Chapter 45: Heavy Rainfall 1
Two days passed quickly, and before they knew it, the day of the rainfall had arrived.
As early as four in the morning, Mo Ying and Lin Xu, together with Fuhan, had already loaded the horses with foodstuffs and other important things before making their way toward the mountain.
After some time, they had to stop, as the mountain became too steep for the horses to climb.
"We’ll have to carry everything ourselves from here," Mo Ying said, his voice calm but firm.
Lin Xu nodded in agreement and quickly shifted some of the loads onto her back.
"Mama, I want to help too," Mo Yuen said eagerly, trying to carry a bundle.
Lin Xu stopped him immediately, taking the bundle out of his hands. "You have a more important task." She bent slightly, pulling Bao Bao and Yiling close before placing their hands into Yuen’s. "Protect your siblings and help them climb the mountain. Stay near Brother Fuhan and follow his every step."
The boy puffed out his chest with pride and nodded seriously, while Bao Bao and Yiling both held on tightly to him.
Just then, a familiar, lively voice echoed behind them.
"Lin Xu!! Lin Xu!"
Yan Mei came running toward them and she wasn’t alone as beside her was Zu shi.
Yan Mei was smiling from ear to ear but ran too fast, her foot catching on a rock. She nearly tumbled forward, but Fuhan’s quick reflexes saved her once again. He caught her firmly by the arm.
"You should be more careful," he said in a low, steady tone.
Yan Mei’s face instantly turned red, her heart skipping at his words. She stammered softly, "I-I will..." But before she could say more, Fuhan turned away coldly, his expression as distant as ever.
Watching the scene, Lin Xu and Mo Ying exchanged glances. Both shook their heads lightly and sighed, already used to Yan Mei’s clumsy, overly energetic behavior.
At that moment, Chief Yan, his wife and their younger son, Xuen.. stepped forward, each carrying bundles on their backs. It was clear they had listened to Lin Xu’s advice after all.
Lin Xu raised her brows in surprise. "Chief Yan... are you also going up the mountain?"
Chief Yan gave a small nod. "Prevention is better than cure. It’s safer to be prepared than to regret later."
His wife gave a tired but gentle smile. "Even if we had wanted to stay, Mei’er was already determined to go with you. For her sake, we had no choice but to come as well."
Lin Xu’s lips curved slightly, warmth rising in her chest.
With that, the group gathered their things and began their journey up the mountain together.
They finally reached the top of the mountain after a long and tiring climb. The morning mist was still heavy, wrapping the place in a cool, damp breeze. Everyone was breathing hard, but there was relief on their faces, they had made it before the rain truly began.
Yan Mei, who was still bubbling with energy despite almost tripping earlier, ran up to Lin Xu with wide eyes.
"Lin Xu, how are we going to make a shelter here?" she asked curiously, brushing off the sweat on her forehead.
Lin Xu, who had been waiting for this question, curved her lips into a small proud smile. "First, let’s clear out this flat space. After that, just watch."
At once, everyone helped clear away stones and branches. When the ground was tidy, Lin Xu brought out bundles from the side and quickly began working.
She laid out strong poles, stretched a wide sheet of thick white material, and fastened everything firmly to the ground. Her movements were quick and sure, not wasting a single step. In less than half an hour, the huge tent stood upright, firm against the breeze.
Everyone stood frozen, staring with disbelief.
Chief Yan’s wife gasped softly. "This... I’ve never seen anything like it. It looks like something the people in the capital use, not us villagers..."
Even Yan Mei, who was always noisy, opened her mouth wide in awe. "Lin Xu! This is amazing!"
Mo Ying’s sharp eyes were fixed on her. He took a step closer, his tone cool but questioning. "Where did you get these tools?"
Lin Xu’s hands froze for a second, her heart skipping, but she quickly forced a smile. "Ah... a very good friend of mine often goes to the capital. I bought them from him. Nothing more."
Mo Ying didn’t press further, though his eyes lingered on her face for a moment before looking away.
"The poles are strong, and the material is thick," Lin Xu explained, patting the tent with confidence. "This will withstand both the wind and the rain. Come inside. Let’s arrange our things."
One by one, they all stepped into the massive white tent. It was far larger than anything they had seen before, big enough to hold everyone and their belongings. Once inside, relief filled the group, the air was cooler, and the space felt safe.
Madame Yan, always thoughtful, went to her small bundle and took out a small pouch. She sprinkled some fine powder around the edges of the tent.
Lin Xu, noticing, asked curiously, "What’s that?"
The older woman smiled faintly. "Something I bought at the market. It keeps crawling animals like snakes, ants, or even scorpions from coming near. It will make us sleep better at night."
Lin Xu nodded in approval. "That’s very useful."
Meanwhile, the children were already settling in. Mo Yuen had taken the role of big brother seriously. He held Bao Bao’s hand firmly while guiding Yiling to sit beside him. Yan Mei’s little brother, Xuen, who was about the same age as Yuen, quickly warmed up to them. Within moments, the children were laughing together, comparing who could stack stones higher and who could whistle louder. Their carefree laughter filled the tent, easing the heavy mood.
Outside, Mo Ying and Fuhan had already decided to set traps around the area. "We’ll need to keep wild animals away," Mo Ying said curtly, carrying a bundle of ropes and sharpened sticks. Fuhan only nodded and followed, both men disappearing into the forested slope.
Meanwhile, Zu Shi, together with Yan Mei, began taking out pots, ladles, and bundles of dried food from their packs. Yan Mei hummed happily as she busied herself, while Zu Shi calmly prepared the cooking space, stacking firewood carefully at the side. She was planning to cook quickly before the rain started as Yan Mei then lit up some lanterns and placed them safely inside the tent for light.
The atmosphere slowly softened. Though they were on top of a lonely mountain, surrounded by mist and silence.