Hua Manman turned to look at the man beside her and asked curiously.
"Who are they?"
Li Ji said casually, "They used to live next door to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion."
Hua Manman was surprised. ’There’s a saying that a close neighbor is better than a distant relative. Since Prince Zhao used to live in the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, he must have played with the neighborhood kids when he was little. In other words, Prince Zhao and those two n grew up as good friends. But judging by their reactions, their relationship isn’t on good terms. Did sothing happen to cause a falling out?’
Li Ji heard her thoughts and said nonchalantly.
"Our paths diverged, that’s all."
Hua Manman nodded, only half-understanding. "I see."
The two continued along Changle Street for a while and saw people up ahead playing pitch-pot.
This was different from the other nearby stalls, where you had to solve lantern riddles to win a lantern.
The owner of this shop had co up with a creative alternative: win a lantern by playing pitch-pot.
More than ten pots of various sizes and shapes were set up in the open space in front of the shop. If a participant managed to toss an arrow into one, they would win the lantern that corresponded to that pot.
Lantern riddles were usually a ga for scholars. Many commoners couldn’t even read, let alone solve a riddle.
In contrast, the barrier to entry for winning a lantern with pitch-pot was much lower.
It didn’t require participants to be literate. All you needed were hands.
As a result, a large crowd had gathered in front of the shop, many of them rubbing their hands together, eager to try their luck.
Hua Manman was quite interested as well.
She turned to the man beside her and asked, her voice full of anticipation.
"Do you know how to play pitch-pot?"
Li Ji said calmly, "I used to play, a long ti ago."
Hua Manman bead. "As long as you know how to play, that’s good enough."
She pushed her way to the front of the crowd, only to find that the ga wasn’t free. You had to pay ten cents first.
So, Hua Manman took ten copper coins from her purse, placed them before the shop’s Shopkeeper, and took three arrows from his hand.
She stood on her tiptoes, stretched out her arm, and waved energetically to Prince Zhao, who was standing outside the crowd.
"Hurry, co over!"
With his tall, imposing stature and an aura that made people shrink back, Li Ji easily made his way to Hua Manman’s side.
Hua Manman threw the first arrow herself.
Unsurprisingly, she missed.
The Shopkeeper smiled reassuringly from the side.
"It’s all right if you miss the first ti. You still have two more chances. Perhaps you’ll get it on the next try."
Hua Manman knew she wasn’t very skilled, so she wasn’t too disappointed with the result.
She handed the two remaining arrows to Prince Zhao.
"You try!"
Li Ji weighed the arrow in his hand. He noticed the arrowhead was heavier than usual, while the fletching was smaller.
An arrow like this would be very difficult to throw far.
Of all the people who had played so far, very few had managed to get this kind of arrow into a pot.
Even those who did manage to make a shot only hit one of the closest pots. No one had managed to hit any of the impressive-looking pots farther away.
Li Ji glanced at the Shopkeeper standing nearby. He knew this was the Shopkeeper’s deliberate trick to make it difficult for participants to win.
Hua Manman pumped a small fist. "Go for it!"
Li Ji casually tossed the arrow forward.
The mont the arrow left his hand, he was suddenly lost in a daze. He couldn’t help but rember many years ago, when his father had wrapped a broad, calloused hand around his own small one, teaching him how to toss the arrow into the pot.
After he learned how to play, he would run off excitedly to play pitch-pot with his friends.
Back then, he had not only his parents, but also friends.
His life was filled with sunshine, carefree and unrestrained.
But ever since his father died and he gained the Mind Reading Technique, he learned just how much unseen darkness hid beneath the sun.
His personality grew stranger and stranger. His friends drifted away, one by one, until no one was left who would play pitch-pot with him.
The arrow landed in the farthest pot with a sharp CLINK.
The onlookers gasped in amazent.
Li Ji snapped back to reality. As he turned his head, his eyes t Hua Manman’s, which were sparkling with delight.
She grabbed his arm, bouncing on the spot and cheering.
"You made it! You made it! You’re amazing!"
Her excitent was contagious, and Li Ji couldn’t help the corners of his lips turning up in a small smile.
The gloom in his heart seed to dissipate along with it.
Hua Manman reminded him, "There’s still one arrow left. Quick, throw it."
This ti, Li Ji didn’t get lost in mories of the past. He raised his hand and threw the arrow. It traced a beautiful arc through the air before landing solidly in the farthest pot once more.
The crowd erupted in applause again.
To think he hit the farthest pot both tis!
That’s incredible!
Hua Manman let out an excited squeal.
"Oh my god, you’re practically a master marksman!"
A smile in his eyes, Li Ji savored her adoration.
Only after her excitent began to fade did Li Ji speak up.
"Don’t forget the lanterns."
Hua Manman smacked her forehead. "Right, right! I almost forgot about the prizes!"
She had been so caught up in her excitent that she’d forgotten the whole reason for playing.
She rushed to the Shopkeeper to claim their prizes.
’The Shopkeeper’s heart was bleeding.’
’To attract custors, he had put out the most expensive lantern in his shop as the grand prize. Anyone who could make a shot into the farthest pot could take it.’
’He’d specifically had the arrows made top-heavy, just so no one would be able to hit the farthest pot.’
’He never expected soone could actually hit it.’
’He was taking a huge loss tonight!’
However, with so many people watching, and with Li Ji looking like soone not to be trifled with, the Shopkeeper didn’t dare go back on his word. He could only endure the painful loss, take out the exquisite lantern, and hand it to Hua Manman.
Hua Manman asked, "We made two shots. Shouldn’t we get two lanterns?"
The Shopkeeper said with a pained expression, "My sincerest apologies, but that lantern is one of a kind. We really don’t have a second one. How about... how about you pick another one? I can give you a different lantern as a replacent, how does that sound?"
Hua Manman didn’t want to make things difficult for him, so she simply picked out another lantern from the shop that caught her eye.
She offered one of the lanterns to Prince Zhao for him to hold.
Li Ji refused.
He wasn’t a child; he had no interest in things like lanterns.
So, Hua Manman had to carry a lantern in each hand.
But this ant she couldn’t hold Prince Zhao’s hand.
Li Ji took a few steps, feeling a bit displeased.
He held out his hand. "Give one of the lanterns."
Hua Manman was confused. "Weren’t you uninterested in the lanterns?"
Li Ji replied, "I wasn’t interested a mont ago. Now, I’m suddenly interested."
Hua Manman muttered under her breath, ’This man is so fickle.’
She handed a lantern over.
Li Ji took the lantern in his left hand, and with his right, he took hold of Hua Manman’s small hand.
’Now that felt much better!’
...
I’m posting two Chapters for now. I’m going out to eat, and I’ll post the remaining Chapter later.
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