That Nameless Summer Chapter 17

night market

When the night was completely dark, Ling Qingye took Song Li’s hand and turned into the night market.

Neon lights were strung on the ceiling of the stalls, and the red and green lights made the whole street warm.The aroma of grilled sausages mixed with the sweet aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts wafts over, and in your ears you can hear the shouts of vendors, the laughter of children, and the sizzling sound of the stall owner stir-frying squid on the iron plate. It is so lively that it warms your heart.

“What do you want to eat?” Ling Qingye turned his head and asked him, his eyes reflecting the red light of the candied haws stall not far away.

Song Li was about to say casually, but his eyes were caught by the grilled sausage stall at the corner.Ling Qingye saw through it at a glance and pulled him over: “You must like the smell of freshly roasted black pepper.”

Song Li’s ears turned slightly red and nodded.

The stall owner quickly handed over two grilled meat sausages, the skin was shiny with oil, and sprinkled with a handful of cumin and chili powder.Song Li took a bite, and the meat juice exploded in his mouth, making him gasp. However, he couldn’t help but take a second bite.

Ling Qingye saw some chili powder on the corner of his mouth, and reached out to gently wipe it off with his fingertips. The temperature on his fingertips made Song Li almost choke.

“Eat slowly.” Ling Qingye smiled and handed over a bottle of ice-cold soda, “To relieve the spiciness.”

They strolled slowly along the alleys of the night market.The next second, a marshmallow covered in frosting was handed into his hand.

“Is it sweet?” Ling Qingye asked.

Song Li took a big bite, the sugar strands stuck to the corners of his mouth, and his eyes turned into crescent moons: “Sweet.”

At the end of the night market, there was a stall selling glow sticks.Ling Qingye picked two, one blue and one green. After breaking them open, the bright light swayed in the night.He handed the blue one to Song Li and held the green one himself. The two light rods touched together like two small stars.

“Would you like to sit there for a while?” Ling Qingye pointed to the stone bench not far away.

There is an old banyan tree next to the stone bench, and the leaves rustle when the evening wind blows.The two sat side by side, the light sticks in their hands turning on and off.Song Li looked at the children chasing and playing not far away, and suddenly remembered something: “Did you come to the night market when you were a child?”

Ling Qingye was silent for a moment, then nodded: “I’ve been here before, but it wasn’t so lively. At that time, I always felt that there were too many people and it was a bit noisy.”

“What now?” Song Li turned to look at him.

Ling Qingye’s eyes fell on his face with a smile: “Let’s stop arguing now.”

While talking, Song Li caught a glimpse of a stall selling Kongming lanterns nearby, and his eyes lit up.Ling Qingye followed his gaze and pulled him over without saying a word.

The stall owner handed over two pens. Song Li thought for a while and wrote “peace” on the off-white lamp surface, while Ling Qingye added two words next to it – “success”.

Together they walked to the open space holding the Kongming Lantern and lit the candles at the bottom.The warm yellow firelight rose little by little, stretching the shadows of the two people very long.When the heat filled the lamp body, Ling Qingye gently held it up, and the Kongming Lantern rose precariously, carrying two words of wish, and slowly floated into the dark night sky.

Song Li raised his head and looked up. It wasn’t until the light turned into a small star point that he realized that Ling Qingye was looking at him.

“It will come true.” Ling Qingye said.

On the way back, the two of them were still carrying uneaten candied roasted chestnuts and a bunch of candied haws.The evening breeze was filled with the smoke of the night market’s fireworks, and Song Li’s hand was held in Ling Qingye’s palm, making it feel warm.

Walking under the locust tree at the entrance of the alley, Song Li suddenly stopped and handed the last candied haws to Ling Qingye’s mouth.

Ling Qingye was stunned, then he opened his mouth and bit down. The sweet and sour taste of hawthorn mixed with the sweetness of sugar coating spread from the tip of his tongue to the bottom of his heart.

He lowered his head and looked at Song Li. The moonlight fell on the young man’s red ears, which were as soft as cotton candy.

“Song Li,” Ling Qingye’s voice was as light as the evening breeze, “This holiday is really good.”

Song Li looked at the light in his eyes and nodded vigorously: “Well, that’s great.”

The leaves of the locust tree rustled again, and together with the hustle and bustle of the night market, the warmth of the palms, and the sweet and sour taste of the mouth, they became the gentlest background of this summer.