The newly admitted twenty-odd people were like parched land receiving timely rain, unleashing an astonishing will to survive.
Led by Zhao Si, and with a few men who were still able to manage, they immediately set off to repair the dilapidated houses in the deserted village.
River water mixed with sticky yellow mud was carried in bucket by bucket, mixed with chopped dry grass, and became "mud slurry" to repair cracks and gaps in adobe walls.
The women and children would venture into the withered weeds and use sharpened stone slabs or their hands to harvest the tough thatch and tie it into thick bundles.
"Over here! The crack in the wall is bigger over here! Put more mud on it!"
"Hey! Quick! Pass up a bundle of straw! Make sure it's thick enough! Don't let it leak!"
"Pillar! That beam is crooked! Find a sturdy piece of wood to support it!"
Shouts, the sound of mud being thrown, and the dragging of bundles of grass echoed through the ruins of the deserted village, filled with a primitive yet vibrant energy.
Old Sun and several villagers came to help and give instructions. Although the tools were rudimentary, many hands make light work. Missing roof tiles? They simply laid several thick layers of thatch on top, securing the edges with mud, and that was enough to keep out the wind and rain!
Seeing the newcomers working so hard, Jiang Chan's group's initial doubts lessened considerably. Some helped mix the mud, while others handed them bundles of straw.
Although they didn't talk much, the cooperation through their actions gradually replaced the initial barrier. Two meals a day! That's the biggest motivation!
When the steaming hot mixed grain rice and the vegetable soup piled high with fresh vegetables and occasionally a few specks of oil and minced meat were served, the newcomers' eyes widened in amazement! Their hands trembled as they held the bowls!
They ate quickly, but no one fought over the food. After finishing, they silently licked their bowls clean and immediately threw themselves into work, as if they wanted to turn every grain of rice they ate into strength to give back to the land that had taken them in!
They were amazed by everything at the riverside camp! The well water was so clear and sweet!
The enormous greenhouse was filled with fresh, vibrant fruits and vegetables! The mountains of grain were piled high! And… that young woman, revered by everyone as "Miss Jiang," a woman of extraordinary abilities!
They whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with disbelief and deep awe. But no one dared to ask a single question! To possess such a paradise-like place during such a famine, and to shelter these starving people… this “girl” was no ordinary person!
Follow her, and you'll have food to eat and a way to survive! That's enough! Anything else, anything you shouldn't ask, you absolutely mustn't ask!
Thanks to everyone's hard work, in just over ten days, several dilapidated mud-brick houses in the deserted village were renovated!
Although it was still rudimentary, with mud-plastered walls and a thick thatched roof, it at least provided shelter from the wind and rain, and when the door was closed, it became a small, safe haven.
The newly arrived refugees moved in. There were no beds; the floor was covered with a thick layer of dry straw. There were no blankets, so Jiang Chan "conjured" some old, thick linen cloth for them to keep warm.
Lying on dry straw, wrapped in thick burlap, listening to the howling wind outside the door, and feeling the warmth of a full stomach... many people huddled in the haystacks, silently shedding tears.
It was a sense of relief, gratitude, and above all, a long-lost sense of security called "home." With enough to eat and sleep, in just half a month, the pale faces of these newly arrived refugees quickly faded, and their eyes, no longer filled with numb despair, were brimming with vitality and hope for the future.
His strength returned, and he worked even harder.
At the riverside camp, however, the atmosphere was subtly shifting. Old Man Sun, Wang Mazi, and several other villagers who had followed Jiang Chan from the very beginning watched the new residents gradually settle down in the deserted village, seeing the same joy and satisfaction on their faces as they had felt back then… and a thought could no longer be suppressed!
The fairy maiden even took in these complete strangers who were now refugees!
They still give them food and shelter! But what about their own families? What about their relatives who might still be struggling in their hometowns, or whose fate is uncertain on the same journey of fleeing famine?
This idea, like a weed, once it took root, grew wildly! Finally, that evening, after work, Old Man Sun, Wang Mazi, and two other men, pushing and shoving each other, slowly made their way to Jiang Chan, who was inspecting the newly planted potato tubers in the greenhouse.
“Young lady…” Old Sun rubbed his hands, his old face full of tension and anticipation, his voice hoarse.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Chan asked without looking up.
"Um... um..." Old Man Sun stammered, and Wang Mazi nudged him from behind.
"Speak your mind." Jiang Chan straightened up.
Old Sun gritted his teeth, suddenly raised his head, and pleaded desperately in his eyes: "Young lady! We...we want to ask you for a favor!"
"explain."
"We...we want...could we...go back to our hometown?" Old Sun's voice trembled. "I...I want to bring my wife and kids back with me!"
"Yes! Young lady!" Wang Mazi couldn't help but speak up, his voice urgent, "My son is still back in our hometown... He was only this tall when I left... I..."
"My daughter...I don't know...I think..."
The men chattered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with longing and intense anticipation for their loved ones! They watched Jiang Chan nervously, their hearts pounding, terrified of hearing a rejection.
Jiang Chan looked at them and remained silent for a few seconds. This silence made Old Man Sun and the others' hearts leap into their throats, and their faces turned pale.
“Okay,” Jiang Chan’s voice rang out calmly.
"Huh?" Old Man Sun thought he had misheard.
“I said, okay,” Jiang Chan repeated, her tone flat. “Those who want to pick up their families can go on their own. I’ll prepare food and water for the journey. But remember—”
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
