Qingshan City never had this custom in past years. The Abyss River region always had plentiful rain. It was only after that drought and chaos years ago that people became vigilant.

People’s belief in Ghost Deities wasn’t in question. The Temple Fair began as a way to worship Immortals. But as the custom evolved, the Temple Fair became a way to socialize.

Just like now. Although Qingshan City was the main city in Abyss River, the Heaven and Earth outside its walls were vast. People scattered from all directions came here on this day. Some trekked over mountains and rivers for more than ten li just to join the fun.

Some brought eggs and vegetables, hoping to sell them for a good price. Some Jianghu People set up stunt businesses on the spot – making hot oil from their hands and breaking stones on their chests. It was a dazzling array of marvels.

And at this hour, it wasn’t even dark yet.

People said when it grew dark, that’s when it truly got lively.

When Chen Changsheng returned home, he saw Ruyi and Ping’an running over excitedly.

Ping’an said, “Uncle Chen, there’s a Temple Fair tonight. Take us to see it!”

Hope also shone in Ruyi’s eyes. She was very curious about the Temple Fair.

She’d heard it was very exciting, but she had never been.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Did your mother agree?”

At that, Ping’an and Ruyi both fell silent.

Seeing them like this, Chen Changsheng said, “I heard Qingshan City’s Temple Fair has been held for two years. Haven’t you gone even once?”

“Haven’t gone.”

Ruyi said, “Mother doesn’t let anyone take Ping’an and me.”

Chen Changsheng said, “The Temple Fair is crowded and chaotic. Your mother is afraid you might get lost.”

Ruyi said, “Ping’an is six, and Ruyi is eight. How could we get lost?”

“It’s children like you who are most likely to get lost.”

“Is Uncle Chen saying Ruyi is stupid?”

“No.”

“Yes, you are!”

Ping’an wanted to say something, but seeing Elder Sister arguing with Uncle Chen again, he couldn’t get a word in.

Chen Changsheng was a little exasperated by Ruyi’s persistence. So he said, “Alright, alright. I’ll go ask your mother later. If she agrees, I’ll take you.”

Ruyi and Ping’an’s eyes lit up. They were incredibly hopeful.

Chen Changsheng added, “Stay at home. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll go find your mother now.”

“Okay!”

Ruyi agreed and said, “Ruyi will watch Ping’an!”

Ping’an paused, then said, “Shouldn’t it be Ping’an watching Elder Sister, so she doesn’t run off?”

“Ping’an isn’t allowed to talk!”

“…”

After Chen Changsheng left the house, he headed outside Qingshan City.

Farmland was naturally outside the city walls.

He had previously heard Wang Sanniang say she was growing paddy rice and had been busy maintaining the fields because they required proper drainage.

When Chen Changsheng found Wang Sanniang, she was out in the fields, building up the ridges around the paddies.

“Brother Chen.”

Wang Sanniang called out, standing up. “What brings you here, Brother Chen?”

She was covered in mud. After days under the sun, her skin was deeply tanned, bearing little resemblance to her former self as a woman.

Chen Changsheng said, “Ping’an and Ruyi are begging me to take them to the Temple Fair. I came to ask Sanniang.”

“Those two children…”

Wang Sanniang said, “Making you come all this way specially, Brother Chen.”

But when it came to going to the Temple Fair, Wang Sanniang agreed this time.

Wang Sanniang said, “With Brother Chen looking after them, I feel much more at ease.”

Truth be told, their family no longer had any relatives left. Her own family had faded away long ago during the warfare and drought.

If there was anyone she could truly trust Ping’an and Ruyi to, it was probably only Brother Chen.

Chen Changsheng paused, then asked, “Is Sanniang not planning to go together?”

Wang Sanniang opened her mouth, then said, “Brother Chen, you know… I’m a widow. If people saw us together… it might sully your reputation.”

Chen Changsheng paused, then shook his head. “I really don’t…”

He stopped there, not finishing the sentence.

He genuinely didn’t care about reputation.

Wang Sanniang probably didn’t care much about her own reputation either.

But Chen Changsheng couldn’t be careless. After all, Wang Sanniang might remarry someday. She was still so young; surely she shouldn’t stay alone forever?

Chen Changsheng sighed inwardly.

He thought this era had many good points, and also bad ones.

But then again, even in that other time, was there truly less of this? Gossipers existed there too. Slander could destroy a person.

“Alright…”

Wang Sanniang smiled, then added a reminder, “Then please keep a close eye on them, Brother Chen. Especially Ping’an. He’s the most unruly.”

“Sanniang, be at ease.”

Chen Changsheng didn’t linger. He soon left the fields.

Wang Sanniang resumed her work, continuing to build up the paddy ridges. There was still so much to do; it felt endless.

But there was no other way.

Without enduring this hardship, how could they live?

Moreover, thinking back to those earlier times, they didn’t even have the chance to do this kind of hard work. For now, Wang Sanniang felt reasonably content.

………

Ping’an and Ruyi were overjoyed upon hearing the news.

But when they heard their mother wasn’t going too, they were both puzzled.

“Why isn’t Mother going?”

“Uncle Chen?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Your mother… has other things to tend to. Mm.”

Ruyi sat under the eaves. For some reason, she frowned.

Chen Changsheng asked, “What’s wrong, Ruyi?”

Ruyi said, “Don’t know…”

“Is it because your mother isn’t going, so you’re unhappy?”

“Not really. Maybe…”

Ruyi thought for a moment and said, “Of course Ruyi is happy to go to the Temple Fair. But… since Mother isn’t going… Ruyi feels a little like she doesn’t want to go anymore.”

Ping’an, who had been practicing his sword, stopped. He said, “What Elder Sister says is right. It just feels… strange.”

‘Strange’ probably meant feeling a little empty inside.

“Both of you feel this way?”

“Yeah.”

Chen Changsheng smiled warmly. Though Ping’an and Ruyi could be mischievous, they were both grateful and filial by nature.

“You need to grow up quickly. When you’re a bit older, it won’t be your mother taking you to the Temple Fair anymore. It’ll be you taking your mother to the Temple Fair.”

“Grow up quickly…”

Ping’an murmured, glancing at his elder sister. He felt he might grow up very soon.

Chen Changsheng said, “When we come back, you must tell your mother everything you saw and heard at the Temple Fair. So she’ll know what it’s like. Consider this your lesson today.”

Ruyi blinked. “Uncle Chen sounds like a schoolmaster.”

Ping’an also nodded in agreement.

Chen Changsheng said, “Can’t Uncle Chen be a schoolmaster?”

Ruyi thought and said, “A schoolmaster never lies.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Who says? Storytellers lie all the time.”

“That’s a Storyteller,” Ruyi retorted.

“A Storyteller isn’t a schoolmaster?”

“Definitely not!”

“I think they’re quite similar.”

“Uncle Chen isn’t clever.”

“Huh?”