Chapter 50 The Heavy Rain Continues
Su Tangtang nodded and continued to work diligently.
Onions are easy to pull up, but the ground is difficult to walk in; one step is deep and the other is shallow, all sticky mud.
Everyone was engrossed in pulling onions, occasionally exchanging a few words, and it was quite relaxed and comfortable.
But the rain gradually intensified.
"The rain is too heavy, it feels like we can't dry any further," Qiu Nan said, straightening up and wiping the rain off her face.
"Let's pack up what we've pulled out and leave first," Qu Xian said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
They had just finished packing the onions when the director rushed over and shouted, "Everyone, go back first! We'll continue when the rain stops!"
Meng Meng shook the water droplets off her raincoat and joked, "Director, you're too late. We were all ready when you said that. If we had been any slower, we would have been soaked to the bone."
The director was speechless for a moment, and everyone couldn't help but laugh.
After they finished packing, everyone went back together.
Looking at the continuous drizzle, Su Tangtang couldn't help but complain, "This rain is really at the worst possible time. A while ago, the corn was growing so fast that the leaves were curling up from thirst, but it wouldn't rain a single drop. Now the ears are almost ripe, and it's come. It's so annoying."
Zhou Yan pulled her raincoat hood down a bit and replied, "Who says otherwise! Back then, we were fighting the drought every day, so tired that we couldn't even straighten our backs."
Su Tangtang suddenly remembered the vegetables she had just planted and said worriedly, "If this rain doesn't stop, our newly planted vegetables will definitely be washed away."
“Exactly,” Lin Lang leaned closer, his voice tinged with helplessness, “especially my family and Yingying’s family, we’re probably going to suffer.”
Shen Yingying raised her voice amidst the sound of rain, "That's right!"
Meng Meng quickened her pace and squeezed between them, saying optimistically, "Don't worry too much, maybe the rain will stop by tomorrow morning?"
Qu Xian, who had been silent all along, gazed at the gray sky and softly replied, "I hope so."
Before long, they arrived at their lodgings and went home.
After sitting idly for about half an hour, Su Tangtang looked at the rain outside the window and sighed softly, "It's still better to work in the fields. Although it's tiring, my mind is full and I don't have any random thoughts."
Huo Yizhou looked up at her and asked, "So what are you thinking about?"
Su Tangtang was taken aback.
She couldn't very well tell him that she was actually wondering if it was raining in the world she had traveled to before, right now. She also dared not think about what she would do if one day she suddenly traveled back in time and never saw Huo Yizhou again.
She gently buried her thoughts, then put on a playful smile and teased him, "I'm thinking about what excuse I should come up with to kiss my boyfriend."
Huo Yizhou paused for a moment upon hearing this, then stood up and walked straight to her side, saying, "I want a kiss."
Then he said in a low voice, "No reason is needed."
As he spoke, he squatted down beside her, leaned in, and placed a light kiss on her lips.
Su Tangtang couldn't help but laugh: "Let's stand up and kiss, it's uncomfortable to squat like this."
Huo Yizhou readily agreed, took her hand, pulled her up, and kissed her again.
"Oh dear, it seems we've come at the wrong time."
A cheerful voice came from the doorway.
Su Tangtang and Huo Yizhou quickly separated. Her cheeks were burning as she looked towards the door. Zhou Yan and her group of eight had arrived at their door at some point.
Su Tangtang was so embarrassed she almost wanted to hide, but Huo Yizhou remained calm, only raising an eyebrow slightly, "Why are you all here?"
Zhou Yan, holding an umbrella, replied with a smile, "I was free this afternoon anyway, so I came to ask you guys to go grocery shopping together, and then we'll have hot pot together tonight."
Su Tangtang covered her face and let out a soft "Aww," her ears turning red.
Gu Qingke, standing at the back of the crowd, had a livid face.
This wasn't the first time he'd caught them kissing. If last time he could tell himself it was Su Tangtang trying to make him angry, this time, he couldn't deceive himself anymore; she was serious.
He felt empty inside, as if something was slowly slipping away. He tried to grasp it, but he couldn't even lift his fingertips.
Meng Meng gently tugged at Chen Yingying's sleeve, leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I thought they were faking it, but it turns out it's real."
