“What the heck!”

“The dam’s broken, there’s going to be a flood!”

The people in the Song family jumped out of their chairs in shock.

“Xiangdong, where did you hear this news?”

Chen Juhua struggled to stay calm.

“There was a meeting at the factory this afternoon and the factory director said it himself. The dam in nearby county was breached by floodwaters this morning and the factory director said that our town’s dam won’t hold for much longer either. The factory is already starting to evacuate. Mom, we need to start preparing in Dahe Mountain too.”

Song Xiangdong took the towel Zhao Xiuying handed him, wiped his wet hair and spoke with a serious expression.

“Oh no! Mom, what are we going to do? We’re not going to drown in the flood, are we? I don’t want to die yet!” 

Liu Hongmei, who had been hiding outside the main room, started crying loudly, collapsing on the ground in tears and snot.

“Liu Hongmei! Shut your trap! Get back inside and stop embarrassing us! If you don’t, I’ll give you a beating!” 

Chen Juhua, her face stern, shot a fierce glare at Liu Hongmei, who was so scared she almost wet herself. Quickly, she scrambled back into the house, throwing a pitiful glance at her husband before running inside without a word after seeing Song Xiangdang glaring angrily at her.

Seeing his mother’s eyes red with anger, Song Xiangdong quickly tried to calm her down. 

“Mom, please don’t be upset. The most important thing right now is for us to figure out how to move the family up the mountain to avoid the flood.”

“Xiangdong’s right. We can’t just sit here. Let’s start packing up the essentials like food, pots, bedding and prepare to evacuate,” said Old Song as he took a drag from his pipe, then tapped the ashes out against the wall, his face serious.

“Enough with the smoking, old man, now’s not the time for that. Eldest son, go tell Jiandang about this right away. The village probably hasn’t heard the news yet. Second and third sons, you two heard what your father said. Hurry up and get the grain out of the cellar and onto the cart. Wives of the eldest and second sons, you two pack up the pots, pans and some oil and salt to take with us. Wen Zhe, Wen Bo, Wenhao, you boys go pack your clothes and shoes. And you, little girl, come here, let Grandma help you pack your dresses and things. Girls are different from boys, they need to be more carefully dressed.”

Chen Juhua quickly assigned tasks to the Song family and everyone went off to do their part.

With nimble hands, Chen Juhua helped her little granddaughter pack her clothes into a small bundle. She also took out red sugar, malted milk, sponge cake and a bundle of eggs from the red cabinet in the side room, putting them into the bamboo basket she carried. She also slipped a small water bottle, a packet of beef jerky and a large bag of meat buns into her granddaughter’s small backpack.

“Huh? When did Grandma make meat buns and beef jerky?”

The little girl looked at her grandmother with puzzled, pretty almond-shaped eyes. Chen Juhua, noticing her granddaughter’s confusion, gently patted her soft, fair cheek and explained lovingly.

“Sweetheart, these meat buns and beef jerky were something Grandma prepared earlier. I was planning to take them with us when we went into town, but now that there’s a flood, they’ll come in handy. When we evacuate to the mountain with the village, carry this food with you and eat some if you get hungry, alright?”

“Mm-hmm,” the little girl nodded obediently, showing that she would listen to Grandma.

Seeing her granddaughter’s sweet and well-behaved demeanor, Chen Juhua’s heart melted.

—

While the Song family was busy preparing, Song Xiangdong, wearing his raincoat and navigating the muddy ground, braved the torrential downpour. He trudged through the mud, with each step deep and shallow and knocked loudly on the village chief’s door amid the deafening thunder.

Since it was raining, Song Jiandang’s family had gone to bed early. Ma Yingchun, who had sharp ears, woke her husband, Song Jiandang, who was snoring loudly beside her and the couple quickly put on their clothes and opened the door. Seeing Song Xiangdong’s grim face, the harsh words that were on the tip of Song Jiandang’s tongue disappeared instantly.

Song Xiangdong entered the house, barely wiping the rain off himself and quickly explained the situation in a few words.

When Song Jiandang heard the news, he nearly fell to the floor in shock. He jumped up from his chair, hurriedly put on his raincoat and followed Song Xiangdong out the door.

Outside, the dark sky was pouring rain and the usually quiet mountain village was suddenly filled with the urgent sound of clanging gongs, waking up the villagers from their sleep.

In the rainy, dark night of Dahe Mountain, every household lit up their lamps. The villagers dressed quickly and came out with their kerosene lamps to see what was going on.

In no time, the village was bustling with noise.

“What’s going on? Why are they sounding the gong in the middle of the night during this downpour?”

