Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

The crowd froze at first, their heads perking up like marmots on the plateau, everyone looking for the source of the sound, but the sound was quick, sharp and short, and there was no sound after it.

It wasn't a lively scene. After a brief pause, the Nuo-exorcising procession started to make noise again and continued to move forward. Jiang Wangri and Xia Zhenying, like most people, just thought that someone had accidentally stepped on their foot.

Jiang Shangxian felt something was wrong, but since the crowd didn't panic, she felt a little relieved.

At least there is no need to worry about a stampede. Otherwise, with the heights of the three siblings, there is a high probability that they will fall and be trampled to death, or be suffocated to death by being squeezed in the crowd.

She now calmed down and sat obediently next to Cui Bianxu, putting her hand on his arm and using the force to stand on tiptoe higher, but she still couldn't see where she was.

Cui Bianxu's expression became somewhat solemn after that scream, but others couldn't see it because he was wearing a mask.

When Jiang Shangxian called him, he thought something was wrong, so he leaned over slightly and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Shaoqing, do you know where we are now?"

Jiang Shangxian's soles were nearly cramping from standing on his tiptoes, but his height wasn't enough. "There are too many people around here. I don't know if I can get out now."

"Right now, we are near Anyifang."

Cui Bianxu's height stood out from the crowd, and he knew roughly where he was. "Are we going back now?"

They were now located in the middle of several blocks, with the East Market next to them. People kept gathering here, and if they wanted to go out, they would have to squeeze in.

“Well, there are too many people. I…”

Before Jiang Shangxian could finish his words, another sudden scream rang out: "Ah!"

This time the sound was closer than the previous one, and it sounded like it came from the east.

The two of them looked in the direction of the sound at the same time, and the crowd paused again. Logically speaking, there were still many families who had not finished setting off firecrackers, and coupled with the singing and music of the exorcism team, if someone had just accidentally stepped on their foot, why would such a shrill sound be heard?

Yes, it’s terrible.

The first sound was too abrupt and Jiang Shangxian didn't hear it clearly. This time, she heard it clearly. It was very shrill and creepy, as if the evil spirits in hell were being tortured in a frying pan. Although the sound was short, it made the hairs on her body stand up.

Xia Zhenying also felt something was amiss. She came over and took Jiang Shangxian's arm, looking around. But there were people standing everywhere. She whispered, "Cousin, when you were exorcising the Nuo in Chang'an, you also had this scene? It's quite different from our Chuzhou."

She sensed something was wrong, but because she had never participated in this activity in Chang'an, she wondered if it was because the customs of the two places were different. Maybe the people in Chang'an liked to dress up as ghosts and scream to scare people.

Jiang Wangri was a carefree man, so he didn't take the screams seriously. He just looked at the person ahead with dissatisfaction, and kept whispering, "Why aren't you leaving? When we get to Pingkangfang, will there be any Hu girls dancing there?"

He turned to Xia Zhenying and explained, "I heard that Pingkangfang built a big drum this year. It can accommodate ten people without breaking. Tonight, the best Hu Ji ladies from each family will be dancing on it."

What a rare opportunity! How can you watch the performances of these Hu girls without spending money on ordinary days?

Xia Zhenying naturally had never seen Lady Hu dance. At most, she had seen Lady Hu come to buy braised mutton when she and Jiang Wangri were selling it together. She looked different from them. Not only was she taller than them, but her eyes were also big and deep, and the color of her pupils was lighter.

And she is more resistant to cold than them. In such cold weather, she wants to wrap her entire head up, but they can still show the tender flesh of their chests.

"So when does the show start? We need to grab a seat first!"

Otherwise, with their height, you can only see the back of their heads!

Jiang Shangxian was distracted by the screams and didn't pay attention when he saw his brother and sister-in-law holding hands and pushing forward. "Hey! Where are you going?"

"Sister, let's go to the east gate of Pingkangfang to reserve a seat. It's right in front! You and Cui Shaoqing hurry up!" Jiang Wangri stretched out a hand with difficulty and waved and shouted.

Jiang Shangxian's face turned black. This damn kid didn't even choose the right time to watch the fun!

"It's okay, we'll just follow them and take them back." Cui Bianxu took a last look at the night sky in the east, grabbed her arm and headed towards Pingkangfang.

Tonight, in addition to the Jinwu Guards and people from Chang'an Wannian County, some of the Left and Right Leading Guards, Left and Right Wei Guards, and Left Wei Guards have been dispatched to take turns on duty in Chang'an City. Although there are not many, they should go over to check out this commotion, right?

In official circles, the emphasis is on not overstepping one's authority in all matters.

Jiang Shangxian's hair was all messed up due to the crowd, but luckily he knew that there were so many people around and was afraid of losing something, so he only had a wooden hairpin and a red hairband on his head to decorate it, so he didn't feel bad if it was lost.

Cui Bianxu, standing in front of her, wasn't much better off. With so many people around, who could possibly notice who? Jiang Shangxian, with his sharp eyes, noticed a spot on his ermine fur cloak, about the size of a fingernail, stained with some food, greasy and shiny, the fur all scraped together.

Tsk tsk tsk, this is just inexperience. When traveling to crowded places, you just can’t dress too well!

The two of them walked with difficulty for an incense stick's time but still didn't reach Pingkangfang. Fortunately, they caught up with Jiang Wangri and the other two. Cui Bianxu simply grabbed Jiang Wangri's collar with one hand, preventing him from moving forward at all.

The boy was so squeezed that his face turned red and his head was standing on end. He felt the clamp behind him and thought it was someone else. Without turning around, he raised his hand and slapped him back: "Stop scratching, what are you scratching for? Can't you see I'm moving forward!"

Jiang Shangxian was afraid he was courting death, so he quickly slipped under Cui Bianxu's armpit and slapped him on the head. "What are you running for, little brat? You're running around with Zhenying in all these people. Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"

The positions of the two were very delicate at this moment. Cui Bianxu's hand was on the back of Jiang Wangri's collar, and Jiang Shangxian was sandwiched between the two of them, with Cui Bianxu's arm just falling on her shoulder.

Feeling the weight coming from his shoulders, Xiao Jiang grinned unscrupulously under the mask, and he was satisfied. As a man, he can't be like dry firewood that breaks easily when bent. What should he do?

"Sister!? Cui Shaoqing!? What are you pulling me for? If I don't go over now, I will definitely not be able to see it. My cousin has never seen Hu Ji dance!" Jiang Wangri didn't dare to struggle and could only beg them to let him go.

He was anxious, really anxious, there was still a long way to go!

"No, there are so many people here. If something happens, it will be difficult to leave. Come on, let's walk out." Jiang Shangxian held his cousin to stop her from running around.

Cui Bianxu also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. If he had to watch three people alone, he would be unable to explain if anything happened to any of them. It would be better for him to go back early.