Entering Beijing

The spring was cold, the wind was biting, and the dry and hard frozen soil after the snow was turned into lumps by the ice, making the carriage ride bumpy. The air was filled with the faint aroma of gunpowder from firecrackers. The newly thawed river water flows gurglingly, and the sound is clear and loud, which is heart-stirring.

 Lanterns are hung in front of every house, some are large or small, with different patterns and shapes. The lights are bright or dark, far or near. Looking from a distance, they look like lights hanging on the horizon, lit one by one. , very beautiful.

 There were many pedestrians on both sides of the road. The maids held lanterns in their hands and swayed as they walked in the slightly cold spring breeze. The ladies smiled shyly and walked quickly with their heads down, fearing that others would look at their faces. Young Master Xunchun holds a small fan in his hand and looks at the women coming and going from time to time. He looks very chic.

 Fire at thirty, light at fifteen, the old saying is true. Half a month has passed since the Spring Festival, and now it's the Lantern Festival. The atmosphere of spring is in full swing. The lights all over the city are the beginning of a prosperous year.

 Beside the moat where the ice has just melted, the river is flowing gurglingly, and countless lanterns are floating on the water, swaying slightly, with different shapes, some like lotuses, or peonies, which are very beautiful. The reflection of the lamps is reflected in the river, and each lamp's shadow, above and below the water, reflects each other, just like the stars falling into the water, extremely beautiful.

 This is the Flower God Lantern Festival that is widely spread in the north. Legend has it that every year at the beginning of the Lantern Festival and the beginning of spring, the ladies who are waiting to be married will write their wishes on paper, then put them in special lanterns, and let them flow down the river. If it is picked up by a talented and thoughtful person, it is a destined person. The legendary flower god will bless the young man and young lady who got married because of the lantern to have a happy marriage for a hundred years and stay together.

 This legend has been passed down for thousands of years. A few famous couples did come together, and for a while, the Flower God Lantern Festival and the Lantern Festival became unique scenery during the Lantern Festival in the north.

 This year's Lantern Festival comes early, and the ice in the river begins to melt. It was extremely cold, but the young men waiting to catch the lanterns by the river were densely packed and there was an endless stream, crowding the water along both sides of the river.

 A little boy of eleven or twelve years old, dressed in silk stockings, held a long bamboo pole in his hand, with a small iron hook hanging on the bamboo pole. He raised the lanterns one by one, attracting talented people from both sides of the bank. They burst into admiration and envy. Most of these young men came empty-handed, even those with tools in their hands. He was not so well prepared. Seeing that this young man was only eleven or twelve years old, he kept picking up the lanterns that Miss Shangyou had put down. In addition to admiration, I also admire: Whose young master is this? He is so far-sighted and far-sighted, which is incredible!

 A large carriage slowly woke up from the distance, rising and falling on the bumpy road.

 The two horses pulling the cart were in bits and their mouths were constantly exhaling hot breath. Although he is dusty and dusty, his figure is magnificent and his martial prowess is extraordinary. The carriage at the back is very large. There was some dust outside, and you could tell at a glance that it was coming from afar.

 The carriage jolted, and a woman's voice came from the carriage: "Hey, what are you doing? You're pressing me down."

 Another man's voice said: "Oh, I'm sorry, the carriage is too bumpy. I didn't mean it. Hey, what is this soft thing? Wow. There is another one here??"

 "Get off here!" The two women in the carriage shouted together.

 The car curtain opened quickly, and a smiling man with healthy skin was pushed out of the car by two pairs of small hands.

 He shook his green shirt, flipped his hat, and said with a smile: "Why are you so embarrassed? It's just carelessness. Although you have a good figure, you don't need to be so domineering. Come down as soon as you can. I'm tired from riding in the car anyway. It's also good to take a few steps to get some exercise."

 The carriage traveled not far and stopped. The man following the carriage yawned and was startled when he looked at the dense crowds on both sides of the river. Holy shit, what is this for? In the dark, let's go fishing together?

