On the evening of the Qixi Festival, the sky was clear and full of stars.
In the afternoon, Zhang County Captain had announced that at the fourth quarter past the hour of Xū, there would be large floating lanterns rising into the sky, followed by an even larger fireworks show.
Everyone had eaten and drank their fill early, and then looked for the most comfortable spot to crane their necks in anticipation.
Da Zhuang supported pregnant He Xiaoya, and brought along Wang Er, Du Xiao Hui, Wang Xiao Si, Song Zhe, and Chun Ning to the third floor of He's Restaurant.
Although it was a bit far away, it was safer here.
"Where's Mother?" He Xiaoya asked.
"Mother went to supervise the fireworks," Wang Er said, "That stuff can still be a bit dangerous, so Mother is worried."
In fact, Li Yao had not gone to supervise the fireworks at all. Even children could handle things like that, so Zhang County Captain could easily take care of it himself.
She had just gone off alone from the village, to a comfortable spot by the riverbank, and was currently lying on the soft grass.
This Qixi Festival was a holiday she had created since coming to this world, and it had been very successful. She believed that in the future, the entire Great Ling would celebrate this festival, and the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl would become widely known.
Bringing beautiful things to this world was quite fulfilling.
But tonight, she just wanted to spend a Qixi Festival of her own.
Looking up at the full sky of stars, she said to herself in her heart: "I'm 32 now, happy birthday to me, happy single me."
...
At the fourth quarter past the hour of Xū, the entire Baichuan Market fell silent, with everyone raising their heads to look up at the sky, waiting for that legendary giant lantern.
At that time, some lights slowly rose from the east, and then more and more lanterns followed them up into the sky, forming a simple pattern.
It was the silhouette of a person, who appeared to be a man. He drifted left and right in the sky, as if searching for something.
Not long after, the western sky also floated up large numbers of lanterns, forming the image of a woman in the air.
Seeing the woman appear, the man in the east drifted towards the west, and the woman also floated over, but between them seemed to be a huge Milky Way blocking their path, leaving them only able to gaze at each other from afar.
"Is this the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?"
"Where are the magpies? Isn't there supposed to be a bridge of magpies?"
"Don't worry, the magpies are coming soon, look over there!"
A large group of chaotic sky lanterns rose up from the north and south, slowly gathering together in the middle. This process took about a quarter of an hour, leaving everyone anxiously holding their breath.
The dense sky lanterns finally converged into a heavenly bridge, allowing the Cowherd and Weaver Girl to meet by walking across it.
When their hands touched, thunderous cheers erupted from below.
"They finally got together!"
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
...
The people cheered and celebrated, even more excited than if they themselves had married their heart's desire.
The Cowherd and Weaver Girl danced slowly in the sky, as if narrating their bitter longing, and soon after, the magpie bridge gradually dispersed, and the two were forcibly separated.
The lanterns extinguished one by one as they fell, leaving only silent regret and sorrow for the people below.
"Mother, why can't the Cowherd and Weaver Girl live together?"
"Because a high official wouldn't allow it. But they can still meet in the sky every year on this day."
"Can we come watch again next year?"
"Of course, I will definitely bring you."
Just then, three firework balls with flaming tails shot into the sky.
Boom boom boom—
Three huge explosions, and three enormous dazzling fireworks blossomed in the sky, almost covering the entire sky.
"Wow, so beautiful!"
Tonight, Li Yao had spent a fortune, bringing all the fireworks from her inventory here, and setting them off from three different locations at the same time.
For a time, it was as if the entire sky was filled with massive, gorgeous blooming flowers.
Prefect Li had definitely seen the world, but even he was stunned speechless by the magnificent sight.
And all the people who had come to participate in the celebrations were immersed in an inexplicable feeling of bliss.
"Not even the Emperor has seen fireworks like these!"
Just this one thing alone was enough for the common folk of Baichuan County to brag about for a lifetime.
"That's right, fortunately Ms. Li is one of our people from Baichuan County, otherwise how could we have such good fortune?"
