Chapter 100 Summer Festival Fireworks Festival

There are two more children in the family.

Gong Zhili sat in the study, staring at the floor plan of the house.

Of course, there is no problem with so many children living in the newly built house, but it is not possible to move all the children there without adults to take care of them.

She did consider sending the children over to stay at night before bed, but all of them objected. Their reasons included, but were not limited to, "It's scary to get up at night," "What if the new house suddenly catches fire?"—Yuhito was hit by Nanako when he brought up this reason, and "What if someone suddenly gets sick at night?"

Gong Zhili listened to their chattering and drank his tea without saying a word.

Tsu Miki was the first to notice her silence, so she fell silent and used her eyes to signal the few children in the family who were more perceptive.

The scene suddenly fell silent. Mimiko moved her mouth several times but didn't dare to speak again.

Gong Zhili then slowly put down his teacup and said, "How about buying each of you a cell phone?"

She didn't say that she knew everything that happened in the village, but just gave a solution that took a step back.

"It's not like we're asking you to move out and sleep right now, why are you in such a rush?" Gong Zhili sighed. "I told you when we built the new house that this is for when you grow up and want your own space."

She picked up the blueprint in her hand again and said, "I want you to prepare to expand the second floor. Then you can all live on the second floor."

So there is nothing more to say, and we started working again during the summer vacation.

Gojo Satoru called her and said, "If you need help, I can send Riko and the others to the village."

Gong Zhili was surprised: "But isn't summer your busiest time?"

Gojo Satoru: "This year is better than in the past. They can make time to go, but I'm really busy lately."

Gong Zhili knew what he wanted to say and said in a relaxed tone, "Then you must eat and rest on time."

Gojo Satoru's lips curled up: "Is this an order?"

Gong Zhili: "Yes, you have to obey the orders carefully."

Gojo Satoru's voice was a little hoarse. "I will obey your orders carefully. If I do so, what reward will I get?"

Gojo Satoru's deep, joyful laugh reached the other end of the line. Miya Chiri could almost imagine him at that moment—his sunglasses perhaps slipping down his nose, his bright eyes surely gleaming with unbridled anticipation. The corners of her mouth lifted subconsciously, and her tone took on a gentleness she barely noticed. "A reward..." her fingertips twirled around the phone cord. "It depends on your performance."

After the call ended, Miya Chiri put down the drawings, and before the curve of his lips had completely fallen, he stood up to arrange the next things. Gojo Satoru was extremely efficient. The next afternoon, Tennuriko and Haibara Yu appeared at the entrance of the village.

Riko, now a bit tanned, was wearing her high school uniform and looked incredibly energetic. As soon as they met, she started shouting, "Chili! We're here to help! Long time no see!"

Gong Zhili looked at her healthy smile and felt that she should be enjoying it too.

Following behind her, Huiyuan Xiong was still sunny and cheerful, and said with a bright smile: "Chili, I'm sorry to bother you again! Please give me your orders!"

Gong Zhili nodded: "We are planning to add a second floor this time, and the materials are ready. There is a lot of work that requires fine cutting and moving, which is just right for you to practice." She assigned tasks concisely. Riko was impatient, but after the training in the technical high school and the tempering of campus life, she became much calmer. Although she still liked to mutter a few words, she did her work without hesitation. Haibara Yu was even more hardworking. When lifting heavy objects, he would subconsciously squeeze the magic power to strengthen his physical fitness, and soon got used to this constant torture.

The other children in the family were not idle either. Megumi Fushiguro could use shadow magic to move some lighter boards. Although it didn't last long, he tried again and again with a tense face, and he still had time to calculate his speed. Yuji Itadori had the best physical strength, and he helped carry tools and materials, running around, sweating profusely but full of energy.

Miya Chiri noticed a subtle hint of competition emerging between Fushiguro and Itadori, but it was essentially limited to the idea that if you practiced an extra quarter hour today, I'd run an extra lap. This healthy competition wasn't worth getting involved in; she made sure the two kids didn't get carried away and overexerted themselves, then left it to their own devices.

The girls had already divided their own work, but the newcomer, Yuuta Otsutsukota, looked at everyone busy and felt a little helpless. Tsu Miki gently handed him a rag and asked him to help wipe the dust off the wood. Rika Kimoto was responsible for bringing him a bucket of water to wash the floor.

