Chapter 94

Chapter 94

The sky outside had already darkened, and the rain continued its relentless fall.

The mountain was unsafe at night, and no one knew how high the water below would rise. Chen Xi promptly gathered all the able-bodied men in the village, dividing over sixty individuals into three teams to take turns on night watch.

The day's toil and anxiety had left everyone utterly exhausted. Some had already lain down to rest, their snores rising and falling throughout the cave. Li Shi and Chen Rong, though elderly, felt weary but couldn't sleep, their hearts heavy with worry for their distant children.

Wang Ying coaxed Yuanbao to sleep and placed him in Li Shi's arms. "I need to step out for a moment. Mother, you should rest early."

"Alright, go ahead."

With so many people in the cave, basic needs like eating and relieving oneself were inconvenient. Wang Ying had arranged for two makeshift latrines to be set up outside the cave. Men used the one on the left, while women and boys used the one on the right. There was no need to worry about odors, as the rain would quickly wash away any waste.

Wang Ying actually intended to visit the experimental field. Since it was inconvenient inside the cave, he discreetly slipped out to an isolated spot and entered.

Inside the experimental field, the sunlight was bright and the temperature pleasant. A new note lay on the table, likely left by Chen Qingyan earlier that day. Wang Ying opened it and read it. There was nothing urgent—just an update on Chen Qingyan's daily life at the government school. Wang Ying then penned a return note, assuring Chen Qingyan that everything at home was fine.

He then checked his stored supplies. The system inventory now contained 3,300 catties of wheat and over 1,700 catties of millet. If he hadn't exchanged some for system experience points earlier, the total would have exceeded 10,000 catties. The wheat in the field was nearly ripe, and harvesting it would yield another 3,000 catties or so. There was no need to worry about food.

Before entering the cave, Wang Ying had stored all the medicine from home in the experimental field but hadn't had time to organize it. These medicines were lifesaving resources—if anyone fell ill, finding alternatives would be difficult.

After tidying up, Wang Ying quickly exited the experimental field. At the cave entrance, he encountered the night watchmen, who respectfully greeted him. "Greetings, Master."

"You've worked hard."

"Not at all. Our parents, wives, and children are inside. It's our duty."

Wang Ying nodded and entered the cave, where snoring echoed loudly. Qing Yun and Lin Sui were already asleep. Li Shi and Chen Rong, worried about Wang Ying, had stayed awake but soon dozed off after his return.

Wang Ying pulled the blanket over himself, curled up on the mat, and closed his eyes. Sometime later, he was abruptly awakened by shouting.

"You damn creep, if you're itching, go outside and rub yourself on a rock! How dare you take advantage of me? I'll beat you to death, you shameless bastard!"

"Shut up, you wretched woman! Don't push your luck!"

Their argument quickly woke everyone. Someone held up a torch, revealing that Widow Qin and Song Daming were fighting.

Chen Xi, throwing on his clothes, stepped forward. "What's going on?"

Widow Qin said, "He sneaked into my bed while I was asleep!"

"Bullshit! When did I ever get into your bed?"

"Then who undid my clothes? You shameless scoundrel, taking advantage of me because I have no man at home! I'll fight you to the death!" Widow Qin grabbed a carrying pole and swung it at him.

Song Daming, relying on his strength, snatched the pole and struck back. The crowd quickly intervened to separate them.

After understanding the situation, Wang Ying stood up and approached Song Daming. "Where were you sleeping just now?"

Song Daming swallowed nervously and pointed to an empty spot nearby.

Someone spoke up, "Song Daming, weren't you sleeping on the outside earlier? Your belongings are still here."

Widow Qin spat, "How dare you lie in front of the Master? You've got some nerve!"

Realizing he was cornered, Song Daming knelt. "I didn't do anything, I just groped her a couple of times."

Chen Xi, furious, kicked him. "What kind of time is this to be thinking about such things? Master, what should we do with him…"

"Throw him out."

"Huh?" Song Daming froze.

"Get out! You're not allowed to stay in the cave!"

"Master, I was wrong! Please have mercy…"

Seeing that Song Daming refused to leave, Wang Ying gestured to several men. "Drag him out and don't let him back in."

Four or five men immediately stepped forward and hauled him outside. Song Daming had always been known in the village for petty theft, and everyone disliked him. No one expected him to dare such a thing at a time like this.

Terrified, Song Daming pleaded, "Master, spare me! Have pity on me!"

Chen Xi also tried to intercede, "Master, perhaps we could wait until the rain stops before throwing him out? There's no shelter outside…"

"Throw him out now!"

The men hustled Song Daming out of the cave and tossed his belongings after him.

Everyone was shocked by the Master's severity and became even more cautious, afraid of provoking his anger and suffering the same fate.

The commotion had woken everyone, and no one could fall back asleep. Wang Ying returned to his sleeping spot. Li Shi whispered worriedly, "With such heavy rain outside, isn't throwing him out too harsh a punishment?"

Wang Ying lowered his voice. "We don't know how long this rain will last. If we don't make an example of him, this cave could descend into chaos. With just Uncle Chen and Dun Zi to protect us widows and fatherless children, how could we manage? By then, it would be too late to regain control."

Li Shi's heart sank. "Surely not…" She had always thought everyone respected them. Would they really cause trouble at a time like this?

"Who knows? It's better not to test human nature."

In his previous life, Wang Ying had seen enough films and read enough books to know that human nature could not withstand temptation.

