Chapter 3 Arrived Home Safely

"You've read too many novels, haven't you? Do you believe this?"

But although she spoke in a firm tone, as if you must listen to me, she also knew that there must be a reasonable reason to bring her family back from the safe city and keep them in their hometown which seemed unsafe.

Time was running out, and she couldn't think of any reason to convince her family, so she just told the truth.

Jiang Qian did not hide anything and told him about the live broadcast she saw the day before yesterday and what had happened in the past few days, including the guesses she had just made from the situation on the Internet.

Of course, she also knew that these evidences, which could only be regarded as speculations, seemed unconvincing, but she did not dare to let the whole family gamble on the worst possible outcome.

"Although this seems like a fantasy, and I hope it's not true, we can't help but prepare for the worst. If the doomsday really comes, the densely populated city will be a cage that traps us. It's better to stay in the village. Not only is the population small, but we can also attack or defend. Even if our home is really flooded, we can move to the mountains and suffer for two days at most before the flood subsides. But if the rumors of doomsday are true, then staying in the village can save our lives."

Jiang Qian patiently analyzed each point one by one with her family.

"The villagers have known each other for generations. Compared to those of us who have just moved to the city and have no roots, it's better to stay with familiar people when a disaster strikes. Most importantly, there's no shortage of food in the village compared to the city."

The other members of the Jiang family were confused at first, but after listening to Jiang Qian's explanation, they all laughed.

"You've read too many novels, haven't you? Do you believe this?"

Huang Liping said, "Qianqian, this might just be a prank by that man. Just a dozen or twenty years ago, there was a rumor that 2012 was the end of the world, but didn't it all turn out well in the end? You've grown up so much."

Jiang Weimin lit a cigarette. "There's no basis for what you're saying. Even if the apocalypse is real, I still think the city is better than the countryside. Even if something happens, help will definitely arrive faster. Just like last time a house in the village caught fire, the fire truck took almost an hour to arrive, and it was only your Uncle Hongbing who acted quickly and used a pump to pump water from the creek to put out the fire that prevented the entire row of houses from burning down."

Jiang Qian disagreed, "Dad, normally the city is better, but when things happen on a large scale, how can the city's rescue be enough? Instead of relying on others, it's better to save ourselves."

"Then the doomsday you talk about isn't necessarily real, is it? How can such a good life be the end? Are you kidding me?" Huang Liping, the mother, said, "Running back and forth in such heavy rain is so dangerous! For so many years, everyone has been rushing to move to the city, and you say the city is bad. Are we all fools?"

"Mom, I've told you many times that we're preparing for the worst. If the apocalypse doesn't happen, that's fine, and I can just call it my worry. But what if it does happen? What will happen to Xiaoru, Dongzi, and their family of three in the city? If they want to leave the city, we won't just be braving the torrential rain!"

Jiang Qian said, glancing at her brother Jiang Dong, who had been silent from the beginning, "Dongzi, it's your family of three living in the city, what do you think?"

"It's not that we don't believe you, it's just that what you said is too bizarre. If you stop someone on the street and ask them if they believe it, no one will believe it! Nothing has happened yet, and you're asking us to prepare for the words of a stranger. That's too stupid..."

Huang Liping felt that her daughter was just worrying too much, but before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Jiang Qian.

"I just let Xiaoru and Chenchen go home and stay for two days. Just think of it as you miss them. Even if the disaster doesn't happen, there's no loss, right?"

"But how do you know that our village is definitely safer than the city? The water in the creek is still rising! In my opinion, it's better to stay in the city."

The more Huang Liping spoke, the more she felt she was right. Just as she was about to say a few more words, the person who had been silent all this time suddenly spoke.

"Mom, sister, stop arguing." Jiang Dong interrupted his mother. "Mom, you are right. We can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. But my sister is also preparing for the worst. She thinks that if something happens, it's better for our family to be together."

Jiang Dong turned off the phone screen he had been looking at. "Although this matter is a bit outrageous, what my sister said makes sense. It's better to be safe than sorry. The house hasn't been flooded yet, so it's not necessarily dangerous. I also bought supplies in advance and brought them back. What if we are trapped in the city, we won't be able to get out when we want to. The community is already flooded and the power is out. No one knows what will happen next. What if the water and gas are cut off? Then there will be no water to flush the toilet. No matter how much supplies we have at home, there will always be a day when they will run out. It's better to stay in our hometown. It's just taking them back to stay for a few days. It's not a big deal. Besides, you live in the countryside, and I don't feel at ease staying in the city. It's better for the whole family to stay together."

Jiang Dong said, making up his mind, "Let's do this. I'll go pick them up later. Chenchen doesn't go to school anyway. If everything is fine, I'll just stay in my hometown for two days. I'll send them back in a few days. If it's really like what my sister said..."

Jiang Dong couldn't bear to imagine that scene, and sighed, "I hope everything is fine!"

The son had already made the decision. Although Jiang's father and mother still felt that it was a bit of an overreaction, the old couple looked at each other and finally said nothing.

Forget it, they are old and some of their thinking is no longer up to date, so let’s listen to the young people!

The heavy rain outside was still continuing, and the sky was getting darker than before. Jiang Dong did not delay and drove directly back to the city.

The Jiang family of three stood at the door, watching Jiang Dong's car disappear in the rain, their hearts also lifted.

The rain was still falling, and the water vapor made the whole world foggy.

Jiang Qian kept checking the news online, Huang Liping went to change the sheets and quilt covers in her son's room, and Jiang Weimin put on his raincoat and went out to the river again to see the condition of the ditch again.

The city is not far from the village. It usually takes about 30 minutes to drive there. Now it is raining, even if you drive slowly, the return journey will not exceed two hours.

But Jiang Dong didn't come back until seven o'clock in the evening.

