Helan Zong sat at the head, his face flushed from drinking, beaming cheerfully. Zhang Yizhu and Helan Zhen spoke softly, wearing gentle smiles, too busy to mind Helan Chang and Helan Rong, who were about to start a chopstick fight.
Helan Pei was slowly enjoying a bowl of crab meat and bamboo shoot soup. Sensing Lu Shuo looking at her from across the table, she raised her eyes and smiled at him.
Lu Shuo paused, then smiled back before quickly burying his head in his food.
The savory flavors spread across his tongue. As he ate, he remembered the leftover cured meat from last year's New Year.
That piece of cured meat had been left over from New Year's. After his mother passed away, it remained untouched until his uncle and aunt took it. He didn't know when they finally finished it. After receiving the hundred-tael banknote from the Duke Xuan, they should have been better off and not needed to be so frugal.
Oh, right—part of that hundred taels was meant for repairing his parents' graves. He wondered how it looked now.
Lu Shuo couldn't help touching the little wooden dog in his bosom.
Father, Mother, I'm doing very well now. Please rest assured. When I grow up, I will definitely go back to see you.
After the meal, the restless Helan Chang and Helan Rong charged out of the dining hall first, asking the servants outside: "Are there fireworks?"
The servant smiled. "Don't worry, we wouldn't dare forget the young masters' fireworks."
Large and small firework boxes were already set up in the courtyard. The two brothers cheered and ran over.
Helan Zhen stood up and said to Helan Pei and Lu Shuo, "Come on, let's go together."
Lu Shuo quickly followed.
He had never seen fireworks in his life. He heard they were only bought by wealthy city folk. Back in the village, at most they set off a few firecrackers—a few loud bangs, some white smoke, and that was it—just for the excitement, nothing really beautiful.
But since starting his lessons, he had read several poems describing fireworks, so vivid that they stirred his longing.
Helan Chang and Helan Rong, of course, insisted on lighting the fireworks themselves, not letting anyone else do it. Helan Zhen led Helan Pei to watch from under the eaves, cautioning them to be careful.
Lu Shuo stood behind Helan Zhen, both curious and a bit apprehensive as he watched the two brothers bend down to light a fuse each, then scamper back.
With a soft hiss, two streams of light shot into the sky and exploded sharply against the deep darkness.
Lu Shuo instinctively flinched, his eyes widening.
So this was a firework.
The rising sparks turned into blooming flowers, then falling petals dissolved into drifting smoke.
Intertwining sparks and flowing colors, one burst after another, beating like drums against Lu Shuo's heart, illuminating his eyes with a glittering brightness.
He watched the dazzling spectacle almost greedily, feeling as if he were floating in the clouds, lost in a sea of blossoms.
But the fireworks were fleeting. Before he could fully take it in, Helan Chang and Helan Rong clapped and shouted, "Again! Again!"
Helan Zhen turned to Lu Shuo. "Want to try?"
Lu Shuo hesitated and waved his hands. "I... I dare not."
The fireworks exploded so fast—what if his hands shook, or he couldn't run fast enough, and he got hurt?
Helan Zhen smiled. "Pei'er dares."
Then he gave Helan Pei a gentle push.
Helan Pei was indeed brave. She had been setting off fireworks with her brothers for years.
She took a firelighter from Helan Chang, and with Zisu accompanying her, walked to the firework box, bent down, and lit the fuse of a new box.
As soon as sparks appeared, Zisu grabbed her and ran back.
The firework rose behind her, soaring into the sky, and then burst open with a bang, scattering like celestial blossoms, raining down like drizzle.
Her cheeks were flushed, laughing as she ran; the white fur pom-poms on her ears bounced like a rabbit just out of its burrow.
She ran right up to Lu Shuo, stumbling forward from the momentum.
Her hands pushed against his arm. Luckily, Lu Shuo was steady and didn't fall, or they both would have ended up on the ground.
She bit her lip, embarrassed, straightened herself, and laughed again, thrusting the firelighter into his hand.
Her fingers were warm and soft; when she shoved the lighter into his palm, it touched briefly and then withdrew.
"Your turn."
Under the flickering light and shadows, Lu Shuo could clearly see her mouth the words.
Author's note:
None.