Empress Mountain

Liu Chang'an had never found a suitable giant skyrocket, so he bought a lot more firework salutes instead. The shop owner gave him a pole, then tied all the salutes together and let him carry them home on his shoulder.

Normal people would have taken a taxi. The shop owner stepped outside, mouth slightly open, and stood on tiptoe as he watched Liu Chang'an skillfully shoulder the load and leave.

What a diligent, thrifty, capable young man.

When Liu Chang'an got home and set down the shoulder-load of firework salutes, he saw that Zhou Dongdong's eyes were red and watery.

"Did you hit Zhou Dongdong?" Liu Chang'an called toward the kitchen. "What happened? Look how wronged she is. Didn't you get the facts straight?"

"She was peeling an onion! She did it to herself!" Zhou Shuling called back from the kitchen. "Why are you blaming me?"

"I thought you hit her. If I didn't even get to see it, then what's the fun in that?" Liu Chang'an immediately burst out laughing, then squatted in front of Zhou Dongdong and laughed twice more to mock her.

Zhou Dongdong took a piece of candy from her pocket and stuffed it into Liu Chang'an's mouth, plugging up his laughter. Then she took another piece for herself, unwrapped it, and began eating.

After lunch, Shangguan Dandan had sat beside the heated table, hugging her thermos and dozing with narrowed eyes. Hearing Liu Chang'an's voice, she pressed a fist against her cheek. "You're back? Did you buy any big cannons?"

"Firework salutes, not cannons." Liu Chang'an bit through the plastic wrapper, pushed the candy into his mouth with his tongue, and spat out the packaging. "I bought a lot. They're for little kids like you and Zhou Dongdong to play with tonight."

When Zhou Dongdong