......
The testing technology and equipment in the 1980s were relatively backward, and the testing items were not comprehensive. The doctor at the health center told me that they could only do some routine physical tests, such as toxins and bacteria. The specimens had to be sent to the Nanyi People's Hospital, and it would take one to two weeks to get the results.
Even under the urging of the police, the doctor was helpless and said that the results would take at least three to five days.
There was no need for Chi Yin to continue wasting time in the clinic if she couldn't get any results. It was already afternoon, so she decided to go to Xiangshui Village first to bring the yellow dog out.
Aunt Li led Xixi and Wanwan to dig the soil and plant vegetables in the backyard. Seeing Chi Yin digging out a coil of hemp rope from the firewood pile, she said worriedly, "That yellow dog belongs to the Wei family. What if the Wei family jumps up and down and accuses you of stealing things, and then calls the police?"
Chi Yin neatly coiled the hemp rope into a circle and said to Aunt Li, "Zhang Xiufen came to my house to ask for marriage because she was attracted by my parents' dowry. The wardrobe, stools, boxes, and teacups in the house were all bought by my parents. I just brought back a dog. If she makes a fuss, I will just move all the dowry away next time."
Aunt Li thought it made sense and nodded, "Then be careful."
Xixi was squatting on the ground playing in the mud. When she heard her mother was going back to the village, she looked up and asked, "Mom, can you help me get the lamb?"
Wanwan said, "Help me get the little wooden horse too."
Chi Yin agreed immediately, and Aunt Li ran to the front yard before she left, "It's cloudy, bring a raincoat."
...
...
Chi Yin nodded, but she couldn't find her raincoat after searching the kitchen and utility room for a long time. Seeing that it was already four o'clock in the afternoon, she didn't have time to go directly to Xiangshui Village.
The Wei family lived at the entrance of Xiangshui Village. It was about to rain, and every household was busy tidying up the crops that were drying in the grain field. No one noticed that Chi Yin had returned.
Chi Yin didn't have the key, but the wall of the Wei family's courtyard was not high, so she moved two or three stones to use as stepping stones and then climbed over the wall to get in.
Chi Yin searched the front and back yards twice, and even turned over the yellow dog's kennel, but couldn't find the dog.
Thunder exploded overhead and raindrops as big as beans fell like steel balls. In just ten minutes, the yard was filled with rainwater.
Chi Yin hid under the eaves, her body already soaked by the rain. The sky was getting darker and darker, and she didn't know whether it was completely dark or just the weather.
Chi Yin could faintly hear the sound of a gong being struck in the rain. She listened attentively, but could not make out what was being said because of the heavy rain.
The sound of the gong lasted for seven or eight minutes and then stopped, leaving only the roaring sound of wind and rain.
Chi Yin felt that the rain would continue for a few more hours. It was not a good idea to wait like this. She was already wet anyway, so she decided to go out to the gate of the yard in the rain to take a look.
According to the big yellow dog's previous habits, no matter how much fun it had playing outside, it would return home and squat at the gate of the yard when it got dark.
The rain in the yard had risen to the knee level. Chi Yin waded to the gate and took away the bolt.
"Woof woof woof!" The barking of a big yellow dog came from outside the yard.
Chi Yin was delighted and pushed the door open quickly. However, when she did, she saw not only the big yellow dog, but also the ditch in front of the door that was filled with water and had risen to the gate of the courtyard.
No wonder the water level in the yard won’t go down, it’s rising!
"Dahuang, let's go!" Chi Yin waved to Dahuang to signal him to follow her, and the man and the dog waded slowly towards the village entrance.
The rain was falling like crazy. The road at the entrance of the village was swept away by the flood, with dead branches wrapped around it. Those who tried to rush back were swept away by the mountain torrents, and those who stayed behind in Wei's house were drowned in the ditch.
The roads ahead and behind were blocked, and Chi Yin was in a dilemma. After a brief thought, she called the big yellow dog and decided to go up the mountain.
......
