Chapter 148

In the village, the villagers hurried about, each completing the final tasks at home.

The chicken coop was reinforced, the thatched roof over the rabbit’s nest was thickened, and thick thatched grass was added over the firewood, compacted with clay bricks.

Children from each household joyfully ran towards the lakes and rivers with wooden barrels and fishing spears.

Fan Qian used a bamboo toothpick to clean his teeth and shouted across the low adobe wall at the villagers hurrying along the earthen road outside the door, “What’s the rush? It’s not like it hasn’t rained before, is it?”

Li Wen, catching his breath nervously, replied, “No, my dad said even big fish in the lake are floating on the surface blowing bubbles. He’s never seen such a sight in all his years.”

“Fan Laoda, get ready quickly, don’t delay!” he urged.

As Xulao San passed by outside the wall, he added, “It’s not just Old Village Chief who said it, other elders in the village have said the same. Also, your family’s eldest, Old Master Fan Qi, said he heard from your ancestors’ generation that such signs preceded heavy rain and flooding for half a month!”

Last year’s unusual weather forecasted flooding, and it wasn’t just Old Village Chief saying so; all the village elders were talking about it.

If they were wrong, it would only mean they had been a bit too busy, with their preparations still useful, and the rest would be easy.

If they were right, it could really be a lifesaver!

Moreover, it was an experience; when they were old, if they were in a similar situation, they would tell their descendants to make preparations in advance.

Fan’s heart filled with doubts.

Could there really be a flood?

He looked around the yard; the firewood would last no more than five days, and there was even less thatch and straw to ignite it.

Although the chickens were gone, there were still a few ducks and geese. Now, their eggs, instead of being traded for coarse salt, were all eaten to fortify their bodies.

They were crucial, but the thatched roof above the duck coop was black, dirty, and rotting, and the wooden blocks supporting it were not very strong…

Without thinking, he shouted loudly into the house, “Zhaodi, come here!”

“Hey, Dad, what’s up?” Fan Zhaodi ran over, covered in dirt.

Seeing the dirt on his daughter’s clothes, Fan couldn’t help but frown and scold, “Let your mother handle it herself! Don’t make your daughter do everything.”

Fan Zhaodi lowered her head and whispered softly, “Mother is a genius who remembers every second.”

Fan closed his mouth and said nothing.

It was his mother’s words, not making his daughter do everything herself.

After a moment of silence, he pointed his finger at the woodshed and interrogated, “Do you know it’s about to rain? Do you know we might have a big flood this summer? Look at the firewood in the woodshed, look at those thatch and straw, is it enough? If you hide lazily, what are you going to eat when the rainy season comes?”

Fan Zhaodi looked up at Fan, hesitantly defending, “Dad, I’ve been working without a break all day. I really don’t have time to chop wood and cut thatch. The other four brothers are free. Can they?”

Fan coldly interrupted, “Can your four brothers go to the fields? Can they do farm work? Can you? What do you want to compare with them? Why don’t you go to the field to work? I know what you mean. Are you lazy with your brothers? How about my sister?”

The hope in Fan Zhaodi’s eyes disappeared completely.

In May, the farm work was done, and his brothers had been resting at home for more than a month.

Moreover, if she was not just eight years old and unable to do farm work, she would rather go to the field!

She was a real sister, she had to pity her brothers, but did her brothers treat her as a real sister, only her eldest sister treated her as a real sister.

“…Well, Dad, I’ll go chop wood and cut thatch.”

Fan Zhaodi finally said that.

In this family, he is the master.

What he says must be listened to by others!

If anyone dared to resist him, he wouldn’t end up like useless Wang Mazi, who was cast out. The same fate awaited Fan Jin’s whole family.

Thinking of his younger brother’s family’s current situation, Fan raised his head and looked towards the horizon.

It absolutely couldn’t rain heavily and cause a flood. Otherwise, his family would become the biggest joke in the village, their credibility forever tarnished. But if the heavy rain didn’t come, well, then everyone else would become the joke…

In the early morning, the sky was filled with rosy light.

Just two hours later, the wind grew fierce, causing the leaves to rustle loudly.

The adults were anxious, fearing they might have missed something, while the children grew even more excited, catching fish, chasing dragonflies, and playing around.

Shuiqing looked at the gloomy sky, unable to stop worrying.

It had been two hours; Fan Jin should have reached Oxhead Town by now, right?

She wondered if their parents had many belongings and whether they were packed properly.

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Hu Wenhua was instructing his mother on what not to bring.

“Mother, why bring that jar? It takes up space and is easily broken. Even if there’s a flood, it won’t survive.”

“It’s pickled chili peppers; your sister loves them. We’ll have them with porridge later.”

Hu Wenhua: … True, they are delicious, we must bring them!

“Mother, forget about the winter clothes. We can wash and dry them when we come back; they’re taking up space on the cart.”

“We haven’t brought any other winter clothes. These few sets were made from fine cotton your sister sent last year. What if thieves break in? We’ll take them along. Flood or no flood, we still need to live through winter.”

Hu Wenhua: … Mother’s right, as usual.

“Mother, these torn bedsheets and pillowcases don’t need to come. No one will steal them at home; we can leave them.”

“Even if no one steals them, how many sets of clean bedding does your sister’s house have? What if it rains continuously? Don’t we need replacements?”

Hu Wenhua: … That makes sense too.

In the end, everything deemed unnecessary was taken along.

As for essentials like grain, eggs, sausage, cured meat, salted fish, and three old hens… they naturally couldn’t be left behind.

All the heavy and bulky items were neatly arranged and tied securely onto the cart with meticulous care using hemp ropes.

At this moment, Butcher Hu finally appreciated his son-in-law’s attention to detail.

He handled things thoroughly!

Even if he wasn’t as strong as them, he could manage!

With his son-in-law’s ox leading the way, he and his son exerted all their strength to carry the remaining odds and ends.

Since it was his son-in-law’s ox, naturally his son-in-law’s effort counted!

Hu’s wife locked the door, pulled it a few times to make sure it was secure, then said to the three of them, “Let’s go.”

As soon as they left the courtyard and hit the main road, the wind blew fiercely, threatening to sweep them away!

“Mother, hold onto the ox cart, don’t get blown away. Let’s move faster!” Hu Wenhua shouted loudly.

Fan Jin focused on driving the ox cart.

Hu Wenhua and Butcher Hu each carried a flat bamboo pole and two baskets, which were swaying wildly in the wind. Luckily, both were strong and managed to keep them steady despite the weight.

On the main road, the four of them struggled against the wind, heading towards Shanshui Village.