Chapter 1338: Always Remember

The two brothers finished their meal in a hurry, eating as fast as possible, and waited at the side.

Looking at the sky outside that was no longer so bright, their hearts leaped with excitement.

But seeing their still naive and clueless little sister, they didn't dare say anything or urge anyone on, afraid she'd find an excuse to leave them behind at the last minute.

The most important thing now was to obediently wait to set off.

They couldn't sit still in the house for even a short while, yet didn't dare urge anyone, so they could only run outside and play at the doorway for a bit, bragging to the others and drawing a chorus of envious voices.

Ye Yaodong went over and gave each of them a slap, and only then did they come back to their senses.

"Dad, are we going?!"

"Have we set off?"

Ye Yaodong said nothing, walking ahead first, while Lin Lin Xiuqing followed beside him with a smile.

The two sons behind excitedly ran to catch up.

"Dad, wait for me…"

The two brothers ran while turning back, waving at their little friends.

"We're going to see the Lantern Festival lanterns…"

"I heard there's also a dragon dance, it's really lively, wait till I come back and tell you all about it…"

Their little friends were so envious their teeth nearly ground to dust; some had already run home quickly, wanting to ask their own parents to take them too.

The two brothers didn't even walk properly, running and jumping as they circled around the couple, chattering nonstop, thrilled beyond measure.

On the boat they were also bouncing and jumping, reluctant to go inside the cabin to rest, wanting to watch as they hurried to town, until Lin Lin Xiuqing threatened them, and only then did the two behave and obey.

The current temperature was the coldest of the whole year; once the sun set, it would only get colder, let alone that the wind was strong at sea, making it colder than on land.

If they didn't stay inside the cabin and got blown by the cold wind for a while, these two would start sniffling and sneezing, and might even get their wish — skipping school on the first day of the new term tomorrow.

When Ye Yaodong set off from home, the sky was still bright; by the time they reached town, it had already grown dim, not long from full dark.

Originally, if they'd taken the motorcycle, they'd have arrived in just over ten minutes, but the boat took about half an hour.

When they disembarked, not to mention the streets, even the dock berthing area was packed tight; people were still streaming off the boat one after another, many of whom, like Ye Yaodong, had taken a boat over to join the fun.

This once-a-year excitement, in an era when entertainment was scarce, most people wouldn't miss it; even the shore was already full of people coming and going, along with all kinds of street vendors' cries.

Ye Chenghu and Ye Ye Chengyang had already sensed something when the boat slowed down, ran out, and then excitedly looked at the shore; the two brothers chattered away, pointing at the shore as they talked.

"So pretty, the streets are all hung with red lanterns, so bright, so pretty…"

"So lively, so many people…"

"Our village only has colored flags, but the town has so many red lanterns hung up…"

"If only we'd known, we wouldn't have eaten and just come straight over, now it's almost dark…"

People with thoughts like theirs were not few; now the sky hadn't even fully darkened, yet the streets were already a sea of people — quite likely many had trekked over dozens of li of mountain road in advance.

After Ye Yaodong docked the boat, he led the mother and her three children onto a ferry boat that had come over to pick up passengers, and then went up onto the shore.

Lin Lin Xiuqing couldn't help sighing, "So it really is this lively! The sky hasn't even fully darkened, and the streets are already packed with people."

"Good thing we didn't take the motorcycle — I'd guess the town would already be full of people before dark, and we might not even make it into town before getting stuck in traffic halfway."

"Yeah, there are really too many people…"

"Dad, I want candied hawthorn on a stick…"

"There's clay figurine making over there…"

"There's sugar painting over there…"

Ye Yaodong grabbed his two sons, who were itching to dash off, and warned them.

"You two need to behave and stay put, can't run around all over the place, you must hold onto us, and definitely can't dart off here and there, or if you get lost there'll be nowhere to look for you."

"If you get kidnapped by beggars, they'll gouge out your eyes, chop off your hands and feet to send you begging, and there'll be nowhere to cry."

The two repeatedly promised they absolutely wouldn't run around, that they'd hold on tight, and that whatever they wanted to do they'd tell the parents first.

Ye Yaodong also told Lin Lin Xiuqing to hold onto Ye Chenghu and keep an eye on him.

Ye Ye Chengyang, as usual, sat on his father's shoulders — it was easier that way, and Ye Yaodong could spare some attention to watch Ye Chenghu as well.

