After everyone had eaten and settled down, Village Chief Yan instructed, "Tomorrow will be the second day. Just as Lin Xu said, the heavy rainfall will last for three days. Tomorrow I would like all the able n to co down the mountain with to see if we can still find and help so villagers who may still be affected by the rain."
The n all nodded in agreent, their expressions solemn but determined. Murmurs spread through the group as so discussed who would stay behind to protect the won and children while the others went down.
Physician Li, still busy tending to a wounded villager’s arm, raised his voice, "Make sure to bring ropes and sturdy tools with you tomorrow. The ground will be slippery, and so houses may still collapse. Safety must co first."
Zu Shi, who had just finished distributing food, stepped forward and added, "I’ll help prepare dry rations tonight so those going down the mountain won’t have to go hungry while working."
A few won nodded quickly in agreent, offering to help her.
Lin Xu, standing quietly at the side, listened to the chief’s words. She glanced at the sky through the tent’s opening. The clouds still lood dark and heavy, and though the rain had cald for now, she knew the worst was not yet over.
Mo Ying, who had been leaning silently against a wooden post, cast her a sidelong glance. Their eyes t briefly, and for a fleeting mont before he quickly disappeared behind his usual cool deanor.
Village Chief Yan clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention again. "Rest early, all of you. Tomorrow will be another hard day."
The villagers murmured their agreent before slowly dispersing, families gathering into their shelters, mothers ushering children to sleep, and n exchanging quiet words about the tasks to co.
So hours later, the rain started once more but unlike before there was not much warning. It just started and it was not taking pity on anyone or anything.
The night was cold and very long.
Lin Xu tucked the kids to sleep as she covered them with her own blanket, seeing as theirs wasn’t enough for them.
With her kids safe, she finally closed her eyes and slept off. She was so tired.
---
The next morning, just like the village chief had instructed, as soon as the rain had stopped for so ti, they all made their way down the mountain.
Lin Xu woke up to the sound of people moving things around and when she sat up she noticed that Zu Shi and Yan i together with Mada Yan weren’t in the tent.
Just then, Yiling and Yan i entered the tent and upon seeing her mother awake, Yiling smiled brightly.
"Mama! You’re awake." Yiling ran to hug her as Lin Xu nodded and patted her softly on the head.
"Hope you slept well, baby?"
"Hmm... I did, I slept really well."
"Yan i, why didn’t you guys wake up early?"
"Last night you were so tired, so we had to let you sleep more and also Mo Ying told us before leaving that we shouldn’t wake you up so even the kids had to listen and not disturb you."
"He did?" Lin Xu was taken aback.
Just then, she noticed that she was wrapped with sothing. It was a brown blanket which was weird because the last thing she rembered was covering the kids with her own blanket.
Turning to Yan i, Lin Xu asked, "Yan i, did you perhaps cover with a blanket last night?"
"Cover you?" Yan i was confused. "I didn’t do any of that, and I don’t rember Zu Shi or my parents doing that either. When I woke this morning I already saw you covered... ah! Maybe it was Mo Ying because now that I rember he was the only one with a brown blanket."
She said as she carried so bowls and left the tent with Yiling behind her.
anwhile, Lin Xu just sat there, stunned.
’Mo Ying? Why the hell would he sacrifice his blanket for ?’
She was confused but shook it off real quick.
Imdiately she stood up and tidied where she had slept before making her way out of the tent.
Before breakfast so ladies decided to go find a nearby spring or river to take their bath and so Lin Xu decided to join them.
Though Zu Shi decided to remain in order to help make breakfast for everybody.
Taking her bowl and dry clothes, Lin Xu took Yiling along as they together with Yan i made their way to the river.
The won finally reached the river. The water was clear and wide, flowing steadily after the rain. A few of the won were excited and quickly stepped in to wash, their laughter filling the air.
Lin Xu set her bowl down and folded her clothes neatly on the bank. She turned to check on Yiling when her daughter suddenly shouted, "Mama! I forgot to bring my dry clothes!"
Lin Xu frowned, her tone sharp. "Didn’t I tell you to put them in your bowl before we left?"
Yiling lowered her head, embarrassed. "I... I forgot."
Lin Xu sighed, shaking her head. "You’re too careless."
Yan i tried to comfort the girl. "Don’t worry, Yiling. It’s fine... I’ll go back and get it."
Lin Xu stood up. "Don’t worry, Yan i, stay here. I’ll go back and get it." She then turned to Yiling, "Don’t run around."
Leaving them by the river, she started back toward the camp. The path was damp and quiet, the ground soft under her steps. She was almost halfway up when she suddenly felt a heavy strike at the back of her head.
Her vision spun. Before she could turn, soone shoved her hard.
Lin Xu lost her balance and tumbled down the steep slope, branches and rocks scratching her as she rolled helplessly until she crashed against a tree at the bottom.
"Ahh... ahh!"
Gasping for breath, she tried to move but her body ached all over. Then she heard footsteps on the slope above, steady and unhurried.
Soone was still there.
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