Seeing Zheng Boyuan's resentful look, Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Brother Boyuan, why get angry with someone like that? At least we won't have any dealings with him in the future. Even if we see him, we can just stay away. If we can't afford to offend him, can't we at least avoid him?"

Zheng Boyuan shook his head and said, "Ajiu, this kind of person is narrow-minded and vindictive. We must not let him gain power, otherwise, many people will suffer."

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "That's natural. Now that things have come to this, how many people have been chilled by what he did? Justice will prevail."

Bai Ying came over from the kitchen and said, "Miss, it's getting late. Where should we put the food?"

Xu Zhi looked around. Originally, Bai Zhu had burned mosquito-repelling herbs in the yard early in the morning to prevent mosquitoes from coming in. On a summer evening, a gentle breeze caressed her face. Because of the proximity to the Miao River, the wind carried a slight coolness.

Xu Zhi said, "Let's set the food out in the yard. We'll turn on the lampshade, and it'll be cooler to eat there."

The meal was eaten in the courtyard. After dinner, Baiguo served a plate of watermelon that had been soaked in the well. It was sweet and cool, and eating it made you feel like the summer heat was gone.

Xu Zhi asked Bai Ying, "This watermelon tastes really good, where did you buy it?"

Bai Ying replied with a smile, "They were bought at the market by the kitchen staff this morning. They said that the family who used to sell vegetables at the market had planted a few watermelons in their garden. They took good care of them, and the watermelons ripened early. When they were ripe, they couldn't bear to eat them themselves, so they took them to the city to sell for a few dollars."

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Distribute the watermelon among everyone. If there's any left, send some to He'er and the others."

Bai Ying agreed, took a watermelon and went next door. She quickly returned, her basket full of things from their vegetable garden.

Bai Ying said with a smile, "Miao'er told me that she and Madam Feng also planted two in the backyard, but they grew a little late. Right now, it's just a small melon seedling. She also said that when her watermelons grow bigger, she will send them over to us so that we can have a taste."

Hearing Bai Ying's words, Hong Gu smiled and said, "It wasn't for nothing that we doted on her; she knows to save the good things for us."

The sun shone for two days, then it started raining again. The rain came quickly and fell fast, and the sky cleared up just as quickly. Most importantly, the Miao River rose rapidly.

As the Miao River rises, the hearts of people along its banks tighten, fearing that one day the river will break through the dikes on both sides and become a wild horse ravaging the fields.

Not only Zheng Boyuan was guarding the dike all day long, but Lord Feng next door had also not returned for several days.

Ping arrived at the Zheng family home looking worried, and Xu Zhi comforted her, "Sister-in-law Feng, don't worry, there are plenty of people here."

Ping shook his head, sighed, and said, "The Miao River could easily breach its banks. Once it does, the water will rush about uncontrollably. The Miao River is already higher than the flat land on both sides. Who knows where the dike will break and what it will destroy?"

Xu Zhi took Ping's hand and said, "Sister-in-law Feng, we can't really help with this worry at home. Why don't we cook some good food and send it to the dam? They haven't been home for several days. If we go and see them, we can put our minds at ease. What do you think, sister-in-law?"

Ping's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she said, "Sure, why not? The chives we planted in our backyard are growing just right now, let's make chive dumplings."

Xu Zhi was worried that the dumplings would get soggy after being cooked and delivered to the embankment. Ping Shi, knowing Xu Zhi's concerns, smiled and said, "It's hot now anyway, so we don't have to worry about the food getting cold and making us feel sick. After we cook the dumplings, we can rinse them with cold water first, put them in a food box, and send them over. I've delivered meals like this before."

Xu Zhi had never actually used this method before. Since Ping Shi had done it before, then they should just continue doing it this way.

Ping went home to cut chives, and Xu Zhi went to the kitchen to help knead the dough. Bai Ying chased her out, saying, "Miss, there are so many of us, why do you need to do it yourself? Miss, go sit in the yard for a while. We'll make dumplings in the yard later, and you can help roll out the dumpling wrappers then, okay?"

Xu Zhi had no choice but to give up and stand at the kitchen's busy entrance, watching Bai Ying, Bai Guo, and the cook knead dough and fry eggs. By the time Ping Shi arrived with her three children and two Cuis, the dough was ready, the eggs were fried, and they had cooled down.

Several people worked together to pick the chives, then washed them clean. Ping grabbed the chives and vigorously shook off the water, then chopped them into small pieces. The cook brought out the low table that was usually used to store things in the kitchen, and also brought out two large kneading boards. Except for Shiliu, who didn't know how to make dumplings, He'er, Miao'er, and Sui'er watched from the side. This time, all the women in the family pitched in to make dumplings.

Tender chives, golden fried eggs, and some dried shrimp were added. The filling was seasoned with spices made by the cook herself, and finally sesame oil was poured on top. The aroma was irresistible. Xu Zhi, who had just eaten breakfast, was already looking forward to the dumplings being cooked and trying one as soon as possible.

Many hands make light work. After the dumplings were wrapped, we used the biggest pot in the house to cook them. After cooking, we put them in cold water to rinse them, then took them out to drain the water and put them in a food container.

The kitchen was busy cooking dumplings, and the stables had already prepared a carriage. Once the dumplings were cooked, Xu Zhi and Ping Shi, along with the three girls, boarded their own carriage and headed out of the city towards the Miaohe River embankment.

The distance from Miaozhou City to Miaohe is twenty li. The road is well-maintained, and in some places it is even paved with bluestone slabs, so the carriage does not bump along.

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