The Face-Covering Festival was a local festival unique to Longquan Ancient Town.
On this day, shops along the streets sold all kinds of masks, veils, and tassels, much like the lantern displays during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Girls generally chose tassels and veils.
Many tourists came just for the atmosphere and to watch its masked dances.
For many people, this festival was practically paradise for the socially anxious.
They could keep their faces hidden and go as wild as they liked without feeling self-conscious.
People usually only wore these masks when they went out in the evening.
So everyone was getting ready for the night ahead.
Lin Xiaoqian wasn't as excited as Bai Chen and the others. She wanted to go back to the guesthouse to rest and take a look around that evening.
Lin Jingchen and Bai Chen strolled along the street. Lin Jingchen was taller than Bai Chen, making him look rather petite.
Even though Bai Chen was 178 centimeters tall.
The streets were crowded, filled with vendors' cries.
Things like:
"Come on over! Come on over! I've got every mask you could want! If you can imagine it, I can sell it!" called a man wearing a black half-face mask.
Most of those browsing the market at this hour were young people. They stood in front of the various mask stalls, holding up the masks they liked to see how they looked.
They laughed happily.
Bai Chen could return to the original owner's home a little later, so he could spend some time having fun here. He didn't want to face the original owner's family so soon, either.
He wasn't sure he could play the part convincingly and might well be found out, so every extra hour he could put it off was worth it.
Bai Chen and