LGSLAW : Chapter 66 – Dragon Boat Festival

Following the flower viewing party, another person had some thoughts, namely Miao Qiang.

 

After hearing about the event, some people came to ask him about it. Everyone in the village knew that Yang Dalang and Miao Qiang were childhood friends with a long-standing bond. However, when they inquired, they found out that he hadn’t been invited, while others like Miao Ping, Miao Gao, and Miao Dahai were all included. This made them look at Miao Qiang with suspicion.

 

Naturally, being the subject of such looks made Miao Qiang embarrassed and uneasy. After being punched by Yang Dalang last time, he had asked Miao Dahai and others to speak on his behalf, but the result was the same—no response from Yang Dalang, and his friends now knew that Yang Dalang had cut ties with him.

 

Miao Qiang didn’t want more people to know about this and still wanted to mend things. Faced with these suspicious looks, he couldn’t help but make an excuse, “Well, Dalang and I had a small misunderstanding about He Ge’er.”

 

“What misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding could you have with a married Ge’er?”

 

“Just a small thing. How could I have known He Ge’er would… Ah, forget it, it will be resolved soon.”

 

Miao Qiang vaguely explained, intentionally making it sound like there was something going on between him and He Ge’er. He thought that if this reached Dalang’s ears, he might reach out to clarify and restore their friendship for He Ge’er’s sake. And as long as Dalang was willing to interact with him again, he could slowly apologize and seek forgiveness.

 

Unexpectedly, while he was on the road to town one day, Yang Dalang, who had been driving a donkey cart, stopped upon seeing him. After calming the donkey, he walked straight over. Miao Qiang was about to smile and greet him, but before he could say a word, he received a heavy punch to the face!

 

Yang Dalang glared at the fallen Miao Qiang and coldly said, “If you talk nonsense again, I’ll punch you every time I see you.”

 

With that, he returned to the cart. Sitting on the cart was He Ge’er, who looked at him with wide eyes.

 

He Ge’er had lost the roundness from his pregnancy but maintained a fair complexion, making his features look even more exquisite. He wore a matching indigo short robe like Yang Dalang’s and held a lazy, fat black cat in his arms. His presence was becoming increasingly remarkable.

 

This happened at a busy time when many people were on their way to town. Seeing this, the onlookers recalled the previous rumors about a misunderstanding between Miao Qiang and He Ge’er. They speculated that Miao Qiang might have developed feelings for He Ge’er and got beaten up by Yang Dalang because of it. After all, why would He Ge’er give up someone as good as Yang Dalang for someone like Miao Qiang?

 

As some differences between people reached a certain level, some rumors became inherently unbelievable. Seeing He Ge’er gently rubbing Yang Dalang’s hand, onlookers were convinced that Miao Qiang’s intentions were misguided. Finally, amidst the pointing and gossiping of the crowd, Miao Qiang had no choice but to return home in disgrace.

 

Upon seeing her son’s injuries, Aunt Qing was angry and confused. She couldn’t figure out what had happened.

 

“Qiangzi, what were you thinking?”

 

Miao Qiang turned his face away and didn’t reply.

 

“Can’t you stand to see Dalang doing well? You begged him for forgiveness and asked me and Dahai to speak on your behalf. Was that all fake?”

 

“No! Of course not! But Dalang just won’t listen to me!” Miao Qiang reacted immediately at the mention of Dalang.

 

Aunt Qing scolded, “So, because he won’t listen, you spread rumors? And now you’ve damaged He Ge’er’s reputation! Why? Ever since you’ve met He Ge’er, you’ve been hostile towards him. You didn’t help him when he was in labor, and now you’re spreading these lies! What’s the reason? It doesn’t make sense!”

 

Suddenly, Aunt Qing’s face changed as she slapped the table. “Tell me! Have you developed feelings for He Ge’er?”

 

Her shout startled Miao Qiang. “What? No way! I… I haven’t…”

 

For Dalang?