Ye Chenghu watched Ye Yaodong squat down to piggyback Ye Ye Chengyang, feeling a bit envious.

"Dad, can I take turns with Yangyang sitting on your shoulders? I want to sit up there too…"

"Then my neck would get broken from you sitting on it. Just behave and let your mom hold your hand. Whatever you want to buy or eat will be easier that way — once we get there, he'll have to come down anyway."

Hearing this, Ye Chenghu obediently fell silent, but he was still so envious that Yangyang could sit on their dad's shoulders…

As they walked and looked around, they unexpectedly spotted a ring-toss game; Ye Chenghu's eyes went wide, and he tugged at Lin Lin Xiuqing eagerly, calling out "Mom" over and over.

Ye Yaodong glanced over and said, "There are too many people, who knows how long the queue would be. We came to see the lanterns and the dragon dance — it's already dark, who knows when it'll start. Do you want to queue up here, or go see the fun?"

"Then let's come back later."

"At market days, this kind of thing is everywhere."

"But you still don't take me to the market…"

"You should first finish eating all that stuff in your hands," Lin Lin Xiuqing said, holding his wrist tightly with one hand.

As Seeing Ye Mu fell, there were even more people on the streets; Ye Yaodong led them along, shuffling forward with the crowd, stopping to linger a while whenever they passed a stall the children were interested in.

But there were simply too many people; many stalls were surrounded by huge crowds, so they only took a quick look at the lanterns as they passed, broadening their horizons and seeing something new.

Their little town wasn't big — there was just one main street, with three or four branch roads leading to the port, and the rest were just little alleys. If it weren't for being a port, it wouldn't be this lively and bustling.

Hongsheng Hotel was on a branch road near the port, with plenty of open space around it; by the time they shuffled up to it, Ye Yaodong was drenched in sweat.

He found a spot at the edge and set Yangyang down, also taking off his jacket to cool off a bit.

"There are way too many people, right? All you can see is the tops of heads…"

"Dad, all I can see are butts…"

"Then you must've eaten plenty of farts, huh?"

Ye Chenghu was licking his hand, and snorted, "No way, what are we doing here? Aren't we supposed to go see the lanterns and the dragon dance?"

Ye Yaodong raised his wrist to check his watch — it was only 6 o'clock. "It hasn't reached the time yet, it's still early. Let's go in here first and rest a bit."

"No way, I'm not tired at all, it's so lively out there…"

"We just walked around the whole way here, wasn't that enough?"

"Not enough."

"There are too many people. After the show is over and the crowd slowly disperses, I'll take you all for another loop on the way back. Going now would just be looking at the tops of heads — you wouldn't see anything."

He figured that made sense, so he nodded.

Ye Yaodong led his wife and children into the hotel. The moment he pushed the door open, a waiter came over, but before he could even open his mouth to speak, Wang Maoquan came bustling over.

"Oh my, what wind blew Boss Ye over here?"

As he spoke, he waved the waiter away.

"Why call me Boss Ye? Wouldn't 'comrade' be fine?"

"How could that do? I heard you're already quite the big boss now, you've made it big."

"Haha, not at all. Life's just gotten a little easier. Where's your boss, Comrade Hong? It's the Lantern Festival today — looks like the shop's a lot quieter, huh?"

"Yeah, everyone's out watching the fun, strolling around. Once the parade's over, we'll be packed in here — already fully booked."

"Oh, that explains it…"

Wang Maoquan chatted as he led them upstairs, smiling the whole way.

Truly, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west…

He spoke that sighing thought out loud too.

Ye Yaodong took one look at him and knew his heart was full of complicated feelings — he just laughed out loud.

"In a few years, I might have to call you Boss Wang too."

"Don't make fun of me. Even the guy selling candied hawthorns on the street gets called 'boss.' When I call you Boss Ye, I mean it from the heart."

After saying that, he went to knock on Hong Hong Wenle's lounge door and announced that Ye Yaodong had arrived.

The lounge door was wide open. Hong Hong Wenle was standing by the window, looking down.

"You're here? I just saw you walking in with your wife and kids downstairs and knew you'd come up, so I opened the door for you in advance."

"There are too many people down below, packed shoulder to shoulder — I was worried it wouldn't be safe. So I figured coming up to your floor would let us see more clearly."

"Exactly, it's safer watching from up here. The procession will pass right by the door later, so your wife and kids can watch the fun from here. Otherwise, down below it's easy to get separated. Last year some kids got lost — luckily there were plenty of coast guard folks keeping order and helped the kids find their families."