Shen Yingying smiled and replied softly, "He's being kept by a sugar daddy, and the guy is so handsome, wouldn't it be a huge loss if he didn't kiss him?"
Meng Meng paused for a moment, then her expression suddenly dawned on her. "What you said makes a lot of sense."
The two exchanged a smile and continued whispering to each other.
At this moment, Su Tangtang turned to Zhou Yan and asked, "Shall we set off now?"
Before Zhou Yan could answer, Qu Xian interrupted, "Let's ride in the production crew's car. Two cars will be just enough."
Su Tangtang nodded.
The group set off despite the drizzle.
Before long, they arrived in town.
Considering that a large group would make them too conspicuous, the procurement was carried out separately.
About half an hour later, everyone met at the agreed location and headed towards the production crew's accommodation with their bags.
The production team had already prepared hot pot and tableware.
With many people working together, the speed of washing and preparing vegetables was surprisingly fast, and in no time all the ingredients were ready.
Everyone sat together, and the steaming hot pot began to boil.
"I've been craving hot pot for ages," Zhou Yan said, picking up a slice of fatty beef and sighing with satisfaction. "I've been craving it so much."
Shen Yingying immediately raised her hand in agreement, "Me too!"
Everyone ate and chatted, and even had a few drinks.
After a satisfying meal, we played a few group games, and it was already 10 p.m. when we finally parted ways.
The rain outside the window continued to drizzle, and the water on the road was already above ankle level.
On the way back, everyone had to wade through the water.
"If this continues, I'm afraid there will be a flood," Su Tangtang said with concern, looking at the water that had overflowed the steps.
Huo Yizhou nodded, "That's certainly possible."
Su Tangtang sighed softly, "What should we do?"
Huo Yizhou looked up at the dark night sky, "I can only pray that the rain will stop tomorrow."
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. The next day, the rain continued to pour down, turning the areas in front of every house into a vast expanse of water.
In this kind of weather, everyone is helpless.
The rain continued on the third day.
The area in front of Su Tangtang's house has been flooded.
Fortunately, the main house has a high foundation, so the rainwater has not yet flooded the house. However, the kitchen was not so lucky, as the water level had already reached above the threshold.
Su Tangtang stood in the yard with an umbrella. The water was up to half of her calves. She would occasionally use her toes to gently paddle across the surface of the water, creating ripples.
Just then, the water at the entrance suddenly throbbed.
She quickly turned to Huo Yizhou and said, "I think I see a fish."
Huo Yizhou raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Su Tangtang nodded vigorously, "Really!"
As he spoke, he waded through the water toward the door.
Just as she reached the doorway, another fish leaped out of the water. She turned back to Huo Yizhou, who had followed her, and said excitedly, "Another one! This one is quite big."
She bent down and reached out to scoop it up.
Huo Yizhou reminded him, "Be careful."
While responding, Su Tangtang focused on catching fish. Before long, she was soaked through. She simply put the umbrella aside and concentrated on catching fish.
Seeing this, Huo Yizhou went back into the house and got two raincoats. He put one on himself and gave the other to Su Tangtang.
After working hard for half a day, Su Tangtang didn't catch a single fish.
Seeing the raincoat handed to her, she wiped the water droplets from her face, saying, "My hair is completely soaked."
Huo Yizhou smiled helplessly, "I only got you the raincoat because I saw you were having so much fun."
Su Tangtang smiled shyly.
After putting on their raincoats, the two continued catching fish along the current.
“I think the fish swam over from the woods over there,” Su Tangtang pointed ahead. “They must be fish that escaped from the pond.”
Huo Yizhou nodded, and the two walked into the woods one after the other.
"Walk slowly," Huo Yizhou instructed.
Su Tangtang responded, but her steps remained light and quick.
As we entered the woods, we indeed saw many fish swimming in the water.
With quick reflexes, Su Tangtang actually caught one. Excitedly, she held it up in front of Huo Yizhou, "Look! I caught one!"
Huo Yizhou smiled and praised, "Not bad, not bad."
Su Tangtang then remembered, "I forgot to bring the bucket earlier, I'll go back and get one."
Huo Yizhou nodded and watched her turn and leave.
When Su Tangtang returned with her bucket, Huo Yizhou had also caught one, which was even bigger than hers.
He put the fish into the bucket.
