Fireworks: Let's Set Off Fireworks Together Next Year

Jiang Xu felt a vague, suppressed anger, though no one could see it. She still had to stay with Jiang Lun, who said that although they weren't related by blood, they were legally kin. Jiang Xu didn't want to live under the same roof with Jiang Lun anymore—it would only make her more nervous and afraid. Without Wang Cai, it would only magnify Jiang Lun's unscrupulousness.

She didn't know what Liang Xiaoqing had done, but she had forcefully taken her away from home. As they descended the mountain, Liang Xiaoqing held her hand and said, "Xiao Xu, from now on you'll live with me, and you'll have nothing to do with the Jiang family. ...I'll take good care of you..."

Liang Xiaoqing's words sounded like a promise.

"...Jiang Daguo is your stepfather; technically, he has no legal guardianship over you... but if you're willing..."

After that, Liang Xiaoqing didn't seem to be talking to her anymore. She took her to the county town, riding on her old, beat-up bicycle, saying those things along the way.

The county town was even farther than the town. Jiang Xu sat on the back seat, just like the first time she'd ridden on a bicycle, watching Liang Xiaoqing's back. Unlike last time, she felt too tired, as if she hadn't woken up properly. She wrapped her arms around Liang Xiaoqing's waist, using her back as a pillow, pressed her face against it, and closed her eyes, drifting in and out of wakefulness.

By the time they reached the county town, it was already noon. Liang Xiaoqing took her to a small noodle shop for lunch, and afterward, she brought her to the funeral home. Liang Xiaoqing was busy the whole way—finding the staff, handing over a piece of paper, some kind of certificate or something. Jiang Xu stood behind her, not seeing it clearly.

Then the staff member looked at her a few times with sympathy in their eyes and led them through the buildings made of red brick walls.

"She's already been cremated," the staff member said in a flat tone. "This is her ashes."

They arrived at the destination, and the staff member took out a grayish-white porcelain urn, the size of a palm, from a glass cabinet: "This is her ashes."

Liang Xiaoqing took it. Jiang Xu found the urn glaringly bright. Liang Xiaoqing held her hand and walked out, the urn in a pouch. Liang Xiaoqing had to push her bicycle, and not knowing what to say, she handed the pouch to Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu took it.

"Get on."

Jiang Xu was still standing there. Liang Xiaoqing went to the bike, sat on it, tilted her head, and called her over. The streets were noisy, bustling with voices—not cold and empty like the funeral home. Jiang Xu sat on the back seat, holding Wang Cai's ashes, settling them in place. Just like when she'd come, she wrapped her arms around Liang Xiaoqing's waist and leaned her whole head against her back.

The trees on both sides slowly receded, and the people and cars gradually drifted away from them. Liang Xiaoqing pedaled hard, saying nothing. Jiang Xu seemed a little heavier.

Creak, creak. The only concrete road leading to Shuiqing Town wasn't too bumpy, and the downhill stretch up ahead didn't require much effort. Liang Xiaoqing could finally relax a bit, straightening her back, her feet resting on the pedals without moving. The wheels spun forward quickly.

The afternoon wind had been warmed by the sun, and when it blew on her face, the chill was bearable. Liang Xiaoqing's forehead was covered in sweat, and the wind poured into her collar. Behind her, Jiang Xu seemed to feel nothing. All Liang Xiaoqing could feel was her weight pressing on her back, and a dampness at her lower waist.

Her hair drifted back as Liang Xiaoqing faced the wind, looking at a stretch of cold, pale green in the distance.

Only then did she realize Jiang Xu was crying.

...

Winter passed and spring came; time flew quickly. Liang Xiaoqing and Jiang Xu spent a New Year together. Jiang Xu had thought she would go home, but she didn't, so she asked, "Why don't you go home during the holiday?"

Liang Xiaoqing said, "This year, I have you to spend it with."

Wang Cai's passing had kept Jiang Xu from feeling cheerful for a while, and this New Year could be said to have been quite quiet. Except for Yang Man coming by a few times to visit, there was no one else. And Jiang Xu pondered Liang Xiaoqing's words, feeling they carried deep meaning. Jiang Xu didn't understand what Liang Xiaoqing truly meant; she only felt that Liang Xiaoqing wasn't very happy. Yet it still rippled through her heart.

But it was the most peaceful New Year she'd ever had, and also the most secure one.

The urn was temporarily placed in Liang Xiaoqing's home. At one point, Jiang Xu wanted to take it back home, but Liang Xiaoqing said it was fine to keep it at her place; they would have it ecologically buried later. Now only Jiang Lun was at the house, and he would never handle it properly.

"I can come with you to bury her, otherwise we'll have to return her to the funeral home." On New Year's Eve, the night sky was filled with stars, and Jiang Xu and Liang Xiaoqing made dumplings together.

Liang Xiaoqing always had to watch TV while eating, and when she turned it on, it was the Spring Festival Gala—familiar, cheerful music, even the hosts were familiar faces. The moment she saw those faces, it felt like Chinese New Year. Liang Xiaoqing didn't really want to watch the Gala. She flipped through the channels, finding that almost every station was airing it.

