After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 778 Lantern Festival
On the Lantern Festival, the weather was very good. There were no clouds in the sky and the sun was shining brightly during the day. There was only a slight breeze at night and the full moon was shining brightly.

The city was decorated with lanterns everywhere, and the streets around the Lantern Festival were all brightly lit, with many tourists. People from every household came out to stroll and admire the lanterns, and shops of all sizes opened their doors to do business, with the sounds of hawking one after another.

Haitang walked on the street with Xiao Shitou and Jin Jiashu, followed by Xiangcao, Shili, Pu Tao, and Zhou Xiaojian and his wife. In front of them were Lu Ga Wa and Dun Zi, leading the way, and Lin Shiwei followed behind for protection. The huge group of people walked out of the alley, and they were numerous and powerful, but once they turned into the main street, they were quickly submerged in the crowd, and it was impossible to tell that they were a group.

Guard Lin had to try to squeeze a few more steps forward to avoid losing Jin Jiashu if he didn't keep a close eye on him.

Although Xiangcao had lived in Chang'an last year, she had never seen the Lantern Festival in Chang'an because her family was poor. At that time, she only dared to watch from afar. Now that she had walked into the lantern festival, she couldn't help looking around, and she felt that she couldn't see it all. However, even if she was amazed by the lights in front of her, she didn't forget her duties. She always followed her young lady Haitang closely, never leaving her more than three steps. If pedestrians squeezed over, she would try her best to block Haitang to prevent the latter from being squeezed.

Grape on the other side was also trying very hard to protect Haitang and Xiao Shitou, and at the same time she did not forget to greet her sister Shiliu who fell behind, and she also had to pay attention to her husband Zhou Xiaojian. In a moment, Zhou Xiaojian disappeared. She was surprised, and suddenly a figure flashed back. When she looked closely, it was Zhou Xiaojian, who reached out and stuffed an exquisite twisted silver bracelet into her hand: "I just saw it, it suits you very well, put it on quickly." Grape looked down and it seemed to be the bracelet style she had mentioned earlier that she wanted to buy. She pursed her lips and smiled shyly, quickly put the bracelet on her wrist, and smiled and glared at her husband: "Why are you running around? Be careful of the crowd, we won't be able to find you in a while!"

Shi Liu walked behind her, watching her sister and brother-in-law flirting under the eyes of so many people. She felt like she had eaten too much for dinner and her stomach was a little bloated.

Little Stone pointed to the revolving lantern not far away and said to his sister Haitang: "Sister, that lantern is beautiful, let's go and take a look." He then pointed to the other side and said, "It seems that they are guessing lantern riddles over there, let's go quickly, otherwise others will guess all the riddles and we won't be able to get the lantern we want!"

Haitang held him back: "Don't run, there are so many people here, be careful not to fall!"

Little Stone looked back at her helplessly: "Sis, since we have brought many people with us, why don't Dunzi and I go first? You guys can follow us slowly from behind?"

Haitang laughed and scolded, "Are you so impatient? We're only ten feet away, but you can't wait for us and have to go ahead by yourself?"

Little Stone grinned and raised his hands to beg. He had his eyes on a red rabbit lantern, which looked very majestic. There were already several people standing under the lantern, guessing the riddles. He was one step behind. If he didn't go over, the lantern might really belong to someone else. How could he not be anxious?! There were many lanterns in the shape of horses on the street, but none of them suited his taste as well as this one, which looked just like his pony. He didn't want to miss it no matter what.

Little Stone begged, and Haitang had to relent: "Take the stool and pomegranate with you, and watch your step, don't fall."

Little Shitou was overjoyed. He turned around and called Shiliu, then pulled Dunzi through the crowd and ran away first.

Jin Jiashu quickly filled the empty space left by the small stone, and smiled as he picked up a palace lantern to show her: "Sister Hai, look, the painting on this lantern is very delicate, and the mechanism is also very ingenious."

Haitang turned around and nodded to admit that the lantern was indeed well made. Although it was not as exquisite as the ones in the palace, it was definitely the best in tonight's lantern festival.

She then asked Jin Jiashu: "Which stall did you buy this lamp from? I want to buy one too."

Jin Jiashu said, "If you like it, Sister Hai, just take this one. I'll buy another one later." Haitang was about to refuse, but Jin Jiashu pointed at her clothes and said, "The color of this lamp suits you, and the flowers painted on it match the embroidery on your skirt. It should be Sister Hai's. When I saw this lamp just now, I thought it suits you. If I carry it, it will look too gorgeous."

Haitang looked at her own dress, then at Jin Jiashu's white silk robe, and admitted that this lamp suited her better.

She took the palace lantern and pointed to the left with a smile: "What do you think of that lantern? Does it suit you?"

Jin Jiashu looked up and found that it was a lantern hanging on the treetop. It was also in the shape of a palace lantern, but there were no complicated flowers, plants, landscapes or auspicious patterns painted on it. Instead, there were only two simple paintings of orchids in ink and wash. They were very simple and elegant, which matched the robe he was wearing.

He smiled slightly, pushed through the crowd and walked forward, looked up at the riddle hanging under the lantern, quickly answered the answer, and successfully got the lantern.

He and Haitang walked side by side, holding two similar-style palace lanterns on the left and right, and smiled at each other.

Jin Jiashu said softly to Haitang, "Sister Hai, do you think we are..." Before he finished speaking, he heard someone shouting from above, "Jiashu! Over here! Come over here quickly! We are here!"

This is Wu Ke's voice.

Jin Jiashu paused, and looked helplessly in the direction of the voice, and found Wu Ke standing by the window of a private room upstairs in the restaurant not far ahead, waving at him. Beside him stood the two grandsons of the Zhou family and Geng Tianyou, and there seemed to be many other people, making it very lively.

Haitang chuckled secretly, tilted her head and said to Jin Jiashu, "Let's go quickly. We're bound to be late today, and we don't want to keep everyone waiting." After saying that, she went ahead with the lantern in her hand.

Jin Jiashu sighed and quickly followed. However, he wanted to say a few more words to Haitang, but he couldn't resist Xiao Shitou who soon came back with his beloved Red Hare Lantern, chattering and showing off to his sister. During this time, Zhou Xiaojian bought various snacks for his newlywed wife and sister-in-law, and Dunzi also gave his sister a small lantern as a filial gift. Everyone was happy and chattering, making it impossible for Jin Jiashu to say anything to Haitang alone. As soon as everyone entered the restaurant and went up to the private room on the second floor, the sisters Wu Qiong and Zhou Xuejun ran out and smiled and pulled Haitang to the private room next door.

Jin Jiashu carried a lamp and entered the private room booked by Wu Ke. The room was full of people. There were sons of generals gathered together to chat, and there were also scholars and officials gathered around Wu Ke to discuss poetry and essays, and invited him to join them.

Jin Jiashu walked to the table and sat down silently, feeling very depressed.

He originally thought that he could enjoy the lanterns with Sister Hai tonight, but now, with so many people crowded together, it was too noisy!

What a mistake! What a mistake today!
(End of this chapter)