Otoharu

Chapter 22 Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is a very lively festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival is considered a big event in Zhangshui Town where Li Meier lives. Although it is just morning, many people who set up stalls for business have already come out.

Most of the stalls sell zongzi, mugwort leaves, calamus, mugwort and five-color silk thread.

Li Meier saw that there were still a few stalls selling paper kites, so she quickly took Li Yan's hand and said, "Father, I want a centipede paper kite."

The younger daughter wanted paper kites, so Li Yan naturally wouldn't refuse, he just felt that his daughter's taste was a bit strange, other little girls liked flowers and butterflies, why did they come to like centipedes when they came to her place.

He then suggested to his daughter, "Mei Meier, Daddy thinks this centipede is not very good, why don't we buy a butterfly?"

Li Meier was not happy, she shook her head and said, "No, I want the centipede!"

Jiang Yanzhi, who was driving ahead, was also a little strange, turned to look at Li Meier and asked, "Why does Mei Meier like centipedes?"

"Big enough, domineering, if this paper kite is released into the sky, it will definitely compare to others!" Li Meier said with great yearning.

The two adults were speechless, thinking to themselves that this little girl was really different from others.

"You'd better put it up first, it's not easy to put such a long paper kite." Jiang Shanqing beat it mercilessly.

"You see, I can't let it go." Li Meier stared at him dissatisfied, thinking, even if she couldn't let it go, wouldn't there be his father?

In the end, Li Yan bought a centipede paper kite for Li Meier, and one for Jiang Shanqing by the way. Jiang Shanqing didn't like those fancy ones, so he only took a simple square paper kite in the end.

Li Meier got the paper kite and bought a few packs of snacks. While eating, she watched the scenery along the road, and soon the ox cart arrived in the east of the town.

There is a small pier in the east of the town, which is connected to the branch of the Daxia River. The pier is called Guanyin Temple Wharf, which is the Guanyin Temple where Mrs. Li went to beg to send her son off.

At this time, many decorated dragon boats have been docked on the pier, and the head and tail are decorated with dragons, which means offering sacrifices to the Dragon King and ensuring safety.

"Uncle, where is our boat?" Li Meier was carried out of the bullock cart by Li Yan, and asked with her head looking around.

Jiang Yanzhi tied up the ox cart, and wanted to hug Jiang Shanqing at first, but the kid jumped out of the ox cart first, and gave Li Meier a contemptuous look by the way.

Jiang Yanzhi could only hold Jiang Shanqing by the hand and said as he walked, "It's over there, I'll take you there."

Jiang Yanzhi walked for a while, then stopped at a corner of the pier, pointed to a somewhat old boat with a black awning and said, "This is it."

There was a boatman who was nearly fifty years old on the Wupeng boat. When he saw Jiang Yanzhi, he immediately nodded and said, "Jiang Juren, you are here. The boat is ready and ready to go."

The black-covered boat is really inconspicuous, especially the gorgeous flower boats and dragon boats beside it, which make it look shabby.

"It was a bit late when I rented the boat, and all the better boats were rented out, and I managed to snatch this one." Jiang Yanzhi seemed to be afraid of being disgusted by some people, and explained a little embarrassedly.

"Uncle, it's pretty good. The boat looks solid. Let's get on board quickly."

Li Meier was still very excited, and she wanted to pull Li Yan onto the boat as she spoke. She didn't care what boat she took, as long as she could watch and play.

Several people boarded the boat one after another, and the old boatman slowly rowed the oars, and the boat slowly docked.

After Li Mei'er got on the boat, she wandered around, looking inside and outside the boat, and then stood at the bow to blow the wind.

"Mei Meier, slow down, and be careful where you step!" Li Yan followed behind her with a face full of fear, fearing that her daughter would fall off the boat if she was not careful.

"Father, come and see, there are fish in the water!" Li Mei'er lay on the bow of the boat, looking straight into the water, and tried to reach the surface of the water with her little hands, but unfortunately she was so small and short that she couldn't reach it no matter what.

Seeing her like this, Li Yan almost died of fright, so he hurried over to hug her up, and said with lingering fear: "Mei Meier, don't do such a dangerous move, what if you fall off!"

Li Meier smiled sarcastically, hugged Li Yan's arm and said, "Father, I'm just too excited. Isn't this my first time on a boat? I'll be more careful. Let me go."

No matter what Li Meier said, Li Yan just hugged her and didn't let go, for fear that she would do something dangerous again.

"Mei Meier, sit quietly for a while, the dragon boat race will start at the end of the day, and you will see some of them." Jiang Yanzhi led Jiang Shanqing over and said to Li Meier with a smile.

Only then did Li Meier calm down, staring intently at the dragon boats on the shore, for fear of missing them in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Shanqing on the side was not interested, and did not look at the dragon boats, but just stared at the distant river in a daze.

"Come, come!" Not long after, Li Meier clapped her little hands and shouted excitedly.

Just listening to the sound of gongs and drums of "dong qiang dong qiang" from far to near, on the river bank, two blue and yellow dragon boats, which symbolize auspicious prosperity, are flying towards the mid-air.

They soar and leap, neck and tail entangled, followed by the gong and drum team, lantern team and fish lantern team in gorgeous costumes, only to hear the gongs and drums, the horse lanterns galloping, and the fish lanterns competing for fun.

On the bank of the river, many townspeople and tourists have gathered to watch the fun.

Just after the lively scene on the shore, the wonderful dragon boat on the river has also begun.

Amidst the sound of gongs and drums, one after another of the swimming dragons raced into the river.

Those silkworm farmers who had been waiting on the river port, holding a silkworm plaque with a large Chinese character "Silkworm", scooped up water and poured it on the team members on the dragon boat. crowd.This way of splashing silkworm flower water on each other instantly won laughter and shouts.

Li Meier was also dancing and shouting on the black awning boat, watching the dragon boats chasing each other, her little face flushed with excitement.

On each dragon boat, there are ten strong youths wearing uniforms on both sides.They sang loudly in the waves, paddled hard, and sprinted hard.

Soon, a red dragon boat led the other dragon boats, sprinted to the finish line, and won the first place.

Li Meier clenched her fists, her heart was surging, and she wished she could compete on the dragon boat.

"It seems that this year the Liu family also won the first place in the dragon boat race." Jiang Yanzhi and Li Yan also watched with relish. Jiang Yanzhi looked at the dragon boat that won the first place and said with a smile.

"It's not their family every year. After all, they are the largest silkworm merchants in our town. For this year's sericulture harvest, we still have to win the lottery." Li Yan also echoed with a smile.

(End of this chapter)