Lantern

“Yes, yes… Oh, is that so… Yes, yes…”

Xiaoguo pretended to listen attentively. “Please, can the magistrate see that my legs are trembling? Why is he still going on?”

“You don’t know, but I’ve had a good working relationship with Magistrate Su for many years. He’s been keeping watch over me all this while…”

Magistrate Liu’s speech was getting more and more far-fetched. He was talking about the chef’s culinary skills earlier on, but now he was talking about his relationship with the bureaucrats. Xiaoguo couldn’t carry on listening any longer. “What if he gets so excited that he blurts out some secret?”

“Liu…”

“The room is ready, my lord.”

Xiaoguo had just opened her mouth when Master Xing Ming, who was in the inn, came out to inform Magistrate Liu.

Xiaoguo could not thank him enough for coming at the right time.

“Okay.” Magistrate Liu stopped talking and turned to Xiaoguo. “Let’s go in.”

Xiaoguo nodded with a smile and brought Zhuang Zhuang, who was already hungry, along with her.

“Aye, be careful of the steps, Madam.”

Magistrate Liu had been taking care of Xiaoguo along the way. He was addressing her as ‘Madam’ now and he even reminded her to watch out for the tiny curb just now. Xiaoguo was not quite used to being treated this way. She was beginning to miss the cold and aloof Magistrate Liu before she went to the capital.

“…Okay, thank you.”

Xiaoguo raised her foot and walked over a teeny weeny step that was almost negligible. Once she crossed it, she said her thanks to Magistrate Liu.

Xiaoguo returned to her room with the key. Just as she was opening the door and about to enter, Magistrate Liu said from across the room, “Madam, there’s a hot spring just in front of the inn. If you’re interested, you can check it out.”

Magistrate Liu spoke sincerely to Xiaoguo. He really enjoyed talking to the General’s wife, so he shared with her his favorite spot in this state. Whenever he had the chance to come here, he would definitely make a trip to the hot spring.

Xiaoguo’s interest was piqued when she heard that. The hot spring. She could go and relax.

“Alright, thank you!”

Xiaoguo thanked Magistrate Liu and got ready to step out.

However, their meal was delivered very shortly after. Therefore, Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang had to eat before going out.

“Zhuang Zhuang, get your clothes.”

Xiaoguo wrapped two sets of clothes in a small bundle and left for the hot spring with Zhuang Zhuang.

Before leaving, she told the guard at the door in case someone needed to find her. After relaying the message, she left the inn.

Xiaoguo held Zhuang Zhuang’s hand tightly, and Zhuang Zhuang also leaned close to her.

There was a lot of traffic here. It could be due to the sacrificial ceremony that was just round the corner. The people on the streets had already started to make preparations for it.

They strolled along leisurely to admire the scenery and also to walk off the meal they had just eaten.

“Mother, look at the lanterns!”

Zhuang Zhuang pointed to a lotus-shaped lantern hanging at the stall, and asked Xiaoguo to look.

Xiaoguo led Zhuang Zhuang over and admired the various lanterns. All of them were intricate and beautiful.

“Zhuang Zhuang, which one do you like? I’ll buy one for you.”

“Yes, yes!”

Zhuang Zhuang nodded and started choosing seriously.

In order to let him see clearly, Xiaoguo picked him up so that he could get a better look at all the lanterns.

“Your son is so good-looking.”

The stall owner was a kind-looking middle-aged woman. She looked at Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang with admiration. “Your son is already so old, but you’re still so young and beautiful.”

Zhuang Zhuang was a little shy when he heard people praise him, but he still thanked the lady graciously. Seeing this, the stall owner sent more compliments his way.

Xiaoguo didn’t think much of it at first, but the more she listened, the more familiar this sales pitch sounded.

