Chapter 39 Dragon Boat Festival

  On Dragon Boat Festival day, the weather was very good, sunny and warm.

  Chen Jiong got up early, fetched two pails of water, and then went to the morning market to buy things.

  Dragon Boat Festival, in addition to worshiping Qu Yuan, is also because of "heavy noon". Heavy noon is a taboo day, an evil day when the five poisons are released. Therefore, every household prepares things to expel poison and ward off evil spirits.

  Wu Du Tu, Ai Cao etc.

  Chen Jiong went to the early market and bought half a basket of irises, wormwood, and used them to decorate the door; also bought several five-poison charts and Tian Shi charts, posted on the door and in the house; bought several pomegranate flowers. Pomegranate flowers are also called noon flowers, sprinkled on the top of the account, to ward off evil spirits, his sister-in-law specially reminded him to buy more.

  Things were bought quickly, and Chen Xuan also hurried back home quickly.

  Nephews and nieces helped to insert the iris and wormwood; elder sister-in-law and Qingyun scattered pomegranate flowers on everyone's forehead; Chen Jiong helped to adjust the paste, sticking the Wu Du picture inside the house and the Tian Shi picture at the door.

  "Yangji, come here." His sister-in-law called out to him after she finished being busy.

  Chen Jiong then went to the East Wing Chamber.

  On the tea table in the eastern room, there were many colorful tassels. These tassels were made of five-color threads and were called "long-life threads". They came in shapes such as bats, butterflies, flowers, etc., and were hung on the body to ward off evil spirits and ensure a long life of one hundred years.

  This is a war-torn era, people suffered from the flames of war, and entrusted their wishes. Passed down to this day, it has become a custom, every year must be brought up.

  The elder sister took a bat-shaped longevity lock and personally helped Chen Jing hang it on his waist, smiling: "This was rushed out by me and Qingyun last night, it's a bit rough, you can play with it..."

  Needlework is the basic skill of women in this era. They start learning embroidery, sewing, knotting, flower arrangement and hairpin making from the age of seven or eight, and are skilled at these tasks. Dajie and Qingyun are both very diligent in needlework. The things they make are exquisite and beautiful, and "coarse" is just a modest word.

  Chen Jing looked at the lifelike bat-shaped lanterns and smiled: "Thank you, elder sister-in-law."

  Bats are homophonic with "good fortune", often used in decorations.

  "Mother, I want one like Second Uncle's." Chen Wen Gong held several long strips in his hand and looked at them back and forth, unable to make up his mind which one to choose. Later, he saw Chen Jing wearing a bat-shaped one, so he also chose a bat-shaped one and handed it over to Eldest Sister to help him tie it around his waist seal.

  Boys always like to learn from older men.

  The elder sister-in-law smiled: "Good." Then she half-knelt down and helped her nephew put it on.

  "Mother, I also want..." said Chen Wenrong in a soft voice.

  Qing Yun smiled and also picked a bat-shaped one to hang on her niece: "I'll hang it for you, may you live a long life of 100 years."

  Her niece lifted her face and smiled, with her small eyes narrowing into a slit.

  Qing Yun gently stroked Wen Rong's small face, her eyes full of doting affection. Although Qing Yun always referred to herself as "maidservant", no one in this household treated her like a servant.

  She will be the stepmother of Wen Gong and Wen Rong. This was told to the children by their elder sister, who also respected Qing Yun.

  After decorating the house, the carriage hired by my sister-in-law had arrived at the gate.

  They are going to their sister-in-law's hometown in Yaojiang County for the Dragon Boat Festival. This is also a custom, where married women need to return to their maiden home for the Dragon Boat Festival, called "Du Wu", which is also a custom to ward off evil spirits.

  There were three horse-drawn carriages in total.

  Chen Jing moved all the gifts prepared by his sister-in-law onto the car.

  My nephew also helped move.

  After moving, the elder sister and Qingyun carefully closed all the doors and windows in the house, locked all the lockers, and asked the neighbors to help take care of them before leaving.

  The hired carriages were all low-hung black lacquer carts, which were quite crowded.

