My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 982 Abnormal Living Beings
Fortunately, due to the Yellow River floods this year, the masses were mobilized to reinforce and raise the dikes in advance.

Otherwise, many things are really hard to say.

The tragedy of houses collapsing in 1995 might very well repeat itself.

“Fugui, now that you have a cell phone, why don’t you call the county? Things aren’t quite right this year. Since the county just finished their interviews, and the city and province are quite supportive of our dike repair efforts, why don’t you call and tell them about the situation this year…”

“Okay, I’ll call the county when I get back and ask them to distribute more supplies. If that’s not enough, I’ll keep applying to higher authorities.”

Chen Ling nodded seriously.

He had only seen the catastrophic flood of 1998 in the news in his previous life.

Only now, having personally participated in the event, do I truly understand that indescribable sense of urgency.

Actually, if he were a little more selfish...

They could easily take their whole family and hide away on Hong Kong Island.

But he's not that kind of person; he can't turn a blind eye or a deaf ear.

He wasn't a saint, but he did have the instinct to sympathize with the weak and have compassion for his fellow human beings.

This is human instinct, human conscience.

"Fugui, we'll also make a call for you and report the situation."

Zhao Yubao and Professor Zhong also arrived, and they both clearly realized that something was wrong.

"Uncle Zhao, Uncle Zhong is here. Okay, let's make a call first." Chen Ling smiled when he saw the two elderly people coming over.

Without delay, the three of them immediately began making phone calls to the outside world.

At this moment, many workers and villagers on the reservoir looked up at the sky and discussed among themselves.

It was half an hour later when Chen Ling and the others finished their call.

Whether it's the county or the city, they all value their opinions.

Although at this time, the meteorological department has not yet discovered any abnormal problems.

But since they brought it up, we'll take it very seriously.

After all, Chenwangzhuang is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery.

There's only one thing that's a bit mysterious right now.

That means if it really rains heavily, the county's aid will definitely be able to arrive in time, but the city's aid won't be able to.

It's not that we can't make it, it's just that it will definitely be delayed by a few days.

This is influenced by objective weather conditions.

“Let’s go to the construction site on the dam and talk to the workers to see if they need anything.”

"The main thing is to see if there's anything else that needs improvement on the dam, and then we'll have Fugui call again," Zhao Yubao said.

The three arrived at the reservoir construction site, where Wang Laishun, Lao Niwai, and several village officials were talking in the workers' shed.

When they came in, everyone stood up.

Chen Ling recounted the details of the phone call, and Zhao Yubao and Professor Zhong relayed what they knew.

The atmosphere inside the work shed was somewhat subtle.

"Fugui, what do you think we should do?" Wang Laishun asked, his voice filled with caution.

Chen Ling walked to the entrance of the work shed and looked at the increasingly thick dark clouds on the eastern horizon.

The clouds hung low, their color shifting from leaden gray to bluish-black, their edges edged with an eerie golden rim by the afterglow of the setting sun.

The wind had stopped, and the air was so stuffy it was hard to breathe.

"Fifth Uncle, we need to prepare for both possibilities."

Chen Ling turned around and said, "The dam project cannot be stopped, but its progress must be accelerated. In particular, several key sections should be reinforced first."

He walked to the table and drew on the surface with his finger: "This is the weakest section of the dam, the eastern section. The stones used for reinforcement in the past were not regular enough. This year, we have enough stones, so let's bring over a few truckloads of good stones to reinforce it."

"Also, organize people to clean up the upstream and downstream river channels. The reservoir needs to store water, but it also needs to be able to release floodwater. Clean up the weeds and silt in the flood discharge channel, check the gates, and apply oil where necessary."

"Finally, I need to remind the villagers to hurry up and dry the wheat in the threshing ground, and to store the wheat that can be stored away as soon as possible. If your house is in a low-lying area, move your valuables upstairs. If you have elderly people, please prepare their commonly used medicines in advance."

This arrangement was well-organized, neither overly tense nor careless.

Zhao Yubao listened from the side and couldn't help but nod repeatedly: "Fu Gui has considered everything thoroughly. That's the right thing to do; it's better to be prepared."

Professor Zhong took a puff of his pipe and exhaled smoke: "Fu Gui is right. The weather looks ominous to me too, but we can't panic. Just keep doing what we need to do and be extra careful."

Wang Laishun slapped his thigh: "Okay! I'll go arrange it right away!"

"Uncle Fugui!" A group of children's voices came from behind.

Chen Ling turned around and saw Liu Nier leading the village's teenagers over.

The oldest of these children was thirteen or fourteen, and the youngest was only seven or eight. They were all tanned dark and had bright, sparkling eyes.

"Why are you here? Aren't you at home helping with the wheat harvest?" Chen Ling asked.

