Chapter 87: Chapter 88: Hidden Things
Tang Yuxin lifted her head, looking at the towering tree. The tree was full of dense leaves and even after experiencing such a massive flood, it still stood tall, showing no signs of falling.
Because the tree was so thickly covered with leaves, the things she had her uncle hide in its branches could not be detected unless paid close attention to.
She looked around. The people around her were clearing out the uninhabitable houses, figuring out ways to make do.
Before long, the village chief came around, going door to door informing them that the county would send people to help rebuild their homes. They would receive donations from various places, and the village could be rebuilt. For the moment, everyone would have to endure some hardship and prioritize cleaning up and tidying where they could. Together, they would overcome this difficulty and face it head on.
Floods are pitiless, but people are compassionate. Their houses are in such a state that they couldn’t do anything about it. But they couldn’t also just let their newly planted crops go to waste.
By nighttime, the county had sent over numerous tents. The flood had receded quickly and the ground had dried fast. By nightfall, when you stepped on the ground, there was no mud anymore.
One tent was allotted per household. The night air was frigid, and the whole family had to squeeze into one tent. They ate, drank, and went to the bathroom inside the tent. Their food was either bread or steamed buns delivered alongside the tents. Water was brought in by the county in a sizable truck. If they wanted to drink, they had to fetch it themselves, using whatever vessels they could find.
The two brothers, Tang Zhinian and Tang Zhijun, only took some water, and then crawled into their tent, never coming out again. None of them could fall asleep. At midnight, only the young Tang Yuxin was asleep, resting her head on her father’s leg, covered by her father’s clothes.
Tang Zhinian placed his hand on his daughter’s hair, sighing audibly from time to time.
The wind was piercingly cold at night, causing the leaves on the tree outside to rustle.
Suddenly, Yuxin sat up.
“What’s wrong?” Tang Zhinian touched his daughter’s little face.
“Don’t worry, Xinxin, the floodwater is gone. We are safe, really, don’t be afraid.”
“Dad, the tree,” Tang Yuxin pointed outside.
“Yes, the tree. What about the tree?” Tang Zhinian got hold of a military coat and wrapped his daughter in it. He too heard the sound of the wind shaking the leaves.
Don’t be afraid, it’s just the leaves of the tree rustling.
“Tree,” Tang Yuxin extended her little hand again, “Dad, tree.”
“I see,” Tang Zhijun suddenly stood up, opened the tent.
“Brother, there are some things that little Yuxin kept for herself on the tree. I’ll go and get them.”
Tang Zhinian was confused, wondering why they stored their things in a tree for no apparent reason. However, in a short while, Tang Zhijun had thrown many things down from the tree and brought each item into the tent. Inside the tent, they had a candle lit, so it wasn’t too dark.
There were quite a few bags, not too many when put up there separately, a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow. However, when taken down all at once, it was a lot. Nearly half the tent was filled up.
“How come there’s so much stuff?” Tang Zhinian was slightly surprised seeing half the tent filled with things.
“I didn’t think it would be this much either,” Tang Zhijun scratched his head, indeed, there was quite a lot.