Chapter 417: Chapter 216: The First Day of the New Year_1
Second watch, call for the pink powder.
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Lian Manman was startled and hurriedly followed Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang outside. It was only at the doorway that they saw the fire was still several households away from the Lian Family’s courtyard.
"It seems like it’s the Wang Decai family’s haystack that caught fire," Lian Shouxin deduced from its location.
At this time, Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and Lian Shouli, together with the whole family, old and young, all came out.
"Let’s all go to put out the fire," Old Master Lian waved his hand and said.
Lian Shouxin hurried back into the house, grabbed a bucket of water, and rushed outside. Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouli, and Sanlang, all strong men, also went back to fetch water to fight the fire. Lian Manman wanted to carry a basin of water to help put out the fire but was stopped by Lady Zhang, fearing that at her young age, she might not be of much help and could get hurt instead. Such tasks were traditionally done by the able-bodied.
Still, Lian Manman went to the main entrance. The night wind had died down a bit, but it was still very dangerous. If the fire spread, with everyone’s houses connected, the consequences could be unimaginable.
Many villagers were awakened by the light of the fire. Without needing a summons, the able-bodied men all fetched water from their homes and ran back and forth, trying to extinguish the flames.
Shortly afterward, Lian Shouxin came back carrying an empty bucket.
"Father, how is it?" Lian Manman asked. Lady Zhang only allowed her to watch from the doorway, not letting her get too close to the fire. She could only see people splashing water onto the flames, which seemed to have decreased, but it wasn’t completely under control.
"We’re not putting it out anymore," Lian Shouxin put down the empty bucket in his hand.
People can be seen dispersing in small groups, carrying empty buckets away from the scene, seemingly no longer intent on fighting the fire.
"Wang Decai said that it was just that stack of hay, and if it burns out, there will be no more trouble," Lian Shouxin said.
It turns out that every year, on New Year’s, with the ignition of fireworks and firecrackers, fires would occasionally start. Often, it was the unburned firecrackers that would land on a haystack. There might be no immediate danger, but smoldering embers could revive and lead to a fire. In such cases, it was rare for houses to catch fire. The dried haystacks were prone to ignition and once caught fire, were difficult to extinguish. Therefore, every winter, everyone was very cautious about where to place their haystacks, and no one stored them close to their houses. This way, even if a fire started, it would not threaten homes and lives.
Wang Decai’s haystack was outside the gate, separated from the house by a stone wall and half a courtyard. Now, unable to put out the fire, as long as someone was vigilant and kept the sparks from scattering and starting other fires, it would be manageable.
"His family has another stack of hay, stored in the backyard, which, if used sparingly, should last until spring," Lian Shouxin said.
"Who knows which kid set off firecrackers next to the haystack, causing this disaster," a man said as he walked home.
Seeing the bottom of the burning haystack become visible, with the fire slowly dying down, the Wang Family carefully kept watch. Lian Shouxin then told everyone to go back to sleep.
Old Master Lian looked uneasily at their own haystack outside the gate.
"Father, go back to your room and sleep. I’ll keep watch out here," Lian Shouxin, seeing his concern, said.
"You all go to sleep. Young people need more sleep, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I went back," Old Master Lian said.
In the end, everyone persuaded him until Old Master Lian was finally persuaded to go back inside. However, Lian Manman later learned that although Old Master had returned to his room, he didn’t sleep at all that night, instead sitting clothed by the window.
During the night, Lian Manman was woken again; this time the fire was in West Village. Lian Shouxin went to take a look and came back to report that the fire in West Village was very big, with several adjoining haystacks all ablaze, tinting half of the sky red.
The New Year’s Eve passed just like that. When Lian Manman woke up again in a daze, the world outside was still pitch dark. It wasn’t yet dawn, but Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang were already up.
"Mother, there’s no need to pay New Year’s visits so early," Lian Manman said.
"Who’s talking about New Year’s visits? Your father is going to fetch the first water," Lady Zhang whispered, "You lot sleep a bit more, your mother will call you when it’s time."
"Fetch the first water?" Just the word "fetch" alone snapped Lian Manman awake. What was "fetch the first water," and such a word seemed out of character for someone as honest and straightforward as Lian Shouxin.
Lian Manman quickly got out of bed to get dressed, no matter what, she believed Lian Shouxin wouldn’t do anything bad. Bun’s Dad was too honest; where would he "fetch" something? She had to help so that Bun’s Dad and Mom wouldn’t be at a loss.
"Manman, why are you also getting up?" Lady Zhang hurriedly asked.
