As the sun set, Li Long called for everyone to put down their work and pack up to head back.
The floodwaters had completely receded, leaving a jumble of debris on the riverbank. Some people nearby still wanted to look around for anything worth picking up.
Li Long looked toward the southern sky and saw that the dark clouds there had long since disappeared.
But he knew very well that, at this time of year, snowmelt floods would come at irregular intervals, so a flood like this could very well happen again.
Su Qiangqiang looked a little pale, and Li Long thought he seemed to be trembling still. Li Long walked over and asked:
"Su Qiangqiang, what's wrong? Have you got a fever?"
"N-no, I'm fine." Su Qiangqiang managed a faint smile. "It's nothing. Maybe I got chilled in the water. That water was really cold..."
"When you get back, go to your village doctor and get some medicine. An injection would be fine too." Li Long remembered something. To make Su Qiangqiang let go earlier, he had jabbed him several times with a branch. Could he have wounded him? A wound soaked in that filthy water was bound to become inflamed and infected.
And he had very likely inhaled some water too.
"All right, I'll see the doctor when I get back. I think I'll be fine after some sleep." Su Qiangqiang still did not think it was much of a problem.
Li Long went to find Meng Hai and told him, "Su Qiangqiang might be hurt, with an infected wound and a fever. Make sure he sees the doctor after you get back."
"All right, don't worry. I'll take him over as soon as we get back." Meng Hai took the matter seriously too. "If necessary, I won't