“We’re from Darang!” Liu Ni’er said breathlessly. “They said Uncle Fugui might need some manpower, so they sent us here to hear their instructions!”

Chen Ling felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the group of children.

Children in mountain villages mature early and are often half-laborers during the busy farming season.

"Then you guys can do me a favor."

Chen Ling took out a piece of chalk from her bag, broke it into several pieces, and handed them to the children. "Work in pairs and walk along the dam. Look carefully for cracks, small holes, or places where water seeps in. If you see one, draw a circle with the chalk and remember its location."

"Remember!" he added sternly, "You can only walk on the dam, no swimming! Do you understand?"

"We heard you!" the children responded in unison, took the chalk, and excitedly ran off in groups.

For children, it's more like a fun treasure hunt.

But their earnest little faces and the way they searched carefully made Chen Ling feel much more at ease.

"Dad!" Rui Rui and Xiao Ming ran over, followed by Xiao Tie Dan wagging its tail.

"Why are you all here too?" Chen Ling squatted down.

"Grandma sent us." Rui Rui hugged Chen Ling's leg. "Grandma said that Dad is doing something important and asked us to come and help."

Xiao Ming nodded vigorously from the side: "Uncle, what can we do?"

Chen Ling patted the two children's heads: "Then you two... help me keep an eye on Xiao Tiedan and don't let it run around. There are a lot of cars on the dam, it's not safe."

"Okay!" the two children answered loudly, grabbing the Tibetan Mastiff's collar from either side.

Little Iron Egg didn't understand, but it enjoyed its little master's attention, obediently squatting down with its tongue sticking out.

Chen Ling continued his patrol.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, the sky grew increasingly gloomy.

The once bright sky was now a leaden gray, with thick clouds that seemed to press down on the mountaintop.

The wind picked up again, this time blowing from the northeast, carrying a distinct chill and moisture.

The village loudspeaker blared, and it was Wang Laishun's voice: "Attention all villagers! Attention all villagers! The weather is very unpredictable this year, and there may be rain in the next few days. Every household should hurry and dry their wheat! Any grain still on the drying ground, if not yet harvested, please bring it home before dark! This is a repeat notice..."

The broadcast traveled on the wind and could be heard throughout the village.

Even though it was just past noon, some people were already covering their fields with plastic sheeting and starting to bring wheat home.

However, there were still a few scattered people who hadn't harvested the wheat.

The people on the drying ground quickened their pace, piling the wheat into heaps and covering them with plastic sheets.

In the courtyard, the women were busy collecting clothes and closing the windows.

The group discussed some details and didn't disperse until after 6 p.m.

When Chen Ling returned to the farm, Wang Susu had already prepared dinner.

Millet porridge, pancakes, stir-fried shredded potatoes, and a small dish of homemade pickled vegetables.

The simple meal steamed under the light.

"Ah Ling, is the situation serious?" Wang Susu asked softly as she served the porridge. "It's hard to say," Chen Ling replied honestly. "The county says it's nothing serious, but the weather is what it is. We still need to make the necessary preparations."

Wang Susu nodded: "I understand. I'll clean up the upstairs rooms tomorrow and move the valuables up first."

"Okay, take your time packing, no rush."

As Chen Ling was speaking, he suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, I'm going to the county tomorrow to buy a few more boxes of candles, a few flashlights, and extra batteries. Just in case... better safe than sorry."

“Okay.” Wang Susu agreed and put a pancake on Chen Ling’s plate. “Don’t worry too much. With you in our village, everyone feels at ease.”

These words warmed Chen Ling's heart.

He held his wife's hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm here for you."

At night, Chen Ling lay in bed, listening to the occasional barking of dogs outside the window, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

He got up, walked to the window, and opened it.

It was pitch black outside; there was no moon or stars.

Thick clouds covered the entire sky, and the air was filled with a strong earthy smell.

That was the scent unique to the air before a heavy rain.

In the distance, lights could be faintly seen flickering in the direction of the reservoir, indicating that people on duty were patrolling.

Chen Ling stood there for a long time until the night breeze blew, bringing a chill.

He closed the window, lay back down on the bed, and his consciousness sank into a deep sleep.

That night, it didn't rain.

But the oppressive feeling of impending doom grew stronger and stronger.

The next morning, the sky actually cleared up.

The sun rose from the east, and although the clouds were still thick, the sunlight stubbornly pierced through the gaps in the clouds, gilding the gray sky.

The air is still stuffy, but it's a bit better than yesterday.

However, the elderly generally took a cautious approach.

Early in the morning, Mr. and Mrs. Chen brought the dried medicinal herbs into the house and checked the roof tiles.

Sister-in-law Xiufen was even more efficient. She not only carried the grain upstairs, but also took out the kerosene lamp that hadn't been used for many years and cleaned it thoroughly.

Chen Ling was also busy at the farm.

