The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to turn pale, the eldest aunt and the younger aunt gathered together. They tiptoed into the kitchen, afraid to wake the sleeping family. The eldest aunt skillfully lit the fire, while the younger aunt looked around the house, gathering the available ingredients to prepare breakfast.
While chopping vegetables, the younger aunt whispered to the eldest aunt, "Sister-in-law, when do you think the water will recede? We've caused a lot of trouble for my second brother and the others by coming here."
The aunt nodded, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes: "Alas, who can know what God is doing? Let's not think too much about it. Let's just do more work and cause less trouble for them."
Outside the kitchen, my younger uncle and elder uncle were carefully turning over and drying the grain that had been soaked in water.
The uncle sighed dejectedly, "This flood came too suddenly. All we have left after all these years of hard work is this waterlogged food..."
The uncle patted the younger uncle on the shoulder:
"There's nothing we can do. We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate. Quickly dry the food that can be saved. It's better than letting it all rot."
Huang's mother heard the noise and walked into the kitchen. Seeing the busy figures of the two sisters-in-law, she quickly spoke out to dissuade them:
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, what are you doing? It's not right for you to cook! Why don't you take a rest for a while? It's still early."
The eldest aunt stopped what she was doing and looked at Huang's mother seriously: "Fengxia, please don't say that. We came here to cause trouble for you. If you don't let me do something, I really can't bear to stay here any longer."
The young aunt also nodded, tears welling up in her eyes:
"Yes, sister-in-law, please let us do some work. If we are busy, I will feel better."
Seeing this, Huang's mother had no choice but to stop insisting and turned on the TV in the living room. The family sat around the TV and watched the disaster silently.
The television broadcast the latest reports on the flood disaster. The images showed the waters like an uncontrolled beast, devouring the land with reckless abandon. People in the affected areas stood on rooftops, calling for help. In the distance, urban areas and farmland were completely submerged in floodwaters, with only a few isolated houses and trees peeping above the surface. Two million disaster victims remained homeless on the Huai River embankment, where makeshift tents stretched as far as the eye could see.
The villages around Daishan Mine also suffered from floods to varying degrees. Among them, Dongshan Village was in the most critical situation. It was close to the dam and hung on the edge of the flood.
The mine's broadcast suddenly sounded, and the mine manager's firm and powerful voice pierced through the rain:
"Fellow miners, the situation in Dongshan Village is critical. The safety of the dam is directly related to the safety of our Daishan Mine. Now, I declare that the mine security department will lead the organization of a flood relief team. They will gather at the mine gate within half an hour and immediately go to Dongshan Village to provide support!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Huang's father, the head of the security department, immediately left his home. Other miners in the family compound followed suit, resolutely embarking on the journey to Dongshan Village. The truck struggled forward on the muddy road, its cargo box filled with heavy sandbags.
The miners followed closely behind. Among them were experienced workers and newly assigned newcomers, but at this moment, they all had only one common goal - to strengthen the dam and protect the safety of Daishan Mine.
As the team advanced deeper, the scene of Dongshan Village gradually came into view. Floodwaters raged, houses collapsed, and the villagers' helpless eyes gripped everyone's heart. But the miners didn't flinch. They quickly sprang into action, some carrying sandbags to reinforce the riverbank, others helping villagers move supplies, and still others comforting frightened children.
When Huang's father returned home, soaking wet, he sat down on a chair with a tired look on his face, and his heavy sigh echoed in the house.
Seeing this, Grandma Huang quickly handed him a cup of hot tea and asked with concern, "Son, how is the dam reinforcement going? I think the rain has stopped now."
Father Huang took the teacup and took a sip, his eyes filled with worry. "The dam has been stabilized for now, but the situation in Dongshan Village...ah, it's truly horrible."
Huang Nai quickly asked, "What happened to Dongshan Village?"
Father Huang said in a low voice:
"Mom, you didn't see it. The watermelons in the fields were all over the ground. They weighed over ten pounds, but they weren't even ripe yet, and they were soaked to pieces. Some families couldn't even afford to eat, so they could only pick up a few watermelons, cut them up, and stir-fry them...
In low-lying areas, the water is almost reaching the roofs. Families sleep on top, and children sit on the rooftops, lowering their legs to wash their feet. The mine is now discussing bringing the hardest-hit families to stay at the mine guesthouse, but no one knows when the water will recede.
Hearing this, the family members' faces became solemn. Xu Mengyao suddenly spoke:
"Dad, how much food do we have left? Can you make some steamed buns? I'll go with you to distribute them to the villagers."
Father Huang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "My daughter, do you know how many people are in that village? We can't help so many. Since the mine has decided to take them in, they will definitely not let them starve."
Huang Nai also followed suit and said:
"Er Nizi, the crops are in trouble now. The harvests for this year and next will be affected. We have so many people waiting to eat that I'm even trying to persuade you to close our snack bar."
Xu Mengyao had no choice but to remain silent after hearing this.
The next day, the lights in the guesthouse of Daishan Mine were soft, providing temporary peace for the families affected by the disaster.
Xu Mengyao was restless at home. She knew that her power was insignificant, but she still wanted to do something for the people affected by the disaster.
Huang's mother saw what her daughter was thinking and quietly prepared fifty steamed buns in the snack bar and gave them to her.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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