My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 16 Lantern Festival (1)

I slept soundly until dawn. When I opened the window, everything outside was white. Ah, it's snowing!

He exhaled two breaths, releasing a cloud of white mist, then shrank back, wrapped himself in the blanket, and lay back down on the bed.

The Lin family had no relatives in Qingyang County, so Lin Ziping didn't have the hassle of visiting relatives and friends. He simply stayed home and became a complete shut-in.

The Lantern Festival has arrived in the blink of an eye, and the weather is perfect; it's sunny today.

Early in the morning, Lin Zhong sent Shunzi to tell Lin Ziping that he would take her shopping that evening.

Lin Ziping's eyes lit up. He'd been to this era for about six months, and apart from the route he took to and from school, he hadn't been anywhere else. The essential activities for the Lantern Festival—lantern displays, riddle-solving, and releasing sky lanterns—came to mind. Plus, the adults at home had given him lucky money for the Lunar New Year, so he finally had somewhere to spend it.

Lin Ziping was looking forward to shopping that evening and made preparations well in advance.

Seeing this, Granny Liao smiled and said, "I've never seen the young master in such a hurry before. The master said he wouldn't leave until late afternoon."

Lin Ziping smiled sheepishly.

While searching for the thread she wanted in her sewing basket, Granny Liao said to Lin Ziping, "The young master will be almost six years old after the New Year. He's a big boy now. Granny has aged so quickly."

The original owner of this body is already 6 years old? If time is synchronized, I'll be almost 30 after the New Year, roughly the same age as Granny Liao?!

No, I'm just a baby who's a little over 300 months old.

Lin Ziping hugged Liao Mama's arm and said, "Mama, you still want to watch me grow up. How can you be old?"

Granny Liao smiled and said, "Not old at all, not old at all. We'll see the young master grow up."

Laughter filled the room, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere.

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), Granny Liao led Lin Ziping to the entrance of the Lin residence, where Steward Tao, Masters Li and Zhang, Zhu Zi, and Shun Zi were already waiting.

"Greetings, young master." The group greeted Lin Ziping as he came out.

After returning the greetings to the group, Lin Ziping asked Steward Tao, "Where is my uncle?"

Butler Tao remained silent and looked toward the carriage.

"Ziping, weren't you clamoring to go shopping this morning? Why are you late?" Lin Zhong's voice came from inside the carriage.

Lin Ziping looked towards the carriage, where Lin Zhong lifted the curtain and looked at him with a smile.

"Uncle." Lin Ziping strode towards the carriage, stepped onto the stool, and entered the carriage.

Once everyone had arrived, Lin Zhong said to Steward Tao, "Let's go."

After saying that, he lowered the curtain.

The carriage began to move forward with a clatter...

After about ten minutes, the carriage gradually slowed down. They were almost at their destination. Lin Ziping lifted the curtain and looked out onto the street.

It was still dark, but the streets were already bustling with people. Lanterns hung in front of the shops, and stalls lined both sides of the street not far away, displaying a dazzling array of lanterns. There were also vendors making sugar paintings and clay figurines everywhere. Children crowded around the mobile food stalls, young women wearing veils gathered in twos and threes, and young men chatted in groups... What a lively scene!

Lin Zhong looked out through the curtain that Lin Ziping had lifted, pointed to a shop next to him, and said to Lin Ziping, "Ziping, that's the shop at home. Stay close to your uncle and Granny Liao. If you get separated, find the patrolling yamen runners and have them bring you here."

Lin Ziping looked towards the shop. The entrance was about 5 meters away, and he couldn't see the inside clearly, but women were going in and out from time to time. Looking up, he saw the sign above the door that read "Lin's Spice Shop".

Lin Ziping nodded upon seeing this: "Okay, Uncle, I understand."

The Lin family sent two carriages this time. One carriage carried Lin Zhong and Lin Ziping, while Granny Liao, along with Zhu Zi, Shun Zi, and Xiao Ya, rode in the other carriage. The two drivers, Li and Zhang, were in charge of driving.

Looking at the orderly parking area in front of them and listening to the conversation between Lin Zhong and Steward Tao, they knew that this was arranged by Magistrate Ji, who had arranged for the Lantern Festival to be held on two adjacent streets, and that horse-drawn carriages were not allowed to enter.

Lin Ziping exclaimed, "Isn't this a commercial street? Magistrate Ji must know about urban planning."

The group moved slowly along the street with the flow of people. Granny Liao held Lin Ziping's hand tightly and said worriedly, "Young Master, you must stay close to me. If you are taken away by the beggars, you will never see Granny again."

Xiao Ya nodded quickly, tugging at Liao Mama's sleeve, and said, "Yes, yes, Xiao Ya's neighbor's sister was taken away by the beggars and never came back."

"Young Master, don't be afraid, I will protect you," Zhu Zi said, patting his chest.

Granny Liao patted Zhu Zi on the shoulder: "What do you mean by 'me'? Where have you learned your manners?"

Zhu Zi replied, "Yes."

If Lin Ziping hadn't seen Zhu Zi's darting eyes, he probably wouldn't have questioned Zhu Zi's determination to answer Granny Liao.

The timid and fearful little girl and Zhu Zi I used to see seem to have gradually faded away, and now they are showing lively personalities.

Granny Liao then said to Shunzi, "You must stay close to Steward Tao. If you get separated, go to Lin's Spice Shop."

Shunzi nodded and moved a little closer to Butler Tao.

Granny Liao squeezed Lin Ziping's hand again: "Does the young master know?"

Lin Ziping nodded without speaking, and took Liao Mama's hand in response.

Looking at the bustling crowd, a sense of worry arose in my heart, hoping that nothing unexpected would happen tonight.

"Ziping, would you like to try this?" Lin Zhong asked as he approached the sugar painting stall.

Lin Ziping looked at them, not very interested, and was about to shake his head when he saw the longing in Xiaoya and Zhuzi's eyes, so he nodded.

"What pattern would you like, young master?" Butler Tao asked.

Seeing that Zhu Zi and Xiao Ya's eyes were fixed on the image of the dragon, he said, "Zhu Zi, Xiao Ya, and I will each have one dragon. What does Brother Shunzi want?"

Shunzi looked at Lin Ziping in surprise, but didn't say anything.

"Shunzi?" Butler Tao looked at Shunzi.

"I want a dragon too," Shunzi said softly.

"Stadium owner, how much for four dragons?" Butler Tao asked.

"Eight copper coins." Upon hearing the stall owner's reply, Steward Tao placed the copper coins into the money box.

Lin Ziping silently calculated in his mind that these used to cost about 5 yuan each, and at most 10 yuan in scenic areas. In this dynasty, one copper coin was roughly equivalent to 2-5 yuan.

Lin Ziping took a bite of the sugar dragon after receiving it. He used to find it novel when he was a child, but after seeing it more often as he grew up, he didn't think much of it anymore, and it's the same now.

Seeing how happy Xiaoya and Zhuzi were, Lin Ziping felt envious. He realized he couldn't possibly be a baby who was over 300 months old.