The river lamp serves as a matchmaker

  The next morning, I went out with Uncle and became even more certain that she was not a simple person.

  Hugging Xiaobai, walking with Uncle on the riverbank not far from the village, a big river in the past, now like a small stream winding and twisting, sitting next to the rotten water cart with Uncle, dangling both legs in the air and shaking.

  "At that time, the big pillar was standing in that position, yes, Uncle, you see, it's right there." I chatted with Uncle about the village we used to live in, and also about our childhood, and talked about this river. I pointed to a nearby empty space for Uncle to see.

  "Fortunately, he's not as wild as he was in his childhood."

  "It's because Uncle taught well." I muttered, if it weren't for everyone picking the lantern grass on the mountain clean, I wouldn't have called Uncle to fish just to make money, and if I hadn't fished, I also wouldn't have thrown the water snake into Uncle's crotch.

  When I was young, I didn't understand things, and even less did I understand the difference between men and women. Thinking back now, I recall the time when I lost a water snake in my brother's crotch, my face grew hot, and both cheeks turned crimson red.

  "This fabric was left by my grandmother when she was still alive, don't you think the pattern is beautiful? Tomorrow I plan to take it to Wang tailor to make a dress for me to wear at our engagement, what do you think?"

  Hearing him before seeing him.

  As I was chatting with Ah Shu, Yang Liu Ying's voice rang out not far away. I looked around and saw her carrying a bamboo basket, holding small pieces of cloth and talking to the pillar.

  I want to avoid Yang Liu Ying's gaze and prepare to call up Uncle and Auntie to leave this place.

  "A Li."

  I was stopped by Da Zhu just as I took a small step back, his voice was somewhat excited. I halted my footsteps and Da Zhu ran towards me from the winding path, while Yang Liu Ying's gaze from afar made me feel a chill.

  Dà zhù kàn jiàn le ā shū, "Yuè yáng shū." Rán hòu mù guāng fàng zài wǒ liǎn shàng yòu xiào, "ā lí, zhème qiǎo."

  Translation:

  Big pillar saw Ah Shu, "Yue Yang uncle". Then his eyes fell on my face and smiled again, "Ah Li, what a coincidence."

  I looked at Yang Liu Ying who was walking towards us and nodded awkwardly.

  She walked over to the pillar with a bamboo basket, I stroked Xiaobai's smooth fur with my head down, Uncle stood beside me in a suit, straight and handsome. Uncle likes wearing suits, it's related to his profession, often invited by TV stations, maybe it's become a habit.

  I approached Uncle Ah this morning, originally wanting to let Yang Liu Ying think that there was nothing between me and Da Zhu, just childhood friends, but in the following days, I found out that Yang Liu Ying didn't think so at all.

  "Uncle Yang, I haven't introduced her to you yet, this is my wife." Dazhu pulled Yang Liuying to his side. It was clear that Dazhu had put his whole heart on Yang Liuying, but she was still not satisfied and didn't believe it.

  "This is Uncle Yang, my dad said that my great-grandfather and Uncle Yang's grandfather were biological brothers, they are relatives." Dazhu said, introducing Ah Shu to Yang Liu Ying, "I'm right, aren't I, Uncle Yang?"

  Uncle smiled at the corner of his mouth and nodded at Da Zhu.

  Yang Liu Ying also followed Da Zhu and called Ah Shu as Yang Shu, I always feel that this is awkward, is it because I have been calling him Ah Shu all along?

  Four of us returned to the village, I and Uncle Ah walked in front, because I was afraid to see Yang Liu Ying's eyes, as if she wanted to tear me apart, although there was nothing between me and Da Zhu.

  The wind whistled past my ear, lifting my long hair, and Da Zhu took two strides from behind to stand beside me.

  "A Li, this is for you, brought from Miao Village." Da Zhu handed me a string of wheat grains. I remembered when I was very young, Da Zhu and I always liked to go to the edge of the field to pick wheat grains, remove the hearts inside, thread them with a line, and make a string of beads that can be worn on the wrist.

