novelhk Chapter 20 Setting off Fireworks
Chapter 20 Setting off Fireworks
"Fangfang, I need to write something while the light is good today, so don't bother me before dark. Zhaodi and Laidi need to go to the table in the main room to correct homework."
As he spoke, Zhao Yuan took the materials and translation paper and sat down at the table where Zhao Di and Lai Di were doing their homework, and got busy.
“Okay, I’ll talk to Zhao Di and Lai Di.”
Lin Fangfang took the schoolbags that Zhaodi and Laidi handed over by Zhaoyuan and placed them on the table in the main room.
Zhao Yuan quickly became fully focused on translating.
He was writing something rapidly, turning the page every now and then, and soon the table was covered with a thick stack of papers.
Zhaodi and Laidi were happily running into the house after feeding the pigs.
"Shhh."
Lin Fangfang sat by the cradle, watching her husband write with great concentration. He looked so captivating. All the unhappiness of the past vanished, and she only remembered his good qualities. Now, she only had love for him.
Seeing the two children enter noisily, she gestured for them to be quiet, then pointed at Zhaoyuan and whispered:
"Go to the main room to correct your homework, don't disturb your father."
The two sisters ran into the house and saw their father intently writing something at the table. The two sisters tiptoed to the main room to start grading homework.
The house was completely silent.
It was getting dark, and it was no longer suitable for writing.
Zhao Yuan put away the treatment and translation papers and placed them in a bag.
"Fangfang, give some candy to the children. Let's go set off fireworks. I brought back two boxes of fireworks for you. Open them and see what kind of fireworks they are."
"Ok."
Lin Fangfang went into the room, grabbed a handful of paper-wrapped candies, and put a handful in each of her daughters' pockets.
"Mom, you eat too."
Zhao Zhaodi peeled a piece of candy from a paper wrapper and stuffed it into Lin Fangfang's mouth.
Zhao Yuan went to the main room, took out a box, opened it, and looked inside.
"There are ground squirrels, sparklers, snap pops, mini firecrackers, hand grenades..."
"Dad, have some candy."
Zhao Lai Di peeled a piece of candy and handed it to Zhao Yuan. Zhao Yuan opened his mouth and took the candy from Lai Di, then continued to check the other box.
This box is about the same size. These small fireworks are specifically designed for children to play with. It's quite impressive that there are so many different kinds available these days.
The two sisters ate candy, and the house was filled with a sweet atmosphere.
Zhao Yuan moved both boxes of fireworks outside the yard, grabbed some matches, and started setting off the fireworks.
"Woo-wah, woo-wah, woo-wah..."
Zhao Nana started crying.
"Your sister really knows how to pick her time. She knew it was fun and joined in the fun."
Lin Fangfang picked up Zhao Nana, checked her diaper, and realized she had wet it, so she changed her diaper. Zhao Zhaodi quickly fetched water to wash the diaper, and after hanging it up to dry, she went outside to set off fireworks.
Lin Fangfang sat by the door, breastfeeding Zhao Nana. The three women, father and daughters, were clearly visible from the doorway. Zhao Yuan handed each of them a sparkler, lit a match, and launched them into the sky with a dazzling burst of light. The children squealed with excitement, while Zhao Yuan watched quietly, a satisfied smile on his face. The sparks, like stars in the night sky, illuminated the faces of the father and his two daughters. Zhao Yuan's smile was filled with affection for his daughters, while Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi excitedly waved their sparklers, their laughter echoing in the night. Lin Fangfang, holding Zhao Nana, watched this heartwarming scene, her heart filled with happiness and contentment.
Amidst the laughter, a group of children ran over.
"Zhaodi, where did you get these fireworks?"
The speaker was Zhao Fengnian, the neighbor next door. He was in the same class as Zhao Di. Behind him followed a group of children, about ten boys and girls.
“My dad brought it back.”
Zhao Di looked up and said happily.
"Can we put them together?"
As they spoke, the children gathered around the two cardboard boxes.
"Wow, so many! Zhao Di, your father is so good to you."
The children looked on with envy.
"Let's all have fun together, but please be careful."
Zhao Yuan said.
Upon hearing Zhao Yuan's invitation to everyone to play together, each person chose one item.
Then Zhao Yuan began distributing fireworks to the children.
The boys loved firecrackers and grenades. Firecrackers made a popping sound when they were thrown to the ground, and grenades made a snapping sound when the fuse was pulled and they were thrown out. At that time, there were popping sounds everywhere.
The girls' favorite was the sparkler. Each girl held one in her hand, its flashing light like the brightest star in the night sky. They laughed, played, chased each other, comparing whose sparkler was prettier, lasted longer, and could create the most beautiful arc. Once a sparkler was about to go out, they would take out a new one, touch it to the nearly burnt-out sparkler, and it would light up again, flashing brightly once more.
After finishing her milk, Zhao Nana watched her older sisters play for a while before falling asleep again. Lin Fangfang held Zhao Nana and sat quietly on the stool by the door, watching the children play. It had been a long time since her family had enjoyed such a warm and happy time; she wished time could stand still at this moment, Lin Fangfang thought to herself.
Zhao Yuan stood quietly by, watching the children play. The girls' sparklers quickly burned out, while the boys' sparklers still made a few scattered "pop pop pop" sounds. Some of the firecrackers didn't make a sound when they were thrown on the muddy ground. The boys walked up to them, stomped on them, and "pop!" The children were overjoyed, and laughter filled the air.
Zhaoyuan's village didn't have a fireworks factory, so usually, every household would buy a few strings of firecrackers for the New Year, then give a few to the boys to play with. The boys would gather in groups of three or five to play with the firecrackers, sticking them in cow dung or mud, lighting the fuses, and with a "pop," cow dung and mud would fly everywhere. When they got home, their clothes would be covered in mud and cow dung. They might get a scolding or a spanking from their families, but that didn't matter; they just wanted to have fun. All the boys grew up like this. The adults were extremely disapproving of the children playing with firecrackers during the New Year, but the children were incredibly happy, looking forward to those few days all year round.
But for most of the children, this was the first time they had ever seen so many fireworks, and they all had a really good time.
After the children had finished using everything, Zhaoyuan took out a ground mouse, lit one, and threw it on the ground. A ball of fire spun on the ground and made a "squeak squeak squeak" sound.
There were also small, cone-shaped fireworks. When you put them on the ground and light the fuse, colorful sparks would shoot out from the top of the cone. It was really beautiful. The children all ran over, and the older boys stood next to Zhao Yuan.
"Shall I order one?"
"I'll order one."
Zhao Yuan looked at them; there were about four older boys.
"Okay, only the four of you are allowed to make the larger dots. The fuse is below, remember to run away after you've made your dots."
Zhao Yuan said.
"Don't worry, we're fine with playing with firecrackers all the time."
As he spoke, a big boy took a match from Zhao Yuan, picked up a cone-shaped firework, lit the fuse at the end, and calmly placed it on the ground with considerable skill.
Other boys also gathered around, wanting to take the firecrackers from Zhaoyuan's hands.
Zhao Yuan was given one to each person.
The two boxes of fireworks were completely used up amidst the children's laughter.
Everyone went back to their own homes and to their own mothers.