Emperor Xiaoyao of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 180 Fireworks
Chinese New Year is a big festival. After a year of busy work, the common people are trying their best to have a good time during the New Year.Not only strength, but also the money in the pocket.Regardless of the fact that Jinjiazhuangzi is a newly built village, the farmers really have two dollars in their hands. Jinyu spent a lot of money on infrastructure construction, and he gave priority to hiring his own tenants.

Some time ago, the shopkeepers who came to Jinjiazhuangzi to sell small things in the streets and alleys tasted the sweetness. They traveled all over the small villages around Chang'an, and there were not many people who were richer than the farmers in Jinjiazhuangzi.Speaking of which, I have basically encountered all small businessmen and peddlers, but the businesses they do are different, and there is no competition and conflict between them.No, we started chatting together a few years ago, and as soon as the big guys came together, they planned to set up a market in Jinjiazhuangzi.However, this matter still needs to be approved by the master's family. Jin Yu and the others couldn't get in the conversation, but they still passed a conversation to Chen Rui.

Jin Yu thought about it, this is a good thing, not to mention the excitement, but also convenient for his own farmers, there is no reason to refuse.So Jin Yu's words were released. From the 25th to the 28th of the year, he sang a big show for three days without spending money. Anyone who wants to come can come.

As far as entertainment activities are concerned, not only rich and noble families do not have them, but even small households lack them.Usually it’s just busy farming, and I don’t feel like playing after a day of tiredness, but it’s different in winter, basically there’s nothing to do!Apart from eating and playing with my wife in the house, how could there be so many children, and most of the children are concentrated from July to September of the lunar calendar!This is also a good thing. Having a baby after the autumn harvest is done. Farm work and family inheritance are both right.

These young people have relatively strong firepower. Once the busy farming is over, some will think about finding some fun for themselves, so this has become an unstable factor in a harmonious society.Think about it, everyone, rural areas are different from urban areas. There is no such thing as a curfew in a village.Wandering outside in the middle of the night, pretending to be a meow in front of the widow's door, throwing a stone in front of the widow's house, even if there are no sparks, it's not good to scare people, right?Being a father and mother has a way, marrying a daughter-in-law to tie the child's mind, aren't you very hot?It’s fine to put out the fire at home. If the family conditions are better, you can take in a few more concubines. If you have more fire extinguishers around you, even a monstrous fire can be frozen.How else can we say that the ancients were wise?
The Jinjia Zhuangzi had a big gathering together, and the farmers from the neighboring villages were happy to be here, and they could watch and sing a big show while drinking the northwest wind!And it's all free, you'd be a fool not to join in the fun!The small vendors are also happy, the more people there are, the better the chances of a deal are.

After the bazaar was opened, Jin Yu took Yang Ying to go shopping for a long time. They were all small items, and now they really didn't like them. Yang Ying finally just bought a few needles and gave them to Jin Yu. Make shoes to wear.

Jin Yu watched it with gusto. Although the imperial court called it a "peaceful and prosperous age", the lives of the people were very ordinary. Whether they came to the market or came to watch a big show, there were some patches on their bodies to some extent.Many people have no money to live on, so they just carry some food, cloth and so on to barter. Small traders are used to it, but Jin Yu looks surprised.

The butcher made a profit, and a pig was not enough to sell, so he asked his son to drive back and brought half a pig over.These days, the fatter the pork, the easier it is to sell, and the bones and trotters are the most economical. "How do you sell this bone?" Jin Yu fell in love with the bone. Although it was picked clean, it was good to take home and feed the dog.

"Ah? Do you eat this?" This butcher is also considered a "strategic partner" of Jinjia Zhuangzi. When he started Zhuangzi, he made a lot of money from Jin Yu. Yu, so he knows Jinyu, but Jinyu doesn't know him.

"Do you care if I eat or not? How do I sell it?" the butcher asked, and Jinyu became a little unhappy. He planned to buy it back to feed the dogs. Wouldn't the butcher be insulting people by asking this?But it's no wonder he was a butcher, how could he know what Jin Yu was thinking?
"Not for sale! I'll give it away, I'll give it to you." Jin Yu's words are enough to choke people, right?But the butcher didn't have the same knowledge as Jin Yu, it's not that he didn't want to, but he didn't dare, after all, his identity was here.

"Great, I'll send it to the house when I'm not busy, just say I'll give it to you." Yang Ying casually threw a handful of copper coins to the butcher. She definitely wouldn't take it herself, and she wouldn't let Jin Yu take it either. , are all broken bones, and I don’t have a bamboo basket or the like in my hand. It’s not shameful enough to string them up and carry them. It would be bad if people think that poor people can’t afford meat.

