August 18, 2025

Lanterns and Love: A Qixi Night Market Tale

14 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Lanterns and Love: A Qixi Night Market Tale
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-08-18-22-34-01-zh

Story Transcript:

Zh: 上海的夜市在夏天特别热闹。
En: The night market in Shanghai is especially lively in the summer.

Zh: 灯笼高挂，光芒四射，空气里飘着牛肉串的香气和欢声笑语。
En: Lanterns hang high, shining brightly, while the air is filled with the scent of beef skewers and joyful laughter.

Zh: 在这个七夕节的晚上，年轻的摊主廉忙碌地在自己的摊位后面整理珠宝。
En: On this Qixi Festival night, the young vendor Lian busily organizes jewelry behind his stall.

Zh: 他卖的都是精心制作的手工饰品，其中有一个特别的项链，是他为岳准备的礼物。
En: He specializes in selling meticulously crafted handmade accessories, among them a special necklace that he prepared as a gift for Yue.

Zh: 廉一直以来都很喜欢岳，那个每周都会来市场的女孩。
En: Lian has always liked Yue, the girl who visits the market every week.

Zh: 她的笑容总是让市场变得更加明亮。
En: Her smile always makes the market brighter.

Zh: 然而，廉有些内向，不敢表达自己的心意。
En: However, Lian is somewhat shy and has not dared to express his feelings.

Zh: 今天是七夕节，廉决定鼓起勇气，在正好午夜时分的时候，把项链送给岳。
En: Today is Qixi Festival, and Lian decides to summon the courage to present the necklace to Yue right at midnight.

Zh: 然而事情并不如想象中顺利。
En: However, things do not go as smoothly as imagined.

Zh: 当天市场格外拥挤，人群涌动，所有人都在享受七夕的氛围。
En: The market is exceptionally crowded that day, with throngs of people enjoying the Qixi ambiance.

Zh: 廉发现那条精心制作的项链不见了！
En: Lian discovers that the meticulously crafted necklace is missing!

Zh: 他心急如焚，只能放下摊位，去市场中寻找。
En: He is distraught and has no choice but to leave his stall to search the market.

Zh: 幸好，明，廉的好友和同事，愿意帮忙。
En: Fortunately, Ming, Lian's friend and colleague, is willing to help.

Zh: “不要担心，我们一定能找到它。”明安慰着廉。
En: “Don’t worry, we will definitely find it.” Ming comforts Lian.

Zh: 两人走遍了整个市场，询问了许多摊贩和顾客。
En: The two of them search the entire market, asking many vendors and customers.

Zh: 但一直没找到。
En: But they haven't found it.

Zh: 廉有些灰心，他怕再也无法见到那条项链。
En: Lian feels a bit disheartened, afraid he might never see the necklace again.

Zh: 他低下头，心想可能真是无缘。
En: He lowers his head, thinking perhaps it really is fate.

Zh: 就在时钟指向午夜的时候，明突然兴奋地冲着廉挥手。
En: Just as the clock strikes midnight, Ming suddenly waves excitedly at Lian.

Zh: 在一个不起眼的角落，项链静静地躺在那里。
En: In an unnoticed corner, the necklace lies there silently.

Zh: 廉急忙上前，小心翼翼地捡起它。
En: Lian hurries forward, carefully picking it up.

Zh: “快去找岳！”明催促道。
En: "Go find Yue quickly!" Ming urges.

Zh: 于是廉立刻跑向岳常常出现的地方，找到了她。
En: So, Lian immediately runs to the place where Yue often appears and finds her.

Zh: 他深吸一口气，小心地把项链递给她。
En: He takes a deep breath and carefully offers her the necklace.

Zh: “这是送给你的，七夕快乐。”廉说道，声音虽轻却充满诚意。
En: "This is for you, happy Qixi." Lian says, his voice light yet filled with sincerity.

Zh: 岳愣了一下，随即脸上露出幸福的微笑。
En: Yue is momentarily stunned, then a happy smile appears on her face.

Zh: “谢谢你，廉。这真漂亮。”岳看着他，眼神里充满了温暖和爱意。
En: "Thank you, Lian. It's really beautiful." Yue looks at him, her gaze full of warmth and affection.

Zh: 廉终于鼓起勇气，坦然说道：“我一直以来都很喜欢你。”
En: Lian finally musters the courage to candidly say, "I've always liked you."

Zh: 岳点了点头，“我也是。”
En: Yue nods, "I do too."

Zh: 廉的心跳加速，他明白了一个道理：有些事情，只有尝试过才知道结果。
En: Lian's heart races, and he realizes a truth: some things only reveal their outcome once you've tried.

Zh: 在那个星光闪烁的夜晚，他第一次感受到心中的勇气。
En: On that starry night, he feels courage within his heart for the first time.

Zh: 这次夜市之行不仅让廉找回了项链，更重要的是，他找到了属于自己的爱情。
En: This trip to the night market not only allowed Lian to find the necklace but, more importantly, he found a love of his own.

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