Chapter 43: WARNING 2
"Lin Xu, what are we having for dinner today? I’ll be staying over tonight. My mom said I should be here with you since you’re still healing from the kidnap," Yan Mei said as Lin Xu snapped out of her thought.
With a panicked expression, she quickly asked, "Yan Mei, where is your dad? Where can I find him?"
"My dad? Why do you want to see him? Is something wrong?" Yan Mei asked with worry, and just then, speaking of the devil, Chief Yan appeared with his wife.
"Lin Xu? Why do you want to see me?" he entered with his wife as she carried a basket of food.
"Chief Yan, you’re here?"
"Yes... I am, Lin Xu. I heard what happened to your Aunt and Uncle Lu and how they have both been taken away. When I heard the reason, I was beyond words."
"If this little brat hadn’t hidden it from us, then we would have surely done something to help," Madame Yan said as she flashed Yan Mei an annoyed glance. "Here, have this... and please worry less, the boys are alright now."
She handed over the basket of food to Lin Xu who nodded and smiled in appreciation.
"So why did you want to see me, Lin Xu? Is anything the matter?" Chief Yan asked as Lin Xu became serious once again and sat them both down to explain the situation at hand.
"Well... the thing is, there will be heavy rainfall soon, and it could cause a huge flood all over the village."
Her words seemed to hit the couple hard, as they both exchanged glances at one another before turning back to Lin Xu. "And where did you get such information from?"
"I-I am actually quite good at predicting the weather, it’s a skill I’ve had for a while now... That’s not what’s important now, Chief Yan. What we need to do is warn the villagers... the only way for everyone to leave without harm is to vacate the village immediately and go up the mountains."
She suggested as Chief Yan sighed, stroking his beard. Lin Xu exchanged gazes with Yan Mei who nodded and quickly took the arm of her father.
"Pa, seeing how serious Lin Xu is, she may be right. After all, there have been so many floods this year, more may still happen, we can’t be sure."
"Husband, let’s just listen to her and warn the villagers. Even if there is no rain, nothing happens... prevention is better than cure after all," Madame Yan suggested as well.
After some time, Village Chief Yan finally agreed. "Alright... in that case, tonight there will be a meeting at the village square. You should come and explain to the villagers, let’s see if we will be able to convince them."
Smiling, Lin Xu nodded. "Thank you, Chief Yan."
With that, he and his wife left, and some time later Mo Ying stepped in with Fuhan.
Upon entering, he was surprised to see Lin Xu bringing out so many cloths, bed sheets, and sacks.
Walking towards her, he asked, "What’s going on here? Is somebody moving out?"
Sighing, Lin Xu then explained everything to Mo Ying and he just stared at her, listening without interrupting for a second. After she was done, she said, "Do you understand now?"
He nodded. "In that case, I’ll help out," he suggested, ready to help carry some things, but Lin Xu frowned slightly.
"Wait!"
"What?"
Folding her hands, Lin Xu looked up, her eyes piercing his sharply. "You just believe me like that? Aren’t you going to ask me anything?"
"Anything? Like what?"
"I don’t know, maybe how I suddenly gained the power to predict the weather. Aren’t you even a little bit concerned that what I’m saying may be wrong?" she asked, confused.
No one believed her at first when she said it and she didn’t blame them. Even saying she could predict the weather felt so cringe, yet Mo Ying didn’t even ask her anything and just agreed and decided to start helping. Who does that?
Hearing her words, Mo Ying frowned slightly. He then walked closer to her; they were so close that she could literally feel his breath brush over her face.
"Maybe the reason I didn’t bother questioning you or doubting you is because I trust you. But of course, you wouldn’t know because you don’t trust anybody and think everybody has an evil agenda or some sort."
With that, he turned around and left, as Fuhan followed along with him.
Meanwhile, Lin Xu just stood there, her face unreadable at the moment, she was totally deep in thought.
Trusting people wasn’t hard for her, it was trusting men. She didn’t trust men — to her, men were scums, but Mo Ying happened to be a more handsome version of a scum.
...
Hours later, Lin Xu and Mo Ying, together with Yan Mei, went straight to the village square as Chief Yan and his wife were already present.
Some villagers were also there as they all wondered what could warrant this sudden meeting.
The villagers gathered around the square as Chief Yan stepped forward, clearing his throat. His voice carried across the noisy crowd.
"Everyone, quiet down. We called this meeting because Lin Xu has something important to say. She claims that in a few days, heavy rainfall will come, and it could bring a great flood to our village. Before we go further, Lin Xu, tell us... how many days before this rainfall?"
Lin Xu’s voice was steady though her palms were cold. "Three days. In three days, it will begin to rain... and it won’t stop for seven days."
Her words stirred the crowd immediately. Murmurs spread, voices rising over one another.
"What? Three days?!"
"A flood?"
"Is she serious?"
Some villagers looked pale, while others shook their heads in disbelief.
"This is nonsense!" one man shouted, pushing through the crowd. "We have fishermen in this village who watch the sea and the skies every day. None of them predicted rain. And suddenly, Lin Xu can predict the weather? What kind of joke is this?"
Another woman added, "Exactly! She has lived among us all these years, and never once did she say she could do such a thing. Why now? Maybe she is trying to fool us all."
A few others nodded, their voices sharp with doubt.
But not everyone agreed. An older villager raised his hand. "We can’t be too quick to dismiss her. What if she is right? Will you risk your lives and your children’s lives just to mock her?"
"Yes!" another voice supported. "Even if there’s only a small chance she’s telling the truth, shouldn’t we at least prepare?"
The crowd became split, voices clashing louder.
Yan Mei quickly stepped forward, her face flushed with anger. "Enough! Lin Xu is not lying. I’ve known her all my life. She has no reason to scare everyone. If she says a flood is coming, then we should listen. Why would she risk her own reputation otherwise?"
But the opposition continued. "Yan Mei, you’re only defending her because she’s your friend."
"Friendship doesn’t mean truth!"
The arguing grew louder, the weight of the voices pressing on Lin Xu. She stood in the center, her chest heavy, Doubt stabbed at her heart as the villagers’ words circled her.
Mo Ying, standing beside her, noticed. He saw her hand tremble slightly and without a word, he reached out to her hands holding it firmly. His grip was strong.
Lin Xu looked up at him, surprised, and met his reassuring smile.
Then, Mo Ying’s voice rang out, cutting through the noise. "Enough!"
The crowd went silent as his tone carried power. He looked around at every face.
"Lin Xu only means well for this village. Whether you believe her or not is your business. But don’t say she didn’t warn you. If you want to save yourselves, then close your shops, gather enough food, and move up the mountain. If you want to sit here mocking her, then when the flood comes, you’ll regret it."
He didn’t wait for their response. Still holding Lin Xu’s hand, he pulled her away from the square.
The crowd was left murmuring behind them, some shaken, some doubtful.
Lin Xu stared at Mo Ying as he led her out, her heart lighter than it had been all day. His words, his strength, and his trust in her wrapped around her like warmth she hadn’t expected.