  The elder sister-in-law took Qingyun and the younger niece in one carriage, Chen Jing and his nephew in another, and the gifts and tributes occupied a separate one.

  The horse carriage slowly drove out of Qi Wan Lane, a bit bumpy.

  Chen Jiong was prone to drowsiness whenever he encountered a bumpy ride. He closed his eyes and dozed off, but his nephew beside him kept chattering nonstop.

  "...the five-poison pancake at my aunt's house is the most delicious; there are many fun things in Third Uncle's room, and a small wooden chicken that pecks at grain with a clucking sound; following Eighth Uncle to ride horses..." The nephew muttered in Chen Jing's ear.

  He was very excited when he went to his maternal grandparents' home.

  The Li family is also very harmonious, and the uncles are all fond of their nephew. As a result, every time he goes there, everyone spoils him, giving him delicious food and letting him have fun, making him the center of attention. So, he really enjoys going there.

  Chen Jiong listened and couldn't help but laugh, opening his eyes.

  "How many days off from school did you get?" Chen Jiong asked him.

  It sounds like nephew is going to stay in Yaojiang for a long time.

  During traditional festivals, the clan school would close for no more than two or three days.

  "For two days," said the nephew. "But my mother asked for a half-month leave for me and my sister. The teacher asked us to fill in words, I don't know how, others also don't know. Fortunately, I'm on leave, otherwise, I would be beaten again."

  Chen Jiong hasn't been back to clan school since he crossed over.

  However, he often heard his nephew complain about the strict teachers at school who would beat them for no reason, so the children didn't dare to be lazy.

  "....half a month's holiday?" Chen Jiong asked, "Are we going to stay in Yaojiang for half a month?"

  "Yes!" His nephew got excited, waving his hands and feet in the cramped space of the carriage. "We can go watch polo, hunting, and dragon boat racing; we can also play in the fields. I can even follow the servants to herd cattle, my mother won't mind."

  In the Chen family school, they only had three days off each month, one day at a time; and Big Sister was very strict, after class they had to practice writing and read books, not allowed to go out and play. And Nephew was eight or nine years old, just at the age when boys are most fond of playing and moving around, so being cooped up all day was very hard for him.

  But when going out to visit relatives, as long as you don't cause trouble, my sister-in-law won't interfere. My nephew is like a horse that has just been released from its stall, bursting with excitement.

  Chen Jiong lost his smile.

  He thought of himself when he was a child, starting to receive education from the age of seven, always by his grandfather's side, without peers, and his mood at that time was also very restless, similar to his nephew.

  He just didn't expect to stay in Yaojiang for so long.

  Before that, his elder sister-in-law would often return to Yaojiang, and it was already good if she stayed for two days each time.

  This time, you're staying for half a month, is there something going on?

  Chen Jing's mind was a jumble of thoughts as his nephew excitedly chattered in his ear, the horse carriage moving slowly along the official road.

  In the meantime, Chen Xuan took another nap.

  My nephew has been sticking to the car window looking at the scenery.

  Two and a half hours later, they finally arrived at the gate of Yaojiang County.

  "We've arrived, Second Uncle, we've arrived!" The nephew pushed Chen Yun.

  Chen Jiong woke up.

  After spending five hours on this bumpy carriage ride to visit relatives, Chen Jing felt very tired. But in this era, a five-hour journey was considered short-distance. Mingzhou had jurisdiction over seven or eight county towns, and Wangxian and Yaojiang were the closest.

  "Finally arrived......" Chen Jiong smiled and asked his nephew, "Is your body sore?"

  "No." His nephew looked at Chen Jiong in confusion.

  Chen Jiong shook his head and smiled slightly.

  The horse carriage turned for a while in the county town and finally arrived at the gate of Li's mansion.

  The gatehouse of Li's mansion is similar to that of Jingzhong Alley, both are made of Hanbaiyu marble, with a grand and majestic appearance.

  The carriage stopped at the gate, Qing Yun got out first and went to report: "Second Aunt has returned to the mansion."

  The elder sister-in-law is second in command at home among her sisters.

  The gatekeeper hastily opened the large gate and let the carriage drive in, stopping only at the entrance of the hanging flower gate.

