ATPnovel Chapter 71 Lanterns Illuminate Daytime
Chapter 71 Lanterns Illuminate Daytime
As dusk approaches, the city of Suzhou is beginning to light up.
When Lin Chen and Xiao Yulou traveled by carriage to Wanghu Tower, the entire city was already immersed in a festive atmosphere.
The banks of the river are adorned with all kinds of lanterns.
Lotus lanterns, carp lanterns, revolving lanterns, palace lanterns... candlelight shines through colored paper, turning the river water into a colorful brocade.
The streets and alleys were bustling with people, filled with laughter and chatter, as children chased and played with lanterns.
Vendors were hawking sugar figurines, pastries, and all sorts of trinkets.
"How lively!" Xiao Yulou lifted the carriage curtain, her eyes reflecting the dazzling lights.
"It's just as good as the lantern festival in Beijing."
Lin Chen leaned against her and said lazily:
"Jiangnan is a prosperous region, so its festivals are naturally grand. If Fourth Sister-in-law likes it, we can come every year from now on."
"You said it." Xiao Yulou turned to look at him, her eyes smiling.
Wanghulou is the most famous restaurant in Suzhou. It is built by the river and has three stories with flying eaves. Tonight, it is brightly lit.
The area in front of the gate was filled with carriages and horses, all belonging to wealthy families.
When Lin Chen's carriage stopped, servants from the Su family were already there to greet him.
"Is it Young Master Lin and Madam Lin? The young master is already waiting for you in the private room on the third floor."
The two followed the servant upstairs.
The private rooms on the third floor have windows overlooking half of Suzhou's night view.
Su Mo was already waiting. Seeing them enter, he stood up and smiled:
"Brother Lin, Madam Lin, please have a seat."
Su Xiaoxiao was also there, dressed in a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a jade hairpin tucked into her hair. She looked less aloof and more delicate than during the day.
She rose and gave a graceful bow: "Young Master Lin, Madam Lin."
"Miss Su, there's no need for such formalities," Lin Chen said with a smile, returning the greeting.
The four people sat down, and the table was already full of delicious food.
Squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, Biluo shrimp, steamed crab roe, water shield and silver fish soup... these are all famous dishes from Jiangnan.
The wine is a century-old vintage, with a rich and fragrant aroma.
"Brother Lin, please try this squirrel-shaped mandarin fish." Su Mo enthusiastically served the dishes.
"You won't find another signboard like Wanghulou in the entire Jiangnan region."
Lin Chen took a bite; it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour.
"It's delicious indeed, Brother Su, you've gone to great lengths."
"Brother Lin, you're too kind." Su Mo raised his cup.
"Come, let's drink a toast to today's gathering."
The four raised their glasses and drank together. The pure brew was mellow and smooth, with a lingering aftertaste.
During the meal, Su Mo chatted and laughed, telling interesting anecdotes and stories about Jiangnan.
Su Xiaoxiao occasionally chimed in, her words refined and her insights unique.
Lin Chen sometimes echoed his words, and sometimes shared his observations of the capital, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
After several rounds of drinks, Su Mo suddenly said:
"Brother Lin, there's a couplet at Zuiyue Pavilion that's truly exquisite—'In drunkenness, the universe is vast; in the moonlight, heaven and earth are wide.' I wonder if you have a matching line?"
Lin Chen smiled and said, "That was written by Mr. Bai. The second line is 'Time passes slowly over tea, and warmth fills the air in the pavilion.'"
"Great couplet!" Su Mo clapped his hands.
"Drunken moon, teahouse, heaven and earth, heaven and earth, time, human feelings—the couplets are perfectly matched, and the artistic conception is profound. Mr. Bai is a great talent!"
A glint of surprise flashed in Su Xiaoxiao's eyes:
"This couplet contains Zen wisdom, which is beyond the ability of an ordinary talented person. I am even more eager to visit Mr. Bai at Zuiyue Pavilion."
Lin Chen said, "If Miss Su goes to the capital, she must visit Zuiyue Pavilion."
Although Mr. Bai was aloof by nature, he most enjoyed discussing philosophy with kindred spirits.
