On the way home in the evening, the ox cart moved along a pitch-black road.
Today, after a tiring day outside, although they didn't sell much, the villagers of He Wan village had a very positive outlook.
There was laughter and chatter all the way, with discussions about how much merchandise to prepare for tomorrow.
However, Wang Er was still somewhat worried.
"Mother," Wang Er walked up to Li Yao and said, "What if nobody comes in the following days? What should we do?"
In fact, everyone had this question in their minds.
But no one dared to ask because asking would be like questioning Li Yao.
So when Wang Er asked, everyone listened intently.
"If nobody comes, then the celebration will be a failure," Li Yao said, "But there won't be such a 'what if' scenario."
"How can you be so sure, Mother?"
Because I understand human nature!
People are social creatures, naturally inclined to enjoy festivities.
Li Yao had heard from the old lady who had adopted her that when she was young, she heard that the neighboring county was going to show a movie. The whole village would finish dinner early, then walk more than ten kilometers in groups to watch the movie, and then return with torches.
In this place, in this era, entertainment activities were even scarcer than when she was young. It could be said that Baichuan County had such a big event, and anyone with a bit of free time would definitely come.
But it was not easy to explain this matter to everyone, so she simply said, "Just trust me."
Wang Er still wanted to ask, but he didn't know how to continue.
"I know, you are worried that if the celebration fails, not only will we not make any money, but many people will also lose money, right?"
Wang Er pondered for a moment and nodded emphatically.
"The fact that you can think like this shows that you are already looking at the problem from a higher perspective, and that's a good thing," Li Yao said, "When you become an official in the future, you should do the same."
"Understood, Mother," Wang Er said, "But I feel that even if I become a high-ranking official in the future and encounter problems I can't solve, I will still seek your advice."
"You should learn to think for yourself and not rely on me for everything," Li Yao thought to herself, "I'm just a retired old lady, and I really don't want to worry about unnecessary matters. By the way, on the last day of the celebration, the Song County Magistrate will organize a poetry gathering. Did you receive the invitation?"
"I received it," Wang Er said, "Teacher Lv and several other teachers from the school will also attend. They said yesterday that the newly appointed prefect, Hu, has been invited, but we don't know if he will come."
Prefect Hu had been beheaded, and the new prefect of Yizhou Prefecture had already taken office. The entire Yizhou Prefecture had long been informed of this through public notices.
Li Yao didn't know who this new prefect was, nor did she want to pay too much attention. But she knew for certain that the new prefect would definitely come.
"Tomorrow, you and Xiao Hui don't need to set up a stall," Li Yao said, "Stay at home and study, and also prepare for the poetry gathering."
...
On the second day of July, the villagers of He Wan village set off before dawn with full confidence and headed to the celebration.
But as soon as they were ready, many villagers from nearby villages arrived.
Most of the villagers are from Baichuan County. Yesterday, some people from the village went back and talked about the fireworks. They also knew that this wonderful event was organized by Li Yao, without asking anyone for money. Many people were deeply moved.
The people of Baichuan County have received many benefits from Li Yao. Even the good growth of sweet potatoes in their fields has filled many people with great expectations for the autumn harvest.
So everyone came to the market consciously. Even if they didn't have money in their pockets to buy things, they could still enjoy the lively atmosphere.
A large crowd gathered in front of the stage and the performing troupe, finally giving the celebration a bit of liveliness.
People from farther away also rushed over around noon.
These people now had the ability to spend money. After traveling for half a morning, everyone was hungry. When they saw so much delicious food at the celebration, who could resist?
After eating and drinking their fill, they discovered more fun activities. Some people with a little extra money couldn't help but try their hand at archery and ring tossing. There were occasional winners, and cheers filled the air.
The county magistrate, during his tenure, came to see it several times and found that the celebration had taken on the proper appearance. He also put his mind at ease.
As evening fell, everyone had dinner at the stalls and looked forward to the fireworks tonight.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With earth-shattering explosions, huge fireworks burst open, making both those who had seen fireworks before and those who hadn't feel an incredible sense of awe once again.
After the fireworks, many people checked into inns, ready to enjoy another day of sightseeing.
After all, the time was too short, and many delicious foods remained untasted, and they hadn't played all the fun games. Most importantly, they wanted to see the fireworks again.
The shops on the streets also welcomed wave after wave of customers. The restaurants were busier than usual, and the inns were fully booked.
Seeing the effect after the second day, everyone was delighted and held Li Yao in high regard.
"Boss," the manager of Zhang's Restaurant asked, "Are we really not buying ingredients?"
Zhang Guangsheng glared at him fiercely, feeling annoyed. "No, we're not buying!"
This time, he had to stick to his decision! At most, he wouldn't make money, but he didn't lack the money. But he absolutely couldn't lose face!
In the following days, more and more people came to Baichuan County.
The inns were already full, so Li Yao made use of the tents prepared by the county magistrate and set up a large area in a small grove next to the celebration square.
It was summer now, so everyone could manage.
Some families in the market were more flexible and tidied up their empty houses, allowing people to temporarily stay.
In short, after a few days, Baichuan Market was like a blocked dam, with surging crowds inside.
Many vendors ran out of ingredients and goods to sell and had already sent people to purchase more in a hurry.
On the sixth day, a large number of luxurious carriages appeared, at least several hundred. These were all wealthy people from Yizhou Prefecture.
After receiving the news, they didn't rush over immediately. Instead, they sent people to inquire and found out that the celebration in Baichuan County was truly well-organized and the fireworks were indeed beautiful. So, without prior arrangement, they all came today.
Fortunately, the roads in Baichuan County are well-maintained and relatively spacious, otherwise there would have been a few miles of traffic congestion.
These people are the main force behind the celebration's expenses.
As soon as they arrive, they bring along their whole family, as well as maidservants and attendants. They are also generous spenders. When they see something delicious, they buy a bunch of it, and when they see something fun, they must enjoy it to the fullest. Those who enjoy listening to opera even throw money generously onto the stage.
In short, they are seeking nothing but joy.
Since the people from Yizhou Prefecture have come specifically to watch the fireworks, it is only natural that they will stay here for the night.
Fortunately, Li Yao had already mentioned to the Song County Magistrate at noon to make arrangements for the inn to find more rooms, and the prominent families in the county also did their best to accommodate the guests. The Song County Magistrate even vacated some rooms in the county yamen to properly settle these honored guests.
On that evening, Li Yao intentionally set off more fireworks to bring great joy to these distinguished guests from Yizhou Prefecture.
After watching the fireworks, many people inquired about where these things came from. When they learned that it was difficult to produce fireworks and they were not yet available for sale, many people could only express their regret.
However, in order to console these guests, the Song County Magistrate announced that tomorrow would be the official Qiqiao Festival, and the fireworks tomorrow night would be ten times more spectacular than tonight's, which helped to ease everyone's disappointment.