  At this time, I heard Yang Liu Ying's footsteps behind me. Without turning back to look at her, Uncle continued walking forward.

  "This is just one of many," I said with an awkward smile at Da Zhu, and followed Uncle's pace.

  "So, tomorrow, will you go to the market?"

  Dà zhù zài shēn hòu jiào hǎn, wǒ kàn jiàn ā shū zuǐ jiǎo shàng yáng, tā duì wǒ diǎn tóu.

  Translation:

  The big pillar behind me shouted, I saw Uncle's mouth corner raised, he nodded to me.

  I turned back to smile at Da Zhu, "Of course I will."

  But I know that Uncle's smile just now was not so simple, he went to the collection, and it wasn't just as simple as not going for many years.

  I suddenly remembered that a few days ago, on the way to Qin Village, the driver said that even in broad daylight, no one dared to pass through Sha Wo Village alone. I began to sympathize with the 16-year-old girl who had left like a flower at such a young age.

  And at sixteen, fortunately I had Uncle and wasn't alone.

  The next day, we didn't just go to the market with a few of us. The uncles and aunts also dressed up a bit and headed to the market. Liang San from our village was relatively wealthy and had bought a van to take people to the market. At this time, he received a call from someone in the village and drove back to pick them up.

  Five yuan each, the bus was packed with people, and it just so happened that only I and Uncle Ah were left.

  Dàzhù was waving at me from the car, "ā lí, hurry up and come with Yáng shū."

  Yang Liu Yin sat beside Da Zhu, carrying a bamboo basket, without saying a word.

  I forced a faint smile from the corner of my mouth, "No need."

  "Come on, it's okay, just squeeze in."

  Dà zhù zheyàng rǎng rǎng zhe, shěn shěn men yě zheyàng rǎng rǎng, wǒ huí tóu kàn ā shū, ā shū shì yì wǒ shàng chē.

  Translation:

  The big pillar was shouting like this, the aunts were also shouting like this, I turned my head to look at Uncle, and Uncle signaled me to get on the car.

  All the way bumpy, accompanied by aunties' laughter, less than half an hour, arrived at Caotang Street.

  Uncle helped me down from the car, and the aunts who should have left had already dispersed to take care of their own affairs. Dazhu agreed to his mother's request and went to the chicken market to sell those two big roosters.

  Uncle walked ahead, with his hands behind him, walking forward. I hugged Xiaobai and ran to catch up with Uncle. Following Uncle, looking left and right, the market in the small town was indeed lively. I liked this feeling very much.

  Suddenly, I reached out and pulled on Uncle's sleeve.

  "Uncle, look over there, lanterns."

  "Uncle followed my finger and looked over, 'Do you like it?'"

  I nodded.

  But I saw a hint of a smile at the corner of Uncle's mouth as he walked towards the lantern seller.

  I held a small lantern in the shape of a lotus flower in my hand and played with it, which was compact and tight.

  "The little girl has a good eye for things. This lantern is one of our best-selling items here." The boss said to me with a businessperson's smile.

  I nodded in response. The lantern wasn't big, but inside it had a small candle. I asked the boss, "Is this lantern for decoration?"

  "Look at what the girl said, you're outsiders, aren't you?"

  I nodded at the boss.

  "This lotus flower lamp is a river lamp placed in the Lotus River on Mid-Autumn Festival evening."

  River lantern?

  These two words were like a fine needle piercing into my brain, the left side of my head was throbbing with pain, my hands felt weak and Xiao Bai jumped out of my arms onto the ground.

  "This is the River Lantern, Princess. The River Lantern will be our matchmaker. From now on, the Princess will be my wife, the River God's wife... Hahahahaha..."

  That inexplicable sentence kept echoing in my mind, bringing unbearable pain wherever it went.

  Whose voice is it? Who is it?

  The scene in front of me flashed by, and that man appeared before my eyes...