Colorful lanterns were strung up across the square outside Qingniu Medical Hall. Huwa wore a laurel wreath woven from braids of garlic and held up a fragrant "Qingniu microphone"—which was actually a bamboo tube wrapped in candy wrappers. At the top of his lungs, he shouted, "Attention, everyone! Today we're going to crush the dysentery bacteria with our sheer talent! The grand prize is a deluxe garlic set meal from Xiaotao Eatery!"
As soon as his voice trailed off, the venue instantly transformed into an ocean of joy. The yak caravan led by the apprentice from Tibet took the stage first, carrying a sound system blasting a Tibetan rap. As the yaks flicked their tails, they scattered a disinfecting powder scented with Tibetan medicine. Meanwhile, the apprentice from Silla held up a glowing bamboo slip of "The Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art" and turned the epidemic prevention slogans into an energetic rhythm piece. His clappers beat with a crisp rattle: "One plus one is two, wash your hands for twenty seconds; three plus four is seven, spit into the spitfire and don't drip it around!"
Garlic steamed buns became the "talent showcase." Huwa had installed small mechanical contraptions into the buns. Some could perform somersaults while shouting, "Take a bite of me, and health follows thee!" Others, when broken apart, would spring open to reveal miniature bamboo slips of the Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold. One "drama queen" bun suddenly malfunctioned during its …
Chapter 534