Chapter 1293 The Grand Event Ends
The first firework exploded hundreds of meters in the air, turning into a huge, dazzling golden light, like a newborn sun, instantly igniting the night sky and eliciting gasps from tens of thousands of people in the square!
Immediately following, countless points of light rose into the sky, splashing across the vast black canvas of the heavens.
Layer upon layer of red peonies bloom in vibrant splendor; delicate green willow branches sway gently in the breeze; a silver waterfall cascades down, like a galaxy hanging upside down; swarms of blue butterflies flutter gracefully in the air…
Fireworks of various colors either bloom individually or intertwine to create a dazzling display, rendering the night sky like a dreamlike sea of aurora borealis.
Huge rings of fireworks encircled each other, like ripples in the universe; colorful dragon fireworks streaked across the sky, trailing long, luminous tails.
The roar was incessant, and light and shadow danced and shifted wildly on everyone's upturned, blank, and tear-streaked faces.
A faint smell of gunpowder permeated the air. Far from being pungent, this smell blended with fruity and sweet aromas, creating a unique scent that symbolized "celebration" and "luxurious peace."
Chen Shitou tilted his head back, his mouth unconsciously agape, having long forgotten whether he should have hidden a grape in his pocket. His soul seemed to have been sucked into that dazzling storm of light and shadow.
Just as the fireworks display reached a brief climax, pausing briefly as if gathering its final burst of energy—
"Boohoo, boomboo-!"
A series of particularly deep and powerful firing sounds rang out.
Dozens of obviously larger fireworks shells were launched in a specific order and at specific angles towards different points in the night sky.
"Bang! Bang bang bang!"
They didn't immediately burst into flowers; instead, they hovered briefly in the air, and then, the internal light sources lit up and connected one after another at an astonishing speed—
The first enormous character, outlined by pure, burning silver-white sparks, appeared prominently in the center of the sky:
"week"!
Then, the second character, the third character, the fourth character… appeared one by one, the strokes powerful and resounding, radiant with light, as if a celestial being had used flames as a pen and the heavens as a scroll to write an unquestionable declaration:
"Our nation will surely prevail!"
The entire stadium fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a frenzied roar and cheers that seemed to lift the night sky!
"Zhou Bang will surely win!!!"
"Ooooooooooooooo!!!!"
"Zhou Bang will surely win!!!"
...
The shouts of "Zhou Bang will surely win!" resonated with the booming sound of fireworks.
Before the first set of characters had completely faded, a second set of even more intense gold-red characters burst forth beneath it:
"The people will prevail!"
The cries for help rose again, and many people were already in tears, waving their arms and shouting themselves hoarse.
Finally, in the highest sky, the most magnificent fireworks, blending all colors, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, formed the final words.
Those words may not have been "official," but they were undoubtedly the most direct and passionate cry from the hearts of the thousands of people in the square at that moment:
"Long live Commander Gu!!"
As the last six magnificent characters, symbolizing supreme reverence and fervent hope, slowly dissipated in the night sky, transforming into a shower of golden stars that gently drifted down, the entire Fuxing Square fell into a brief, absolute silence.
Immediately, applause, cheers, tears, shouts... all emotions erupted like a flood bursting its banks, lasting for a long time.
Chen Shitou stood there, his face wet, it was hard to tell whether it was from the falling stardust or from tears streaming down his face.
Just as the golden rain of stars slowly fell from the sky and the cheers of the crowd surged like a tsunami, Chen Shitou seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, and inexplicably turned his head to look at the rostrum in the center of the square, at the center where the light converged.
Through the still-lingering, sweet-smelling air, and through the gaps in the excitedly waving arms, he saw Gu Chengyuan.
The young chairman did not raise his arms and shout like some of his equally excited colleagues, nor did he bask in the joy of relief.
He simply stood quietly, his head slightly tilted back, watching the last traces of light from the slowly fading words of the fireworks, which seemed to be eternally imprinted on the night sky.
The last glimmer of light from the character "岁" (year) gently painted across his resolute and distinct profile, like embers after a fire had burned out.
The light danced deep within his eyes, and Chen Shitou could clearly see that there seemed to be water glistening in them.
Those were not tears of sorrow, but something more complex and profound—like melting stars, or a deep pool that holds countless rivers, rippling out a wave that could not be completely contained, a wave belonging to "human" rather than "god" at this moment when glory had faded.
At this moment, Gu Chengyuan was no longer the "god" who commanded the torrent of steel and was worshipped by the masses during the day, but more like a "person" standing at the center of the torrent of history and truly feeling its full weight and warmth.
The fireworks bestowed upon him unparalleled glory and authority, but the glint of tears in his eyes at this moment made the burden on his shoulders seem incredibly real, even somewhat... heavy.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Gu Chengyuan turned his gaze away from the sky and slowly and calmly swept it over the boiling, tearful ocean before him.
His gaze seemed unfocused, yet it also seemed to take in every excited face.
Just as his gaze was about to sweep over the area where Chen Shitou was, the watery light in his eyes quickly disappeared, replaced by a gentle calmness.
He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling almost imperceptibly, as if pressing all the surging personal emotions of that moment, along with the smell of gunpowder and stardust, back deep into his heart.
Then, his signature, reassuring, and powerful smile returned to his face, and he solemnly and slowly waved to the cheering crowd in the square.
This gesture, like a final note, left Chen Shitou, watching from below the stage, feeling extremely disappointed.
He knew that the feast would eventually end, and the journey would eventually come to a destination.
But tonight, all of this—the iron will, the abundance of food, the warmth of the leader, the brilliance of the fireworks, and especially the final declaration that illuminated the world and was etched into the soul—is no longer a simple memory, but has become the most solid and precious "spiritual nourishment."
This spiritual nourishment was enough for him to repeatedly chew on and draw strength from when facing any difficulties, fears, and confusion in the future after returning to that wild little village.
This is enough for him to sit around the campfire every night for the rest of his life, facing the bright-eyed young men of the village who yearn for the outside world, and to begin his eternal narration in a tone he will never tire of:
“That year, I went to the recovered night market, attended the grand military parade and the banquet for ten thousand people… I saw Commander Gu with my own eyes and even shook hands with him… You didn’t see it, the final fireworks display, the words in the sky, were so big and so bright…”
Thus, the victory celebration came to a successful close.
Its light will forever shine in the hearts of countless people who experienced it and heard about it, becoming an inextinguishable flame that guides the way and warms the soul in the dark age!
