The Earthen Firecracker (Part Two)

Let's go; once we fill these two baskets with fish, we'll head back..." San Pao emerged from behind the door, skillfully carrying two fish baskets—one in each hand, with a bag slung over his shoulder.

"Isn't one basket enough?" Fang Yi asked, taking one of the baskets with a hint of confusion, noticing that each was nearly a meter tall and could easily hold dozens of pounds of fish.

"Hehe, since we're at it, why not catch more fish?" San Pao chuckled, adding, "When we go to the city later, I want to bring some back for my dad and the others. The fish sold there are all fed with feed and taste terrible..."

"I see..." Fang Yi nodded in understanding. While with San Pao and Fatty, he tended to speak less, aware of his limited understanding of the world; he believed in listening more to learn.

"Wait a moment; don't forget to bring this bottle of liquor..." Just as they were about to step outside, Fatty reached for the remaining bottle on the table, tucking it into his coat before following Fang Yi toward the reservoir.

The reservoir was about a mile from Weijia Village. During the day, it would take just a few minutes to walk there, but at night, with darkness enveloping the path and no streetlights, it took the three of them nearly ten minutes to reach the water's edge.

"Is the reservoir down the mountain really this large?" Fang Yi stood in awe, gazing at the lake shimmering under the moonlight, its surface rippling like silver. Although he had never descended the mountain, he had seen the reservoir from afar.

From a distance, it had appeared small, resembling a mere pond, but now that he stood before it, he realized it was vast, extending beyond his imagination.

"This was originally a lake before it was converted into a reservoir..." 

Noticing Fang Yi's astonished expression, Fatty chuckled, explaining, "The elders in the village have said that this lake has never dried up. The deepest parts reach forty to fifty meters, and there have been instances of people catching fish over a meter long from here..."

"Alright, Fatty, enough with the chatter..." San Pao interrupted, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Didn't you say no one was guarding this place? Why is there still light coming from that building?"

"Huh?" At San Pao's words, Fang Yi and Fatty turned their attention to a few small houses built by the reservoir, about fifty meters away, where indeed, one of the rooms still had its light on.

"That's odd; they should have gone home by now..." Fatty scratched his head, then turned to Fang Yi, saying, "Yi, you're nimble; could you sneak over and check if anyone's inside? I suspect they might have left the light on to deter inspections..."

"Alright, I'll take a look..." Fang Yi nodded, crouching low as he stealthily approached the building. Moments later, his head appeared at the window of the illuminated room, gesturing to Fatty and San Pao.

"I told you there was no one here..." Fatty relaxed, a triumphant smile spreading across his face as he joined San Pao beside the small houses, saying, "Now we have a boat too; I won't even need to get in the water to catch fish..."

Although it was nearing summer, the lake water was still quite chilly at night. Fatty had just tucked the inferior liquor bottle into his coat, likely intending to take a few swigs before getting in the water.

"Let's move away from the house; I know where the fish are plentiful..." 

San Pao glanced around before continuing, "Fatty, you row the boat while Yi and I set off the firecrackers. Once all three have detonated, you can row over. Just don't come too close, alright?"

"Hey, why do I have to row the boat?" Fatty complained upon hearing San Pao's instructions. "I want to set off a firecracker too. You made three; we can each launch one."

"Come on, you know how to do this; let Yi have the extra one since it's his first time..." San Pao pushed Fatty playfully, tossing him the two fish baskets. "Just be quick about it; we're too close to the village, and someone might come by..."

"Got it, it's not my first time; no need for you to remind me..." 

Though reluctant, Fatty lifted the two baskets and made his way to the lakeshore, where a small wooden boat was tethered. This boat was typically used by the guards to collect floating debris and plankton; motorized boats were prohibited here due to pollution concerns.

"Come on, Fang Yi, stand here..." 

Once Fatty had left, San Pao pulled Fang Yi forward another twenty meters to the lake's edge, handing him an earthen firecracker. He pointed toward the water's surface and instructed, "When I light the fuse, throw the bottle into the lake as far as you can; that area is deep and teeming with fish..."

Fang Yi weighed the liquor bottle in his hand and nodded. "I can throw it about a hundred meters..."

