To see the fireworks, not only did Song County Magistrate and his wife stay, but several yamen runners also stayed as well.
After the previous incident, Zhang County Captain was even more respectful of Li Yao, and got to know her better.
After dinner, seeing several children practicing martial arts in the yard, Zhang County Captain felt it was quite interesting, especially watching Da Zhuang wrestling with a bull, which made everyone laugh happily.
"Da Zhuang, you can't do it like this," Zhang County Captain laughed, "You can't even wrestle down a small calf, you need more practice."
In fact, Da Zhuang had already wrestled the bull down before, but the bull was also clever, and learned its lesson after one loss. After several times, it became wary. Using the same method to wrestle it down again became very difficult. So in practicing wrestling, both human and bull were making progress.
Da Zhuang chuckled foolishly, "Brother Zhang, why don't you try it?"
"Let's try it then."
Zhang County Captain took off his official uniform and went directly in front of the bull.
Seeing it was a stranger, the little bull became even more vigilant. Before Zhang County Captain could make a move, it took the initiative to attack, ramming Zhang County Captain in the belly with its head.
Caught off guard, Zhang County Captain was knocked off his feet by the blow, almost falling over on the spot. He could only grab the bull's horns tightly with both hands.
But the little bull was still unresigned, twisting its head and directly flinging him out, throwing Zhang County Captain sprawling on the ground.
"Hahaha..."
The yamen runners burst into laughter: "Boss, you seem even worse at this!"
Zhang County Captain's face flushed red with embarrassment: "Hey, you little calf is quite fierce, see how I deal with you today."
But after several more bouts, Zhang County Captain was battered miserably.
The bull didn't get wrestled down once, while he himself was wrestled plenty.
"There's something wrong with your family's bull!"
Da Zhuang thought to himself, this bull gets taught by me and mom every day, how could anything be wrong with it?
"Uncle Zhang," Wang Xiao Si blinked and said, "Actually, you can wrestle with my second brother, he also learned a bit recently."
"Forget it, forget it," Zhang County Captain waved his hands again and again, "I can't bully people."
"Are you afraid?"
"I..."
Zhang County Captain was speechless with anger.
How could Wang Er not know? A delicate pretty boy who he could knock down with one hand, yet he was talking about wrestling with him?
Li Yao also wanted to test Wang Er's actual combat skills, so she said, "County Captain Zhang, just think of it as playing with Wang Er."
When Zhang County Captain heard this, he knew something was wrong. Since Mrs. Li said this, Wang Er must have learned some skills.
What if Wang Er was quite good?
Just now he was battered by a bull, he couldn't be the only one losing face, could he?
So he said to a yamen runner, "Ma Zhao, come over."
"Coming!"
Ma Zhao was the smallest of the yamen runners, but still twice the size of Wang Er. No matter how you looked at it, Wang Er would not be his match.
After explaining the rules simply, the two stood facing each other.
Ma Zhao didn't take Wang Er seriously either. As soon as it started, he reached to grab Wang Er's shoulder. But before he could even see Wang Er's movement clearly, he felt the world spin around him, and was thrown onto the ground.
"How is this possible..."
Song County Magistrate and Zhang County Captain were dumbfounded.
This was still Wang Er?
In the blink of an eye, he had thrown a strong and sturdy yamen runner to the ground?
"Wang Er, you rascal, you've got skills," Zhang County Captain went up and asked, "How do you have so much strength?"
"It's not all about strength," Wang Er explained, "Actually I'm not that strong, it's about technique."
"What technique is it? Tell me about it."
"Actually there's nothing much to it, just pay attention to the opponent's movements and exertion of force."
...
The two discussed to the side, while Wang Xiao Si could no longer hold back, feeling his feet itching to compete in a race with someone.
"That's enough, let's start setting off fireworks."
"Good good, let me see them too."
Under the great expectations of Song County Magistrate and his wife, over a dozen large firework bundles tied together were carried out from the room.
