The Lantern Festival was also known as the Spring Lantern Festival.
It was the grandest festival in the Tang Dynasty. In the first lunar month of every year, all the countries in Chang 'an would come to court, and all the foreign countries would stay until the 15th. On the Lantern Festival, all the countries would set up a stage to celebrate on the Vermilion Bird Avenue. There would be dragon dances, colorful lanterns, delicious food, singing and dancing from dusk to dawn until the end of the day. It could be said that all the people were happy together.
Naturally, the big businesses in Chang 'an would not let go of this business opportunity. Every shop was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, and the lights were splendid, trying to attract more attention on the Lantern Festival.
Some big businesses even set up a stage in front of their shops to attract people. Even the small businesses and peddlers were eager to make a big profit on the occasion of the celebration.
The inns in Chang 'an had long been overcrowded. Besides Chang' an, the rich people around Chang 'an also came to visit the annual Spring Lantern Festival. There were even many people from Luoyang who came to Chang' an from 800 miles away.
The bus service from Chang 'an to Luoyang that had just been opened was extremely popular. It was hard to get a ticket. A large number of rich people from Luoyang did not hesitate to pay to get to Chang' an as soon as possible. Some had even booked a return ticket. Once the Spring Lantern Festival ended, they would immediately return to Luoyang at dawn the next day.
The Spring Lantern Festival made the Mo's Village's bus service famous. Of course, the Mo's Village would not let go of such a good publicity opportunity. The craftsmen of the Mo's family had already bought large lanterns and were ready to show off in the Lantern Festival and make the name of the first village in the world.
In the Mo's Mansion.
Everyone was extremely busy preparing for the Spring Lantern Festival tonight. Only Meton was the most leisurely. He could not get involved at all. Even the reconstruction of the Firearms Supervisor was given full authority by Meton to Yuwen Bo. He did not need to worry about it at all.
As the last ray of the sunset fell, everyone in Chang 'an seemed to have received a signal. No matter whether they were rich or rich, each residential area, each big inn, they all stepped out of their doors and gathered on the Vermilion Bird Avenue.
On the Vermilion Bird Avenue, in front of each shop, lanterns had been hung up high before the sky turned dark. The whole Chang 'an was suddenly filled with a layer of blurred light.
With the sound of stringed instruments, the Lantern Festival began.
"Meton, hurry up........."
A carriage came to a sudden stop outside the Mo clan. Qin Huaiyu stuck his head out and urged the Mo clan to hurry up.
Moton hurriedly boarded the carriage and saw Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin half-lying in the carriage with sleepy eyes.
"What's wrong with them?" Morton asked in surprise.
.. as............................... After the Lantern Festival, Qin Huaiyu and the other two would have to enlist. This Lantern Festival would probably be their last leisure time, so they naturally couldn't waste it.
"Stay up all night?" Modun looked at the three of them speechlessly. They were really going all out for the Lantern Festival.
Cheng Chumo opened his eyes and looked at Modun. He yawned and said, "Wake me up when we arrive."
Then he turned over and fell asleep again...
The four-wheeled carriage galloped. However, the closer it got to the Vermilion Bird Avenue, the more people there were on the road. When it was a hundred steps away from the Vermilion Bird Avenue, the four-wheeled carriage could not move anymore.
"If I had known, I would have come on horseback." Qin Huaiyu was annoyed.
Meton shook his head and said, "Even riding a horse is not enough. The Chang 'an County Government has already issued a notice for the Lantern Festival. Tonight, the entire Vermilion Bird Avenue is closed to carriages and horses. We'd better walk."
Meton pointed at Arrester Cao, who was maintaining order in front of them. The Chang 'an County Government had spent a lot of effort for the Lantern Festival. Perhaps all the government runners had been dispatched tonight.
"That's the only way." Qin Huaiyu nodded.
Meton got off the carriage first, followed by Qin Huaiyu. Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin instantly got up and jumped off the carriage, sending the coachman to wait there.
Seeing Qin Huaiyu and the other three enter the Vermilion Bird Avenue, Cao Li breathed a sigh of relief. As a government runner of Chang 'an, he had a headache dealing with these foppish young masters. Before this, he had stopped several foppish young masters and spent a lot of effort to stop them. Fortunately, Merton was there, so everything was fine.
