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墨書 Inktalez
In a large ecological park like Feng Yi Mountain Park, there are certainly sightseeing vehicles; otherwise, how could Yang Yun, who struggles to walk even a thousand meters without feeling pain and gasping for breath, possibly keep up with Hanno and Liu Zhaoren in Feng Yi Mountain Park?
Liu Zhaoren stared at the departing sightseeing vehicle for a while, helplessly being pulled onto another vehicle by Lansiya. Hanno found it amusing as she sat behind them; she had realized that Lansiya had intentions toward Liu Zhaoren. With the distance between them, Hanno hoped that Lansiya would quickly win over Liu Zhaoren so she could be free.
Feng Yi Mountain Park not only boasts beautiful natural scenery of lakes and mountains but also features ancient architectural complexes built during the Jin Dynasty and reconstructed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Notably, the millennium-old Daoist temple, Jade Emperor Temple, founded by Xu Xun, the patriarch of the Pure and Bright School of Daoism, is located within the park. It is dedicated to Hao Jin Que, the supreme and ultimate truth of nature, the Jade Emperor. Legend has it that Xu Xun lived to be one hundred thirty-six years old and ascended to immortality with forty-two family members on the first day of the eighth month in the second year of Ningkang during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (74). He is revered as Xu Xian by the people. This temple was originally established during the Eastern Han Dynasty and flourished during the Western Jin Dynasty (around 8 AD), boasting a history of over two thousand years. The temple complex includes Spirit Officer Tower (the mountain gate), Yuan Tong Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Sanqing Hall, Master Hall, Holy Mother Hall (also known as Douma Hall), Medicine King Hall, as well as back garden corridors and tea houses... The temple has endured multiple destructions over time but remains vibrant with incense offerings.
The three of them entered the temple to burn incense. Lansiya even drew a fortune stick and insisted that Liu Zhaoren draw one too, dragging him to find an Old Taoist for an interpretation.
The Old Taoist examined Lansiya's fortune stick and praised, "You have drawn a good fortune. 'You can entrust a six-foot orphan; you can entrust a life of a hundred miles.' If you can meet someone like Bao Shuyah, you should wholeheartedly engage with them. They are indeed a noble person. When their brilliance shines forth, you too will achieve great success. This is a hope placed upon them."
Lansiya was confused: "What does that mean? Can you be more straightforward?"
The Old Taoist replied: "..."
"To put it simply, you can expect to meet a benefactor. You will encounter kindred spirits, make close friends, and find a partner worthy of life and death devotion. You can wholeheartedly entrust yourself to this person; having drawn this fortune indicates that your current blessings are complete with the help of the matchmaker under the moon. Your fate will surely have a beautiful conclusion. It is advisable to seek divine blessings for continued fortune. When asking about fate, it is Moon Elder who binds it together. When inquiring about marriage, it indicates a lifelong union."
Lansiya listened with delight and shot a sidelong glance at Liu Zhaoren; unfortunately, he showed no reaction. With a light huff, she snatched his fortune slip from his hand and handed it to the Old Taoist: "Help him interpret his fortune too."
The Old Taoist looked at Liu Zhaoren's fortune slip and said: "This is an upper fortune."
He turned to Liu Zhaoren and said: "You should forget your past entirely; it is not worth reminiscing about. The ancients taught us: yesterday dies; today is born. After letting go of yesterday's matters, today begins anew with fresh decisions. Do not dwell on what has passed; make new choices today for great achievements ahead."
Liu Zhaoren frowned: "What if I don't forget?"
The Old Taoist replied: "It would be like a monkey trying to catch the moon—an effort in vain."
His gaze shifted between Liu Zhaoren and Lansiya as he earnestly advised: "Young man, cherish those before you."
Liu Zhaoren remained silent...
When Yang Yun arrived at the park, the atmosphere felt a bit strange. She pulled Hanno aside and quietly asked, "What happened?"
Hanno explained the situation regarding Liu Zhaoren and said, "I hope Liu Zhaoren can figure things out. Lansiya may have a bad temper and likes to show off a bit, but she's actually quite nice in other aspects."
Yang Yun sighed, "I didn't expect Lansiya to be so infatuated. It's been over ten years and she hasn't changed at all. She still doesn't have a boyfriend; it seems she just can't forget Liu Zhaoren."
Hanno stared at Yang Yun incredulously. "Yang Ba Po, you shouldn't be surprised. Lansiya has had a crush on Liu Zhaoren since high school."
"Wrong," Yang Yun corrected. "Lansiya has liked Liu Zhaoren since middle school."
Hanno was dumbfounded. "But Liu Zhaoren and Lansiya weren't even in the same class in middle school. They shouldn't know each other, right?"
"But they were in the same school," Yang Yun replied. "They met during a summer camp organized by the school. Liu Zhaoren didn't remember Lansiya, but she had a crush on him back then as an eager young girl."
Hanno remarked, "...Yang Ba Po, you shouldn't be a lawyer; you'd be better suited as a tabloid journalist."
