... five days ago...
In the quiet morning of Zhao Household Gully, a scream rang out from the village head's house. Village Head Zhao woke up from a nightmare, covered in sweat, and his wife jumped up in fright.
"What's wrong with the old man..."
The village head wiped his forehead, swallowing repeatedly. "I dreamt of a ginkgo tree that came up and broke my pipe, then started chasing me... No matter where I hid, it could find me."
Upon hearing this, his wife exclaimed, "I dreamt about it too! Was it a lush green ginkgo tree, running around with a strange, cacophony laugh... its roots twitching and shifting?"
The village head stared at her in shock, "You dreamed about it too?"
"I dreamt about it. You said that tree was terrifying... It kept saying there was going to be a flood... It told me to hurry to Gao Household Slope, or it would kill all our hens."
The village head's wife patted her chest, "I was so scared! I ran around all night carrying the chicken... my legs are cramping from exhaustion." She suddenly stopped, "Old man, could this be some kind of warning?"
The village head was confused; it was no joke that both he and his wife had dreamt about it. Before he could figure it out, the sound of his eldest grandson crying suddenly came from outside.
The village head's wife called out as she put on her clothes, " Tiantian, what's wrong???"
The eldest daughter-in-law's voice came from outside, "Mother-in-law is fine. Tiantian had a nightmare?"
"Did you have a nightmare??" The village head's wife rushed outside in a panic. "Did you dream of a ginkgo tree that clung to its waist and made a strange, creaking noise??"
Tiantian cried out, "Yes... I dreamt I was eating malt candy, and it snatched it away, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it until it was crushed... Grandma... you have to avenge me!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically.
Sister-in-law Zhao exclaimed, "I dreamt about it too... The ginkgo tree said a flood was coming and told me to leave quickly. I was packing my things... and then the flood came crashing down, scaring me awake..."
Sister-in-law Zhao's face turned deathly pale. "Didn't you all say that dreaming of water means you'll get rich... so I didn't tell anyone."
At this moment, Village Head Zhao, came out with a serious expression. "This is no joke. I'll go ask other families... If they all dream of a flood, it's a warning from the gods. We can't be careless."
After saying that, he walked out with his hands behind his back. He'd only taken a few steps when he saw someone packing up next door. "Hey, Old Gu, what are you doing?"
Old Man Gu wiped his sweat, fidgeting and hesitant to recount his dream from the previous night, awkwardly saying, "My wife misses her parents' home... let's go visit them."
"Who are you trying to fool? Sister-in-law Gu's parents have been dead for so many years," the village head said in a deep voice. " Old Gu, tell me the truth, did you dream of a ginkgo tree last night?"
Old Man Gu was greatly alarmed and quickly put down his things, coming over. "You dreamed about it too??"
The village head nodded. "I dreamt about it... He chased me all night, insisting that a flood was coming and that I should take the whole village and leave."
Old Man Gu stomped his foot in anger, "That tree chased you all night! Do you know what it did to me? Because in my dream I couldn't bear to leave my fields, it rushed into the fields without a word and trampled all the crops I had worked so hard to grow. It woke me up in a huff!"
He grabbed the village head and said, "Guess what? When I asked my family, they all dreamed about that tree... Aren't I afraid it will come true? So before dawn, I started loading the carts and preparing to escape."
What about your family's farmland?
"What's the point of land... life is more important..."
Upon hearing this, the village head dared not delay and turned to go home. "Old woman, quickly pack your things and head towards Gao Household Slope. Take only the valuables, and leave the large items behind."
After saying that, he picked up a gong and started banging it all over the village, shouting, "Wake up... everyone wake up, the flood is coming..."
It's better to believe in dreams than not; if the flood hadn't come, they would have just caused some trouble, but if it had, it would have saved their lives.
He had just turned a corner when he saw a young man from the village holding his three-year-old daughter, wailing loudly. " Zhuzi... what happened?"
Upon recognizing the person, Zhao Zhuzi choked back tears, "Uncle... I dreamt last night that our village was flooded, my daughter, my daughter..." He wiped away his tears, "Thank goodness it was just a dream, otherwise I wouldn't want to live anymore."
"Alright, stop crying... Everyone in the village dreamed about our village being flooded. Quickly pack your things and head to Gao Household Slope, or it'll be too late."
Zhao Zhuzi put down his daughter. "Hey... I'll go prepare right away. We can't delay any longer."
The little girl raised her hand and ran to Li Zheng to complain, "Shu Shu... Shu Shu spanked my bottom..."
Upon hearing this, the village head's expression was indescribable. He comforted her, "Don't be afraid, Niuniu... Your little brother's candy got trampled by the tree too. Don't worry, we won't play with it anymore."
The little girl's arms were too short, and she couldn't reach her bottom even after trying for a long time. Frustrated, her face turned red, and she ran to her family's willow tree and kicked it.
Because she used too much force, she landed on her bottom and burst into tears...
The village head, without time to quell the unrest, banged on his gong and began to warn the entire village, "Hurry up and pack up! Everyone, head towards Gao Household Slope... Hurry, hurry, the flood is coming soon!"
Because the villagers of Zhao Household Gully all had the same dream last night, they all believed it was a warning from the gods, and they did not complain at all when they moved.
The dream of a flood engulfing the village and the loss of loved ones, unfolding as if they were experiencing it firsthand, made everyone act without hesitation and cherish those around them even more.
In less than two hours, the villagers had already moved to Gao Household Slope in twos and threes.
Villagers from other villages along the way saw this and came forward to inquire. Upon hearing that it was a divine warning of an impending flood, even though they had not dreamed of any unusual phenomena, they followed suit in fear, lest they be buried by the flood if they were a step too late.
In the blink of an eye, Zhao Household Gully was deserted, with even the chickens, dogs, and livestock moved away.
... On the day of the flood discharge...
Xiong Wanli knew nothing about the fact that the Zhao Household Gully had moved out and the house was empty; he was currently arguing heatedly with Meng Anci.
" Lord Meng... it's time to open the floodgates..."
Meng Anci stood in front of him, his usual smile vanishing, and said coldly, "No one is allowed to open the floodgates until we receive a notification from Lord Zhao."
" Lord Meng..." Xiong Wanli's voice suddenly rose, "You seem to have no right to interfere in matters concerning the river. I advise you to consider your future and not meddle in other people's business."
He was about to walk past Meng Anci when he was blocked by the other party. Xiong Wanli had long lost his flattery and fawning, and his narrow eyes were fixed on Meng Anci.
" Lord Meng is refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit! Guards..." His words were cut short by a cry of "Report!"
The yamen runner responsible for delivering the message, covered in mud, fell off his horse and handed the bamboo tube to Xiong Wanli.
Xiong Wanli took the bamboo tube, and after reading it, his expression changed. He quickly crumpled the letter into a ball and stuffed it into his sleeve.
He said in a deep voice, "The upstream water situation is urgent; we can't wait any longer. Someone, open the floodgates to release the floodwaters."
Meng Anci's gaze sharpened. " Lord Xiong, what did Lord Zhao say in his letter?"
"No word!" Xiong Wanli shouted without changing his expression, "Guards... open the floodgates..."
Meng Anci sternly, "Let's see who dares..." The river worker was so frightened by his outburst that he froze on the spot, unsure of whom to listen to.
" Lord Xiong, give me the letter?"
Xiong Wanli clenched his sleeves, " Lord Meng, you must recognize your official position..." Before he could finish speaking, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.