My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 987 Pause
With rainy days making it impossible to work in the fields, Wang Susu had more time to do needlework.

Children's clothes, shoes, and socks, as well as adults' underwear, were all shaped or repaired by her nimble needles.

Gao Xiulan would take care of her two young grandsons, or help pick beans and shell peanuts.

Humming a slow, melodious nursery rhyme, her voice blended with the sound of rain outside the window, creating a calming effect.

Other work on the farm didn't completely stop either.

Wang Cunye, along with the hired day laborers, repaired farm tools, wove baskets, and sorted seeds and dried goods in the warehouse under safe eaves or in sheds.

The patter of rain, mixed with the slow, gentle voices of an old man instructing others on their work, the rustling of bamboo strips being pulled, and the clanging of hammers striking, created a busy yet peaceful symphony on a rainy day at the farm.

Of course, Chen Ling spends very little time at home.

The reservoir dam is of paramount importance. Although the most dangerous warning seems to have passed for the time being, the water level remains high and the continuous rain is still testing the dam's endurance.

He goes to the dam several times a day to check the water level gauge, inspect the newly reinforced sections for any abnormalities, communicate with Engineer Zhou and Teacher Wu sent by the county, and coordinate the manpower and materials from various villages to cooperate.

Thanks to the astonishing energy mobilized by Li Lianjie, Boss Xu, Liang Yuemin, and others, and the subsequent attention from officials at all levels, flood control supplies in Chenwangzhuang and even several surrounding villages reached an astonishingly abundant level in a very short period of time.

The brand-new diesel water pumps roared day and night in several critical and dangerous sections, powerfully expelling any water that might seep in.

The mountains of woven bags and sand ensured that any minor hazard could be quickly addressed.

Life jackets, tents, and emergency food and medicines are stored separately and can be used at any time.

Even the thirty rescue rubber boats and assault boats have been allocated and are being trained by selected young men who are good swimmers.

More importantly, it's about people's hearts.

Seeing so many tangible "hard goods" arrive in person, and seeing experts and leaders from the county, city, and even province, the villagers who were initially skeptical and harboring wishful thinking finally had their doubts dispelled.

Everyone truly came together as one. Without much mobilization, they went to work when they needed to and patrolled when they needed to. The women took the initiative to take on the logistics, and the elderly also used their experience to keep a close eye on the subtle changes in the water and weather.

The dangerous situations in places like Jinmen Village and Taoshugou were resolved with the help of manpower and key equipment from Chenwangzhuang.

Especially after the high-power water pumps were installed, the situation gradually stabilized.

The cadres from several villages now meet daily to share information and coordinate resources, forming a joint prevention network centered on Chenwangzhuang and covering an area in the upper reaches of the Jinshui River.

The leaders from the county saw it and said they would report it as a model experience.

At noon that day, the rain was a little light. Chen Ling returned from the dam, his raincoat dripping wet.

As soon as I entered the yard, I heard a cell phone ringing in the living room.

Wang Susu poked her head out from the kitchen: "Ah Ling, answer it quickly, it's rang twice, it might be something important."

Chen Ling responded and quickly walked into the living room, picking up his phone: "Hello, who is this?"

A somewhat stiff but clearly spoken Mandarin came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Chen? Hello, this is Anderson. We met in Fenglei Town. A few days ago... Eva called on my behalf to send her greetings."

Chen Ling smiled upon hearing this.

He was quite surprised last time; he didn't expect these foreigners to provide assistance.

When he called again to offer his help, he didn't know what to say.

"Mr. Anderson, hello. I heard you haven't left yet? With this weather lately, the mountain roads are difficult to travel."

"Yes, yes, the weather is terrible."

Anderson's tone was urgent: "Mr. Chen, we heard the broadcast and we also heard that you are preparing to deal with a major flood. The rain is nonstop, and the river in Fenglei Town is very frightening. We greatly admire your efforts and courage, as well as those of your villagers."

“Eva already explained the situation to you last time…”

"We want to offer our help, and this time we've already made all the necessary arrangements!"

Anderson said urgently, "We contacted some organizations and individuals in our country and raised a batch of professional flood control materials, including high-efficiency pumping equipment, water purification devices, and a batch of first-aid medicines. We hope to donate them for flood relief."

