"Are you really planning to buy a fridge?"
Sitting in the car, Yu Xueqing was startled upon hearing Mo Yiqing talking with their little fox and soon exclaimed:
"Momo, just don’t spend so much. I’m only staying temporarily at the old house during the summer break, the shrine is even empty. Really, don’t bother with all that."
Mo Yiqing waved a hand and said, "It’s midsummer, the perfect time for eating watermelon. How can we let our little fox eat chilled watermelon without a fridge at home?"
"Fridge prices aren’t high. Over in our place, if friends or relatives move into a new house, as a close friend, you should bring a red envelope or help buy appliances."
"At my place now, there are already eight fridges at home..." Mo Yiqing interrupted Ah Qing’s argument, casually complaining about the current state of things at home.
In Mo Yiqing’s hometown, the amounts for red envelopes, except for funerals or a brother’s wedding, are generally around two hundred for any joyous occasion, or the host doesn’t want guest red envelopes at all, and giving them would make the host anxious.
The custom in Mo Yiqing’s hometown is not to give red envelopes. Guests coming over to eat is a way to save face for the host, so how could they let guests, who have traveled far, spend money?
Anyone giving a red envelope would cause a scene.
Therefore, when Mo Yiqing’s new home held a banquet, relatives and the brothers recognized by Mo Yiqing’s father would come carrying home appliances to attend the feast. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N(o)vᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt
"Are your customs that strange? Doesn’t that make your New Year red envelopes...."
"It’s okay, basically 20, 50, 100, or for ordinary relations 5, 10. Back home, the amount is determined by how close you are...," Mo Yiqing chuckled and said:
"Given that we’re so close we sleep in the same bed, talking about red envelopes would be inappropriate. So remember, if I ever get married, you need to bring an appliance to my house for the feast!"
"But, the little fox doesn’t need to carry anything, just the fox itself is enough. When the time comes, it can jump on the wedding bed."
Driving, Mo Yiqing tickled the chin of the little fox lounging on the armrest box, jokingly said.
"I wouldn’t do such a painful thing." Ansheng rolled his eyes. Usually, they would spread lotus seeds, peanuts, red dates, longan, and then have the golden boys and jade maidens say auspicious words while jumping on the bed.
Typically, when the golden boys and jade maidens step on the lotus seeds barefoot, the pain is as severe as stepping on building blocks without shoes.
Once the golden boys and jade maidens are on the bed, their faces start to grimace in three seconds, but to earn some pocket money, they bravely finish saying the auspicious words before getting off.
The golden boys and jade maidens on the wedding day are just earning hardship fees through labor.
That’s abuse of a nationally protected animal. Our country has regulations against harming foxes.
With Yu Xueqing’s directions, Mo Yiqing drove to the southern district of Jiule City.
Today’s itinerary was, before lunch, to take Momo for a stroll around the Celestial Empress Palace and then to have a meal at a highly recommended old restaurant next door.
After the meal, take a break and then go to the appliance city, and afterwards head to Changping Mountain Pet Paradise.
The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall that Mo Yiqing wants to try is near the Changping Hailong Reservoir, but Yu Xueqing doesn’t know the way, so she thinks about asking Zhiyu for directions, and it’s a good chance to let Mo Yiqing touch the little turtles inside.
After visiting the city’s attractions, they can take Momo to the seaside and stay there for a few days.
It’s not far from Changxi Town to the seaside.
But if you go to the seaside to play, the best things to enjoy are naturally the evening fireworks show and the bustling street stalls.
Not visiting the seaside night market, while not an absolute waste of a trip to the beach, does leave a bit of regret.
Arriving at the ’Celestial Empress Palace,’ Mo Yiqing parked the car on the street, looked at the considerably sized Celestial Empress Palace from afar, and said with a smile:
"I haven’t visited the Mazu Temple in a long time. The last time was during an autumn school trip when I was in middle school."
"Hmm? Your place has a Mazu Temple?" Yu Xueqing asked in shock, holding the little fox and looking at Mo Yiqing.
"Not only a Mazu Temple, but Mazu also helped us beat down the radish heads back then, and those Qing Dynasty cannons are still set up over the mountains facing the sea."
"Mazu went through fights and bombings with us. We’re life and death companions," Mo Yiqing said with a smile.
Yu Xueqing nodded proudly, feeling a sense of honor as if it were her own, taking deep pride in Mazu.
For Xia Dong people, Mazu isn’t just a deity high above overlooking the earth.
Mazu has a historical prototype, a kind-hearted fisherwoman who saved countless lives at sea in her lifetime.
Along the coastal Xia Dong people, ancestors made a living and fortunes from the sea, naturally feeling close to Mazu. They would confide in Mazu, big or small matters, as if she was right by their side.
This is why Xia Dong people in coastal areas hardly ever break vows made to Mazu.
When they suffer or feel wronged, they confide and mutter to Mazu in their hearts.
Oh, so when it comes time to act, Mazu completely disappears from your mind?
Such laziness, you’d better sleep it off the next day.
Though not from a coastal place, Yu Xueqing’s ancestors were fishermen and farmers, and developed the habit of worshiping Mazu during festivals at home.
Yu Xueqing, when unhappy as a child, would also confide and mutter to Mazu, having wished for things from Mazu before.
Hearing Mo Yiqing praise Mazu, Yu Xueqing naturally felt a sense of shared pride.
Arriving inside the ’Celestial Empress Palace.’
During midsummer, even near lunchtime, the 6000-plus-square foot Celestial Empress Palace was crowded, with people everywhere in the worship hall, and Yu Xueqing saw a man kneeling on a prayer mat, holding his ID, scratching a lottery ticket, solemnly chanting:
"Mazu bless... It’s all my gluttony to blame, now my wife doesn’t have a drop left, a can of formula is over four hundred, deadly expensive. I swear I won’t be greedy again."
Yu Xueqing’s ears twitched, utterly astounded.
The expression on Ansheng’s cheek mirrored Yu Xueqing’s, equally dumbstruck.
Master Fox’s wish list... exploded again!
[Waaa... Mazu, my big bucktooth got teased by classmates again, I want to look pretty, I want a sweet and bittersweet romance!—A high school freshman who loves beauty, pouring out grievances to Mazu.]
[Wish Granted: Tooth Change (Most children’s grievances stem from parental neglect, sometimes needing drastic measures for parental attention. Lives in Seaside Courtyard Building 5, Unit 603, Phone: None.)]
[Mazu, I desire men! Strong, with eight-pack abs, a domineering man!—A long-haired, delicate faced young man, eyes aflame as he gazes at Mazu, deeply bows without masking desires before Mazu, sincerely voicing the wish.]
[Wish granted: Unfulfilled longing of looking feminine (Lives in Linyu Huayuan Building C, Unit 802, Phone: ....)]
[Mazu, I feel lately like my slipped disc is acting up, is there any miracle cure? Of course, if I could get rich while lying at home, I believe... slipping discs can just heal themselves!—A middle-aged office worker muttering embarrassedly in thoughts.]
[Wish Granted: Forty-five-degree crash. (Currently in hospital, 7th floor, therapy department, bed number 167.)]
"Wishes here even include addresses, just short of listing ID numbers!"
"This place... is too amazing, isn’t it?"
The little fox’s eyes widened, taking a breath:
"It’s simply... the Fox Cave Heaven Blessed Land!"