The Bell of Liu Family Village Rang

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "So, Dad, they were clearly the ones in the wrong, but they pushed all the blame onto you. Do you understand?"

Of all virtues, filial piety came first, but if your parents didn't even treat you like a person, why should you care about their feelings?

Zhou Fusheng was a little slow-witted, but fortunately he was obedient. He nodded and said, "I understand. We're not going back there anyway, so we'll just live our own lives well."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Dad, I've been rather busy lately. Once I'm through with this spell of work, I'll heal your leg. Then you can go wherever you want."

"All right. I'll do whatever my daughter says."

Zhou Wanwan felt a faint sense of urgency. From what Old Madam Zhou had said today, this drought would last more than three years, perhaps even longer.

The food and water she had prepared were nowhere near enough. On top of that, she didn't think their home was in a good location.

Their family had definitely made enemies of the Shens, and they weren't on good terms with the neighboring Wangs either. They were sandwiched right between them.

If such a day really came, those two families would never let them off. That simply wouldn't do.

Then there were the people in this village. Their family had a different surname, after all, and had no roots here.

If anything really happened, the people of this village wouldn't be able to protect their family. Old Madam Zhou was right about that too: the vast majority of the villagers were surnamed Lin.

Although the people of Lin Family Village appeared to treat them well enough for now, there was no telling what they would do when the drought really came.

She looked at Liu Su'e and said, "Let's go to Grandfather's house. I have something to discuss with my uncles."

When they reached her grandfather's house, Zhou Wanwan went straight to the point. "There may be a locust plague soon, so I think we should stock up on more grain."

Her grandfather frowned at her. "Wanwan, why would you suddenly say something like that?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"Actually, when I was still at the Zhou house, I heard Old Madam Zhou talk about it. She told the people of Zhou Family Village to stock up on grain and water.

"She told them to sell all their fields. If you trust me, why don't you sell your fields too, then buy more grain and store more water?"

Her eldest uncle stared at her in disbelief. "Wanwan, you can't talk nonsense about something this serious."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him seriously and said:

"You can ask around. A lot of the land in Zhou Family Village was sold to people from Wild Field Village, so I know this very clearly.

"If a drought really happens, think about what will become of the whole of Liu Family Village. And this drought will last at least three years."

Old Liu's pupils narrowed slightly.

"Wanwan, if what you're saying is true, you've saved the lives of everyone in Liu Family Village this time.

"Dalang, go and summon everyone in the village to the ancestral hall."

Soon, the bell at Liu Family Village's ancestral hall rang. Liu Su'e said softly, "The bell in Liu Family Village is only rung when something important happens. Let's go to the ancestral hall and have a look too!"

Old Liu stood at the entrance to the ancestral hall and watched countless people from Liu Family Village head toward it. Before long, several hundred had gathered.

She hadn't expected Liu Family Village to have so many people. The village chief of Liu Family Village said, "Elder Liu, why did you ring the bell for no apparent reason? Has something serious happened?"

Old Liu looked at them and said:

"I received news from elsewhere that a drought is about to happen, so I wanted to warn the people of our village.

"Hurry and make every preparation. This drought will last a very long time."

Zhou Wanwan closed her eyes. She hadn't expected Old Liu to announce the news so openly. Would the people of Liu Family Village believe him?

But the village chief of Liu Family Village nodded and said, "Then we'll prepare at once. May I ask who brought you this news, Elder?"

Old Liu looked at him and said:

"My granddaughter told me. She heard that the people of Zhou Family Village are preparing grain and water, and that they've sold all their fields.

"You can believe it or not, but our family is simply doing what little we can."

Village Chief Liu looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "So it was this little girl! Thank you for telling us about this."

Zhou Wanwan really hadn't expected the village chief of Liu Family Village to believe Old Liu so readily.

She shook her head and said, "I heard that there would be a locust plague first, followed by a drought, so I think it would be best to exchange all your fields for grain and water."

The village chief of Liu Family Village looked at her and said:

"Our Liu Family Village clan has a total of 125 taels of silver left. Exchange all of it for coarse grain now.

"Then everyone in the clan will start selling their fields. I'll find people to take care of it right now.

"Does anyone have any objections? You can raise them now."

There were several hundred people in Liu Family Village, yet not a single one objected. It was a real eye-opener for Zhou Wanwan.

The village chief of Liu Family Village continued:

"Also, every household must fill all its water vats.

"Carpenter Liu, bring out every wooden bucket you have and fill them all with water.

"And the Liu family hunting team, step forward..."

Soon, all thirty-odd members of the Liu family hunting team stepped forward.

The village chief of Liu Family Village looked at them and said:

"This is a matter of life and death for Liu Family Village. I want you to go up the mountain and hunt immediately.

"Take whatever game you catch to town and exchange it for grain. The more, the better."

The captain of the Liu Family Village hunting team hurriedly nodded. "All right, we'll get right to it."

Zhou Wanwan's eyes widened in disbelief. She had only mentioned it in passing, yet the people of Liu Family Village were going to do as she said.

The village chief of Liu Family Village looked to be only in his thirties. He smiled at Liu Su'e and said:

"Su'e, you've raised a fine daughter. No matter how things unfold from here,

"she's the savior of Liu Family Village. Our village can't withstand any setbacks.

"We can always buy those fields back later, but the villagers of Liu Family Village are what matter most. Would you be willing to move back to Liu Family Village?"

Liu Su'e looked at Zhou Wanwan. Zhou Wanwan thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Village Chief, we may still need a little time, and we don't have a house here."

The village chief of Liu Family Village smiled and said:

"It's true that our Liu Family Village is rather poor, but since you're moving back, you can stay in the ancestral hall over there for the time being.

"I'll assign some people to help build you a house. What do you think?"

Someone in the village said, "There's a house in our mountains too, and it's quite nice. You could live on the back mountain."

"Pah! What nonsense are you talking about? You want the savior of Liu Family Village to live in the mountains? Is that proper?"

"That house in the mountains has fallen into disrepair over the years. It's made of stone, but everything inside is worn out."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "Actually, I think living in the mountains sounds nice. Why don't you take us to have a look?"