The butcher took the money, put the bones in the basket, and was about to act immediately.At this time, the meat was sold out, and his son would not arrive until a while later, so it was not a bad idea to show his kindness to the head of the family.

"What's the rush? I haven't finished buying yet!" Jin Yu called to the butcher, "How do you sell this pig's head?" Regardless of the lack of meat in the pig's trotters, put some peanuts, make a pig's trotter jelly, and chop some green onions, Pour some balsamic vinegar, double the fragrance!It's a pity that Jinyu has never seen peanuts until now!Didn't it mean that localization had already been achieved before BC?
"Send ``````" the butcher slipped his tongue, and when he opened his mouth, he found that something went wrong. The bones were worthless, but the pig's trotters could still be sold for some money.

"Let's send it together." Although Yang Ying didn't understand why her husband wanted to buy pig's trotters, she still took out another handful of copper coins and threw them on the pork stall. It was obviously more than last time. It seems that Yang Ying's family deserved it. It is very qualified, and the price of the product has a spectrum in her heart.

Jin Yu wanted to go shopping again, but Yang Ying firmly held him back. The market was full of farmers, and Yang Ying felt a little uncomfortable, so Jin Yu had no choice but to take Yang Ying home together.

When the two entered the door, they saw Chen Rui walking in with a bundle of bamboo poles, which aroused Jin Yu's curiosity.What is Chen Rui's status now?I haven't done this kind of physical work for a long time, and besides, I don't have any bamboo poles to use at home, and it doesn't work well for burning fire.

"Uncle Chen, what are you doing with so many bamboo poles?" Jin Yu called to Chen Rui and asked, pointing to the bamboo pole as thick as a thumb.

"Explosive pole, burnt in the New Year, to ward off evil spirits, listen to it, and it will be auspicious." Chen Rui put down the bamboo pole in his hand, and saluted Jinyu and his wife.

"How to set it off?" Jin Yu became interested. He didn't expect that there would be firecrackers these days. This should be the earliest prototype of firecrackers, right?

"Just throw it into the fire, and there will be a crackling sound." Chen Rui gave Jin Yu an uncreative answer. It seems that no one has thought of adding something to it yet.

Jin Yu nodded, "Oh, let's carry it in." Since it's a custom, Jin Yu didn't object.Housekeeper Chen said that if you want to be auspicious, no one would want to be unlucky, right?
Yang Ying felt that her husband was a bit embarrassing, so she talked to Chen Rui, pulled Jin Yu and walked towards the back house. "Uncle Chen, you are busy first."

Jin Yu let Yang Ying tug on his sleeve and drag him to the back house, like a walking dead, this kid is still struggling with the explosive rod.Speaking of explosions, the history is not short. Legend has it that in ancient times there was a fierce beast named "Nian" who harassed the people for 360 days in spring, summer, autumn and winter. It either ate this sheep or took that sheep Children, the common people hate him to the bone.Later, this "year" was going to harm the next family. The father of the family had to protect the child, but he didn't have a weapon in his hand, so he picked up a bamboo pole that was still burning in the stove and waved it around.After seeing the wind, the bamboo pole made a "crackling" sound, and "Nian" thought that a monster more awesome than himself had come, and ran away in a hurry. Since then, this method has been spread.

Later, when "Nian" went to harm others again, I saw this "explosive pole" again, and I was shocked: It is true that the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, and each wave is stronger than the other.I have been busy for so many years and haven't taken a break from work. Forget it, let's retire!So "Nian" never appeared again, but the custom of burning "explosive sticks" has been handed down.

Hearing what Chen Rui said, Jin Yu realized that there was something missing this year.Which of the children of later generations has never played with fireworks?The firecrackers are set off all year round during Chinese New Year and weddings, and if firecrackers are not set off, it seems that something is missing.But Jin Yu didn't dare to tinker with the firecrackers, the impact of that thing was too great, not to mention more murders, and it didn't conform to the old Duke Qin's entrustment - less fuss!
You can't tinker with firecrackers, but fireworks are always okay, right?This thing can toss no one to death, unless you get impatient and throw yourself into the fireworks for a "spark bath".It is unrealistic to die by burning, but after burning, death by inflammation is possible. (Note: Fireworks appeared later than gunpowder. In history, gunpowder first appeared in the early Tang Dynasty, but it was not popularized. Although there is a poem in Tang poetry that "fireworks go to Yangzhou in March", the "fireworks" in it refers to Flowers and plants looming in the mist.)
Fireworks are not difficult to make, just add some metal shavings on the basis of gunpowder.Just do it, Jin Yu got rid of Yang Ying's hand, and said mysteriously: "I will do a big business for my husband! Show the lady tonight!"

