Chapter 49: Chapter Fifty: Flood Outbreak

After Zhang Fan saw that the sweet potato flour at home was ready, he summoned Ba Ke Er to go together to the chief's house to say they would teach the tribespeople how to make sweet potato flour. Ba Ke Er felt sorry for Zhang Fan, worried he would tire out, so he first sent Zhang Fan home. Then he took the male beastmen with him out of the tribe to look for suitable stones for grindstones.

With many hands, the beastmen quickly found many suitable stones, transported them back to the tribe at top speed, and then carved the stones into grindstones of various sizes at top speed.

Once the grindstones were ready, making sweet potato flour was put on the schedule.

After the tribespeople worked at full capacity for about a month, they finally turned most of the tribe's sweet potatoes into sweet potato flour.

Although the sweet potato flour was ready and the rainy season had already lasted two months, the rain grew heavier; even the dry intervals shrank from previously being able to go three days without rain in a ten‑day span to now the total dry time over twenty days amounted to only one day.

One day, Ba Ke Er returned from patrolling outside the tribe and couldn't help sighing; his worried, grim look made Zhang Fan feel uneasy, and he asked:

"Ba Ke Er, what's wrong? Did something happen out there?"

"Alas! Fan Fan, today we went on patrol, flying farther than usual, and saw many places at the mountain base submerged in water. Some nearby small tribes' settlements couldn't escape. On the way back, we saw many tribes beginning to migrate to the surrounding mountains. Fortunately, our tribe sits on higher ground, so it won't be flooded."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan also began to worry; even technologically advanced Earth cannot escape natural disasters. During every flood season, occurrences such as landslides and water erosion happen. It seems we should first make preparations.

"Ba Ke Er, has the tribe been informed about this?"

"Fan Fan, rest assured; my father and I were on the same patrol team today, and he has already told the chief about this. I expect the chief and the elders will soon gather everyone to discuss countermeasures."

"Good!" Zhang Fan said, and just then the chief's Lion's Roar sounded from outside. Ba Ke Er immediately shifted into beast form, ignoring the rain still falling, and carried Zhang Fan, who already had his umbrella ready, straight to the tribe's council hall.

After Ba Ke Er and Zhang Fan arrived at the council hall, they found most of the tribespeople already present. There were many people, yet not a sound was made; the atmosphere was very solemn. Once everyone had gathered, the chief finally spoke:

"I believe you all know why we've been summoned this year. Because this year's rainy season has brought more rain than before, and the rains have lasted longer, the river levels have risen considerably—changes the beastmen have all noticed to some extent. Now the river carries too much water, it has burst its banks, flooding the surrounding hills, and even the small tribes in the mountains have suffered considerable damage. Our tribe happens to be on higher ground, so we have temporarily escaped disaster. However, I heard Lei Ya say that some nearby small tribes are migrating toward our area, likely to seek refuge here. Since the numbers are large, I and the elders cannot decide for everyone, so I want to hear your opinions on what we should do."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help looking left and right, and no one wanted to speak up first.

Zhang Fan, seeing everyone's demeanor, couldn't help shaking his head and said: "Chief, in my view, our tribe's high ground means it won't be eroded by floods; we just need to guard against incoming tribes taking advantage. If people from other tribes come to seek refuge, we cannot simply take them in without caution..." Zhang Fan's idea was somewhat selfish; back on Earth he had already seen many dark sides of human nature. In his opinion, being careful is definitely right.

After seeing Zhang Fan speak, everyone else also couldn't help voicing their own opinions.

……

After the plan was worked out, the chief let everyone go home.