As the bonfire in Cyan Ox Village sent up a flurry of sparks, the old village chief tapped out a rhythm against the surface of an abacus-bead drum with his pipe. The abacus beads bounced into the character for "Celebration" along the string at his waist: "Children! This year's bumper harvest of Cyan Ox Seven is all thanks to the protection of the abacus beads—" The beads immediately bounced into the character for "Joy" upon the drum surface, drawing cheers from the mountain folk.
Zhang Yifan shook his abacus beads as he handed a carving knife to Huwa, the beads bouncing into the character for "Reward" amidst his sleeves: "We ought to give top credit to the abacus beads—" He chuckled softly, and the beads rolled through the bonfire into the character for "Candy". "Huwa's carving knife abacus likenesses, and Xiaotao's abacus preserved fruits, all you can eat!"
Xiaotao came running over holding a tray of abacus preserved fruits, the abacus-bead hairpins on her double-bun glittering with the sheen of honey. The beads bounced into the character for "Sweet" on her apron: "Brother Fan! The villagers have carved abacus beads onto their hoe handles!" Sure enough, the bonfire cast its light on the abacus patterns of a hoe handle, and the beads immediately leaped across to spell out "Tilling". An elderly uncle stroked the grain with deep emotion: "Touching these abacus beads, even farming puts fire in your belly!"
Chapter 181