When the situation in Syria calms down, Tawana’s concert is held as scheduled in Paris.
The appeal of the diva is unparalleled, making fans across Europe as jubilant as during the New Year.
In the blink of an eye, time has come to the Lantern Festival.
In Charlie wade’s personal view, the Lantern Festival is the liveliest among traditional festivals, and also the one with the best visual effects.
Both sides of the Qinhuai River are adorned with lanterns and decorations, even featuring ancient-style boat parades. Although the weather is still damp and cold, it cannot stop the enthusiasm of Aurous Hill citizens for night tours and lantern viewing.
Tonight, the Calligraphy and Painting Association is holding a calligraphy, painting, and lantern riddle competition at a book club by the Qinhuai River. As a member of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, Jacob Wilson naturally has to go and show support. Elaine has always loved joining in the fun, so she also arranges to go together, even calling Charlie wade and Claire Wilson to join.
At this moment, the Qinhuai River is not only dazzling with various colourful lanterns, but many children viewing the flower lanterns are also carrying all kinds of lanterns in their hands, in vibrant colours, extremely lively.
All the trees on both banks are wrapped with colourful lights, like fiery trees and silver flowers, truly beautiful. People are rubbing shoulders, yet no one minds the crowding and noise. No matter what frustrations, difficulties, or dissatisfactions there are in daily life, coming out tonight and feeling this strong festive atmosphere, negative emotions can be temporarily cast aside. So everyone wears smiles of happiness and joy on their faces.
Charlie wade and Claire Wilson hold hands, strolling leisurely along the bank of the Qinhuai River. Seeing this lively scene, the suppressed sadness in Claire Wilson’s heart is temporarily alleviated a bit. She asks Charlie wade beside her, “Do you remember how you celebrated the Lantern Festival as a child?”
After saying that, she adds, “I mean when your parents were still around.”
Charlie wade thinks for a moment, smiles and says, “When my parents were around, we would also go out to view lanterns and stroll in the parks every Lantern Festival. I would carry a small red lantern in my hand, but that red lantern was not powered by batteries, but by a burning candle. At that time, there was no ban on fireworks. Every night of the fifteenth of the first lunar month, we would go to the lakeside to set off fireworks. Some units would even allocate a special budget to set off a large quantity of fireworks on the night of the Lantern Festival. Sometimes units would compete with each other, comparing who sets off more, bigger, longer. We kids found it so exciting, looking southeast, northwest, everywhere, simply couldn’t see it all.”
Claire Wilson nods gently and says, “When I was little, it seemed similar. I just remember that every night of the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the whole city was filled with fireworks soaring into the sky. Grandpa would also buy a lot of fireworks for us kids, but I didn’t dare to set them off. Basically, it was Harold Wilson who was responsible for setting them off, and we just watched from the side.”
Speaking of this, she remembers something and suddenly says, “Oh right, I saw Wendy yesterday.”
“Wendy?” Charlie wade asks curiously, “Wendy Wilson?”
“Yes.” Claire Wilson nods and says, “Yesterday I went to the Emgrand Group for a meeting to report project progress. It happened that the Emgrand Group had a Lantern Festival banquet held a day early. Vice Chairman Doris Young invited me to join. It was a group banquet with many people, and many etiquette ladies were invited to help out. Wendy came over to toast Vice Chairman Doris, and that’s how we met.”
Charlie wade pretends not to know and asks, “Wendy Wilson went to work at the Emgrand Group?”
“No.” Claire Wilson says, “Wendy started her own business. You should have heard about it. My mum mentioned it some time ago. She set up an etiquette company, specialising in etiquette services. It seems to be doing very well. Many big companies in Aurous Hill have long-term cooperation with her. The Emgrand Group is the biggest client.”
Charlie wade naturally knows Wendy Wilson’s situation. Initially, it was he who helped her deal with the unscrupulous businessman who cheated her etiquette company, allowing her to have her own career. Moreover, it was he who secretly instructed his subordinates to take good care of Wendy Wilson’s company.
However, he feels that in front of Claire Wilson, he must act as if he knows less than her, so he pretends to be surprised and says, “I didn’t expect Wendy Wilson to have a day of going straight.”
Claire Wilson nods, chuckles lightly and says, “I think she, like me, must have had help from a benefactor. Otherwise, with our situations, how could we cooperate with the Emgrand Group, and even communicate face-to-face with Vice Chairman Doris Young.”
Charlie wade feels awkward inside, but on the surface, he smiles impassively and says, “Perhaps both of you have good luck.”
Claire Wilson does not expose it, just nods gently, smiles and lets it pass.
At this moment, the Qinhuai River is like a busy waterway, with ancient-style small boats and cruise boats coming and going. One small boat, together with other boats, slowly moves forward to the right, passing by Charlie wade and Claire Wilson.
At the bow and stern, two boatmen control the boat’s speed and direction with bamboo poles. In the cabin, curtains are hung at the entrance and side windows. From outside, one cannot see inside, but inside, one can vaguely see outside.
Such boats are not uncommon,and those with curtains down are not just one or two.
