Chapter 64 July Rainstorm
The Gu family returned home, naturally feeling heavy-hearted. Gu Dayong squatted on the threshold and sighed, "We're all old farmers. Our roots are in the soil. We'll just leave it to fate."
We grow crops and eat food, these are all given by God. If God insists on taking our lives, then it is up to God.
Gu Dayong is over sixty years old and has experienced all kinds of hardships in his life, including floods, droughts, locusts, and the Japanese invaders invading the village. He has survived every time by chance. He believes that people's lives are decided by God, and it is useless to struggle on your own.
Miao Xiuju looked at her listless sons and daughters-in-law and said, "Look at them! Nothing's happened yet, and they're acting like Pingxi is going to be flooded tomorrow. Just focus on the team. Chen Youfu is just trying to scare us. He does it every year, and nothing happens every year!"
If you think about it, it does make sense, but… thinking about Chen Youfu’s tone, I feel like this year is not going to be easy.
Seeing this, Miao Xiujiu simply took out some white flour, kneaded it into pancakes, and said that she would give each of them half a white flour pancake tonight. When everyone heard this, they immediately became excited.
White flour pancakes! They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and delicious. However, they are made of white flour and require oil to make pancakes, so I definitely wouldn’t be willing to eat them normally.
The daughters-in-law immediately became excited and hurried to the kitchen to knead the dough with Miao Xiuju. While kneading the dough, Shen Hongying couldn't help but say, "This white flour is finer than corn flour!"
Niu Sanni: "Yes, it tastes even better!"
Everyone felt happy when they thought about the good harvest this year and the white flour pancakes they could eat.
Wait until the dough has risen, knead it and roll it into a pancake. When the fire in the stove is lit and the pot is heated, rub a little oil on the edge of the pot and stick the rolled-out pancake to the edge of the pot. The hot pot and the raw pancake will stick to each other and make a sizzling sound.
Just hearing the sound makes you want to eat it. After the pancake is flipped a few times, the steamed bun gradually emits the unique aroma of steamed buns in the sizzling hot oil. It is mellow and tempting, with a hint of sweetness and crispness after being fried in oil, which arouses people's taste buds and stimulates their poor sense of smell. The wives looked at each other and saw each other secretly swallowing their saliva.
When the pancakes were served, the rich aroma of flour hit the face. Everyone in the Gu family was excited. The frustration was long gone. They were eager to try and look forward to eating the pancakes.
Miao Xiujiu took out a knife with a chip on it. The knife was almost broken, so she simply used it to cut noodles. She cut each pancake in half and distributed it to everyone. In the end, there were two or three left, which she carefully put away.
Everyone was given half a pancake and started eating it quickly. It was chewy, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was really delicious and we couldn't stop eating it.
As she ate, Niu Sanni sighed with relish while holding the pancake in her hand: "I heard that in ancient times, prisoners sentenced to death would have a delicious meal before being beheaded."
…
When these words were spoken, everyone in the Gu family was stunned.
I looked at the remaining pancake in my hand, lowered my head and thought about it, and suddenly felt that it had no taste, the fragrance was gone, the feeling was gone, and I felt depressed.
When has mother ever been so generous?
What does this mean, mom?
Mom knew this flood was going to be severe and could potentially kill people?
So Miao Xiujiu looked at the whole family, young and old, who all just stood there, even eating the cakes with a weak energy.
Miao Xiujiu glared at Niu Sanni fiercely.
How did she end up with such a daughter-in-law? She was always so careless, saying what she should say and what she shouldn't say. Couldn't she just say less?
Niu Sanni was glared at by Miao Xiuju, feeling very aggrieved. She said in surprise, "What, what's the matter?"
She looked at everyone in confusion: "What's going on? Let's eat pancakes. Pancakes are so delicious!"
After saying that, she started eating, eating with a gusto: "Delicious, delicious!"
Is it tasty?
However, no one had any appetite.
Over the next few days, the rain never stopped in Pingxi Production Brigade. The rain was sometimes heavy and sometimes light, but it kept falling. The water in the yard had already flooded the threshold and merged with the water outside. Now people had to wade through water to cook or go to the toilet.
Several men in the family were called over by the brigade. They took turns carrying shovels to the riverbank, going up the mountain, and guarding and repairing the riverbank in the rain.
The women at home stayed at home. When there were lightning and thunder, they could vaguely hear the sound of water flowing down from the Big Roller Mountain outside, as if the river in the sky had a hole in it and was pouring down.
The women looked at the gloomy sky and listened to the rumbling sounds outside. They were all worried and began to miss their parents' home and worry about their children.
Gu Weidong lay on the kang and discussed with Liu Guizhi: "This is fate. There's nothing we can do. We are tied to the ground and can't run away, but the children are still young..."
