"Old Man Heaven has shown his divine might! Literary Sage Master has shown his divine might!"
"Everyone, come look at the flowers!" "They've bloomed, they've bloomed! The ones over here have bloomed too!"
The people attending the Temple Fair were the first to notice the abnormality in the flowers and plants. It then gradually spread throughout the entire county, and many who were at home—even those already asleep—got up one after another.
At the Ning'an County Magistrate's official residence, the magistrate, who had gone to bed early, was awakened by a burst of urgent knocking.
"Knock knock knock, knock knock knock, Master, hurry and get up to take a look, Master!"
"What is it?"
The magistrate called out, somewhat reluctant to lift the covers. His wife, lying on the inner side, was slightly annoyed.
"Not even peaceful in the middle of the night during the New Year. Hurry and go see."
Then the two of them heard more commotion.
"Though it's the New Year, why is it so noisy outside?"
"Master, Master, hurry and come see! Everyone is up, and all the flowers in the courtyard have bloomed!"
The magistrate was slightly startled, and half his drowsiness vanished. Throwing off the covers and draping an outer robe over himself, he headed for the door. The instant he opened it, a gust of floral fragrance rushed into his face with the cold wind. Looking into the courtyard, he saw azaleas, peonies, and crabapple blossoms all in full bloom beneath the lantern light.
At once, the magistrate's sleepiness completely dispersed. His wife had also put on an outer robe and come up behind him, staring blankly at the scene in the courtyard.
"They really have all bloomed?"
"Could Heaven have been moved by Du's hard work and caused flowers to bloom in