CRAB PLAY⧉

December mountain wind ripples through carp flags one by one. Lanterns light up along the night sky, illuminating those who have traveled far. Mount Jiali stands quiet in the distance, like an appointment made once a year, watching us enter this two-day gathering from all different directions. Some walk straight ahead, some take a long detour. Some, like crabs, never walk in the direction the world prescribes. But the wind will bring us here, and the lights will help us see each other. Listen to music by day, gather on the grass. Raise a glass at night, dance, chat. Leave this year's stories in the mountains, and entrust our unfulfilled wishes to next year's wind. Lights illuminate our wishes; may every wish shine bright. Carp leap toward their goals; may every direction have a path. As the year draws to a close, we meet again, and we set out again.