Miracle and Gratitude

Storm rose another ten meters or so.

A bolt of lightning traversed several kilometers, skimming the bottom of the clouds before splitting into a dozen bright branches.

Large water droplets pelted the tin roof of the village committee, making such a dense noise that people had to whisper in each other's ears.

Secretary Ali stood next to Sing Sing, trembling.

If he weren't a government official, he would have already said some inappropriate things like the villagers.

Grasping Sing Sing's right hand with both hands, Secretary Ali exclaimed with tears in his eyes, "Leaders! You've come just in time! Just in time!"

Sing Sing's shoulders were shaking so badly that he had to use his other hand to hold his hat.

"Secretary, if you shake my arm a couple more times, I'll have to file for workers' compensation too. Let go of my arm, let's talk this out!"

"Our village looks forward to this every day... The old folks are reluctant to drink water, saving half a ladle for the jujube tree in their yard, and the children, when they come home from school, will pour the last drop of water from their cups into the family's water jar."

"I went to check out the land the other day! You know what? The leaves there crumbled as soon as you squeezed them!"

Sing Sing looked at the woman in the sky.

This rain can only quench the immediate thirst; the subsequent water storage projects and irrigation scheduling still need to be carried out by someone.

The task is arduous and the road ahead is long...

The village entrance has become a completely different scene.

Several children took off their shoes and stepped into the puddles, splashing mud everywhere with their feet.

A woman followed behind, shouting "Don't fall!" while she herself enjoyed the hard-won rain just as much.

"Mom, look, I can swim!"

"The water doesn't even reach your ankles, what are you swimming in! Pull up your pants!"

"I'll dig a river for the little boat!"

The boy squatted down and used both hands to scoop away the wet mud from the roadside, followed by several other children carrying plastic bottles.

"Dig this way! We need to enter the reservoir this way!"

"Don't go near the reservoir! The Party Secretary just announced over the loudspeaker that no one is allowed to approach!"

"If they dig up my house, my sheep will drink too!"

Young people emerged from under the eaves one after another. Some took off their hats, while others turned their faces toward the sky, closed their eyes, and let the water run down their noses and into their collars.

A young man with dyed blond hair held up his phone, but after only a dozen seconds of taking pictures, the screen became unusable due to the rain.

Stop taking pictures, your phone got wet!

"Let's go in then. I've never seen rain like this in my life."

"Didn't I see him in the county town last year?"

"What does that disaster in the county have to do with the village? Our ground didn't even get wet!"

The girl next to him nudged him, "Stop talking, your mouth is full of water."

The young man actually shut his mouth, tilted his head back, and stood there. After a moment, he couldn't help but shout again, "Sweet!"

"Don't lie to me, rainwater isn't sweet at all!"

Several young people opened their mouths to catch the rain, and then the group pointed at each other and laughed.

Is it really sweet?

"It tastes earthy, your tongue must be malfunctioning!"

"You're picky about water even when it's raining? Why didn't you say that when you were drinking well water last year?"

When Sing Sing saw someone preparing to run towards the riverbed, he was so frightened that he quickly snatched the megaphone from Aili Li's hand.

"Come back here! You guys in blue, I'm talking to you!"

"Let's go check if the water has come yet!"

"What the hell are you looking at!" Sing Sing angrily grabbed Secretary Ali beside him, "Come on! Let's go put up the warning ropes!"

"I'll arrange it right away! Hey, Old Ma, bring all the ropes out of the warehouse!"

The thunder subsided.

The torrential rain subsided into a continuous curtain of rain, still shrouding the villages and farmlands.

In mid-air, Storm clasped her hands together and slowly descended.

Before he even landed, several elderly people came up to greet him, Sing Sing quickly reached out to stop them.

"Ouch! Slow down! The floor is slippery! Let's take it one at a time!"

The 89-year-old man ignored him and reached out with his free hand toward Ororo.

"Su Ana... thank you..."

The translator transmitted the words to her ears. Storm looked at the calloused hand, withdrew the air currents surrounding her body, and held the old man's wrists with both hands.

"The rain came from distant clouds; I simply brought it here."

The old man shook his head and placed a small packet of dried apricots into her palm.

"How many times have the clouds passed through here? Not a single drop has been left behind! If you bring it back, you'll be a benefactor!"

"Grandpa, I can't accept this."

"Take it, it's all dried at home, it's not worth much."

"I..."

Before Storm could return the dried apricots, another elderly woman, holding an umbrella, had already squeezed to the front and lifted the basket that was being protected by a scarf.

"Good fortune, descendants of saints! Try my family's red dates! They're so sweet!"

"Thank you, but I can't carry that much."

"Here, take the basket too."

Many people who had just run home flocked to the scene.

Within minutes, red dates, dried apricots, raisins, walnuts, and freshly baked naan were all delivered to the village committee courtyard.

A little girl of seven or eight years old squeezed through the crowd carrying half a naan bread, stood on tiptoe, and stuffed it into Ororo's hand.

"Auntie, this is for you."

Have you eaten yet?

"I've already eaten."

The little girl swallowed, her gaze still fixed on the golden-brown sesame seeds on the edge of the naan.

Storm crouched down, broke the naan in half, and handed one half back.

Let's eat together.

But this is for you.

"Gifts can be shared."

The girl took the naan, took a big bite, puffed out her cheeks, and asked, "Will it rain tomorrow?"

Storm looked up at Sing Sing.

Old Zhou turned his face away, pretending to scold the child so he wouldn't fall.

"Auntie?"

The weather cannot change according to people's wishes every day.

Storm brushed the wet hair clinging to the girl's forehead, saying, "This rain will stay in the pool, and it will stay in the earth."

Aili came over carrying two cardboard boxes and placed them near Ororo's feet whenever he could find a spot.

"Munroe, these are gifts from various sources; please be sure to accept them."

Sing Sing stood beside him, nodding earnestly. "He's right. The people at the grassroots level are incredibly proactive when it comes to delivering local specialties. If you refuse, they can chase you all the way to the county toll station."

"You knew this would happen?"

"No, I didn't expect them to even prepare a basket for you. I reckon if you stand there for another five minutes, we'll have to apply for a truck when we get back."

Storm looked at the food piled on the long table, still holding the dried apricots the old man had given her in her hand, and finally tucked the paper package into her sleeve.

Sing Sing handed the megaphone back to Aili.

"Everyone, go back inside and change your clothes! You've already thanked her, don't all get sick from the rain! This expert isn't a doctor! Fever and cough aren't her responsibility!"

"Director Zhou, please stay for dinner tonight!"

"The village has already slaughtered the sheep, you and the experts shouldn't leave!"

"The food is fine, but please don't kill the sheep! The meal cost is already way over budget!"

"The sheep have already been held down; it's too late for you to say that now!"

The crowd dispersed with laughter, but some people still circled back and placed several strings of red dates on the table.

Storm stood under the eaves until the little girl was led back into the house by her mother, then she lowered her head and took a bite of naan.

"Is it good?" Sing Sing asked, leaning closer.

Storm slowly finished chewing, wiping the water droplets off the paper packet with her thumb.

"Stephen, I'm willing to stay and work."