[I can't hold it in. They found a group of experts to go into the water. Which genius suggested this? I hope they don't capsize later.]

[Don't say that. Maybe they've practiced before.]

At this time, the crew had all boarded the boat, oars neat and tidy. "Grabbing the Red" was about to begin.

The so-called "Grabbing the Red" was a major highlight of dragon boat races in the past, corresponding to "Rewarding the Red". During the race, spectators who wanted to support their favorite team would tie a red cloth bundled with prize money or awards to the end of a bamboo pole. The dragon boat team would row hard to the shore and the rowers would grab the red cloth from the pole and hang it on their boat. If it was only given to the winning team, it was called "Grabbing the Red".

In many cases, it was friends and relatives who supported the dragon boat teams and gave them the red, letting them hang red all over. Now with standardized competitions, everyone goes to grab small flags.

Grabbing one represents victory. Those who want to support the dragon boat teams can directly donate money or prizes, so the rewards will still reach the winners in the end.

But if you ask the Nanchu elders, they'll say this lacks the excitement of grabbing the red in the past. Zhu Dayong heard his grandfather say that although the family was not well-off and couldn't offer much prize money, they would still tear a piece of red silk and wrap some cigarettes to show their support for the dragon boat team.

Accompanied by the drumbeats, the cat-headed dragon boat shot out like an arrow from a bow. Every "office scholar" had a determined gaze and moved in swift unison. They didn't look like exhibition performers without opponents, but rather like battle-hardened rowers, somewhat changing the opinions of the gossiping audience.

On the shore, even Teacher Zhu's father let out an "Oh", "They actually look quite impressive."

The exhibition race required rowing to the opposite shore and back. After they left the shore, the camera focused on a youth on the riverbank. He was seen raising a long bamboo pole with a bundled up red cloth tied to the top. This was the red that the dragon boat was going to grab later.

"Isn't that Kong Xuan?" Lin Yang and the other classmates immediately recognized him. "No wonder he also came to join in the excitement. He went to help Tan Xiao and do some work. I wonder if he's getting paid?"

Tan Chunying rubbed her hands, "Thank you, little Kong. Auntie's hands are tired from drumming."

Kong Xuan: "...No problem."

The speed of the dragon boat was incredibly fast. In the time they were talking, Kong Xuan saw that Tan Xiao's boat had already crossed half the river.

It was also at this moment that the audience saw a life raft on the opposite shore. It actually pushed a wide bamboo raft from the shore into the river, floating out far and directly blocking the path of the dragon boat team crossing the river.

What was this, an obstacle course?

The young audience members were baffled. Even dragon boat enthusiasts Zhu Dayong's age didn't quite understand. Were they trying to simulate an "interception" and have the team demonstrate a sharp turn?

Only the elderly of his father's generation had their eyes light up. "This, could it be that they are going to..."

Before he could finish, the cat-headed dragon boat had already approached the raft. Tan Xiao's drumming became more and more urgent. The rowers chanted in unison, oars moving extremely fast.

With a fierce charge, the entire dragon boat leaped over the several-meter-wide bamboo raft!

"Wow!" The audience on the shore was in an uproar, not expecting to witness such a thrilling scene.

[I'm impressed. The cuter the paint job, the faster they row! That's incredible!]

[I've got goosebumps all over and my eyes are about to pop out. I underestimated office clerks! So were the previous dragon boat races like this too?]

Zhu Dayong felt inexplicably excited, as if he was in the midst of it himself.

Father Zhu couldn't help but pat the armrest, "I haven't seen this in many years - flying boats!"

Back in the day, the Nanxi River served as a transportation route, and quite a few raft people would drift downstream to Yunmeng Marsh to trade. Large bamboo rafts often docked along the river, a scene that persisted until a few decades ago.

In the dragon boat races, straight-line speed races were one thing, but in cross-river competitions, it was inevitable to encounter bamboo rafts.

If your skills were lacking, you'd have to detour around them. If you didn't turn in time, you'd crash into the rafts. If a dragon boat team could fly over the bamboo rafts, they would undoubtedly receive cheers from both banks and be talked about for years or even decades to come.

