Chapter 144: Downpour

While Xu Huizhen and Chen Hong were discussing vegetable planting, Yang Qing finished the pickles.

There were two blue‑and‑white jars left; Yang Qing had heard that cicada monkeys could be pickled like the pickles and left to age, so he wanted to try.

In June, the weather changes on a whim, offering many chances; as soon as a sunny spell follows a rain, he can fill the two jars with cicada monkeys.

He thought of rain, and Yang Qing recalled the recent abnormal weather.

It seemed the past two days were unusually muggy and damp, making everyone feel uncomfortable.

With such heavy humidity, a heavy rain should arrive soon.

Xu Huizhen and Chen Hong talked for a long time.

Not until evening did they finally step out of the house.

Xu Huizhen held Chen Hong's hand, looking as if she still had more to say.

"Girl, if I hadn't heard you explain it so thoroughly, I truly wouldn't have known there were so many intricacies here."

"After your guidance, I feel much more confident."

Chen Hong was reluctant to let go of Xu Huizhen; she chatted happily with her, as if she had found a sister, feeling especially close.

Xu Huizhen's insight and distinctive perspective made her eyes brighten.

The training center claims to be a service organization, but in fact it's a shop, falling under commercial operation.

Xu Huizhen has run a tavern before, so she has more experience in management.

She advocates honest management, striving for excellence, people‑centric, strict quality control, and heartfelt service.

As for business, Chen Hong could be said to have no experience; after Xu Huizhen's unreserved teaching, she felt as if her Ren and Du Meridians had been opened, and many things became clear.

Both could say they got what they needed, each gained something, and they began to forge a friendship.

"Sister's words are true insight, enlightening me and benefiting me greatly."

"Sister, we should keep in touch more often and come over to sit together frequently."

Yang Qing had already prepared sweet‑mixed tomatoes and cold cucumber salad; when he saw Xu Huizhen come out, he interrupted their pleasantries and called out.

"Perfect, the meal is ready, come over and eat."

Xu Huizhen kept declining, but finally couldn't refuse, as Chen Hong's towering body pressed her onto the stool like a mountain.

The elderly lady needed no invitation; she naturally took the head seat and said politely.

"Don't be formal; consider it as if at your own home."

While saying that, she handed Xu Huizhen a vegetable dumpling.

Xu Huizhen hurriedly thanked her, noting that it was a Buddha.

"Thank you, Grandma, for today's intrusion."

Yang Qing smiled as he watched, and said with emotion.

"Of the whole year, this is my favorite time; there's endless food, never worrying about meals."

"Before, we didn't need a vegetable garden; just stepping out and grabbing something would fill the belly."

Several people echoed in unison; they all came from the countryside and had that experience.

Yang Qing kept rambling.

"Our northern winters are hard to endure; we lack everything, whereas I've heard the south never talks of famine."

The others looked longingly.

Xu Huizhen ate the sweet‑mixed tomatoes, a vegetable dumpling, and, listening to Yang Qing's nonsense, broke into a sweat.

"This cursed weather—it's clearly partly cloudy, yet it's so hot and there's barely any wind."

The elderly lady chewed slowly and replied.

"I'm afraid a heavy rain is coming; after the meal, we should check the windows and the vegetable garden."

"It might even be accompanied by strong winds."

Xu Huizhen also felt a heavy rain was imminent.

"Fortunately the seedlings are indoors; otherwise a downpour would ruin them."

Chen Hong is also an experienced person.

"After the meal I'll have someone notify everyone to be cautious; if it really becomes impossible, we'll move the vegetable boxes indoors so the rain doesn't truly damage them."

Yang Qing devoured the second vegetable dumpling in his hand.

"The disaster will pass; this downpour might be a good omen."

The elderly lady shook her head.

"Not necessarily; the fields were just plowed, and heavy rain would affect germination rates."

"Gentle breeze and light rain are best; heavy rain easily causes floods."

The elderly lady's worry was not unfounded; Yang Qing also took it seriously, recognizing that this seasoned experience far outmatched his half‑baked knowledge.

The meal was finished quickly, and everyone went to attend to their own matters.

