Even if they left the village with high hopes, those hopes had long since vanished after witnessing the horrific scenes along the way and being watched.
In just a few days, before the floodwaters in Shanshui Village had even receded completely, there were already so many homeless and starving disaster victims outside!
Looking back now, their village was actually quite fortunate. Located in a remote corner, it had a dike that held back the floodwaters, so the houses and people in the village were safe.
The houses weren't washed away, so the food, belongings, and livestock were all there, and people had a place to live so they didn't have to wander from place to place.
"Speaking of which, this flood was so severe, yet not a single person in our village was injured. Before leaving the village, I thought it was just an ordinary thing, but after coming out, I realized how fortunate we were." Old Xu, pulling the cart, lowered his voice, feeling a lingering fear.
This shopping trip was a carpooling trip, with three or five men sitting together, taking turns pulling the cart.
The man next to Xu Laosan looked around, afraid that the disaster victims with their eyes gleaming would rush at him. Hearing this, he also whispered, "You wouldn't know how serious it is outside if you didn't come out!"
Before I left home, my mother told me to buy plenty of dark flour to stock up. I thought, "What's the rush? I can always buy more later if I run out." But seeing so many people without food, I quickly bought some! I bought a lot!
Regardless of whether there is enough food at home, who would complain about having too much food!
I was thinking of saving food before, but now it seems I can't. Where will I get the energy if I don't eat my fill? What will I do if I don't have the strength to deal with these disaster victims and the refugees who come to rob me?
Wang Shiyi lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "When Sister Shuiqing said that we should protect ourselves day and night, I couldn't help but laugh. I always thought that women were just timid and overthinking things. Now I realize that I was just ignorant."
"Hey, who isn't?"
"When we get back to the village, we must tell the old village chief to form a protection team as Sister Shuiqing suggested!"
"We must be vigilant day and night, without letting our guard down."
"right."
"Everyone, stay close! We came together and we'll go back together. The line can't be broken!" Ding Heli, sitting on the oxcart frame, turned around and shouted to the men behind him.
Seeing the crowd staring at them, the men immediately understood the warning in the words.
"good!"
"Let's go together! We won't get into trouble."
When it came time to pay the city entry fee, everyone was surprised to find that it had increased by one coin, and now it cost three coins per person.
No wonder there were so many disaster victims along the city walls and the official road; they couldn't get into the city.
The officials were very proactive in these matters.
After reluctantly paying the entrance fee, I entered the city. Although there were many more beggars than before, the city was still significantly better than outside.
There were many people repairing their houses, especially their roofs, which must have been damaged by the previous heavy rains.
Ding Heli, as the team leader, surveyed the situation in the prefectural city and said to the men behind him, "It's not too bad in the prefectural city. We have a lot of people and vehicles. If we all walk together, it will block the road and be inconvenient. We also won't be able to buy things quickly."
"Form small teams by vehicle, and try to buy the goods within an hour and a half. Meet back here in an hour and a half, and we'll return to the village together. No waiting for latecomers! Did everyone understand?"
"I understand!"
Their journey here was difficult and took much longer than usual; the return trip, with the added weight of the goods, will only take even longer.
If I want to get back to the village before dark, I can't spend much time shopping; an hour and a half would be good enough.
A bullock cart, four handcarts, and two wheelbarrows dispersed on the spot, and everyone walked quickly, trying to buy the goods in the shortest possible time.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
