flstandardbreds Chapter 137 The Rainstorm is Coming!
Chapter 137 The Rainstorm is Coming!
Zhao Guanglei was taken aback at first, then remembered what she was talking about.
"Yes, that was my family's ancestor."
More than a hundred years ago, his ancestor was the patriarch of the Zhao clan, and he led everyone to move to Zhao Village and settle down there.
Zhao Taohua understood immediately and gripped the chipped mountain spirit coin tightly in her hand.
It all makes sense.
With the help of the Ghostly Flower from the Mountain of the Great Ancestor, perhaps the information she couldn't foresee before will now make some progress.
When Zhao Taohua left Zhao Guanglei's house, she called the village chief to leave with her.
"Village chief, after this bandit raid, I think our Zhao Family Village should strengthen its security measures and arrange a guard team to protect the village."
Our village is no longer the impoverished village it used to be.
Today, every household has built a brick and tile house, and nearly 90% of the families have bought oxcarts, making it the richest village in the surrounding area.
Even if it weren't for those bandits this time, I think there would be other people who would be envious of our village in the future.
To prevent such an incident from happening again, a village guard team is essential.
As soon as Zhao Taohua finished speaking, the village chief agreed repeatedly.
Zhao Family Village is no longer the Zhao Family Village it used to be. For the safety of the lives and property of all the villagers, the village guard team must be established immediately.
"Peach Blossom, I understand. I will go and deliver ten large coins to each household, and then I will go and discuss this matter with the clan elders."
After the village chief finished speaking, he first gave Shen Ming ten large coins, and then hurriedly left.
After everyone received the ten large coins from the village chief, just as Zhao Taohua had predicted, they all helped her gain a good reputation.
Anyone with eyes could see that Zhao Taohua earned all the reward money herself; no one else had really helped. But she had such a magnanimous heart.
Shen Ming put his ten large coins into Zhao Taohua's hand.
"???"
Zhao Taohua looked up at him.
Ever since they got engaged, he has given her every penny he earned, no matter how small.
Now, they're even giving her small change like ten coins?
“If you give me everything, won’t you be broke when you need to spend money?” Zhao Taohua asked.
“I eat and drink at your house every day, and it doesn’t cost me much money.”
"If you really need money, Peach Blossom Sister, you can just give it to me."
As Shen Ming spoke, he took Zhao Taohua's hand and led her towards the Zhao family's house.
The two walked side by side on the village road at dusk, the setting sun casting long shadows. Shen Ming took small steps, keeping pace with Zhao Taohua beside him.
“Peach Blossom Sister, is there something wrong with the money spent by that Ghost of Huokou Mountain? I noticed you looked rather serious at Uncle Guanglei’s house just now.”
Shen Ming asked worriedly.
Zhao Taohua was somewhat surprised by Shen Ming's observational skills, and she nodded to him.
“Recently, we have been giving birth to many spirits and monsters, which are actually related to this mountain spirit coin with a gap.”
This coin with the notch in the shape of a mountain spirit was probably given to the great ancestor by the four major families.
As Zhao Taohua spoke, she suddenly thought of the four great families among the feudal lords. Among them, the Shen family of Long'an and Shen Ming shared the same surname. She glanced at Shen Ming.
Shen Ming's family moved to Zhao Family Village from his grandfather's generation. Although they both have the surname Shen, they should not be related.
Following Zhao Taohua's suggestion, the village chief and clan elders discussed and devised a plan for a village guard team the following day.
The village guard team is there to protect the safety of the entire village, so every household has to contribute a share.
Those who join the village guard team must be young and strong men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five.
They work in three shifts a day, with two people in each of the four cardinal directions of the village to guard it. Each person is paid 200 coins a day, and each position is assigned a dog.
Once they discover something is wrong, they immediately strike a gong to notify everyone.
On the third day, the village's security team was established.
Instantly, everyone felt safer in the village. From now on, when they go to the embroidery workshop at the end of the village and only the elderly and children are left at home, they no longer need to worry.
