Chapter 94 Encounter
The Lantern Festival in Jinling gave Li Daoxuan only one feeling: it was crowded and lively.

The streets and alleys in all directions are crowded with people watching the lanterns and appreciating the moon.

Under the eaves of the tiled houses, there are lights and decorations, and rows of lanterns stretch out like a long dragon.

There was a constant flow of merchants coming and going, with shouts of hawking and yelling coming one after another.

The crowds were surging and crowded.

Among them, it is particularly evident that women traveling are all wearing thick clothes and showing curiosity on their faces.

Since the Westernization Movement was launched, various manufacturing bureaus have been established in Jinling City. The most famous one is the Jinling Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, which can be regarded as the backbone of the military reform of the Westernization Movement.

These Western factories were opened in Jinling, bringing Western ideas with them.

The rules that bound women in the past were relaxed a lot during this period, and young ladies and maids could always be seen doing business outside or traveling around Jinling.

In the next few decades, perhaps this change will be even more dramatic.

The streets, which are usually sparsely populated, are now packed with people.

The sounds of carriages and horses, and of sedan chair bearers, were all pleasing to the ears.

Li Daoxuan took Li Yanming to walk on the street, enjoying the Lantern Festival in Jinling with several servants. The eldest brother was busy and couldn't come, and the younger sisters and brothers were taken by their parents. The second sister went to look for her best friend, and she didn't go with Li Daoxuan.

So after all the calculations, in the end Li Daoxuan went out alone to enjoy the lanterns.

But now he has a boy traveling with him, and he feels somewhat comforted.

Li Yanming was quite sensible, and he didn't have the temper of the other naughty kids in the wealthy families. He answered whatever Li Daoxuan asked, and his soft temper made him easy to be bullied.

But Li Yanming was just a child under nine years old. Seeing such a lively street with red lanterns hanging everywhere in the streets and alleys, he would stop to admire them from time to time and then leave happily.

In addition to viewing the lanterns, there are also various performances on the street, such as lion dances and operas. In short, the performances are too numerous to watch and make people dazzled.

When you get to the Qinhuai River, the lights on both banks are like scales. People are coming and going on the bridge, and boats are constantly passing under the bridge. The lights in the river are flickering, like stars in the sky.

It is true that the east wind blows thousands of flowers into bloom at night, and blows down stars like rain. The road is filled with the fragrance of BMW and carved carriages. The sound of phoenix flutes moves, the light of jade pots turns, and fish and dragons dance all night.

"Master, it's so lively." Li Yanming said excitedly. "I've never seen such a lively place, it's like a sky full of stars."

"Of course, this is Jinling." Li Daoxuan said with a smile.

Jinling, Nanjing. No matter how ravaged it was in history, it always managed to regroup in adversity. After the snowstorm, the flowers bloomed and it was still a bustling and prosperous scene. Even the Taoists at that time sighed that the dragon veins of Jinling were deep.

"Let's go, Young Master will take you to release the water lanterns." Li Daoxuan took the lead, and Li Yanming followed closely behind him. Both boys were handsome, and attracted many people's attention.

Li Daoxuan's hair was not shaved and tied up. He was dressed in red and green, and looked like a young master. If he took a folding fan and fanned it elegantly, he would probably attract more attention from others.

On the Qinhuai River, there were painted boats coming and going, with women wearing colorful clothes, displaying their musical instruments, chess, calligraphy and paintings. They also kept shouting towards the shore, attracting countless people to watch and cheer. Such painted boats on the Qinhuai River were unique in the world.

There are five types of pleasure boats, the largest of which is called a "zou kang" and the smallest is called a "teng shan" or "lacquered board". Zou kang are mostly large boats with a pavilion in the back cabin. Their windows and sanitary ware are mostly made of rosewood and red sandalwood. Some pleasure boats provide famous paintings and calligraphy and also hold banquets. Some pleasure boats are full of sensual pleasures and love affairs.

