Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family - Chapter 192

Chapter 192: Chapter 190: Sansheng Bridge, The Love Destiny for Three Lives (Part 2)

On the shore of the lake, many trees were planted.

Tall and straight Chinese parasol trees, round and dark green pagoda trees, green pine trees like an ocean, upright cypress trees, persimmon trees covered in red lantern-like fruits, and elegant, swaying willow trees. The most numerous were the maple trees sprinkled throughout, forming clusters of red clouds. They were red as fire, dazzling the eyes.

As they gradually approached, they could see the clear water of the lake and the reflected fiery red scene. The aquatic plants in the lake had also begun to turn yellow, competing with the fiery red reflection in the water, making it even more beautiful.

The most abundant trees were the ancient Chinese parasol trees with lush branches and twisted roots that lined the lakeside. Their overlapping and staggered canopies were a deep, cloud-like green.

Even at this moment, at noon, the blazing sun was blocked by the canopy. A gentle mountain breeze carried the cool mist, quickly dispelling their body heat, making them feel lighter and instantly calm.

The closer they got to the lake, the more noisy bustle they heard, as if the once still scenery had come alive.

“Hurry up, Sisi! The food here is better than at the foot of the mountain, but also much more expensive. There are many things to see and do here. Let’s go one by one.”

Guihua anxiously pulled Liu Sisi’s hand as they walked forward.

Indeed, as soon as they stepped onto the avenue, they immediately saw the dense stalls along the lakeshore and the beautiful lakeside scenery.

The most eye-catching attraction was the rickety wooden bridge that passed directly through the lake and zigzagged in the middle of the lake.

“Did you see it? This is the most beautiful lake here, called the Lake of Forgetfulness. The bridge on the lake is the famous Sansheng Bridge. Sansheng Bridge, love destined for three lifetimes. Legend has it that as long as a truly loving couple supports each other across this bridge, their love will last for three lifetimes. That’s why so many couples come here during the Qixi Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival every year.”

As Guihua walked, she whispered the story into Liu Sisi’s ear.

So, the people here also believe in the love that spans three lifetimes?

Liu Sisi couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

“Don’t worry, let’s go over there first. This is the Earth God Temple, and it’s natural to come here and pray for a good harvest next year.”

As Guihua spoke, she led Liu Sisi through the surging crowd towards the Earth God Temple.

Compared to the flow of people heading to Sansheng Bridge, most of those going to the temple were young couples or older husbands and wives walking towards the entrance.

Those heading for the Earth God Temple were mostly older couples or elderly people.

There were many stalls along the way, selling heart-to-heart knots, heart-connecting locks, live mandarin ducks, fortune pigs, dough figurines, masks – an array of items that dazzled Liu Sisi’s eyes.

“This fortune pig looks really good. Why don’t we buy one and take it home?”

Liu Sisi held the lively and cute little fat pig, looking at it from all sides and not wanting to let go.

This fortune pig was made of clay, with a pink piglet grinning, its small pig mouth open wide, somewhat resembling a storage jar…

Oh, it was originally a storage jar!

Liu Sisi suddenly saw the opening in the pig’s grinning mouth.

“If you like it, buy it. You can put it by the head of the bed, and it will accompany you every day.”

Di Yelei, who had been waiting for a chance to please Liu Sisi, quickly squeezed over to pay for the pig, his face full of an honest smile!

Liu Sisi gave him a glance, her heart feeling happy.

This fortune pig can be given to YingEr as a gift for her!

Soon, they followed the crowd into the Earth God Temple. The temple was built beside a huge banyan tree. The old tree stood tall with its twisted roots reaching up to the sky, wisps of incense entwining among its branches, and the heavy feeling of a thousand years of history emanated from its coiled roots.

Holding three sticks of incense, they walked through the temple gate and worshipped all the way to the innermost Earth God. A solemn, ancient, lonely, and mysterious atmosphere diffused from within the temple.

Liu Sisi meticulously worshipped and prayed along with the others, asking the Earth God for a bountiful harvest and a good year ahead. Only then did she insert the incense and step back out of the temple.

Upon leaving the Earth God Temple, they once again followed the crowd towards Sansheng Bridge.

As they passed the small stall again, they couldn’t help but be drawn to the heart-to-heart knots and heart-connecting locks.

The astute stall owner noticed Liu Sisi’s gaze and immediately greeted them with a smile.

“The two of you! These are heart-connecting locks and heart-to-heart knots. Buy three pairs, they say buying one pair is for one lifetime. If you buy three pairs and hang them on both sides of the bridge with a red string, you can be connected through love for three lifetimes, and be husband and wife for three lifetimes. How about the two of you buy three pairs?”

In the stall owner’s hands were two small red heart-shaped iron locks.

They were hung with red strings and tied with heart-to-heart knots, fluttering gently in the breeze.

“Sisi, these heart-to-heart knots and heart-connecting locks are pretty nice. Should we buy three pairs too?”

At some unknown point, Liu Sisi and Guihua had been separated by the crowded stream of people, and at this moment, guarding her steadfastly was Di Yelei.

His tall figure shielded her completely in front of his chest, using his sturdy back to withstand the crowded flow of people, firmly protecting her from behind.

At this moment, upon seeing the heart-to-heart knots and heart-connecting locks by the roadside, he couldn’t help but have his eyes light up with fervor, the eagerness in his eyes almost scorching Liu Sisi’s vision.

She was taken aback!

Subconsciously avoiding him, she used the excuse of looking for Guihua to evade his gaze, moving left and right.

“Huh! Where’s Sister Guihua? Weren’t they just here?”

Di Yelei’s ardor in his eyes dimmed slightly, but he still managed to muster a hearty smile: “Just now, they were pushed to the other side. I noticed Zhang Peng following her closely, so don’t worry!”

“Mmm, that’s good.”

Liu Sisi retracted her gaze, her eyes sweeping over the countless heart-to-heart knots and heart-connecting locks on the stall.

Heart-connecting locks and heart-to-heart knots could lock the present but not the future, they could lock appearances but not the heart.

Knots could tie loving husbands and wives, but they could also bind resentful spouses that were akin to enemies.

At this point in her relationship with Di Yelei, she couldn’t tell whether she was with him due to a desperate yearning for a family, or whether she was forced by reality to reluctantly stay by his side?

She knew she had feelings for him, but was this love?

She was hesitant!

Di Yelei, on the other hand, was very excited. He held Liu Sisi’s hand as they carefully selected from the stall, soon picking out three pairs of heart-connecting locks and heart-to-heart knots.