Yang Qing reorganized and reinforced the garden's vegetables again to guard against heavy rain.

Before he finished, thunder roared and bean‑sized raindrops struck people, causing a sting.

Yang Qing hurried back, and Chen Hong returned shortly after.

At this moment the wind rose, whipping raindrops against the windows with a crackling sound.

Outside the window turned pitch‑black, with lightning and thunder booming intermittently.

It was like the apocalypse arriving, the thunder shaking the glass with a clattering roar.

The elderly lady pounded her leg anxiously.

"It's ruined, it's ruined; I really let my loose mouth predict it."

"With such a heavy rain, something bad is bound to happen."

At this moment, the sound of rain outside the window grew louder; the pitch-black sky seemed as if a huge hole had been torn open, and Yu Shui poured down like the Milky Way flowing backwards, booming as it struck this world.

Yang Qing was frightened by such a commotion.

This is rain? You call this rain? It's fiercer than a waterfall—how could this be rain? Clearly, the heavens have leaked.

He suddenly understood why the ancients revered heaven and earth so deeply; faced with such a sight, apart from praying to the heavens above, there was nothing else he could do.

The wind grew stronger and stronger, rolling up the black clouds, churning nonstop, gathering the violent rain, washing over the world.

Everywhere was the splashing sound.

Chen Hong comforted the old lady.

"Grandma, with such a heavy rain, it must be a shower; it'll pass soon."

"Rest now; let Big Flower and Little Flower keep you company."

Big Flower and Little Flower curled up in the corner, trembling uncontrollably, already frightened by the heavenly might.

The old lady walked over, hugged the two little ones, and went into the east room.

Yang Qing and his wife began checking the rooms for any leaks.

After making a round, they found no place where rain was leaking.

Master Lei's craftsmanship was still solid.

Yang Qing's home not leaking doesn't mean others' homes aren't leaking.

This Siheyuan, come to think of it, is already several decades or even over a hundred years old.

Even if it was built well, there are still places that have fallen into disrepair.

Almost every household has some leakage.

Especially San Da Ye's family—the tiles they originally obtained from Yang Qing were mostly sold off secretly by him; the remaining few, patched wherever they leaked over the years, have also been used up.

Today, in the raging wind and rain, a small leak became a big leak.

"Ay yi, ay yi, Jiecheng, hurry up and move this table—it's leaking again, leaking again."

At the crucial moment, the power also went out; pitch dark, San Da Ye's household was again in an uproar of chickens flying and dogs jumping.

After they finally found the candles at home, the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table, the quilts on the bed, etc., were already soaked through.

Yan Fu Gui, feeling distressed, kept saying "don't, don't."

"Oh dear, oh dear, my quilt, my books, my paper."

Yan Jie Cheng, holding a flashlight, patrolled around.

"Dad, don't worry, quickly check elsewhere to see if there are any more leaks."

"I want to go back to my room; everything inside is for my wedding, and it's been soaked—how can I still get married?"

Having said that, he ran out to check his house.

Yan Fu Gui saw Jiecheng run off, and quickly directed Jie Fang and Jie Kuang.

"You two, quickly check if there are any other places leaking."

Jie Fang looked at the candle in his father's hand.

"Dad, we have no candles—how can we see?"

Yan Fu Gui, calculating to the bone, how could he have a second candle? It's summer now; if he bought too many, they'd melt.

San Da Ma had just finished Household Chores on her own bed, and she said anxiously.

"Feel with your hands, hurry—Jie Kuang, you're responsible for using a basin to catch the water, then pour it out."

Jie Kuang also said bitterly.

"Mom, we have no basin left."

"Silly, no basin? Isn't there still a pot? Isn't there still a bowl? Hurry up."

The whole family was in chaos like chickens flying and dogs jumping; only Jie Di followed behind San Da Ma to help, not being too busy.

Over at the First Elder's household, they had just finished being busy.

Inside the house, there were several dripping leaks.

Yi Zhonghai picked up a flashlight, put on a raincoat, and instructed Yi Da Ma.

"You stay home and keep watch; I'll go check on others' situations. With such heavy rain and strong wind, our home is leaking like this—others' homes are probably even worse."