C18 Get Ready

The water level was too high, and a lot of bugs were crawling up the slope on the other side of the levee. She frowned slightly, knowing that if the levee wasn't solid, it could lead to flooding.

Gu Hann stood on the levee, with Gu Yanghui beside him.

Yingchu thought for a moment, then walked over and said directly, "Mayor, I have a suggestion."

Gu Hann glanced at Yingchu, his deep eyes reflecting concern. "What is it?"

"I think we need more than just people watching the levee. The village should also prepare for evacuation to prevent flooding."

Gu Hann looked at Yingchu, surprised by her words.

Before he could speak, Gu Yanghui's eyes turned cold, and he scolded Yingchu, "What does a young girl know?"

Yingchu didn't explain, just looked at Gu Hann and said, "Mayor, it's just a suggestion. Whether to act on it is up to you."

She felt indifferent towards Gu Yanghui. Technically, he was her grandfather, but he never involved himself in family matters, and likely felt no connection to her, his adopted granddaughter. So even when they met, Yingchu didn't plan to greet him.

Gu Hann gave Yingchu another look.

Yingchu didn't intend to say more, only adding, "Mayor, what I just mentioned is merely my personal opinion. Whether or not to take it into account is entirely up to you."

After Gu Yingchu finished speaking, she turned and left without caring about the reactions of those behind her.

Outside the levee, the creek was a vast expanse of white water, and inside, the fields were already flooded, making the small paths nearly invisible. Many people were catching fish in the small channels, and as Gu Yingchu walked by, she noticed their faces were lit with smiles.

Frowning slightly, Gu Yingchu realized she didn't know much about this village, but given the current situation, she felt uneasy. After wandering around, she returned to where she had set her bait and found a few fish already hooked.

The creek was rushing and muddy, turning a dark red, yet schools of fish could still be seen clustering at the surface. Gu Yingchu frowned again, picked up a few fish, tidied up, and headed back.

As soon as she saw Dung Qiu, she said, "Mom, put everything we can eat or use up high. That big tree outside looks sturdy enough—let's start with the rice."

"What's going on?"

"Just trust me. Find a chance to tell the villagers to move their food and anything that can't get wet to higher ground."

Dung Qiu, now a bit anxious, asked, "Is something happening?"

Gu Yingchu replied, "The creek is rising too fast. I'm a little worried."

Dung Qiu relaxed a bit and said, "Every year when it rains hard, the water rises." She thought Gu Yingchu might be overreacting since she hadn't mentioned anything like this in previous years.

"It's different now; the dam has been there for many years. We should be prepared, just in case."

"Alright." Dung Qiu glanced at the large tree not far from their rundown house. They already had little to eat, and if they left it up there, someone might take it.

Yingchu not only advised Dung Qiu to take emergency measures but also thought of others. "Mom, try to convince the other villagers to get ready too, so they don't suffer too much loss."

That was a good point. It wasn't just about them being prepared; the rest of the village needed to be informed as well. Following Yingchu's advice, Dung Qiu quickly sorted out her things and headed out.