Chapter 185

Li Huyu sighed. Her mother-in-law was overly meticulous about trivial matters but couldn’t grasp the larger issues.

“Mother, those aren’t refugees. The real refugees are still burying their family members and sorting out their food and belongings. These people are just a disorderly mob, using the pretext of flooding to plunder!

As for the government officials? They’re too busy with their own affairs to bother with such dangerous and unrewarding tasks. We can’t rely on them at all.

Moreover, it’s not just the Wu family on the adjacent street. Three households on the two streets in front of us were robbed, and five houses were raided last night alone! We don’t know what tonight will bring, but I’m afraid our Bai family’s vast estate has long been targeted.”

With her husband not at home, she had to protect this household!

Hearing this, the old lady Bai had already discarded her thoughts of questioning her daughter-in-law’s decision to have her own family move in. She trembled as she spoke, “Make sure your parents and your brothers are properly settled! Don’t be negligent.

As for arranging the household servants and maidservants, you can decide without consulting me.

These damned bandits, attacking other people’s homes without scruples. Huyu, you must protect our home. The whole household depends on you now.”

Li Huyu nodded, “Mother, rest assured.”

Previously, her mother-in-law never relinquished control over household matters, but today she seemed afraid of even the slightest involvement.

However, Li Huyu had never intended to rely on her mother-in-law.

These were just the first waves. Behind them were the true refugees who had lost their families, land, and food. People driven to extremes could do anything. She feared that when that time came, surviving in Nandu would be even harder than during the storm.

And behind all this, the imperial relief efforts were a mixed blessing. If they didn’t send money and food, well, the officials from the government office would be harsher than the bandits. The truly challenging days for Nandu were still ahead…

In the courtyard, the martial arts brothers were busy moving swords and weapons.

Her father was inspecting the physical strength of the household servants and maidservants.

Her mother was organizing clothes, bedding, and other household items.

She wasn’t worried about the Bai family’s wealth, which her husband had already secured before the storm. Nor was she worried about the fields and shops, as her husband had also made sure they were secure. Now, the most valuable and important assets of the Bai family were its people.

Li Huyu tightened her grip on the sword hilt.

She could and would protect her home. At this moment, she only cared about where her husband was and whether he was injured.

With more refugees coming and the journey long, could her husband safely return home…

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Bai Manshan stood in the mud, sinking almost to his calves.

He quietly watched Hong Daniu, not far ahead, crying loudly.

The weather was hot, and the corpses had already begun to emit a strong stench.

Behind Hong Daniu stood his eldest son, Hong Mancang, and his second son, Hong Manku, both shedding tears uncontrollably.

After they finished crying, the three of them started digging a grave with broken branches and wooden sticks.

They carefully buried the last family member, but tears continued to flow.

Hong Mancang and Hong Manku helped their father up, choking with emotion as they said, “Father, Elder Bai is still waiting for us. Grandpa, Grandma, Mother, and Sister have all been laid to rest. We can’t keep Elder Bai waiting.”

“We owe everything to Elder Bai.”

They had lost their home, their food, and now they had nothing left except the clothes on their backs, which were patched up with patches. Even the pawnshop wouldn’t take them.

After the flood, they had barely managed to reunite with each other, only to find everywhere muddy and impassable, filled with corpses. Exhausted and without food or drink, they had no strength left to search.

It was Elder Bai who had sent food and drink and instructed the villagers to help them inquire everywhere, allowing them to bury all their family members in the shortest possible time.

Such kindness was something they could never repay in this lifetime.

Hong Daniu looked at his two sons supporting him and muttered, “It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault! I’m to blame for the deaths of your two sisters!”

Hong Mancang wiped away his tears and said, “How can this be your fault? It was clearly the dam that collapsed. In our village, apart from those who are strong swimmers, everyone else has lost everything.”

Indeed, everything was lost. Nothing remained.

Only Elder Bai’s estate ahead had heeded his advice to move to Yubei Mountain early, bringing enough provisions to survive unscathed.

They didn’t know it, but they envied them deeply.

If they were also part of Elder Bai’s family, would they have escaped the flood early?

Would Grandpa, Grandma, Mother, and Sister still be alive?

Now, their familiar estate, where they had lived for over a decade, and their favorite places to play had all turned into mud. Their home was gone, and so were their loved ones.

But it wasn’t their father’s fault. Their father couldn’t have done anything. No one could have.

“You don’t understand, blaming Dad! When your two sisters were young, they wanted to learn how to swim with you, but Dad stopped them.

If Dad had agreed back then, your two sisters would have learned to swim with you. Maybe… maybe…” Hong Daniu covered his face with his rough, muddy hands, tears streaming through his fingers.

Most of the young men who could swim in the village survived, but almost all the elderly, women, and children perished.

His two daughters were also strong and capable of farm work. If only he had agreed to let them learn to swim, maybe he would still hear them call him “father.”

Why didn’t he agree back then? At that time, they were so young, and it wouldn’t have compromised their reputation as women.

Even if it did, so what? At least his two daughters would still be alive, still calling him “father”!

Hong Mancang and Hong Manku felt as if their father was about to collapse completely.

Regret weighed heavily on their father.

Elder Bai was right. This place was full of painful memories. Staying here would only reopen old wounds. It would be better to leave with him!

Bai Manshan looked at the three of them cautiously and asked, “Have you made up your minds?”

Hong Daniu was his savior, so he couldn’t ignore him.

Hong Mancang and Hong Manku were Hong Daniu’s family, so he had to take care of them too.

Hong Mancang and Hong Manku nodded heavily, “We’ll follow Elder Bai!”

Their father couldn’t stay here. If he continued to stay, they feared he might follow their deceased loved ones.

Now, with everything flooded, they had no food or drink. They faced certain death if they stayed.

Luckily, they had encountered Elder Bai, who was a good person.

Bai Manshan sighed and asked again, “How many people are still on your estate? Have they thought about leaving together?”

Outside, things were likely no better. If they traveled together, they could look out for each other.

Hong Mancang wasn’t sure and looked at Bai Manshan, asking, “Should I go ask them?”

“Alright, you go and ask. If they’re willing to come along, they don’t need to worry about food and drink. If they want to return in the future, they can.” Bai Manshan thought of a place where they could temporarily settle.

Perhaps they also needed capable people there.