The rain never stopped. Jing Li returned to the main house. Qin Zhao was lying quietly on the bed with his eyes slightly closed.

Jing Li walked over quietly. Qin Zhao coughed twice and asked, "Who is it?"

"You're not asleep." Jing Li said, "It's the village chief. He said that all the villagers have agreed to your proposal. He will leave for the county town early tomorrow morning."

Qin Zhao responded softly.

"You don't have to worry about it anymore. Once the village chief returns with his men to repair the embankment, we'll be able to safely weather the flood season."

"It's not that easy." Qin Zhao's voice was very soft, as if he had no strength left. "The village chief is more concerned with persuading the villagers, but in fact, the difficulties will come next. We don't know whether the county magistrate is willing to expend manpower and resources to assist Linxi Village. If he is not willing..."

"Don't worry so much." Jing Li knelt beside the bed and interrupted him, "The village chief said to do your best and leave the rest to fate. You've done your best, but as for fate, don't I still have you?"

Qin Zhao opened his eyes, tilted his head to look at him, and smiled softly: "Finally believe that you are a koi?"

"I'll believe it one last time," Jing Li said. "If I can really bring good fortune, then I hope this matter can be resolved smoothly. I hope Linxi Village won't suffer from floods this year. I hope..."

Jing Li paused, looked at Qin Zhao's face, and said seriously: "I hope you can get better soon."

Qin Zhao looked away and called softly, "Xiaoyu."

"Um?"

Qin Zhao: "If my past is different from what you imagined..."

"Different?" Jing Li blinked. "How is it different?"

Qin Zhao lowered his eyes and shook his head: "No, nothing..."

"You don't have to worry about me. I know you now, not you before. No matter what you did in the past, that's all in the past. And..." Jing Li paused for a while, and after a long while, he mustered up the courage to whisper, "No matter what you were like in the past, I..."

He spoke the last few words very softly, and Jing Li looked away, not daring to see his expression. But the other party did not respond for a long time. Jing Li looked up, but Qin Zhao had closed his eyes again, and his breathing became steady and long.

Jing Li: “…”

I don’t go to bed early or late, but I choose to sleep at this time.

Hate.

Jing Li sighed heavily, leaned on the edge of the bed with his head resting on his arms, and reached out with his other hand to quietly hold Qin Zhao's hand hanging by his side.

The room is quiet.

.

But no one expected that the village chief fell ill after returning home.

"...It's a cold." Qin Zhao let go of the village chief's wrist and stood up. "It's probably because you've been overworked lately, and the cold has entered your body. I'll write a prescription. You can ask someone to go to Doctor Ge to get a few pills. You'll be fine after taking them."

The village chief's family members gathered in the room, and a middle-aged man said, "Okay, I'll go to Huaixia Village right away."

"Ahem..." The village chief was still feverish, his face flushed with fever. He struggled to sit up, "How long will it take for this medicine to take effect? ​​I still have to go to the county town..."

Qin Zhao quickly supported him: "It's not suitable for you to travel so hard. Take care of yourself first."

"But cough cough...but we can't delay now."

In order to persuade the villagers to agree to build the embankment, several days have been wasted. If it is delayed any further, it is likely that the embankment will not be completed before the flood season arrives.

If that's the case, then all our efforts will be in vain.

Qin Zhao said, "I'll go."

The village chief shook his head: "How can this be possible? With your body..."

"I drew the flood control embankment myself, so I know it best," Qin Zhao said calmly. "I'll go to the county seat myself."

The village chief was unwilling to agree at first, but Qin Zhao insisted on doing so and no matter how he tried to persuade him, he would not agree.

Finally, several farmers negotiated and pooled their money to rent a covered ox cart for Qin Zhao to take him to and from the county town.