 

No, that couldn’t be it. He just thought Dalang was…

 

Aunt Qing sternly shouted, “Don’t lie to me! Have you fallen for He Ge’er? Is that why you’re sabotaging them? Even harming their child? Tell me the truth!”

 

Suddenly, Miao Qiang felt a strong sense of relief. “Ha! What are you saying, Mother? Fallen for He Ge’er? How is that possible? How could I…”

 

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

 

Not He Ge’er, then could it be Dalang?

 

A sudden feeling of dread and uncertainty surged within him, like a dark secret about to be exposed. Miao Qiang panicked but heard his mother continue questioning him.

 

“If not, why were you so indifferent when I mentioned marriage? Why did you tell me any Ge’er or girl would do? Do you already have someone in mind?”

 

Miao Qiang’s face changed drastically. “No! I don’t! I said I don’t!”

 

To Aunt Qing, this seemed like a guilty conscience. But she couldn’t let Qiangzi continue down the wrong path.

 

“If that’s the case, then you should listen to me and marry the person I’ve chosen for you! If you refuse, don’t blame me for being suspicious!”

 

“I’ll marry! I’ll marry! I’ll do it!”

 

Miao Qiang shouted stubbornly.

 

He would marry, just like Dalang, and like everyone else.

 

***

 

During the flower season, besides replanting watermelons in the vegetable field, Yang Dalang didn’t forget one thing. Remembering Miao He’s previous complaints, he went to town to find a beekeeper and set up several beehives in the back hill.

 

Regarding how to attract bees, the beekeeper assured them that with such a large area of flowering trees, they wouldn’t have to worry about bees. They just needed to coat the beehives with honey every day. If the bees stayed, it meant they had successfully attracted them.

 

Since many desserts required honey, and Miao He had never tasted honey produced by the flowers grown in the rich soil, he was filled with anticipation despite the trouble.

 

Before the peach blossom season ended, a queen bee indeed moved into their hive. But there were still lemon trees, hawthorn trees, orange trees, pomegranate trees, persimmon trees, and osmanthus trees waiting to bloom. By the end of the flowering season, they should have plenty of honey.

 

Soon, the Dragon Boat Festival arrived, and the plums on the tree were ripe.

 

This time, they weren’t too busy. After harvesting the plums, they sent them off because their new neighbor, Xu Huan, had already made arrangements to use their entire season’s plum harvest to make wine. This time, Xu’s family provided the technique while Miao He’s family supplied the raw materials. The resulting wine would be co-branded, with profits split in a 70-30 ratio. Xu’s family would take a larger share for handling the sale.

 

For the Xu family, renowned for brewing and selling wine, this was just another new venture, and the favorable terms were agreed upon by Yang Dalang. Miao He was very pleased with this effortless way of making money. Let others do the hard work while they focused on growing quality fruits.

 

Thus, the summer began leisurely and relaxed.

 

After making a few jars of pickled plums, Miao He enthusiastically started preparing zongzi.

 

At this time, Mantou and Wotou’s necks had become stable. Every day, Miao He and Yang Dalang carried one baby each on their chests, allowing Miao He to regain his former activity range.

 

This time, he planned to make peanut zongzi and eight-treasure sweet zongzi because Second Aunt had promised to prepare meat zongzi for them. Miao He happily accepted, feeling lucky to have a capable housewife like Second Aunt as support.

 

First, the eight-treasure sweet zongzi, which required more complex ingredients. Miao He selected honey red beans, chestnuts, lotus seeds, peanuts, candied sweet potatoes, and sour dried black dates. He stir-fried the soaked glutinous rice with oil, added sugar, wolfberries, and peanuts, and then layered the ingredients, wrapping them in bamboo leaves and steaming them. The result was a sweet and rich cake. Drizzling osmanthus honey on top made it even more delightful.

 

However, peanut zongzi was Miao He’s favorite, and the one he often made in the past.

 

The method was simple: stir-fried peanuts with glutinous rice, wrapped and steamed. The key was to use large peanuts, which, after steaming, combined with the rich aroma of bamboo leaves and the strong nutty flavor, created a delicious and unique taste. Topped with ground peanut powder, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and lotus root powder sauce, the flavor was unparalleled.

