NFBE Chapter 130 Going out requires only a mouth; identity and family background are all fabricated.
Chapter 130 Going out requires only a mouth; identity and family background are all fabricated.
The Great Shun Dynasty was constantly invaded by the demon race. At its worst, the seven cities in the Southern Region held funerals every year and wore mourning clothes every day. Over time, when the emperor of other dynasties died, there was a three-year national mourning period. Grand temple fairs and garden parties, as well as operas and acrobatics, were not allowed to be held in the capital.
In the capital of the Great Shun Dynasty, less than seven days after the late emperor's death, the city was bustling with activity again.
This southern region is a land filled with suffering, where both commoners and nobles have become accustomed to life and death.
They also took life and death lightly.
The next morning, Xue Tong, who was up early, had just opened her window facing the street when she heard the sound of gongs and drums. The little girl peeked out and saw a lion dance troupe slowly approaching, led by two lions, one as bright as fire and the other as white as snow, playing and frolicking as they came toward the end of the long street.
The two lions, with their bright eyes, swayed and moved forward, filling the whole street with a joyful atmosphere.
Xue Tong turned to look at Xue Lan, who had just stood up: [There's a lion dance coming up.]
Without her saying anything, Xue Lan was awakened by the extremely rhythmic drumbeats.
Xue Tong scooped a ladle of water into the basin: "There's no hot water now, so please make do with this..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Xue Lan reach the edge of the basin and pinch out a small flame with her fingertips.
In just a few breaths, the cold water in the basin began to steam.
Xue Tong threw the water ladle into the bucket.
I almost actually mistook you for an ordinary person.
After washing up, the two went downstairs, where there were only a few people in the lobby. They asked around and learned that some people had left before dawn.
Xue Tong thought so too. Having finally escaped a calamity in Fuyang City, it was only natural that he was eager to return to the capital.
As the young girl ate the free steamed buns provided by the inn, she looked around and spotted a familiar face.
It was that strange, thin, middle-aged man who bumped into Xue Lan when he boarded the flying boat.
The middle-aged man was taking small bites of a steamed bun in his hand, while also clutching his bundle to his chest, as if afraid someone would snatch it away.
Xue Lan noticed that the little girl was distracted and gently tapped the table: "Eat properly."
Xue Tong didn't take it seriously: "You yourself were looking at blueprints while you were eating."
She's gotten bolder now, knowing that Xue Lan is tough on the outside but soft on the inside and won't hit her.
Xue Lan wouldn't hit her, but she would eat her steamed buns. By the time Xue Tong came to her senses, there wasn't a single steamed bun left on the plate on the table.
Xue Tong: [Are you that hungry?]
Xue Lan nodded, appearing harmless.
"Never mind, you're injured, you should eat more!" Xue Tong took Xue Lan's hand and walked out of the inn: "Come with me to see the lion dance."
Xue Lan laughed as she was pulled up: "I can't see anyway."
【Then I'll watch you stand there!】
Just as the two were about to leave, the shopkeeper next to the front desk suddenly called out to them, "Ladies."
Xue Lan stopped and turned around, seeing the burning aura on the shopkeeper's body.
He was actually a martial arts practitioner.
"This young lady has poor eyesight. She should keep a close eye on her younger sister on the street to prevent her from being kidnapped by the slave trader."
Xue Lan smiled and bowed, "Thank you for your guidance, shopkeeper."
The two walked out of the inn together. Xue Tong hurriedly pulled Xue Lan forward, completely forgetting that Xue Lan was now blind.
Xue Lan had no choice but to use her Void Step technique to help the little girl run forward. Fortunately, the people on the long street were watching the lion dance. Otherwise, seeing an eleven or twelve-year-old girl pulling a young girl whose feet weren't touching the ground running down the street would make anyone wonder if they were seeing a ghost.
A large crowd had already gathered at the street corner ahead. Xue Tong led Xue Lan there, but because she was too short, she couldn't see inside at all. She grumbled anxiously from the outside.
I can't see anything.
Xue Lan smiled and replied, "There are also things you can't see."
Xue Tong retorted angrily: "It's not like I saw the broadcast myself!"
Just as Xue Tong was standing on the outskirts of the crowd, feeling angry, a burst of laughter came from above the two of them.
A clear, gentle female voice called out, "Little sister, don't be angry with your older sister, come up here!"
Xue Tong looked up and saw a shop called Qianxiu Pavilion behind them, which looked like an embroidery workshop.
At that moment, several women dressed in the same color were standing by the large window on the second floor watching the lion dance. The one who had just spoken was one of them, a round-faced woman with a pair of bright, black eyes like grapes.
Xue Tong smiled sweetly: "Thank you, sister."
As he spoke, he pulled Xue Lan up to the second floor of Qianxiu Workshop. Only when they stood in front of the window could they see the lion dance clearly.
Xue Tong was good-looking and had a sweet tongue, so she quickly won the favor of several embroiderers. She also learned that the embroiderer who had called them up was named Yu Niang, the daughter of a master embroiderer in the Qianxiu Workshop, and was sixteen years old.
[Sister Yu Niang, why do you keep staring at that red lion?] Seeing that Yu Niang's gaze was fixed on the more lively red lion, Xue Tong couldn't help but ask.
To everyone's surprise, the girl's face flushed red at the question. The other embroiderers around her also laughed.
"Yu Niang isn't looking at lions, she's looking at people!"
"Even the young girl noticed it."
Seeing this atmosphere, Xue Tong's gossip spirit was ignited, and the little girl pricked up her ears and listened attentively.
It turns out that half a year ago, Yu Niang's mother arranged a marriage for her, and the groom was the lion head of the red lion statue below. According to the agreement, the two families would get married after the New Year.
Xue Lan and Xue Tong sat among the embroiderers, listening to them talk about how strong and healthy Yu Niang's fiancé was, how well he treated her, and how he always sent gifts to Qianxiu Workshop.
The group of people were making a ruckus and didn't even notice the lion dance troupe passing by.
The sounds of gongs and drums ceased, and one of the embroiderers finally noticed Xue Lan, who had remained silent. She looked at the silent girl in white and realized that the girl's eyes were a strange grayish-white.
The girl noticed her gaze and smiled slightly: "Sister, there's no need to be surprised. Xue Lan's eyes are due to an illness a few years ago, not something congenital."
The embroiderer seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. In these folk customs, being born with an unusual condition is far more terrifying than contracting an illness later in life. People often associate congenital diseases with divine punishment, labeling them as auspicious or malevolent omens, and either flock to them or avoid them like the plague.
"Is the young lady Xiaotong's older sister? I wonder what kind of business she does?" Yu Niang asked curiously.
Xue Lan smiled and said, "Before this white film appeared in my eyes, I was a silversmith."
"Silversmith!" The women around were all astonished. One of them said, "There aren't many women who do this kind of work."
Xue Lan continued, "Of course, but my father only has two daughters, Xiao Tong and me, so there's nothing I can do."
Xue Tong rolled her eyes at Xue Lan and watched her act.
How could she not know that Xue Lan was a silversmith? She really is all talk and no action; her identity and family history are all made up.