“Yeah, I was sleeping so soundly and it scared me awake. What’s happening, Chief?”

The villagers were all talking at once, but Song Jiandang, wiping the rain from his face, couldn’t hold back his temper:

“Shut up, all of you! Your lives are on the line and you’re still making noise!”

Song Jiandang’s words immediately silenced the villagers of Dahe Mountain.

“Chief, what do you mean by that? You can’t be serious.”

“Yeah, Chief, you can’t just say stuff like that.”

The villagers continued to chatter, making Song Jiandang so furious he nearly jumped. He cursed loudly,

“Damn it! Do you think I’d come out here in the middle of the night just to scare you? Listen up, I just got word that nearby county is flooding and the county’s dam has already collapsed. It looks like our town’s dam won’t hold much longer either. I’ve sent people to inform the other nearby villages, so we need to pack up quickly and head up the mountain!”

Song Jiandang’s words sent shockwaves through the villagers, leaving their faces pale. Some of the more timid ones nearly fainted and a few young wives started sobbing.

Seeing the panic, Song Jiandang quickly reassured them, giving some comfort after his harsh words and urged everyone to help each other pack and get ready to leave.

The village became a flurry of activity, with every household lighting up their lamps and tying up chickens and ducks to load onto carts.

Old Lady Qin was so scared she was wailing, gathering up the chickens with Qin Dahai and Li Erhua. Qin Dahai rushed inside to grab the bedding, while Qin Baozhu, drenched from head to toe, wandered back into the yard and noticed the tied-up, clucking chickens.

Qin Baozhu’s eyes twinkled with mischief, and he shouted,

“Old hag! Get out here and kill these chickens! Make me some chicken soup!”

Old Lady Qin, hearing her precious grandson, quickly rushed out.

“Anything for my golden grandson. Just wait until we’re settled on the mountain and I’ll kill the hens and make you chicken soup.”

The old lady tried to coax him gently, but Qin Baozhu wasn’t having any of it. He yelled,

“To hell with you, old hag! I’m the golden grandson of the Qin family! Everything in the Qin family is mine. If you don’t give me chicken soup, I won’t get married and the Qin family will die out!”

Qin Baozhu kicked and thrashed at his grandmother and with gritted teeth, she gave in,

“Alright! If my golden grandson wants chicken soup, then we’ll make chicken soup.”

So, while the rest of the village was busy preparing to evacuate, Old Lady Qin stayed home to make chicken soup for her precious grandson.

—

At the Song family’s house, they had finished packing. Old Song took a walk around the yard with his hands behind his back, then sighed and said to Song Xiangdong, who was holding a kerosene lamp,

“Alright, Xiangdong, we’re ready to go. Lock the door and let’s head to the threshing floor to gather with the others.”

Earlier, Song Jiandang had instructed the villagers to meet at the threshing floor once they were ready to move to the mountain.

After locking the door, Song Xiangdong and his family pushed the cart and made their way to the threshing floor.

When they arrived, many other families from the village were already there waiting.

The village grandmothers were not to be underestimated. Many were holding clucking chickens, carrying baskets loaded with supplies and even had strings of chili peppers and garlic tied around their legs, looking like walking grocery stores. Some had even managed to carry out their rice jars. Yet, there were still thrifty old women, their eyes red from crying, unwilling to leave the homes where they had spent their entire lives.

Song Jiandang took one look at the crying old women, frowned and surveyed the gathered villagers. He figured most of the villagers were there and shouted through the loudspeaker.

“It’s almost time! Everyone, look around and see if any families are still missing!”

The villagers glanced around at each other and someone called out.

“Chief! Old Lady Qin’s family hasn’t shown up yet!”

What the heck! Those troublemakers again!

Furious, Song Jiandang yelled into the loudspeaker:

“Wang Dashuan, take a couple of people to Old Qin’s place and see what they’re up to!”

Wang Dashuan quickly set off with a few men.

Just then, the village accountant looked around and said:

“Chief, Old Uncle Ye and Xiao Chen haven’t arrived yet.”

Oh no.

Song Jiandang’s heart sank. Old Uncle Ye and his grandson lived in a remote area and might not even know what’s going on.

What? Grandpa Ye and Brother Chenchuan haven’t arrived yet?

The little girl standing obediently by her family, holding a small porcelain fish tank, was deeply worried.

The big koi that had been lazily blowing bubbles in the fish tank suddenly jumped out of the water, its tail brushing against Song Wanyue’s hand.

In the next moment, her palm felt a sudden warmth.

Grandpa Ye and Brother Chenchuan are in danger!

—