The weather was hot, but the people working hard did not feel anxious. The mixed voices of children and the sound of tools banging seemed orderly.

During this time, Geto Suguru took time out to come over. He saw Haibara and Riko sweating profusely as they controlled their cursed energy to work. He nodded and said to Miya Chiri, "How are they doing?" Miya Chiri said, "They're trying very hard, a little too hard. Are they stimulated by something?"

Xia Yujie glanced at her and found that she was completely unaware of the problem. He said helplessly, "It's normal for adolescents to want to work harder after being left so far behind by their peers, or even those younger than them."

Gong Zhili pointed at himself: "Me?"

Geto Xia Yu nodded silently.

Gong Zhili touched his nose uncomfortably and changed the subject: "My case is a special case - by the way, Xia Yu, you speak in such an old-fashioned way after becoming a teacher."

What adolescent child? He is still young himself.

Xia Yujie said solemnly: "After becoming a teacher, one's psychology will age faster."

Gong Zhili: "...I kind of understand." He now looks very similar to his mother's temperament, so Gong Zhili didn't dare to tease him too much.

Geto Xiayou didn't stay long. He drank a cup of tea, looked at the two new children who were obviously relaxed, and left without saying much.

The expansion project progressed faster than expected. On the one hand, the two college students were really capable. On the other hand, the village had passed the harvest season, and the villagers would come over to help after finishing their work in the fields.

The rice fields gleamed golden, the orchards laden with fruit, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of grains and fruits. The villagers' faces beamed with joy, and the village committee quickly decided: to use a portion of the harvest proceeds to hold a fireworks display and summer festival before the end of summer. This would serve both as a celebration of the bounty and as a token of gratitude for the bounty of the land—a bounty they believed came from their beloved "divine messenger," Miya Chiri.

When the news spread, the children were the first to get excited. In this atmosphere of anticipation, Otsutsuki and Rika also got rid of the depression in their hearts a little, and smiled more often.

This is a good time.

First, let the two children participate in group activities, and then let them interact with the villagers through the summer festival.

The preparations for the festival naturally became part of daily life, the final work on the expansion was temporarily suspended, and everyone got involved in more exciting things.

The villagers spontaneously began to clean the streets and decorate the doorways of their houses. Long ropes were pulled up, and the villagers and children hung colorful paper lanterns and models of rice ears and fruits that represented a good harvest, extending from the village entrance to the foot of the shrine.

Gong Zhili controlled the evening breeze to dispel the lingering heat of late summer. As she wandered through the village, she encountered the village chief, who was directing and coordinating. The village chief asked, "Master Zhili, what do you think of the current decorations in the village?"

Miya Chiri: "They're all good. I like lively festivals, so this is perfect."

The village chief seemed to be thinking of something, a slight smugness appeared on his face, and he left with a smile.

Nanako and Mimiko dragged Yuta Otsutsuki and Rika Norimoto to help make paper lanterns. Yuta was cautious, while Rika watched at first, then she slowly reached out, picked up a brush, dipped it in paste, and clumsily helped. Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro helped the villagers carry tables and set up the temporary stalls. Miki Tsugumi and the younger children followed behind, carefully wiping the tables and chairs with damp cloths.

Riko and Huihara Yu were not idle either. They were drafted by an old lady who was famous for making candied apples to help boil syrup and string fruits. Riko was clumsy at the beginning and almost knocked over the candy pot. The old lady scolded her with a smile. Huihara Yu rushed to save the situation, but it didn't make things much better. The two of them were in a mess, but the old lady didn't mind at all. She just liked to see young people running around in front of her full of energy. Gong Zhili glanced at the apples with uneven syrup and thought to herself that it was a good thing they were not candied haws. After all, hawthorns are really sour without syrup.

Gong Zhili watched all this without intervening too much. She just made sure the barrier operated smoothly, absorbing the weak magical power generated by working under the sun and transforming it into a more peaceful force to nourish the land.

The day before the festival, Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, Ieiri Shoko and Nanami Kento finally showed up, exhausted. Gojo Satoru still looked unruly. He took off his sunglasses, stretched out his long arm and put his arm around Miya Chiri's shoulders, almost putting half of his body weight on her.