"Ms. Li is really a lucky star for us common folk of Baichuan County. I bet I can dig up thousands of catties of sweet potatoes from my field this year!"
...
Upstairs at He's Restaurant, Da Zhuang held He Xiaoya's hand tightly.
He was a simple man, with countless words in his heart that he wanted to say, but he just didn't know how to express them, so he could only grip He Xiaoya's hand tighter and tighter.
Meanwhile, next to them, Wang Er also quietly reached out and touched Du Xiao Hui's fingers.
Du Xiao Hui jerked away as if shocked, but soon put her hand back, blushing as she lowered her head, letting Wang Er grip her hand tightly.
"Brother Zhe," Wang Xiao Si whispered to Song Zhe, "Why is my second brother holding Sister Hui's hand?"
Hearing this, Song Zhe hurriedly covered his eyes: "Don't look."
"Why can't I look?"
"Looking will give you needle eyes."
"Oh."
Wang Xiao Si pouted. His second brother knew this would give people needle eyes, yet still wanted to hold Sister Hui's hand. He would have to tell Mother to properly scold him later.
"Da... Da Zhuang," He Xiaoya suddenly called out as she watched the dazzling fireworks.
"Hmm, what's the matter? Are you tired from standing?"
"No," He Xiaoya shook her head. "My stomach seems to hurt... It hurts a lot... Did the baby get scared by the fireworks? Ah... It hurts so much..."
What?
Da Zhuang panicked and hurriedly gripped He Xiaoya's shoulders firmly: "Then let's go back quickly..."
"We can't leave, we can't leave," Although Chun Ning was young, she had learned a lot in the capital city, and instantly knew the reason. "Sister Xiaoya is going into labor!"
Huh?
Xiaoya was going into labor, but they were outside right now. What... What... What should they do?
The clueless brothers all froze up in shock.
"What are you standing around for?" With Li Yao not around, Chun Ning calmly began to take charge of the situation. "Brother Da Zhuang, come help me support Sister Xiaoya downstairs. Brother Zhe, go to the county office for a carriage. Brother Er, go home first and prepare lots of hot water."
"Got it!"
"Also, Wang Xiao Si, hurry and go find Ms. Li!"
"Understood!"
The family immediately split up to handle their own tasks. After Da Zhuang slowly helped He Xiaoya downstairs, Song Zhe had already brought over a carriage to the door of the restaurant, then quickly took He Xiaoya home.
Wang Xiao Si raced like the wind to the fireworks launching spot, but didn't see Li Yao anywhere, anxiously breaking out in a cold sweat as he grabbed Zhang County Captain.
"Xiao Si? Don't run around here, it's dangerous."
"Where's my mother?"
"Ms. Li isn't here. What's the matter?"
"My sister-in-law has gone into labor!"
Upon hearing this was no small matter, but there were at least tens of thousands of people at Baichuan Market right now, and it was late at night, with the loud sounds of the fireworks, how could anyone possibly find someone?
"Come with me to find Prefect Song."
Hearing that Li Yao's eldest daughter-in-law was about to give birth, but Li Yao was nowhere to be found, Prefect Song and his wife also knitted their brows in worry.
But Prefect Song quickly came up with a good idea, and told Zhang County Captain to carry it out immediately.
Zhang County Captain went to a crowded area and explained the situation to the people around, who also expressed their willingness to help.
Boom boom boom—
Three more fireworks blossomed, and although Li Yao had seen more and better fireworks, she felt these were the most beautiful she had ever seen in her life.
Because she had made them!
Just as she was infinitely self-indulgent, from the direction of Baichuan Market came faint shouts.
"Ms. Li, your daughter-in-law is in labor, hurry home!"
"Ms. Li, your daughter-in-law is in labor, hurry home!"
...
The voices grew louder and louder, until it seemed like tens of thousands of people were shouting in unison, even drowning out the explosions of the fireworks.
Li Yao flipped up from the grass like a carp, and couldn't help but shake her head.
Whose silly idea was this, worried that people wouldn't know she was becoming a grandmother?