In the evening, Wei Chengan came to No. 1, Lane 6 with a retired military dog. Just as he was thinking about how to explain today's events to Chi Yin, Aunt Li came out with an umbrella. "Is it you, Captain Wei?"
Aunt Li looked outside and asked, "Where's Chi Yin?"
Wei Chengan said, "I wasn't with her."
"What about this dog?" Aunt Li pointed at the ferocious-looking wolfhound in Wei Cheng'an's hand in confusion.
"I bought a guard dog for her and the child, so that they don't have to worry about bad guys coming to cause trouble." Wei Cheng'an said as he led the wolfhound in and tied it under the side eaves of the courtyard gate.
Aunt Li slapped her thigh and said, "Oh! That's bad! Chi Yin said she was going to the village to get your dog, but she hasn't come home in four hours. It's raining so hard, is she in trouble?!"
Wei Chengliang was shocked and asked in disbelief, "Are we going to Xiangshui Village?"
"It's your village." Aunt Li saw his face darken, and asked in a panic, "It's raining so hard, there won't be a flood in your village, right?"
Wei Chengan said, "It's okay. I'll go check it out. Please stay here and watch over the child at night."
Aunt Li nodded rapidly.
Wei Cheng'an took out the White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket, handed it to Aunt Li, gathered up his Type 87 raincoat, and rushed into the rain.
The rain was so heavy at night that it turned the mountain road into a muddy river. Wei Cheng'an walked to the entrance of Xiangshui Village and heard rustling sounds coming from an air-raid shelter that had been dug when fighting the Japanese invaders.
Wei Cheng'an walked over and shone the flashlight in his hand. Seven or eight villagers were crowded in the cave, wrapped in plastic sheets.
"Hey! Isn't this the boy from the Wei family?" The village chief recognized Wei Chengliang and stood up and walked towards him.
Wei Chengan looked around and asked, "Uncle Chen, have you seen my sister-in-law?"
The village chief was puzzled. "Your sister-in-law? Didn't your sister-in-law divorce your brother and run away with the child last week? Why are you asking about her?"
Wei Chengan said, "She came home."
The village chief exclaimed, "I thought no one was home, so I didn't go to your house to beat the gong and shout!"
The village chief hadn't finished his words when he saw Wei Cheng'an turning around and walking into the rain. He chased after him with an umbrella, "Cheng'an! Are you going to look for your sister-in-law? Take a detour over the mountain, otherwise you'll be swept away by the flood!"
Chi Yin hid in a cave with the yellow dog. The rain was too heavy and they couldn't get out for a while. Her clothes were all wet and she was so cold that her teeth were chattering and she sneezed several times.
As time went by, Chi Yin felt dizzy and seemed to have a cold. She went to the cave to take a look and saw that the rain was not only not decreasing but even heavier than before.
She leaned against the stone wall next to the yellow dog and gradually fell asleep. In a daze, she heard the howl of a wolf.
Chi Yin shuddered and became sober.
She listened carefully and indeed heard the howling of wolves on the top of the mountain.
The yellow dog was so scared that it stood up immediately, and the man and the dog held their breath nervously.
This cave is only a hundred meters away from the top of the mountain. What if a wolf follows the scent?
In the 1980s, the ecological environment was good and there were many wild animals. If we stayed in the cave overnight as planned, we would face some potential threats.
Chi Yin thought about it, and then approached the yellow dog and whispered, "Da Huang, keep your voice down and don't bark. We are going down the mountain now."
The yellow dog was very human-like, and Chi Yin knew that it could understand the current situation.
Chi Yin led the yellow dog out of the cave in a hurry. Even though his head was aching so much that it felt like it was about to break, he did not dare to delay for a moment and walked down the mountain.
It was a rainy day and it was pitch dark. Chi Yin was groping in front and leading the way, while the yellow dog was following behind to cover the rear.
The man and the dog were walking and falling, but after only fifty meters, they suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes ahead.
Chi Yin stopped immediately, a layer of cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck, and his breathing stopped.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
