Chapter 5 Storm
When Tao Nanfeng returned to the educated youth site, the rice was already in the pot. The boys took out chestnuts and wild fruits picked from the mountains and distributed them to everyone. The educated youth ate while waiting and happily discussed the harvest of today's work.
"Let me tell you, there are so many things to eat in the mountains in autumn."
"After we picked the corn, we went to the hillside to pick chestnuts. They were prickly and prickly."
"The red berries and golden cherries are everywhere in the mountains and they are very sweet."
Tao Nanfeng did not participate in the discussion. He bent down, picked up an axe from the earthen stove, and walked straight to the pine forest on the north hillside.
Everyone was talking and laughing, and no one paid attention to where she went. However, there was a handsome young man in white shirt and blue pants in the crowd who was quietly watching Tao Nanfeng's every move.
The boy's name is Qiao Yadong. Both of his parents work in the education system. He is enthusiastic, fair, and has strong leadership skills. He was elected as the squad leader by the educated youth.
Qiao Yadong followed Tao Nanfeng and asked, "Tao Nanfeng, what are you going to do?"
"It will rain, so I'll cut pine branches to press down the roof."
Qiao Yadong was skeptical: "Raining? That shouldn't be the case. It's such a nice day, the villagers are picking tea fruit to dry and squeeze oil, how could it rain?"
Tao Nanfeng had no explanation.
What I saw in my dream and what I said to the north was like a heavy mountain pressing on my heart.
I dreamed that our thatched houses would collapse in the storm, some people would be injured and sick, and some would scream and wail. If I tell you, will anyone believe it?
Xiangbei said it would rain today and reminded the Infrastructure Department to repair the houses. But the weather is just right now, with a clear sky, and it is the time to dry the tea fruits. No one listens to Xiangbei's words, so if I say it myself, will anyone believe it?
It has been a month since Tao Nanfeng joined the road construction team, and he has gradually learned more about Xiangbei.
Xiangbei is a demobilized soldier who has made countless military achievements. The scar on his face was left on the battlefield.
Xiangbei was unwilling to tell stories about the battlefield and kept silent about his past. All we know is that his parents are farmers from the Xiufeng Mountain South Slope Brigade, and they are gentle and kind. Three years ago, Xiangbei returned to the farm and served as the leader of the road construction team. After widening the access roads up and down the mountain, he planned to build a large road that could accommodate cars.
Xiangbei seldom speaks, and when he does, it is always the truth.
For some things, once you decide to do it, don’t care what others say? Tao Nanfeng raised his knife and chopped it down. With a crisp "swish" sound, a branch as thick as a wrist was chopped down.
Qiao Yadong was dazzled as he watched from the side.
A beige floral shirt, loose army green pants, a tall and slender figure, and thin and well-proportioned arms. When she raised her hand, half of her forearm was exposed. Her wrist was slender, white and smooth like jade, and dazzlingly white.
Tao Nanfeng in front of us did not have any fancy moves, but every time he raised his elbows and swung his arms, there was a strong sense of rhythm and power. Every movement seemed like a jumping note, forming a rhythmic, melodious and surging music that was shocking.
The scent of pine wood spread, and the air seemed to become sticky in the twilight. Qiao Yadong held his breath, afraid of disturbing this beautiful scene.
Tao Nanfeng cut off several thick branches and dragged them out of the forest. The long branches made rustling sounds on the ground. Qiao Yadong finally reacted and followed her to drag the remaining pine branches out of the woods.
The two of them made too much noise, and the educated youth who were waiting for dinner looked at them and asked curiously.
"What are you two going to do? Build a house?"
"Tao Nanfeng, aren't you tired of dragging so many branches?"
"It's already dinner time. What are you busy with? Take a break and prepare for dinner."
"It's going to rain, I'll cut some pine branches to put down the roof." Tao Nanfeng dragged the branches in front of the thatched house and looked up at the roof in a dilemma. It’s more than three meters high, how do we get the branches up there?
Qiao Yadong followed her and saw that she was determined to achieve her goal. Knowing that he couldn't stop her, he softened his attitude reluctantly.
He glanced at everyone and said, "Tao Nanfeng, I'll go to the site office to borrow a ladder."
The other educated youths all started to make a noise: "Raining? Haha, how can it rain on such a sunny day! Qiao Yadong, you want to follow Tao Nanfeng's nonsense? You are so obedient... Hehe."
Qiao Yadong's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Tao Nanfeng secretly and saw that her eyes were fixed on the roof and she didn't look angry, so he felt a little relieved.
When Xiao Aiyun heard the educated youths laugh at Tao Nanfeng's judgment, she immediately chose to stand beside Tao Nanfeng, with her hands on her hips, and said to the people who were making trouble: "Tao Nanfeng said it would rain, so it would definitely rain. What do you know!"
She looked very confident and righteous. Wei Min grinned and said, "You listen to Tao Nanfeng so much, so why didn't you follow her to chop trees just now?"
"Me!" Xiao Aiyun was stuck for a moment.
When I came back just now, Tao Nanfeng did say that it would rain, but I didn't believe it. She didn't call me when she went to cut pine branches. Was she angry? Thinking of this, Xiao Aiyun hugged Tao Nanfeng's arm and smiled flatteringly: "Tao Nanfeng, you are not angry with me, right?"
"It's okay." Tao Nanfeng shook his head.
Xiao Aiyun suddenly became happy and called Li Huilan and Ye Qin who were in the same dormitory: "Tao Nanfeng said it would rain, let's clean up the house quickly. It would be a real headache if this thatched house leaked."