 The curtain on the carriage window was opened, and a beautiful little face stretched out with a sweet smile. She carefully looked at the crowd in front of her and said curiously: "Sister, what are the people in the capital doing?" Is it so strange? It's cold and dark, so what are they doing around the river? Hey, there are so many lanterns on the river, they're so beautiful."

 Another woman also leaned her head out of the window, her cheeks were pink, her mouth was slightly red, her eyes were moving, and she was looking forward to it. She looked at everyone and then said: "Oh, is it the Lantern Festival today? We have been traveling for so many days, and we have forgotten even this good time. This is probably the legendary Flower God Lantern Festival . Legend has it that as long as an unmarried woman puts down a lantern on the upper reaches of the river and writes her wish, if it is picked up by a loving young man below, this is the flower god acting as a matchmaker, and they will be a match made in heaven, and they will surely grow old together, and the flowers will bloom and be rich."

 The younger woman said in surprise: "Is it true?" She secretly looked at the man walking next to the carriage, and said softly: "Then I will also put one on and ask the bad guy to pick it up."

 The older and beautiful woman chuckled and said: "If he wants to choose anything else, you can just get along with him for a hundred years. It will be cumbersome to make so many twists and turns."

 The younger woman snorted, blushed, and got into a fuss with her sister in the carriage.

 After hearing these words, someone walking by the car suddenly realized that these people were here to get the lamp. No wonder they were all so wretched and their eyes were shining. However, this activity has some benefits for exercising these industrious young ladies.

 He glanced around and saw an eleven or twelve-year-old boy who moved quickly. In a short while, he had picked up four or five lanterns. He took a look at the letter in the lantern and then threw the lantern away with a hum. aside. More and more lanterns were being ruined, which were the hearts of beautiful and passionate ladies. The young men watching beside them were so anxious that they swallowed their saliva.

 Damn it, is there any justice for such a young person to fish for lanterns? At such a young age, those things haven't even grown hair yet, yet they want to engage in such romantic activities. It's really unconscionable. He spat hard and walked forward with a smile. With a kind smile on his face, he said: "Hello, brother Dong. Wow, it's amazing that you can pick lanterns and play with them at such a young age. Can I play with you?"

 When the young men around him saw a servant coming up to get close to him, they immediately felt contempt. Whose servant was so ignorant of etiquette and shamelessness that he even cheated other people's children?

 "Sister, he did bad things again, and you don't care about him?" The young woman in the carriage pulled up the curtain, took a look, and hummed.

 My sister smiled and said: "He does bad things once or twice, and he can't control him every time. Our family needs to find someone who can control him. That is too difficult."

 The younger sister said: "I think you don't want to take care of me, sister. This bad guy traveled all the way from Jinling to the capital, trying to think of ways to do bad things every day. How can he not know what evil to do if no one cares about him?"

 The sister smiled and said: "Doing evil? When he does evil things to you every day, I think you like it very much. Don't think that I didn't see anything when I was asleep."

 "Sister??" The younger sister threw herself into her elder sister's arms shyly, not daring to speak.

 The elder sister pressed her nose helplessly and said: "You. At such a young age, if you let him do bad things to you every day, what will happen in the future? Didn't I give you a knife for self-defense? If he bullies you again You, just stab him with a knife, geez, don't say I taught you this, he likes to take revenge on me??"

 The two sisters were joking in the carriage, and someone over there had already shyly approached the child and said: "How about it, little brother, do you agree? Hey, you don't say anything. I'll take it as you agree. Hey, this It's one tael of silver, as long as you pick up ten lanterns, the one tael of silver will be yours."

 The child snorted and said nothing.

 Personalized, I like it. He chuckled, picked up the white money, dazzled it in front of the child's eyes, and said with a squinted smile: "See, this is white money. Ten lanterns are only one tael of silver. What a bargain."

 The child looked at him with disdain and took out an ingot of gold from his arms, which was four or five taels. He raised his little finger and said to him: "Hey, this is five taels of silver. As long as you pick up a lantern, it will be worth it." This money is my reward to you." The crowd of people watching burst out laughing.