He led Heiwa and Xiaojin around the farm wall to check if the drainage ditches were clear.

He then went to check on the livestock shed and asked Wang Cunye to move the fodder to a drier place.

Just as Chen Ling turned to go inside for dinner, an unusual commotion suddenly broke out from the orchard.

First came a few low, restless moos from the cows, followed by the thumping sound of hooves pawing the ground from the livestock shed, which was particularly clear in the quiet evening.

Chen Ling paused, then turned and walked quickly toward the orchard.

Wang Susu followed him out: "What's wrong?"

"I don't know, let's go check."

When the two arrived at the backyard, the scene before them made Chen Ling's heart tighten.

Inside the cowshed were large water buffaloes brought from the mountains and forests of Hong Kong Island.

In particular, the big guy that the villagers privately called "Bull Demon King" was pacing restlessly.

Instead of grazing quietly or lying down to ruminate as usual, they raised their heads, flared their nostrils, and exhaled puffs of white vapor.

The Bull Demon King was the most abnormal.

This enormous creature, nearly 1.8 meters tall and weighing over a ton, was now irritably butting the wooden posts of the cattle pen with its massive horns, producing dull "bang" sounds.

Its large, copper-bell-shaped eyes gazed towards the southeast horizon, their gaze filled with an indescribable wariness and unease.

“Ah Ling, this is…” Wang Susu was a little worried.

Chen Ling did not answer immediately. He walked closer to the cattle pen and carefully observed the condition of the water buffalo.

Their ears were erect, their tails were swishing nervously, and all their muscles were tense.

What caught his attention even more was the look in the eyes of these water buffaloes.

It was a clear look in the eyes of an animal that sensed danger.

"Susu, go to the front yard and see how Heiwa and Xiaojin react," Chen Ling said in a deep voice.

Wang Susu responded and left.

Chen Ling then opened the gate to the cattle pen and carefully entered the shed.

When the Bull Demon King saw him, he let out a low moo of annoyance, but he didn't intend to attack. He just rubbed his huge head against Chen Ling's arm with much more force than usual.

Chen Ling reached out and stroked the Bull Demon King's thick neck, feeling the muscles beneath its skin trembling slightly.

This is not because of cold or illness, but because of tension.

"You felt it too, didn't you?" Chen Ling said softly.

Just then, Wang Susu rushed back: "Ah Ling, Heiwa and Xiaojin are acting strangely too. They're not in their nest, they're circling around in the yard, ears perked up, noses constantly sniffing. Xiao Tiedan is barking incessantly, and nothing we do can calm him down."

No sooner had he finished speaking than commotion broke out in the village.

First came a loud braying of a donkey, followed by a chorus of barking dogs.

It wasn't the usual warning bark used to guard the house, but rather a rapid, anxious bark.

The chickens in the coop started flapping and clucking.

As if by prior arrangement, all the livestock in the village began to stir at the same time.

Chen Ling walked out of the cowshed and stood in the yard.

The sun was shining just a moment ago, but now it's so dark that you can't see the distant mountains anymore.

The oppressive feeling in the air grew heavier and heavier, making one's chest feel tight.

"Ah Ling, what happened?" Wang Susu asked with concern.

"Animals are more sensitive than humans."

Chen Ling looked at the southeastern horizon: "Especially these water buffaloes, they come from the mountains and seaside of Hong Kong Island and live by the sea all year round. Their perception of changes in air pressure and humidity is much more acute than that of livestock in the inland areas."

He paused for a moment: "I've seen this kind of reaction before, on Hong Kong Island. Livestock on the beach react like this before a typhoon."

Wang Susu's expression changed: "You mean..."

"It's hard to say right now."

Chen Ling shook his head, but his eyes were serious: "But it's definitely not a good omen."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Sanwazi came running in, panting: "Uncle Fugui! Uncle Fugui! Something's happened on the dam!"

"Don't rush, tell me slowly," Chen Ling reassured her.

"It's not that anyone is in trouble, there's something in the water!"

Sanwazi gestured: "We were working on the dam just now, and when we saw the weather was getting bad, we were about to call it a day when we suddenly saw a group of huge turtles emerge from the deep water of the reservoir!"

"The old folks say that the Turtle King has returned, but he's much bigger than the Turtle King they've seen before."

Chen Ling was taken aback: "Prince Turtle?"

"Yes! Not just one, but several! The biggest one is as big as a house in our village!"

Sanwazi was so excited he was incoherent: "And the river pigs, the same ones from a few days ago, they've come out too, jumping on the surface of the water. And those big fish, the kind with bony plates on their backs, are also thrashing about on the surface!"

Chen Ling felt a chill run down his spine.

If the livestock's agitation could be a coincidence, then the simultaneous abnormalities of these creatures in the reservoir are definitely not accidental.

"Let's go to Bashang." He grabbed his coat and walked out.