Chapter 323 The Road to Dahe Village

"We've been blocked by snow for half a month; it's time to clear this road," the village headman said loudly, standing under the big locust tree. "Each household should send one person with tools to clear the snow and make way!"

Naturally, no one in the village would refuse.

In the past, people would visit relatives and friends during the Spring Festival, but this year they were forced to stay in the village for more than ten days, and many people were almost getting moldy.

Furthermore, everyone's salt was almost gone, and they had long since run out of needles and thread. If they didn't go to the city soon, they wouldn't be able to survive.

Bored men, at the call of the village head, gathered at the avalanche site.

As the sun came out, the snow gradually began to melt, but there was still more soil and gravel in the snow layer, which had to be dug out.

The road was blocked for about 70 or 80 meters, and was at least 6 or 7 meters high, like a very long, low mountain.

With many hands making light work, the group was not intimidated and began working in shifts to open the road.

After a morning of digging, we had finally dug about ten meters. After lunch, we continued working, heave-ho, huff-huff...

"Wait, everyone stop!"

The village head suddenly spoke.

All the men working stopped what they were doing in unison.

The village head lay prone on the snowdrift and whispered, "Didn't you hear anything?"

Wang Yongcheng listened intently for a moment, then nodded: "It sounds like there are sounds, and it seems like someone is shoveling snow on the other side."

"I know!" Zhao Dashan's eyes widened. "It must be the county magistrate who sent people to rescue us."

On the other side of the high snowdrift, Magistrate Shen was indeed leading people to the road.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, he brought Shen Zheng to Dahe Village to deliver New Year's goods to Sui Ru's family.

Upon arrival, we discovered that an avalanche had occurred in Dahe Village, blocking the only main road into the village with a thick layer of snow.

He had been thinking about bringing people to clear the snow-covered road, but the heavy snow kept falling until yesterday when it finally stopped. Today, the sun came out, and he immediately gathered over a hundred people, including government officials, refugees, and laborers, to clear the road.

"This snow layer is too thick..." Master Yuan sighed. "From the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month to the 7th of the first lunar month, a total of half a month, can Dahe Village survive?"

Shen Zheng said coldly, "Every household in Dahe Village has surplus grain, how could they not survive? Don't make wild guesses."

"This year's snowfall is the worst in thirty years, extremely cold and frigid. Twenty-three people have frozen to death in Ping'an County." Master Yuan's voice was deep. "Dahe Village has been isolated from the outside world for half a month, lacking medicine and cold-weather supplies. I'm afraid the number of people who have frozen to death will be even higher, sir. You should be prepared."

Cao Dewang, standing to the side, also sighed: "This year has been truly full of disasters. I hope Dahe Village can pull through..."

Beside him was Cao Yingying.

Cao Yingying's eyes were slightly red as she looked at the snow-capped mountain in front of her with a worried expression.

The Cao family sent people to Dahe Village every day to inquire about news, but each time they returned empty-handed. Today, the county magistrate summoned people to help clear the road, and she begged her father to bring forty or fifty servants and young men from the Cao family to help, hoping that the road could be cleared today. She was really worried about Aunt Zhao's family...

"My Zhao'er..." Old Mrs. Cheng and the Cheng family also arrived, beating their chests and stamping their feet in the cold wind. "I shouldn't have let you stay in Dahe Village. How could such a disaster have happened... I had a dream that day. I dreamt that Zhao'er was buried by heavy snow. Zhao'er, Grandma begs you, please don't have any accidents. From now on, Grandma will listen to whatever you say. Please, please don't have any accidents..."

Sister-in-law Cheng cried so hard she almost fainted.

Brother Cheng silently helped to get through the road.

They dug from dawn till dusk. As darkness fell, the temperature dropped even lower, and the cold wind blew in through the gap, making everyone shiver.

"Sir, young master, let's go back first," Master Yuan advised. "It's too cold here, be careful not to catch a cold."