 Damn, you're more awesome than me? The capital is indeed different, even the children are so pushy. He was very thick-skinned and didn't mind the ridicule of others. He gave a thumbs up and said, "Brother Dong, you really have a personality, I like it. Why don't we make friends? My name is Lin San, what's your name?"

 "Lin San?" The child frowned, shook his head and said, "This name is ugly enough and vulgar. If you give it this name, your knowledge will not be much better."

 This little guy acted like a little adult and talked for a long time, but didn't say his name. Lin Wanrong smiled nonchalantly and said, "Yes, my name was given by someone else. It's messy and dirty. I wonder what kind of elegant name you have, little brother?"

 The child looked at him warily and said, "Why are you asking me my name? Huh, eight out of ten people who get close to me are doing it for evil purposes. You look like you're so sinister, you don't look like a good guy. Are you trying to kidnap me?" Let me tell you, young master, I am not a vegetarian! I was able to kill cats at the age of three, and tear apart leopards at the age of five. I just slaughtered a tiger with my bare hands a few days ago. You want to abduct me? Be careful, I don't know anyone with my fists!" He stretched out his hand and shook it. I shook my fists and looked like I was a muscular man.

 Lin Wanrong was stunned for a long time. Damn it, I finally met someone more shameless than me. He is still so young and has a lot of potential and a bright future. He laughed evilly and said: "Brother Dong is really awesome. Okay, okay, I won't ask your name anymore. Tell me, what are you doing with these lanterns? Are you really looking for a sister to be your wife?"

 The boy said with disdain: "Looking for a wife? What are you doing looking for a wife? Do you think everyone is like you, wanting a wife every day!" Everyone burst into laughter, Lin Wanrong sweated profusely, this boy is really accurate at first sight. , I came to the capital just to find a wife. The two sisters were stunned when they heard Lin Wanrong talking to the child. They couldn't help but hide in the car and cover their lips and chuckle. My sister said, "If you tell me to be bad, someone will be able to scare you."

 "Since you are not looking for a wife? Then why are you fishing for other people's lanterns?" The onlookers listened to the two of them talking, and finally one of them couldn't help but ask.

 "There's nothing funny about these lanterns." The child said, "I picked up forty or fifty lanterns, and they turned out to be some erotic words of love written by young ladies. They were so ugly. I wanted to find some pastries with the right taste. , but I couldn't even find it."

 The sound of countless young men falling to the ground! This damn little kid got stabbed. It is really unconscionable to catch these lanterns for cakes and throw away the erotic words written by the ladies.

 Lin Wanrong laughed loudly. He didn't have a good impression of such erotic words. This kid is so funny and makes people laugh.

 Seeing the hostile looks around him, the child showed no fear at all. He pulled Lin Wanrong's sleeve and said, "Lin San, you're not bad!"

 "What's good?" Lin Wanrong asked curiously.

 The child said seriously: "These people just want to pick up a lantern and find a lady. They are really vulgar and superficial. Although you are of low status, you are different from them. If you don't pick up a lantern, you won't laugh at me either." . My character is not bad. Then I will tell you my name. My name is Li Wuling. If anyone bullies you in the capital in the future, just tell me my name. I guarantee that no one will dare to touch a hair on your head. "

 Oh my god, are you so awesome? Lin Wanrong smiled secretly and didn't take it seriously, but just listened to what he said before. But I have realized that this child is not that simple. I saw that Li Wuling had a tiger-like head and a tiger-like brain, with dark pupils. His eyes are dazzling and he is very clever and cute. Thinking of his strange reason for picking up the lantern, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but laugh and said: "Brother Dong, are you picking up this lantern for snacks? Are you being fooled?"

 Li Wuling snorted: "I heard someone talking about the Flower God Lantern Festival yesterday, so I asked my grandfather what the lantern festival was for. The old man was busy at the time, so I pestered him a few times, and he said it was to deal with greedy people. The young lady at home made some cakes to offer to the river god. Humph, the old man dared to deceive even me. I will have a battle with him tomorrow to let him know how powerful I am."