For now, with enough food and clothing, everyone lived in harmony. But if the rain continued and supplies ran out, starving people could become more dangerous than wild beasts.

*

Around 3–5 a.m., dawn broke. Gray light seeped into the cave through the entrance, illuminating the dark space.

The rain outside had lightened slightly, and people began to rise, going out to fetch water and prepare food.

Tian Daniu and the others went down the mountain again to check. Upon returning, they reported, "Our village has turned into a river. You can't even see the rooftops anymore."

Everyone sighed in despair. "I just built a new house last year, spent seventeen strings of coins on it. I was planning to use it for my son's wedding. Now it's all for nothing."

"Same here. My house wasn't built that long ago. A lifetime of savings, gone just like that."

Chen Xi puffed on his tobacco pipe. "No matter how bad you have it, can it compare to the Master? That grand courtyard of his was so beautiful, and it's gone too."

No one spoke further. The flood had indiscriminately destroyed every household.

Soon enough, the millet porridge was cooked, its aroma lifting their spirits a little. Everyone took out their bowls and chopsticks to serve themselves and eat.

Wang Ying, as if performing a magic trick, quietly pulled a boiled egg from inside his coat and handed it to his son.

There wasn’t much to eat these days, but a young child couldn’t go without proper nutrition. Before leaving, Wang Ying had boiled dozens of eggs from the storeroom and hidden them in the experimental field, taking a few out each day for his son.

After breakfast, the wives and husbands gathered to chat, gossiping about all the local goings-on.

Li Shi and Chen Rong also began talking about Chen Qingyan and the others. "Who knows what's become of those three kids now? It’s raining so heavily here—I wonder if it’s raining in Laizhou too."

Chen Rong said, "It's been so long, and they haven't even sent a letter back."

Wang Ying suddenly remembered this matter and decided he would remind Chen Qingyan to write a few letters and send them home tonight. Although the two of them left notes for each other every day, his mother couldn’t see them and must be worried sick.

Around 7–9 a.m., angry shouts and a general commotion suddenly came from the cave entrance. Soon after, Chen Dashun ran in and said, "Boss! Father! There are a lot of people outside wanting to come in and take shelter from the rain!"

Wang Ying was taken aback and immediately stood up to follow him out.

Outside stood over thirty men, all villagers from the neighboring Zheng Village. They were among the few who had managed to escape to the mountain—most of their village had been drowned by the flood.

Someone who had been hunting on the mountain remembered there was a cave here and tried to lead the others to it. But because of the heavy rain and unfamiliar terrain, they had searched for half a day yesterday without success.

They had no food or rain gear with them, and while cold and hungry, they ran into Song Daming, who had been driven out of the cave.

Song Daming had been on the verge of despair, but seeing this group gave him an idea. "I know where the cave is—I’ll take you there! But you have to let me in once we find it!"

The leader of the group, Zheng Qun, was somewhat puzzled. "If you know where the cave is, why aren’t you inside taking shelter instead of staying out here?"

"Ugh, don't get me started! I was wronged!" he said, completely twisting the story. He claimed that the widow had tried to seduce him, and when he refused, she became angry and accused him of harassing her. The boss, without investigating, had driven him out.

Zheng Qun replied, "Don’t worry. As long as you lead us there, we’ll definitely let you in to take shelter with us!"

So Song Daming led the group to the cave where he had previously taken shelter.

The people guarding the entrance naturally wouldn’t let them in. They weren’t from the same village, and the cave was full of the elderly, weak, women, and children. What if letting them in caused trouble?

Before long, Wang Ying came out and immediately spotted Song Daming in the crowd. He couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

"This cave is on Chen Village’s mountain. The entire Chen Village is mine, so this cave is naturally mine too. What do you think you’re doing barging in here like this?!"

Zheng Qun stepped forward and cupped his hands respectfully. "Boss, please don’t be angry. The rain outside is just too heavy—we only want to come in and take shelter."

Chen Xi said, "It’s not that we won’t let you, but the cave is already full. There’s honestly no space left."

Song Daming retorted, "There’s plenty of room for all of us!"

Chen Xi’s gaze turned cold. And to think he'd pleaded for this guy last night! Someone so two-faced deserved to be beaten to death!

Hearing this, Zheng Qun and his men took a few steps forward, looking as though they were about to force their way in.

Chen Xi said angrily, "Da Shun, round up all the men! Let’s see who dares to cause trouble in front of the boss!"

Chen Dashun went inside and shouted, and soon all the men of Chen Village came out holding hoes, pickaxes, and sickles. A hundred or so men appeared, instantly cowing Zheng Qun's group and forcing them to retreat outside the cave entrance.

They had thought there were only a few dozen people in the cave and planned to seize it by force, relying on their youth and strength.

But they hadn't expected the entire Chen Village to be inside. That idea vanished instantly—these people were clearly ready for a fight, armed with weapons. In a real fight, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

Some of Zheng Qun’s men were already having second thoughts. "Let’s go, let’s go. We’ll find another place to take shelter."

Seeing this, Song Daming said anxiously, "We can’t leave! You won’t find another place as good as this!"

Zheng Qun glanced at him—he was no fool. With so many people from Chen Village, did he want to get himself killed trying to take the cave?

The group turned and continued deeper into the mountain. Song Daming stood there, unsure whether to go or stay. Finally, he stamped his foot and had no choice but to follow the people from Zheng Village as they left.