Submerged horizon

Author: Wang Guogang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-30
Features: Love at First Sight On a summer night, the city of Juchao experienced a historic scene of the lively Lantern Festival celebrations on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The streets were dotted with lanterns, packed with crowds gathered to watch the festivities. Li Cui, the daughter of the wealthy salt merchant Li Li, and her maid Li'er were also among the crowd. Li'er heard the sound of gongs and drums growing louder from a distance and excitedly said, "Miss, they're here!" Li Cui, her face wrapped in a purple silk scarf, peeked over the crowd towards the alleyway. Indeed, a long dragon was dancing its way through the streets. The dragon's head, leaping up and down, swerved left and right, occasionally dipping into the shops on both sides. The bells on its head jingled melodiously. At this moment, shop assistants tossed a pre-prepared square cake, sesame cake, or sesame twist into the dragon's mouth, and the dragon swayed its tail and continued its dance. When the dragon reached the "Qianji" jewelry shop next to Li Cui, the shop assistants hesitated to toss anything into its mouth. The dragon's head twisted and turned, spinning in place, the bell sound growing increasingly urgent. The eight men dancing the dragon were panting heavily from exhaustion. Li Cui couldn't bear to watch any longer and couldn't help but say to the shop assistants, "Bring some snacks!" The assistant turned to look at the shop owner, Qian Xin, who had a hooked nose and a "boat-sinking" mouth, dressed in fine attire. The owner glared at Li Cui and said in a grating, indifferent voice, "Who is this little girl to be so talkative? Why don't you just watch for a bit longer? Why don't you buy some snacks to toss?" Li Cui released her grip on the silk scarf and took out several wuzhu copper coins from her green silk robe pocket, tossing them into the dragon's mouth. Instantly, cheers erupted from the crowd around her. Qian Xin felt his dignity had been restored and was about to lose his temper when he suddenly noticed the girl before him was a rare beauty. His anger vanished, and a smile spread across his fat face as he said, "How could we possibly let Miss pay? Assistant, quickly bring the money." Li Cui covered her face with the silk scarf again and said, "No need." She turned and left. When Li Cui removed the scarf to reveal her face, a young man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes in the crowd's gaze lit up, as if he had finally met his long-lost love. He was about to squeeze through the crowd when the dragon, to the rhythm of the gongs and drums, continued its dance, and the dense flow of people blocked his way. The dragon boat team, the yangge team, and the high-kick team followed one after another. The flickering lanterns inside the swaying dragon boats illuminated the painted faces of the actors; the yangge performers swayed their waists and buttocks in a graceful dance; and the high-kickers, with long poles tied to their legs, leaned exaggeratedly to the sides, earning applause from the crowd. The drummers and pipers were even more energized by the cheers, striking the drums with great force and playing the flute melodiously. In the bustling alleyway, Li Cui and Li'er walked and watched the dragon with great joy. They had no idea that the young man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes was searching for them among the crowd. His name was Xiang Cheng, the second son of Xiang An, the magistrate of Juchao County. Ahead were two women with lanterns. Xiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief—thank goodness! He had finally found them. He hurried forward and called out, "May I inquire about Miss?"