Chapter 139: Demon Lord Junzhu's Slacking Daily Life Chapter 138: Strolling the Temple Fair

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Not long after, Yan Jie and Yan Wang arrived together. The moment the two brothers stepped through the door, the Princess Consort smiled and handed them the red envelopes she had prepared long ago. The brothers accepted the red packets with delight, their mouths spouting auspicious phrases nonstop, making the Princess Consort burst into hearty laughter.

However, at this moment Yan Si was still sound asleep in his room. The Princess Consort was long accustomed to this; after all, every year at this time Yan Si would always sleep until the sun was high before getting up leisurely.

Besides, Yan Si was already grown now, no longer a child who needed New Year's gift money. So the Princess Consort did not intend to wait for him, and simply let the other children go play first.

After the several children received their New Year's gift money, they gathered together chattering about where to go play next. At this, Yan Shuang'er excitedly proposed: "Today is the first day of the year; I heard there's an extraordinarily lively temple fair outside! Why don't we all go take a stroll?"

The words barely fell before Qianqian clapped her hands in approval: "Great, great! I've been wanting to go to the temple fair for ages!" Seeing both girls so interested, Yan Jie and Yan Wang, the two boys, naturally had no objections. Thus the four boarded the carriage in high spirits and set off toward the temple fair.

All along the way the children's laughter and chatter never ceased. Before long the carriage slowly halted; it turned out they had arrived at a long street bustling with crowds, shoulder to shoulder. Gazing out, stalls of every description lined both sides of the street, hawkers' cries rising and falling.

Some stalls sold delicious snacks, waves of fragrance assaulting the nose; others displayed dazzling arrays of toys and trinkets, dizzying the eye.

Qianqian had sharp eyes; she spotted a small stall selling roasted pears not far ahead at once. That golden crisp skin, the fragrant sweet juicy flesh, instantly awakened the glutton in her belly. She couldn't wait to pull Yan Shuang'er's hand and quick-stepped toward that little stall...

One saw that lithe, lively Qianqian hopping toward the boss's stall like a happy little rabbit. She blinked her bright lively eyes, face full of anticipation, and asked: "Boss, how much for your fragrant roasted pears?" The boss looked up, a kindly smile on his face, and replied: "Little miss, my roasted pears are three wen each!"

Qianqian tilted her head and thought a moment, then said: "Then boss, please give me four roasted pears!" With that she reached into the exquisite purse at her waist, carefully fished out twelve shining copper coins, and handed them over neatly to the boss.

The boss smiled as he took the coppers, turned to the stove, and deftly took out a steaming, temptingly fragrant roasted pear from inside. Holding tongs, he gently and steadily lifted the pear and placed it steadily into a specially made delicate paper bowl.

Immediately after, with the same practiced skill he took out three more roasted pears in succession, placing them into the paper bowl one by one. Then the boss, smiling, handed the paper bowl holding the roasted pears to Qianqian waiting beside him.

Qianqian took the bowl full of roasted pears with delight, first picking out one with a golden luster that looked most tempting and handing it to Yan Jie beside her. Yan Jie took it with a smile and said "Thank you, Elder Sister," and Qianqian replied "You're welcome."

Immediately after, Qianqian picked up the second roasted pear and presented it to Yan Shuang'er. Yan Shuang'er nodded slightly, expressed thanks, and took the pear. After that, Qianqian handed the third roasted pear to Yan Wang. Finally she kept one for herself with satisfaction.

At this, the thoughtful boss even specially handed over four slender straws and four dainty little spoons. Qianqian and the others all thanked him, then sat around the boss's stall, ready to enjoy this delicious roasted pear feast.

When they took the first bite, they were instantly conquered by that fragrant sweet juicy texture. It turned out the roasted pears not only retained their original refreshing sweetness, but because an appropriate amount of rock sugar had been added inside, the flavor became even more sweet and rich, leaving an endless aftertaste.

Qianqian and Yan Jie ate with relish, faces beaming with happy satisfaction. In contrast, Yan Shuang'er and Yan Wang, though not particularly keen on this seemingly childish treat, couldn't help but taste along seeing Qianqian and Yan Jie so enraptured.

The two heartily savored the food in hand, feeling a fresh elegant fragrance bloom in their mouths. This taste was neither cloyingly sweet nor lacking, but just the right sweetness, leaving an endless aftertaste. They ate their fill, beaming, spirits especially light.

After the group swept the food clean like a whirlwind, they continued forward in high spirits. Walking along, they came to a stall piled with cat supplies. Qianqian's gaze was caught by a jade-green cat nest; she couldn't help reaching out to stroke it lightly, the soft touch light as clouds.

"If this cat nest were given to Daji to sleep in, it would surely feel especially warm and comfortable!" Qianqian thought to herself. So she unhesitatingly took out her purse and bought the cute cat nest.

The group carried their new purchases and continued on cheerfully. Along the way, all manner of dazzling stalls overwhelmed them. There were stalls selling peace blessings, signifying protection and safety; stalls selling destiny ropes, said to tie the red thread for fated people; and many hand-woven crafts of rattan, shapes varied, superb workmanship.

The group looked left and right, eyes nearly dazzled. Whenever they saw something they liked, they would unhesitatingly buy it all. However, when they passed stalls selling clothes and shoes, they only paused briefly to look. After all, the quality of the clothing and shoes here was still somewhat inferior to those sold in shops, so the group did not buy.