The Great Explosion

"Qiao Shi, Qiao Shi."

Old Beade called from the neighboring room. The thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl lying on the wooden table answered, pulling her gaze away from the flickering candle. Outside the window, the sky had been gloomy for days, dark clouds filling the horizon as purple lightning constantly zigzagged through them. She raised her head and glanced at the terrible weather, sighed, and went outside to ask:

"Father, what is it?"

"Bring me my cloak and take out the carriage. We can't work in this weather, so I'm taking the farm tools into town to have Betos repair them." Old Beade was putting on his shoes on his bench as he replied.

Qiao Shi stood by her bedroom door, looking at the foul weather outside the living-room door. She frowned worriedly, her pale arms crossed over her apron beneath her rolled-up sleeves. "You're still going out in this weather?" she asked, somewhat reluctantly. Old Beade heard the concern in his daughter's voice. He glanced at the weather outside and laughed. "It's nothing but a gentle breeze and drizzle, nothing but a gentle breeze and drizzle. The weather will get even worse after a while. It'll be impossible to go out then."

Qiao Shi sighed, wiped her hands on her apron, crossed the living room, and took the cloak from the rack before draping it over Old Beade. "Go calm Ans and A-Luo down. They're still young. The lightning must have frightened them badly." Old Beade narrowed his eyes as he let his daughter's hands pass around his neck to fasten the cloak, enjoying this quiet warmth. "The road will be slippery. The carriage definitely won't travel easily," Qiao Shi murmured.

"It's all right, my good girl. The bad things won't come out in this weather, either." Old Beade laughed