Transmigrating with a Five Million Dollar Retirement Life

Chapter 187 Dragon Boat Race in Xishuang County

We rushed along for five days, and the most pitiful thing was my own backside, which was almost shaken into several pieces.

“Madam, once you turn that bend, you’ll reach the border of Kunzhou,” Zhou Dadan said from outside.

Song Jiaojiao lifted the curtain and looked outside; it was finally almost time.

Blue skies and white clouds, a rare good day. The previous two days had been mostly overcast, gloomy and depressing. Fortunately, nothing happened on the road, not even bandits. The peace was unbelievable to Song Jiaojiao.

Little did Song Jiaojiao know that the peace along the way was entirely due to Ye Yi in the carriage behind. If it weren't for his superior martial arts skills, which allowed him to eliminate the enemy before they could even react, the journey would likely have been anything but peaceful.

"What's the nearest county town?" Song Jiaojiao thought that after traveling by carriage for several days, everyone was tired and they should find a nearby town to rest.

Looking at the distribution map in his hand, Zhou Dadan said, "Madam, the nearest county is Xishuang County, which is a day's journey away."

Upon hearing Zhou Dadan's words, Song Jiaojiao looked at the travelogue in her hand, which happened to record the culture and humanities of Queensland.

The book says that in mid-April each year, Xishuang County has its own unique festival, the Water Splashing Festival. The more water you get splashed with, the more blessings you receive. This day is not only their Water Splashing Festival, but also the local Spring Festival.

There are still a few days until mid-April, so maybe we can make it in time and experience the local customs.

"Okay, let's go to Xishuang County then."

As their view broadened, Song Jiaojiao and her group arrived in Xishuang County.

There were many people queuing at the city gate, and everyone's face was beaming with smiles, with joy spreading throughout the county.

"Madam, we've arrived at Xishuang County, but there are many people queuing at the city gate, so it may take some time to get into the city," Zhou Dadan's voice came.

Song Jiaojiao drew back the curtains early in the morning. After entering Kunzhou territory, she could clearly feel the temperature rising, especially after leaving the Taihang Mountains. Without the mountains to block the heat, the temperature rose sharply.

It seems that what the book says is true. The climate here is naturally perfect. Winters are not cold and summers are not too hot. It is always in spring and autumn. You know, in April, you can still feel cold in the morning and evening in Yunshui Town. At noon, it becomes hot, but not to the point of making you sweat.

However, the stable weather has contributed to Queensland's diverse fruit varieties and abundant medicinal herbs, making it a paradise for fruit lovers.

It took them an hour to get into the city, which was packed with people. When Song Jiaojiao and her group arrived at the inn, they almost had nowhere to stay. Luckily, they arrived in time and managed to reserve the last large courtyard.

This compound is not open to the public normally; it is only open during holidays and festivals.

The courtyard is a two-section courtyard, with four rooms in the front and three rooms in the back. It has the layout that is common in two-section courtyard houses.

The women were all arranged in the backyard, and the men in the frontyard.

Apart from Yoruichi, he and Ye Yun were like conjoined twins; wherever Ye Yun went, he went, and Song Jiaojiao followed suit.

"Mom, it's so lively outside! I want to go out and play!" As soon as she was settled, Mu Xue wanted to run outside.

Song Jiaojiao could understand; she had been cooped up in the carriage for the past few days and was feeling restless.

“Okay, let’s go ask Miss Ye Yun if she’s going,” Song Jiaojiao said.

Holding Mu Xue's hand, Song Jiaojiao led her to Ye Yun's room. There, she saw Ye Yun sitting at the table, while Ye Yi was making the bed inside.

He's truly a model of filial piety.

"Miss Ye Yun, we're going out for a stroll, would you like to come along?"

Ye Yun chuckled softly and shook her head. "Mrs. Song, I won't go. You all have fun."

Having received the answer, Song Jiaojiao nodded and left.

"Ah Yun, you can actually go out and have a look. I heard it's a local festival these days, and it's very lively," Ye said after making the bed.

"Forget it, it's better to avoid trouble. So many people have come these past few days, you must be tired." Ye Yun smiled and shook her head. It wasn't the right time for her to meet with those people.

Yoruichi didn't try to persuade him any further after hearing this.

Mu Xue looked at the bustling street with curiosity, glancing around curiously.

"Madam, I've found out everything. Today is the bathing of the Buddha, a unique local ceremony."

Locals would bring the green leaves and flowers they collected to the Buddhist temple as offerings. Women would carry clean water to the temple and mix it with various fragrant flowers. When the sun came out, they would use fresh banana leaves to scoop up the holy water and wash and wipe the Buddha statue until the entire statue became golden and shiny.

With a devout heart, we recreate the original splendor of the Buddha statue, thus praying for divine protection and good fortune.

Xu Sen told Song Jiaojiao the information he had obtained from the innkeeper.

No wonder there are so many people today; they must all have just come from the Buddhist temple.

The streets on both sides were also filled with all kinds of stalls, especially fruit and fruit drinks.

"Hurry up! The dragon boat race is about to start!"

A loud voice came from the crowd, and the already crowded street was instantly blocked. Song Jiaojiao had no choice but to lead Mu Xue with the flow of people.

Upon arriving at Xishuanghe, one finds dragon boats already prepared on the river, carried by men dressed in short-sleeved shirts, their bulging biceps indicating considerable strength.

Song Jiaojiao was pushed to the riverbank by the crowd. She was surrounded by railings along the riverbank. If it weren't for these railings, Song Jiaojiao would probably have been soaked to the bone.

Although it was pushed here, this location is an excellent viewpoint, offering a clear view of the river.

"Mother, why is the dragon boat race here different from the one we have back home?" Mu Xue asked in confusion.

It's definitely different. There are no drums on the dragon boats here; instead, five men stand at the dragon's head.

Even the river water was not calm, but rather turbulent.

As the three drumbeats sounded, the dragon boat instantly shot off like a wild horse, covering ten meters in a flash.

The men on the dragon boat shouted slogans, and the onlookers on the shore cheered for the dragon boat they liked.

Song Jiaojiao recalled reading in a book that the dragon boats here not only represent people's hopes for a bountiful harvest and auspicious blessings, but also the local people's spirit of resistance and struggle against nature and their adventurous spirit.

As the dragon boat competition intensifies, some boats capsize and fall into the water, while others fall far behind. The team with the red and gold dragon boats is now the most likely to win first place on the river.

Like two dragons locked in a fierce battle, one moment I overtake you, the next you catch up with me, locked in a stalemate.

This also made the audience on the shore hold their breath.

As the race ended, the red dragon boat won by a single arm's length, and the people on the shore cheered.

After the match ended, the onlookers began to disperse, and only then did Xu Sen and his group have the opportunity to approach Song Jiaojiao.

This is usually the case in lively places; once people are separated, it's hard for them to get back together. Luckily, Song Jiaojiao kept Mu Xue in front of her the whole time, otherwise, who knows what might have happened.