Homeland Rebuilt, Full of Life
The south, after the floodwaters receded, was a scene of devastation. Silt covered farmland, and the ruins of collapsed houses littered the ground. People gazed at their ravaged homes, their faces filled with sorrow. Shen Jiye knew that disaster relief was only the first step; rebuilding homes and restoring production were essential for the people to truly settle down.
He first organized his soldiers and the people to clear the silt and repair the roads. Then, he allocated large quantities of timber, bricks, and other supplies, and instructed the people on how to build houses. To make the houses more resistant to floods, he specially invited craftsmen to improve the building structure, laying stones under the foundations and using a combination of rammed earth and bricks for the walls. Shen Jiye traveled daily through various villages, checking on the progress of house construction, inquiring about the needs of the people, and personally coordinating solutions for families facing difficulties.
Shen Jifang focused on restoring agricultural production. She traveled to the disaster-stricken farmland to check the soil conditions, and brought in drought-resistant and flood-resistant crop seeds from various parts of Jiangnan. She taught the people how to cultivate the land deeply, irrigate properly, and prevent and control pests and diseases. She also opened temporary schools in the disaster area, teaching children to read and write while popularizing agricultural knowledge and hygiene common sense among the people, so that everyone could learn skills to make a living while rebuilding their homes.
Liu also frequently visited various villages with supplies to comfort the elderly living alone and orphans, bringing them food, clothing, and medicine. She also organized women to form a weaving group, using local cotton and hemp to weave cloth, which not only solved their own clothing problems but also allowed them to exchange it for daily necessities at the market.
After two years of hard work, the southern homes have been completely transformed. Neat houses are scattered in an orderly fashion, farmland is full of lush green crops, rivers are crystal clear, and roads extend in all directions. Children read aloud in school, and people work diligently in the fields, their faces beaming with long-lost smiles.
That day, Shen Jiye was inspecting the disaster area when he arrived at a village. An elderly man with white hair led a group of villagers to greet him, holding a plaque in his hands with the four characters "Love the People Like Your Own Children" written on it. The old man bowed deeply and said, "Lord Shen, thank you so much for standing up for us! If it weren't for you, we would probably have been displaced and homeless long ago. This plaque is a small token of our gratitude; please accept it!"
Shen Jiye quickly helped the old man up and declined, saying, "Old man, this is absolutely not allowed. Protecting the people and rebuilding their homes are my duty. I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot accept this plaque. Your peaceful and prosperous lives are the greatest reward for me."
The people couldn't dissuade Shen Jiye, so they had to take back the plaque, but their gratitude towards him only deepened. Many people spontaneously hung Shen Jiye's portrait in front of their homes, offering prayers morning and evening for his safety and well-being. Shen Jiye continued to work tirelessly in various villages every day. Seeing the people living in peace and prosperity filled him with satisfaction and strengthened his belief in serving the people.
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