As soon as he stepped into the Vermilion Bird Avenue, Meton could not help but feel enlightened, as if he had returned to the night scene of the future.
From the end of the Vermilion Bird Avenue to the end of the street, lanterns were hung high, stretching for more than ten miles, illuminating the entire street as if it were daytime.
The colorful lanterns emitted a blurred light. Even though Qin Huaiyu and the other two lived in the capital every year, they were still shocked by the beautiful scenery that they saw once a year.
"Last year was not as beautiful as this year, and it was not as lively as this year." Yuchi Baolin rubbed his eyes and said in amazement. The last trace of sleepiness suddenly disappeared.
Qin Huaiyu and Cheng Chumo nodded hard.
Meton understood. In the seven years of Zhenguan, the Tang dynasty had avoided several droughts and floods. It could even be said that it was a year of good harvest. With the promotion of brick roads and the secret skills of Mohism, the government was clear and the economy suddenly took a leap. This prosperity was naturally reflected in the Shangyuan Lantern Festival.
The four followed the crowd and walked on the Vermilion Bird Avenue as if it were daytime. Juggling, shadow puppetry, puppet shows, clay figurines, and all kinds of wonderful traditional shows were overwhelming.
The teenagers were just curious, so when they saw something delicious or fun, they all went up.
The four of them didn't walk far before their hands were filled with all kinds of toys. Each and every one of them was extremely happy to play with them. However, no one used a strange gaze to look at the four of them because there were quite a few people like them on Vermillion Bird Avenue.
At such a time of celebration, no one would care about spending a little money to satisfy their hobby.
"Dear people of Chang 'an City, if you have money, please show up. If you don't, please show up. I just came to Chang' an City to raise money for my father's treatment, so I'm here to perform. Please do me the honor." In the center of the Vermilion Bird Avenue, a teenager of about 15 years old was wearing a suit. Although it was washed white, it was clean and tidy. Behind him, a man kept coughing and helping to tidy things.
"Good, filial son!" The onlookers suddenly cheered. Since the establishment of Mo Hospital, many people from other places came to Chang 'an City to seek medical treatment. Moreover, such a story of filial piety easily aroused the enthusiasm of the people in Chang' an City.
Moreover, the teenager's martial arts were really good. He was proficient in all 18 kinds of martial arts, which attracted the applause of the audience. In a short while, the teenager's front was covered with copper coins. Meton left one tael of silver and quietly left.
Not far away, a little girl of about 10 years old did 18 backflips in a row, which attracted the applause of the audience. She just happened to land in front of Meton.
Meton smiled and threw out a handful of copper coins. The little girl skillfully caught them with her hands and caught all of them.
"Thank you, young master!"
The little girl's eyes lit up as she weighed the heavy object in her hand. She bowed and thanked him. They loved guests like Morton the most. She wanted to perform some more of her best moves, but Morton had already disappeared into the crowd. The little girl felt like she had lost her mind. She turned around and began to ask for rewards from the other well-dressed guests.
On this day of celebration, no one would refuse a little girl with unique skills and tricks. They believed that the little girl would definitely gain a lot tonight.
As soon as Meton left the acrobatic area, Qin Huaiyu and the other two came over and said wretchedly, "In front of us is the venue of the West Market. I heard that this year's Lantern Festival not only has Huji from the West Region who are good at Huxuan Dance, but also dancers from Persia. They are very beautiful, with their shoulders and bellies exposed. Naturally, we will feast our eyes on them."
Modun was taken aback. Wasn't this the famous belly dance of the future?
Meton was suddenly tempted. When he was about to agree, he glanced around and suddenly saw a familiar figure standing under a huge lantern. He immediately said with a serious face, "See no evil, hear no evil. I am a scholar, how can I listen to such decadent music?"
Hearing Meton, a disciple of the school of Mohism, use Confucian classics, Qin Huaiyu and the other two disdained Meton's hypocrisy in their hearts and rushed to grab a seat.
After the three left, Modun walked under the lanterns and said to a young man in scholarly robes, "So it's Brother Li Zhi."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
