Chapter 1434: Circus

When Ye Yaodong came to the city, he had already sent New Year's gifts to his father-in-law's house, so this time when Lin Xiuqing came, she only brought a basket of freshly made fish balls.

A group of people stood at the door of the house, laughter and joy constant, and they were ushered into the house.

"Ah! You guys are going to see the circus, I want to go too..."

"I want to go too..."

Lin's eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law each patted a child on the head.

"Don't you need to help with work? Still thinking about the circus. Who was shouting about wanting to sell tea eggs two days ago?"

Ye Yaodong received the looks from several children and spread his hands, helpless.

"I've already got three here, I can't handle so many of you. If you get lost, I can't just give birth to another one to compensate. If you want to go, have your mom and dad go with you."

Several of the Lin family children looked at their mom and dad, and in the end, could only sigh and walk to the side.

As soon as they were on vacation, they had to help with work at home; they had to help before and after school, let alone now that it was winter break.

At the very least, they had to help until they returned to their hometown for the New Year; only after returning to their hometown would they have a chance to play.

When their little friends asked them if the city was fun, they were too embarrassed to say that they hadn't played at all.

One by one, they were sensible and didn't dare to clamor about wanting to go play.

Lin Xiuqing thought for a moment and said: "It's noon now, and it's not busy, why don't we all take half a day off? Go to the circus together? Mom and Dad, close the shop, it's not like half a day will make a difference, let's go together."

The children had already given up hope and were standing to the side, dejected, but when they heard this, they all rushed over, and then looked at the adults with hope in their eyes.

Ye Yaodong also persuaded: "Even if you're making money, it's not like half a day will make a difference, just consider it a break, it's almost New Year anyway. I'll give Mom and Dad a day off, Big Brother and Sister-in-law, you decide for yourselves, there are no customers in the afternoon anyway, just leave the work for when we get back?"

Lin Xiang Hui and Lin's eldest sister-in-law's children all followed suit and shouted.

"Go, go, we'll definitely help out quickly when we get back."

"Yeah, it doesn't matter how late we have to work, we'll definitely help finish it."

Lin Dongxue also said: "I won't sell tea eggs either, I'll go with my younger brothers and sisters, I'll help watch them, is that okay?"

Lin Fu said with a smile: "Then let's all go together. We've been in the city for several years, and you guys haven't been anywhere to see anything. Follow your little uncle to see the circus this afternoon."

Ye Yaodong said with a smile: "That's right, let's all go together, I'll buy the tickets. It's rare that it's almost New Year, let the children be happy. Otherwise, when people in the village ask them what's fun in the city, they won't be able to answer."

"Yes, yes, yes, little uncle is so right..."

The nephews and nieces excitedly scrambled to talk about their embarrassment after returning to the village, all of them closing their eyes and bragging.

Then they also made all kinds of promises that they would help at home when they returned from the circus.

Everyone was talking excitedly, Lin Xiang Hui and Lin Xiangyang also nodded, and instantly the children, big and small, cheered.

Lin's eldest sister-in-law said with a smile: "Don't be happy yet, eat first. Your little cousin and cousin-in-law just arrived after setting off early this morning, they're still hungry."

"Dinner! Dinner immediately, we'll go to the circus right after eating."

"Time to eat, time to eat..."

Now, one by one, they were very active in setting the bowls and chopsticks, wishing they could pour the rice in the bowl into their stomachs and set off quickly.

Ye Xiaoxi was extremely proud, feeling that it was all her credit, and even stood up at the dining table, holding a spoon and tapping the bowl.

"It was me who asked Daddy to take me, you guys have to thank me, otherwise I won't take you next time."

"Haha, so it was all your credit~"

"Yeah, yeah... Daddy had already promised to take me..."

"Then everyone is basking in your light, then you drink a few more cups."

Ye Xiaoxi immediately took some soda and poured it for herself, standing on the stool with great momentum, one hand supporting the table, one hand holding the wine glass.

"Cheers!"

"Hahaha..."

The adults and children at the table all burst into laughter, and they all raised their glasses one after another.

"Then cheers, thank you little cousin together."

"Cheers!"

Ye Xiaoxi drank the soda in the glass in one gulp, and then gave a big "ha".

Ye Yaodong laughed again, "How old are you, drinking soda so boldly, don't get drunk."

"No, Daddy, don't worry, I definitely won't get drunk."

"Hahaha..."

"Did this child learn this from her daddy?"

"Hey, don't wrong me, I'm not as bold as her, probably learned it from my daddy."