The moment Ye Chenghu and Ye Ye Chengyang came in, they immediately ran to the window and leaned against it to look.

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled at Hong Hong Wenle, then scolded the boys, "It's not polite to act like that. Call him uncle."

The two immediately stood up properly and greeted him in unison, "Hello, uncle."

"It's fine, let them be at ease. I still have candy and sunflower seeds on my table here…"

"They've been buying things the whole way here, their pockets are stuffed full, they've eaten plenty already."

Ye Ye Chengyang said politely, "Thank you, uncle. We just finished eating and had a lot of snacks too."

Ye Chenghu nodded along as well.

Hong Hong Wenle smiled, told them to make themselves at home, and invited Ye Yaodong to sit down.

"The loan hasn't been approved yet. I was thinking I'd come find you after it gets approved."

"I figured the loan probably hadn't been approved yet — otherwise you would've said something. Today happens to be the Lantern Festival, so I brought the wife and kids out to see the fun. Figured the streets were too crowded, so I thought I'd just come sit at your place — watching from upstairs is clearer anyway."

"You're welcome anytime, come whenever. Oh, and these past few days, I've been asking around about some channels for buying machinery…"

The two men idly began chatting about business.

Lin Lin Xiuqing sat listening for a while, feeling a bit bored, and really wanting to look downstairs too. Although the festivities hadn't started yet, just watching the sea of heads moving below felt interesting enough.

She quietly stood up so as not to disturb the men talking, and went to the window to watch over the kids. Both were leaning against it, craning their heads outside — she was worried they'd get too excited later and fall out.

"Mom… there are so many people. I never knew there were this many people. Looking down from up high, it's all people…" Ye Chenghu was so excited he was spitting as he talked.

He was short, couldn't see in front of him or behind him, only knew there were lots of people — all people — but had no idea how many. He thought it was just like a regular market day.

Looking down from above, it was nothing but a dense mass of people. He had been so shocked earlier he couldn't even make a sound.

In his whole life, he'd never seen this many people…

The people he'd seen in the past ten years combined weren't as many as what he'd seen today alone.

Ye Ye Chengyang was a little better off — since he was sitting on someone's shoulders, he could see a bit wider, but it was still limited.

The street was fairly narrow. He only knew there were people in front and behind. Their current spot was right at the intersection of two streets, and there were even more people than before.

"So lively, Mom. When do the lanterns start? Will it get even livelier…"

"Can we come again next year?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing rested one hand on each of their heads, looking down at the vast stretch of red lanterns below, and beneath the lanterns, the dark mass of people. She smiled and said,

"This year's not even over and you're already thinking about next year? We'll talk about it next year — it depends on whether your dad's free. I can't bring you two here by myself."

"Then when does it start?"

"I heard it's at 7, soon. Wait a little longer."

"It hasn't started yet — can we go down…"

"No. We already walked around down there earlier, that's enough. Going down again would just be looking at people."

"Okay."

The two brothers leaned against the window, propped their chins on their hands, and watched the crowd below with great interest.

Some of the residents around them — anyone in a building — also had heads poking out of upstairs windows to watch the fun.

From where they were now, they couldn't see what the small vendors around them were selling, but watching so many people moving down below, they found it interesting — very interesting indeed.

Ye Yaodong figured that even if there was nothing to see tonight, having this many people to watch would probably make them feel it was worth it.

The men chatted about men's things, the kids chatted about kids' things, each leaving the other alone.

Until a commotion rose from the crowd below, and Ye Chenghu and Ye Ye Chengyang cheered excitedly, and only then did they all move to stand by the window.

"The police uncles are here…"

"So many police uncles coming to keep order…"

"Is it about to start?"

"Wow, everyone's cleared a path, it must be starting…"

"What time is it."

Ye Yaodong checked the time—still twenty minutes to go. "Soon. Once they clear a path, the Lantern Festival will start."

Everyone watched the commotion below with great interest.

"Dad, are traffic police also police uncles?"

"Yes, they're police uncles too."

"Then when I grow up I want to be a traffic police officer—you get to ride a motorcycle and it's so cool."

"To be a traffic police officer you have to get into college, your grades have to be good. Think it over—if you can't get into college then…" deliver takeout.

Same motorcycle, even longer rides, no education requirement, and you earn more.

