Chapter 632 Finding Zhao Dashan
Some things you only know how dangerous they are once you've experienced them yourself.
For example, when crossing the river, Cheng Wanwan thought that she could at least swim and had some advantage. But when she entered the water, she realized that even if you are a swimming champion, you are useless in a flood. The current was too strong. Her legs were washed away and she lost all feeling in the water. She had to hold on to the rope tightly to barely keep her body still.
Several times, Cheng Wanwan almost fell, but fortunately Cheng Yi stayed close to her and pulled her up just as she was about to fall.
It took more than a dozen people half an hour to walk this short path before they finally reached the other side.
The two boats were towed ashore and carried a long way uphill before being secured back and forth to a thick tree with ropes.
They set off early in the morning, and by then it was already afternoon. The sky was full of dark clouds, and the trees on the mountain blocked the light, making it look like dusk.
From morning till now, basically no one has eaten or drunk anything.
"Let's rest here for a while." Yang Laosan found a relatively dry place, spread the burlap sack he was carrying on the ground, and respectfully invited Cheng Wanwan to sit down. "Please sit down, Lady Sui. I'll go pick some wild fruit to fill everyone's stomachs."
"Don't go, I have food here." Cheng Wanwan had just opened her mouth when she saw Cheng Jia and Cheng Yi looking at her with expressions that said, "I knew it." She coughed and said, "It's the dry rations that Lord Lü gave me when I left Nanyang City this morning. Let's share it."
She took out a bag of dry food from her sleeve. It was very dry and choking dry food biscuits. She gave half of it to each person. She also brought a water bottle with her so that everyone could have a sip.
Because of Cheng Jia and Cheng Yi's stares, she forced herself not to hide and eat alone, and could only swallow the choking pancakes haphazardly, bite by bite.
After eating their fill, the group continued their ascent up the mountain.
"My lady, there are footprints here!"
Cheng Jia suddenly shouted and squatted down to examine the messy footprints on the ground.
Cheng Yi was overjoyed: "Young Master and the others must have made it up the mountain safely. They should be taking shelter from the water at the top. Let's hurry up there."
Cheng Wanwan's tense heartstrings also relaxed a little.
The group followed the footsteps up the mountain. The path was far from the river and was located in the forest. In the densely wooded area, it was not easy for mudslides or landslides to occur. Although it was not easy to walk, it was very safe.
In this way, we walked all the way to the top of the mountain, but couldn't find any people.
Standing on the mountaintop, you can see the raging floodwaters below, which have submerged the entire village and turned the distant county town into a vast expanse of water, a truly shocking sight.
Yang Laosan's eyes were filled with sorrow: "Such a huge flood, I don't know when it will recede..."
His family, his house, his fields, his peaceful life were all destroyed by the flood... If it weren't for his young son, he would have wanted to end his own life.
“There’s not much water flowing down from upstream anymore. The water should recede in about three or four days,” Cheng Wanwan said. “No matter what, those who are alive must continue to live.”
Yang Laosan nodded. Even for his son's sake, he had to cheer himself up again.
As he was speaking, the original drizzle suddenly turned into heavy crackling raindrops, hitting people densely.
Cheng Wanwan's heart skipped a beat.
We were just saying that the flood would recede in about three or four days, but if it continues to rain so heavily, we won’t be sure what will happen.
Madam Huang hurriedly said, "There's a big tree over there, let's go over there quickly to take shelter."
"No!" Cheng Wanwan immediately stopped him, "You can't hide under the tree, hurry up and find a cave."
At this juncture, she couldn't explain why they couldn't hide under a tree when it rained, so she quickly asked Yang Laosan, who was familiar with the terrain, to find a cave.
Old Yang often went up the mountain to chop firewood and hunt. Pointing to the east, he said, "There's a cave down here, hurry up."
Each of them was soaked. If they got caught in the rain again, they would definitely catch a cold. Getting sick at this time would be tantamount to death.
A dozen or so people followed Yang Laosan toward the cave. They walked very fast and soon arrived at the entrance of a cave.
Before they entered, they heard voices.
Madam Huang was overjoyed: "They're here! They're all here!"
Cheng Wanwan quickly walked to the cave entrance. Because of the poor lighting, she couldn't see inside. She shouted, "Are all the villagers from Huaihua Village here?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a figure rushed out: "This humble servant greets Lady Gong. There are 120 people here, all from Huaihua Village."
She looked closely and saw that it was Zhou Yong, the servant who followed Zhao Dashan. Seeing that Zhou Yong was safe and sound, Cheng Wanwan's motherly heart finally settled down.
Many people inside the cave also reached the cave entrance, each one moved to tears of gratitude.
"It's Sui Kyouto who's here!"
"Lord Zhao's mother, Lady Sui, has come to our rescue!"
"I knew someone would come to rescue us. Great! Our Huaihua Village is saved."
"..."
The villagers wept with joy and knelt down to kowtow to Cheng Wanwan.
When Huang Niangzi saw her husband, she burst into tears and threw herself into his arms...
Cheng Wanwan glanced at the crowd and asked hurriedly, "Where's Dashan? Where is he?"
Zhou Yong's tears immediately welled up: "My lord, my lord..."
"Lord Sui, it's all my fault!" An old woman in her sixties burst into tears. "When we were going up the mountain, a big rock suddenly rolled down, and Lord Zhao sacrificed himself to save me... I'm old and deserve to die, but Lord Zhao was so young... I deserve to die, I really deserve to die, why wasn't it me who died..."
Cheng Wanwan's legs suddenly went limp.
Cheng Jia and Cheng Yi supported her on either side, not daring to let go.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and strode into the cave. Zhou Yong led her to the deepest part of the cave. On the damp ground lay some dry grass, and Zhao Dashan lay there, covered with Zhou Yong's outer shirt.
His head was haphazardly wrapped with strips of cloth, which were already soaked with blood. His face was pale, his lips were dry, and his body seemed to still be feverish.
"Dashan, you have to hold on..."
Cheng Wanwan sat down on the ground and held Zhao Dashan's hand tightly.
Zhou Yong knelt on the ground, wiping his tears in self-blame, and carefully described the several places where Zhao Dashan was injured.
The first was the back of his head, which was smashed by a large rock. The second was his right hand, which was crushed by a large rock and fractured. The third was his right leg, which was scratched and bleeding...
The most serious injury was to the head.
If she hadn't come, Dashan might not have survived tonight...
The two officials from the Ministry of Revenue who came to Nanyang with Zhao Dashan whispered, "Reverend Sui, are there any others coming with you?"
They thought the imperial court had sent people to rescue them, but just now, he only saw eight scattered yamen runners, and they didn't bring any food or medicine... The people in this cave hadn't eaten anything for two days and two nights, and most of them were sick. Most importantly, Lord Zhao was seriously injured, and if he didn't receive timely treatment, his life might be in danger.
"Nearly a hundred villages have been affected, and the prefect is overwhelmed with manpower." Cheng Wanwan lowered her eyes and said, "It's too dark in the cave. I'd like to ask you two to help find some dry firewood."
Zhou Yong said dejectedly, "There's firewood in the cave, but no tinderbox..."
Because of this, many people fell ill in the past two days. He also tried to make fire by rubbing two sticks together, but even the dry wood was a little damp and could not start a fire.
Before Cheng Wanwan could say anything, Cheng Jia spoke up, "My lady has brought a tinderbox. Hurry and bring the dry firewood over."
Cheng Wanwan silently took out a lighter from her sleeve and handed it over.
After everyone around went to move the dry firewood, she immediately bought some antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs, stuffed them into Zhao Dashan's mouth, and then poured mineral water into his mouth.
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