Yang Ying blushed pretty, and spat at Jin Yu, thinking that her husband had some bad intentions again, but her husband's "bad thoughts" were really ecstasy, and Yang Ying liked it very much.

When I was young, my family’s finances were poor and I couldn’t afford finished fireworks, so Grandpa Tang found blue bricks to make them himself.To put it bluntly, it is actually very easy. The green bricks have good heat resistance and will not break when suddenly heated or cooled.It would be great if steel pipes were used to make fireworks, but the conditions are not available now, so Jin Yu decided to do it himself.A hammer, an iron drill, and a few blue bricks are enough.Jin Yu started his promising job as a stonemason by "jingling" in the yard.

Jin Yu's side was "dingling and clanging" vigorously, Cheng Huaimo rushed in, "What's the matter, big brother? Can't you get along with Qingzhuan?" This is the third time Cheng Huaimo came here a few years ago, and every time it is a big car year Li, why does the Cheng family have so many etiquettes?It seems that he is very rich, so he can give gifts like this.

"Don't be idle when you come here, let's do it together!" Although the green brick is not big, it is a technical job, and it is uncomfortable to squat on the ground for an hour in the cold. "Uncle Chen! Bring another set of hammers and iron brazing." Jin Yu called Chen Rui in and ordered.There is Cheng Huaimo who is so good that his labor is not used, which is against the virtue of "waste utilization".

Cheng Huaimo obviously doesn't know how to use cleverness, and a brick was scrapped with a hammer. "Damn! How do you work?" Jin Yu glared at Cheng Huaimo. Now that Jin Yu has a good temper, he looks like a big shot when he bullies his younger brother.

"Little brother, it's cold hands, I didn't control the force well." Cheng Huaimo felt a little wronged, and argued.

"Oh, then let's go to the study." After Cheng Huaimo said this, Jin Yu also felt a little cold, and he was stupid. It's not summer, so why should he be exposed to the cold outside?
"What's the big brother doing with this thing?" Cheng Huaimo asked curiously while moving bricks to the study.

"Your elder brother, I am going to make a great invention that shakes the world and weeps ghosts and gods! After a few years, your kid will leave a strong mark in the history books!" Jin Yu fooled Cheng Huaimo.

"Ah? Really?" Cheng Huaimo was a little surprised to leave his name in the history books, which is a good thing to become famous.

"Fake! You can believe anyone who lied to melon seeds!" Jin Yu hit Cheng Huaimo and said, he didn't expect this kid to be so brainless, how many times did he lie to him?How come there is no progress at all?

Cheng Huaimo muttered in dissatisfaction: "I know that elder brother is playing tricks on younger brother."

"Hey, don't cry, there will be delicious food soon. If you work hard, you will open your eyes after eating!" Jin Yu patted Cheng Huaimo's black face with his dirty hands. When it gets dirty, it's right to be your own rag.

"What's delicious?" Cheng Huaimo became interested when he heard that there was something delicious. He could still trust Jin Yu's craftsmanship. He wiped his dirty face with the back of his hand and asked with great interest.

"Hotpot fish!" After Jin Yu finished speaking, he pushed open the door and called the maid who was strolling outside, "Go to the kitchen and ask Steward Xue to cook hotpot fish, four of them, pick the big ones, and ask for grass carp!"

The maid took the order and left happily, because the Chinese New Year is a big festival, and the red envelopes Yang Ying sent out were also extraordinarily bulging, sending out more than 200 taels of silver in one go!It is equivalent to three or four taels per person, which is enough for a family of six to spend for three months, so it’s no wonder it’s not festive! (One tael of silver in the early years of Zhenguan is equivalent to about 2300 RMB now. The taxes in the Tang Dynasty were calculated based on the autumn harvest, so these are pure incomes, and there is no need to pay personal income tax, let alone worry about water, electricity, property fees, etc. at home. )
"What's so delicious about fish?" Cheng Huaimo still had an appetite, but when he heard that Jin Yu was entertaining him with fish, he became a little unhappy.

Jin Yu gave Cheng Huaimo a blank look, "It's terrible to be ignorant! Don't bite off your tongue in a while. Hurry up and work!"

The two brothers worked all afternoon, and when it was dark, they finally made a dozen "blue brick fireworks tubes". If there is enough gunpowder, they can be set off for a whole night. (The green bricks must have a cooling process, and medicine cannot be filled immediately after they are placed.)
The hot pot fish didn't disappoint Cheng Huaimo, he swallowed two and a half of the four fish by himself, and this kid was very picky, he didn't eat the fish heads at all, so Jin Yu had to make up his mind, so as to save his wife from calling him stupid.