"Ah… then… then let me think…"

Hong Hong Wenle laughed and said, "You could deliver straight abroad, and come back an overseas Chinese."

"Don't laugh—my Ye Ye Erbo's family spent a fortune secretly sending two grandsons to Japan to work. It's been most of a year, and all they've gotten is one message saying they're safe and have been placed in jobs. They can't reach them for anything else."

This was during New Year—he heard it from his Ye Ye Erbo. It was also nearly New Year when his Ye Ye Erbo finally got word from Ye Yaohai.

In the months before, they hadn't stopped calling Ye Yaohai to ask, but all they got was that he'd arrived safely—no other information.

Sneaking over by boat takes a month or so, then settling in, then arranging work—easily half a year can pass.

Sending money back is out of the question these days—they're illegal residents. They can only wait a few years, save up enough, and find a chance to come back. It's hardly different from being out of touch right now.

But that doesn't stop his Ye Ye Erbo's family from showing off and being pleased with themselves, bragging about it.

During the New Year days, none of their relatives escaped hearing it.

All they said was that the two kids were already working and earning money—several thousand a month, easily making more in a month than they'd earn in a lifetime…

Sending the two kids abroad was so right—when they come back they'll be overseas Chinese, people who've seen the world…

And before anything had even happened, they already felt a sense of superiority.

And most of the relatives, hearing them talk like that, were envious and all started asking around for channels.

But after being warned by the village committee, they didn't dare speak openly about the smuggling.

Lin Lin Xiuqing chimed in, "Those two kids are only seventeen or eighteen now. It's not that easy to make phone calls within the country, let alone abroad. It's better to keep our kids close."

"That's true too. Without reliable relatives who can send them back every year, it's better to keep them close. A foreign land is never as good as home. But studying abroad is different—you can come back openly with a proper visa. If you have the means, it's still good to let them go out and see the world, and it adds a layer of polish. Comrade Ye Yaodong knows this—there's a policy tilt."

Ye Yaodong nodded. "I know, thanks for the kind thought. These two don't even know if they'll be good at studying. If they go out and aren't good at it, they might get led astray—better to keep them close and watch them. They're still young anyway, we'll talk about it later."

"Don't laugh—the Japanese really are developed now, damn them. Go over there, earn their money, then come back and spend it—pretty good."

"Ah… it's starting, it's starting…"

The crowd below cheered, and the two kids by the window cheered along at the noise.

They could hear the commotion, but couldn't see anything yet.

Ye Chenghu asked anxiously, "Why hasn't it come yet…"

"It might have already started the parade on the main road, that's why people are cheering. It'll come down this way slowly later—tonight it'll go through the whole town, up and down the streets twice."

"Awesome, Uncle, what's all there?"

"You'll see when it comes. If I tell you now, you won't feel the freshness later."

Ye Ye Chengyang said excitedly, "I can hear music…"

"I can hear it too…"

The sound of drums and music drew closer and closer, and everyone craned their necks in anticipation.

The crowd below all looked in one direction, surging forward, everyone wanting to get to the front.

The police uncles below spread their arms wide, holding back the crowd on both sides of the road.

As the sound of gongs and drums quickened from far to near, everyone saw a young man appear at the end of the road, holding a huge gong in one hand, running and striking it to clear the way, then stopping at a nearby open space.

And at the end of the road, two rows of young boys and girls, about twelve or thirteen years old, came around the bend, each carrying a lantern of a different shape.

"Ah… the lanterns are here… they're all kids…"

"So pretty, Dad, can we go join the parade next year?"

"Probably not, right? This kind of thing should be organized by the government."

Hong Hong Wenle said, "You can. If you can be named an Outstanding Youth this year, then next Lantern Festival you can send the kids to carry lanterns—just a matter of saying hello."

Ye Yaodong looked at the two pairs of expectant eyes and said with a smile, "Then you'd better pray your dad gets named Outstanding Youth this year and joins the Party successfully—only then will you have a chance to carry lanterns in the parade next year."

"Awesome, Dad, you're so amazing, you'll definitely do it."

"Dad, I admire you the most, you definitely can, you're the greatest dad."

"Isn't that your sister's line? You've copied it from her?"

"Look, there's stilts too? Where did they hire these people? That's amazing." Lin Lin Xiuqing was also full of wonder.

The two kids pointed into the distance, excitedly shrieking and yelling.