Li Yao picked up a piece of charcoal from the stove and lit the fuse.
Sizzling, the fuse sparked small flashes of light, very eye-catching in the darkness.
"Mmm," Song County Magistrate nodded, "These fireworks do look very good."
"Yes, sparkling," Zhang County Captain said, "It's just a bit small. If they could be made as big as a fist, they would definitely look even better."
Li Yao: ...That's the fuse!
Soon the fuse burned into the paper cylinder. Just when everyone thought the first firework had finished, there was suddenly a muffled bang.
Boom -
A firework with a small tail shot straight into the night sky, and everyone looked up together. They saw the firework ball that looked like a meteor keep rising higher and higher.
Bang -
With a huge boom, the firework exploded, scattering a large cluster of colorful fireworks blossoming open, like a gigantic flaming flower blooming in the pitch-black night sky.
Previously when Li Yao experimented, she always went alone to the mountains.
So this was the first time fireworks were shown before the public, giving everyone a deep shock.
It really was shocking. The gigantic sparks seemed to cover the entire sky, making people feel the vastness of the fields and their own insignificance.
Song County Magistrate looked up and stared, stunned stiff like a wooden carving.
He knew that with these fireworks, Baichuan County's Qiqiao Festival was guaranteed to be a success!
The first fireworks show in Hewan Village lasted for half a shichen, allowing everyone in the village to witness this spectacular fireworks display.
After finding out this was something newly created by Li Yao, almost all the villagers came over.
"Sister-in-law, how is this made?"
"Sister-in-law, will we be making this from now on?" Wang Dingguo asked, "I feel if we can make more of this, we will definitely earn big money!"
"The main issue is we can't make too much of it." Li Yao smiled.
It wasn't that fireworks were hard to make, she just didn't want the gunpowder technology to spread too early.
Of course, they could still profit from it. Wait until the reputation spreads, then sell exclusively to those wealthy people, or royal nobles, even the imperial palace.
Anyway these people have money easily, selling each one for 2 taels of silver should not be unreasonable.
As for common folk, they were still at the stage of seeking food and clothing. Wait until everyone was wealthy, then increase production and let everyone enjoy the beauty of fireworks.
"Miss Li, these fireworks are too amazing!" It was a long time before Song County Magistrate finally regained his senses, "I just don't know, how much would it cost to make them? And for Qiqiao Festival, how many can be produced?"
"They really are expensive to make," Li Yao said, "But this time I will provide the fireworks for Qiqiao Festival for free, for 7 days. Half a shichen each day, and more on the final night, which can be considered my contribution to Baichuan County."
The reason it was 7 days was naturally because transportation and communication in this world was too undeveloped. For people further away to come to Baichuan County for the festival, the duration had to be extended.
"Miss Li is most generous!"
Song County Magistrate would not be petty over this tiny favor. When the time came, he would naturally give the greatest conveniences to this biggest sponsor.
But in order to organize a large-scale 7-day festival, the wealthy people of Baichuan County still needed to chip in together, to make it the best possible.
So the next morning, Song County Magistrate invited the influential landowners, lower officials, and shop owners of Baichuan County, several dozen people gathered together to discuss this big matter.
When they heard Baichuan County wanted to organize a large-scale festival, many people started shaking their heads.
Led by Zhang Guangsheng of Zhangji Restaurant, many did not look favorably on this festival.
"County Magistrate Song," Zhang Guangsheng said, "Our Baichuan County is too remote, the commoners are very poor too. Who will come for such a big festival?"
"That's right, the location is too remote, and time is tight, the news might not even spread out."
"Also, what is this Qiqiao Festival? Never heard of it before!"
"I just took a look at it," Zhang Guangsheng laughed, "It said it was about a fairy who insisted on marrying a penniless bachelor who couldn't even afford a pot. Haha, not even storybooks dare write such a tale!"
Song County Magistrate had already expected there would be people saying this, so he said, "Everyone, this Qiqiao Festival was jointly discussed and decided by this official and Miss Li. "