A sudden rainstorm, coming and going swiftly, lasted less than half an hour before the sky cleared completely.
Without the rainwater under the eaves, the battered vegetable leaves, and the fresh air, it wouldn’t even be noticeable that just monts ago, the fierce storm almost blew their house over.
Jiang Hu stood up and released his wife and children: "You all wait here at ho, I’m going out to check around."
The eldest son quickly followed: "Dad, I’ll go with you."
Jiang Hu didn’t object, while the second wife held the children and went outside with the second daughter to sit.
The previous commotion was too terrifying, staying inside felt like the house might collapse at any mont.
Jiang Hu circled his house once; all the main beams were intact, only the chicken coop’s roof had been stripped of so thatch.
Though it’s a thatched house, the main beams are thick tree trunks, and the roof, despite appearing shaky, is actually very solid.
Previously, he had also deliberately reinforced the roof. As long as the thatch is replaced in ti, this thatched house should last another ten years or so without any issues.
But the eldest son didn’t know this; following his father, he was very worried upon seeing him picking up two pieces of thatch from the chicken coop’s roof: "Dad, our house won’t collapse, will it?"
They had traveled far and finally settled here, the family was happy, and he didn’t want to lose his ho again.
"It won’t, it’s steady," Jiang Hu answered casually, but turned to see his son’s worried expression, sighing inwardly.
This child is the eldest, knows the most, although the sa age as Liu Hai, he’s not carefree like Liu Hai.
Jiang Hu restored the chicken coop’s thatch to its original state, not minding his wet hands, and patted his son’s head.
"Don’t worry, Dad is here. Do you rember back ho, the cowshed there? Wasn’t it even more rudintary than where we live now? That cowshed weathered many storms and rains and was still intact when we left."
The eldest son nodded, his expression relaxing a bit.
"Alright, don’t be dejected. In a couple of years, once our family saves enough money, we’ll build a new brick house."
A house will certainly be built; when the eldest son and Iron Egg grow older, they’ll need it to find a wife.
But for now, with this thatched house, living here is alright, there’s no rush.
The eldest son instantly brightened up—having a brick house ans no more fear of wind and rain!
The father and son carefully inspected further, indeed finding no major issues. Their house, situated at the end of the village, had a hillside not far behind them, which also served as a windbreak.
"Second wife, keep an eye on the children at ho. The fields are very muddy after the rain, so we can’t work there now. I’ll go check the village."
Jiang Hu rolled up his pant legs, tying two stalks of thatch tighter to prevent them from falling.
The path to the village was all muddy roads, and if he let his pant legs down, they’d be covered in mud quickly.
The second wife nodded: "I just heard so noise from the village; I hope nothing happened to anyone."
Though it was far, they were all in the sa village on flat land, so sound traveled far. She had heard shouting just now.
But holding a child, she didn’t know what exactly was happening, so she didn’t go over.
Jiang Hu: "I heard it too, the eldest son and second daughter should stay ho properly, I’ll be back soon."
Saying this, Jiang Hu left the courtyard, quickly heading towards the village.
Fuan Village didn’t only have their family living in a thatched house; there were several others. Moreover, one was more dilapidated than theirs.
Jiang Hu guessed it was probably that one, it was not sheltered from the wind, and by today’s wind direction, it seed directly facing that family’s front door.
It could be said the Jiang family was lucky; back then, that family didn’t favor the grass hut either.
However, being in the sa village, everyone wanted to stick close for mutual support.
Otherwise, when the Jiang family, with pregnant and young mbers, slowly arrived at Fuan Village, that most rundown shack would likely have been theirs.
Jiang Hu quickly reached the village—without even asking, he saw many people heading in one direction and hurriedly followed.
On the way, he t Liu Yang coming out of his house: "Brother Jiang, you’re here. Is your house alright?"
Jiang Hu shook his head: "We’re fine. While inspecting the house, I heard so commotion in the village, so I ca to see."
With a sigh, Liu Yang said: "I know, it’s my uncle’s house that collapsed."
Jiang Hu was stunned: "Your uncle’s house?"
The sa uncle Liu Yang had ntioned once at the village head’s eting?
Liu Yang nodded: "That’s right."
The house collapsing was no laughing matter, so Liu Yang couldn’t joke about it now.
The distance wasn’t far, and soon they arrived. Jiang Hu saw clearly.
The already shabby hut had half its structure blown down by the wind. Uncle Liu, with a sullen face, was cleaning up with several younger ones. Beside them, an old woman was sitting on the ground, crying loudly.
Three little boys, presumably Uncle Liu’s grandsons, stood helplessly by their grandmother, one as small as the eldest son, the oldest maybe seven or eight years old.
The surrounding neighbors had co over, neither speaking a word as they began to help. Uncle Liu repeatedly thanked them.
Jiang Hu and Liu Yang also rolled up their sleeves to join in. Although Liu Yang didn’t get along with his uncle, in serious situations like this, he knew better than to hold back.
Fortunately, it was just a thatched house; two cabinets had been smashed, so bowls and chopsticks broken, but they managed to save the rest.
"The beam is rotten. You see, right where it broke, it was hollow, no wonder the house fell."
The village chief lifted a piece of thatch, revealing the broken beam, not only rotten but with many insect holes.
Jiang Hu wasn’t usually one to ddle much, but standing next to the village chief, he couldn’t pretend not to see, so he asked a question.
"Chief, what now? There are old folks and kids here, they’ll need a place to stay, right?"
Jiang Hu asked out of good intention, knowing as the village chief, he wouldn’t ignore the issue.
Unexpectedly, not knowing where he misspoke, the old woman, who had been crying and not helping with her family’s belongings, suddenly questioned loudly.
"Isn’t your house blessed by Little Lucky Star? Isn’t Little Lucky Star supposed to protect us? Why did our house collapse, but yours didn’t!"
Jiang Hu furrowed his brows. This old woman neglected to inspect her own house and was blaming Little Lucky Star.
Before Jiang Hu could say anything, Liu Yang threw the thatch in his hand at her feet, startling the old woman, who shrieked sharply: "You rascal, what are you doing!"
Liu Yang snorted with a sneer: "Auntie, you have no sha; your husband and son should, right? Blaming Little Lucky Star for the rain and wind, were you the one wanting to trade eaves water for their dirty water!"
Liu Yang’s words were not the least bit polite, making Uncle Liu’s face even darker. Seeing his wife about to speak, he coldly said: "Shut up! Haven’t you been embarrassed enough? Little Jiang kindly ca to help; cause more trouble, and I’ll beat you!"
The old woman shrank back and kept quiet.
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