Yang Yun laughed without taking offense. "Business is business, and hobbies are hobbies. I keep them separate."
Hanno rolled her eyes.
In the end, the four of them went out for dinner together. Lansiya clung tightly to Liu Zhaoren. Although he was unhappy about it, he couldn't just ask her to leave, especially with Hanno and Yang Yun there encouraging her to stay. By the time everyone went home, Liu Zhaoren still hadn't found an opportunity to be alone with Hanno.
Hanno clenched her fist: gdJb. From now on, she would always invite Lansiya along.
………………
On June Sixth, early in the morning, the Li siblings exchanged congratulations and then started their breakfast. The breakfast consisted of cake crumbs made from flour mixed with sugar and oil, following the custom that on June Sixth, eating these crumbs would help one gain weight. After breakfast, Li Yishu helped Li Zhoule take all their clothes outside to dry in the yard. This was part of the tradition of "June Sixth, every household dries red and green." Once they finished this task, they headed over to the Wen family to help the Wen Family Three Brothers dry their clothes as well. The Wen brothers also had cake crumbs for breakfast; Li Zhoule had prepared some for them to take home and enjoy together.
After finishing with the Wen family's laundry, the sun had climbed high into the sky. The five of them set out for an open space at the edge of the village where most of the villagers had already gathered, all smiling and laughing. After a while, the village chief and some elders arrived, followed by several strong villagers carrying offerings and sacrificial items. The offerings included an entire pig, a whole cow, and a whole sheep, along with millet, sorghum, wheat, beans, rice, and pastries made by the village's older women. The variety looked abundant but came at a hefty price that nearly drained all the villagers' savings from this period. However, everyone was unconcerned about spending their money; they believed that the more they contributed, the more sincere their intentions were and that it would earn them blessings from their ancestors.
The chief priest was the village head, who had specially tailored a new outfit in the county town for this occasion, looking dignified and graceful. Accompanying him were several of the oldest elders from the village, while the rest of the villagers stood two meters behind them, arranged neatly according to their seniority and age. All the men entered the ancestral hall courtyard, while the women and children had to stay outside, also lined up according to their seniority and age, kneeling or bowing in response to the sounds coming from within.
Incense was burned, sacrificial texts were read, offerings were presented, wine was poured, sacrificial papers were burned, and bows were made—these texts were written by Scholar Guan, filled with complex phrases that many found incomprehensible, leaving them feeling profoundly moved. After a series of rituals, everyone felt exhausted. Moreover, it was summer, and the sun shone brightly overhead, causing everyone to sweat profusely; sweat trickled down their faces, but no one dared to wipe it away. It wasn't until Great Uncle called out "Finished" that people began to wipe their brows and sit down to rest. The women didn’t rest long; the older ones took the younger ones back home to fetch pots, bowls, knives, and vegetables for the communal feast. The men had already set up a simple cooking station in an open area and lit a fire. Cattle and sheep were brought to the space where Man Cang Uncle and Uncle Jiang wielded their slaughter knives, cutting the pork and beef into pieces. Each villager took a piece home while the rest was prepared by the women into cooked dishes for everyone in the village to share. The aroma of meat wafted through the village, causing children to abandon their play and gather around the cooking area like hungry little cats. The women laughed at their antics and handed out pieces of meat from large bowls; children ran off joyfully with meat in their mouths. After a while, those who had finished eating returned for more, gazing eagerly at the women again. Unable to resist their expressions, the women distributed more meat chunks, leading to repeated exchanges.
Li Zhoule was the head chef for this gathering; having learned cooking methods from Elder Brother Li, her dishes surpassed those made by any other woman in the village. However, she couldn’t prepare enough food for everyone alone; she guided other women as they cooked together, greatly benefiting them.
Braised Pork, Sweet and Sour Ribs, Stir-Fried Pork Intestines, Stewed Beef, Stir-Fried Lamb Offal… The villagers feasted on these meat dishes with delight until everyone returned home thoroughly satisfied.
Upon returning home, Li Zhoule collapsed onto her bed. Wen Zixia entered her room and gently placed her hand on her shoulder to give her a massage. This skill was also learned from Elder Brother Li. However, Wen Zixia only massaged her shoulders; she felt shy about going lower.
Li Yishu stifled a giggle as she peeked her head out from Li Zhoule's room before running off to the storage room with great enthusiasm to write about today’s ancestor worship for Hanno.
After reading Li Yishu's letter, Hanno regretted not having given her a camera to record it all. She had watched the video from last dragon boat race; it was authentic and incredibly exciting—she even uploaded it online to share with netizens. Many viewers commented below asking which television drama that footage was from because it looked so real.
Hanno replied below: "This is real."
The result was a string of "Wow."
"Summer Solstice Festival… In modern times there isn’t even a festival for it anymore; it has simply become a solar term that no one celebrates," Hanno said as she set down the letter and casually tossed a finished pirated book into a porcelain jar. "Are you celebrating today?"
Indeed! Hanno saw the porcelain jar flash quickly with red and blue light as the pirated book vanished…
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