He thought for a moment, then looked at Fubao and Gu Shengtian. "If something really happens, we can take our big wooden basin, put Fubao and Shengtian in it, and let them float with the water. Maybe they can survive."
Liu Guizhi burst into tears after hearing this: "Bao, Bao..."
She couldn't speak, and just kept repeating the word "bao".
Fubao lay on the head of the kang and raised her head to look at her mother.
For some reason, she wasn't afraid at all. She felt that everything would be fine.
This was a feeling that she vaguely understood in her heart, but she couldn't express it. No one would believe her even if she did, because this feeling had no reason and could not be expressed in words.
She could only snuggle in Liu Guizhi's arms and said softly, "Mom, don't be afraid. We will be fine. Didn't grandma say that there would be such rain every year? It won't kill anyone."
Liu Guizhi felt a pang of pain in her heart when she heard Fubao's considerate words.
Such a good little girl, if there is a flood, she is still so young, how can she escape!
Liu Guizhi hugged Fubao and burst into tears: "Bao, Bao..."
Fubao felt distressed when she saw her mother crying: "Mom, don't cry, don't cry, the rain will stop today, it will stop, you don't have to worry..."
The soft and tender voice of a baby tried desperately to comfort Liu Guizhi.
However, Liu Guizhi refused to listen and was full of worry.
Just as she was worried, she heard the sound of heavy rain outside suddenly weakened, and the roar coming from the mountain not far away also faded away.
Liu Guizhi was stunned.
Rain, has the rain stopped?
Outside in the yard, several children happily ran into the puddles: "It's stopped, the rain has stopped, it really has stopped!!"
Amid the children's cheers, an old man from an unknown family stood on the street and shouted, "Oh my God, it finally stopped, it finally stopped! God has eyes, God has eyes!"
The voice was old, excited and trembling.
The entire production brigade was in an uproar. People who had been stuck in their houses for days ran out onto the streets, shedding tears of joy. People shouted loudly and cheered wildly, not caring even if their legs got wet in the water.
I thought I was dead, it was all over, but unexpectedly the rain stopped suddenly.
When production team leader Chen Youfu saw the rain finally stop, the sturdy man almost cried: "It finally stopped!"
He quickly ran to the loudspeaker and began to speak: "All the male laborers in the family, come out, come out! While the rain is stopping, all the male members of our cooperative must go to the mountains to drain water and repair the riverbank. Grab hoes, shovels, tools, buckets, and whatever else, and follow me!"
With his order, all the men, young and old, from every household had to go.
It had been raining for several days, and except for those on duty who went to the riverbank with shovels, everyone else had to stay at home. Now that the rain had finally stopped, there was a lot of work to do outside, so everyone rushed to Chen Youfu's house to gather without a break.
Liu Guizhi watched her man Gu Weidong go out with a few brothers, but she felt depressed.
She kept thinking about what had just happened.
How come the rain really stopped right after Fubao said it would?
She looked at Fubao anxiously, muttering, "Bao, Bao..."
She always knew that Fubao was a blessed child, but when Fubao said the rain was going to stop, did it really stop?
She hugged Fubao, her heart pounding.
No, no, we can’t let people know that Fubao has this ability. If it gets out... something bad will happen.
Fortunately, she was the only one who heard what Fubao said, and she was the only one who knew that when Fubao said the rain would stop, the rain really stopped.
She had to keep this matter a secret and let it rot in her heart.
Fubao didn't know about Liu Guizhi's worries. She didn't think much about it. In her mind, she vaguely felt that the rain had stopped. She said it out loud, and sure enough, the rain stopped. This was the most natural thing and no big deal at all.
She ran to the street to play with Gu Shengtian, and then ran back. Together with her brothers and sisters at home, they took small buckets to scoop water from the yard into the big pit behind the house. They played and drained the water, having a lot of fun.
But just as they were pouring buckets of water into the big pit behind the house, Fubao accidentally saw a jujube tree in the corner with its branches and leaves scattered and the old roots exposed from the soil.
She frowned distressedly: "Why did this tree fall?"
Gu Yuejin took a look and said, "The wind is too strong. I guess the roots are exposed because of the wind and the rain. This tree is dead and can't survive."
Fubao was stunned for a moment, and she suddenly remembered her own apricot tree in the nunnery.
This is in the village, the jujube trees have been damaged so badly, I wonder what will happen to the apricot trees on the mountaintop? The wind is stronger and the rain is heavier there, and they are more likely to be struck by lightning!
When she thought about it, she started to feel anxious.
It's July now. I wonder if the apricots on the trees are ripe yet? Are they all right?
The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. She felt that she had to go up the mountain to see her apricot tree.
