Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

The Sheng family had a particularly interesting New Year because they had a new daughter-in-law. During the Lantern Festival after the New Year, Sheng Hong couldn't help but want to take Lin Qinshuang out to see it.

It's just that he and Lin Qinshuang claimed to be an old married couple, so of course he was embarrassed to get together with the children, especially since Changbai was already married, Changfeng would be getting married in two or three months, and Molan would be getting married in the second half of the year. So he hinted to Molan to talk to Changbai and Changfeng and let them take Wang Ruofu and Old Madam Sheng out for a walk, while he himself planned to take Lin Qinshuang and go separately from the main group.

Changbai was speechless about his father's arrangement, but over the years he had witnessed with his own eyes that Sheng Hong valued and doted on Lin Qinshuang more and more, so he could only remind himself not to follow Sheng Hong's old path. It was enough to have a lady who had been let down at home, and not let his wife fall into that situation.

So, when Old Lady Sheng refused to go out and pushed Minglan out to play, Changbai really wanted this old grandmother, who had dedicated her whole life to a bunch of people who had no blood relationship with her, to go out and relax.

Recognizing Changbai's persistence and seriousness, Mrs. Sheng looked at Minglan, who also had a serious and persistent expression on her face, and suddenly felt that the hardships she had experienced in the past did not seem so torturous. She had already gained such a filial grandson and granddaughter, and she would surely have good luck in the future.

Changbai brought Han to accompany Old Lady Sheng and Wang Ruofu, Changfeng made an appointment with Liu, Molan made an appointment with Shi Ying, and Old Lady Sheng made an appointment with He Hongwen for Minglan. Now only Ruolan was left behind, but Molan kept pulling Ruolan along, and Shi Ying also liked Ruolan, his sister-in-law, very much. Even for Wang Ruofu's sake, he was willing to take her with him.

Just like that, during the Lantern Festival, all the masters of the Sheng family, big and small, went out happily, and the servants, except those on duty, were given holidays. Everyone enjoyed the joyful atmosphere of the festival.

Because the economy is developed and everyone is willing to spend, the appearance of the lanterns in the capital changes every year, and naturally they become more luxurious every year. Even though the mainstream aesthetic always tends to be elegant, no one really thinks that elegance and luxury have nothing in common!

Take the lobster lantern made by Shi Ying in Molan's hand, for example. Apart from the lifelike workmanship that looks like a magnified version of a live shrimp, although it is just simple white paper with bamboo silk, a purple bamboo lamp stick and a candle placed inside, no one on the street would say that this large white shrimp lantern without any color looks cheap.

Because the white paper used to paste the lanterns is the Yuban Xuan paper from Chengxin Hall, which was extremely expensive in the previous dynasty. Even in this dynasty, although there are many wealthy people, not everyone is willing to use it to paste lanterns.

In particular, the candles inside were made of smokeless white wax, which were mostly supplied exclusively to the palace. Although they were also used by ordinary people, only officials could afford such expenses.

From this perspective, the purple bamboo poles used to make lamp sticks seem to be readily available everywhere.

This plain white but very eye-catching lantern pleased Rulan very much. It was a pity that it was made by Shiying, her cheap brother-in-law, for Molan. She could only stand aside and watch, drooling over it, and had no intention of asking for it.

Shi Ying was very satisfied with his sister-in-law Rulan. Seeing that she had been quietly accompanying Molan, he waved his hand and asked Rulan, "Which lantern do you like, Fifth Sister? Don't hesitate. I will help you win it."

Rulan was very happy to hear this. She knew that if she came to accompany Molan tonight, Shi Ying would definitely pay her a satisfactory reward. So here it comes.

Rulan unceremoniously lit four lanterns, two of which were octagonal revolving lanterns, another one was a hollow four-cornered butterfly lantern, and the other was a novel-style peony lantern.

The first two octagonal palace lanterns were prepared for Old Madam Sheng and Wang Ruofu, and the last two were carefully selected by her for herself.

Seeing that Rulan and the two girls Xi Que and Huang Ying behind her had no free hands, Molan also looked helpless, but Rulan herself did not think it was a big deal. She smiled at Molan and Shi Ying and said, "Okay, I'll go back to find grandma and mother, and ask my second brother and second sister-in-law to go out for a walk. Fourth sister, you and your brother-in-law can have fun slowly. There's no need to rush to meet up with everyone."

After saying that, Rulan took Xi Que and Huang Ying's hands and walked towards the restaurant that the Sheng family had booked in advance.

The Sheng family has settled in the capital for many years. When everyone was young, Sheng Hong was worried about letting them go out to celebrate the Lantern Festival and watch the lanterns. It was not until the youngest Minglan was over ten years old that Sheng Hong felt comfortable letting them go out. And every time they went out, each person had to be accompanied by at least two maids and a servant, for fear that they would get lost by accident.

So even Rulan, who was the most carefree, always carried out Sheng Hong's orders meticulously and would never go out alone with two maids, for fear of getting lost.

Molan and Shi Ying would of course be happier without Rulan, the candle that was not really a candle. On the other hand, Rulan shouted all the way into the box reserved by Old Madam Sheng. After she distributed two gorgeous yet elegant octagonal palace lanterns to Old Madam Sheng and Wang Ruofu, and said that Shi Ying had won them for them personally, even Old Madam Sheng could not help but be filled with joy. She immediately took them in her hands and admired them over and over again.

Wang Ruofu would be even happier than Old Lady Sheng. She was a huge fan of Shi Ying, so she would only applaud and praise Shi Ying no matter what he did. Moreover, this lantern was really rare. The frame alone was made of top-quality mahogany, and it was inlaid with many pearls and gems.

Wang Ruofu couldn't stop smiling, but she had to be modest in front of her daughter-in-law: "Oh my, Kagura is so thoughtful. Only Fan Lou can make such a finely crafted lantern. Fortunately, he is well-educated, otherwise he would not be able to buy it even with a fortune!"

Changbai began to praise skillfully, praising Shi Ying first as usual, and then praising his mother for having such a good son-in-law. Sure enough, Wang Ruofu was praised so much that she was dizzy and confused.

Old Lady Sheng and Rulan were not surprised, and even secretly suspected that Changbai had run out of ideas. The words he used today were the same ones he used before. Only Han felt that she had really gained a lot of knowledge!

When Wang Ruofu and Changbai finally finished talking, Rulan directly suggested: "Second brother, why don't you take sister-in-law out for a walk? I will accompany grandma and mother here."

Old Madam Sheng was happy today, and she followed Rulan's words and urged Changbai to take Han out to play, "You young people should be more active, and wait until you are older to talk about being steady. Your mother and I don't need you to accompany us here, so go and play."

Wang Ruofu also said: "What kind of lanterns do you like? Go and win them yourself. Don't think about mine and your sister's things."

Changbai didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and finally pulled his wife Han downstairs to play.

Although Minglan and He Hongwen both like lanterns, Minglan and Xiaotao like the delicious food with various aromas on both sides of the street more. He Hongwen protected Minglan and her servants as they walked and ate. When Minglan and Xiaotao felt that there was almost no room for them, they went back to find Old Lady Sheng.

However, when they were just one street away from the restaurant reserved by the Sheng family, martial law was suddenly imposed in front of them. The crowd on the street, which was originally relatively orderly, suddenly became crowded. He Hongwen was quick to protect Minglan and her servant and moved them to the wall, so they were not squeezed apart.

By the time the whole family gathered at the restaurant, almost an hour had passed. The Imperial City Bureau was dispatched to clean the streets, which gave Wang Ruofu a fright.