Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Shen Yu had no choice but to smile apologetically at the red lion and put the auspicious flower card into the small yellow basket.

After Shen Yu's action, the queues that went to vote became slower.

Several naughty children took the opportunity to indulge in playing with the big lion. The lion dancer was probably in a good mood and was willing to cooperate, acting cute and coquettish, nodding his head and lying down to be petted. There was no trace of the lion's domineering aura left.

The adults watching the performance said: "The children are naughty, but they have seen a more exciting dance performance this year."

After the lion fight was over, the bamboo basket was carried down to count the votes. At this time, it was time for the dragon dance team to take the stage. The dragon dance team had many people, and the atmosphere was much more solemn. Someone nearby who knew something said that this was called the double dragons playing with a pearl, and that it could be used to pray for blessings and for the well-being of all people.

Dragon dancing requires the coordination of the whole team. For a moment, two teams of dragon dancers were seen walking all over the field, tumbling and moving. It really looked like two dragons playing in the clouds, with golden light shining and auspicious clouds rising.

The people watching cheered loudly from time to time, and the children were also fascinated by the show, clapping along with the drumbeats when the performance was exciting.

This dance of two dragons playing with a pearl is exquisitely performed, magnificent and beautiful.

Because dragon dancing has the meaning of praying for blessings, there is no winner or loser. After the performance, the team will walk around the venue for a week and then retreat to the beat of the drums. I heard that after noon, they will parade throughout the county, walking through the main streets until they reach the canal.

The dragon dance team retreated, and the result of the lion dance battle came out. The yellow lion's cuteness and coquettishness were not in vain. Sure enough, the number of lucky flower cards in this team was much higher than that of the red lion.

As soon as the result came out, the two-person team dancing the yellow lion happily performed a set of lion rolling balls with ingenious steps and various tricks, and then retreated contentedly after the red lion team.

The dance battle was over, and judging by the time, the lecture inside was about to end.

Shen Yu led the three of them to the temple gate to wait. After they stood there for a while, they saw people who were going to listen to the sermon coming out one after another.

Maodou had a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus candy in his mouth and tightly grasped the large knife in his hand, mumbling incoherently: "Why doesn't mother come out yet? I'm hungry."

Shen Yu stroked his head and said with a smile, "It's almost there. Maodou is really good. He behaved very well today."

As the two were talking, Maodou shouted with sharp eyes: "Mom, mom, I'm here."

Shen Yu looked up and saw Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Li walking out while talking, followed by Brother Liu, Madam Qi, and Zheng Sanniang.

When Mrs. Liu heard Maodou's shout, she looked over here, and Shen Yu also raised his arm and waved.

Mrs. Liu pulled Mrs. Li, and several people came over here together.

Walking closer, Maodou happily showed off the wooden sword in his hand: "Mom, mom, look, this sword, am I good?"

Seeing her son's happy face, Mrs. Liu knew that he must be having fun. She couldn't help but touch Maodou's head and thanked Shen Yu, "Thank you very much, Miss Shen. I'm sorry for your trouble. It must be difficult to take care of this naughty monkey. Did he run around?"

Before Shen Yu could answer, Mao Dou raised his left hand and showed Mrs. Liu the silk ribbon tied on his hand: "Mom, I didn't run around. I am the best."

Mrs. Liu looked at the loosely tied silk ribbon on Maodou's chubby wrist in surprise. She looked along the line and saw that the other end was tied to Shen Yu's wrist. She asked in confusion, "What is this for? Why are the two of them tied together?"

Shen Yu looked down and realized that he was so focused on visiting the temple fair that he had forgotten about the silk ribbon.

She quickly squatted down, untied the knot of the silk ribbon, untied the silk ribbon from Maodou's wrist, straightened it out, and tied the silk ribbon around Xiaopang's wrist again.

As she did this, she smiled and explained to Mrs. Liu, "There were too many people at the temple fair, and I was afraid that Maodou would accidentally break free from my hand and I wouldn't be able to catch up, so I came up with this idea."

"Tie their hands together with a silk ribbon. You don't have to worry about him running away, and it won't prevent him from playing with his toys. When I take him for a walk, I feel more at ease."

Ever since Maodou could walk steadily at the age of one and a half, he has never been quiet. He is extremely curious about the world and wants to see everywhere.

When taking him out to play, Mrs. Liu was very worried. She had to keep an eye on him all the time, otherwise, if she was not careful, his little figure would disappear somewhere unknown.

For this reason, as long as she brought him with her, Mrs. Liu could not do anything when she went out, let alone go shopping and look at the things she liked.

Mrs. Liu, who had suffered enough from raising children, understood what Shen Yu said and clapped her hands happily: "This is a good idea. Next time I take him out for a walk, I will tie him up with a rope so that I can feel more at ease. This child is too naughty. Now that he is grown up, I can't catch up with him when he runs. I dare not take him out for a walk easily."

Madam Qi and Zheng Sanniang are both mothers, and they didn't understand this scene when they first saw it.

But after listening to Shen Yu's explanation and thinking carefully about the situation of taking care of the children themselves, they realized that this was indeed safe and secure, and they nodded frequently.

Madam Qi praised, "Miss Shen is very clever, this idea is indeed good. I will braid a silk ribbon when I get home. Although my daughter is a girl, she is more naughty than a boy. It is very troublesome to take her out."

At first, Shen Yu was worried that Mrs. Liu would blame him for tying up her son. Unexpectedly, the three of them said that this method was good. He was relieved. After thinking for a while, he added: "This silk ribbon is too thin and short. It can only be used temporarily, so I have to tie it around the wrist. If you really take the child out, it is better to use a soft cloth strip to make a thicker and longer rope, tie one end around your wrist and the other end around the child's waist. This way, it will not strangle the child and will not hinder the child from playing and walking."

After hearing this, the three of them thought it was a good idea and prepared to go back and find some cloth strips to weave ropes. Later, all the women in the county learned how to take their children out in this way, and it became a must-have for taking care of children. But that’s another story.

Shen Yu tied the silk ribbon for Maodou again and handed the unopened water caltrops to Maodou. She was still squatting, smiling, looking at Maodou and said gently: "Maodou, you performed very well today, the best. Sister Shen bought this bag of water caltrops for you to praise you. Take it home and eat it slowly."

Maodou nodded vigorously, looking very happy to be praised, and said loudly: "I will never run around again, I will always be the best."

As he said this, he took the water water chestnut and handed it to Sister Liu, asking her to hold it for him. He then took the initiative to put his little hand into Sister Liu's hand and asked her to hold it, while he stood obediently holding the big knife in one hand.

Mrs. Liu looked at Maodou in disbelief, as he asked her to hold his hand. It had only been such a short time, but was he still the naughty boy who couldn't be caught once he went out?