the inspector sent from Beijing will arrive tonight."

  Yang San forgot slightly shook: "Inspector? Isn't it always at the beginning of winter every year, why is it early this year?"

  Zhuge nodded in winter, apparently the news was not detailed, then he said: "Although we don't know why it's early, but we must make preparations for the arrival of the Inspector General. Since he caught up with our Lantern Festival, we should receive him more grandly." After finishing, his old eyes looked at Yang Sanwang, as if asking for his opinion.

  Yang San forgot his surroundings, his head bowed low, and he was lost in thought, thinking about something in his mind.

  "Castle owner?" Zhuge Nandong used the tea cup lid to gently wipe the tea cup, blew a bit of hot air, and his movements were skillful and just right, obviously well-versed in the art of tea.

  Yang San woke up and came back to his senses: "Huh? I don't know what clever plan the old gentleman has."

  Zhuge Nandong said, "I've also presided over several Lantern Festivals before. Although they weren't perfect, they were all successful in the end. This time, with the presence of such a big shot as the Inspector, I'm confident that I won't lose face for the city master. It's just that...". Before he could finish speaking, he picked up his tea cup again and pretended to drink from it.

  Yang San forgot how he would not understand his meaning, and immediately got up and bowed: "Then I'll have to trouble the old master."

  Zhuge's old face immediately filled with a warm smile, he put down his tea cup, helped Yang Sanwang up and said: "Thanks to the city master for the new appointment, this old man will definitely not let the city master down."

  Yang San smiled brightly: "I trust no one more than you, old sir."

  Zhuge laughed brightly and his face was flushed with excitement. He nodded his head and said, "Then I'll be off, time is a bit tight, must hurry."

  "Good! Farewell, old sir!"

  Zhuge turned around and left, waving his hand at the people who were seeing him off behind him.

  Yang Sanwang watched his back, hands behind him, face solemn, and after a while, he also turned around and left the hall.

  The moonlight is brighter than the day before, illuminating the world with an even fuller moon. The city is crowded with people, and the lights are shining brightly, making the whole city seem like daytime.

  Xi Yang Lou, the first wine house in Xi Yang City, its name is enough to show its status. The price is still fair, so business is booming. This is a place where literati and poets wield their brushes, but more often it's warriors who come here to test their bravery.

  And every year on August 16th, this place becomes a world of lights, with all sorts of lanterns and various kinds of brightness, rendering the whole night's revelry.

  In front of the Sunset Building, a high platform had been erected long ago, which was the performance venue for tonight. At this moment, Zhuge Nan Dong was standing on it directing a group of people to do this and that, from time to time waving to some familiar faces below the stage.

  He stood upright and looked towards the city, wave after wave of people were surging over like a tide, each with a joyful smile. Nearly a hundred households and over a thousand people had all rushed out of their homes, except for the Spring Festival, this could be said to be the second happiest day in Xi Yang City.

  Yang Yu Xi mixed in the crowd, with a sly and cunning look on his face, touching this lantern and peeking at that firework, he was very delighted. Since today is a festive day, he was also allowed to walk out of the woodshed to watch the lanterns, but he had to return home before midnight.

  The crowd surged, and with Yang Yuxi's current stature, he couldn't be found in the midst of it. He darted through the flow of people like a nimble fish, and although he participated in the Lantern Festival every year, his joy never diminished.

  "Wow, I've never seen this kind of lamp before." Yang Yu Xi stopped in front of a small stall selling lamps, his eyes shining with excitement as he stared at a lamp, the flame reflected in his dark, sparkling eyes.

  "Ah, Third Master, isn't it novel? Want to take one back?! Not expensive." The peddler smiled as he approached, this smile not a professional smile but a genuinely joyful one.

  Yang Yu Xi's eyes sparkled as she turned the colored lanterns over in her hands, gently stroking them, saying: "It's very novel, I'd also like to take one back!"

  Just as the street vendor's smile was getting sweeter, Yang Yu Xi suddenly turned around and ran away in a flash, leaving behind only one sentence: "But I don't have any money!"

  "Huh? Hey, hey!!" The vendor was shocked and hurriedly chased after him, but Yang Yuxi's stature was really too small, and in the blink of an eye, he couldn't be seen anymore. He could only stop, scratch his head, confirm that he couldn't find him, and return to the side of his stall, muttering to himself "This third young master... forget it" before continuing with a smile on his face.

  At this time, Zhuge Nandong had also arranged everything, and Yang Sanwang also appeared on the platform.