"I'm back! Did you miss me? I missed you so much!" He dragged out his words, his voice sticky.

Gong Zhili was swayed by him for a moment, and after stabilizing herself, she raised her hand and gently patted his arm that was around her shoulders. She turned her head to look at him with a faint smile in her eyes: "Well, of course I missed you. Welcome back. Was the mission going well?" Her voice was softer than usual.

"Of course! I'll take action!" Gojo Satoru raised his chin proudly, his eyes sweeping across the bustling village. "Oh! It's really done."

Geto Suguru stood aside and greeted Miya Chiri with a smile. His eyes swept over Otsutsuki and Rika who were with the children, and his eyes softened a little. Ieiri Shoko yawned and waved his hand: "I'm going to catch up on some sleep first. Call me for dinner." After that, he walked towards the guest room of Miya Chiri's house as if he knew the way.

Gong Zhili asked: "Do you want to wear a yukata? I've prepared some for you."

Gojo Satoru and the others agreed, and Geto Suguru said to Nanami Kento, who was dragged here by them, "Since you're here, why not enjoy yourself?"

Nanami Kento nodded slowly.

He was pulled here during the mission - that's not quite accurate, there was no mission after Takeuchi-sensei and Gojo-senpai arrived, his mission was over at that moment, he just couldn't understand his seniors' whim.

But summer festivals and fireworks displays...there's nothing wrong with that.

In the evening, before it's completely dark, lanterns are already lit one after another, their soft glow forming a sea of ​​warmth. Villagers' stalls line the road, and the aroma of food permeates the air. The aroma of fried noodles, the scorching aroma of grilled fish, the sweet fragrance of candied apples, the fragrant aroma of takoyaki dough... all blend together, tantalizingly tempting.

The children could no longer contain their excitement. Yuji Itadori pulled Megumi Fushiguro in one hand and waved his coin purse in the other, rushing towards the fried noodles stall. Nanako and Mimiko, wearing their newly bought yukatas, trotted to see the goldfish stall. Tsugumi was careful and bought an apple candy each for the still a little reserved Yuta and Rika. Riko Tennen pulled Yu Haihara and Kento Nanami, running around in front of the stalls, shouting and yelling.

Geto Suguru stood in front of a grilled dumpling stall, eating slowly and looking at the noisy scene in front of him with a faint, real smile on his lips. Naoko Ieiri woke up, wandered over, holding a can of beer in her hand, leaning aside and watching the children play.

Gojo Satoru stayed close to Miya Chiri. He changed out of his technical high school uniform and wore a dark yukata, which made him look taller and longer. His silver hair was particularly eye-catching under the lantern light. He insisted on dragging Miya Chiri to visit every stall.

"This looks good!" he pointed at the taiyaki.

"Are you only planning to eat sweets tonight? Eat something else to fill your stomach first." Gong Zhili said, with a hint of helpless indulgence in his voice, but he still pulled her over.

"What about this?" He pointed to the chocolate banana again.

"Isn't that also a sweet?" She shook her head with a smile in her eyes.

"Tsk, bananas are considered fruits, right?" He complained, but his hand was tightly holding hers, fingers interlocked, his fingertips occasionally stroking her knuckles with blatant intimacy.

Miyajima gently returned his hand, letting him hold her. Occasionally, when familiar villagers greeted her, she responded calmly, though her ears blushed slightly. Gojo Satoru, on the other hand, relished these moments, deliberately raising their clasped hands and shaking them, earning a friendly smile from the villagers.

They stopped in front of a mask stall. Gojo Satoru picked up a fox mask and put it on his face. He leaned closer to Miya Chiri and said in a muffled voice through the mask, "Guess who I am?"

Gong Zhili looked up at him, the smile in her eyes deepened, and she shook her head in cooperation.

Gojo Satoru took off his mask, picked up another one of White Cat, and suddenly put it on Gong Zhili's face, blocking her vision. Gong Zhili subconsciously wanted to raise her hand, but Gojo Satoru pressed the edge of the mask, lowered his head, and quickly kissed her forehead through a thin layer of cardboard.

