Chapter 170 Seeking refuge in the mountains
In the dead of night, thunder and lightning struck, accompanied by wind and rain.
In the towns and villages surrounding the irrigation canal, the sound of gongs resounded loudly.
One hundred black-clad guards with shoulder armor dispersed to various villages, notifying villagers to go up the mountain to seek refuge, and ordering able-bodied men to immediately go to the dike to find a breach.
That night was earth-shattering.
There was a chorus of curses.
The torrential rain lasted all night.
The rain subsided slightly the following morning.
Quite a few people came to Xiao Zhang's house.
People came wearing raincoats, wading through the water, and carrying gifts of varying degrees.
The officiant became the village head, and the rain only stopped when the wedding was over, but the sun still hadn't come out.
The courtyard was flooded, so they could only set up a table inside the house and eat standing up.
Xiao Zhang was happy to have a wife, but he always thought about his brother and would go to the door to check on him from time to time.
On his fifth visit to the gate, he saw a yamen runner rushing towards him, banging a gong.
"Something's wrong with the irrigation canal. We must go up the mountain to avoid danger!"
"Something's wrong with the irrigation canal. We must go up the mountain to avoid danger!"
...
The village headman quickly ordered people to beat gongs and drums to notify each household.
The Lu family also worked all night. Fortunately, they had taken into account the dampness and had a tall wooden shelf under the shed specifically for storing medicinal herbs.
The medicinal herbs are all fine.
The house was flooded; the rain last night was so heavy that it reached up to my calves.
After returning from Xiao Zhang's place, the whole family started cleaning.
Food, clothes, pots and pans, and a whole room full of medicine.
Leading my horse and sheep, I saw many people already heading up the mountain when I went out.
The village head was still shouting, but many people didn't take it seriously and didn't leave at all.
The irrigation canal is thirty miles away from Liuyun Village, which is quite far. Even if the dike breaches, they think they will have time to escape.
If the dam hadn't burst, all that tidying up of all that clutter in the house would have been for nothing!
"The government must have its reasons for sending us up the mountain. Is your life more important than your dilapidated home? Stop talking nonsense, all of you get up the mountain!"
“Uncle Village Head—” Lu Qingqing called out to him.
Liu Lizheng rushed over.
"Tell them that the officials also said that if anyone reports something missing from their home, those who don't go up the mountain will have to share the cost!"
"real?"
Lu Qingqing was speechless. "It's fake!"
The main reason was that the county magistrate's son, the Lu family, and Xiao Zhang were close. When Liu Lizheng heard Lu Qingqing speak, he assumed that she was conveying the county magistrate's son's orders.
He chuckled, "Great idea! I'll go tell them now, and write down who doesn't leave!"
Now that everyone has the time to persuade others, this is the best method!
The village was in complete chaos. Lu Qingqing's family, along with Chen Cuihua, Sixi's family, and Lin Ye and his sister, gathered together.
Just as she was about to leave, someone called her name.
The visitors were two servants from the Wan family.
“Miss Lu, my young master and mistress have gone to the estate in the mountains. It's high up and very safe there. They sent us to ask if you would like to go there?”
"No, we'll just stay nearby."
“Okay, Miss Lu, here is some oilcloth, you might need it.”
The servant took a large bundle off his back.
Oilcloth was indeed in short supply at the moment, so Lu Yun quickly took it and hung it on the horse's back.
"Thank you. Oh, by the way, I'll need to trouble you again."
Lu Qingqing took the basket that Qiaoxiu was carrying.
Inside was the sick baby girl.
The mountain is not like home. This child is in poor health. It would be better to have Madam Wan help take care of him for a few days instead of him staying with her.
I also brought the medicine that Lu Qingqing prescribed. The tumor on my body has already shrunk by half, and I just need to change the dressing every day.
The two servants listened attentively and then took the basket.
"Don't worry, Miss Lu, there are nannies on the estate who will take good care of her."
The two servants didn't dare to delay and hurriedly picked up their baskets and left.
"Miss Lu—" Another person rode up on horseback.
It was Fu Leng and another young man whom Lu Qingqing did not recognize.
His brows and eyes were sharp and cold, and he was lean and upright.
He was clearly skilled in martial arts, not an ordinary yamen runner.
The two rushed over through the muddy ground and jumped down.
The swift and graceful movements made Si Xi, Lu Yun, and Lu Feng's eyes light up.
That's so cool!
“Miss Lu, the young master asked us to come and help.” Fu Leng said, taking the sheep from Old Man Lu’s hand.
"Your young master is very thoughtful," Lu Yun said.
"Of course, my young master was soaked in the rain all night, yet he still didn't forget Miss Lu..."
The entire Lu family stared at him.
"...the herbs, let me check if the herbs have been wetted, that's very important."
The three members of the Lu family breathed a sigh of relief.
It turns out they were talking about herbs.
Lu Yun casually said, "Can you stop talking so dramatically? I thought your young master was after my little sister."
My little sister doesn't want to get married; she wants to buy a husband.
I think this brother is quite nice. I wonder if he'd be willing to sell?
The man suddenly took a step back, his pupils shrinking slightly.
Old Man Lu slapped him across the face.
"What nonsense! This young man looks very expensive!"
Lu Qingqing: "??????"
Little brother: "!!!!!!!!!"
Old Man Lu grinned and said, "No, it's obviously not for sale."
This explanation is worse than no explanation at all!
The young man's expression turned even colder, and he remained silent.
Lu Qingqing couldn't take it anymore: "Can you stop talking nonsense! I'll be the one choosing the people, so stop trying to make things difficult for me!"
All she does is shop around, does she think money grows on trees? Can a man bought be as good as one who comes to her door?
"..."
The young man's pupils contracted again as he glanced at Fu Leng, who returned his gaze with an expressionless face.
The two seemed to exchange something silently.
Lu Yun frowned.
I'm thinking: Would it be even worse to go to their door myself?
Only those who can't afford to eat come to your door!
Little sister, are you misunderstanding something?
Lu Qingqing gave Lu Yun a particularly warning look.
"Alright, all of you, get up the mountain!"
Lu Yun and his father shrank back, not daring to say another word.
The mountain was in chaos at that moment.
They were either worried about their belongings being stolen or about the crops not being drained; they were all so anxious they couldn't sit still.
It was noisy and disruptive.
Old Man Lu saw Li Laogua's family.
They laid out an oilcloth right next to them.
They also set up a small tent on top.
Feng Xiaowan carried Xibao inside first, and Xibao was whimpering, probably because she was hungry.
"Old Lu, I wonder how things are in the fields. I want to go check on them," Li Laogua said anxiously.
He was still wearing a dark red new outfit, which was covered in mud.
"Don't go! Look at the time! If the dam breaks, it could sweep your old bones a thousand miles away!"
Old Crow Li glared, about to retort angrily.
Old Man Lu continued, "My daughter said so."
"Unless you're a turtle, you'd better stay put here!"
Just keep shrinking!
Old Crow Li turned away angrily.
Xiao Zhang and Li Meng were also there, dressed in their new wedding clothes, leaning against each other.
To be precise, Xiao Zhang had one arm around Li Meng, protecting her like a protective animal, while looking around nervously.
I don't know what he was looking at, but his brows were tightly furrowed and his eyes were somewhat sharp.
Lu Qingqing looked around and saw that all around her were exhausted villagers, slumped over.
There are no outsiders here.
But then they saw Fu Leng and his younger brother leap up into the tree and look into the distance.
Xiao Zhang suddenly stood up and pulled Li Meng over to Lu Qingqing's side.
"Something's not right, I smell something."
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