CHAPTER 398: CHAPTER 303: RUSHING TO THE TEMPLE FAIR (PART 2)

Zhang Guoqing and a few others, along with the service soldier, surrounded the children. They knew that apart from snacks, the toy section was the most attractive for the kids at the temple fair, so they split up and led the children to buy toys they liked.

Big candy-coated haws, windmills, and diabolo - not only did kids love these, but even Zhang Guoqing himself bought them. Without a big candy-coated haw in hand, it felt as if he hadn’t been to the temple fair.

He led his two younger cousins from the Lin Family, buying along with them, ostensibly for his son, amusing the clever little ones no end. They knew their brother-in-law was always generous.

From afar, Zhou Jiao spotted Zhang Guoqing holding a candy-coated haw over three feet long, with a bamboo basket hanging over his chest filled with crafts. Looking at her own hands full of ancient books, she regretted leaving the old book stall, had it not been for the ladies around urging her. Taking advantage of the relaxed situation now, she was determined to come back a few more times. Watching Zhang Guoqing’s stance of wanting to buy everything, unable to move past the children’s playthings, she chuckled to herself.

The group reconvened once more. The antique stalls and old book stalls held no more interest for them.

After the children had had their fill of excitement and shopping, more than two hours had passed, and the snacks from the morning had long been digested. The lot of them circled back to the food stalls.

The most alluring thing about the temple fair was undoubtedly the snacks. A grand gathering of snacks of all flavors, satisfying the tastes of both the genteel and common folks alike.

Ai wo wo, rolling donkey, pea flour cake, rice cake, sausages—everywhere was steaming and fragrant, the vibrant colors radiating New Year cheer. Tired and a bit hungry, the aroma tempted one to have a taste and a drink. Even in the bustling city in the dead of winter, the joy of the New Year was palpable.

Every person in the group held a candy-coated haw and a big windmill, with various trinkets in hand. On the way there, they were packed tight; on the way back, seating was even scarcer.

Zhou Jiao and her female comrades decided to find another carriage, waved them off, and loudly cheered. With the men and children around, they were too shy to suggest continuing with the temple fair, but now they could return empty-handed to seek out their desired items.

Zhou Jiao followed them into the book pavilion and agreed to wait here to meet up later.

This time, with no one by her side, she didn’t need to hold back and was much more relaxed. She found a spot, squeezed in, and began to meticulously search. During this return to Beijing, Zhou Xiaozheng and she had repeatedly discussed potential university majors. Based on her strengths, the Foreign Languages Department and Military Medical School were the ultimate goals. In the long run, studying foreign languages was ideal for a career path, while choosing military medicine was the safest given her family background. He advised Zhou Jiao to carefully consider one over the next couple of years.

Due to numerous concerns, Zhou Jiao hadn’t set a goal yet. With a mindset of learning as much as possible, she intended to collect foreign literary works, foreign language magazines, and both Chinese and Western medical resources before the destruction of the old is completed.

After browsing through the book and art shelves, Zhou Jiao pulled herself from the stack of books, tapped her back, and realized over an hour had passed. Since they hadn’t returned, she asked the storekeeper to pass a message that if the girls came looking, they should head home directly. Considering Zhou Jiao had bought quite a few books, the other party readily agreed.

Exiting the store, Zhou Jiao pondered a moment over the pile of books, and decided to stroll leisurely along the street in hopes of bumping into them and saving the trip. If she didn’t, she could wander through another old book stall before heading back.

Moving with the crowd, she searched for a bamboo basket to hold her books. With the help of a recently purchased basket, she walked a bit, bought some crafts for it, and surreptitiously collected some books.

With no burden weighing her down, Zhou Jiao was in a good mood, leisurely wandering. After passing the last stop, she headed towards the jewelry store. Not far in, she saw them gathered ahead.

Curious as to why it had taken over an hour, she wondered about the pull of these conspicuous pearl earrings. Even if bought, there might not be a chance to wear them. Unable to contain her curiosity, Zhou Jiao stepped forward, tapped Lin Xuezhen, and softly inquired from behind.

Despite the well-dressed visitors at the temple fair without patches, only those well-off would have spare money for shopping. Her aunt had told her that besides families from the Big Courtyard and privatized shop owners, the citizens under Beijing’s castle walls merely had enough to eat, with clothing constantly patched. Even if they coveted jewelry, ordinary folk could only use scraps for adornments.

Lin Xuezhen silently vented about flashy jewelry, leaving Zhou Jiao speechless. On closer inspection, it’s not even antique hairpins, with obvious splicing techniques. Seeing Lin Xuelin was the buyer, she simply held her tongue. This older cousin wasn’t the best character; Zhou Jiao couldn’t forget how she had misidentified her godfather, yet the other party never offered an apology. She intentionally mentioned her godfather Zhao Chuan Guang, yet the other party remained unfazed—it infuriated her.

Zhou Jiao’s gaze unintentionally drifted towards a corner. She paused, then approached a wooden tray layered with dust, full of old wooden hairpins. The store owner hadn’t maintained them, leaving them dull. She fiddled with the hairpins, confirming they were Qing dynasty crafts. She feigned nonchalance and inquired why the store was selling broken wooden hairpins.

The owner, equally nonchalant, offhandedly mentioned they were add-ons when sourcing goods, making her inwardly delighted. While not lacking in jade, she didn’t own any precious wooden hairpins. Indicating her long hair, she smiled and had the owner sell the box of what he considered junk to her for hair arranging.

Seeing the box of over twenty hairpins for only two yuan, she pretended to waver, then quickly paid and tucked the whole tray into her bamboo basket, securing it with a circle of leather string, afraid they’d fall out.

Her girlfriends, uninterested in wooden hairpins, showed no interest. Only little Lin Xuezhen playfully gestured for a share, making Zhou Jiao nod with a laugh. Her joy lay in treasure hunting; an extra or missing pin was trivial.

Lin Xuelin spent twenty yuan on the earrings she fancied, buoyant in spirit, continuously squeezing into the shop. The Big Courtyard girls, aside from Zhou Jiao and Lin Xuezhen, who didn’t find anything, bought more or less some necklaces and earrings. Zhou Jiao, thinking it wasteful to buy, and Lin Xuezhen, as a pursuer of beautiful clothes.

Returning to the Big Courtyard, they all went their separate ways home. The little follower Lin Xuezhen cheerfully announced she had business with aunt at the Zhou Family, parting ways with the Lin sisters.