Chapter 99: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 99: Lantern Festival (Part 2)
"Mmm-hmm!"
The three kids nodded vigorously, afraid that any delay might lead the adults to change their minds.
The Lantern Festival was held at night and didn't affect the Mo family's business. On the fifteenth day of the lunar month, Mo's business continued as usual. Upon learning that the Mo family planned to go to Quanshui to see the lanterns at night, families like Lin Da's, who had children, were also eager to join.
However, considering the distance from Liuyang Village to the city and the fact that they couldn't afford to stay overnight in an inn, they had to give up the idea.
As it was the Lantern Festival, families usually gathered to eat tangyuan (sweet rice balls). Mo Yan went to the rice shop and bought a lot of glutinous rice flour, giving Lin Da and a dozen others three catties each. She also asked them to take the remaining thirty-odd catties back to Liuyang Village to share with Zhang Da and the others.
Lin Da and the others were both surprised and delighted, not knowing how to express their gratitude.
Glutinous rice was expensive, and ground glutinous rice flour was even more so. Before the exodus, they could only afford a small amount of glutinous rice flour each year for making tangyuan, often accompanied by steamed sweet potatoes.
To give away such valuable glutinous rice flour so easily could only be done by the generous Mo family.
Mo Yan smiled and accepted their thanks, saying, "You've helped my family sincerely, so I won't treat you unfairly. This little gift isn't worth mentioning."
Lin Yong had helped the Mo family a lot, so Mo Yan took this opportunity to thank him and had Lin Da bring some prepared tangyuan and a mother chicken from their space to him.
As for Old Mo and the others, Mo Yan simply ignored them.
After the Lunar New Year, for reasons unknown, Mo Yongfu hadn't come to help again, and Mo Yan didn't ask. As for the Old Mo family, the only ones she cared about were Wu Shi, San Ni'er, and Xiao Shi Tou. As for the others, she simply didn't bother.
In the evening, the two families sat together happily to eat tangyuan. However, Li Zhong smiled somewhat awkwardly. Over the past few months, his face had always carried a faint sorrow, and even his hair had turned much whiter.
Taking advantage of the situation, Mo Qingze suggested that Li Zhong come along, and Li Zhong, not wanting to reject his kindness, agreed, especially since his granddaughter also wanted to go.
So, after clearing the bowls and chopsticks, the group returned to their rooms to change into clean clothes. Finally, they extinguished the lights in their houses, locked the doors, and gates, and took a donkey cart to Quanshui.
Quanshui was a river that crossed the eastern market. The river was wide enough to accommodate small pleasure boats, while on both banks were various shops and establishments, making it a famous commercial area in the capital.
During major festivals like the Lantern Festival, countless literati and elegant gentlemen would ride on pleasure boats, cruising along Quanshui, composing poems and verses, creating a lively atmosphere.
Today was no exception. By the time Mo Yan and the others got off the donkey cart, the streets were already crowded with people. Delicate pleasure boats shuttled back and forth on Quanshui, and the faint sound of string and woodwind instruments could be heard.
At this moment, the sky was completely dark, with only countless cold stars twinkling above. However, thanks to the bright lanterns that were being lit, the streets seemed as bright as day. The Lantern Festival had officially begun...
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