“Director Fang, is the fireworks and firecrackers, I ordered ready? I had told you that I will be collecting it today. Don’t tell me that it is not ready yet.” Feng Xingtai asked. He was wearing a coat with shiny leather shoes. He also carried a poach under his arms.

  “Mr. Feng, rest assured that everything will be ready today. You had increased your orders twice this week. Is there any happy occasion in your family?” The factory director of Bing City’s Firework Factory asked.

  Feng Xingtai had made a lot of orders, and he was overjoyed. But the goods Feng Xingtai wanted all needed to be specially customized. For instance, other people usually would order strings of 100 or 200 firecrackers. Seldom people would buy strings of 500 firecrackers. Feng Xingtai ordered a string of 5,000 firecrackers.

  Other people would buy Double Banger firecrackers, but Feng Xingtai wanted Quadruple Bangers firecrackers!

  Other people would buy Single shot fireworks, but Feng Xingtai wanted multi-fireworks. Also, there must be different patterns when exploded in the air. These types of firework can be manufactured, but they were typically used for major events such as new year eve. Even the City Government only ordered 10,000 RMB worth of fireworks which lasted about 10 minutes.

  Feng Xingtai had ordered 20,000 RMB worth of fireworks and 10,000 RMB worth of firecrackers initially. But after two days, he called up the factory and ordered additional fireworks.

  Just when the Fireworks factory director arranged for his workers to work overtime for this order, Feng Xingtai called again and wanted a string of 10,000 firecrackers. The firecrackers must still be the bigger and loudest ones. He increased the order for fireworks too.

  Although it was over the phone and there were no deposits, the factory director still arranged for his workers to prepare the order. He knew that Feng Xingtai was the boss of Tian Peng Pig Farm and now almost everyone in the city eats his pork. His farm was a high-tech pig farm and was even featured on TV. He heard that even the provincial leaders visited Feng Xingtai’s farm. There were rumors that his farm’s profits were more than a few hundred thousand RMB a year. He definitely would not default his payment to the fireworks factory.

  On New Year day, Feng Yu had called his father and told him that they had made quite a substantial profit the past year. Feng Yu asked his father to order some fireworks and firecrackers for celebration.

  Feng Xingtai felt that Feng Yu was wasteful as he wanted to order 50,000 RMB worth of firecrackers and fireworks. How many bottles of soybean oil must he sell to get 50,000 RMB!

  However, Feng Xingtai made the order with the factory, but he only ordered 30,000 RMB.

  Soon, Feng Yu called him again to inform him that they had collected the payments for the animal feeds. It was more than 1 million RMB. Even without this 1 million RMB, the Food Processing Factory was still making profits. Now, he has an additional 1 million RMB. This was like money dropping from the skies.

  So, Feng Xingtai was in a good mood, and he ordered an additional 20,000 RMB worth of fireworks and firecrackers. Feng Xingtai told himself that this was not a waste of money. It was his son that wanted this, and he was just giving his son what he wanted.

  Then, Feng Yu called home again and told him that he was admitted into Beijing University.

  Feng Xingtai was surprised. Shouldn’t the entry exams for the university be in Summer? How come Feng Yu could get admitted now? He questioned Feng Yu further and found out that Feng Yu was exempted from the entry exams.

  His son was admitted into China’s top university, and he was overjoyed.

  Celebrations. This was an occasion that calls for a big celebration. This news made him happier than him earning a few million RMB the past year. This was a significant event for the Feng family. Feng Yu had brought glory to the Feng family!

  Feng Xingtai immediately called the people from the cinema to come to the Cinema in the district to screen free movies for everybody.

  He then called the Fireworks factory to order firecrackers. 5,000 firecrackers were not enough. He wanted a string of 10,000 firecrackers. You cannot make it? I will pay you 500 RMB more. Is that enough?

  Double the amount of the fireworks. Money is not a problem!

  Today, Feng Xingtai was at the City’s Fireworks factory to collect his orders. It was a truckload full of firecrackers and fireworks. He had spent over 100,000 RMB. Initially, Feng Xingtai felt that spending 50,000 RMB on fireworks was a waste, but now, he thought that even 100,000 RMB worth of fireworks and firecrackers were not enough!

  These few days, he was smiling nonstop. Whenever he met kids with their parents, he would chat with the parents and talk about their children’s studies.

  After knowing about this news, Zhang Muhua went to her neighbors’ house every day and kept talking about her son.

  “Oh, your knitting skills are so good. The weather is turning cold, and I am thinking of knitting a sweater for my son. You know what? My son was admitted into Beijing University without the need to take the entrance exams!”


  “Eh, you had bought fish today? My son loves to eat fish. Eating fish is good for the brains. You know what? My son was admitted into Beijing University without the need to take the entrance exams!”


  “Your children like to study? My son also likes to study too, and he got into Third Highschool in the City. You know what? My son was admitted into Beijing University without the need to take the entrance exams!”


  ……


  The shocked and surprised expression on everybody’s faces made Zhang Muhua smile the whole day.

  At first, Zhang Muhua had opposed the idea of buying fireworks and firecrackers. But now, she felt that Feng Xingtai had bought too few! He should buy more, and the fireworks should last for hours. Everybody in the district, no, everybody in the City must see it!

  “Old Feng, have you just return from the city? What did you buy? Lunar New Year goods?”


  “No, it’s all fireworks and firecrackers.”


  “Do you still need to sell those things? Your factory is making so many profits, and you make more than what we earn in our lifetime.”


  “Who is going to sell these things? I am lighting all these by myself. Remember to come to the open area outside the Cultural Palace on Lunar New Year eve to watch fireworks. Oh, these few days, there will be free movie screenings there too. Remember to go and watch.”


  Set off those fireworks himself? All the passersby did not believe him. A truckload full of fireworks to set off himself? Even during weddings, no one would set off so many fireworks and firecrackers.

  Feng Xingtai went to look for Wen Deguang. It was not safe to keep so many fireworks and firecrackers at the factory.

  “Old Wen, I had bought some fireworks and firecrackers to set off during Lunar New Year. Can you lend me the warehouse on the farm behind the Cultural Palace?”


  “Huh? You need a warehouse? How many fireworks did you buy? That warehouse is used to store the fireworks bought by the district. The district had bought 5,000 RMB worth of fireworks. We will set those fireworks off on Lunar New Year eve.”


  “5,000 RMB? You call those fireworks? Who is going to watch those pathetic fireworks? I had bought over 100,000 RMB worth of fireworks. The whole district will be able to see it. Will there be any problems for me to store my fireworks in that warehouse?”


  “How much? Over 100,000 RMB? Old Feng, why did you buy so many fireworks?” Wen Deguang thought that this money could be spent on more meaningful things. With this amount, Feng Xingtai could have bought a big apartment in the City, and even if he donated to the school, the school could build a football field!

  Feng Xingtai raised his chins and said: “I have the money and I just feel like buying!”