Fireworks

Back in the barracks after his shift, Wang Quan had just taken off his dust-and-blood-stained uniform and splashed some cold water on his face when Wei Dayong found him.

"Brother Wang," Wei Dayong leaned against the doorframe, a smile creasing his dark face as he gestured to Wang Quan with his chin. "You must be exhausted today, huh? Come on, let's go to my place, grab something to eat, have a couple of drinks to relax. You're wound up tighter than a drawn bowstring every day."

Wang Quan paused. Wei Dayong's place? He'd heard Wei Dayong had settled down in the city, married, and had a child. Among their rough bunch who lived with their lives on the line, Wei Dayong was considered a rare man with a "nest." Usually, after their shifts, everyone either went to the small tavern by the Garrison for a few drinks or returned to their barracks to collapse like a corpse. Few visited each other's homes.

"Is... is that convenient?" Wang Quan asked, pulling on a clean grey cloth tunic.

"What's inconvenient about it!" Wei Dayong waved his hand, grinning. "My wife's been saying for ages that I should bring my new brother home to meet her. Come on, don't dawdle. And while we're at it... I'll take you somewhere to open your eyes."

He lowered his voice on the last sentence, winking at Wang Quan, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

Wang Quan's heart stirred. A good place? Recalling the "connections" Wei Dayong had vaguely mentioned before... He nodded. "Then I'll be bothering Brother Wei and Sister-in-law. I'll go change."

"Hurry up, I'll wait for you outside," Wei Dayong said, then ambled away.

Wang Quan tidied himself up with practiced efficiency. He didn't have much in the way of decent clothes, just this half-worn grey cloth tunic, which was clean from washing. After a moment's thought, he dug into his meager savings and pulled out a few copper coins, wrapped them in a clean scrap of cloth, and tucked them into his tunic—it wouldn't do to show up empty-handed.

When he emerged from the barracks, Wei Dayong was indeed waiting outside. They didn't ride horses, instead walking along the quiet streets of the early morning. They passed through two relatively neat streets and alleys, then turned into a slightly narrower but still clean lane. They stopped in front of a courtyard gate with grey walls, black tiles, and an old locust tree by the entrance.

Wei Dayong stepped forward and knocked loudly. "Xingniang! Open up! I'm back, and I've brought Brother Wang!"

A woman's clear voice and the sound of light footsteps came from inside. The door creaked open, and a woman wearing a blue floral skirt and an apron peered out. She looked under thirty, with delicate features and healthy, slightly sallow skin. Her hair was neatly pulled back and pinned with a wooden hairpin. Though dressed in coarse cloth, she was impeccably put together. She first smiled and shot Wei Dayong a look. "What are you shouting about? The neighbors can hear you." Her gaze then fell on Wang Quan, her smile softening. "You must be Brother Wang? Da Yong talks about you often, says you're skilled and steady. Come in, please. The house is a bit messy, don't mind us. My surname is Xu, just call me Sister Xu."

"Hello, Sister Xu," Wang Quan said, cupping his fists. A slightly awkward smile appeared on his face. "Sorry to intrude. Brother Wei has been very good to me."

"Oh, why are you standing at the door? Come in, come in!" Wei Dayong called, stepping into the courtyard himself.

Wang Quan followed. The courtyard wasn't large but was kept very tidy. Firewood was stacked neatly in a corner, and a small shed on the other side held various odds and ends. The main house had three rooms and looked a bit old, but the windows were wiped clean.

"Daddy's home!" a crisp little girl's voice rang out. A child, about five or six years old, with two little pigtails, rosy cheeks, and big, bright eyes, ran out from the main house and dashed towards Wei Dayong.

"Oh, my little Nannan!" The fierce look on Wei Dayong's face vanished instantly. He laughed heartily, bending down to scoop his daughter high into his arms. He rubbed his stubbly chin against her soft cheek, making the little girl giggle and push his face away with her small hands.

"Hello, Brother!" The little girl, in Wei Dayong's arms, wasn't shy at all. Her dark, round eyes looked at Wang Quan, and she called out clearly.

"Hello," Wang Quan said. Looking at the scene before him, the icy hardness in his heart seemed to be gently touched by something. The lines of his face softened unconsciously. He tried to smile more naturally, but perhaps he hadn't relaxed and smiled like this in too long, and his expression was a little stiff.

"Alright, alright, put her down. Look at you, all dusty, don't get our daughter dirty," Sister Xu said, walking over and patting Wei Dayong's arm. She then smiled at Wang Quan. "Brother Wang, please sit inside, have some water. Da Yong, you go wash up quickly, you smell of the outside. I'll bring the food."

"Yes, gladly!" Wei Dayong happily put his daughter down and said to Wang Quan, "Brother Wang, make yourself at home. I'll be right there after I clean up."

