Unlike the remoteness of Hua Village, around Wang Village, there are several nearby villages not too far away. In the past, a normal walk would take at most the ti of a cup of tea; now, even at the slowest pace, it wouldn’t take more than an hour.
But that’s where their concern lies. Not everyone has prepared as adequately as their village. There’s no need to worry about food; what they are most concerned about is water.
Whether it’s a lack of food or a lack of water, neither is easy to cope with.
Especially when the n who went out yesterday to check the situation returned with news that made the whole village feel faintly uneasy.
Although the village chief said yesterday to wait and see, Wang Datian and a few n from the village couldn’t shake off their anxiety. As soon as the temperature dropped, they hurried over to the village chief.
Village Chief Wang looked at the n at the door, opened the door completely, and said, "Co in."
Honestly, he was also uneasy. It was clear they needed to discuss this carefully, at the very least to start organizing a patrol.
"Auntie, Brother Yi Chun, Yi Xia, Yi Qiu..." As soon as the children entered the yard, they saw the village chief’s wife standing at the door of the main house, along with the village chief’s sons, and quickly greeted them.
"You’re all here, co on in." The village chief’s wife smiled brightly, gesturing for her sons to move so stools. She went inside and brought out a kettle of boiled water. One man poured a bottom-full of water into a bowl: "Have so water first to soothe your throat, and we can talk later."
"No need, no need, Auntie. We already wet our throats before coming out. This water is so precious, quickly put it away."
Although the n felt parched, they did drink so water before coming out. They ca empty-handed and felt it was inappropriate to drink the village chief’s water, especially since the village chief’s family had many more mbers, and their water usage was high. Saying this, Wang Datian hurriedly poured the water from several bowls back together and wordlessly returned it to the kettle without feeling any discomfort.
"You see, you’re still polite to Auntie," Liu said, although she didn’t pour more.
As Datian said, water was extrely precious now. To be accurate, everyone wasn’t exactly short of food. When the floodwater receded and plants grew rapidly, everyone intentionally stored food. Furthermore, the yield of this season, especially of sweet potatoes and potatoes, was very gratifying. Every household could manage for at least a year or two.
By contrast, water was indeed very scarce. Even though her household still had plenty of water remaining, Liu was reluctant to use it.
If not for these n being dependable figures in the village, Liu wouldn’t have been willing to pour water. Her family also conserves, only drinking one or two sips when truly parched.
"Hehe... not being polite, Auntie. We really did drink." Datian chuckled.
"Alright then, if you weren’t being polite, I’ll just take it back. You all go ahead and discuss." Liu didn’t put on any false airs and promptly returned the water kettle to its place inside.
However, after placing it well, she didn’t stay indoors but ca out into the courtyard to get so light. Although it was moonlight, it was better than no light at all.
During the day, to prevent dehydration, they nearly always stayed and slept in the cellar. The cellar was very dim, as candles and oil lamps were entirely depleted within a year and a half. Vision was further impaired at night.
Spending too long in a dim space even undermined vision; coming out made the eyes sore.
This was why Liu would bring her family out to move about, even as it grew hot outside, to let their eyes adjust. During the day, they stood by the cellar entrance for a bit, letting their eyes see the light.
As she ca out, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, daughters, sons-in-law, nephews, and nieces all followed suit.
Village Chief Wang glimpsed at his wife and children in the courtyard before turning his gaze away. The main entrance was tightly closed, so typically there wasn’t any danger. However, Yi Chun was unsettled, signaling Yi Dong, the youngest, to keep an eye on things in the yard.
"Uncle... several neighboring villages are already experiencing chaos. It’s common knowledge that our village fares a bit better, raising concerns about its safety, Uncle, what should we do? We await your command." Wang Datian impatiently directed this to Village Chief Wang.
The news gathered in recent days from villagers venturing out was concerning. Around neighboring villages, incidents occurred nightly; villages with large families still held moderately well due to unity, but places with scattered or fewer people already encountered deaths—nothing surprising anymore.
Wang Village had numbers, but each household had wives and children, rendering the n quite anxious at heart.
Village Chief Wang too furrowed his brow, looking towards Datian, "Have the ones who went out returned?"
"No," Datian shook his head, "but they should be back soon."
It’s been about the ti of a stick of incense; those leaving to gather news were nimble and robust villagers. Though the heat was intense, their pace wasn’t slow, so judging by the ti, they should return.
"Then we’ll wait a bit more," Village Chief Wang murmured.
With little ti left, Datian and several n nodded.
Indeed, not too much later, as Liu took the kids back inside, the n who went out to gather news returned.
As for the outco, it was evident from their expressions, and Village Chief Wang’s face grew even more somber.
After a mont, Village Chief Wang spoke, "Datian..."
"Village Chief, at your word..."
"Arrange a patrol. Our village has about five hundred able-bodied n; divide them into batches of thirty. Each patrol for an hour; those remaining should stay alert in the village."
An hour was within their comfort limits; any longer would be too burdenso.
"Understood, I’ll organize it right away..."
"Yi Chun, you go with them..."
Having the eldest son accompanying conveyed his intention to the villagers.
Just hoping it doesn’t turn out as feared.
Every person in the village was cherished by Village Chief Wang. No matter who was hurt, he took it very much to heart.
Wang Datian, accompanying Wang Yichun, inford each household quickly and conveyed the village chief’s decision. Soon, the first shift of patrolling guards appeared at four directions—east, south, west, and north—rotating every hour, until dawn rendered outside unbearable.
That night, Wang Village remained calm, with none of the feared events occurring, but Zhao Gouzi, a re three miles away, wasn’t as lucky.
When the night’s heat subsided, a group pushed a cart into Zhao Gouzi Village.
This village comprised over a dozen households. The Village Chief was gone, having perished in the extre cold. The entire village, adults, and children together didn’t reach two hundred people. Though they survived, they lived cautiously like frightened birds, having long lost trust in humanity, even among villagers.
Each household managed itself, hiding in their ho cellars at night, only venturing at night.
After running entirely out of water, even movent activities lessened since remaining still delayed thirst, while any activity induced unbearable dryness of the throat, at most moving slightly in cellars or dugout shelters to prevent limbs from weakness from prolonged sitting or lying.
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