The thieves didn’t manage to steal anything useful, but their audacity grew, and the frequency of their nocturnal visits increased.
Even before the New Year, our home had been invaded by thieves.
Ye Shiqi kind of missed the high technology of her previous life, like surveillance cameras and infrared detectors, and she felt even more admiration for the ancient mechanisms that could harm, maim or kill a thief without legal accountability.
The performance of the five lions was indifferent to whether it was spectacular, but it was a pity there were no smartphones or similar gadgets to record it.
Each of the lions bore a distinct appearance, the Golden Lion, the Silver Lion, and the facial paintings of the lions, which were said to have been specially crafted by their inheriting families.
Only the "Big Head" who led the lions wore the same mask.
Five red envelopes hung high, and everyone wanted to snatch them, to seize all five.
The battle for the red envelopes was fierce, with punching and kicking. Even the friendliest of brothers, or fathers and sons, had to strike each other for the sake of their team’s interests.
Each lion, head and tail, had a foundation in Martial Arts, so even if they hit others or got hit themselves, and felt pain, there was no danger to their lives.
An obtained red envelope was truly one’s own, and with only a stool and a high platform to fight for, snatching the stool and the platform was the only way to jump high enough to grab a red envelope—these were the only tools they had to snatch the prized envelopes.
Dust billowed at the entrance to the Ye family’s courtyard. The onlookers didn’t mind the dust and dirt, munching on seeds, peanuts, and sweets, chuckling as they enjoyed the spectacle!
This was the most exciting event they had seen in years, the battle of the 5 Lions!
Ye Shiqi had seen lion dance performances on TV, especially those TV shows about the "Lion Kings" contest, but those were just TV dramas, with at most two families competing.
Now, what she was watching was a live performance, far more thrilling than any filmed version!
"Wuwa, here’s a candy for you."
The Ye Family’s sisters were enjoying the show immensely from the entrance of their home. Except for Ye Shiqi, the other sisters were either eating sweets or seeds.
They didn’t offer seeds to Ye Shiqi since they thought she was too young and might accidentally choke.
"I don’t want candy, it’ll rot my teeth!"
Ye Shiqi refused her elder sister’s kind offer, but she felt that having something to eat while watching the spectacle would be better. With that thought, she silently cut a piece from a honeycomb in her space, and started savoring it deliciously in her hand.
Ye Fengqi heard her younger sister say that candy could rot teeth, and she felt conflicted. Should she still eat candy? She didn’t want to risk her teeth.
Then the sweet scent reached her, and her gaze fixated on the honeycomb in Ye Shiqi’s hand. How could she have forgotten about this... she wanted some too!
Her attention was no longer captured by the lions. It was firmly on the honeycomb in her younger sister’s hand.
Ye Shiqi, feeling the gaze of her elder sister, had no choice but to cut out another piece from her space.
Then, realizing the other three sisters were also looking expectantly, she generously offered each of them a piece as well.
While the five sisters enjoyed the honeycomb, the children and adults in the audience couldn’t help but swallow hard at the sight.
Kids who were close to the Ye Family’s sisters, unable to restrain their craving, gathered around them.
Hoping to be lucky enough to get a piece of honeycomb.
More and more people turned their attention from the lion dance competition to the five sisters, desiring a taste of the honeycomb.
Ye Shiqi felt it was a miscalculation to eat in front of so many people. She pondered whether to share with others or not.
If she didn’t share, it would seem stingy, especially since they all knew each other.
But if she shared it with everyone, she didn’t have an endless supply of honeycomb, and she had already given out quite a bit during birthday parties recently.
Although her space could grow rapidly, honeycomb wasn’t like Bai Cai.
"Kids, come here, there are candies, seeds, peanuts!"
Mrs. Li, seeing her daughters’ dilemma, came behind them with a more careful adult mindset. When she noticed her daughters in a bind, she already thought of a solution.
She had people bring out snacks from the living room. During the New Year, every household would prepare an extra supply of seeds, peanuts, and desserts to entertain guests and relatives.
The adolescents gathered around the five sisters. Although they too craved the honeycomb, the host family’s warm hospitality drew them to gladly reach out for the seeds, peanuts, and candies. Some even took the chance to grab extra, stuffing their pockets.
They paid no mind that these sweet and salty treats could ruin the pockets of their new clothes, just worn for the New Year.