Chapter 196: The Bamboo Raft

Chapter 196: The Bamboo Raft

Lin Datian usually deferred to his wife, which was why relations with his second and third brothers' families had been so strained over the years. But seeing all their neighbors packing up and fleeing, how could he possibly stay put? Ignoring Zhang Lamei, he yelled at his three sons, "What are you gawking at? Get your asses moving and pack! Grab all the important things, especially the grain!"

"No packing!" Zhang Lamei shrieked, grabbing at Lin Datian.

"You crazy woman, have you lost your mind?! If you won't go, my sons and I will!"

Outside, the floodwaters were rising, but his mother-in-law and father-in-law were still bickering indoors. The eldest daughter-in-law, heavily pregnant, let out a cold snort. "If Mother-in-law wants to stay, let her. I'm going to the back mountain. Even if the flood doesn't come today, I'll accept it."

Turning to Lin Duocang, who was supporting her, she asked, "I'm going to the back mountain. Will you take me, or will you listen to your mother and stay put?"

"I... you're carrying our child, wife. If you insist on going, I'll take you!" Lin Duocang was a henpecked husband, always listening to his wife, especially with her being pregnant. His wife's well-being was his priority.

"Oh, so that's how it is! I knew you never respected me as your mother-in-law. Now you've finally dropped the act! Don't think that just because your ancestors produced a scholar, you're some kind of respectable person. Bah! That's ancient history! Your father and brothers are all dirt-poor farmers, tilling the land. Who are you trying to fool with your airs? If you dare step out that door today, tomorrow I'll have my son divorce you!"

Zhang Lamei's eldest daughter-in-law, Wu Shi, came from a family that had produced a scholar generations ago, though that was long past. The family had declined over the years, now owning only four or five meager acres. Only some ancestral books and texts held any value. Wu Shi's ability to read a few characters was what had caught Zhang Lamei's eye, leading to her becoming the eldest daughter-in-law.

Zhang Lamei had long been irritated by Wu Shi's demeanor. What angered her even more was that this little hussy had somehow charmed her eldest son, who now sided with his wife more and more.

If it weren't for the hope that her future grandson would inherit some scholarly refinement from Wu Shi's lineage, why would she have married such a lazy daughter-in-law? And now, this girl was openly defying her mother-in-law!

Wu Shi couldn't be bothered with further arguments. She had originally planned for Lin Duocang to bring some grain, but seeing Zhang Lamei's attitude, she decided to abandon that idea too.

"If you want to divorce me, you'll have to ask Da Lang if he agrees. If he's willing, then so be it. If not, we'll separate from the family voluntarily! From now on, Mother-in-law, stay out of our affairs!"

Zhang Lamei's face turned ashen with rage. She demanded of her eldest son, "Lin Duocang! Tell me, do you want your wife or your own mother?"

Caught in the middle, Lin Duocang was torn. "Mother, of course I want both. But my wife is pregnant, so I'll listen to her and take her to the back mountain first."

The third son, Lin Duoliang, ever the troublemaker, seized the opportunity to declare, "Big brother, if you don't listen to Mother and go with sister-in-law, then don't consider me your brother anymore. I won't acknowledge you! Our family must all listen to Mother." He then quickly went to support Zhang Lamei. "Mother, I'll listen to you."

Her youngest son's thoughtful gesture somewhat appeased Zhang Lamei's anger. Of her three sons, the eldest was a lost cause, but at least the second and third were obedient.

"Enough, stop arguing!" Lin Datian snapped impatiently again. "Pack up, everyone to the back mountain!"

Zhang Lamei continued to make a fuss, pushing and shoving. In a fit of anger, Lin Datian slapped her hard across the face.

Zhang Lamei stared at him in disbelief. "Lin Datian! How dare you hit me? I'll fight you to the death!"

Seeing the couple about to start another brawl, Wu Shi wasted no more time. She grabbed the family's straw rain cape, put it on, and without a thought for whether her mother-in-law would call her selfish, she waded through the water towards the back mountain at the village's edge, taking nothing else.

Lin Datian also dared not delay. If they waited any longer, the entire village would be gone, leaving only their family. If the flood truly came, they would all end up in the underworld together.

At this thought, Lin Datian hardened his heart and delivered two more resounding slaps to Zhang Lamei, leaving her stunned.

"You crazy woman, what time is this to be making a scene? If you want to die, go die alone! Don't drag the whole family down with you!"

Lin Datian rarely lost his temper, but when he did, Lin Duogu and Lin Duoliang didn't dare utter a word. They obediently went to pack.

By the time the large and small baskets were filled, the floodwater in the village had already reached their calves!

Zhang Lamei, sulking, didn't want to go. But seeing the water level outside rising higher and Lin Datian and her two sons actually leaving without her, she felt utterly dejected. In the end, covering the slap marks on her face, she sobbed and followed behind.

They had only gone a short distance, not even halfway to the village end, when the water reached their knees.

Lin Duogu stumbled, and a sack of flour from his basket fell into the water. "The flour! Our flour!" he cried out in panic.

Grain could be washed if it got dirty, but flour was ruined once wet. And this was a whole sack of flour!

Lin Datian gritted his teeth. "Forget it, hurry up!"

