The villagers hurried along, each finishing up their household chores.
The chicken coop was reinforced, the thatch on the rabbit hutch was thickened, and a thick layer of thatch was placed over the firewood and then compacted with adobe bricks.
The children in the family, carrying wooden buckets and harpoons, ran happily towards the lake and river in front of them.
Fan Qian picked his teeth with a bamboo skewer, watching the villagers hurrying along the dirt road in front of the gate. He shouted through the low mud wall, "What's the rush? It's not like it hasn't rained before. Is it really that big of a deal?"
Li Wen, with his good temper, stopped and, panting, replied nervously, "No, my father said that even big fish in the lake are floating on the surface and blowing bubbles. He has never seen such a sight in all his years."
"Boss Fan, hurry up and get ready, don't waste any time!"
Xu Laosan passed by outside the wall and said a few words: "Not only did the old village chief say it, but other old people in the village also said it."
By the way, your family's most senior member, Seventh Master Fan, said he heard from your ancestors that in the past, even torrential rains lasting half a month would cause massive floods!
Last year, the weather was unusual and people said there would be a major flood. It wasn't just the old village chief who said it; all the elderly people in the village were talking about it.
If I'm wrong, they're just a little busy. The things they prepared will still be useful, and they can continue to use them later, so they'll be able to relax a bit.
If I'm right, it could truly save a life!
And this is also experience; when they are old and gray, if they encounter such a situation, they can tell their descendants about it so that they can prepare in advance.
Fan Qian felt a sense of unease.
Is a major flood really going to happen?
He looked around the yard and saw that the firewood would last for at most five days, and there was even less straw to start the fire.
Although the chickens are gone, there are still a few ducks and geese. Now, instead of exchanging their eggs for coarse salt, they eat them all to nourish their bodies.
They are important, but the thatched roof of the duck pen is black, rotten, and the wooden blocks used for support are not very sturdy...
Without thinking, he shouted sharply into the house, "Zhao Di, come here!"
"Hey, Dad, what's wrong?" Fan Zhaodi ran over, covered in dirt.
Seeing the stains on her daughter's clothes, Fan Qian frowned so much he could kill a fly, and scolded, "Your mother, let her clean it herself! Don't make your daughter do everything for you."
Fan Zhaodi lowered her head and said in a small voice, "It's Grandma."
Fan Qian shut his mouth and remained silent.
If it were his mother, she wouldn't order her daughter around, but she'd order her son around.
After a moment of silence, he pointed to the woodshed and asked accusingly, "Do you know it's going to rain soon? Do you know there might be a major flood this summer?"
Look at the firewood in the woodshed, look at all thatch and straw—is it enough? If you're lazy and don't do anything, what will you eat when the rainy season comes.”
Fan Zhaodi looked up at Fan Qian and timidly explained, "Father, I haven't had a moment's rest from morning till night. I really haven't had time to chop firewood or cut thatch. My four older brothers are free; could you let them have them?"
Fan Qian interrupted coldly: "Your four older brothers can work in the fields! They can farm and do farm work, can you? You always have to compare yourself to them, why don't you go and work in the fields yourself!"
I understand what you mean. You think your brothers are shirking their responsibilities, right?
Don't you ever think about how tired they are from working in the fields? As their younger sister, you should feel sorry for them; you're their own sister!
The hope in Fan Zhaodi's eyes vanished completely.
The farm work was finished in May, and my brothers have been resting at home for more than a month.
Moreover, if she weren't only eight years old and unable to do farm work, she would rather go to the fields to work!
She is the younger sister, and she should care for her brothers. But do her brothers treat her like a real sister? Only her eldest and second eldest sisters truly treat her like a sister.
"...Okay, Dad, I'll go chop firewood and cut thatch."
Fan Qian was finally satisfied.
He is the head of this household.
What he says, everyone else must listen to!
Anyone who dares to defy him will not be as useless as Wang Mazi, who was separated from the group; they will only be driven out by him, just like Fan Jin's family.
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