 Invincible, Lin Wanrong sweated profusely after hearing this. This little guy is probably the overlord at home, and even his grandfather doesn't take him seriously.

 "Look, look, look, the flower lantern??" A shout came from upstream.

 "Flower lantern, flower lantern..." The young men on both sides of the Taiwan Strait also exclaimed together, their voices mixed with excitement. The two ladies hiding in the carriage couldn't help but look outside when they heard the shouting.

 "Flower lantern, what is the flower lantern?" Lin Wanrong looked at Li Wuling and asked curiously.

 "You ask me, how do I know? I'm just a child!" Li Wuling rolled his eyes.

 Damn it, I encountered a thorn. Lin Wanrong smiled and looked upstream. I saw a lantern slowly walking on the water upstream. The lantern is as tall as one person, and is shaped into the shape of a beautiful woman, with a charming look, a smile on her face, and fluttering skirts, which is lifelike. This beautiful lantern has a faint yellow light all over its body, and there are dozens of small lights around it forming a lotus shape. From a distance, it looks like a fairy floating in the lotus.

 Is this the flower magic lantern? Lin Wanrong also secretly felt surprised when he saw it. Not to mention the conception of this flower lamp, making this tall lamp float on the waves without tipping over was a huge problem that not ordinary people could achieve.

 "What kind of flower lamp? Look at me and fish it up." Li Wuling said disdainfully.

 People on both sides of the river have already been attracted by this beautiful flower lantern, and many people have knelt down to worship. Only Li Wuling and Lin Wanrong were not afraid of anything. Anyway, it was Miss Shangyou who put the lantern. Pick it up and take a look at it.

 The place where Li Wuling stood was the narrow part of the river, which was the best place to fish for lanterns. He stretched out the bamboo pole, looked at the direction where the flower lamp was floating, and hooked it hard. Although the flower lantern is tall, it is very stable in the water. Li Wuling's strength is weak, and the flower lantern tilts slightly, but it is not hooked.

 Lin Wanrong, with quick eyes and quick hands, took the bamboo pole and pulled hard, and then hooked the beautiful lantern over.

 After the lantern landed on the shore, Lin Wanrong carefully looked at the bottom of the lantern and saw that underneath was a fixed lamp holder with a circular bracket. Dozens of wooden wheels were tied to the bracket, which could change its direction at will with the impact of the water flow. When the lamp comes from upstream, the wheels follow the direction of the water flow, so to hook the lamp over is actually to change the direction of the wheels, which naturally requires greater force.

 The mechanical structure was so ingeniously designed that Lin Wanrong couldn't help but nod his head after seeing it. Jingzhong really has many capable people.

 When everyone saw that the flower lantern had also been picked up, they gathered around. The eldest lady and the second child were hiding in the car

The young lady couldn't help but moved lightly and stood next to Lin Wanrong.

 These two women are graceful and extremely beautiful, even more beautiful than the fairies in the paintings. When everyone onlookers saw it, they were stunned. Even Li Wuling, the little kid, looked a little dazed.

 Damn, can you guys look at my wife? Lin Wanrong felt unhappy and protected the two ladies behind him. He coughed lightly and said, "Brother Jin, what are you going to do with this lantern?"

 Li Wuling wiped his eyes and said, "These two sisters are so beautiful. Lin San, is this your wife?"

 This was a good question, and Lin Wanrong laughed and said, "Absolutely." Xiao Yushuang blushed, but the eldest lady pinched the flesh of his waist hard.

 "Lin San, why do you look so weird?" Li Wuling asked.

 Nonsense, being fingered by this little girl makes my flesh hurt, and I still have a smile on my face. Can it not be weird? He laughed and said, "Dong Li, don't talk nonsense, look at this lamp to see if there are any pastries. I'm a little hungry too. After dinner, I'll go home and sleep with my wife."

