Brother, just how powerful is our family?

At seven o'clock in the morning, at the Confucian Temple Square in the old town of Huai County.

The early autumn sunlight filters through the branches and leaves of the ancient cypress, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The air was slightly cool, carrying the freshness of last night's rain.

The scene in the square, however, seemed to have turned back time by hundreds of years.

Hundreds of young people dressed in Hanfu of various colors gathered here, their clothes fluttering and their headdresses and belts dignified.

Crimson, sapphire blue, pale yellow, moon white... all sorts of brocades shimmered in the morning light.

The tinkling of jade pendants, the gentle waving of round fans, and the cheerful laughter create an atmosphere reminiscent of a grand gathering that transcends time.

When Qin Yao arrived, a large number of people had already gathered in the square.

Today, she was not wearing her usual lady's attire, but rather a crimson flying fish robe—the standard uniform of the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Guards.

The scarlet robe was embroidered with flying fish patterns in gold thread, and a black horn belt was tied around the waist, from which a brocade spring knife prop was hung.

His hair was tied up in a man's topknot, he wore a black net scarf, and a headband was tied around his forehead.

This outfit exudes a heroic and imposing aura, a stark contrast to her usual gentle and feminine image.

Wow! Yao Yao's outfit today!

"The Imperial Guards! So handsome!"

"Girls look so good in flying fish costumes!"

Qin Yao attracted a crowd as soon as she appeared. She greeted everyone with a smile and started a live stream.

"Good morning, everyone!" She clasped her hands in a traditional Chinese greeting to the camera. "Today, I'm taking you all to a gathering of Hanfu enthusiasts in Huai County. Look, I've already changed!"

The camera slowly pans across the square: there are young women in Tang Dynasty style wearing high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and gold hairpins; there are scholars and gentlemen in Taoist robes and holding folding fans; there are generals in armor and long swords at their waists; and there are men, women, and children in various Ming Dynasty Hanfu (traditional Han clothing).

The most eye-catching were several young men dressed in full armor—cloth armor and mountain-patterned armor restored based on artifacts unearthed from the Ming Dynasty. Although made of lightweight materials, they were exquisite in design and detail, and shone brightly in the sunlight.

More than two million people flooded into the live stream instantly:

"My God, what an incredible scene!"

"That guy in the mountain armor is so handsome!"

"I see so many fellow countrymen!"

"Yao Yao looks so cool in that Imperial Guard outfit!"

"Looking for the same style! Where can I buy it?"

As Qin Yao greeted her fellow enthusiasts, she explained, "As you can see, most of the enthusiasts attending today's gathering are dressed in Tang and Ming dynasty styles. There's a reason for that—"

She walked up to a boy wearing a Tang-style round-necked robe: "Fellow traveler, could you tell everyone why you chose Tang clothing?"

The boy was a little shy, but his eyes lit up when he talked about Hanfu: "The Tang Dynasty was the peak period of our Chinese nation, with all countries paying tribute and showing cultural confidence. Tang clothing is grand and gorgeous, reflecting the open and inclusive spirit of that era."

A girl wearing a Ming-style horse-face skirt next to her added, "I like the Ming style because it is dignified, elegant, and rigorous in its design. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty has a lot of admirable history—the emperor guarding the country's gates, the monarch dying for the state. This kind of integrity is worth remembering."

Qin Yao nodded and said to the camera, "Have you all noticed? Young people today are increasingly fond of traditional culture, especially Hanfu (traditional Han clothing). Behind this is actually a return to cultural confidence."

She walked among a group of young people dressed in various styles of Hanfu and asked them to show off their clothes: "Look how beautiful these clothes are. They have the magnificence of the Tang Dynasty, the elegance of the Song Dynasty, and the dignity of the Ming Dynasty. Every stitch and every thread embodies the wisdom and aesthetics of our ancestors."

A young man dressed in a blue Taoist robe and holding a scroll spoke up: "The revival of Hanfu is not simply about 'retro.' We are wearing the clothes of our ancestors and living a modern life. It is a cultural inheritance, and even more so, a sense of identity."

"Well said," Qin Yao praised. "This is the true meaning of the word 'Huaxia'—the beauty of clothing is called Hua, and the grandeur of etiquette is called Xia. When we revive Hanfu, we are reviving that cultural confidence and that national identity."

At this moment, a group of tourists gathered around, wanting to take photos with the Hanfu enthusiasts. The enthusiasts were very cooperative, striking various poses and explaining the knowledge about the clothing.

A middle-aged woman pulled a young girl in a horse-face skirt aside and asked, "Girl, your dress is really pretty, is it expensive?"

The girl smiled and replied, "Auntie, this is a casual outfit, not expensive at all. The Hanfu industry is quite mature now, with prices ranging from tens of yuan to thousands of yuan, catering to all budgets. If you're interested, I can recommend a few reliable shops."

The aunt nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay! My daughter likes these too, I'll let her see them when I get home."

Such dialogues took place throughout the square. Hanfu was no longer seen as "strange clothing," but rather as a bridge for communication, allowing people of different ages and backgrounds to experience the charm of traditional culture.

Qin Yao continued her live stream, walking up to several young men dressed in armor: "These fellow warriors are impressive; they're wearing restored Ming Dynasty armor. Could you introduce it to everyone?"

A tall young man removed his helmet, revealing his youthful face: "I'm wearing cloth armor, which was common armor for Ming Dynasty border troops. It's made of thick cloth on the outside and reinforced with iron plates on the inside, making it both lightweight and protective."

He pointed to his friend next to him: "He is wearing mountain-patterned armor, with the armor plates stacked like the character 'mountain'. It is a complex craft and is usually worn by high-ranking generals."

"Is this heavy to wear?" Qin Yao asked.

"Luckily, ours is made of lightweight materials, so it only weighs about ten kilograms. Real iron armor would weigh forty or fifty kilograms," the boy laughed. "But even a replica would be tiring to wear for a long time. You can imagine how tough it must have been for ancient soldiers to fight in real armor."

In the live stream, the viewers were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"I've learned something new!"

"So there's so much to know about armor."

"These comrades are so professional, and their historical knowledge is so extensive."

"That's what passion is, not just simple cosplay."

Qin Yao then interviewed several fellow comrades, and they all chatted about history.

A girl dressed in a Ming Dynasty-style jacket and skirt said, "What I admire most about the Ming Dynasty is its integrity. 'The emperor guards the nation's gate, and the monarch dies for the country.' Emperor Chongzhen would rather die than retreat. This kind of spirit is so rare."

"And then there's Empress Ma!" another girl chimed in. "A truly wise and virtuous empress for all time. Many of the rules she established, such as 'All citizens of the Great Ming Dynasty, women may wear phoenix coronet and embroidered robes when they marry, and the groom may wear official robes; on the wedding day, the official who sees her will be ranked one rank higher,' were so humane! This was far more advanced than the strict distinctions between nobles and commoners in Europe!"

When Empress Ma is mentioned, the conversation naturally turns to Zhu Yuanzhang.

A boy wearing a square-shaped headscarf and a traditional Chinese robe pushed up his glasses: "Speaking of the Ming Taizu (Emperor Hongwu), I must say—that widely circulated portrait of him with a long, narrow face is absolutely slander!"

He became somewhat agitated: "Think about it, if Zhu Yuanzhang really looked like that, would a lady of high birth like Empress Ma have fallen for him? Would famous generals like Xu Da and Chang Yuchun have followed him? Would a strategist like Liu Bowen, with his lofty ambitions, have assisted him?"