Led by Zhao Shengzhu, the villagers of Guanguanshan worked tirelessly and finally repaired the dam on the last day of May.
He called the village chief and Zhao Taohua over to check: "Village chief, Taohua, is this alright now?"
Fang Quan joked, "Peach Blossom, this time no toad monster will come to ruin things, right?"
Immediately, Fang Quan received a slap on the head from someone standing next to him:
"Shut your stinking mouth and stop talking nonsense. According to the divination by Peach Blossom, the rainstorm will come tomorrow."
"If another toad monster were to appear now, even if all eighty of us came, or even if the entire village, young and old, came, we still wouldn't have enough time to repair it."
Upon hearing this, Fang Quan quickly shut his mouth, but muttered under his breath, still unconvinced:
"I'm just asking, who wants a toad monster to actually appear?"
Zhao Taohua looked behind Guan Guanshan: "There's no toad monster, but there are others."
"what?"
Everyone was shocked.
Fang Quan said, "I was just saying it casually; I didn't really hope that any spirits or monsters would come!"
"Uncle Fang, don't worry, this monster can't destroy our barrier dam."
As soon as Zhao Taohua finished speaking, the sky turned as dark as an overturned ink bottle, with thick, swirling clouds quickly enveloping the entire Zhao Family Village.
Suddenly, a blinding bolt of lightning cleaved the gray sky in two like a sharp blade.
"Oh no! A torrential downpour is coming! Everyone, get down the mountain and get home quickly!"
shouted the village chief.
All the villagers quickly packed up their belongings and headed down the mountain.
The thunder overhead was deafening, as if it would shatter the entire Zhao Family Village.
The gale was not to be outdone, sweeping in like a pack of mad beasts, blowing the branches this way and that, making creaking and groaning sounds.
Large raindrops poured down with the strong wind, stinging people's heads as they landed.
Soon, the rain intensified, quickly forming a continuous curtain of water that blurred Zhao Taohua's vision.
She followed the others down the mountain when suddenly her foot slipped!
Zhao Taohua thought to herself, "Oh no, I'm going to fall on my butt today."
Unexpectedly, in the next instant, this person was caught steadily.
She looked up and, through the blurry rain, was startled to see Shen Ming's face appear before her.
"Brother Shen Ming?"
Zhao Taohua exclaimed in delight.
She was panicking as she followed behind them. They were all men, and even though they were carrying weapons, they were running very fast.
She was afraid of falling behind everyone, so she was on edge and hurried to catch up.
"Hold tight."
Shen Ming gave a reminder, then picked the person up and strode down the mountain.
It seemed that the rain and wind had no effect on him at all, and he even reached the foot of the mountain faster than the village chief and others.
Zhao Taohua wrapped her arms around Shen Ming's neck and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling a deep sense of security.
The village chief and the others watched Shen Ming carrying someone and running so fast, and couldn't help but feel envious: Indeed, youth makes all the difference.
When Madam Qian saw Shen Ming and Zhao Taohua return soaking wet, she felt sorry for them and said:
"Quick, go change into some clean clothes, don't catch a cold."
As she spoke, Madam Qian went to find some clothes for Shen Ming.
"Aunt Qian, no need, I'll change at home."
But Qian saw that the wind and rain outside were like a thousand horses galloping in, and the torrential rain was so heavy that it created a cloud of white smoke, making it impossible to see the road.
Madam Qian immediately said sternly, "How are you going to go home? Stay here tonight and go back tomorrow when the rain gets lighter."
Shen Ming is Tao Hua's fiancé, and now, Madam Qian treats Shen Ming like her own son.
The sky was covered with dark clouds and the rain was pouring down, making it impossible to see the road. Although the two houses were not far apart, what would happen to Tao Hua if something happened to Shen Ming?
"Yes, Brother Shenming, just listen to my mother and go back tomorrow morning."
Shen Ming looked at Zhao Taohua upon hearing the sound. Her hair was wet, and water droplets slid down her cheeks.
Her clothes clung tightly to her body, outlining the unrefined curves of a fifteen-year-old girl without reservation.