Flood outbreak

As the evening rain subsided, a line of carriages sped along, splashing up a lot of mud and water, and finally entered Qingzhou City before dark.

Fu Zhiqiao sat in the study, flipping through the news coming from Chishui Dam.

The water level in the Chishui River was rising higher and higher, and the watchtower built on the riverbank for reporting floods was half submerged. Just as she was considering whether to stop work at the winery, Yu Roulan rushed back.

"mother?"

Fu Zhi Qiao was utterly shocked to see Yu Rou Lan. "Didn't I tell you to stay in the capital? Why did you come back on your own?"

"How could I not come back when you're almost of marriageable age?" She could have arrived a few days earlier, but it started raining intermittently after entering Qingzhou.

After being washed by the rain, the originally hard soil on the ground became soft, which made the journey much more difficult, and it took several days to get back to Qingzhou.

Two days later was Fu Zhi Qiao's coming-of-age ceremony, and luckily she made it in time.

Seeing Fu Zhi Qiao's confused look, Yu Rou Lan smiled indulgently and helplessly: "Have you forgotten your coming-of-age ceremony?"

Speaking of coming-of-age ceremony, Fu Zhiqiao had really forgotten about it.

Protecting sorghum seedlings, building new granaries, collecting grain everywhere... She has been back in Qingzhou for so long without stopping, and she has no idea that her coming-of-age ceremony is in two days.

Yu Roulan's silk cloak was already stained with rain, and Yinxing quickly stepped forward to help her take it off. Fu Zhiqiao hurriedly asked the servants to boil hot water for Yu Roulan to take a bath to warm her up.

The maids immediately got busy. Granny Cui was old and had been traveling with Yu Roulan all the way, so she didn't need to serve her at this time.

After taking a shower and changing into dry clothes, Yu Roulan chatted with her while drinking ginger soup.

"After your coming-of-age ceremony, your mourning period will be over, and you won't have to wear those plain dresses every day anymore. I've taken a fancy to a piece of peach-colored cloud-like silk, and I'll make you a dress that will be just right. It's said that clothes made from it will make you look like you're wearing ethereal clouds. A girl should always dress more brightly."

Fu Zhiqiao smiled and agreed, and then told her about the recent situation in the city.

Yu Roulan was preoccupied with Fu Zhiqiao, and since it was already dark when she arrived at the city gate, she didn't pay much attention to the situation outside the gate.

Hearing from Fu Zhiqiao that there were many disaster victims outside the city, she realized that the continuous rainfall had caused disasters for the people in the surrounding counties. She felt a pang of anxiety, but thankfully she managed to get into the city before dark.

Fu Zhi Qiao couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. The situation outside the city was not peaceful. Fights broke out from time to time among the disaster victims as they scrambled for better shelter from the rain.

Although the government sent out constables to maintain order, the constables returned to the city to rest after dark, as it was quite dangerous to stay outside the city at night.

Many areas outside the city have been flooded by rain, but fortunately, the floodwaters have not yet reached Qingzhou City.

Fu Zhi Qiao comforted Yu Rou Lan, saying that she had arranged everything and assured her that nothing would happen. Yu Rou Lan naturally believed her daughter completely, and she stopped thinking about all sorts of nonsense and went to sleep early.

Two peaceful days passed before Fu Zhiqiao's coming-of-age ceremony.

The clothes worn on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony have a fixed style. Yu Roulan had previously agreed to stay in the capital with Fu Zhiqiao because her custom-made dress was not yet ready.

Sure enough, Yu Roulan rushed back as soon as she got the clothes.

Fu Zhiqiao opened the box containing the clothes. Inside was a long, floor-length crimson brocade gown woven with gold and silver phoenixes. The colorful threads intertwined, and the gold and silver threads were interspersed throughout, creating a dazzling effect.

A girl's coming-of-age ceremony is a very solemn occasion, and usually, guests, attendees, and relatives are invited to participate.

Fu Zhiqiao had witnessed Zhou Miaosi's coming-of-age ceremony before. Three sets of jewelry and three sets of gorgeous clothes were the basics, and there were countless complicated etiquette procedures... This whole process was exhausting.

Fu Zhiqiao cited limited conditions as the reason for skipping those complicated steps.

Yu Roulan was initially reluctant, but with the rain pouring down outside and everyone busy trying to buy food, no one had the mind to attend Fu Zhiqiao's coming-of-age ceremony.

Yu Roulan had no choice but to compromise.

Finally, Yu Roulan personally served as the chief guest and the best man at the coming-of-age ceremony. She washed her hands and came behind Fu Zhiqiao, taking a pear wood openwork peony pattern comb to comb her hair.

She tied her hair up in a bun and put on a hairpin crown.

She wore a plain inner garment, a dark floral pleated satin skirt, and a crimson brocade robe woven with gold and silver phoenixes on the outside, the robe trailing more than three feet long.

Her already smooth and fair skin appeared even more porcelain-white and snow-like, crystal clear and jade-like, under the reflection of her crimson brocade robe. She got up and took a few steps in the room, her gait light and graceful, exuding an indescribable noble and otherworldly aura.

Granny Cui: "The coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin. Please come out of your room, young lady."

Fu Zhiqiao stood in the hall, her hands clasped together at her abdomen, and solemnly knelt before Yu Roulan.

Yu Roulan sat in the seat of honor, while Fu Changyue's memorial tablet was placed on another chair.