The atmosphere was full, everyone had a lively meal, the children left the table first, and then they were all playing and waiting for the adults to leave the table at the door.

During this time, they ran into the house several times to look, and then ran out to wait.

Finally, when Ye Xiaoxi couldn't wait any longer and went into the house to pull Ye Yaodong hard, everyone left the table and dispersed; they had basically finished eating, just chatting.

"Go, go... Daddy, go, go... go..." Ye Xiaoxi pulled Ye Yaodong's hand, insisting on pulling him up from the chair, her whole body tilted at 45 degrees, almost falling to the ground.

"Alright, alright, go, go, go..."

Ye Yaodong was worried she would fall, so he held her on his lap, but she twisted and turned, as if her butt was greased.

"Go..."

"Right away..."

"Then if you're full, let's leave it at that, so the children don't have to wait."

Everyone looked on with smiles, and then stood up to finish, ending the lunch.

Ye Yaodong patted her butt.

Lin Xiuqing stood up first and took her out with a smile, "What's the rush? You've already been brought to the city, you'll definitely be taken, why are you urging?"

Ye Xiaoxi pulled Lin Xiuqing again, wanting to pull her out, "Go... go... brother called me in."

"Those two are going to get a beating, they didn't dare to come in themselves, so they instigated you."

"Hurry up, brother said it's too late."

Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang saw that they had been exposed, so they hurriedly hid behind their cousins, and then walked out laughing.

The circus wasn't there every day.

It only happened on specific holidays or if you were lucky, and now that it was almost New Year, it was there recently.

Ye Yaodong had also inquired about it and knew that there was a circus now, which was why he had Lin Xiuqing bring all the children over.

It was just right to take them to see it now that he was finished with his work, so they wouldn't say he didn't keep his word.

Ye Xiaoxi might not remember other things, but she remembered things he had promised better than anything else.

When they were at home, he had already read it to her no less than eight times; if he didn't fulfill his promise quickly, he was worried that he wouldn't have a good New Year, and would be annoyed to death, being called a big liar every day.

The circus performances of the 1980s were full of unique charm and a strong era character.

In that era without smartphones and where the internet was not yet popular, the arrival of a circus was like a grand festival.

The circus wasn't fixed in one city, but was mobile; you couldn't see it just because you wanted to, it was all about luck.

When the military-green tents rose up on the edge of the town, there was no need for special publicity; the surrounding people would spread the word, and in less than half a day, the whole city would know.

A ticket cost 80 cents, and a child's ticket cost 40 cents. This thing attracted children, but they all had to be brought by adults.

An adult bringing a child cost over a yuan for the two, which was much more expensive than watching a movie, and could be considered a considerable expense.

Even so, the military-green oversized tent was surrounded by children, people squeezing people, coming one after another.

The surrounding area was also gathered with a large group of small vendors, all eyeing the traffic brought by the circus.

Ye Yaodong and their group of more than a dozen people had long since gotten lost in the crowd. Fortunately, he had one sitting on his shoulder, and he and Lin Xiuqing each held one by the hand, which avoided them getting separated.

They waited at the entrance of the circus for a long time before they got everyone together.

All around were adults with children, and curiosity and expectation shone in the children's eyes.

"Is everyone here?" Ye Yaodong stretched his neck to look around and asked Lin Fu.

Lin Fu also asked the others, "Is everyone here? Did anyone get lost?"

"Everyone is here."

"I'm here too."

Ye Yaodong counted the heads, and only after he was clear did he go to buy the tickets, then gave one to everyone, and then went to the entrance to line up to enter.

"Stay close to the adults, don't get lost, and don't let anyone get lost."

"We won't, we're not children!"

"Who cares if you're children or big children? When it's time to be abducted, you'll still be abducted, stay close to your mom and dad."

After Ye Yaodong finished his instructions, he handed the tickets to the person at the entrance, and then his family of five went in first.

After entering the tent, the air was filled with the sweet smell of popcorn and the smell of animals; the smell of animals was relatively strong, all the smell of animal excrement.

This was a tent set up, and inside there were only lights and a crowd of people, and the noise of the crowd drowned out the music.

The children were extremely excited and didn't feel it was smelly at all.

They didn't wait long before the lights gradually dimmed, and the spotlight hit the center of the stage, and a huge cage decorated with gorgeous patterns appeared before the audience's eyes.

"It's starting, it's starting..."