The prepared dinner had been heated up twice. Huang Liping went to the gate every ten minutes, but there was no light or shadow on the way into the village.

She paced around the room anxiously, "Qianqian, give Dongzi and Xiaoru another call. No one's answering yet?"

Jiang Qian shook her head. "I just called three minutes ago. No one answered Dongzi's call, and Xiaoru's phone is turned off."

Huang Liping's brows furrowed even more tightly. "Dad, why don't we drive over to check it out? We should have been home by now, right?"

"Mom, don't worry. They must have packed up their things at home. Dongzi might even go and get something to bring back. The weather is bad, so they won't be able to get there quickly."

"But I can't just not answer the phone, can I?" Huang Liping waited anxiously, unable to control her worst-case scenario, "Could something have happened to them?"

Jiang Weimin put out his cigarette. "Don't scare yourself. Maybe your phone is out of battery. Didn't Xiaoru say there was a power outage in the community at noon?"

But he was obviously worried, "Don't worry, I'll go to the village to take a look."

Jiang Qian watched her father leave and stopped her mother who was about to follow him at home, "Mom, you wait at home! Dad, I'll go with you."

Because it was raining so heavily, umbrellas offered little protection, so both of them wore raincoats when they went out.

Even though I was wearing a long raincoat, it still couldn't block the pain of the rain hitting my body, like countless small hammers constantly hitting me.

Looking out, all was gloomy, veiled by dark clouds and rain. Distant hills, bridges, houses, and trees were all blurred. The moisture, like a light-devouring beast, swallowed up the light from the electric tricycles' headlights and flashlights. All that could be seen in the distance was the river ditch not far from the road. The normally slow-flowing water now roared and grew increasingly turbid.

The wheels of the car drove over the flooded road, splashing water and leaving a distant shadow.

As the car moved forward, the rain came head-on, hitting Jiang Weimin and Jiang Qian's faces.

The rain stung their faces, trickling down their necks and soaking their clothes. But the two of them didn't stop, still pushing forward into the rain.

There was not a single person or car on the way back to the village. Only when she reached the railway bridge did Jiang Qian see the lights of cars passing and parked on the national highway next to the railway.

And under the railway bridge, red car lights were flashing.

The railway bridge tunnel is at a low altitude, and water will accumulate whenever it rains. An idea flashed through the two men's minds, and they hurriedly rode their bikes forward.

There was indeed a car under the bridge, its chassis almost completely submerged in water. Jiang Weimin shone his flashlight twice, spotted the familiar license plate, and quickly parked his tricycle to the side, wading through the water and down the bridge.

"Dongzi, is that you? Dongzi? Xiaoru?"

In the dim light from the flashlight, Jiang Weimin saw a figure emerging from behind the car. It was blurry and unclear, but the voice was indeed his son's.

"Dad, it's me. Why are you here?"

When Jiang Dong saw his father, he came out from the back of the car in surprise, and Ren Ru in the car also rolled down the window.

Jiang Weimin saw that his little grandson Jiang Mingchen was sitting next to his daughter-in-law, but he looked listless.

"I'm worried about you guys not coming back for so long." Jiang Weimin approached. "Is the car turned off?"

"Yeah," Jiang Dong nodded, "I originally thought I could get through, but it's too risky. I should have taken a detour earlier."

"The railway bridges here are all low-lying and flooded, and the detours are the same. If your car broke down somewhere else, your sister and I might not be able to find you. But why don't you answer the phone? Your mom at home is so worried!"

Ren Ru, who was holding the child in the car, heard it and quickly explained, "Dad, my phone is out of battery, and Dongzi's phone fell into the water on the way and broke."

"I was wondering why I couldn't get through."

After hearing the reason, Jiang Weimin said nothing more. "If the car is broken, just leave it here. Let's go home first. What are you doing here?"

Jiang Dong pointed to the trunk of the car. "Xiao Ru and I brought back everything from the refrigerator at home, and also bought some more. I thought I'd take them home first and then drive a tricycle to pick them up. I asked them to wait in the car first."

"Don't wait any longer. The water will accumulate more and more, and the car will be flooded."

Jiang Weimin looked at Ren Ru and his grandson sitting in the car. "I drove a three-wheeled vehicle here. Let Xiao Ru and Chen Chen get in first. Let your sister take them home first. I'll come with you to pack these things."

"That's great, but it's not a lot, one truck should be enough to take it away. Let's go back together and don't make a second trip."

Jiang Dong was originally worried about how to take the things home. After all, he had brought them back specially, and it would be a pity to just leave them in the car. Now, after hearing these words, he instantly perked up.

Ren Ru put a raincoat on the child and held an umbrella. After handing the child to her husband, she got out of the car wearing a raincoat and waded through the water to cross the bridge.

After Ren Ru and the child got on the car, Jiang Dong returned to the bridge tunnel and together with Jiang Weimin, packed the clothes and food they brought back from home in plastic bags and moved them to the tricycle. The five of them squeezed on the tricycle and returned home.

On a rainy night, Jiang Qian looked at the car left in the bridge hole behind her, then looked at her family around her, and her heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally felt relieved.

When they got home, they were all soaked. Even Jiang Mingchen, who was the best protected and wrapped the most tightly, had damp clothes.

Fortunately, Huang Liping had already prepared everything at home, including a dry towel and hot water for a ginger bath.

The whole family tidied up and finally had dinner before nine o'clock in the evening.

After dinner, Jiang Mingchen, who had been busy all day, felt sleepy. Huang Liping asked her daughter-in-law Ren Ru to take her grandson back to the room to rest. After the door to the inner room was closed, she whispered to her son, "Did you tell Xiao Ru? Why didn't your in-laws come back with you?"

【Author’s words】

It’s the third update!

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