All those things the stall owner said were identical to the words of the auntie who sold stuffed animals at the night market? She still remembered that time when she was intending to buy only one doll. But in the end, she spent all her living expenses for the month and carried a bunch of stuffed dolls back to school. Because of this, her photo was published on the school’s website. The title written by the wicked headliners read as follows: Careful! Furry Pervert! (In bold red font.) Recently, a bunch of walking stuffed animals appeared in school…

Xiaoguo came back to her senses and saw that Zhuang Zhuang had been coaxed by the stall owner to look at the more premium lanterns hanging above. Xiaoguo could sense that something was up.

“Yes! It’s really beautiful!”

Zhuang Zhuang said happily.

Seeing that she had a good chance, the stall owner said to Zhuang Zhuang, “This looks good, right? Ask your mother to buy one for you. Not only does it look good, it also comes with a fragrance.”

The stall owner was strategizing. Most children would beg their parents to buy them the lantern when they hear her say that. It was a fail-proof trick.

As expected, Zhuang Zhuang turned to look at Xiaoguo when he heard that. The stall owner raised her eyebrows and thought to herself, “Perfect!”

“Mother…”

It’s coming, it’s coming. The stall owner suppressed the excitement in her heart and looked like victory was in her grasp.

“Mother, let’s buy this lotus lantern.”

As he spoke, he picked up the lotus flower lantern that he liked initially. He did not choose the expensive one that was suggested by the stall owner.

“Okay.”

Xiaoguo was also surprised. “Zhuang Zhuang was actually so strong-willed?!”

Although the stall owner felt a little regretful, it was still better than nothing. Although lotus lanterns were cheap, it was still income for her.

“Here you go. Five copper coins for this.”

Xiaoguo took the lantern and passed it to Zhuang Zhuang. Then, she took out five copper coins from her purse and handed it to the stall owner.

After leaving the stall, Xiaoguo looked at Zhuang Zhuang, who was happily holding the lotus lamp. She asked him curiously, “Zhuang Zhuang, don’t you like that big lantern?”

“Big lantern?”

Zhuang Zhuang tilted his head, then he seemed to remember. “That big lantern is very beautiful. I like it very much!”

“Then why didn’t you choose it?”

Zhuang Zhuang held the lotus lantern carefully and admired it. “Although it is very beautiful, what I want is the lotus lantern.”

Xiaoguo was stunned and touched by Zhuang Zhuang, who was looking all serious. He understood something that many adults did not understand.

He wasn’t tempted by the stall owner’s sweet words, nor was he charmed by the colorful lanterns. He stood firmly by what his heart wanted. Although Zhuang Zhuang was young, his will was strong.

Xiaoguo was a little moved. She lowered her head and kissed Zhuang Zhuang before laughing out loud. Zhuang Zhuang was more opinionated than her. It was really something to be happy about.

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

Zhuang Zhuang was very happy to be kissed by Xiaoguo, but he didn’t understand why she did it so suddenly.

“It’s fine. Mother is just happy. Very happy.”

“Are you happy to see Zhuang Zhuang?”

When Zhuang Zhuang heard this, he asked her playfully.

Without thinking, Xiaoguo said, “Yes!”

Zhuang Zhuang was embarrassed when he heard that. He held Xiaoguo’s hand and rubbed his face against her hand.

“Hahahaha…”

Xiaoguo picked up Zhuang Zhuang and walked forward happily.

“Hot spring, hot spring, here we come!”

Xiaoguo was very excited, but she still had some awareness for her surroundings. Hence, she whispered softly instead.

Zhuang Zhuang did not care about that. When he heard what Xiaoguo said, he immediately repeated it loudly.

“We’re coming for the hot spring!”

Xiaoguo quickly covered his mouth and looked around furtively.

The people around them heard Zhuang Zhuang. They covered their mouths and giggled. Someone even said enthusiastically, “Hey little boy’s mother, the hot spring is right ahead. Don’t miss it!”

“Hahahaha…”

As soon as the stranger finished speaking, everyone laughed.

Xiaoguo had thinner skin than Zhuang Zhuang, so she picked up Zhuang Zhuang, who was giggling away, and ran quickly into the hot spring in front of her.