Chapter 184: Crow's Beak

"I see the four shops in Nantian are idle; first clear them out to house the homeless disaster victims, then send a few old women to set up stoves at the door and start serving porridge, two meals a day, and remind the victims to bring their own bowls and chopsticks."

"Yes, sir, I'll arrange it right away."

After all, he's worldly; the old master stays calm in a crisis, arranging the household matters for Qiao Mai one by one.

Mayor Qian and the others also found it strange—how could such a huge flood recede so quickly?

But however incomprehensible, they were still quite pleased; as long as it went down, the faster the flood receded, the less loss for the people.

Like those mud‑brick houses, a soak in water makes them collapse easily.

If the water recedes quickly, perhaps the houses can be saved, and the crops in the fields might also have a chance of recovery.

Everyone is celebrating, unaware that Qiao Mai collapsed from exhaustion for them.

Yuan Jiaqi naturally didn't know either; he was still puzzled—normally when trouble arises, Qiao Niang runs the fastest, so why was there no movement today?

While working, he kept thinking on the side.

"This is no good; if they have to come every day, it's too troublesome."

If Qiao Mai saw this, she'd definitely argue with it—this is stealing her labor's results.

All the categories have been divided; a ring of wooden fences surrounds the outside, and from that view, it actually looks quite nice.

Yuehong took Ling'er out to play, and Yuexia saw the Master awake, hurriedly stepping out of the house.

"Much better."

But ever since this little fellow arrived, the space has truly been constantly changing.

"Can't blame you; this disaster was thanks to you—if not for your warning, we'd be starving right now."

The space's over two thousand mu pond is kept ready at all times, hoping drought won't occur.

"No, actually the old master is rescuing in your stead, and the old lady is with him."

"Sit!"

It also turned the fruit trees into a grove, naming it Qingqing Orchard; the nut trees were named Qingqing Nut Orchard.

Qiao Mai said that and walked out; Yuexia hurriedly took a few buns from Xiaochufang, wrapped them in oilcloth, ran out and thrust them into her hand.

"Since when did it start?"

Just as the people knelt on the ground to thank the heavens, Qiao Mai was snoring loudly on the kang.

Arriving outside Jixiang Yuan, one saw a sea of people; the old master and old lady sat on one side supervising.

From now on, every plant and tree in the space must go through her hands.

"You needn't worry; Mayor Qian is also serving porridge at the gate, and many wealthy households in our town are serving porridge at their doors."

"Master, you're hungry, aren't you? I'll go prepare a Meal for you."

Qiao Mai glanced at the shop and said, "Old Niu, bring twenty tea‑eggs and a cup of juice over."

Qiao Mai pursed her lips, truly knowing herself, "Hmm, you be busy; I'll go ahead and take a look."

Fell ill, took medicine and kept sleeping.

"Hmm?"

"You eat while you watch."

"Then what do you intend to do?"

"Have them hold their household registration, line up; I previously stored a lot of grain, distribute it so they can take it home and cook themselves. With so many crowding the town daily, beware of an epidemic."

The crowd watched her take a few sips, then said, "Grain prices outside are absurdly high, but our town remains quiet as if nothing's happening."

Seeing her arrive, everyone greeted her.

Qiao Mai waved at her, "Auntie, over here!"

"Tomorrow morning, okay? It's already late; write a notice, tell everyone, have them spread the word, and stop the porridge tomorrow."

Qiao Mai sat down, and the worker hurriedly poured her a cup of juice; she liked the icy cold drink.

Qiao Mai slept for three days and three nights, finally recovering from the fatigue of overusing her spiritual power; even so, she was still a bit sluggish upon waking.

Remembering the Awakening Dan, she took a bottle from the space, ate two pills, and tucked the rest in her bosom.

Qiao Mai nodded, looked around the surroundings and the nearest villages.

"It has also grown; some towns can't buy grain, so they come to our town to purchase. Look at those disaster victims—many aren't from our town."

"If everyone has stocked grain, there's no problem; besides, we've been serving porridge continuously, so whether our town's grain price rises or not doesn't concern us."

