All Realms and Worlds: The Lost Home

Chapter 254 Visiting the Market

Along the way, Han Xuanxuan and Xia Gui chattered non-stop, excitedly discussing what to eat and what to do when they arrived in town, their faces full of anticipation.

As Wei Yu followed the two men, listening to their laughter and cheerful conversation, the slight sense of unease in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a feeling of anticipation and warmth.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, bathing the three of them in warmth and brightness. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of grass and trees, and everything seemed so beautiful.

Half an hour later, the three of them finally arrived at Qingxi Town.

Upon entering Qingxi Town, Wei Yu was immediately captivated by the scene before him.

Qingxi Town isn't very big, but it's incredibly lively. Red lanterns hang on both sides of the street, fluttering in the wind. From a distance, it looks like a long red dragon, extremely festive.

The shops on both sides of the street were all decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, which swayed in the wind. The shouts, calls for sale, and laughter intertwined to form a lively New Year symphony, and the air was filled with a strong festive atmosphere.

"Wow! It's so lively!" Han Xuanxuan let go of Wei Yu's hand, skipped and hopped to the middle of the street, a bright smile on her face. "Brother Wei Yu, Junior Brother Xia Gui, look, so many red lanterns!"

Xia Gui excitedly ran over, pointing to the shops on both sides of the street, and shouted, "Senior Brother Wei Yu, look! There are sugar paintings for sale! And sugar figurines too! Let's go take a look!"

Wei Yu smiled and followed, his gaze slowly sweeping over the scene on both sides of the street, a long-lost warmth welling up in his heart.

This scene is so similar to how he used to go to the market during Chinese New Year when he was on Earth.

The bright red lanterns, the bustling crowds, the various snacks and toys, and the smiles on people's faces—everything was so familiar and so warm, instantly stirring up memories in his heart.

"Brother Wei Yu, come quickly!" Han Xuanxuan's voice came from the front, filled with joy.

Wei Yu snapped out of his daze and strode over. He saw Han Xuanxuan and Xia Gui gathered around a sugar painting stall, their eyes sparkling as they looked at the stall owner with anticipation on their faces.

At the sugar painting stall, an elderly man with white hair was using a spoon to scoop up melted sugar syrup and skillfully sketching various patterns on a stone slab. Dragons, phoenixes, rabbits, and tigers were all lifelike, crystal clear, and exuding a sweet aroma, attracting the surrounding children to gather around, chattering and clamoring for their favorite patterns.

"Grandpa, I want a sugar painting shaped like a rabbit!" Han Xuanxuan raised her little hand and said loudly, her voice sweet.

"Grandpa, I want one shaped like a dragon! The biggest one!" Xia Gui shouted, not to be outdone.

The old man smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, little ones, don't rush, one at a time. I promise to make the most beautiful sugar paintings for you!"

As he spoke, the old man held a spoon, his wrist nimbly turning, and the melted syrup flowed slowly on the stone slab. Soon, a lifelike rabbit pattern was completed, crystal clear and extremely cute.

"Here you are, little one, here's your rabbit sugar painting." The old man handed the sugar painting to Han Xuanxuan.

Han Xuanxuan took the sugar painting and jumped up happily. She carefully licked it, and the sweet syrup melted in her mouth, sweetening her heart. A satisfied smile appeared on her face: "Delicious! So delicious! Grandpa, your sugar painting is really delicious!"

The old man smiled and said, "If it tastes good, then eat more."

Then, the old man skillfully made a sugar painting in the shape of a dragon and handed it to Xia Gui.

Xia Gui took the sugar painting, excitedly held it up, and said to Wei Yu, "Senior Brother Wei Yu, look! Isn't my dragon sugar painting majestic?"

Wei Yu smiled and nodded: "Yes, very impressive, just as powerful as Junior Brother Xia Gui."

"Grandpa, could you please make one for me too? Any design will do," Wei Yu said gently to the old man.

The old man smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, young man, judging from your appearance, this must be your first time celebrating the New Year in our Qingxi Town, right?"

Wei Yu nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, Grandpa, it's been a long time since I've celebrated the New Year. I wanted to come and experience the festive atmosphere."

The old man sighed and said, "Alas, it's not easy. The New Year is all about having fun and family reunion. Young man, since you're here, have a good time and experience the New Year's atmosphere in Qingxi Town."

As he spoke, the old man turned his wrist, and soon a round sugar painting was finished, with the words "peace" outlined on it. It was crystal clear and had a beautiful meaning.

"Here you go, young man. I wish you a peaceful and prosperous new year." The old man handed the sugar painting to Wei Yu.