Fubao went over and spoke to his grandmother, not saying where he was going, just that he wanted to go out and play. Miao Xiuju was very busy at the time. The rain had just stopped, and the chicken coop at home had collapsed and needed to be rebuilt. Since the men were away, the women had to do the work. The pigpen outside was full of water and needed to be cleaned up. So when she heard Fubao say that, she just thought he was going to play in the water on the street, so she casually said, "Go out, be careful, and come back early for dinner."
Fubao agreed obediently, turned around and ran out, taking a small path to the educated youth site.
When she arrived at the educated youth site, she saw several educated youth draining the water in the yard, but Xiao Dingkun was nowhere to be found. She didn't know what to do. How could she ask Brother Dingkun to accompany her up the mountain?
She always felt uneasy, thinking about the apricot tree in the nunnery, and wanted to go up the mountain to take a look.
Just then, Sun Lina was carrying a bucket of water to pour it out, and she saw Fubao.
At that moment, he came over and asked, "Fubao, why are you here?"
Fubao has always liked Sun Lina. When he saw her, he smiled and asked, "Sister Sun, I need to talk to Brother Dingkun about something. Is Brother Dingkun here?"
Sun Lina smiled and looked at the little girl in front of her.
It had just rained heavily, and the air was damp and cool. The little girl's eyes were soft and clear, like stars falling into a stream and being moistened by it.
The little girl was so pretty and lovely that the educated youth couldn't help but mention that there was a particularly pretty and lovely little girl in Pingxi Production Brigade.
I heard that little girl is telling everyone that she can make steel...
How could a girl like her make steel?
It was also funny. She even suspected that the little girl did it on purpose.
She looked into the little girl's expectant eyes and shook her head: "Dingkun is not here. He went out. Come back to look for him tomorrow."
After hearing this, Fubao was very disappointed. He was not there. Did that mean he went out with everyone else but he didn't see him?
Fubao hung his head in frustration and walked away from the educated youth site.
Sun Lina looked at her lost little look and realized in her heart that she didn't like this little girl.
Although Fubao was still very young, she knew that Xiao Dingkun would never have any bad intentions, but she knew that Xiao Dingkun was the coldest person in the world. She could not tolerate Xiao Dingkun showing tenderness to a little girl that he would not show to others.
She looked at Fubao's departing back, smiled, and went back to the educated youth point.
After Fubao left, he hesitated between the educated youth site and his own home.
Many times, she always had a strange intuition in her heart about what would happen next and what she should do. Sometimes it was a nightmare, and sometimes it was an idea that suddenly popped up in her mind.
Now, she just wanted to see her apricot tree in the nunnery, she had to see it.
She felt that if she didn't go and see it now, she might not be able to sleep today.
Faced with an irresistible urge, Fubao took a deep breath and decided to go up the mountain by himself, find the nunnery, and check on his apricot tree.
Unable to find Xiao Dingkun, she decided to go up the mountain by herself.
She had followed Xiao Dingkun up that mountain before and knew the way by heart. As long as she climbed slowly, she would be able to get there.
Having made up her mind, she simply carried the small bamboo basket on her back and ran up the mountain.
——
Shengyin's heart is beating wildly now.
She clutched her white jade stone, her heart pounding wildly.
She felt that this white jade stone was indeed very effective.
When it rained heavily, she began to pray that the rain would stop soon, because she remembered that in her previous life, Fubao had held this white jade stone and chanted something, and then the rain stopped.
Now she also chanted the same way as Fubao, and sure enough, the rain stopped.
Shengyin felt that she had finally found Fubao's secret. She felt that she could finally have a smooth life like Fubao in his previous life.
She finally got it.
With his heart pounding, Shengyin thought quickly about what he should do next.
Yes, let Fubao be unlucky, let the Gu family be unlucky!
She spread out her palm and looked at the white jade in her hand, only to find that the white color on the jade seemed to be a little lighter than before.
She frowned, wondering what was going on. Did Fubao's white jade also gradually fade in her previous life? But she couldn't remember clearly.
She was in a daze at the time, completely unprepared for Fubao, and never thought that the white jade stone was anything special.
I was so stupid in my previous life.
In this life, she must grasp what she can grasp.
Looking at the puddles outside, she suddenly remembered that in her previous life, after the rain stopped, the members of the production team went to repair the river embankment. As a result, they encountered talc that fell after the rain and one of the members was injured.
This kind of thing is certainly unfortunate.
It would be great if this kind of bad luck happened to the Gu family.
Thinking of this, Shengyin narrowed his eyes, held the white jade stone, and murmured softly: "Let the Gu family be unlucky, let the Gu family be unlucky..."