 

“Ah, my vegetarian zongzi is still so delicious,” Miao He said, indulging himself.

 

Yang Dalang paused his eating. He noticed that Miao He wasn’t just referring to the zongzi here. “Did you often make them before?”

 

Miao He nodded. Seeing the small heads on his chest moving around, seemingly smelling the aroma, he smiled and rubbed their heads with his chin. “Yes, I used to make them often. Although it was a bit troublesome, I would make them every year and eat them all by myself.”

 

“?” Yang Dalang showed a puzzled expression. Given Miao He’s personality, he wouldn’t be so selfish.

 

Miao He sighed, “I was scared back then. Scared that people would find out, scared that they would suspect. Someone like me was considered an unusual monster in that world.”

 

Yang Dalang immediately said, “You’re not.”

 

Holding zongzi in both hands, Miao He bumped his head against Yang Dalang. “You were the first to think I was a monster.”

 

“I wasn’t.”

 

“You were!”

 

Yang Dalang frowned, “I wasn’t. Even if you were, I wouldn’t be afraid.”

 

Miao He laughed, “I knew that, so I told you everything.”

 

Now, he had someone with whom he could wrap zongzi and celebrate festivals together every year.

 

“Hmm.” Yang Dalang smiled and leaned in to kiss Miao He on the lips.

 

Miao He, with a twinkle in his eye, reciprocated with a kiss. “Mwah!”

 

Meanwhile, Mantou, strapped to Miao He’s chest, kept searching for the source of the fragrance. 

 

Seeing a white, soft thing in front of him, he thought it might be edible and took a bite.

 

Ouch! He had bitten his brother Wotou’s chubby cheek!

 

It didn’t hurt much, but it startled him! Wotou then turned his head, biting back!

 

The two little heads started biting each other.

 

Uh, so teaching by example is quite important?

 

***

 

Miao He’s two types of zongzi were immensely popular at Second Aunt’s house. Even Miao Datong, who had never fought over vegetarian zongzi, found himself puzzled, saying he had never experienced fighting over vegetarian zongzi before. Little did he know, the new neighbors experienced the same scene.

 

Xu Ming originally had no ulterior motives; he merely sent over fancy meat zongzi stuffed with dried scallops and abalone as a gesture of goodwill. In return, he received two strings of vegetarian and eight-treasure zongzi. Not being traditional flavors, he had little interest.

 

On Dragon Boat Festival, Xu Huan returned home, tired from his journey, and sat down with his brother and family to celebrate. After eating one of their homemade zongzi, he asked the servants to serve the ones Miao He had sent.

 

Upon tasting them, the three exchanged glances, “…”

 

Xu Ming immediately bowed his head in repentance, “I underestimated them.”

 

How could he think zongzi all tasted the same? He had left them untouched!

 

Xu Huan shook his head, laughing, feeling more relaxed than he had before leaving. He unwrapped a vegetarian zongzi, put half in a bowl, and handed it to Xiang Zhen, “Don’t just eat sweet ones. Try this vegetarian zongzi too. It’s delicious.”

 

Xiang Zhen smiled, nodded, and made sure to share a small piece with their daughter. Their two-year-old, Tang Wa, quickly scooped it into her mouth, eating eagerly with puffed cheeks. Knowing it was good, she ate quickly and seriously.

 

As the family enjoyed their festival, the steward, Li, approached the flower hall to report, “Master, Miss Miao Duan’er from the village brought zongzi. Do you wish to see her?”

 

Upon hearing “Miss,” Xu Huan frowned slightly, assuming it was an informal village custom. He waved his hand, “Just accept it. Remember to send a return gift.”

 

Steward Li acknowledged and left, but shortly returned, his expression odd.

 

“Master, that Miss Miao says she twisted her ankle at our door and can’t walk.”

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Rain : Does anyone has a way to enter into a book, to kick some scumbags ?