Li Huilan is the daughter of a Jiangcheng Pharmaceutical Factory employee, and Ye Qin is the daughter of a Jiangcheng Agricultural Bureau employee. The two were assigned to the same pig farm, and they have a very good relationship because they work together.
Hearing Xiao Aiyun's words, Li Huilan subconsciously looked at the sky: "Will it rain today?"
Ye Qin was also a little unconvinced and exchanged glances with Li Huilan: "No way?"
When everyone was hesitating whether to help reinforce the thatched house, the sound of footsteps was heard on the dirt road. In the night, Xiangbei, Mao Peng and two members of the road construction team came quickly, carrying a wooden ladder on their shoulders.
Qiao Yadong hurried over and said, "Captain Xiang, Deputy Captain Mao, why are you here?"
Mao Peng explained with a serious expression: "It may rain heavily tonight, so we are here to help you reinforce the house."
Ever since they carried a large iron pot from Xiangbei, and Tao Nanfeng and Xiao Aiyun brought back a bowl of mountain sorrel and ten pheasant eggs, the educated youth from Jiangcheng began to have close contacts with the road construction team members.
The educated youth were unfamiliar with the place, while the members of the road-building team were all veteran farm employees; the educated youth were all students who had just entered society, while the members of the road-building team were strong men with long experience in the workplace. As time went by, the road construction team became a role model for the educated youth.
Especially Xiang Bei, because of his mysterious military past, he has aroused all kinds of speculation. The less he spoke, the more unfathomable he seemed to everyone.
Maybe everyone didn't believe what Tao Nanfeng said, but when the road construction team members came over with ladders, no one questioned them anymore and they all got busy.
After all, if it really rains, the educated youth will suffer from the leaking thatched houses. Xiangbei and the others come here to help and show concern, which is well-intentioned.
Led by Qiao Yadong, a group of people tied more and more branches together, placed them against the wall, and covered them with yellow mud to minimize the cracks in the wall. Another group of people helped pass branches to Xiangbei, and placed them neatly on the thatched roof. The dense branches and leaves could effectively resist the invasion of rain.
We were busy until eight or nine o'clock in the evening, when the moonlight was dim and the house reinforcement work was basically completed.
The educated youth had already worked all day, and then they were even more exhausted from doing such high-intensity work. After eating, they didn't even have the energy to wash up, and they just fell on the bed and wailed.
"Raining? How can it rain?"
"Prepare for a rainy day... It's ok, but the time is too tight and I'm so tired."
"After working as a bricklayer for several hours, I can't even lift my arms!"
"Go to bed quickly, you have to get up early tomorrow."
The snoring sounds from the big bunk bed came one after another, and soon everyone fell into a sweet dream.
It really started raining in the middle of the night.
Patter, patter, patter…
Beep, beep, beep…
Raindrops fell on the roof, blocked by pine branches and thatch, making a rustling sound. The rhythmic sound of rain was like a hypnotic music, helping everyone sleep better.
I don't know when a strong wind started to blow.
roar--
As if a wild beast was released from a cage, a sudden gust of wind blew up, mixed with raindrops as big as beans, waking Tao Nanfeng from his sleep.
Awoo——
The wind was roaring loudly.
As the strong wind blew through the valley, the entire thatched house began to shake.
Crash...
The raindrops suddenly became larger, hitting the roof and walls wildly.
The girls in the room were all awakened, got up and put on their clothes, and looked at the roof tremblingly: "It has been reinforced, it should be okay, right?"
Tao Nanfeng didn't say anything, but listened attentively to the movements around him.
The boys also got up, and there was a flurry of footsteps. Qiao Yadong asked loudly, "Is everyone okay?"
So far, everything is fine.
Tick! Tick!
The sound of two drops of water falling to the ground alerted Tao Nanfeng. She looked around but could not see anything in the darkness.
Tick! Tick! Tick!
More and more sounds of dripping water rang in his ears. Tao Nanfeng quickly put on his clothes and shoes, touched the wicker box and took out a flashlight.
A beam of light came on.
A palm-sized water stain spread out on the top of the rattan box.
Xiao Aiyun could also see it clearly, and asked hurriedly, "Is it leaking?" Her voice trembled a little, but she tried to calm herself down, ran to the wall, picked up the enamel basin, and placed it on the rattan box to catch the water dripping.
Boom! clang!
Boom! Boom! clang--
The raindrops fell into the enamel basin, amplifying the sound. It seems to be knocking on everyone's heart, making people panic.
Li Huilan and Ye Qin looked up at the thatched roof along the beam of light, and rain was leaking through the gaps.
Someone next door cried out, "Come quickly, it's leaking here."
"And here, bring a washbasin."
"There are more and more leaks. Everyone, please gather your bedding and luggage together."
Woo——woo——
The wind is howling.
Bang!
There was a loud bang, and something on the roof seemed to be blown off by the strong wind and fell to the ground.
Ye Qin's voice was filled with tears: "The branch pressing down on the roof has fallen!"
The thatch, losing its pressure, flew away instantly, and a cold wind blew overhead, instantly creating a skylight. The rain poured down, and the bed between Xiao Aiyun and Tao Nanfeng was instantly soaked.
"Someone come quickly, it's leaking here."
"Help! There's a big hole in the roof and the bed is wet."
"What should I do? The wind is so strong, the house can't hold up."
A feeling of panic swept over them, and all the educated youth didn't know how to deal with it.
At this moment, under the power of nature, Tao Nanfeng deeply felt the weakness and helplessness of human beings.
In the dream, there was such a storm!
The author has something to say:
Thank you all for your messages of encouragement. I would like to bow here to express my gratitude!
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