Chapter 278: Forewarning of a Great Flood

Time flew by, and it was mid-July.

After Yang Qing's nonstop supervision, Building One topped out, and the other nine buildings also only needed a few days.

Yang Qing didn't let Lei Gensheng rest, and immediately sent in the renovation crew.

The retired construction crew directly turned into a renovation team and began quickly renovating the buildings.

Lei Gensheng was puzzled.

"Yang Qing, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Did you pull all the construction workers over to do the renovation?"

"We can't afford not to hurry; what if a huge flood hits tomorrow?"

"At the very least, the basic construction and renovation must be finished."

"Otherwise, after the flood, we wouldn't know how long it would be delayed."

"If we finish the exterior walls and groundwork, then move the renovation materials inside, even if something comes up, it won't hinder their work."

"In a few decades, even the raw shells could be handed over without needing renovation."

Yang Qing nodded.

"This is Honghai's first battle; we must do it well."

"Not only must it be good, it must also be fast."

"Only then can we make our name known."

"Who can deliver the units in a year?"

"We can't let people feel their money was wasted."

Lei Gensheng couldn't understand his behavior.

"All right, fortunately most of the Jiedao construction crew are veteran craftsmen; they're not unfamiliar with renovation—I just need to pick a few and give them some guidance."

"But we can't keep doing this; now we're in competition with Jiedao, and they've snatched our techniques—how can we survive?"

Yang Qing scratched his head, a bit negligent.

"Naturally, we renovate what we build ourselves; but for others, using the same skills, they might not necessarily come to us."

"Of course admitting fault is impossible; he can just make up an excuse."

"Actually, the most important part of renovation is design; simple construction can be outsourced to Jiedao—after all, it's all hard-earned money."

"We need to move toward high-end, starting from design and technology."

"That way we can secure most of the orders; Jingcheng is huge, so we can leave the rest to others."

"Eating alone makes you easy to be put in a sack."

"Put in a sack?"

"I even want to put you in a sack."

"Elbows turning outward."

"Even without handing over units, Honghai's construction speed still shocked the entire Jingcheng."

"Who builds a house and finishes it in a year?"

"If you don't spend two or three years building, how can you show the preciousness and hard-won nature of the buildings?"

"Doing this makes the buildings as common as cabbage."

"For a time, Honghai's popularity remained high."

"More and more people came to visit."

"Fortunately there were guards; those who came were stopped and could only look at the buildings and construction site from afar."

"Those who sneaked in were discovered by workers and also driven out."

"Still, it somewhat affected the construction progress."

"August arrived, and the weather remained scorching and hard to bear."

"And Yang Qing's worries grew stronger."

"In the end, Yang Qing couldn't hold back and told Chen Hong."

"After a drought, there must be a flood; I feel this year's climate is a bit abnormal."

"June had too little rain; this month is likely to see heavy rainfall."

"Give your mom a call and tell her to be on guard."

"If your home is low-lying, go to higher ground, put up a shelter, and store some supplies."

"Also, tell Chen Feng to stay safe and not run around recklessly."

"Yang Qing spoke seriously, and Chen Hong obediently made the call."

"She had also heard of drought followed by flood, and it could become reality."

"Yang Qing still couldn't bear it, so he found Director Wang again, reiterating the drought-then-flood argument and once more mentioning that this year's rainfall is somewhat abnormal."

"Director Wang initially didn't think much of it, but after Yang Qing's repeated emphasis, he still took the risk and reported it upward."

"Yang Qing still has face and credibility with the superiors."

"After Wang Dechao found out, he also consulted a meteorology expert."

"The expert found it hard to give a definite answer, because such things are chancy."

"It's possible, but not certain."

"If things blow up and waste public resources, who can bear the responsibility?"

"However, the saying 'after a drought comes a flood' still has some persuasive power among the folk."

"Wang Dechao comes from the folk, so he has a hunch that the matter should be taken seriously."

"So he reported it upward again."

Even a matter reported by the Mayor still attracted attention.

They immediately organized experts to study the historical disaster records.

Indeed, they found that the probability of such an event occurring is quite high.

Adding to that, this year's climate has been abnormal.

Whether it happens or not, we can report it upward so everyone can be mentally prepared.

If it happens, we reduce losses; if it doesn't, we treat it as a drill.

By the way, let's check our flood defense loopholes.

Some agreed, after all, they have always relied on these proverbs to avoid disasters.

Some, however, opposed.

Spreading such things randomly might possibly cause unrest.

We just got through it, haven't even had a few good days, and now this comes again; can the people below accept it in their hearts?

Besides, Yang Qing has always lived in the city; what does he know?

Maybe Chen Hong just said a couple of sentences to him, and he took it seriously.

I think just let the county-level units pay attention; that's enough.

More people are of no benefit.

People are like that; before a disaster occurs, they always feel there's no problem.

When faced with a major disaster, they then cry and wail, regretting not having acted earlier.

Yang Qing has already reminded them; he has done his best; other things are not something he can change.

Chen Hong's mother, after receiving Chen Hong's reminder, also went to ask the elderly.

The village elders, upon hearing her mother's question, slapped their thighs.

Disaster, disaster, it really might happen.

Hurry and tell the village head, the captain, so they can prepare.

In past years when floods occurred, we always went to the outer slope, where the terrain is higher.

First let them build flood defenses; if that doesn't work, we'll move to the slope.

Her mother, after hearing the elder's words, hurriedly called her back.

Honghong, you should store some food at home; you're in the city, and if a major flood occurs, transporting food might be difficult.

Chen Hong listened to her mother, went out for a round, and spent all her grain coupons.

Afraid of not having fuel, she also bought a lot of firewood and coal briquettes.

Chen Hong's abnormality quickly drew the attention of the people in the compound.

After all, it's midsummer, yet she has both firewood and coal briquettes, which is too abnormal.

Lou Xiao'e quickly found out the reason.

She now trusts Chen Hong more, also bought some; anyway she has money and doesn't mind.

Afterwards Liang Ladi, Qin Huairu, and Gu Ning also got some.

They simply wanted to keep Chen Hong company; after all, the idea of a flood is too mystical.

Others even thought Chen Hong had a mental illness.

City people have low sensitivity to this; besides, Jingcheng considered flood issues when it was designed.

Their area is even more in the center of the powerful and noble.

Here, the possibility of a flood occurring is very, very small.