"Zu Fu, Grandmother?"

Liu Qiaoshi stood among the crowd, head lowered, hair disheveled, trying not to be recognized.

"Yo, you're here—feeling better?"

"No need for courtesy; I was also worried and scared—good that everyone is fine."

Unfortunately, though it knows the Master can buy things online, it doesn't know how to use it, so it can only keep clicking on beans.

Whenever trouble arises at home, the lady solves it; now she's absent, so he can lend an extra hand.

Then he shouted to the queuing disaster victims, "Everyone listen up: starting tomorrow, we stop serving porridge, switch to distributing grain. Remember to bring your household registration, each family receives fifty jin of grain; don't stay in the Small Town all day, beware of the epidemic."

"You look a bit pale; come, sit by Grandmother."

"Mai Mai, I truly had no choice; I just arrived, embarrassed you."

Liu Qiaoshi, realizing she was recognized, gave an awkward smile, reluctantly moving from the crowd toward her.

Hearing the word epidemic, the old master trembled, his hand that stroked his beard shaking.

When they heard they could receive grain, they were overjoyed; hearing about the epidemic, they shrank back. Those who had taken food quickly finished the porridge in their bowls and rushed home.

She turned back satisfied, glanced at the Lightning Repelling Talisman and the Earthquake-Repelling Talisman, deciding to make another Lightning Repelling Talisman next time and paste it.

Only then did she step out of the house; the sky outside remained overcast, not cleared just because she moved all the water away.

She placed the replicable mutated items on the Shelf, and the non‑replicable ones were all collected into boxes, each marked on the outside.

After it became a Butterfly, it started seeing itself as Qiao Mai's Steward.

It also remodeled the spot where Qiao Mai lived in the middle, expanding the area by a factor of two and giving the Shelf a thorough reorganization.

"Qiao Niang, why haven't I seen you these past days?"

The old master hurriedly sent someone back to fetch paper and brush for him, and he scribbled a short notice in a flurry, then pasted it on the wall.

In the space, Xiao Qing was busy planting lotus seeds; she also wanted to make the pond as beautiful as the master does.

However, the floor inside is dry, while the outside floor is a bit damp but does not accumulate water.

When she turned back unintentionally, she actually saw Liu Qiaoshi? What's going on? Is her home also flooded? No food left?

"No need, I've been sleeping these days; nothing happened at home, right?"

"Oh? What kind of disaster relief?"

Things like Qingqing Bamboo Garden, Qingqing Grassland, Qingqing Pasture, Qingqing Great Forest and the like—right now Qiao Mai is asleep; if she learned of this, she'd surely wake up angry.

Qiao Mai smiled, "Fine."

"We've settled disaster victims in your four shops in Nantian, and are still serving porridge by the side of Guan Dao."

Qiao Mai turned her head to look, and indeed many were unfamiliar; having been here for several years and often serving porridge, she could instantly recognize which ones were from the surrounding villages.

Not only has the area expanded, but in some places it has been made pleasing to the eye, looking especially comfortable.

The disaster victims lined up, each holding their own bowl, taking turns scooping porridge.

Qiao Mai obediently sat down, and the old lady took her hand, patting her face.

It encircled all the vegetables into a garden, built a wooden fence to separate them from the other Vegetation, and named it Qingqing Small Vegetable Garden.

When she returned, the Small Food Puzi she had just gone to was quiet inside, but under the shelter outside at the tables sat many people, most of whom were Town residents.

Ah, pfft pfft pfft, crow's beak!

The loss isn't great; as long as there is food, they will quickly rebuild their homes, and the crops in the fields are fine. Fortunately, she moved the water in time.

Liu Qiaoshi looked at the tea‑egg before her, and tears streamed down in an instant.

"Mai Mai, I'm sorry!"

"Was the house flooded?"

"Yes, although Liu Ye and Liu Hai both make money here, the grain prices have become unbearably high; we can't bear to spend money on such expensive grain."

(End of Chapter)