  Once you enter the gate with hanging flowers, you will be in the inner courtyard.

  It is said that adult men should not enter a family's inner courtyard.

  Ke Chenjing was not yet of weak crown age and was a child from a relative's family, so it was possible to enter the inner courtyard, just don't run around wildly and bump into the girls in the house. Moreover, Eldest Sister-in-law's mother was still alive, and Chen Jing also had to go in to pay his respects.

  The flowers are falling at the door, the ring is swaying, the beautiful shadows are gathering, and many women have already squeezed in, all waiting for news, waiting to welcome Big Sister.

  "Second daughter..."

  "Second sister."

  "Second Aunt."

  All sorts of sounds mixed together, laughter and cheerful voices.

  The elder sister-in-law greeted them one by one.

  Li and his sister-in-law and nieces get along well.

  Then she had Chen Wen-gong and his sister Chen Wen-ru come forward to pay their respects to their aunts and cousins.

  Chen Wengong and Chen Wenrong were young in years, but outside they never showed any shyness, being polite and courteous to everyone.

  The Li family and others all praised the child for being sensible.

  Chen Jiong stood at the back.

  "Yong and you come pay your respects too." Big sister called out to Chen Xuan.

  Chen Jing lost his parents when he was young. Every year, his elder brother and sister-in-law would return to Yaojiang and bring him along. Last New Year's, Chen Jing also came, so the relatives of the Li family had met him before.

  It's been half a year and I've almost forgotten...

  Chen Jiong smiled and stepped forward, making a slight bow as a form of greeting.

  Everyone laughed and crowded into the inner courtyard with the Chen family.

  Chen Jiong paid his respects to Old Lady Li.

  The mother of Dajie is actually not old. A fifty-six or seven-year-old person, due to being pampered and living a life of luxury, has a fair and elegant complexion, looking several years younger, kind and close.

  After a while, Mrs. Li said: "Let Jing'er and Gong'er go out to play, don't restrain them."

  Then let the maid go and call the eighth brother of the big sister, and have him bring Chen Jing and Chen Wengong.

  Li Ba is the youngest brother of Da Sao, 19 years old this year. He is a straightforward and optimistic person who loves to entertain guests. Chen Jing had met him before and had a good impression of him; while Chen Wen Gong liked Li Ba even more.

  The maid went out at her call.

  Soon, a man of medium build wearing a crimson robe with a pattern of peonies and chrysanthemums walked in quickly.

  He is Li Ba, named Yong Rong.

  "Second sister, have you arrived?" Li Yongrong came in and smiled at Li Shi, "I was about to go to the city gate to pick you up, but it seems you've already entered."

  Then he met Chen Jue again.

  "The banquet is about to start, I'll take Xiang and Wen Gong out first, let's come back and chat later tonight." After saying a few words, Li Yong Rong was eager to leave.

  Today is Dragon Boat Festival.

  The Dragon Boat Festival has many activities, with horse racing being the most popular.

  Polo is now the most widespread sport, and like Cuju, it has become professionalized, with specialized "polo attendants" equivalent to modern-day professional athletes.

  Yaoyang literary world is not as prosperous, but entertainment and sports are more popular. Polo is the most thriving, far surpassing Cuju.

  Playing polo, watching ball games, and betting on ball games are becoming increasingly popular.

  The Dragon Boat Festival has customs of dragon boat racing and playing cuju.

  The Yaojiang River has many large polo fields, and the Dragon Boat Festival is a grand event for polo.

  The Li family also raised a polo team, which was not very popular and was just for the children's entertainment. Li Yongrong also played polo, and everything was ready outside the courtyard, waiting for Li Yongrong to go out and compete.

  If it weren't for the people from Er Jie's house, Li Yong Rong wouldn't have come in. Now, he couldn't wait to leave, and both Li Shi and Old Lady Li knew what was going on, smiling as they said: "You all go ahead. Don't be naughty and get into trouble, come back early."

  Li Yongrong nodded and gave a signal with his eyes to Chen Jing and Chen Wengong, leading the two uncles and nephews out of the inner courtyard.

  ***

  Transition chapter, a bit watery~~Please forgive me~~