Just looking around, the bright lights and crystal lamps are coming and going like a weave, shining brighter than the day. Pearl curtains on both sides of the river are reflected in the water, painted buildings are flying like clouds, and people are wearing perfumed clothes and boats passing by, which is fascinating.

Even though Li Daoxuan was used to the hustle and bustle of the world in his previous life, he couldn't help but marvel at the bustle on both sides of the Qinhuai River. Not to mention Li Yanming, who was already stiff and dumbfounded.

There was even a coquettishly dressed singing girl with a smile on her face, which almost made Li Yanming walk into the river. If Li Daoxuan hadn't pulled him back, he would have drunk a lot of water by now.

"Young Master, why are they wearing so little? If my mother were here, she would definitely say that they are immoral!" Li Yanming said sincerely.

"Just tell me whether it looks good or not." Li Daoxuan said unhappily.

"This is nice, but it is immoral." Li Yanming nodded again, speaking with some confidence. Maybe Li Yanming is still too young to understand the customs of the world.

"It's all for a living," said Li Daoxuan.

A few people walked to the steps on the river bank, and both sides were full of people.

Everyone wants to release a water lantern and pray for good luck this year. Among them, there are many young women. Although their faces are covered, their youthful appearance can still be seen.

For them, being able to go out for a stroll is a great blessing.

Li Daoxuan took the lantern from the servant and gave one to Li Yanming. He leaned over to light the lantern and gently placed it in the water. He let the water carry the lantern away, following the countless lanterns of different colors into the distance.

Watching his water lantern go away, Li Daoxuan just withdrew his hand, but his arm accidentally touched someone's hand, causing the water lantern in that person's hand to fall over.

"Oh." The girl's tender and crisp voice came, and Li Daoxuan's apology came out subconsciously.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to."

As he said that, he turned around and looked at the person. It turned out to be a girl with bright eyes and white teeth and pigtails. She had a pair of big eyes with distinct black and white, and a mouth like a cherry. She was wearing a light blue jacket, and a red double-breasted waistcoat with plush on the outside, with auspicious cloud patterns and plum blossoms embroidered on it. She was wearing a horse-faced skirt with exquisite embroidery. When she swayed, she could reflect the flickering lights.

She was dressed in a rich and exquisite manner. One could tell that she was not from an ordinary family. She listened to Li Daoxuan's words and raised her eyes and replied, "It's okay. I have other water lanterns."

As she spoke, she looked at Li Daoxuan clearly. A look of joy suddenly appeared in her eyes, and her little mouth kept moving upwards.

"Brother Taoist?" the girl asked carefully, fearing that she had recognized the wrong person.

The girl looked Li Daoxuan up and down, confirming again and again.

"Who are you?" Li Daoxuan felt that the little girl in front of him was somewhat familiar, and his voice seemed to have been heard somewhere before. However, he couldn't remember it for a while. He stared at the little girl for a while, still hesitantly trying to recall it.

"It's me. I've heard you tell me stories about you in the Taoist temple." The little girl suddenly felt a little disappointed when she heard Li Daoxuan didn't recognize her. Her crescent-shaped eyebrows were bent, and she looked quite pitiful.

She took the water lantern from the maid beside her, held it in front of her eyes and looked at Li Daoxuan.

"Oh, I remember, it's you!" Listening to the story in the Taoist temple, coupled with the little girl's Yangzhou accent, Li Daoxuan immediately remembered who this little girl was.

On that day, a woman from Yangzhou came to the mountain to pray. The little girl who followed her asked her to lead the way. The woman from Yangzhou was the mother of the little girl in front of him, and she also gave him silver.

It was just that he had forgotten the little girl's name. After all, it had been a long time. He could not quite remember whether he had heard her name before.

"Brother Taoist, have you remembered? Does brother Taoist know my name?" the little girl asked with a sly smile.

“…I don’t remember.” Li Daoxuan really couldn’t remember and honestly admitted his poor memory.

(End of this chapter)