Lin Datian was now filled with regret. Because of his wife's tantrum, they had delayed too long, and the floodwater had grown deeper. Now they saw only a few villagers ahead; most had already reached the back mountain.

As they went further, not only was the water deep, but it had also become a flowing river. The village's rear was higher than the front, so they were effectively fighting against the current.

Ahead, Wu Shi and Lin Duocang had started earlier, but Wu Shi, being heavily pregnant, couldn't move quickly.

As they walked, the water rose past Wu Shi's knees. Unnoticed, she tripped over an unseen obstacle underwater, fell, and swallowed a mouthful of muddy water. Lin Duocang hurriedly helped her up, panicking. "Wife, are you okay?"

"I can't walk anymore," Wu Shi panted.

Carrying the baby made her heavy, and the straw rain cape, made of palm fibers, was also cumbersome. Wading through the water was exhausting. But if she took off the cape, she'd be drenched by the rain, and catching a chill would be disastrous.

Just then, a loud crash echoed—a thatched house somewhere had collapsed under the rain.

Seeing the collapsed house, Wu Shi took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. "Let's keep going!"

Further ahead, the few villagers still moving had also witnessed the collapse. Their faces turned pale with fear.

Those who had left last were either stubbornly defiant or greedy, wanting to take everything. Now, seeing houses collapse and the village flooding, they no longer questioned anything.

The flood had arrived!

They had to hurry. Any delay, and it would be too late!

Among them was a woman carrying an infant in a basket on her back. The infant had been crying nonstop. Though the basket was padded with thick bedding and covered with a conical hat, the heavy rain still seeped in.

The woman struggled step by step, while the man beside her carried all their grain, held miscellaneous items in one hand, and led their eight-year-old son with the other.

"Husband, it's my fault for delaying. If I can't make it to the back mountain, you take our sons and go. Wah..."

"Don't talk nonsense. I won't abandon you or the children. Hold my arm. We'll go slowly and steadily. We'll reach the back mountain soon!"

The boy added, "Mother, don't be afraid. I'm strong and can walk by myself. Let Father hold you."

The woman wept. "Good child, hold your father's hand tight. Don't fall. If you fall, the water will sweep you away. Understand?"

The boy nodded vigorously.

The man looked at the miscellaneous items in his hand, sighed, and threw them away. "Forget these!"

Holding his wife with one hand and his son with the other, the family pressed on.

The rain was relentless. In such a short time, the water had risen past their knees.

It wasn't that they hadn't wanted to listen to Lin Shu and leave earlier, but their youngest was too small. The eldest was eight, but the youngest was just over a year old. With the storm outside, the couple feared the baby wouldn't survive the journey if they walked in the rain. Their leaky thatched house at least offered some shelter from the storm.

But after much hesitation, they had finally ventured out into the storm.

The rain was so heavy it blurred their vision, making it hard to see the path. The woman nearly slipped several times. But she couldn't afford to fall—she was carrying the baby.

As they trudged on, the boy suddenly exclaimed, pointing ahead, "Father, Mother, someone's coming this way!"

It wasn't strange to see people, but what was strange was that this person was approaching on a bamboo raft.

The person poling the raft was Lin Shu. Earlier, she and Zhou Ye had split up to act separately. After reuniting, they discussed and decided to split up again.

Zhou Ye stayed at the foot of the back mountain, lending a hand to the villagers as they climbed. Lin Shu, being a strong swimmer, learned that several families had very young children and thus took a bamboo raft made by Zhou Ye toward the village entrance to help out.

The bamboo raft had good buoyancy and shallow draft, allowing it to glide easily even in shallow water. Lin Shu grew increasingly skilled at maneuvering it.

Not long before, she had transported a young mother and her child to the mountain foot, as well as an elderly couple with mobility issues. This was now her third trip back.

On this trip, she encountered a family of four.

Lin Shu didn't have a deep impression of this household, only recalling that the elders had passed away early, the man's two older sisters had married into other villages, and he was the sole laborer in the family. With two very young children, they had been delayed until now.

"Ma'am, I'm Lin Shu from Lin Dashan's family. Get your kids on board—I'll take you to the back mountain! With you and the kids safe, your husband will have an easier time making his way alone," Lin Shu called out to the woman.

The raft wasn't large, only able to carry three people: herself, the woman, and the two children, which was about the limit.

The woman, overjoyed, said a few words to her husband, then climbed onto the bamboo raft with the basket on her back. The eldest child was lifted aboard by the man.

Once everyone was steady, Lin Shu used a long bamboo pole to push off, swiftly turning the raft around. Then, relying on her considerable strength, she used the pole to push against the current and headed back toward the back mountain.

As the raft moved away, the woman called back, "Pa, the kids and I will go ahead. Be careful on the road—we'll wait for you at the back mountain!"

The man waved, his worried expression easing considerably. Without having to look after his wife and kids, he could move much more freely. Later, he would have to properly thank that girl, Lin Shu!

And not just Lin Shu—he ought to thank Lin Laoer's whole family as well! If they hadn't alerted the villagers in time, he wouldn't have followed everyone else. If he were still trapped in his thatched cottage now, it would have been a disaster.