Chapter 49: Chapter 49
After everyone had eaten and settled down, Village Chief Yan instructed, "Tomorrow will be the second day. Just as Lin Xu said, the heavy rainfall will last for three days. Tomorrow I would like all the able men to come down the mountain with me to see if we can still find and help some villagers who may still be affected by the rain."
The men all nodded in agreement, their expressions solemn but determined. Murmurs spread through the group as some discussed who would stay behind to protect the women and children while the others went down.
Physician Li, still busy tending to a wounded villager’s arm, raised his voice, "Make sure to bring ropes and sturdy tools with you tomorrow. The ground will be slippery, and some houses may still collapse. Safety must come first."
Zu Shi, who had just finished distributing food, stepped forward and added, "I’ll help prepare dry rations tonight so those going down the mountain won’t have to go hungry while working."
A few women nodded quickly in agreement, offering to help her.
Lin Xu, standing quietly at the side, listened to the chief’s words. She glanced at the sky through the tent’s opening. The clouds still loomed dark and heavy, and though the rain had calmed for now, she knew the worst was not yet over.
Mo Ying, who had been leaning silently against a wooden post, cast her a sidelong glance. Their eyes met briefly, and for a fleeting moment before he quickly disappeared behind his usual cool demeanor.
Village Chief Yan clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention again. "Rest early, all of you. Tomorrow will be another hard day."
The villagers murmured their agreement before slowly dispersing, families gathering into their shelters, mothers ushering children to sleep, and men exchanging quiet words about the tasks to come.
Some hours later, the rain started once more but unlike before there was not much warning. It just started and it was not taking pity on anyone or anything.
The night was cold and very long.
Lin Xu tucked the kids to sleep as she covered them with her own blanket, seeing as theirs wasn’t enough for them.
With her kids safe, she finally closed her eyes and slept off. She was so tired.
---
The next morning, just like the village chief had instructed, as soon as the rain had stopped for some time, they all made their way down the mountain.
Lin Xu woke up to the sound of people moving things around and when she sat up she noticed that Zu Shi and Yan Mei together with Madame Yan weren’t in the tent.
Just then, Yiling and Yan Mei entered the tent and upon seeing her mother awake, Yiling smiled brightly.
"Mama! You’re awake." Yiling ran to hug her as Lin Xu nodded and patted her softly on the head.
"Hope you slept well, baby?"
"Hmm... I did, I slept really well."
"Yan Mei, why didn’t you guys wake me up early?"
"Last night you were so tired, so we had to let you sleep more and also Mo Ying told us before leaving that we shouldn’t wake you up so even the kids had to listen and not disturb you."
"He did?" Lin Xu was taken aback.
Just then, she noticed that she was wrapped with something. It was a brown blanket which was weird because the last thing she remembered was covering the kids with her own blanket.
Turning to Yan Mei, Lin Xu asked, "Yan Mei, did you perhaps cover me with a blanket last night?"
"Cover you?" Yan Mei was confused. "I didn’t do any of that, and I don’t remember Zu Shi or my parents doing that either. When I woke this morning I already saw you covered... ah! Maybe it was Mo Ying because now that I remember he was the only one with a brown blanket."
She said as she carried some bowls and left the tent with Yiling behind her.
Meanwhile, Lin Xu just sat there, stunned.
’Mo Ying? Why the hell would he sacrifice his blanket for me?’
She was confused but shook it off real quick.
Immediately she stood up and tidied where she had slept before making her way out of the tent.
Before breakfast some ladies decided to go find a nearby spring or river to take their bath and so Lin Xu decided to join them.
Though Zu Shi decided to remain in order to help make breakfast for everybody.
Taking her bowl and dry clothes, Lin Xu took Yiling along as they together with Yan Mei made their way to the river.
The women finally reached the river. The water was clear and wide, flowing steadily after the rain. A few of the women were excited and quickly stepped in to wash, their laughter filling the air.
Lin Xu set her bowl down and folded her clothes neatly on the bank. She turned to check on Yiling when her daughter suddenly shouted, "Mama! I forgot to bring my dry clothes!"
Lin Xu frowned, her tone sharp. "Didn’t I tell you to put them in your bowl before we left?"
Yiling lowered her head, embarrassed. "I... I forgot."
Lin Xu sighed, shaking her head. "You’re too careless."
Yan Mei tried to comfort the girl. "Don’t worry, Yiling. It’s fine... I’ll go back and get it."
Lin Xu stood up. "Don’t worry, Yan Mei, stay here. I’ll go back and get it." She then turned to Yiling, "Don’t run around."
Leaving them by the river, she started back toward the camp. The path was damp and quiet, the ground soft under her steps. She was almost halfway up when she suddenly felt a heavy strike at the back of her head.
Her vision spun. Before she could turn, someone shoved her hard.
Lin Xu lost her balance and tumbled down the steep slope, branches and rocks scratching her as she rolled helplessly until she crashed against a tree at the bottom.
"Ahh... ahh!"
Gasping for breath, she tried to move but her body ached all over. Then she heard footsteps on the slope above, steady and unhurried.
Someone was still there.