"Then it's settled." Su Xiaoxiao smiled sweetly, like a spring flower in bloom.
Xiao Yulou listened quietly from the side, occasionally serving food to Lin Chen.
Although she was a woman from the martial arts world, she came from a prestigious family and was well-mannered. She did not feel awkward sitting at the same table as a talented woman like Su Xiaoxiao.
After dinner, Su Mo suggested releasing river lanterns.
"Tonight's lantern festival is perfect for making wishes on river lanterns," he said with a smile.
"Xiaoxiao has prepared a few lotus lanterns; let's go for a walk by the river."
The four went downstairs, where servants had already prepared river lanterns.
It was an exquisite paper lotus flower, with a small candle inserted in the center, and a wooden base supporting it, allowing it to float on water.
A large number of people have already gathered by the river to release lanterns.
People of all ages, young and old, pray for peace or for marriage; lanterns float downstream like stars falling to earth.
Su Xiaoxiao chose a pink lotus lantern, and with her slender fingers holding a brush, she wrote words on the lantern.
The candlelight illuminated her profile, making her appear gentle and serene.
After finishing her prayer, she gently placed the lamp into the water, closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and silently made a wish.
Xiao Yulou also lit a lamp, wishing for "family peace".
Lin Chen felt a softening in his heart as he looked at her earnest expression.
When it was Lin Chen's turn, he picked up his pen, thought for a moment, and wrote on the lamp: "May every year be like this morning."
Su Mo looked at it and smiled, "Brother Lin's wish is simple, yet the hardest to fulfill. Life is unpredictable; how many can live like this every year?"
"It's precisely because they're so rare that we should make a wish," Lin Chen said with a smile as he released the lantern.
Four lotus lanterns merged into the river of lights and gradually disappeared into the distance.
After releasing the lanterns, Su Mo suggested taking a walk along the riverbank.
The night was perfect, and the lanterns shone like daylight; it was indeed a wonderful time for a stroll.
Shops line both banks of the river, and colorful lanterns compete for attention.
The stalls where people guessed lantern riddles were surrounded by scholars and literati, who occasionally burst into cheers or sighs of regret.
The jugglers breathed fire, eliciting gasps from the children.
With a flick of his wrist, the old man selling sugar paintings created a dragon and phoenix motif in an instant.
Su Xiaoxiao was quite interested in solving riddles and stopped in front of a stall.
The stall owner was an old man with a goatee, and dozens of lanterns hung on his stall, with riddles hanging under each lantern.
"Young lady, would you like to solve a riddle?" the old man asked with a smile. "A prize for a correct answer, a fine for a wrong answer."
Su Xiaoxiao looked at it and pointed to a carp lantern:
"Is that mystery 'having a head but no tail, having eyes but no eyebrows, having wings but unable to fly'?"
The old man took down the riddle slip and unfolded it; it was indeed the riddle.
He stroked his beard and smiled, "Young lady, you are clever. The answer to the riddle is 'fish.' This carp lantern is yours."
Su Xiaoxiao took the lantern, turned around and handed it to Lin Chen: "Young Master Lin, this is for you."
Lin Chen was taken aback: "Why are you giving it to me?"
"The carp leaping over the dragon gate symbolizes good fortune," Su Xiaoxiao said softly. "May everything go smoothly for Young Master Lin."
Lin Chen took the lantern and said with a smile, "Then thank you, Miss Su."
Xiao Yulou watched from the side, a smile in his eyes.
She could tell that Su Xiaoxiao had feelings for Lin Chen, and Lin Chen didn't dislike her either.
That's good—an ordinary woman might be jealous, but Xiao Yulou is no ordinary woman.
People from the martial arts world are broad-minded, and a family like the Lin's should have married several virtuous wives.
After walking for a while, a commotion suddenly arose ahead.
A group of people were gathered at the head of the bridge, seemingly arguing.
Lin Chen initially didn't want to pay any attention, but then he heard a familiar voice angrily shout, "The Canal Gang is going too far!"
It's Liu Changfeng again.
Lin Chen frowned slightly and said to Xiao Yulou, "Fourth Sister-in-law, let's go take a look."