Early in the morning, a group of people were scolded by a little loli, but they couldn't refute her. Their faces were twitching, and their faces were as black as the bottom of a pot.
Only Ren Baqian was in a good mood and was almost humming a tune.
Anyway, I'm not alone.
"Although you guys are a bunch of trash, since grandpa has spoken, I will reluctantly bring you guys to participate in this lantern-grabbing contest. Just don't drag me down." After thinking for a while, she sighed and said with an aggrieved face, "It's impossible for a bunch of good-for-nothings like you to not hold me back. This is my first time participating in the lantern-grabbing contest, and I've already been ruined by you."
"Friendship comes first, competition comes second. The most important thing is to participate!" Ren Baqian added.
The four Du brothers nodded in unison, like chicks pecking at grains.
Tong Lan squinted at him and said, "That's how a loser comforts himself. If we can get first place, why should we get second place? "
Ren Baqian lowered his head, looked at Tong Lan, sighed slightly, and said, "Until now, you still don't know the true meaning of lantern-grabbing. Do you think so many people are grabbing lanterns just to decide the champion?"
Tong Lan looked up with a look of disdain. "Don't tell me you're going there to make friends!"
"Not entirely, but you are still too young to understand the meaning behind it. I understand very well," Ren Baqian continued to speak with a doting expression on his face.
Tong Lan really wanted to give him a kick.
Everyone looked at Ren Baqian to see what he had to say.
"The purpose of this lantern-grabbing activity is to educate the aboriginal youths through sports without any discrimination and with the lantern-grabbing spirit — to promote mutual understanding in the spirit of excellence, unity, and fair competition. Thus, to contribute to a peaceful and better world.
It could be summarized as peace, friendship, and progress.
"…"
Du Changkong, "…"
Everyone: "…"
Everyone was shocked. They never thought that a lantern-grabbing contest could have such a profound meaning.
Ren Baqian waved his arms. Our slogan is "Higher, Faster, Stronger!"
"Sir Ren is still the one who sees things clearly. Peace, friendship, and progress are the objectives of our participation in the lantern-grabbing contest. Higher, faster, and stronger are our watchwords." Du Changkong immediately applauded.
Everyone was stunned. Are we talking about the same thing as the two of you? Why did he feel that something was not quite right?
Ren Baqian didn't care whether they believed him or not. In any case, he had to say it this way.
In a while, he would discuss with Her Majesty about pasting this motto and slogan all over Lan City.
"Alright, since everyone is here, let's talk about the arrangements. Tong Lan will be the lantern head to snatch the lantern, I will be the tooth door to open the path, and the two from the Tong family, Xu Le, and Jiang Hu will be the broom on the left and right to protect Tong Lan. Du Changkong and the rest of you will be the roaming sentries to prevent the enemy's roaming sentries from approaching and provide support to the broom, "Ren Baqian said as he clapped his hands.
Xu Le and Jiang Hu were the two guards in the palace.
This was a relatively common arrangement.
However, the lantern-grabbing competition was not a football competition. Most of the time, there would be a chaotic battle towards the end. There were only two key players. One was Tooth Gate, who was in charge of clearing the path for the lantern-grabbers. If Tooth Gate was blocked, the entire team would be hindered.
The other was the lamp holder. The lamp holder was placed under the shelf. The main thing to look at was the lamp holder.
It was not allowed for the lamp holder to pass through the Tooth Gate and go to the lamp stand alone. One must have the Tooth Gate or two brooms by their side, otherwise they would be eliminated. Just like on the battlefield, a general couldn't just abandon his army and charge into the enemy's formation alone, right?
The rules of the lantern-grabbing competition were also the most basic way to cultivate teamwork and combat habits.
As a result, it was often held in the army. It wasn't only held during the New Year, but it wasn't usually so grand.
In Dayao, the lantern-grabbing competition was equivalent to modern football.
The lamp holder was generally the strongest in the team, followed by the Tooth Gate.
Everyone didn't have any objections to Tong Lan being the lamp holder, but Ren Baqian being the Tooth Gate shocked everyone.
"You are going to be the Tooth Gate?" Tong Lan widened her eyes in disbelief. "Do you want me to carry you, a burden, to the lamp stand?"
Ren Baqian waved his hand and said, "Don't look down on me. I have already made arrangements. When the time comes, I won't be a burden. No one can stop me."
"Do you believe this?" Tong Lan widened her eyes and questioned him.
"I can't use weapons, but I can wear armor, right?" Ren Baqian retorted.
"Even if you wrap yourself up like a turtle, will it be of any use?"
"Hmph, I will let all of you see what it means to be unstoppable!" Ren Baqian looked very confident.
Although the aboriginals were very powerful and those who participated in the lantern-grabbing competition weren't mediocre.
However, even a tiger wouldn't be able to swallow a hedgehog.
Everyone stared at him, wanting to know where this mysterious confidence of his came from.
Tong Lan puffed up her bun face and said dejectedly, "It's over. I can't even get close to the lamp stand in my first lantern-grabbing competition. It's so embarrassing. If people bring this up in the future, it will be a dark history. Tomorrow, I will get a cloth to cover my face. "
She learned the term "dark history" from Ren Baqian.
Ren Baqian looked at her bun face and wanted to pinch it, but he didn't dare to.
He reckoned that he would have to participate in the lantern-grabbing competition with a cast.
"Today is just a meeting. Don't worry too much. Even if we can't win, I won't blame you. Like I said before, friendship comes first, competition comes second. Our goal is to go higher, faster, and stronger! "
Everyone continued to look at him. It's because of you that we can't win.
Otherwise, there might be a little bit of hope.
With you around, that little bit of hope is gone.
"Next, let's meet here at noon on the first day of the lunar new year and participate in the lantern-grabbing competition together." Ren Baqian said to them. Everyone nodded except for Tong Lan, who was still grumbling unhappily like a chatterbox. However, Ren Baqian ignored her.
The lantern-grabbing competition usually started at around seven o 'clock in the evening.
Usually, people would arrive at around five o 'clock in advance to participate. Ren Baqian arrived four hours earlier because he wanted to discuss it again. Even if it was a last-minute preparation, it would still be beneficial.
"Everyone, see you in five days." Ren Baqian cupped his hands at everyone and left on his fork-horned cow with the guards.
Tong Lan looked at Ren Baqian leaving and snorted. In a flash, she landed on the back of the fork-horned cow. Without waiting for the other two people, she rode the fork-horned cow back.
After everyone left, Du Changqing said, "It doesn't seem very reliable!"
"It doesn't matter. In any case, we didn't expect to win," Du Changkong said.
Everyone nodded their heads.
During the lantern-grabbing competition, there were indeed many capable people. A few outstanding people from the younger generation would participate. After all, this was also an opportunity to showcase the strength of the next generation.
Compared to those people, the few of them were indeed not enough.
The next day, notices were pasted all over Lan City. Many people surrounded them curiously, waiting for someone to explain what was written on them.
The person in the middle had a strange expression on his face as he said, "This notice says that this year's lantern-grabbing event is to educate the aboriginal youths through sports that are free of any discrimination and have the lantern-grabbing spirit — the spirit of excellence, unity, fair competition, and mutual understanding. Thus, they will contribute to a peaceful and better world.
In short: peace, friendship, and progress.
Not only this year, but this will also be the purpose of future lantern-grabbing competitions. "
Towards the end, his voice was almost like the buzzing of a mosquito.
When he said the first few sentences, the entire place became dead silent.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
What was he saying?
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