  Zhuge Nandong looked at the lively crowd, walked to the front of the stage, cleared his throat a few times, and said: "Quiet down, everyone! Please quiet down for a moment!"

  His voice wasn't loud, only the people around the stage could hear it. The people around the stage quieted down first, then the silence spread like a tide to the back, and finally everyone was quiet. Even the vendors temporarily left their stalls, trying to get closer to the stage.

  "Friends and neighbors, today is our annual Lantern Festival! Every year on this day, we gather together to recite poetry, play word games, and admire the moon! Every year on this day, we spend time with family and friends, enjoying the most beautiful moments of the year! Every year on this day..."

  He paused for a moment, retreated to Yang San's side, and continued: "...... We've all spent our lives with our brilliant city master!! Isn't this one of life's greatest joys?!"

  The crowd cheered and shouted in unison: "The city master is wise! The city master is wise!"

  Yang Sanweng also rarely showed a smile, at this moment he was relaxed, he signaled everyone to quiet down and opened his mouth: "I'm very happy, today we can gather together again, appreciate the moon together, spend good time together, don't talk nonsense, don't delay everyone's playtime, finally tell you one thing, that is today we will have a distinguished guest coming, let's look forward to it. Now, everyone starts to be happy, at midnight, the song and dance performance will be presented on this stage."

  "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

  The fireworks that had been prepared in advance also flew into the sky at the moment Yang Sanweng finished speaking, bursting into a beautiful and flawless night.

  The crowd was in an uproar, each rushing to their favorite places, by the river, under the trees, in front of stalls, and beside tables. Groups of people gathered everywhere, with every face radiating genuine happiness. At this moment, this place seemed isolated from the world, filled with warmth and sweetness throughout the city.

  Yang Sanwang watched the harmonious crowd and turned around with satisfaction, walking into the Xi Yang Building to drink with some important figures in the city, such as Zhuge Nandong.

  Incidentally, wait for that early-arriving inspector.

  Yang Yu Xi was holding a colorful lantern and eating fruit, the fruit was given by Grandma Sun when he met her earlier. He was weaving through the crowd, occasionally greeting people, in this city there wasn't anyone who didn't know him, the title of "King of Kids" wasn't just an empty phrase, every family with children could hear stories of his "heroic deeds" all day long.

  "Hey, isn't that Uncle Wang Wu? Let's hurry and run!" Yang Yu Xi saw the tall man in front of her and turned around to leave.

  But Wang Wu also saw him and hurriedly patted him on the shoulder in front of Yang Yu Xi, saying: "Hey, Third Young Master!"

  Yang Yu Xi was startled by the pat and felt sweat all over his body. He turned around, forcing a smile: "Ah... Uncle Wang..."

  "Hey, Third Master, why are you sweating? Is it hot?" Wang Wu exposed his chest, revealing strong muscles.

  "No, it's not hot."

  Wang Wu felt that Yang Yu Xi was a bit off and asked: "Third Master, what's wrong with you? Are you uncomfortable?" As he spoke, he reached out to touch his forehead.

  "Ah ah ah, no, no, I'm fine!" Yang Yu Xi straightened her back and pretended to be calm.

  Wang Wu nodded and continued: "I heard from Manager Yang that you were punished with a month of solitary confinement. If today weren't the Lantern Festival, you wouldn't be able to come out either."

  "Really!" Yang Yu Xi's body trembled slightly, her eyes flickered, but in her heart she muttered: Who said I couldn't come out?

  Wang Wu saw Yang Yu Xi's appearance and guessed most of it in his heart, so he turned around and left. His powerful right hand waved goodbye to Yang Yu Xi, saying: "Forget about what happened in the past, knowing you were wrong is good enough, don't do it again next time. I've also gotten enough compensation, forget it."

  Yang Yu Xi stared blankly at Wang Wu's back, feeling his whole body was soaked, and a warm current surged in his heart. However, soon he felt that his previous reaction was too silly, not worthy of the title "King of Kids" at all, and he couldn't help but get angry, stomping heavily on the ground and muttering some harmless curses.

  "Yu Xi!"

  Suddenly, a tender shout from behind stopped Yang Yu Xi. Yang Yu Xi was just about to stomp his foot, all his strength concentrated on his foot, but he was startled by the shout and lost his balance, "thud" and fell to the ground, damn it!

  He gritted his teeth and forgot to get up for a while, and turned his head with difficulty: "Huh? Er Hu Zi?!"