Li Xiangyang and his two friends took the kids into town. They bought New Year's couplets and returned to Yucai Road, carrying two string bags of firecrackers and fireworks tubes.
Yang Dingbang took the fireworks tubes out of the string bag and handed one to each child. He looked at them and said, "A word of warning. Don't shoot these at people. An eye injury is no laughing matter."
The children replied in unison, "We'll remember."
Li Xiangyang ruffled each of their heads and said with a wave, "Go on, go have fun in the courtyard."
Dandan looked at Yang Dingbang. "Dad, we want to set off the fireworks on the roof."
Yang Dingbang smiled and nodded. "Go ahead, but don't climb over the railing."
"Yay, time for fireworks!" Dandan, Little Douzi, Little Hai, and Qiaoling each shouldered a firework tube and scampered up to the roof.
Lin Lan glanced at Qiaohui, who was preparing vegetables. "Qiaohui, how come you're not going to set off fireworks?"