"Dad, can we go downstairs and get closer to watch? It's too far here."

"Don't even think about it. Down below, unless you push to the front, the people behind can't see anything. Up here you can see it perfectly clear—you should be thanking your luck."

Not just stilts—there was also a suona band behind.

And there were flower cars, with little children sitting inside them, painted in heavy opera makeup, waving excitedly at the crowds on both sides.

These flower carts were all made from flatbed carts, with bamboo frames built up on top, a piece of cloth draped around the sides with all kinds of patterns on it, and someone pushing from behind to move the cart forward.

The long procession stretched from one end of the street to the other; everyone's eyes could barely take it all in, and the dragon dance was at the very tail end of the procession.

The two children were so excited they were shrieking, and in a flash they had gone from wanting to carry lanterns to wanting to ride on the flower carts.

They kept urging their father on, telling him he absolutely had to try his hardest.

Lin Lin Xiuqing was also beaming all over her face, watching without so much as a blink, muttering to herself that it really was lively, really was beautiful.

"This is even better than watching an opera… it's my first time seeing such a lively scene, things really are different now."

"Mama, look look, the dragon dance…"

"This year is still the Year of the Rabbit, wait till next year the Year of the Dragon, that'll really fit the occasion, it'll definitely be even livelier."

Ye Ye Chengyang's eyes sparkled as he watched, "We have to come again next year."

Today's scene would stay in their minds forever; they would remember today's liveliness for a lifetime.

Lin Lin Xiuqing also felt a surge of happiness welling up in her heart.

"Then it depends on your grades this year. If your grades are good, I'll bring you again next year to watch. If your grades aren't good, then you'll stay home and watch the house, and next year we'll bring your little sister."

Hong Hong Wenle said, "Right, don't you still have a chubby little daughter? Why didn't you bring her out?"

"There are too many people on the street, the two of us were worried we couldn't keep an eye on three children. Besides, she's still young, there'll be plenty of chances for her to come in the future."

"Watching from up here in the building is actually fine."

"We'll see next year."

That also depends on whether this year's cooperation talks work out. If they do, then everything's easy to say. If they don't, he wouldn't have the nerve to come back with a thick face.

Coming over today was also because the two of them were in the middle of negotiating.

As the procession below drew closer, everyone could see each item more and more clearly.

Being upstairs didn't stop the two brothers from clapping and cheering for the dragon dance.

Even after the procession turned the corner toward the next street intersection, they were still craning their necks, reluctant to let it end.

"Papa, Mama, can we go down and follow along with the procession?"

"Everyone's following the procession along…"

"No, you've already seen it, that's enough. There are too many people down below, and it'll come back around again in a bit."

The two brothers, hearing this, restrained themselves once more and waited upstairs.

Only when the procession came back around did they cheer up again.

This lively event ran from around 7 o'clock until it ended at 9:30.

However, they didn't follow the crowd chasing after the procession; they finished watching at 8:30.

Taking advantage of the crowd following the procession, the area downstairs had already emptied out quite a bit. Ye Yaodong thanked Hong Hong Wenle, then led them downstairs to take one last stroll.

By now there weren't many people around anymore, so they could wander much more easily.

Ye Yaodong had figured out the timing and led them back early.

Ye Chenghu kept looking back with every step, "Can't we stay a little longer? We can still hear the sounds…"

It wasn't just the two brothers—Lin Lin Xiuqing was actually a little reluctant to leave too.

"Your little sister is still at home, and it's already past 9. You two have school tomorrow."

"We can wake up, we definitely can wake up, we get up before it's even light out."

"If we stay later, there'll be too many people and it'll be hard to leave. While everyone's chasing after the procession right now, we've already seen it and had our walk, that's enough. Let's head back early."

Ye Yaodong, although he felt it was lively and beautiful, and hadn't seen anything like it in many years, and found it quite a novelty, wasn't particularly overwhelmed by it—not like the three of them.

"Let's head back early."

The two brothers had no choice but to obediently follow along.

"Papa, you have to bring us again next year…"

Ye Yaodong turned and asked Lin Lin Xiuqing, "Was it nice?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing's face was full of smiles, "It was beautiful. In my whole life I've never seen such a lively Lantern Festival."

"If we didn't have the kids, I could take you and follow the whole thing from start to finish."

Ye Chenghu protested, "No way, you have to bring us…"

Today's liveliness struck straight at their hearts; they really would remember it for a lifetime.