Chen Ling politely replied, "Thank you very much, Mr. Anderson and your friends, for your kindness. However, we have already received sufficient assistance, and it is being allocated in a unified manner..."

"Mr. Chen, please accept this!"

Anderson interrupted him, his tone more earnest, “This is not just a donation, but also… we hope to continue to have your understanding, and, if possible in the future, a little friendly guidance regarding that mysterious forest. We know you are the person who knows the mountains best in this area.”

really.

Chen Ling understood.

These persistent foreigners are genuinely offering their assistance, but they may also be using it as a "stepping stone" to continue their obsession with finding the "Purple Qilin."

The specialized equipment they provide may be more advanced than existing equipment in some aspects.

He pondered for a moment.

Flood control is the top priority right now, and having more resources and better preparations is always a good thing.

As for what happens in the future... we'll talk about that later.

The mountains are there, the clues are elusive, giving them a glimmer of hope in exchange for tangible assistance seems reasonable at this moment.

Moreover, they phrased it beautifully, using terms like "donation" and "admiration."

“Mr. Anderson, on behalf of the villagers, I thank you for your internationalist friendship and generous help.”

Chen Ling's attitude softened. "Regarding the transportation of supplies, the road conditions are very poor right now. Do you have a way to get them in?"

Hearing that Chen Ling was somewhat relenting, Anderson was visibly pleased: "Don't worry about that! We've contacted our country's consulate and some private transportation companies, and we can use special channels to transport the supplies to the nearest town with road access as quickly as possible. Then you might need to send someone to meet us for the last leg of the journey."

"Okay. I'll give you the contact person and their contact information later. Thanks again."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ling shook his head and smiled.

Wang Susu brought over a bowl of hot ginger soup and asked, "Those foreigners? Do they really want to help?"

"Well, we're sending equipment and medicine, on the condition that I can give them some pointers about the situation in the mountains in the future. We're still not giving up."

Chen Ling took a sip of ginger soup, the spicy warmth reaching his stomach: "The stuff is good, I'll take it. As for guidance... we'll see. This mountain isn't my home, and whether what they're looking for even exists is another matter."

"These people are really persistent."

Wang Susu sighed, "This rain has mixed up so many things."

"Yes, but it was also this rain that brought together a lot of forces." Chen Ling looked out the window; the rain was like a fine weave, and the distant mountains were shrouded in mist, a hazy blur.

"I wonder what the scene will be like after this rain stops."

For the next few days, the rain remained at a moderate pace, but enough to keep everything constantly damp.

As promised, the foreign aid supplies delivered to the county town were indeed transported with great efficiency, and Chen Ling and Zhao Dahai led a group to pick them up.

There were indeed some novel gadgets inside, such as a portable water quality tester, a small but powerful gasoline pump, and some special first aid kits with packaging full of foreign languages. Zhou and his colleagues studied them as if they were treasures and then assigned them to the most suitable locations.

Against this backdrop, daily life on the farm continues at its unique rhythm.

The pressure of flood control remains, but it has shifted from the initial sudden and life-or-death race against time to a more orderly and sustained stage of preparedness.

With a clearer understanding in their minds, people's worries largely disappeared, and they even began to find joy amidst their suffering.

Several skilled old men in the village used softened willow twigs to weave small rain hats and raincoats for the children. Although they were not as exquisite as those sold in stores, they were quite interesting.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming wore such "equipment" and patrolled the corridor like adults, followed by Xiao Tie Dan wagging its tail, becoming a scene in the farm.

Kang Kang and Lele's interest in riding the big cat waned slightly, and they became fascinated with watching Wang Cunye weave baskets.

The old man was skillful and could weave little things in the shape of birds and fish, which amused the two little children so much that they wanted to imitate him, babbling incessantly. Of course, this usually ended with him breaking a few willow branches and smearing his own face with saliva.

Chen Ling spent a little more time at home. Sometimes she would take the two little ones to identify the farm tools hanging on the wall, or point to the rain outside and teach them to pronounce simple words like "wind," "rain," "mountain," and "field."

The two children studied diligently, and although their pronunciation was unclear, their innocent focus always dispelled the gloom brought by the continuous rain.

Afu and Ashou seemed to be enjoying this rare moment of leisure when their owner was often home.

They often lay at Chen Ling's feet, their huge bodies like two warm, cozy blankets, making satisfied gurgling sounds in their throats.