"Daddy... Daddy... it's starting..." Ye Xiaoxi was extremely excited, pulling Ye Yaodong's hair the whole time, reminding him to watch quickly.

Ye Yaodong felt that even if his hair hadn't gone bald from calculating accounts, it was going to be pulled bald by her.

"I see it, I see it..."

In the cage were several mighty and majestic tigers; they sat or lay, and a kind of wild light was revealed in their eyes.

As the impassioned music started, the animal trainer, wearing a shiny uniform, held a long whip and walked steadily from behind the curtain to the center of the cage.

"Daddy, what is this thing..." Ye Xiaoxi was extremely excited, sitting on his neck, her two feet swinging non-stop.

Ye Yaodong felt that if he didn't stop her, he would be kicked into internal injuries, so he hurriedly pressed her two feet with both hands, letting her not kick around.

"If you kick again, Daddy will have to lie on the ground and perform for others later."

Ye Chenghu said excitedly: "This is a big tiger!"

"Big tiger! Big tiger!"

The animal trainer first bowed to the audience, and then began to direct the tigers to perform a series of amazing movements.

First was the tiger jumping through a fire hoop: the animal trainer would light two high-set iron hoops, the flames burning fiercely, forming a spectacular curtain of fire.

Then, he issued an instruction, and the tigers jumped through the fire hoops one by one, their movements vigorous and powerful.

"Wow... wow..."

"Daddy... Daddy... look quickly..."

As soon as Ye Xiaoxi got excited, she grabbed Ye Yaodong's hair, wanting him to lift his head a little higher, and also wanting him to look carefully.

"Oh... I see it, don't pull, don't pull..."

Every time the tiger completed a jump, it would attract a burst of applause and cheers from the audience.

Next was the tiger standing and walking: the animal trainer used verbal commands and gestures to make the tigers stand up on their hind legs and walk along a specific route inside the cage, showing their strength and sense of balance.

Sometimes, you would also see tigers standing on special small platforms, making some simple movements, such as waving, nodding, etc.

"Wow... Daddy... Daddy..."

"I see it, I see it..."

Ye Yaodong had grabbed her feet, but couldn't grab her excited hands; with her limbs moving around, he couldn't suppress her excited emotions at all.

He felt that the hair pulled out today was at least a month's worth of hair loss.

There was also the tiger drilling through hoops segment: several circular iron hoops were placed at different heights, and the animal trainer guided the tigers to pass through these iron hoops one by one, showing their flexibility and agility.

Throughout the process, the animal trainer constantly interacted with the tigers, occasionally giving food rewards to ensure that the animals maintained a good state and desire to perform.

Finally, in the climax of an impassioned piece of music, all the tigers gathered together, forming a harmonious picture, as if they were showing the audience their tacit understanding and team spirit.

The animal trainer bowed to the audience again, thanking everyone for their enthusiastic support, and the tigers slowly retreated to the depths of the cage, ending this wonderful performance.

"Wow, it's too good, the big tiger is too impressive."

Ye Yaodong pressed her two feet with one hand, and went to press her hands with the other hand.

"If you kick my chest again, and pull my hair again, I will put you down and let you see nothing."

"I'm too happy, Daddy, I'm too excited."

After the tigers appeared, it was the lions.

"Big lion!"

Ye Xiaoxi listened to the people around her shouting big lion, and also followed excitedly and shouted loudly, "Big lion! Big lion!"

"Daddy, big lion!"

Ye Yaodong persisted in pain and happiness.

After the big lions were finished, next was the flying trapeze.

They were like stars in the night sky, relying on a colored ribbon between the high-altitude swings, shuttling freely, every flip was a challenge to gravity.

The audience's hearts also rose and fell with it, sometimes too nervous to blink, sometimes cheering for the successful high-difficulty movements.

The children were especially excited, and the cheers and screams didn't stop.

Besides the flying trapeze, there were also acrobatics.

They either stepped on stilts to make all kinds of complex movements, or kept their balance on a steel wire as thin as a hair, leading the people present to cheer one after another.

Ye Yaodong saw Lin Xiuqing beside him with glowing eyes, her face flushed, if she wasn't holding the child, he estimated she could have clapped her palms swollen.

As for his own two silly boys, the applause had never stopped at all.

He looked down and saw that both their palms were red, but they were still clapping desperately in excitement.

The one on his head was also the same, her two legs were almost impossible to press down, her little butt was shaking on his shoulder, and he didn't know if she had let out two farts for him.

It was really too difficult for him.

Going out was too expensive for a daddy.