Jing Shu had indeed spent a fortune to prevent mudslides, directly reaching out to Qian Duoduo’s contacts and paying a significant price to get so many huge stones to block the area behind the villa. Not to ntion all the preparatory and drainage work she did—was it all for nothing?
Look, the disaster struck, and now Jing Shu was in a position to be confidently in control, rather than panicking like ants on a hot pan like the rest of her family.
"Grandma, Mr. Jing, don’t worry. The mud won’t flood our house even if it floods others’," Jing Shu said.
The family’s gaze shifted towards her. Grandma Jing asked, "Why? What makes you so special that it floods others but not you?"
"COUGH. COUGH." Jing Shu said uncomfortably, "Grandma, have you forgotten? Last year, because I had a strange dream, I put up a large tombstone with scriptures engraved on it behind our villa to suppress evil spirits. To protect it, I also laid two rows of huge protective stones around it..."
Wu You’ai’s eyes lit up. She was the first to catch on. Goodness, I really admire my sister! she thought. Even a grave marker influenced by a dream can have such a big effect!
Seeing that everyone was still confused and waiting for an explanation, Jing Shu had no choice but to explain again, and even took out paper and pen to sketch it out.
"Look, this is the huge tombstone I built. The debris flow would go downhill, hitting the two rows of huge stones arranged in a triangular formation. Wouldn’t the water flow divert to the sides? And doesn’t it just so happen to miss our villa and Building 25?"
Of course, it wasn’t just that simple. To ensure the debris flow would bypass the villa, Jing Shu had the workers arrange the huge stones in an arc. Knowing the center would bear the most pressure, Jing Shu had reinforced it with extra materials.
Later, Jing Shu also secretly worked on waterproofing and protective asures.
Wu You’ai pondered, "It will work for a short ti, but won’t the mud and water piling up on both sides eventually find their way back? They will still flow towards the front of the villa."
Jing Shu’s lips curved upward. "Sis, you’re right. We can just dig a drainage ditch on both sides. Rember the building that collapsed in the earthquake? It left a gaping hole like a Bottomless Pit underneath. We can divert all the muddy water into it so it won’t accumulate."
And at that ti, she had spent quite a bit of Virtual Coin to buy the property rights to that building.
Initially, she just thought of hiring people to explore and adventure below, hoping to pick up treasures. But after a few months, they found a lot of trash but no real valuables.
There were those who laughed at her for spending so much money on junk.
But now a business opportunity had co, hadn’t it? Life sure is unpredictable.
Wu You’ai frowned. "I rember that the ownership of that building was bought by a prodigal. If we want to direct the debris flow and dump trash in there, we’d need their consent. I’ll ask Mr. Wu later."
Jing Shu exclaid in surprise, "Eh, the prodigal you’re talking about seems to be ! I think I spent a few thousand Virtual Coin on it." I’ve forgotten how much exactly, she thought, because back then, Virtual Coin was just a number to . But now... Oh, it’s a long story. If I could do it over again, I’d definitely rember that number, considering I once owned it!
Wu You’ai blinked, utterly surprised to find out the prodigal often ntioned by Mr. Wu was none other than her own sister. Mr. Wu had even said, "If only there were more prodigals like that, it would create seven or eight more jobs, supporting more people."
To her surprise, Wu You’ai actually found herself feeling proud that her sister was considered a prodigal.
Jing Shu patted Wu You’ai on the shoulder. "Hey, look, isn’t this a business opportunity? Later, you help put up a sign. If anyone wants to divert mudflow there, they have to pay . Especially for those rich folks in the villa area. Not charging them a thousand or eight hundred would be letting them off too easily, considering where they live. We’ll just make a token charge for the ordinary areas."
"Can this... really work?" Wu You’ai pushed up her glasses. My sister is so cool! she thought. This thod is really good!
"Why wouldn’t it work? Just do as I say."
To verify whether the colossal morial Jing Shu erected could indeed block the mudslide, Jing Shu’s family hurriedly left Building 25 and went to the hill behind the villa to check.
The massive upside-down triangle was tall and imposing, neatly positioned in front of the villa. The muddy water on the ground began to divert from the sharp tip, with each huge stone’s sloped surface perfectly distributing the force to push the mudslide toward other areas.
Other villas’ walls were already overrun by muddy water, while the surroundings of Jing Shu’s house remained clean and tidy.
Only then did the family feel at ease.
"Don’t worry; I’ll start digging the irrigation channel in a bit," Jing Shu reassured them, and the faces of Grandma Jing and Mr. Jing finally looked much better.
Grandma Jing also prayed, "Amitabha, may our family’s houses be spared from the mudslides, and our lands from flooding."
Having resolved the situation at Jing Shu’s house, it was now ti to consider the elder aunt and second aunt.
"Mom, we should also head back now. The situation in Ningshan City is not good. As soon as we return, we’ll quickly pack up. If things go south, we need to be ready to evacuate at any mont." We still have so much grain hidden at ho, the elder aunt thought. Thankfully, I listened to Jing Shu and slaughtered the pigs, keeping only the breeding boars and piglets.
Although these, too, needed to be taken along, it was certainly more convenient than having to transport dozens of live pigs, not to ntion feed, clothing, and other essentials.
Just the thought of it gave her a headache. With so much to take, how could it all be moved? She could only hope that Wu County wouldn’t be buried by the mudslide.
Uncle Wei Chang was no longer focused on this; he understood better what it would an for him if the mudslide buried Wu County.
Mr. Jing tapped his pipe. "Go ahead and pack up. If things get bad, let us know early, and move your things over here. You too, second daughter, go back, and if it gets bad, co over."
It was a way of providing a pillar of stability and reassurance for his two daughters.
The second aunt and her husband were also a bit anxious, but since their possessions weren’t that significant, they weren’t extrely worried. Nevertheless, they had to return.
A broken ho might still be worth a lot, no matter how dilapidated. Many valuable things inside might be lost forever if buried. It would be a true case of being uprooted and left with nothing.
"Let Jing Shu drive you back; walking will take forever." No sooner had she finished speaking than Grandma Jing regretted it. What about Li Zhu and his entire family?
The eyes of the second aunt’s husband and Li Yun lit up. They had long heard that their niece owned a large RV, very spacious and luxurious, with everything one could need for eating, drinking, and living! This ti the whole family was in for a treat. If they just threw in a few items, it could an striking it rich, couldn’t it?
Jing Shu, on the other hand, had just ended a phone call. "Grandma, I won’t be able to drive them. Who else can dig the water channel here? We can’t afford any delay now. I’ll have to do the digging myself. I’ve already contacted a friend who happens to be transporting Insect Cake in a delivery truck. They’ll have to make do with the delivery truck."
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