Passerby's Guide to Eating Watermelons

Early in the morning of the Lantern Festival, Deng Zijin took Zuo Zhizhi and Zhang Songlan to the temple to burn incense.

After adding a large sum of money for incense and offerings, you must pray for the safety of your family and for a smooth year.

Many women would come to the temple to seek marriage, but Zhang Songlan was already married and Zuo Zhizhi was still young, so they naturally missed this step and instead went to the temple fair that Zuo Zhizhi wanted to go to the most.

The imperial court would also be on holiday for the Lantern Festival, so my father and brother came along as well, and we continued to wander around as we had formed our previous groups.

Zuo Zhizhi’s monthly allowance was not much, but in ancient times, children never relied on monthly allowance to spend money, but on the support from their parents.

First of all, there is the monthly fixed amount of silver for each person. This amount of silver is called monthly money, but the amount is not much, and it is absolutely impossible to take care of one's own food, clothing and daily life.

But fortunately, the mansion will take care of all the items that you use regularly, and you don’t have to spend money on food, accommodation, or even jewelry.

However, this money is not enough to buy some snacks outside, so adults will give extra pocket money.

Especially during the four major festivals every year, there are large markets outside the City God Temple, selling everything from daily necessities to books and classics, from silks and satins to gold, silver and jewelry, and even rare treasures from other places. The goods are so dazzling that it is hard to take in.

This is also everyone's favorite time.

Zuo Zhizhi was handed over to Zuo Qingyu's care, and there were guards watching over her, so safety was naturally not a big deal.

Deng Zijin had already booked a private room in advance, so he could go there and enjoy the food when the time came.

Upon hearing this, Zuo Zhizhi pulled Zuo Qingyu away without hesitation. She had heard that the market outside the City God Temple was very interesting, and now she could finally see it in person.

There are all kinds of snacks and toys that you can never see normally. Since she hasn’t been out for a long time, Zuo Zhizhi likes every one of them very much.

Looking at the purse that Deng Zijin had just given her and the banknotes that her sister-in-law had secretly handed over to her, Zuo Zhizhi nodded secretly, thinking that it was enough.

So starting from the first store in the market, Zuo Zhizhi did not miss any fun and interesting things and bought them all.

As for those more expensive things, although I want them, after thinking about it carefully, I feel that they are not necessary, so I have to give up.

After all, what they considered to be rare treasures were just ordinary modern goods to them.

The most important thing is that I can’t afford it with my limited monthly salary and the pocket money I just got.

However, Zuo Qingyu could not forget this and was very moved.

Zuo Zhizhi kept this in mind, but she could only give it to him after she grew up.

After all, if I take these things out now, my family will question me endlessly about where they came from.

Without money, connections, and supplies to purchase things, it is impossible to take these things out at will.

Fortunately, Zuo Qingyu didn't really want these things, he just thought it was fun, and soon he put them out of his mind and followed Zuo Zhizhi around.

Zuo Qingyu was more interested in all kinds of food, from the sesame cakes on the street to the pastries in the shops, as well as the fresh food that was said to have come from the Western Regions. He did not miss any of them.

Fortunately, there were many people around them, so they didn't have to carry these things themselves. Otherwise, they would have lost interest in carrying these things while shopping.

But because they bought so many things, they had no choice but to ask the servant to take the things back first, while the two of them continued shopping.

When the agreed time arrived, the two people hurried to the place that had been booked in advance. They quickly ate their meal and then went their separate ways.

After all, today is one of the rare days of the year without a curfew, so we have to play until night, and shopping at noon is just the beginning!

Until the afternoon, although there were still the same things on the street, many more shops selling lanterns had appeared without anyone noticing.

Some of these lanterns look very simple and can be made with just hands.

But some lanterns are so exquisite that it is not an exaggeration to call them works of art.

There were a few lantern shops in particular, which showed off their unique skills by hanging some vivid little animals high up, attracting every child coming and going.

Zuo Zhizhi also saw a well-behaved kitten. When she gently lifted the handle, the kitten's tail would move up and down.

I don’t know what material this lantern is made of. Although it looks translucent, it feels like it has a layer of fine fuzz when you touch it.

This made Zuo Zhizhi think of the little orange dog she raised in her previous life.

Although the colors are not the same, and although I know Xiaoju has left, I have to say that having a pet can indeed comfort my heart.

After asking about the price, Zuo Zhizhi couldn't help but be shocked. Who said that craftsmen in ancient times had a low status? The price alone was not something that ordinary people could afford.

However, money can’t buy what you love, so Zuo Zhizhi decided to buy it. However, when she was about to pay, a hand reached out from the side and said, “I’ll pay for what they picked.”

Zuo Zhizhi turned her head and saw that it was her eldest brother and sister-in-law.

Zuo Qingyu said without hesitation, "Then I'll pick a good one!"

Zuo Zhizhi also smiled and nodded, "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law!"

Zuo Qingyu finally reacted, "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law!"

Zuo Qingyu looked left and right before choosing a horse. The horse was not unusual, but what was unusual was that there was a general standing on the horse.

It looks very majestic and likable.

The group of four left together. Zhang Songlan was holding a lotus lantern in his hand, but Zuo Qinghe was the only one who did not hold a lantern.

Zuo Qingyu touched his head and said a little embarrassedly, "Brother, the lanterns we bought are so expensive. How about we buy one for you too?"

Zuo Zhizhi rolled her eyes to the sky. This second brother really had no vision at all and was not even as good as her!

It’s not that the eldest brother doesn’t have money to buy lanterns. It’s obvious that when he saw the lotus lantern in the eldest sister-in-law’s hand, he felt a sense of connection with her, so it was natural for the couple to release the lanterns together!

What a straight man!

Zhang Songlan lowered his head in embarrassment. Zuo Qinghe didn't take it too seriously. After all, he knew his brother's personality best. However, he said with a stern face, "I'm already old. You guys can go play by yourselves!"

After sending Zuo Zhizhi and Zuo Qingyu away, the two continued to go see the lanterns on the street.

Zuo Qingyu touched his head, obviously not understanding why his elder brother and sister-in-law, who were supposed to go shopping together just now, suddenly left them.

But he still acted like a big brother, and said to Zuo Zhizhi who was laughing beside him, "Don't worry, I will protect you, let's go and see it together!"

"Okay!"