"Let's go, let's finish the last step of the earth-shattering weeping ghosts and gods." Jin Yu grabbed the towel and wiped his mouth, even ignoring his saliva.Fireworks, I have been tossing all afternoon, and I just need to dispense the medicine.

Jin Yu brought in a grindstone and threw a few pieces of scrap copper and rotten iron in front of Cheng Huaimo, "Grind this thing dry, don't mix it with water!" Now there are no files or anything like that, if you want to set off fireworks To produce different colors, metal chips can only be made by hand, which is very troublesome.

Cheng Huaimo shook his sore arm, and muttered, "Is this the great achievement of big brother 'shocking the world and weeping ghosts and gods'?"

"Of course there are more important technical tasks that you can't do." Jin Yu waved his hand, "Don't look at me, and don't try to steal a lesson, this secret recipe is not passed on to your daughters!" It is safer to keep the formula in your stomach.

Jin Yu went to the kitchen to get a garlic mortar, and also grabbed a large handful of coarse salt. There is no metal sodium these days. The coarse salt is rich in sodium, magnesium and other metals, so it can be used as a substitute.Jinyu's behavior made Xueniang's eyes widen in shock. Is this to eat salt?Can't you become a bat after a meal? (The ancients believed that bats became because rats ate too much salt.)
Since the Jin Mansion produces fire sickles, I also have some saltpetre and sulfur in my mansion, both of which are of high purity, and charcoal is also ready-made. Jin Yu only needs to grind these materials finely, and configure them according to the proportion. .

Cheng Huaimo worked very hard, and when Jin Yu finished dispensing the gunpowder, he had already ground a lot of metal shavings.Jin Yu didn't dislike that it was mixed with stone powder, so he swept it up and poured it into the prepared gunpowder, and then stirred it violently.

"Look, it will be done in a while!" Jin Yu couldn't help the little excitement in his heart, and hurriedly brought over the chiseled green bricks.First put the fuze in the small hole on the front, then turn it upside down and fill in some gunpowder, then tear a small piece of paper to pad it, and finally fill it with clay, hit it with a hammer and you're done! (Do not imitate the process of homemade fireworks. The risk is relatively high. If the clay is smashed too hard in the last step, it is possible that what you have created is just a mine that will ring.)
"Then who, go and ask your wife to come out." Jin Yu caught a maid and told him, he didn't know what was wrong, why there were always maids wandering in the yard these two days?Aren't you afraid of the cold?Or send too much money to burn?
When Yang Ying came out, Jin Yu had already lit the incense. Yang Ying ordered someone to buy authentic sandalwood, and the smell was even more peaceful in the cold weather.

"Stay farther away, lady, I'll show you a little trick for my husband." Jin Yu saw that the staff was in place, and immediately lit the fire.

The effect of the self-made fireworks is very good. They jumped nearly three meters high and can be seen from outside the yard.Yang Ying and Cheng Huaimo stared straight at them, forgetting to scream, so they clapped their hands anyway!The atmosphere was a little cold for a while.

Before the atmosphere warmed up, Chen Rui came over with a group of people yelling, "It's gone! What are you waiting for? Hurry up and fetch water!"

"Uncle Chen! It's okay! I made a little gadget, it's not a fire escape." The ancient houses were basically made of wood, and the consequences of a fire were quite dire, so deep houses and courtyards generally have a pond, which is used for fire prevention.Jin Yu sweated profusely and quickly stopped Chen Rui and the others.

"I scared the old slave to death. I thought there was a fire." Chen Rui was relieved after hearing Jin Yu's words, and quickly dismissed his subordinates. If it wasn't for an emergency such as a fire, the male servant would not be allowed to enter the back house.

"Brother, come one more!" Cheng Huaimo finally came to his senses, excitedly urging Jin Yu, while Yang Ying secretly nodded at Jin Yu, which greatly satisfied Jin Yu's vanity.

After watching the fireworks show, Cheng Huaimo held on to the copper basin containing the gunpowder and refused to let go, "Brother, give the rest to the younger brother, so that the younger brother can go back to do business with the old man."

Jin Yu was astonished. It turned out that Cheng Huaimo sent New Year gifts to his family over and over again. The old man ordered him, and he was waiting for him to return the gifts with some new gadgets!Old Fairy Cheng deserves to be Old Fairy Cheng!Of course Jin Yu wouldn't stop it, but just told Cheng Huaimo to pay attention to prevent an explosion.

Cheng Huaimo kept them all in mind, and before leaving, he shamelessly went to the hot pot fish recipe with Jin Yu, saying that the old man liked this one, it was nonsense, the old man hadn't eaten it yet, how could he like this one?
(End of this chapter)