The tree trunks here are thick, some as thick as an arm, others as thick as a grown man's waist.
At the beginning, everyone put all their effort into cutting down the tree.
After only a few chops, the blade of the cleaver curled up and became impossible to use. The person using the wood-chopping knife, due to the frequent exertion, developed blisters on their palms and was in too much pain to chop anymore.
Only those wielding axes continued fighting, but there weren't many of them, and as the fire drew ever closer, they had only managed to chop down less than half of it.
Ji Zhi was stunned and anxiously asked, "Dr. Zhang, what should we do?"
Zhang Fan: "Use fire to put out fire?"
Ji Zhi had heard of this method before, but had never used it and did not know the specific steps.
Zhang Fan had seen it in a book when he was a student.
The idea is that if you light a fire next to a large fire, the fire won't spread outwards but will instead burn in the direction of the main fire, thus creating a firebreak.
"It can't be saved, so let it be."
Several houses in Baijia Village have already been burned down.
Everyone's faces were deathly pale, as if they could already foresee the fate of their houses.
Some people couldn't bear it, threw their axes on the ground, and looked at the wildfire in front of them in despair.
An atmosphere of despair spread rapidly like a plague, infecting everyone present.
Some people started crying as they were chopping wood, while others knelt on the ground, silently watching the approaching wildfire.
"God, is there no hope for human life?"
"Waaaaah~" The wailing sounds rose and fell, the wildfire accompanied by despair, engulfing everyone.
Ji Zhi understood and immediately stopped everyone: "Everyone, stop for a moment, we need to change our strategy."
Upon hearing his words, everyone's empty eyes turned towards him.
As soon as he mentioned using fire to extinguish the fire, he was met with a barrage of skepticism: "How is that possible? That would only make the fire burn brighter."
Ma Ying, who was far away, shouted from her throat: "Don't listen to him, everyone. He's not from here. If the house burns down, it has nothing to do with him."
Upon hearing Ma Ying's words, some of those who were taking a wait-and-see approach also cast questioning glances at her.
Zhang Fan: "The village chief asked me to pass on a message: everyone should listen to Mr. Ji Zhi throughout the entire process."
Ma Ying scoffed coldly: "The village chief is really senile."
Zhang Fan glanced at Ma Ying and said in an icy voice, "The village chief said that anyone who disobeys will be expelled from Zhangjiapo."
Zhang Tiegen, with a bandage wrapped around his head, shouted, "I noticed you earlier. You were slacking off the whole time and had no intention of putting out the fire. You were just saying that on purpose, weren't you?"
Ma Ying: "You scoundrel, instead of cutting down trees, you're paying attention to me."
The plump aunt retorted, "Why don't you look in the mirror? How could my man possibly want to see an old and ugly woman like you!"
Ma Ying: "That's still much better than you, a hen that can't lay eggs!"
The plump aunt's chest heaved violently with anger; "Don't you dare scold my wife, it's my fault."
Ma Ying looked Zhang Tiegen up and down with disdain; "So he's a eunuch!"
"You..." Zhang Tiegen was tongue-tied and speechless with anger.
The plump aunt rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight, but putting out the fire was the priority. She glared at Ma Ying and said, "I don't have time to argue with you now. After we put out the fire, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Ma Ying: "Eunuchs and hens that can't lay eggs are a perfect match!"
Others couldn't stand it anymore: "Ma Ying, that's enough! The tree you cut down didn't even have a big enough gap. I think you just don't want to put out the fire."
"I saw it too, she's been slacking off!"
Zhang Tiegen: "Don't listen to Ma Ying, everyone. The village chief told us to listen to Mr. Ji, so we listened to Mr. Ji. The village chief has always been thinking about us."
"Yes, we'll listen to the village chief!"
"Since things are already like this, adding fuel to the fire won't make much difference."
The people of Zhangjiapo quickly united and decided to listen to Ji Zhi.
Ji Zhi directed everyone to pile the trees they had just cut down around the fire.
The people of Dingjia Village lived far away and didn't hear what was happening here, so the village chief, Ding Sheng, came over to find out what was going on.
Ji Zhi explained their plan, and Ding Quan shook his head repeatedly: "Impossible, this will only make the fire bigger."
Ji Zhi: "There's no better way right now, but we can give it a try."
Ding Sheng shook his head: "What if we can cut down the trees in time?"
Fire trucks can't get in, but we have fire extinguishers and other tools. Cutting down trees can slow the fire down, which is better than doing nothing.
Ji Zhi wanted to persuade him further, but Ding Sheng waved his hand and left: "Don't say anything more, we don't want to take the risk."
He had only taken two steps when Zhang Fan suddenly spoke up: "Village Chief Ding, you often suffer from back pain so badly that you can't straighten up, especially on rainy days, the pain is so bad that he wants to die."
Ding Sheng stopped in his tracks and turned around abruptly: "You...how did you know?"
Ji Zhi gave a thumbs up: "This is Dr. Zhang, who can cure the dead and heal the bones. Of course he can cure your illness."
Ding Sheng had been suffering from back pain for almost ten years. He had tried hospitals and folk remedies, but none of them had cured him. The pain would flare up from time to time, making him feel like he was dying, especially on rainy days. He felt as if a hundred ants were gnawing at him.
He could only endure the pain by taking painkillers, but recently the painkillers have stopped working.
During his last attack, he was in so much pain that he wanted to cut his waist with a knife. If his wife hadn't called for help, he probably would be dead by now.
Many people know about his illness, and he thinks Ji Zhi's words are just flattery. Ding Sheng said doubtfully, "Everyone in the village knows I have a back problem."
Zhang Fan said calmly, "Not only do you have a back problem, but you also get up at night to urinate five or six times a night, and your urine is very foamy."
Ding Sheng stared in shock, his eyes wide. Only his wife knew about this; even his children were unaware. "You...you're really a miracle doctor, you have a way to cure my illness?"
Zhang Fan nodded: "As long as you listen to us and use the method of extinguishing fire with fire, I guarantee that your illness will be cured within a month."
Ding Sheng frowned, his expression hesitant; he dared not gamble with the village.
He secretly sized up Zhang Fan, and saw that the other man had a regular appearance and a broad forehead, which made him look intelligent and upright.
The person next to Zhang Fan was wearing clothes made of expensive fabric, and they looked somewhat familiar.
Suddenly, he remembered that this was the person next to Zhao Lin.
He had a sudden inspiration and instantly realized that he could take a gamble.
If they win, they can save the village; if they lose, they can meet a benefactor who will help the villagers' future development.
“I agree.” Ding Sheng looked at Ji Zhi. “I know you. You’re one of Zhao Lin’s men. If we fail, I’ll go to Zhao Lin.”
Zhang Fan nodded, explained the arrangements, and also asked Ding Sheng to keep his identity a secret.
Ding Sheng quickly returned to the area where his village was located and, like the people of Zhangjiapo, piled up the cut-down dry branches into a line to form a firebreak.
A small number of people were skeptical, but Ding Sheng suppressed their doubts.
The fire was getting closer and closer, and the heat was so intense that it was impossible to open one's eyes.
Most people retreated to the back, leaving a small group of physically fit men who stood behind the isolation zone, holding torches.
Ji Zhi gave the order: "Light the fire!"
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