Fortunately, they were quick enough to grab six tables and chairs, which, when put together, allowed the elderly to lie down and rest for a while.
But in the current situation, let alone drinking a sip of hot water, the chaotic and dirty environment around me is enough to make me mentally collapse.
"It's alright, at least we're all safe and sound, and we brought enough food. So what if it's inconvenient to sleep? We can overcome that."
After comforting everyone, Tang Cuihua quickly cleaned the tables, chairs, and benches, and then took out the bedding to lay them out.
After a night of commotion, not only the elderly couple, but even they were exhausted and sat down to rest.
"Grandpa and Grandma, you two take a nap first. I'll go find some hot water later."
Fortunately, Xiao Jiu was aware of the danger and kept replenishing the water in the space, enough to last them for ten days or half a month.
Even the worst environment is better than staying outside. However, the second floor has already been occupied, and they are currently on the first floor. If the rain gets heavier, they may have to find another place.
The once noisy classroom gradually quieted down as everyone's agitated hearts settled down, and soon the even breathing of the elderly and children could be heard.
Xiao Jiu glanced at it and said to Cuihua, "Sister, you two take a break too. I'll go find some hot soup."
Cuihua knew Xiaojiu's plan and glanced around warily. "Then you'd better be careful."
Xiao Jiu, holding an umbrella, found a secluded spot on the playground and went into the warehouse. She boiled water to clean herself up, then poured the hot water into six thermos bottles. However, she couldn't take them all out at once; she would have to wait until she ran out before finding a way to come back and exchange them.
She cooked a large pot of millet porridge, adding ingredients like yam, red dates, goji berries, and peanuts to nourish blood and qi. She also steamed a pot of cornbread that her family had made earlier. Instead of ordering any stir-fried dishes to avoid arousing suspicion, she opened the condiment section and took a little of each kind. After filling a lunchbox, she carried a thermos, held an umbrella in one hand, tucked a steamed bun basket under her other elbow, and carried the pickled vegetables in her hand, making her way to the classroom with difficulty.
Although the soup is ready, it's not convenient to eat it right now. Being able to eat some hot steamed buns or cornbread and drink some hot water is already a great blessing.
As soon as they made a move, the people nearby came over, drawn by the smell: "Where did you get your food and water from?"
Xiao Jiu kindly explained, "These were sent by my parents. They live in the factory dormitory and can cook over a fire."
Upon hearing this, the man instinctively curled his lip, "If you have the means, why don't you take them to live with you? Why leave them here to suffer?"
Xiao Jiu ignored her and started urging everyone to eat. When no one was looking, she secretly took out two lunchboxes for her grandparents, which contained millet porridge that she had cooked.
After the elderly couple were woken up, the children surrounded them and gestured to them with their eyes for them to eat quickly.
Tao Anxin was oblivious and didn't even notice when two extra lunchboxes appeared. He ate while praising how delicious the pickled vegetables were today.
Cuihong, Cuifeng, and Cuilan were all in the know, but none of them asked any further questions.
After the two elders finished their soup, they asked about Tao Changyi's situation, and Xiao Jiu explained.
"Don't worry, Grandpa and Grandma, I'll find a way to let them know."
She remembered that there was a phone in the principal's office of a high school, and she could pay to borrow it.
However, she tried several times, but the doors were always locked and she couldn't get in touch with them.
The rain kept falling, and all the power had been cut off. The parade ground was noisy as troops came to set up tents, indicating that there were far more disaster victims than they had imagined. The priority now was not to feed and clothe them, but to relocate the affected people.
Xiao Jiu and Cui Hong ate very little, leaving almost all the food for the others. Their packages were all opened and almost all wet.
I deliberately nailed a few nails to the wall and strung up a rope to hang the wet clothes, blankets, and sheets to dry. Even in this summer temperature, they can dry in the shade.
She used bed sheets to cover up her house so that it wouldn't be spied on.
As soon as it got dark, they heard someone calling Tao An's name outside. The familiar voice made them react quickly.
“Father, Father, I’m here.” Tao An responded and then choked up.
After struggling to squeeze through the crowd, he hugged Tao Changyi, who was wearing a raincoat and looked anxious, and burst into tears.
"Waaah, Dad, you've finally come! You have no idea how hard we've been. You almost didn't get to see us again!"
Tao Changyi was furious when he heard his youngest son crying.
"With so many older sisters watching, aren't you ashamed?"
After Tao Changyi finally managed to shake off the ornaments on his body and laboriously made his way to their dwelling, he choked up as he took the hands of the old man and woman, saying, "Father, Mother, I'm sorry, I'm late."
"Look, aren't we doing just fine? Don't say such discouraging things. Are you and Cuilian both alright?"
"Okay, okay, we all have dormitories to stay in. The city is on higher ground, and there are rivers all around. Nobody expected that this rain would continue until now. I heard that some villages had been flooded, so I rushed home to check. I met people from our village on the national highway. Knowing that you came to the county town, I searched everywhere and finally found you. I'm glad you're all safe."
Tao Changyi then said, "Cuihua, you guys discuss it and decide if two of you can come with me. We can squeeze in at your godmother's and Cuilian's places, and we can also squeeze into my room."
Xiao Jiu thought for a moment, "Dad, you and my brother can take turns carrying Grandpa over there. As for us on this side..."
After exchanging glances, Xiao Jiu, Cui Hong, and Cui Hua pushed Cui Lan and Cui Feng out.
"Seventh Sister and Eighth Sister, you two come with us. You're both small and thin, so you can squeeze together."
“My grandmother has difficulty walking and can’t move around easily. If you leave, the rest of us will be able to move around more easily.”
Grandpa wanted Grandma to go, but Grandma held Xiaojiu's hand and said, "Listen to Xiaojiu."
It's best to leave Grandpa in Dad and Little Brother's care. Cuilan and Cuifeng can squeeze in with Cuilian and Zhao Lingli. There will be a spot left over here for Cuihua to lie down, and she and Cuihong can take turns going back to their own space to sleep.
Having figured this out, Cuihua echoed her sentiment, and finally, due to the late hour, Tao Changyi had no choice but to agree to their arrangement.
So the group put their raincoats back on, donned straw hats and raincoats, and ventured into the rain in the dark.
Grandpa was still in good health and insisted on wading through the water by himself, refusing to let Dad and my brother carry him. The group helped each other out of the school gate.
"Grandma, we've settled in here, so you should rest now. It's alright, we'll take turns resting."
The old lady's body couldn't take it anymore, and she fell asleep in no time. Under the cover of the bed curtains, Xiao Jiu and Cui Hong divided the things and took them to their respective spaces to air them out. There were six stools, three on each side, enough for one person to lie down. As soon as Cui Hong lay down, the two sisters let her go into the storeroom under the cover of the bed curtains.
Xiao Jiu didn't stand on ceremony with them and said to Cui Hong, "I'll come and relieve you at three o'clock." A stool is not as stable as a table.
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