Chapter 972: Lifelong Wish

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Yin Huaixi said, “The tradition of throwing rice dumplings stems from the Tai Dai preventing floods through water control in ancient times. Tai Dai brought people to manage the water in the Fenshui area of Shanxi. It’s a poor place, and it’s not easy to transport food. In order to resolve the food problem, people came up with the method of ‘delivering food through water’. They wrapped the food in reed leaves and placed it in a wooden bucket. The wood traveled on the water, sending the food down the river to the people who were managing the water. Along the way, there was also some food that was eaten by the fish in the water. Later, this method spread among the commoners, and everyone fought to imitate it. Until now, there were still commoners in Shanxi who use rice dumplings to offer sacrifices. There’s also a Tai Dai Mountain in the

Taiyuan area of Shanxi.”

Tai Dai’s flood control was earlier than that of Yu the Great.

However, Yu the Great controlled floods at the Yellow River, so his reputation exceeded that of Tai Da.

Yu Youyao’s heart skipped a beat. “Other than cherishing memories and paying respects to one’s deceased relatives, and praying for peace and tracing the roots, the custom of throwing away dumplings is also to think about the source of water, to show gratitude, to worship, and to show reverence for nature.” Unknowingly, the sky gradually darkened.

Those who didn’t throw rice dumplings would spend a copper coin to buy a festive lantern, light it, sprinkle a few grains of rice, and place the lantern in the river. The festive lantern would follow the river water.

Someone closed their eyes and made a wish towards the festive lanterns.

Some people watched the festive lanterns leave with tears in their eyes.

There were also people babbling words that only they could hear into the festive lanterns.

There were more and more festive lanterns on the river.

By the time it was dark, the river was covered with festive lanterns. The specks of lights were like a ribbon of light that followed the river and flowed downstream. They were beautiful.

Yu Youyao exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful!”

There was no rule during the Dragon Boat Festival that river lamps could not be lit. Many refugees had surged into the North. The refugees had experienced the pain of their families being destroyed. They did not have any food to throw out to mourn their deceased relatives, so they could only use a river lamp to entrust their heavy nostalgia for their deceased relatives.

Yu Youyao’s interest was piqued. “Let’s go and light the river lamps too!”

“Okay!” Yin Huaixi tilted his head to look at her.

The gray sky swallowed the last ray of light in the sky, and night quietly fell. At some point, yellow lanterns had been hung on the camp around the riverbank. Under the waning candlelight, the little girl’s delicate face seemed to be covered in a hazy halo, making her seem warm and beautiful.

Yin Huaixi reached out and held her hand.

Yu Youyao stopped in her tracks and looked down. Her wide sleeves blocked their joined hands. She moved her fingers.

Yin Huaixi thought that he was holding her too tightly, so he couldn’t help but loosen his grip. Then, right on the heels of that, tender fingers intertwined with his.

“Fiancé.” Yu Youyao smiled until her eyes curved. The yellow candlelight in her eyes was bright and warm. “There are too many people on the riverbank. Hurry up so we won’t get separated!”

Yin Huaixi smiled warmly. “Okay!”

The two of them held hands and arrived at a stall. In addition to selling all kinds of festive lanterns, there were also some materials for making festive lanterns. Yin Huaixi asked for two lanterns.

“Do you know how to make festive lanterns?” With that, Yu Youyao remembered that back then, Yin Huaixi had gone to Shandong to quell the rebellion. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, he had sent Yin San a lamp that he had personally made for her. She liked it very much, so she placed the lamp on the lamp rack at the head of the bed and bathed in the hazy light every night to sleep.

Later on, she went all the way from Jingzhao to Quanzhou and to Xiangping City. This lamp had also accompanied her all the way.

Yin Huaixi knew how to make such a difficult lamp.

Naturally, a small festive lantern was not a problem for him.

“I’ve learned it from Chang Ningbo.” At the mention of Chang Ningbo, Yin Huaixi couldn’t help but recall that back then, when he went to Shandong to quell the rebellion, he was tricked by Chang Ningbo and learned this lantern-making skill that allowed him to get a wife. He gave it to a girl he “liked.”

At that time, he was ignorant. As he regretted not being able to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with her, he wanted to personally make a lamp to please the little girl. However, he never expected to be taught a lesson by Chang Ningbo.

He had to get the girl he liked!

At the thought of this, Yin Huaixi tilted his head. The little girl looked at him with sparkling eyes and an expectant expression. “Chang Ningbo relied on his lantern-making skills to get a girl he liked to be his wife. According to Chang Ningbo, his family’s ancestral lantern-making skills can get a wife, so I learned it.”

“Pfft.” Yu Youyao blushed. “Who cares about a lousy festive lamp from you?”

Yin Huaixi laughed and quickly set up a festive lantern.

Yu Youyao, who kept saying that she didn’t care, expressed a strong interest in the festive lantern. She looked at it without blinking and couldn’t help but ask questions.

Yin Huaixi took another set of materials and taught her step by step.

The materials had all been processed, so it was very simple to tie them up. Yu Youyao did not spend much effort to make a lantern. Although it was a little ugly, it was still a successful lantern.

In the end, this ugly lantern was naturally exchanged for a beautiful lantern that Yin Huaixi had made.

Yu Youyao held the festive lantern and couldn’t bear to part with it. “Other than festive lanterns, what else do you know how to make?”

Yin Huaixi thought for a moment. “I’ll make a kite for you another day.”

Kites were also a girl’s favorite thing to play with. It could be used in a wider area in the residence, and Yu Youyao liked it very much. Yu Youyao was overjoyed. “I want an eagle-like one.”

Yin Huaixi agreed.

Yu Youyao happily held the festive lantern and found a place with fewer people upstream. She squatted by the river and carefully placed the festive lantern into the river.

The festive lantern drifted slowly down the river. Yu Youyao quickly closed her eyes and began to pray.

First, she reminisced about her deceased mother and grandmother.

Then, she began to make a wish.

She never had much ambition. Everything she did were things that she could do well at the current point of time. Her wish was the same. She was just praying for her family and Yin Huaixi to be safe and successful.

Yin Huaixi also placed the festive lantern into the river and tilted his head to look at the little girl beside him, who had her hands clasped together and her eyes closed as she made a wish.

The dancing candle light shone on her, as if it had covered her with a holy and hazy veil. She was as bright and mysterious as a moonlight goddess.

At this moment, Yu Youyao’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as she opened her eyes. Her bright eyes seemed to be injected with a bright light, illuminating Yin Huaixi’s entire world.

“Yin Huaixi, tell me quickly. What did you wish for just now?” Her voice was pleasant, like an oriole.

Yin Huaixi shook his head. “I didn’t make a wish.”

“You didn’t make a wish?” Yu Youyao’s eyes widened as she repeated in disbelief, “If you didn’t make a wish, why did you put the lantern?! Don’t tell me you’re deliberately lying to me because you don’t want to tell me!” She looked at Yin Huaixi suspiciously.

“I don’t need to make a wish.” Yin Huaixi looked at her steadily, his eyes reflecting the lanterns not far away. It was as if a candle flame was burning with a burning warmth. “I’ve already obtained my lifelong wish..”

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