sbdcsierra Chapter 162 Stealing Green
Chapter 162 Stealing Green
Seeing the parents crying heart-wrenchingly in the courtyard of the county government, Magistrate Wu began to speak.
"Everyone, don't worry. This beggar gave the children some knockout drugs, which caused them to fall asleep. County Magistrate Kong just got the antidote from the beggar and has already fed it to the children. In about a quarter of an hour, the children will wake up one after another."
After hearing Magistrate Wu's explanation, the parents finally felt relieved. They hugged their children, fearing that they would catch a cold. They glared fiercely at the beggars kneeling in the yard. If looks could kill, these beggars would probably have been eaten alive.
Seeing that the matter had been settled, Ye Changyan and his companions said goodbye to County Magistrate Wu, County Lieutenant Kong and others.
Several people strolled on the empty streets, looking at the streets hung with lanterns and various kinds of lanterns. The cold street scene was still so colorful against the backdrop of fireworks, and seemed to have a different artistic conception.
When they returned to Yunfeng Tower, they saw several children holding bowls and eating dumplings.
"Come on, come on. You've been walking around for most of the night. You must be hungry. The cooked glutinous rice balls are neither too hot nor too cold. They are just right for eating."
Zhong Yunfeng hurriedly invited Ye Changyan and others to eat dumplings.
After eating the dumplings, Ye Changyan and his companions prepared to go to Chu Garden in the north of the city. If they were any later, the north gate would be closed.
"I'll let Lao Huang drive you there."
Zhong Yunfeng still seemed to be a little frightened about what happened that night.
"No, after eating this big bowl of dumplings, it's just right for me to take a walk."
A group of people came out of Yunfeng Tower and strolled along the empty street. Wulang, Erniu, Fang Xiaotong and Fang Xiaomei were all excited when they saw the lanterns and flower lanterns all over the street.
"What a pity for all those lanterns I won by guessing the riddles."
Wu Lang looked at the lanterns hanging on the lamppost and sighed with a look of regret.
"What's so sad about this? There are lanterns all over the street, you can pick whatever you want."
Ye Changyan smiled at Wulang and patted his shoulder.
"May I?"
Wulang looked at his brother with some doubt and excitement.
"Tomorrow is the 16th day of the first lunar month, and the Spring Festival is officially over. The lamp poles will be taken down at dawn tomorrow morning. Do you think these lanterns on the lamp poles can still be kept?"
After hearing what Ye Changyan said, not only Wulang, but also Erniu and Fang Xiaomei became excited.
Wu Lang pointed to a carp lantern hanging on top of a tall lamp pole in front and said excitedly to Lu Tingfeng.
"Brother Lu, I want that carp lantern! Can you help me take it down?"
Wu Lang looked around but couldn't find the lantern pole. Thinking that he would see Lu Tingfeng's skills tonight, he begged Lu Tingfeng.
Lu Tingfeng leaped up and took down the carp lantern on the top of the lamp pole for Wulang.
Looking at Wulang holding the beautiful carp lantern, Erniu and Fang Xiaomei were both envious.
"Erniu, Xiaomei, whatever lamp you like, just ask Tingfeng to pick it for you."
Seeing the two girls looking envious but somewhat shy, Liang Jingcheng gave instructions to Lu Tingfeng considerately.
A group of people were strolling on the somewhat deserted street. They saw Wulang holding a carp lantern in his left hand and a crab lantern in his right hand. Erniu and Fang Xiaomei, each holding a rabbit lantern, were heading towards the north gate, accompanied by laughter all the way.
After exiting the north city gate, it was about two or three miles away from Chu Garden.
The lights in Wulang, Erniu and Fang Xiaomei's hands just illuminated the road beneath their feet.
"Brother, look at the pea tip."
The light of the crab lantern was particularly bright. Wu Lang saw a lush patch of pea seedlings growing in a field beside the road. He lowered his voice and shouted excitedly to Ye Changyan.
"Liang Jingcheng, let's go and steal some green!"
Hearing Ye Changyan's invitation to him, Liang Jingcheng rubbed his hands excitedly.
"Is this really good?"
"I see you look so excited, I'm afraid you've been looking forward to it for a long time."
Liang Jingcheng chuckled twice, and seeing that the others all looked excited, Ye Changyan then made his request.
"We have already agreed that stealing is fine, but we still need to have basic manners. We can't trample on the crops, and we can't just stare at the vegetables in a field and pull them hard. Stealing a small handful from a field symbolically is enough."
Seeing everyone nodded in agreement, Ye Changyan was the first to go down to the pea field.
Everyone handed their lanterns to Lu Tingfeng and tiptoed down to the pea field. They saw Lu Tingfeng holding four lanterns, keeping watch for everyone and lighting the way for everyone.
"Ye Changyan, how do you steal this pea tip?"
Liang Jingcheng saw that everyone was squatting and busy, but he didn't know how to start, so he asked Ye Changyan anxiously.
"You pick the thick ones and pinch them off just below the first side leaf, like this."
Ye Changyan explained and demonstrated at the same time.
"Is that so? It's quite simple!"
Soon everyone in the group had a handful of pea tips in their hands, and even Liang Jingcheng had a small handful in his hand, although it was a little messy.
"Brother, there are garlic sprouts on the ridge below..."
Wulang's deep voice sounded again.
The group tiptoed to the edge of the field to pull the garlic seedlings.
"Brother, there are cauliflowers in this field..."
"Brother, this piece of soil is full of vegetable moss..."
"Brother, the spinach on the soil in front is growing well..."
……
Like a scout, Goro carefully observed the vegetables on both sides of the road and kept reporting his reconnaissance intelligence in a low voice.
Liang Jingcheng followed Ye Changyan on tiptoe. After pulling out the garlic sprouts, he went to pick the vegetable sprouts, and then picked out the spinach, with an uncontrollable excitement on his face.
Until everyone's hands could no longer hold him, they could still hear Goro constantly reporting reconnaissance intelligence.
Finally, even Lu Tingfeng, who was holding four lanterns, was carrying two big carrots in his hands. Everyone came to Chu Garden with satisfaction.
When Mr. Cai saw the vegetables piled up on the ground like a small mountain, he looked at the excited faces with some surprise.
"Where did you get this dish?"
"Teacher, we stole these vegetables on the way back."
As Liang Jingcheng spoke, he excitedly pointed his fingers at Mr. Cai to show him which ones he had stolen.
"You guys are really too brave, running in groups to steal vegetables."
Mr. Cai almost dropped his jaw in shock. In his mind, Liang Jingcheng and Ye Changyan were both good kids who knew etiquette and propriety. How could they possibly go and steal vegetables!
"Teacher, don't worry. On the night of the Lantern Festival, stealing vegetables from the fields is a traditional custom in Yuzhou Prefecture. We call it stealing vegetables locally. This is to pray for peace, good luck and good fortune in the new year. At the same time, the vegetables stolen are all from the fields. The word "vegetable" sounds like "wealth", so it also expresses everyone's good wishes for a more prosperous life in the new year."
After hearing Ye Changyan's explanation, Mr. Cai nodded in understanding, and then spoke excitedly.
"Sanlang, the teacher also wants to express his wish for a better and more prosperous life in the new year. What do you think?"