Riding the wind of rebirth

Chapter 1825: Failure to Celebrate the Torch Festival

Liang Guangping and Liu Hongtao looked at each other in surprise. This was something they had never expected.

At present, the overall level of the country's information industry is still relatively low. Anyone who can build a solar-powered satellite network room is considered a "technical expert" in the minds of the two. At least among their classmates who study computer science, they have never heard of anyone with Zhou Zhi's ability. Therefore, from the beginning, the two had preconceived notions that Zhou Zhi was studying computer science. Only now do they know that this expert is actually from the Chinese department.

"You are not computer majors, right?" Zhou Zhi said with a smile, "So we are all enthusiasts."

As soon as these words were spoken, the relationship between the few people became closer. The two of them must have been holding back a lot in Lianhe Township, and they couldn't stop talking once they started.

Of course, he knew more about Lianhe Township and Zhouzhi than Liang Guangping and Liu Hongtao, including being familiar with the mountains, and could answer many of their questions.

After chatting for a while, Zhou Zhi said to the two, "It's too troublesome to do it this way now. To be honest, your research institute needs the satellite base station more. How about we tear down this place and move it to your place when we have time next time?"

"Are you serious?" The two college students were overjoyed. If that were the case, they wouldn't have to go to the township office so often to deliver documents.

"The upper floors of the Tusi building here are made of pure wood. I was terrified to set up the UPS room here," Zhou Zhi said. "I'm not afraid of burning myself, but of burning this 200-year-old building."

"How do you know that the earth building is more than two hundred years old?" Liu Hongtao was a little confused.

"Because when installing the solar photovoltaic panels, we found a talisman buried by the ink master on the top beam, with the words 'Daoguang Year 8' written on it."

"What year is the eighth year of Daoguang?" Liang Guangping's eyes once again turned into clear stupidity.

"In 1828."

"Oh, I know. That was the year that Weiler invented urea."

"The only thing left is the Opium War in 1840."

Well, you are both right. Zhou Zhi laughed to himself, this is indeed the case with today's college students. You can't expect those who study agriculture to know history, or those who study physics to know biology. The majors are too subdivided.

In fact, there was another major event that year. Emperor Daoguang sent generals to quell the rebellion of Zhang Geer in Xinjiang. The Qing Dynasty was on the verge of revival. Emperor Daoguang was involved in everything personally and was known for his frugality. He replaced grain transport with sea transport, lifted the mining ban, quelled the Hui rebellion in Xinjiang, banned opium, etc. He was a monarch who worked hard to govern the country.

It’s a pity that they still used the same methods to govern the old agricultural empire, so they “sticked to the status quo and did not know how to change.” In the end, they were beaten by the industrial powers and signed the first unequal treaty, which opened the door to a century of humiliation in modern times.

In fact, Lianhe Township used to be "sticking to the status quo and unaware of changes". The spring breeze of reform and opening up never blew here, and the situation in the township made Lao Chi Ri and Tu Liang Zhi somewhat helpless.

Zhou Zhi's arrival also kicked open the closed door, but he brought agricultural technology and excellent fruit seedlings, as well as televisions, radios, electric lights, telephones and satellite networks, which brought about tremendous changes in the mountainous area.

"Hey, Brother Elbow is back."

A group of little kids were swimming in the river below the grain station in Lianhe Township, all of them with their bottoms naked and tanned like cockroaches. When they saw the yellow Land Rover Defender appear on the road, they ran up from the river beach naked without any clothes on: "Brother Elbow, Brother Elbow——"

"Mujia Laha! Munai Lahei! Yueri, Erye, Erjia!" Zhou Zhi called out the names one by one: "Have you finished your homework during the holiday? It's the beginning of autumn, so don't soak in the water!"

But the Yi children didn't seem to care about that. Muxia Laha jumped up and down and said, "Brother Elbow, did you bring us any delicious food?"

"Everyone go downstairs, put on your clothes and gather at school!" Zhou Zhi said with a smile, "There's more than just delicious food!" The kids cheered and turned around and ran away.

Liang Guangping and Liu Hongtao were a little surprised by the enthusiasm. They were still in the stage of mutual exploration with the children from the rural primary school, and neither side had shown any desire or enthusiasm for contact. Now seeing the children's attitude towards Zhou Zhi, they couldn't help but feel a little envious.

"I have a request regarding the relocation of the base station." Zhou Zhi drove the car to the entrance of the grain station and stopped, saying as he took out the car key.

"What's the request?" Liu Hongtao asked.

"Your Agricultural Science Academy base wants to help our township primary school." Zhou Zhi said, "How about sending people to our township primary school regularly to serve as substitute teachers?"

"Hey, I don't think it's a big deal. It's easy!" Liu Hongtao quickly agreed: "You can't go back on your word."

"I'm sorry," Zhou Zhi said, "But I want to keep the solar system. The UPS room can connect to your own electricity. Is that okay?"

"No problem! No problem at all!" Liang Guangping and Liu Hongtao agreed readily. The local government's support for the base is still very strong. Except for the fact that the electricity in the entire area is a bit poor, they really did everything they could.

The attitude is really there, but the rest is indeed limited in strength.

"Elbow is back?" Old Chi Ri, holding a orchid pipe in his mouth, followed the black dragon in front of him to the door and greeted him with a smile: "Hey, Liang Wazi and Liu Wazi are here too?"

"Hey, hey, Grandpa Chi Ri, we're here to borrow equipment again."

"Then don't leave now, drink with me! Let's make tofu pudding and kill a chicken to welcome him!"

"Ah this..."

“Black Dragon, get out of the way!” Zhou Zhi hadn’t even had time to greet Old Chi Ri when two more people came out of the door. One was Wu Renzhong and the other was Jike Azi. They both said the same thing and spread their hands: “Where are my things?!”

Old Chi Ri was so angry that he banged his pipe against the door frame from behind: "Who is blocking the door to ask for things! Let's go in and talk first!"

"Grandpa Chi Ri, I'm back. Is everyone okay?"

"Everything is fine!" Old Chi Ri said with a smile, "It's just that you were not at the Torch Festival. Everyone was talking about you!"

The Torch Festival is one of the most important festivals of the Yi ethnic group. It originated from the legend that Ashimao taught the Yi people to use torches to drive away pests.

Ashimao is actually a transliteration. There is another transliteration that everyone is more familiar with - Ashima.

The festival usually lasts for three days and three nights. The first day is the fire sacrifice. The villagers have to kill cattle and sheep, prepare wine and meat to offer sacrifice to the ancestors and distribute the meat. The elders will build an altar, and the Bimo will light the sacred fire with a flint, then recite scriptures to offer sacrifice to the fire. Then each household will light torches and parade in the fields to simulate driving away pests.

The second day is for outing. Everyone will gather under the altar to hold various celebrations. Young men and women will dress up beautifully. Men will imitate the brave Atiraba and women will imitate Ashima. This is actually a process of blind dating. Those who like each other will go on dates in the mountains, streams and woods at night, playing the moon guitar, plucking the mouth harp and singing love songs. It is very romantic.

Except for the children who do not participate in group activities, most people will light torches and come out of their homes as soon as it gets dark, singing torch songs as they walk, eventually forming a winding fire dragon. In the square in front of the altar, they will pile the torches together to form a big bonfire, and everyone will gather around it to dance, sing and laugh.