Father Zhu never thought he would see such a scene again, let alone witness it together with his children and so many tourists. Recalling the cheers in his memory, the Nanxi River before him seemed to return to its former appearance, causing his eyes to redden as he clapped vigorously.

The Cat Head Dragon Boat team proved with their flying boat technique that no matter how quirky or girly their dragon head was, they were as traditional as a dragon boat team could get! Fierce enough!

As the dragon boat turned around on the opposite shore, the huge cheers they received as they approached the bank proved that they had reversed the audience's impression in just two short minutes. "Grabbing the Red" required a winner, but at this moment, they were the victors without rivals.

Rushing back at full speed, this time they were heading straight for the red target.

The dragon boat flew like an arrow. As it neared the shore, the rowers back-paddled to slow down. Everyone thought it was over and breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, the helmsman pushed off with his bamboo pole and leaped into the air, reaching out to grab the red cloth!

"Ah--"

Exclamations rang out from the shore.

This performance race was truly on point!

However, as the helmsman snatched the red in midair and landed on the shore with it, the long red cloth unfurled, revealing four black ink characters: "This boat, it wins."

The scene erupted in another round of enthusiastic applause.

The helmsman bowed to all directions, and the rowers raised their oars, basking in the long-lost sounds of the mortal world through this person.

The dragon boat swayed gently, as if the boat girl was also expressing her joy at having her wish fulfilled, making her feel that her existence still had meaning.

At this moment, Kong Xuan leisurely waved the bamboo pole without lowering his hand. Only then did people notice that there seemed to be something tied to the end of the pole. Upon closer look, it turned out to be a shiny medal.

The helmsman rubbed the back of his head, "Huh?"

The rowers all burst out laughing. The organizers had played a trick, secretly hanging a medal inside. He had already disembarked.

Tan Xiao, in the midst of it all, couldn't help but smile. With a stirring in his heart, he tapped the side drum, and the crew turned the boat sideways.

"Please give me a hand." Tan Xiao's movements on the rocking boat were not as agile as the helmsman's. Two rowers gave him a boost, and the young man stepped onto his own drumhead.

"There's still an encore, huh." Lin Yang stroked his chin on the shore, "Tan Xiao wouldn't also jump up to grab the red, would he? It's so high."

But then they saw Kong Xuan holding the bamboo pole, swinging it down in front of Tan Xiao like he was fishing. Originally caught by Tan Chunying to help out, his eyes were now filled with interest and a hint of smugness.

Tan Xiao failed to snag the medal on the first try and pointed at Kong Xuan, "You, you..."

The audience burst into laughter seeing the interaction between the young men.

Tan Xiao stomped a few times on the drumhead, and the audience laughed even louder.

[He's angry, he's angry]

[Haha, stomping his feet in anger, that's something. It's adorably cute]

[Oh no, I feel like when the Little Chu Shaman gets angry, he's about to cast a curse in the next second! (Manually inserts dog head.jpg)]

[These two seem to know each other, right?]

[Of course they know each other, otherwise how could they play around like this? The one on the shore is Little Chu Shaman's classmate who even acted as his sidekick before]

[...I don't know if it's appropriate to say this, but they kind of seem like a young couple, who knows!]

But the next second, several rowers had put down their oars in unison, lifting the drum from all sides, raising it along with the person on top. It turned out that the young man's stomping was not out of anger, but clearly a signal transmitted through the drum!

Tan Xiao's figure suddenly rose up. Kong Xuan only felt that the other end of the long bamboo pole in his hand was grasped by him, with a slight pulling force. As Tan Xiao grabbed the medal, the bamboo pole slightly sprang back, empty and hollow.

Tan Xiao jumped off the drum with the medal in hand, supported by the rowers. They all held it up to show the audience, and amidst the tumultuous cheers, he looked up and smiled, glittering in the sunlight.

Kong Xuan stood there in a daze, holding the bamboo pole. He felt as if something else had also been gently snatched away along the pole, completely stolen from him.