Just as Shengyin was muttering here, Miao Xiuju suddenly realized something was wrong. She looked at the children outside fetching water and asked: "Where is Fubao?"
Gu Shengtian carried a bucket of water, wiped his face, and said wetly: "I don't know, did you go outside to play in the water?"
Miao Xiuju frowned: "Just now he said he was going out to play, why hasn't he come back yet? Shengtian, go find Fubao!"
Gu Shengtian didn't take it seriously at all. He just nodded in agreement but continued to fetch water. After fetching several buckets, he ran to the street to look for it.
After searching around, he also felt something was wrong: "Fubao, Fubao!"
He shouted loudly, but there was no response.
Someone on the street was also carrying water to the well platform. Seeing him here, he called out to Fubao: "I saw him earlier, and he seemed to be going south. Can you look there?"
South?
To the south is Dagunzi Mountain. The heavy rain has just stopped, and the road on the mountain is difficult to walk on, and there is water everywhere. What is Fubao doing going to Dagunzi Mountain at this time? It's dangerous!
Gu Shengtian finally realized something was wrong. He was stunned for a moment and quickly ran back home: "Grandma, grandma, Fubao is missing, Fubao is missing!"
After hearing this, Miao Xiujiu staggered and almost fell down.
Soon, the news that Fubao was missing spread throughout the Pingxi Production Brigade.
The villagers are simple and honest. Even if there are some minor conflicts between them, if someone's child is missing, they will put everything aside to help find the child. After all, they are all fellow villagers, and have lived together for many years. A missing child is a big deal.
So everyone put down what they were doing and helped to look for Fubao.
It was dark when they found the girl, but they still didn't find her. Liu Guizhi panicked and burst into tears, looking at Miao Xiujiu sadly.
Fubao is lost, Fubao is lost, what should I do?
Where did Fubao go?
Miao Xiuju was also confused. How could Fubao be lost? She had always been a well-behaved child, so how could she be lost out of nowhere?
She gritted her teeth and said, "Didn't we say we were going south? Why don't we just go look for it in the mountains?"
Everyone looked at each other and finally said, "Okay, let's go look for it on the mountain together. Youfu will be done with his work soon, so we can all go together when the time comes."
So it was settled. Soon Chen Youfu and the others came back. When they heard that Fubao was missing, they all became worried.
Gu Weidong was also in the crowd. When he learned that Fubao was missing, he immediately frowned and asked anxiously about the situation. In the end, his face turned pale and he asked, "She is so young, why would she go to the mountain?"
Miao Xiuju closed her eyes and took a deep breath: "Look for her, there's no other way. The child is lost, look for her first, and then teach her a lesson after you find her."
Chen Youfu nodded solemnly: "Aunt Gu is right. I'll see if we organize our members to go to the mountains to look for the child first. We have to find him."
So at that moment, he asked everyone to put down their shovels and other things and go back to look for Fubao.
After some organization, they ordered everyone to split into several teams. They also took the production brigade's flashlights, and each group got a flashlight. They then split up and searched everywhere.
In the midst of this vigorous search for Fubao, Xiao Dingkun stood there motionless. Even after everyone had left, he was still standing there, frowning in thought.
Sun Lina came over quietly, her face full of gentle concern: "Dingkun, what's wrong? Why don't you go over and help find Fubao?"
Xiao Dingkun acted as if he didn't hear her words. He pursed his lips, stared at a point in the distance, and said nothing.
Sun Lina sighed: "Fubao is a very cute child. I am really worried about her being lost. I hope she can be found."
Xiao Dingkun suddenly strode forward.
Sun Lina stomped her feet from behind: "Hey, hey, Dingkun, what are you doing?"
Xiao Dingkun ignored him.
Seeing that he was heading for Dagunzi Mountain, Sun Lina no longer cared about anything else and shouted angrily, "It's pitch dark and you're not familiar with the mountains. Why are you going there? People are looking for you in groups. What if something happens if you go there alone?"
Xiao Dingkun continued walking forward, as if he had not heard Sun Lina's words at all.
Sun Lina was anxious: "When your mother and sister ask about it later, what do you want me to say? I have to help them keep an eye on you."
Xiao Dingkun said coldly: "When did I ever use you to look at it?"
When Sun Lina heard this, she was stunned and tears were about to fall.
On this side, Xiao Dingkun finally thought of a place to go after thinking for a while.
It's July and it's raining. Is Fubao thinking about the apricots in the nunnery on the mountain?
This little greedy cat only thinks about eating. Hasn't she ever thought about how dangerous it is to go up the mountain at this time?
Xiao Dingkun gritted his teeth and almost crushed the rubble at the foot of the mountain with his feet.
When he goes up the mountain and finds Fubao, he will definitely spank her hard to let her know what she should and should not do as a child!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