Wei Yu accepted the sugar painting, feeling a warmth in his heart. He solemnly said to the old man, "Thank you, Grandpa. I also wish you good health and longevity in the new year."

The three of them, holding sugar paintings, licked them as they continued walking, all with happy smiles on their faces.

The three of them, holding sugar paintings, licked them as they continued walking, all with happy smiles on their faces.

Along both sides of the street, there are many food stalls selling roasted sweet potatoes, fried meatballs, candied hawthorns, and rice porridge. All kinds of snacks emit an enticing aroma that makes people's mouths water.

"Brother Wei Yu, I want to eat roasted sweet potatoes!" Han Xuanxuan pointed to a roasted sweet potato stall, grabbed Wei Yu's hand, and said coquettishly.

"Me too! Me too!" Xia Gui exclaimed, her eyes fixed on the roasted sweet potato stall, her mouth practically watering.

Wei Yu smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll buy them all for you. Buy as many as you want to eat."

The three of them walked up to the roasted sweet potato stall. The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a kind smile on his face. The aroma of roasted sweet potatoes wafted over, making one want to take a bite.

"Boss, give us three of the biggest roasted sweet potatoes," Wei Yu said with a smile, taking out spirit coins and handing them to the stall owner.

"Alright!" the stall owner replied with a smile, quickly taking three plump, fragrant roasted sweet potatoes from the oven, wrapping them in newspaper, and handing them to the three people. "Young man, young lady, here you go, they're fresh out of the oven and still warm!"

Han Xuanxuan took the roasted sweet potato, carefully peeled back the newspaper, and a rich aroma instantly filled the air. The sweet potato's flesh was golden and tempting. She took a small bite; it was soft, sweet, and warm, sliding down her throat comfortably. A satisfied smile appeared on her face: "Delicious! So delicious! Even better than spirit fruit!"

Xia Gui quickly peeled open a roasted sweet potato and began to eat it in large bites, mumbling between mouthfuls, "Delicious! Senior Brother Wei Yu, you should eat too, it's really so delicious!"

Wei Yu also peeled open a roasted sweet potato, took a bite, and the soft, sweet taste melted instantly in his mouth. The familiar taste instantly evoked his memories of Earth.

When he was a child, every Chinese New Year, he would hold his parents' hands and go to the market to buy a hot roasted sweet potato. He would eat and play at the same time. That warmth and happiness is his most precious memory.

Now, eating roasted sweet potatoes again, that familiar warmth welled up in his heart, making his eyes well up with tears.

"Brother Wei Yu, what's wrong? Is the roasted sweet potato not tasty?" Han Xuanxuan noticed his unusual behavior, looked up at him, and asked with a worried expression.

Wei Yu snapped out of his daze, wiped his eyes, and shook his head with a smile: "No, it's delicious. It's just that I haven't had such delicious roasted sweet potatoes in a long time, so I'm a little happy."

"That's good!" Han Xuanxuan said with a smile, handing the roasted sweet potato she was holding to Wei Yu. "Brother Wei Yu, you can have this. I'll go buy another one!"

"No need, Xuanxuan, I have my own food, you eat it." Wei Yu smiled and refused, ruffling her head. "Let's keep walking and see what else is good to eat and fun to do."

The three continued walking, buying many snacks along the way, such as candied hawthorns, fried meatballs, and spirit rice porridge. They ate and played, their laughter echoing throughout the street.

Han Xuanxuan and Xia Gui were like two curious children, finding everything new and exciting. They would run to this stall to look at this, then to that stall to touch that, and every now and then, they would pull Wei Yu aside and ask all sorts of questions.

"Brother Wei Yu, look, what's that?" Han Xuanxuan asked curiously, pointing to a sugar-blowing stall.

Wei Yu looked in the direction she pointed and saw a stall owner blowing various small animals out of melted syrup, including chicks, ducks, and pigs, each one lifelike and extremely cute.

"That's sugar blowing," Wei Yu explained with a smile. "It uses melted sugar syrup to blow into all sorts of shapes. It's very beautiful and delicious."

"Wow! That's amazing!" Han Xuanxuan's eyes lit up. She grabbed Wei Yu and ran to the sugar-blowing stall. "Boss, I want a sugar-blown figure shaped like a chick!"

"I want one shaped like a pig!" Xia Gui quickly said.

The stall owner smiled and agreed, skillfully picking up the sugar syrup and blowing on it. Soon, a sugar-blown figure in the shape of a chick and a sugar-blown figure in the shape of a pig were finished, and they were extremely cute.