As soon as her feet touched the ground, the little girl glanced curiously at Wang Quan again before skipping off with her mother to the kitchen.

If you like this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

Wang Quan was shown into the main room. The room wasn't large, and the furnishings were simple, but everywhere exuded the warmth of everyday life. There was a square table, a few long benches, an old cupboard, and faded New Year pictures pasted on the wall. On the windowsill sat a broken pottery pot with a few wildflowers tucked inside, blooming beautifully.

He sat down by the table, his gaze sweeping over the scene of this ordinary home, a complex feeling stirring within him. Stability, ordinariness, the warmth of life... these things felt as distant as another lifetime to him. The battles at night, the strangeness outside the city walls... those cold, real things felt like two different worlds from the cozy hearth, the child's laughter, and the wife's chatter before him.

A short while later, Wei Dayong came in after washing up, dressed in old casual clothes, his hair still dripping wet. Sister Xu also entered, carrying a large wooden tray laden with several dishes: a plate of thinly sliced cured meat, a bowl of steaming stew with visible greens and scattered bits of fat, a dish of dark, salty pickles, and a few coarse-grain steamed buns. It wasn't a feast, but it was steaming hot, and the aroma wafted into his nostrils.

"There's nothing fancy, Brother Wang, please don't mind. Just make do," Sister Xu said, setting out the bowls and chopsticks, then producing a small jar of wine and two rough pottery bowls.

"Sister Xu, you're too kind. This is wonderful," Wang Quan said quickly. This meal was a hundred times better than the dry biscuits and cold water he usually ate. Even more precious was this taste of "home."

"Nannan, come, sit down and eat," Sister Xu called to her daughter.

The little girl climbed onto a stool and sat down, her eyes shining as she stared at the cured meat on the table.

Wei Dayong broke the mud seal on the wine jar and poured a bowl for Wang Quan and himself. The wine was cloudy rice wine, not very strong, but it smelled fragrant.

"Come, Brother Wang, let's toast!" Wei Dayong raised his bowl. "Don't think about those bothersome things at the Garrison anymore. Drink up, eat up!"

"Thank you, Brother Wei, Sister Xu," Wang Quan also raised his bowl, clinked it with Wei Dayong's, and took a gulp. The wine was slightly sweet and sour, and a warmth spread down his throat.

Sister Xu put a slice of meat on her daughter's plate and then addressed Wang Quan. "Brother Wang, don't just drink, eat your food. Da Yong is a rough man, not good with words, but he always talks about you, saying you're truly capable and honest. What you do is a life-or-death business. It's good to look out for each other out there, so we at home can also feel at ease."

"Sister-in-law is right!" Wei Dayong mumbled through a mouthful of bun. "Brother Wang, Old Wei has a good eye for people, and you're someone who can get things done. But, don't push yourself too hard. Eat when you should, drink when you should, and relax when you need to. A string pulled too tight will snap."

Wang Quan nodded silently and picked up a chopstick of stewed vegetables. The vegetables were stewed until soft, and the seasoning was just right. He ate slowly, listening to Wei Dayong and Sister Xu chat about everyday matters, the little girl occasionally interjecting with childish remarks that made the adults laugh. The sky outside darkened, and an oil lamp was lit inside, its dim yellow glow enveloping the family of three... and him, the outsider.

They drank three or four bowls of wine, and most of the food was gone. Sister Xu coaxed the little girl into the inner room to sleep. Wei Dayong, slightly flushed from the wine, leaned closer to Wang Quan and lowered his voice. "Brother Wang, you've eaten and drunk your fill. Shall I take you to open your eyes now?"

Wang Quan understood. He put down his chopsticks and looked at Sister Xu.

As Sister Xu cleared the dishes, she said to Wei Dayong, "Going to that messy place again? Drink less, keep an eye on Brother Wang, and come back early."

"Got it, got it, wife talks too much," Wei Dayong chuckled, giving Wang Quan a knowing look. "Let's go, I'll show you the 'other side' of our Anping County."

Wang Quan stood up and said to Sister Xu, "Sister Xu, thank you for the meal. It was delicious."

"Don't be so polite, come by often," Sister Xu said with a smile, waving her hand. "Be careful."

They stepped out of the courtyard gate, the night now deep. The smile on Wei Dayong's face disappeared, and he led Wang Quan through streets and alleys, heading towards the area near the city walls, a region that was even darker, with lower, more dilapidated houses.

"The Black Market?" Wang Quan asked in a low voice.

"Mm," Wei Dayong nodded, his voice also lowered. "It's just ahead, behind the old goods market. It's a mixed bag, all sorts of people, and you might see anything. Stick with me, talk less, and watch more."