Looking at the graceful Fu Zhi Qiao, Yu Rou Lan felt a pang of bitterness. Other people's daughters' coming-of-age ceremonies were grand and magnificent, while her daughter's was so simple, without even a single guest.

Fu Zhiqiao didn't care about these things; she just felt that the simpler the process, the better.

After the coming-of-age ceremony, the mother and daughter enjoyed a delicious meal.

After dinner, the rain outside still didn't stop; instead, it got heavier and heavier, with raindrops hitting the roof tiles and making a loud noise.

The thunder, deafening and resounding, sent shivers down people's spines.

That night, more than half of the people of Qingzhou spent in fear and unease.

The torrential rain lasted all night, and by the next morning, low-lying areas in Qingzhou City were already flooded, which was not a good sign.

Li Wenkang couldn't sit still any longer, so he dispatched many yamen runners. They put on raincoats and straw hats, and carried all sorts of tools. Braving the rain, they cleaned the filth in the ditches to prevent them from becoming clogged and causing the water to be unable to drain.

"Ji-joo, do you think there might be a flood?"

Fu Zhiqiao was also uncertain; given the current rain trend, flooding was highly probable.

Seeing Yu Roulan's worried expression, Fu Zhiqiao comforted her, "Mother, don't worry! The government has sent people to guard the river. They will inform everyone if there is any news. Besides, we have enough food and firewood at home. Even if there is a flood, we won't go hungry."

"That's good, that's good." Yu Roulan was relieved to hear that Fu Zhiqiao had a solution.

*

The water in the Chishui River is becoming increasingly turbid.

The government has been sending people to monitor the situation here, and has selected several people who are good swimmers to guard the river day and night.

Half a month ago, someone noticed that the water level had risen and had submerged the feet of the ponies. They reported it to the government, which then sent people to reinforce the dam.

Another day passed, and the rain showed no signs of letting up.

Just as the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, and people were still asleep, they were awakened by the clanging of gongs.

"Attention everyone! The city gates are now closed and entry/exit is prohibited! The rain is too heavy, and the Chishui Dam may not hold for much longer. For safety reasons, everyone must stay in high places and not move around unnecessarily..."

The people panicked when they heard the news.

People living in low-lying areas need to evacuate immediately. They all understand the seriousness of the situation. Once the Chishui Dam collapses, all the floodwaters accumulated in the river will rush out, and most of Qingzhou City will probably be submerged.

Fu Zhiqiao could only pray that her winery would be alright, that her previous arrangements would work, and that Huaping Mountain behind Liujia Village could withstand some of the flood's impact...

When she was choosing a site to build the winery, she ultimately decided on Liujia Village because of its superior terrain and environment.

Liujia Village is located at the source of the Chishui River, so it was less affected by the flood. The Chishui River becomes more and more winding and the drainage becomes more and more difficult as it flows further downstream, so this flood started in the middle reaches.

Nevertheless, Fu Zhi Qiao made thorough preparations.

Worried that the heavy rain would cause flooding, she erected wooden planks about one person high in the granary, brewery, and wine cellar, and also stacked sandbags half a person high behind the planks to prevent water from flowing in.

The granary, brewing room, and wine cellar are the three most important parts, and no mistakes can be tolerated.

With warnings from the government, many people are migrating to higher ground.

The Chishui Dam initially only had a small crack, which created a breach in the dam. The pressure of the water flow was concentrated on this spot, and the dam could no longer bear the weight and collapsed completely.

The murky river water surged out in an instant, sweeping up rocks, trees, houses, and people.

Less than two hours passed between the government issuing the warning and the collapse of the Chishui Dam.

In situations where transportation was inconvenient and communication was underdeveloped, it was difficult for the government to notify all the villages. Many people were swallowed up by the merciless flood while they were still asleep, and they did not even have a chance to call for help.

The people living in the city were relatively safe, as a high city wall blocked the floodwaters, so the water only reached their calves. In lower-lying areas, the water reached their waists.

The villagers who settled in the countryside suffered greatly. The countryside consisted of flat farmland with no shelter, and they could only watch helplessly as their houses and villages were submerged by the river.

Looking out from the city tower, the low-lying areas outside the city looked like a vast ocean, with disaster victims floating on the water, clinging to planks.

After an unknown amount of time, the raging floodwaters gradually subsided.

The destructive power and damage caused by the collapse of the dam are immeasurable.

The disaster affected a wide area. Qingzhou City was protected by a thick city wall, so there were no major casualties. Only some old and dilapidated houses were flooded and collapsed, and a few people were injured.

The surrounding Shangyang County and Yunzhong County were not so lucky. These two places were severely affected by the floods, followed by Jinxian County. Compared with these places, Qingzhou City was less affected.

The flood came quickly and violently, and many people managed to escape to the mountains in time to save their lives.

The small hillsides above the water resembled rows of small boats, crammed with people trying to escape. Some who couldn't climb ashore were clinging to logs in the water, which was also littered with broken beams, clothing, and corpses.

The residents living on higher ground were not affected. They spontaneously went out of their homes to rescue people, rowing small boats and bamboo rafts to search for survivors.

After discovering the people trapped on the hillside, they slowly approached, making several trips back and forth, and finally rescued them.

With their homes destroyed, the affected people have nowhere to go.

The floods affected not only Qingzhou, but also Yuzhou, located downstream of the Chishui River.