Occasionally, Chen Ling would take out some spiritual water or food that was beneficial to the animals from the cave and quietly mix it into their diet.

This allowed the two big cats to maintain their glossy fur and bright eyes, showing no signs of fatigue, even during the wet rainy season.

Their quietness and majesty bring a silent sense of security to everyone on the farm.

Chen Ling saw how hard Heiwa and Xiaojin worked.

He made a special trip to groom the two hardworking guard dogs and check their paws.

Walking on muddy ground during the rainy season can easily trap dirt and grime. Use homemade herbal ointment to apply it to any minor scratches that may have been caused by branches.

And they often bring them into the cave to bathe them and give them a massage to relax.

Dogs that are intelligent and perceptive can sense their owner's affection and affirmation, and become more meticulous when working.

Chen Ling didn't even forget the "Bull Demon King" and his companions in the cowshed.

The cave products he secretly added to the feed allowed these water buffaloes from afar to not only adapt quickly to the local climate, but also become even more robust than when they were in the mountains of Hong Kong Island.

When fields soaked by rain need to be plowed and dried, these oxen will be the mainstay.

They seem to understand this as well, conserving their energy in the shed, waiting for the rain to stop, the clouds to clear, and the earth to need their strength.

As for the calves and buffalo, they are quite playful and adapt very well to this kind of rainy weather.

Chen Ling often rode the little white ox out, and it was well taken care of every day, so it didn't require any special attention.

That evening, the rain had almost stopped, with only occasional drops of water dripping from the eaves.

A crack appeared in the clouds to the west, letting in a few golden-red rays of light, brief yet incredibly precious.

Chen Ling held Lele in his arms, while Wang Susu held Rui Rui's hand. The family stood on the second-floor terrace, gazing at the fields and distant mountains, washed clean by the rain and now shrouded in the soft twilight and afterglow of the sunset.

From the direction of the reservoir, the low rumble of the water pumps could still be faintly heard, but at this moment, the sound seemed more like background noise to ensure peace.

"Daddy, the clouds are red." Lele pointed her little finger to the horizon.

"Hmm, sunset, the sky might clear up soon." Chen Ling kissed his daughter's little face.

Rui Rui looked up and asked, "Now that the weather is clear, can we go out to catch fish?"

Wang Susu smiled and patted his head: "The sky has cleared up and the ground has dried. Dad will take you to the river to take a look, but we need to wait until the water is clearer and calmer before we can catch fish."

"Oh..." Rui Rui nodded as if she understood, then turned her attention to Heiwa, who was drinking water in the courtyard downstairs.

The evening breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees after the rain and the fragrance of earth, moist and cool.

The calls of unknown birds drifted from the distant mountains, clear and melodious, as if celebrating the brief respite from the rain.

Chen Ling embraced his wife and children, gazing at the land he had poured countless efforts into, a land that remained stable and peaceful despite the storms.

The cave brought him far more than just wealth and extraordinary abilities; it also brought him a deep sense of bond and responsibility.

This allows him to protect those he wants to protect, safeguard his hometown, and even influence a wider area within his capabilities.

He knew that the meteorological challenges might not be completely over, but they had worked together to overcome the most difficult and unknown hurdles.

What follows is patient vigilance, continuous consolidation, and the inevitable recovery and reconstruction after the disaster.

And these are precisely the things that the people living on this land are best at.

As the afterglow faded and the sky turned deep blue, twinkling lights began to illuminate Chenwangzhuang and the surrounding villages.

"Come on, let's go downstairs for dinner. Tomorrow should be a nice day," Chen Ling said.

At least the rain has stopped, and people can catch their breath.

He looked towards the village not far away, where wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys in the misty fog.

You can faintly hear the crowing of roosters and the barking of dogs, and occasionally the faint laughter of children.

As they went downstairs, Heiwa and Xiaojin lay on the threshold of the living room, their ears occasionally twitching. They had relaxed, no longer as wary as they had been a few days ago.

Upon seeing Chen Ling return, the two large dogs immediately stood up, wagging their tails enthusiastically, but they didn't bark loudly. Instead, they came over and rubbed their heads against his legs, making affectionate whimpering sounds.

Chen Ling gently patted each of their heads.

After this disaster, these two guys seem to have become more composed, and their eyes reveal a sense of calm and reliability.