Chapter 33 first quarter

From the eighth day of the first lunar month, the lights of the memorial arches in all streets have been erected.The ninth day of the first lunar month, called Shangjiu, is the first night of burning lanterns in the first lunar month.All the people in the city, without waiting for anyone's notice, hang out their lanterns and light them transparently when night falls.Among them, the lanterns of the shops on Dongda Street are the most exquisite and numerous, with four in each family. There are also painted glass lanterns, but the most beautiful ones are always painted on silk.And each school competes for the best, some painted "Three Kingdoms", some painted "The West Chamber", "Water Margin", or "Liaozhai", and some painted opera scenes, not all of them are craftsmen, most of them are from famous artists. It can be rewarded for elegance and vulgarity.So at night, when all the lights are on, tourists flock to watch.

The lanterns in the archway are as good as the ones on Dongdajie, and the silk paintings on the lanterns are updated every year.As for the number of fireworks, East Street is also the first.This is because Dongdajie is the most affluent street in Chengdu. All the big silk and satin shops, the big horse head shops, the big jewelry shops, the big leather goods shops, and all kinds of shops, as well as the water customers who sell Suguang groceries, are all on Dongdajie.Therefore, in the city of Chengdu, where the north and south gates are nine miles and three minutes apart, Dongda Street can really be called the first street.Starting from the gate of the east gate, there is a section called Xiadong Street, which is not good, and then a section westward, called Zhongdong Street and Shangdong Street, which is more than two miles long, will show its magnificence. : All the shop doorways and the roll-up sheds under the eaves are all black painted and polished; the shop fronts are tall, big, deep, and neat and clean; the signboards are all black painted gold characters, very bright and brilliant of.Because of several major fires, a wind and fire wall was erected every few shops; and there was a rectangular Taiping stone jar with a height of more than three feet filled with clear water on the side of the street. The fire-fighting furniture advocated by Baoding Zhitai: hemp pads and fire hooks.The street is also wide, it is said that it is enough to walk four by eight sedan chairs side by side.The street is paved with red sandstone slabs, and none of them are broken and replaced immediately.The eaves on both sides are also wide and flat. Once night falls, those who set up stalls selling various things on the spot occupy this place; the street is full of bright lights until the second watch.This is the only night market in Chengdu, and when people come here, they don't call it the night market, but they call it Gandong Street.

During the New Year's season, Dongda Street shows its dignity even more: every shop has wide couplets and short spring couplets pasted with scarlet Beijing paper. Almost all of them are written by famous writers. Or the shopkeeper is a figure in Shilin.And on the forehead, there is a row of five pieces of red paper with empty flowers and lacquered Ximen coins.On the door is a colorful painting of Hu Shuai of the Qin Army, or a straight book "Just want to have a clear heart, why do you need a god on the door" to express insight.And the bigger the business, the more plum red business cards sticking under the door god, and the thicker the uncleaned firecracker residue accumulated outside the door from New Year's Eve until the fifth day of the new year. The louder the noise, the more intoxicated people come and go!

In addition, there are lanterns and cannons. From Shangjiuye onwards, there was a stream of people every night in the East Street, the tide passed and the tide came.Therefore, it is inevitable that there will be troubles every year. This year is no exception. On the night of Shangjiuyi, all the big swallow felt hats on the heads of countrymen, the Beijing felt nests on the heads of businessmen, and the trendy gold-rimmed su satin cotton melon skin hats on the heads of old sour men were stolen by thieves. There were more than twenty pieces seized during the bustle; pocket watches, snuff bottles, purses, and broken silver were also lost in several cases.If the owner of the property has sharp eyesight and quick hands to catch the thief, he will only get back the lost property, slap him a few times, and spit on him a few times.Who is willing to go to the street messenger for such a trivial matter, or send him to two counties to ask for trouble?What's more, the thieves are all well-educated and organized. You can clearly see him grab your things and stand by your side. You must know that your lost property has been passed on several hands and gone far; Steals are not thieves, do you dare to do anything to him?So nine times out of ten, the owner always sighs and settles the matter.

On the night of the tenth day, it was more lively.At the crossing of Zouma Street, behind the screen wall of the local yamen on Shangdong Street and Zhongdong Street, there were two young women watching the lights, who were lifted up by a group of ruffians.Although they were all rescued by the boss on the clip, the red embroidered shoes, jade bracelets, and gold-plated hairpins of the two women were strangled and slipped away.It is said that one was the most ruined, the front of the clothes was completely torn, even the pink cloth with cross-stitching was exposed, and her face was scratched.People say it's two whores who opened the door halfway, and they say it's two unscrupulous little shopkeepers. Fan? A young woman, why do you come out dressed up so enchantingly that you lose your virtue?"

Eleventh night is the most lively time, that is, in the crowd of thousands of people, playing with knives, almost staining the streets with blood.