Magistrate Shen shook his head: "I'll keep an eye on things here. Xiao Zheng, you go back with Master Yuan."

Shen Zheng straightened his back: "I'm not leaving either."

Cao Dewang climbed onto the Cao family's carriage: "Yingying, you go back first. I'll send someone to inform you as soon as I have any news."

Cao Yingying choked up and said, "I'll leave after I'm sure Aunt Zhao and her family are alright."

Just then!

Cheers erupted.

“It’s connected!”

"My lord, the road is open!"

Meanwhile, the people of Dahe Village were also cheering.

"Uncle Village Head, the road is open!"

"Our Dahe Village can finally leave the village!"

The village headman quickly went over, picked up a shovel, and knocked open the breach. Then, he saw hundreds of people on the other side.

The old man crawled through the hole, tumbling and scrambling to reach Magistrate Shen, where he knelt down with a thud: "This humble subject greets Your Excellency, Magistrate. I had already guessed that Your Excellency had sent people to rescue us. If it weren't for Your Excellency's help, this road probably wouldn't have been dug open until tomorrow night... We, Dahe Village, will forever remember Your Excellency's kindness!"

Magistrate Shen quickly helped the man up: "Village Head Zhao, you're exaggerating. It's my duty to relieve the people's worries and troubles. How has the situation been in Dahe Village these past two weeks? Has anyone frozen to death or suffered frostbite?"

"No, no, the villagers have made it through." The village head stood up. "Everyone has worked hard. Come sit in our village for a while. I'll have the villagers make ginger soup for you to warm you up."

Shen Zheng asked impatiently, "Uncle Village Head, is Aunt Zhao alright? How is Afu?"

“Grandma is fine, she’s alright!” The village head laughed. “It was indeed very cold this year, but our village is blessed by the heavens, and no one has frozen to death… Well, sir, please sit for a while, and I will give you a detailed report later.”

"Zhao'er, where is our Zhao'er?" Old Mrs. Cheng rushed over with a pale face. "Village Chief Zhao, is our Zhao'er alright?"

"Grandma!"

Cheng Zhao's voice came from afar.

He was also helping to clear the road, clearing the remaining snow from the wide path. He knew he wasn't very strong, but he still wanted to lend a hand.

Upon hearing Grandma Cheng's voice, he immediately crawled through the hole.

"Grandma, I'm fine, I'm alright."

"My Zhao'er..."

Grandma Cheng hugged her eldest grandson tightly.

Once the hole was smashed open, the entire road was finally clear.

Cao Yingying, who was in the distance, lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw many villagers, as well as Cheng Wanwan and Zhao Ergou.

She smiled and said, "Father, let's go back."

She felt relieved as long as she saw that Aunt Zhao and her family were alright.

Amidst the lively festivities, the Cao family carriage departed silently.

Hearing the sound of the carriage shaft, Zhao Ergou looked up and only saw the back of the carriage. But he recognized the Cao family's carriage. In that instant, his cold heart seemed to burn with a fire. He wanted to chase after it, but he knew that engaged couples could not meet in private. He could not tarnish Yingying's reputation...

Most of the people in Dahe Village have relatives in other villages. Once the road was opened, many relatives hugged each other and cried.

Chen Erniu's parents were also there. This was the first time in her life she hadn't spent the New Year at home, and she cried loudly in her parents' arms.

Having experienced a brush with death, Ah Fu was deeply moved and cried while holding his young master.

Kong Xiuniang's son and daughter-in-law also arrived. Seeing that Kong Xiuniang was alright, the younger generation breathed a sigh of relief.

There were also Cheng Wanwan's in-laws, Wu Laoda and Wu Da Niang, who were holding Wu Hui Niang and Wu Xiao Chui with lingering fear.

A beautiful woman, with a son and a daughter, threw herself into Master Yu's arms: "Old Yu, you're such a scoundrel! I thought you'd just abandon us, a widow and her children, and leave like that... I don't care, I want to stay here with you, even if it means death..."