mtl008 Chapter 126 Happy Qixi Festival
Chapter 126 Happy Qixi Festival
The annual Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day, has finally arrived, shining like a long-awaited jewel amidst eager anticipation! On this day, even the sun seemed to sense the festive atmosphere, generously showering down its warm and bright rays. A gentle breeze, like a pair of tender hands, caressed our faces, bringing a touch of coolness and comfort. Such beautiful weather was simply a perfect day bestowed upon couples by heaven for an outing.
Su Yuning woke up early from her sweet dreams. Overjoyed, she quickly got up and sat down at her dressing table, carefully and meticulously grooming herself. She lightly applied powder, drew her eyebrows and eyes, and touched up her lips. Her long, glossy black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, further enhancing her rosy complexion and captivating beauty. Once she was all ready, unable to contain her excitement, she hurriedly ran to take Ye Beichen's hand, and, calling to her second brother and sister-in-law, they excitedly headed towards the bustling market.
It turns out their trip wasn't just a casual stroll! They came prepared – they had planned to set up a small stall in this romantic market, selling vibrant roses and delicious desserts. Imagine how many lovers would be drawn to those bunches of colorful, fragrant roses and those exquisite, tempting treats!
When the group arrived at the market in a flurry, the scene before them surprised them. Most of the other stalls displayed various kinds of potted green plants. These plants were indeed lush and vibrant, exuding life. However, they were not only enormous but also incredibly heavy, requiring considerable effort to move. More importantly, the plants' appearance was rather unappealing; their ordinary looks were unlikely to attract the attention of passersby. Therefore, naturally, very few customers visited these stalls.
In stark contrast to them was Su Yuning's stall. She carefully wrapped each exquisitely trimmed rose in beautiful kraft paper, then cleverly tied a delicate red ribbon into a pretty bow. This unique packaging method added even more romance and elegance to the already beautiful roses. Sure enough, she had only been setting up her stall for a short time when she had already successfully attracted a large crowd of young men and women.
Seeing this, Su Yuning's face immediately blossomed into a radiant smile, and she enthusiastically introduced the roses to everyone: "Handsome men and beautiful women, come and see our roses! These roses have different beautiful meanings! One rose represents wholehearted devotion, so if you want to express your sincere heart to your loved one, then choosing one is perfect! Of course, if you wish to make a vow of lifelong commitment, then you might as well choose this bouquet of eleven roses! As for the price, one rose is only one tael of silver, while this bouquet of eleven roses, symbolizing eternal love, is only ten taels of silver. How about that? Isn't it a great deal? Whichever one you like, hurry up and buy it, quantities are limited, first come, first served!"
Hearing Su Yuning's vivid and engaging introduction, the crowd reacted enthusiastically. Someone shouted, "I want a bouquet of roses!" Immediately followed by another voice, "Give me a single rose!" One customer even more generously declared, "I want a bouquet of roses, and also a box of desserts." In no time, Su Yuning's stall was bustling with activity!
"A bouquet of roses, please!" The entire street seemed to come alive with the magnetic and charming male voice. Su Yuning, who was busy arranging bouquets, instinctively looked up upon hearing the voice. In that instant, her gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, locked firmly on the person in front of her.
This man was none other than Gu Wanfeng! He was tall and slender, with a posture as upright as a pine tree, like a figure stepping out of a painting. His exceptionally handsome face was adorned with a faint smile, as warm as the spring sun. However, what truly captivated people was not only him, but also the beautiful and charming woman standing beside him—Miss Chestnut.
The girl, nicknamed Chestnut, had long, glossy black hair that cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, gently brushing against her fair and delicate skin. Beneath her arched, willow-leaf eyebrows, her bright, star-like eyes sparkled, with a slight upturn at the corners revealing a touch of playfulness and liveliness. Her high, straight nose and pink lips combined to create an exquisitely beautiful face. The snow-white dress she wore further accentuated her fresh and refined气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament), making her appear exceptionally elegant and refined.
Seeing this, Su Yuning was so surprised that her mouth dropped open, and it took her a while to come to her senses. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she blurted out, "You two... you've made up?" As she spoke, her eyes were filled with joy, as if she had witnessed something extremely beautiful.
Hearing Su Yuning's question, Gu Wanfeng's smile grew even brighter. He gently took Chestnut Girl's hand and said tenderly, "Yes, we've been through some ups and downs, but we've finally come together. We've decided to get married tomorrow, so we came out today to enjoy this precious time."
Upon hearing this, Su Yuning smiled happily and offered her blessings: "Congratulations! I wish you a long and happy marriage!" As she spoke, she handed a carefully wrapped bouquet of vibrant and beautiful roses to Gu Wanfeng.
Gu Wanfeng, having accepted the bouquet, gazed lovingly at Chestnut Girl, then slowly knelt on one knee, raising the bouquet above his head with both hands and solemnly presenting it to her. Chestnut Girl, already moved to tears, trembled as she reached out to accept the bouquet, embracing Gu Wanfeng tightly. Su Yuning, witnessing this romantic and heartwarming scene, was also touched, her eyes slightly moist, yet a contented smile graced her lips.
At this moment, Gu Wanfeng released Chestnut Girl, turned to look at Su Yuning and Ye Beichen who had been silently accompanying her, and sincerely invited them: "Tomorrow is our big day, and we hope you can come and have a wedding feast together!"