Through the mask, the touch didn't feel real, just a slight pressure and the warm breath brought by his approaching for a moment.

Gong Zhili paused and his heart skipped a beat.

Gojo Satoru had already stood up and took off the mask with a smile. Seeing the rare, subtle blush and daze on her face, he smiled even more ostentatiously as if his prank had succeeded. His blue eyes were shining with pride and joy. He paid the money and put the white cat mask on his head, hanging it at an angle, revealing most of his handsome face and a bright smile.

"Let's go, the fireworks are about to start." He took her hand again, a little tightly, his fingertips tightly intertwined with hers, and without allowing her to refuse, he led her towards the stone steps of the shrine with a wide view with infinite intimacy.

The best viewing spots had already been reserved by the villagers. When they saw Gong Zhili and Gojo Satoru coming over, they smiled and nodded, and did not approach to disturb them.

The night sky was already pitch black, dotted with a few stars.

The first sound pierced the night sky, and a brilliant ball of light rose up, exploding at the highest point. Golden light cascaded down like a waterfall, illuminating the entire village and the smiling faces looking up below.

"Wow!" The children exclaimed one after another.

Fireworks rose into the sky one after another, the sound of bangs was endless, and colorful balls of light kept blooming and dissipating, dyeing the night sky into a magnificent canvas that changed rapidly.

Gojo Satoru and Miya Chiri sat side by side on the stone steps. He had taken off his mask at some point and tilted his head slightly to look at Miya Chiri. Fireworks flickered in her dark pupils, reflecting bright spots of light. Her profile looked calm and gentle in the flickering light.

He suddenly spoke, his voice seemed a little vague in the roar of fireworks, but it clearly penetrated her ears.

"Don't summer and fireworks go well together?" he said.

Gong Zhili withdrew her gaze from the sky and turned to him. Gojo Satoru was not looking at the fireworks, but was looking at her without blinking. His eyes were focused and filled with unadulterated warmth. The cynicism that was always on his face faded away, revealing something more real underneath.

She didn't say anything, but just curled the corners of her mouth gently and leaned her head lightly on his shoulder.

Gojo Satoru's body paused almost imperceptibly, then his smile widened. He stretched out his arms, wrapped them around her shoulders, and held her tighter in his arms. His yukata had a refreshing scent of soap and a hint of dessert-like frosting.

"Come and see it every year from now on," he rubbed his chin against the top of her hair, "with these people."

Gong Zhili found a more comfortable position in his arms, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, and feeling his body temperature coming through the fabric of his clothes. "Okay," she replied softly.

The sound was drowned out by the loud noise of another wave of fireworks launching into the sky.

But Gojo Satoru heard it, he tightened his arms and held her tighter in his arms, as if he was holding a treasure, he stopped talking and looked at the sky with her.

The fireworks display was gradually reaching its climax. The largest group of fireworks rushed into the night sky one after another, continuously, almost lighting up the entire sky like daylight. In the flickering light, you could see the expressions of everyone below - Yuji Itadori opened his mouth wide and pointed at the sky excitedly, Fushiguro Megumi had a faint expression but her eyes were sparkling, Nanako and Mimiko danced hand in hand, Tsumiki smiled gently, Yuta and Rika tilted their heads back with relaxed amazement on their faces, Tennen Riko laughed and patted Haibara Yu on the back, Haibara Yu scratched his head and laughed, Nanami Kento sat on a stool, calmly gazing at the sky, but his body was very relaxed, Suguru Geto tilted his head slightly, his profile looked a little soft in the light and shadow, Ieiri Shoko finished her beer and leaned lazily against the lamppost.

Amidst this noisy and splendor, Miya Chiri felt Gojo Satoru tighten his grip on her hand again, his fingers forcefully squeezing through hers and holding it tightly.

Palms touching, warmth blending.

She moved her fingers slightly and squeezed back more tightly, her fingertips scratching his palm lightly, feeling his instant tightening force and the burning gaze when he looked down at her.

In the night sky, the last huge firework exploded, turning into a golden star rain that slowly fell, illuminating the two people embracing each other, and also illuminating this fruitful and peaceful village gently enveloped by the barrier.

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The author has something to say: I rushed to write a little these days, and then continued to work overtime (coming and going in a hurry)