Grandpa Fu looked at Zhang Qicheng, then asked Xiang Yang, "Yangzi, who is this?"
"Zhang Qicheng, Boss Zhang, is one of the main sponsors of this Pagoda Burning Event." Xiang Yang said.
Grandpa Fu then explained to Zhang Qicheng: "It's not that there are hundreds of onlookers, but there are at least hundreds of people participating in the event."
"At that time, all the elders, blind daters and passers-by around Huhai Town were here to visit. It was a huge crowd of people. Street vendors were selling melon seeds and peanuts, and children were begging for rice candy, osmanthus cakes or sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes."
"There were also people selling sweet and sour pears. The shouts of all kinds could be heard one after another, and each voice was louder than the other. I was so greedy that I almost cried. I kept clinging to my parents' hands and refused to let go, insisting on buying some."
Grandpa Fu laughed when he said this. His wrinkled face was particularly happy, and his eyes were full of memories. "My parents were so annoyed by me that they bought me two sugar-coated cakes."
Xiang Yang smiled. In the 35th year of the Republic of China, things like sugar-coated rice cakes and rice sugar osmanthus cakes were very valuable and were the main commodities at that time.
These commodities are also available today, although they are not worth much and can be bought with the pocket money of most children, and many people do not like to eat them. But Xiang Yang did not interrupt Grandpa Fu. Merchants have a keen nose. Merchants in 1946 could smell business opportunities to make money. In today's era, if there really is such an event, there is no reason why merchants cannot smell the scent.
Grandpa Fu's eyes were filled with nostalgia. He continued, "During the Fire God Festival, my mother dragged me back home to eat New Year dumplings. By the time I finished my reunion dinner and rushed to the old street of Huhai Town, the Fire God Festival had already ended and they were preparing to light the fire."
"There were hundreds of people beating drums and gongs, and some were performing acrobatics. The elders invited the most respected elder to light the first fire in the pagoda. They struck a match and lit it. After the fire was burning, many stewards continued to add firewood to the pagoda."
Xiang Yang smiled and said, "Grandpa Fu, if we really follow this tradition in Qinglongwan this year, you will be the one to light the first fire."
Zhang Qicheng didn't say anything. It would not be his turn to light the fire no matter who started it. It made no difference to him who started the first fire.
Grandpa Fu is one of the oldest people in the village. He has been the principal of the village primary school for decades and is a respected elder. He meets all the requirements.
Grandpa Fu waved his hands quickly, "I am old and can no longer burn. Times have changed. You young people will rule the world in the future. I think you, Xiang Yang, should light the first fire."
What Grandpa Fu thought was that Xiang Yang was the most capable person in the several villages near Qinglongwan. He had done a lot for Yanlong Village during this period, allowing many villagers in Yanlong Village to make some money, and even make more in the future. Xiang Yang's contribution to Yanlong Village was greater than his.
The most important thing is that a large-scale activity like burning the pagoda will cost a lot of money, and this money can only be raised through Xiang Yang, so the first fire should be burned by Xiang Yang.
Xiang Yang was about to refuse upon hearing this. Firstly, he did not want to fight for this false reputation, and secondly, there were many people who were older and more respected than Xiang Yang.
Zhang Qicheng said directly: "I think it would be better for you, Mr. Xiang, to light the first fire."
Zhang Qicheng has his own thoughts. It is not Zhang Qicheng's turn to start the first fire in the pagoda, but there is a chance that Xiang Yang will take his turn. No matter what, Zhang Qicheng and Xiang Yang are partners now. If Xiang Yang benefits, he, Zhang Qicheng, will definitely benefit as well.
"Don't refuse." Zhang Qicheng patted Xiang Yang on the shoulder. "As the saying goes, a gift from an elder cannot be refused. Grandpa Fu gave you this task because he has high hopes for you. He hopes that you can lead your fellow villagers to live a better and more prosperous life in the future. This is a responsibility."
There was also anticipation in Grandpa Fu's eyes.
Xiang Yang smiled bitterly, "If you two say so, then I can't refuse. I'll burn it then."
Suddenly, Grandpa Fu and Zhang Qicheng both laughed.
Xiang Yang looked at Grandpa Fu and Zhang Qicheng respectively. One of them was selfless and just wanted to do something for his hometown. He was willing to let him light the first fire. The other one was very purposeful and would probably have some other ideas if he didn't light the first fire.
Thinking about it this way, Xiang Yang might have to start the first fire.
"Grandpa Fu, can you tell me about the historical stages of the burning of the pagoda? To be honest, although I was born in Qinglongwan and grew up in Huhai Town, this is the first time I have heard of the burning of the pagoda." Xiang Yang said.
Grandpa Fu thought for a moment and said, "It is impossible to trace the origin of the pagoda burning activity, but it is certain that it already existed in the late Qing Dynasty. At that time, it was said to be a collective action in Kuhai Bay, with each household collecting money to burn the pagoda. It was organized spontaneously by the people. In the 1910s, Huhai Town was established and developed, and it became a collective event held by the entire town."
"There was a gap of several decades in between, and now the older generation has gone to heaven one by one. Young people, even people like you who were born and raised here have never heard of our ancestors burning pagodas."
Zhang Qicheng immediately made a sad face, "This is the heritage culture of our Dragon City, an excellent intangible cultural heritage. We can't let it be lost in the hands of our generation. In my opinion, burning the pagoda is very necessary to carry forward."
Grandpa Fu looked at Zhang Qicheng with a smile.
Xiang Yang rolled his eyes. It seemed that Zhang Qicheng was just shouting slogans in front of Grandpa Fu. Grandpa Fu had walked across more bridges than Xiang Yang and Zhang Qicheng combined. It would be strange if Grandpa Fu would be moved by someone shouting slogans in front of him.
In fact, there was no need for Zhang Qicheng to say this.
Because there are no outsiders here at all.
Although the three people present had different purposes, they had the same goal, which was to hold the pagoda burning event.
There is no need to talk about Grandpa Fu. The reason he wanted to burn the pagoda was, as Zhang Qicheng said, he couldn't let the inheritance end in his hands.
Zhang Qicheng's purpose was quite simple. He made no secret of the fact that he wanted to bring himself a prosperous business by burning the pagoda.
Xiang Yang had some expectations. On the one hand, he hoped that his business would be prosperous, and on the other hand, he also hoped that Qinglongwan would develop. Xiang Yang was not sure whether doing this would be beneficial to the development of Qinglongwan, but as long as it was something that might be beneficial, he was willing to try it.