21st Century Necromancer

Chapter 337 - 334 Traditional Customs (Request for Monthly Tickets, Request for Subscriptions)

"Mr. Chen Yu, what are they constructing over there? It looks quite interesting," Hiromi Jounouchi asked curiously after they left the park, observing people working on setting up various red lanterns and frames in the square by the park’s entrance.

Chen Yu glanced at it and said nonchalantly, "Oh, that? Those are festive lanterns for the New Year. But haven’t they finished setting them up yet this year? In previous years, they should have been up by now, right? Hiromi, if you’re interested... We can’t go see them tomorrow since it’s New Year’s Eve and we need to be at home, but how about the day after tomorrow night? They are much more interesting to look at in the evening."

"Festive lanterns? What are those?" Hiromi Jounouchi repeated the Chinese term Chen Yu had used, and based on the pronunciation, she guessed, "Are they something similar to fireworks?"

"Hmm, you could think of it that way," Chen Yu considered her assumption and found that, to some extent, there wasn’t anything wrong with it, but he elaborated, "These are lanterns shaped into various forms. When they are lit up at night, they take on all sorts of shapes. Although some might look kind of silly, and a bit rustic, they truly are a part of Chinese tradition. It’s just that in the past, the lanterns used to be more beautiful and refined. These days, you mostly see these sculptural types."

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"So, is it like the Christmas trees set up during Christmas?" Hiromi Jounouchi tried to understand exactly what Chen Yu was describing, "Also, you mentioned that the ones from before were prettier, what were they like? And what about this Chinese tradition you spoke of?"

Hearing Hiromi Jounouchi’s questions, Chen Yu looked around and then led her to a nearby shop. At the entrance of the store, he pointed to a delicate little lantern hanging by the door and said, "Lanterns are an evolution of the ancient Chinese lantern. You know about the big red lanterns, right Hiromi?"

"Duh, I do know what lanterns are!" Hiromi Jounouchi bristled at being teased, retorting while pointing at the hanging lantern and telling the shopkeeper, "Excuse me, I’ll take this one, please!"

"Eh? Why suddenly make me solve a riddle? How could I possibly figure it out when I’ve just started learning Chinese!" Hiromi Jounouchi was caught off guard by Chen Yu’s lantern riddle, and although she racked her brain, being far from proficient in Chinese, she indeed couldn’t guess it.

"The answer is the character ’cui.’ In Chinese, the top half of the ’cui’ character is ’yu,’ and the bottom half is ’zu,’ together forming ’Yu-Zu.’ Liu Bei’s sworn brother was Guan Yu, and Liu Bang’s enemy was Xiang Yu. ’Yu-Zu’ signifies that ’Yu has died,’ hence the clue: Liu Bei cries, and Liu Bang laughs." Chen Yu explained to Hiromi Jounouchi, simultaneously tracing the character on his palm to help her understand.

"Who could guess that! I’m not Chinese! I’ll give you a Japanese riddle to guess then!" Hiromi Jounouchi pouted, seemingly miffed as she tossed out a riddle to him in return: "ゆびをきっても痛くないものは何?(What situation ’cuts a finger’ but doesn’t hurt?)"

"Hmm... Let me think!" Although Chen Yu knew Japanese, this riddle had stumped him for the moment.

"Can’t guess, huh? Hehe!" Seeing Chen Yu’s troubled expression, Hiromi Jounouchi burst out laughing.

However, as Chen Yu was attempting to buy some time, his phone rang very "opportunely."

With a teasing smile plastered on Hiromi Jounouchi’s face, Chen Yu signaled an apology to her before answering the call.

"Professor Zhang? How did you know I was back in the country? Happy New Year to you too! I should have been the one to call you first." The caller was Professor Zhang, Chen Yu’s teacher from his university days and the father of Zhang Zhao and Zhao Min, whom he had briefly met in Japan.

"Isn’t it because you, Professor Chen, have become such a big shot now? The head of surgery at The Third People’s Hospital, Director Liu, actually called me up, not even letting people have a peaceful New Year, all to persuade you, Professor Chen Da, to perform a demonstration surgery for him." Professor Zhang’s voice conveyed a touch of helplessness and embarrassment over the phone, as he clearly didn’t want to disturb Chen Yu during the New Year: "I didn’t want to get involved in this, but since Director Liu is an old classmate of mine from university, I ended up having to shamelessly ask you for this favor."