Fog Township

Finally arrived the long-awaited Dragon Boat Festival.Yusheng got up early that day and put on the traditional Chaba clothes he asked Grandma Zeng last night. This is because his T-shirt is really conspicuous and not convenient for his shooting work; Do as the Romans do, experience the life of Chaba.Coincidentally, this dress happened to belong to Grandma Zeng's deceased son, but it fit Yu Sheng very well, as if it was tailor-made for him.Looking at the situation, Grandma seemed to see her dead son returning to him, and she couldn't help crying.Yu Sheng had learned the whole story from A Ming, so he comforted his grandmother. The grandmother was grateful for the fate with him, so she decided to give him this suit as a souvenir.

Early in the morning, after Yu Sheng finished dressing, he woke A Ming up, and he must make him spend the Dragon Boat Festival in Chaba well.A Ming grew up in Chaba, and he didn't have much interest in the festivals he was familiar with for more than ten years. He thought that the annual Dragon Boat Festival was nothing more than dragon boat racing, eating rice dumplings, holding long banquets, and releasing river lanterns. Probably the same this year.But unable to withstand Yu Sheng's soft and hard talk, A Ming reluctantly agrees to go with him.

After breakfast, Yu Sheng and A Ming greeted Grandma and went out.During the festival, Chaba wakes up very early, and the shops in Yizi Street open for business early.Those who sell noodles, bake slate rice cakes, and cook tofu are all busy, and the narrow streets and alleys are crowded with people.Although Yusheng changed into local clothes, he still became a particularly dazzling presence in the crowd because of his height and SLR camera.

A Ming led Yu Sheng to the jumping bridge first.On the other side of the Tiaodeng Bridge is a simple Tiaodeng Temple. Few people pay attention to it on weekdays. Because it is a festival, the temple has been cleaned up.A Ming and Yu Sheng squeezed into the crowd. It was not so much a temple as a simple square pavilion. The pavilion was built along a stone wall, and the Tiaodeng statue was enshrined on the side of the stone wall, facing the rolling Chaba River.The face of the god statue is already difficult to identify, perhaps because of the age, the inscription on the stone wall next to it is also blurred.I only know that the age is too old to be verified.Because it is a festival, new red silk is hung on the statues and pavilions, and various fruits and indispensable rice dumplings are placed on the altar.A rural mage seemed to have just finished the ceremony, and let the ten-meter-long firecrackers circle the pavilion. As the fuse was ignited, the crackling sound echoed on both sides of the Chaba River.

Downstream along the river bank, less than one kilometer walk is the bluestone slab. Looking from this end, you can see the two big yellow kudzu trees at the entrance of the village. The pavilion was built by an infatuated woman waiting for her husband to return home, but the woman waited in the pavilion for a lifetime without seeing her husband return.Three kilometers further down from Qingshiban, the river becomes wider, and the villagers of Chaba hold a grand dragon boat race here every year.

The dragon boat race is a grand event for the whole village, but all the young and strong laborers in the village enjoy it.Men in Chaba have the closest relationship with water, and everyone can float.At this time, both sides of the river were already full of crowds, and there were people selling fruits, melon seeds, nuts, cigarettes, etc. from time to time among the crowds.On the water, the dragon boats lined up neatly, just waiting for the referee's gong to sound.A Ming saw the jerk sitting in the stands from a distance, she must have come to see A Bao for the competition.

Yu Sheng also saw Jiao Niang, and saw a well-dressed middle-aged couple sitting beside her, so he asked A Ming, "The couple next to Jiao Niang are her parents, right?"

A Ming glanced at him from a distance and said, "That's right. Their family is quite respectable in the village, so naturally they have a good place for them." An old man was standing behind the prostitute, dressed plainly, and Yu Sheng asked again: "What about that?" Who is the person behind?"

A Ming glanced at him and said, "That's Abao's own father, Lao Tan, an oil factory worker in the jerk's family, who often helps my family, and I know him very well."

Ya Niang was eating melon seeds on the stage, her eyes were scanning the crowd below from time to time.Sure enough, he found A Ming standing below, and he was overjoyed. He planned to stand up and say hello to him, calling him to come to the stage to have a look, so that he could take a closer look, but suddenly saw Yu Sheng on the side, you two Say something to me, talk and laugh, and feel displeased, sit down immediately, and peel the melon seeds in front of you fiercely.

Suddenly, the big gong made a loud noise, attracting everyone's attention.The dragon boat race officially started. In an instant, the drums on the dragon boat were like thunder, and the people on both sides of the strait were full of voices.

Sure enough, the Youfang team led by Abao came out on top.The dragon boat landed on the shore, perhaps because he was too excited, because this was the first time he won the award as a team leader this year. Abao did not go ashore, but jumped into the river. Everyone was amazed and didn't know where he swam. After a while, he suddenly emerged from the water on the side of the crowd. Everyone was surprised and happy, and they all applauded for him.When A Bao landed, the villagers consciously made way for him. A Ming met his eyes and greeted him. A Bao ignored him and walked straight to the stands.

A Ming asked Yu Sheng who was beside him: "He must have seen me, right?"

Yu Sheng said, "Hmph! He has nothing to pretend to be, and what to pull."

Amin was silent.

Then it's time to claim the prize.The people of Chaba are simple and honest, and they live in the backcountry. Naturally, there are no rare treasures. According to the usual practice, No. 1 won a large jar of Zajiu that has been brewed for ten years.Zajiu is a kind of sorghum wine that everyone drinks together. It is a must-have drink on the wine table during the New Year and festivals, symbolizing the unity and reunion of members.It was a perfect reward for this group of unsophisticated villagers to drink wine in such a lively manner.

After the dragon boat race, the crowd gradually dispersed.A Ming glanced at the stands, and the girl and her family also left, leaving only empty seats and a mess on the ground.A Ming said: "Let's go back. We should be preparing for the Long Street Banquet now."

Yu Sheng said: "Okay. Let's go." Seeing that A Ming was still looking sullen, he asked, "Are you still unhappy because of what happened just now?"

Amin shook his head.Yu Sheng scolded: "Damn it! You still treat him as a friend, and you don't recognize him so soon! Isn't he a champion? What's the big deal! It really makes me sick."

Unknowingly, I walked to the Qingshiban, passed the Huangge tree, and there were more people again.In the middle of the alley, there were square tables spliced ​​together, two by two, extending towards the street.According to the rules of Chaba, the family is responsible for the meals on the table in front of their own house. They all take out chicken, duck, salted fish, pig, beef and sheep, etc. that they are reluctant to eat on weekdays to share with everyone. If the family is poor, they will not be stingy. Take out the pickled goods that I have collected for many years, and it has a special flavor. It doesn’t matter if you can’t provide food. Care about the minutiae, so the neighbors get along well.

The happiest part of the festival is these children. Some mischievous people search for some unlit firecrackers from the burnt firecrackers, collect them, and treat them as great treasures. They look like explorers in ancient times. Finding treasure in the tomb is like cheering.Good things happen to lucky people, but misfortunes often happen to unlucky people.The child who picked up the first firecracker often gained the most, and naturally became the focus of the children.Moving forward along the long seats, the number of people gradually increased.All kinds of fried crispy meat, steamed lamb chops, tofu fish, braised pork knuckle, etc. are placed on the long table.