Su Yuning and Ye Beichen exchanged a smile, nodded knowingly, and replied in unison, "Okay, we'll definitely be there on time to witness your happy moment!"
Su Yuning was busy as bees, and Ye Beichen, her second brother, and sister-in-law also helped with collecting money and delivering goods. In less than half an hour, most of the roses and desserts had been sold. The stall owner selling potted plants next door watched with envy and leaned over to whisper, "Miss, your idea is really good. Could you share some tips?" Su Yuning smiled and said, "Your potted plants are nice, but you could pay more attention to their appearance. Lighter ones would be even better."
Just then, a group of wealthy young men walked in. The leader's eyes lit up when he saw Su Yuning's stall. He wanted to buy all the remaining goods, but Su Yuning refused. She said, "Today is Qixi Festival, and I want more lovers to be able to buy flowers. If you really like them, you can buy a few bouquets." The young man thought it made sense, picked out three bouquets, and left satisfied.
Since Zhou Xi and his younger siblings failed to return on time, Zhou Dong had no choice but to give his brother-in-law the spare key to his house and tell him that he could wander around the capital on his own. Afterward, Zhou Dong hurriedly went to work at the factory.
Yang Yuxuan had originally planned to go to a restaurant for a drink, but as he strolled through the streets, he unexpectedly encountered Xiaoxue, the most beautiful courtesan in the brothel. This courtesan was stunningly beautiful and graceful. She walked slowly and elegantly toward Yang Yuxuan.
"Young master, today is the annual Qixi Festival!" The courtesan moved gracefully forward, her face as radiant as a peach blossom, her beautiful eyes sparkling, her lips parted slightly, her breath sweet as orchids. She took the initiative to inquire, "On such a beautiful day, why do I not see a beautiful woman by your side? Is your wife not in the capital at this moment?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Yuxuan was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting anyone to ask such a question. He paused for a moment, then a faint bitter smile appeared on his lips as he softly replied, "To be honest, my wife is indeed not in the capital. That is why I am wandering around here alone."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoxue's beautiful eyes instantly sparkled, shining like stars in the night sky. She parted her cherry lips slightly and said sweetly, "Since that's the case, why don't I accompany you, sir, to spend this beautiful Qixi Festival together? What do you think, sir?" Her words were full of anticipation.
Upon hearing this, Yang Yuxuan hesitated slightly. His eyes flickered as he pondered how to respond. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly replied, "This... I'm afraid this is a bit inappropriate. After all, there's a difference between men and women, and if others find out, it will inevitably cause unnecessary trouble and misunderstandings."
However, Xiaoxue didn't seem to care. She covered her mouth and smiled, still beaming, "Oh dear, why be so reserved, young master? Your wife isn't here right now. As long as we keep this appointment a secret and don't let anyone else know, there won't be any problems." As she spoke, she gave Yang Yuxuan a charming look that was hard to resist.
Seeing Xiaoxue's persistence, Yang Yuxuan was finally moved and asked with a smile, "Alright then, where would you like to go for your visit, young lady? I would be happy to accompany you the whole way." The two walked side by side, and Xiaoxue led Yang Yuxuan to a lantern market by the river. The market was filled with colorful lanterns of all shapes and sizes, a truly beautiful sight. Yang Yuxuan was dazzled by the sights, and his mood gradually relaxed.
They stopped at a lantern riddle stall. Xiaoxue, clever and quick-witted, guessed several riddles correctly, winning a beautiful sachet as a reward from the stall owner. She handed it to Yang Yuxuan, her eyes filled with affection. Yang Yuxuan took the sachet, a ripple of emotion stirring within him.
But just then, Yang Yuxuan suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance—his distant cousin. He was terrified, fearing the news would reach his wife's ears. He quickly made an excuse to say goodbye to Xiaoxue and hurriedly left.
Xiaoxue watched his departing figure, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes. Yang Yuxuan, on the other hand, walked back, secretly relieved to have spotted an acquaintance in time, yet also feeling a pang of guilt. He resolved to be more careful in the future and never again make such a near-mistake. Back at his residence, he carefully put away the sachet, using it as a reminder to himself.
As dusk fell, their goods dwindled. Su Yuning counted her earnings, her heart overflowing with joy. Ye Beichen looked at her indulgently and said, "Today's harvest has been quite bountiful. How about we go to the river to release some lanterns?" Everyone readily agreed, so they packed up their stall and headed towards the river, their laughter echoing along the way. When they arrived at the riverbank, a large crowd had already gathered, and lanterns floated on the water like stars fallen into the water. Su Yuning excitedly chose a lotus-shaped lantern, while Ye Beichen chose a rabbit lantern.
On this peaceful and beautiful night, the group came to the riverbank, wanting to make their most sincere wishes by releasing water lanterns. After searching for a while, they finally found a relatively quiet corner.
Su Yuning gracefully crouched down, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes, looking incredibly devout. She silently made a wish in a voice so soft it seemed to melt hearts, then carefully pushed the lantern in her hands into the river. The light reflected on the water, drifting slowly away with the current, as if carrying all her beautiful dreams and hopes.
Standing to the side, Ye Beichen gazed at her quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Then, with graceful movements, he placed his own lantern into the river, letting it drift downstream with Su Yuning's lantern, gradually disappearing into the distance.