"Hey, no need to throw it that far; otherwise, it'll take Fatty too long to row over..." San Pao was startled by Fang Yi's words. "Just aim for about thirty meters; toss the three bottles in a triangular formation to ensure no fish escape..."

As he spoke, San Pao pulled out a pack of Hongmei cigarettes from his pocket, offering one to Fang Yi. "Care for a smoke?"

"Why are you smoking like Fatty now?" Fang Yi shook his head, asking, "You're not planning to use the smoke to light the fuse, are you?"

"This isn't a real firecracker; it's not that easy to ignite. A cigarette won't do the trick," San Pao chuckled, pulling out a windproof lighter from his pocket. "See this? I bought it specifically for fishing..."

Indeed, as San Pao had mentioned, the fuse was not easy to ignite. After struggling for over ten seconds, a wisp of blue smoke began to rise from the fuse, accompanied by the faint crackling sound of burning powder.

Once the fuse was lit, San Pao quickly pressed the liquor bottle into Fang Yi's hands, lowering his voice as he pointed toward the water. "Hurry, throw it..."

"Will it go out when it hits the water?" 

Fang Yi hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed San Pao's direction, tossing the bottle. It soared through the air in a graceful arc before splashing into the water over thirty meters away.

"Wow, it didn't extinguish..." Thanks to the moonlight, Fang Yi could clearly see the wisps of blue smoke rising from the spot where the bottle had landed, indicating that the fuse was still burning.

"Next one, throw it ten meters from that firecracker..." Before Fang Yi could examine it further, San Pao lit the second firecracker and handed it to him. This time, the wind by the reservoir had calmed, allowing the fuse to ignite within five or six seconds.

"Here, you light this one..." After Fang Yi tossed the second bottle, San Pao passed him the remaining bottle and lighter.

Seeing that San Pao had lit two, Fang Yi mimicked him, igniting the third firecracker and preparing to toss it alongside the first two, effectively covering the area of water spanning over twenty meters.

"If you were to join the army, you'd probably excel at throwing grenades..." 

Watching the three smoking spots form a perfect triangle, San Pao couldn't help but marvel. He knew that he could only throw a two-kilogram grenade about thirty meters, while Fang Yi had effortlessly tossed the lighter bottle that far.

"Huh? Why hasn't it exploded yet?" Fang Yi ignored San Pao, his gaze fixed on the water's surface. It had been over forty seconds since the first firecracker had been thrown; could the fuse still be burning?

"Boom!" 

As soon as Fang Yi finished speaking, a muffled sound erupted from the water, reminiscent of someone striking a deflated drum. The sound wasn't overly loud, but Fang Yi felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.

Though the explosion's sound was muffled by the lake, the surface erupted, sending a massive plume of water soaring seven or eight meters into the air. Once the spray settled, the sound of splashing continued relentlessly.

Within seconds, the second and third firecrackers detonated in succession, sending sprays of water into the air, creating ripples across the previously tranquil surface, as if great hands were stirring the depths.

"Fatty, hurry up and come!" Seeing that all three firecrackers had gone off, San Pao clenched his fist and called out to Fatty, who was not far away.

"I was ready ages ago..." Fatty replied, nimbly hopping onto the wooden boat. With a push from the shore, he rowed swiftly toward the spots where the firecrackers had detonated.

"San Pao, why aren't there any fish?" Once Fatty reached the site, the water began to calm, but with his keen eyesight, Fang Yi noticed no fish surfacing.

"Look, there's one!" 

San Pao pointed with a grin, and indeed, a fish weighing four or five pounds floated belly-up. Soon after, more than ten fish followed suit, all similarly belly-up, whether dead or stunned from the explosion was uncertain.

Fang Yi now understood why San Pao had brought two large baskets—just one of those fish was several pounds, and a smaller basket wouldn't suffice.

At that moment, Fatty grabbed a net and began scooping up the fish that had surfaced, busily working despite his size. His coordination was surprisingly impressive, maintaining his balance as the boat swayed.

"Fatty, grab the bigger ones; be quick! Once we fill the baskets, we'll head back..." San Pao reminded him, occasionally glancing back toward the village, aware that while the explosions had not been loud, they could still attract unwanted attention.