In no time, the two had caught about ten fish.
Seeing that they had a good harvest, they carried their buckets and headed back.
"The kitchen can't be used for the time being, so let's keep the fish alive and eat them when we need them," Su Tangtang suggested.
Huo Yizhou agreed, "Okay."
In the afternoon, the rain intensified again.
"Shall we go and ask the village chief for some ideas?" Su Tangtang looked out the window, her face showing worry.
Huo Yizhou nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking."
The two put on raincoats, locked the door, and headed to the village chief's house.
As soon as I arrived at the crossroads, I saw a large group of villagers gathered there, including the village chief.
From afar, one could hear the village chief reassuring everyone, "Don't panic, everyone. Right now, the only thing we can do is dig ditches to release the floodwater and divert the accumulated water into the river."
"The ditch will definitely pass through some of the villagers' land. I hope everyone will understand. Otherwise, the water will not be able to drain and the whole village will be flooded."
Upon hearing this, some people beamed with joy, while others looked worried.
They were happy that their own land had been spared, but worried that the ditch would really have to pass through their land. Who would want their land to be dug up?
A villager who had contracted a large area of land immediately objected, "No way! I contracted those dozen or so acres of land in front of me. The vegetables were just planted not long ago. If they are dug up, how much will I lose!"
The village's old electrician advised, "If you don't dig ditches to drain the water, the accumulated water in the fields will ruin the crops."
"If we're going to cause trouble, we'll all suffer together. Why should only my land be dug up?" the villager said arrogantly.
Everyone fell silent.
This family is notorious in the village for being domineering, and everyone usually avoids them.
Once, a neighbor accidentally stepped on the edge of his yard, and his father cursed at the neighbor's door all day long.
"Digging ditches for drainage was your idea, wasn't it? I knew you had ulterior motives. Why don't we just pass through your land?" the villager accused indignantly.
The elderly electrician, in his sixties, was so angry his chest ached. "If it went through my land, I would definitely agree! But digging along the main road is the shortest route to the river!"
The villagers remained adamant, insisting, "We absolutely cannot dig!"
The old electrician ignored them, picked up his shovel, and headed to the field, followed by the other villagers.
The village chief was still trying to persuade them, "Are you willing to lose some or all of it? The rain keeps falling, and the water in the fields is getting deeper and deeper."
The villagers retorted, "They dug up my land the most, won't the village give us any compensation?"
The village chief was speechless.
The village simply cannot afford this compensation.
Su Tangtang and Huo Yizhou watched the argument silently, and when they saw the crowd heading towards the fields, they followed.
The pond next to it has long since disappeared, and all that can be seen is a vast expanse of water. The villagers know where the pond was, and if an outsider were to pass by, they might very well step into it.
They arrived at the field quickly.
The villagers picked up their shovels and began digging ditches.
The villager who objected stood aside, looking unwilling.
He didn't stop them anymore, since they weren't digging up his land yet.
Just then, Su Tangtang saw that Aunt Zhang was about to leave, so she called out, "Aunt Zhang."
When Aunt Zhang saw it was her, she looked slightly flustered and rubbed her hands together, saying, "You've come to help too?"
Su Tangtang nodded and asked with concern, "Are you going back?"
“That’s right,” Aunt Zhang said with a worried look on her face. “The granary at home is flooded, and all the stored grain is soaked in water. I have to hurry back and move out the grain that can be saved.”
As she spoke, a hint of relief crossed her voice, "Luckily, this time the ditch didn't go through my land."
Su Tangtang said understandingly, "Then we really need to hurry. You should go back now."
Aunt Zhang responded, but stopped abruptly as she turned around. She said somewhat embarrassedly, "We were indeed wrong about what happened last time, but the other party offered a lot of money, and with the weather so hot, everyone wants to earn more."
She looked at Su Tangtang cautiously, "You're not still angry, are you?"
Su Tangtang smiled slightly, "It's okay, I understand."
Aunt Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face. "That's good! Please come to us again if you need any work in the future."
Su Tangtang smiled and agreed, "Definitely, definitely."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Aunt Zhang hurried home.
On the ridge of the field, everyone worked together and in no time they had dug a ditch twenty or thirty meters long. The turbid water was slowly flowing along the newly dug ditch.
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