So she gave up and handed the remote to Jiang Xu, letting her watch. She sat on the floor, dealing with the dumplings in her bowl. Luckily, there was a throw pillow on the ground. The South wasn't like the North, where indoors had underfloor heating; in the South, it could be colder inside than outside. Liang Xiaoqing had gotten into the habit of sitting on the floor; Jiang Xu felt cold, so she sat by the edge of the sofa.

The dazzling lights on TV caught Jiang Xu's attention. Since she was little, she could count on one hand the times she'd watched the Gala.

The TV at home could only be turned on when Jiang Lun was back. Usually, Jiang Daguo didn't allow it. But on New Year's Eve, she and Wang Cai would be busy all day long, preparing food for the family. Especially when Jiang Lun came home, Jiang Daguo would want to slaughter all the chickens and ducks they'd raised to eat. On that day, Jiang Daguo was in a good mood, drinking and eating with Jiang Lun while watching the Gala on TV. When they finished all their work, they'd be allowed to sit at the table and eat together.

Of course, every time Jiang Xu saw the table full of leftover scraps and half-eaten dishes, she'd complain about why Wang Cai had to put up with Jiang Daguo like that. Wang Cai was too submissive; it always made her boil with anger.

The laughter and joy on TV had nothing to do with them, because after just a few bites, Jiang Daguo would urge Wang Cai to clear the table...

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A commotion outside pulled Jiang Xu back from her thoughts. On TV, a comedy skit was playing, drawing laughter.

Jiang Xu ate and watched, finding it somewhat amusing.

Liang Xiaoqing's body jolted, and she sprang up like a leaping carp. Jiang Xu thought she'd been startled, but then she got up from the floor and dashed to the window.

Throwing open the glass: "Fireworks!" She was excited.

"Bang, bang, bang!" A few more loud sounds rang out.

With the window open, cold air rushed in, and Liang Xiaoqing was bathed in the glow of various colors—fleeting lights that dazzled Jiang Xu's eyes.

"Xiao Xu, come here quick." Half her body was leaning out the window; Jiang Xu felt it was dangerous and hurried over.

Liang Xiaoqing pulled herself back a bit, her arm wrapping around Jiang Xu's shoulder.

"Look, Xiao Xu!"

The cold night wind hit their faces, and in the sky hung fireworks that hadn't fully faded, showing off their final brilliance. Jiang Xu watched those little lights vanish into the night, her own eyes shining brightly from the glow.

"Bang!" Another one shot up, colors shifting from the inside out, fully reflected in Jiang Xu's eyes. She widened her eyes to see it more clearly. The most splendid fireworks could light up the entire sky. Quite a few people had gathered in the courtyard downstairs, all noisy and lively. The red lanterns and red couplets on every door added to the festive atmosphere.

Jiang Xu had only ever seen fireworks on TV before. On TV, they looked like nothing special. But when she saw them in person, she realized how dazzling they were when they bloomed.

The hair by her face curled in the wind, and Jiang Xu felt a tickle on her cheek. She looked at Liang Xiaoqing. Liang Xiaoqing watched the fireworks quietly for a while. The last lingering glow illuminated her face. There was a bit of a smile on her face at first, which slowly faded until she had no expression at all. Her eyes squinted slightly from the wind, the corners tinged red. Jiang Xu felt she was thinking about something, looking a little melancholic.

But in the brief moment she turned her head, Liang Xiaoqing's eyes met hers. After a moment of silence, she asked with a slight smile, "Pretty, isn't it?"

The melancholy look from just a second ago instantly vanished.

"..." Jiang Xu was dazed.

"Why have you gone into a daze?" Liang Xiaoqing touched her hand.

Jiang Xu quickly pulled her gaze away, staring at the smoke spreading outside the window, and nodded. "Beautiful. So beautiful. I've never seen it before..."

"Then next year, we'll set off fireworks together." The hand on her head gently rubbed; Jiang Xu found it very comforting.

The two of them were close together, Jiang Xu's head almost touching Liang Xiaoqing's chest.

"From now on, just think of me as your family."

She tousled her hair once more, then pulled her close along with the motion, like she was embracing her. Jiang Xu found it unbelievable, because Liang Xiaoqing rarely got this close to her, but the soft touch brushing against her forehead was real.

In shock and confusion, she savored Liang Xiaoqing's words.

Family.

For Jiang Xu, this was indeed good. She wanted to be closer to Liang Xiaoqing, but the feeling of being "family" felt off somehow. Besides, in this world, there was no such thing as family forever—even blood relatives couldn't necessarily maintain their relationships with each other, let alone her and Liang Xiaoqing.

Aside from knowing she was a teacher, Jiang Xu knew nothing else about her life. She didn't know where she was from, where she came from, or where her family was. For someone like Liang Xiaoqing, her parents must have loved her very much.

Jiang Xu nodded gently in Liang Xiaoqing's arms; Liang Xiaoqing probably didn't notice.

From the courtyard downstairs came the giggles of children, and the fireworks had stopped. Those kids were holding small sticks that sparkled brightly, somewhat like the fireworks they'd just seen. Jiang Xu's eyes were full of glimmering light.

"Look, they're sparklers," Liang Xiaoqing said excitedly, patting her shoulder.

So that's what sparklers were.

The children's laughter carried all the way upstairs, full of vitality.

The gloom that had hung over Jiang Xu's head for days began to lift a little.

Jiang Xu hoped that one day, she would have sparklers of her own.