Peach Blossom Dyeing Jinge

Winter is like a layer of tulle, which unknowingly peels off from the sky and covers the earth silently.

Under the tulle, the earth gradually froze, the treetops and mountain streams were covered with mottled white, and ice balls floated in the clear river water. The cold air gathered from all directions and turned into dense mist, floating on the river.

And the warm lamps in the mist, like the stars in the dark night, are extremely irresistible.

The three of them quickened their pace and walked forward for a while, and finally saw the source of the river lantern, which was the water bank at the junction of Jingjiang and Dongting Lake.

The water bank is still some distance away from Yueyang City, however, the bustling crowds flock to the bank, making the desolate river bank full of vitality, as lively as a market.

The team is like a wandering dragon, accompanied by the lights, the sound of gongs and drums, and the sound of hawking. There are vendors pushing carts along the street, and the freshly cooked food is steaming.

Lu Dongqing turned her head and saw the fatigue on the faces of the two traveling companions.These days they eat and sleep in the open, and they dare not even enter inns and taverns, and they have really suffered a lot.

He couldn't help being soft-hearted, glanced at the noisy crowd again, and suggested: "Let's go and rest."

Wu Tong also agreed: "There are a lot of people there, and it is a temporary gathering. There should be no officers and soldiers to interrogate."

Lu Zhengqiu also felt a little tired, nodded and said: "Okay, let's do it like this."

The three turned around and walked towards the crowd.

The twilight gradually deepened, and Lu Zhengqiu had just walked a few steps when he suddenly felt a coolness sprouting from his back, as if a gaze pierced through the darkness, looking at him deeply.

He turned his head abruptly and scanned around with the most vigilant gaze, but he didn't see a single figure.

"Master?" Dongqing also stopped and called his name.

"It's okay, let's go." He turned his head and waved at the young man.

Stepping into the festival crowd is like stepping into a river of light.

The lights are lit from all directions, reflecting the smiling faces of men, women and children. These candle lamps shrouded in oiled paper do not have much temperature, but they feel incredibly warm.

The aroma of wine is floating in the air, blowing away with the wind, sometimes rich, sometimes light, like a naughty child, hiding and hiding, seducing people to follow him, looking for the source of the fragrance, and obediently giving away the bag for wine.

Lu Dongqing was walking among the crowd, feeling puzzled. In the past, in Sanping Village, although there were sacrifices every New Year, the atmosphere was much duller. There is a sense of mourning, and on the day of praying to the gods every year, the people dare not make mistakes.

But the people here are in high spirits. Surrounded by Yunmeng Lake, the river bank is like an isolated island.

Could it be that the vast lake of Yunmengze blocked the turmoil in the Central Plains?

Lu Dongqing didn't know the answer, he was just a foreigner, and he only had a fate with this isolated island for one night, and he would leave soon.

His eyes searched among the crowd, looking for a good place to rest.

Not far away is a wonton shop, a large pot is placed on a cart together with a stove, and there are some simple tables, chairs and benches around it.The boss yelled and made soup for the customers in line.There is steam in the pot, and the wontons with thin skin and big stuffing are boiled in the chicken soup, and the sound of gurgling soup is particularly fascinating.

Wutong also smelled the fragrance, raised his finger and said, "Let's go and sit there."

Lu Dongqing nodded in response, and instinctively turned to the people around her, only to see that Lu Zhengqiu frowned slightly, his lips were drawn into a line, although the lips were outlined with red fat, they were still somewhat pale.

He was startled, and said with concern: "Master..." In the middle of uttering the words, he hastily changed his words, "Mother... madam, you don't seem to be looking very well."

Lu Zhengqiu turned his head, smiled at him and said, "You worry too much, I'm just a little tired, let's sit down."

"Okay..." Lu Dongqing was suspicious, found an empty table in the wonton shop, helped the master to sit down, poured two cups of rough tea for the two companions, then touched some silver taels in the palm of his hand, and said, "I'll go Buy wontons, you wait here for a while."

Lu Zhengqiu raised his head slightly, stared at him and told him, "Be careful."

He looked around and saw that the people around him were either burying their heads in the soup or talking to each other. They were all at ease, and no one paid special attention to their whereabouts.

This peace brought him some relief, he nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

There were quite a few people buying wontons. He was at the end of the line, patiently waiting, his feet unconsciously taking turns tapping on the ground.

In the distance, there is a simple art stage built of bamboo felt. On the stage, someone is playing the piano and singing. The sound of the piano is faintly accompanied by the singing.Lu Dongqing listened carefully, and those soft words seemed to chant parting.

"Chunlan and autumn chrysanthemums, the field is green. The boats and cars are far away, and the road is boundless..."

During the shallow singing, there was a bit of sadness, which made his mood calm down.

A mother-in-law walked by, holding a basket on her arm, and yelling: "Selling sweets, sesame candies, malt candies, sweet and delicious peach blossom candies—"

Hearing the last three words, Lu Dongqing's heart was lifted, and she immediately stopped the mother-in-law and said, "Do you have peach blossom candies for sale?"

The old woman stopped in front of him and said with a smile: "Young man, you know the goods. The peach blossom candies are purchased from Anyi City. They are very rare and expensive. Only the last few packets are left." She opened the basket and groped for a while.

Lu Dongqing hadn't seen this kind of candy for a long time, but he always remembered that it was Master's favorite candy.

He instinctively raised his head and glanced at the seat.

With sharp eyes, the old lady immediately hooked his arm, pushed aside a sugar petal and stuffed it in his hand: "Young man, bring your lady to the Lantern Festival, so why hesitate. Look at this exquisite appearance, which woman would not like it." Seeing that there was still suspicion on his face, he lowered his voice and said: "Give your wife a bite, I guarantee that tonight, honey will come out of her little mouth."

Lu Dongqing's thoughts were wandering where they shouldn't be. After hearing this, she immediately blushed and said, "Then I'll buy a pack."

"Okay, okay, I'll pick the best bag for you." The old woman lowered her head again, groping in the basket.

Lu Dongqing's eyes drifted to the direction of the seat again, from here he could only see Master's back.In the night, the surrounding lights were blurred, and the back became somewhat blurred. The red dress seemed to melt into the flickering candlelight.

Lu Zhengqiu was wearing an unnatural disguise and wearing an unnatural hair accessory. The strange thing was that the shadow reflected in his eyes was still extremely natural, undisturbed by foreign objects.It was as if someone had drawn a circle in his eyes and fixed it firmly on that person.

His memories of his childhood are sparse, and he even forgot the reason why his master liked peach blossom candy, but at this moment, his thoughts drifted back to nine years ago, in that alley, a crushed candy was lying in his palm , shining in the setting sun with a clear luster.

Xu Shi's lights and singing had a strange catalytic force, his chest was swelled to the brim, emotions surged into his heart, he couldn't tell whether it was joy or sourness, like the soup in a wonton bowl, it would overflow after a little shaking.

He couldn't wait to get back to the man.

At this moment, the circle in his vision was covered by a shadow.

There was more than one shadow, followed by a second one, sneaking among the crowd, and quietly surrounded his companions.

From the place blocked by the shadow, there was the sound of teacups breaking.

His heart sank suddenly.

"Guest officer, your things!" The old woman raised her head again, carrying a bag of shiny candies.

But Lu Dongqing had already left the place and disappeared without a trace.