 "You want to die so much that you dare to say anything?" The eldest lady put more pressure on her hands, her face turned as red as the haze in the sky, and whispered in his ear. The orchid-like fragrance of his breath made Lin Wanrong feel itchy.

 Li Wuling nodded and checked in the flower lamp. Of course there were no pastries, but it was true that I found a paper ball. The little devil was naturally disappointed. He didn't even look at the ball of paper. He threw it to Lin Wanrong and said, "You hooked this lamp back. Naturally, only you read the letter written by this lady."

 Feeling a sharp pain in the thin flesh on her waist, Lin Wanrong smiled bitterly and said: "Miss, I did this unintentionally. Don't be jealous. Otherwise, I'll show it to you, I won't watch it. It's all in vain anyway." ."

 Xiao Yuruo's face was red, she glanced at her sister secretly, and hurriedly snorted: "Whoever is jealous, you are the only one who likes to tell nonsense. Yushuang, let's ignore him and let him be proud."

 Xiao Yushuang hummed and said strangely: "Sister, what's wrong with you? Your face is so red."

 "Really?" The eldest lady covered her face, her heart pounding: "Maybe it was the wind. Anyway, it was Lin San's fault, so we just ignored him."

 Li Wuling saw the paper ball in Lin San's hand. The expression on the man's face was both sweet and painful. He couldn't help but said: "Lin San, do you want to read it or not? If you don't, you should have thrown it away earlier to save your wife." Jealous."

 For the sake of my wife, I won't care about this little thing like you. He smiled and opened the paper, only to see a line of small words written on it: "Dragon, dragon, dragon, when will you come to attract the phoenix?"

 This sentence looks like a poem or a couplet, but it's only half a sentence, which makes people confused. Li Wuling turned his little head and glanced at it, and said with a smile: "What kind of dragon or phoenix? What kind of young lady is this? She is very arrogant."

 It makes sense, these ladies will have high aspirations and have sweet dreams all day long, just like Ning'er in the past. But fortunately, I conquered Luo Talented Girl with my boundless charm, otherwise she wouldn't know how long she would have suffered.

 "Chong Chong Chong, specializes in folding phoenixes and dragons!" Lin Wanrong laughed and wrote a few words on the title, which seemed to be a reflection of himself.

 Li Wuling was a brat, so he nodded and said, "Lin San, that's a good answer. When a dragon conquers a phoenix, it doesn't matter. When an insect conquers a phoenix, that's what matters."

 Lin Wanrong stuffed the note back into the lamp, and the two of them put the flower lamp back into the river. Watching the beautiful lamp goddess continue to float downstream, Li Wuling chuckled and said: "Lin San, you are a good person, wait a minute. After entering the city, I will treat you to tea. Now I have to go back to ride horses. See you another day."

 horse riding? Riding a horse in vain? Is this old little place all crazy? Li Wuling had walked far away, but he was still in a daze. The capital is really different, everyone I see is this kind of talent

 When turning back to the car, Yu Shuang said with a smile: "What is written on the flower lamp that has delayed you for so long? Sister, is that the question?"

 "Damn girl!" The eldest lady's face turned red and she hurriedly turned her head.

 Lin Wanrong secretly scratched the eldest lady's palm and said seriously: "It's nothing, it's the Flower God who blesses us!"

 "What blessing?" the eldest lady asked lightly.

 "I wish us a happy marriage and a son soon!" Lin Wanrong said with a smile.

 The two women murmured softly at the same time. The second young lady thought she was talking about herself, and her heart was pounding. The eldest lady had something in her heart, her face turned red, and she said hurriedly: "I can't even talk to you in a serious way." I'll punish you by walking into the city."

 There was no need to walk into the city. While the few people were talking, the carriage had slowly arrived under the city wall. Lin Wanrong stood on the chariot shaft, looking at the red-painted city gate and the two bright red characters on the city gate, feeling excited in his heart: "Jingxuan, I'm here!"

 Alas, in this ordeal of fire in New Delhi, please give me some monthly passes! It's not easy for me either.