Chapter 38: Pretty United
Yuan Family, Yuan Musheng was pinned under three fallen wooden shelves, with medicinal herbs scattered all over the ground.
He knew no one would come at this time, so he didn’t waste energy shouting for help, saving his strength to try crawling out himself.
But his leg seemed to be smashed and broken; any movement caused excruciating pain.
He reached out to push the wooden shelf, but the weight of the three four-layer solid wood shelves stacked on top was something he couldn’t budge.
Yuan Musheng was panting like an ox, gritting his teeth and pushing hard, yet the wooden shelf remained completely still.
“No good, can’t push it.” Yuan Musheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, turning his head to look around, trying to find some handy tools.
But it was a moonless rainy night, and the oil lamp had been knocked over when the wooden shelf fell earlier; in the pitch darkness, Yuan Musheng couldn’t see anything around him at all.
Lightning occasionally streaked across the sky, and the brief light coming through the window wasn’t enough for Yuan Musheng to find what he needed amid the pile of scattered things.
Yuan Musheng couldn’t help but give a bitter smile, recalling in his mind the words Rong Niangzi used to scold him with in the past.
“You even dare to pick herbs from the cliff, how come you didn’t fall to your death? Who do you think you are, some flying green forest hero? You’re just a doctor who can’t carry anything on your shoulders or lift with your hands! What are you doing messing around by the cliff? What herb is more important than your life?”
“I just couldn’t resist when I saw it, you… ouch ouch ouch, it hurts hurts hurts! Niangzi, be gentler.”
“I think it’s good that it’s broken! You, sooner or later you’ll get yourself killed over these herbs!”
The words were still ringing in his ears; Yuan Musheng thought to himself, hadn’t he just gotten himself in trouble now?
But the medicinal herbs at home were all already processed; today many people in the village were injured, exactly when they needed medicine, and now they were ruined by rainwater—he felt heartbroken.
With some strength recovered, Yuan Musheng took a deep breath, placed both hands against the edge of the wooden shelf, and pushed upward with force.
The wooden shelf moved slightly; Yuan Musheng was delighted and was about to grit his teeth and push harder when suddenly the ground along with the room shook.
Another earthquake.
Lightning flashed outside the window, and a beam came straight down toward Yuan Musheng’s head.
Yuan Musheng was pinned by the wooden shelf and couldn’t dodge even if he wanted to.
He stared in terror with wide eyes—done for, done for, he was really going to die here today.
Niangzi, your husband has let you down!
Qiao’er, Lang’er, Dad is sorry to you! Remember to persuade your mom to remarry, don’t let her stay widowed for me!
A bunch of random thoughts flashed through his mind; with the ground shaking, Yuan Musheng felt like he was hallucinating from the jolts.
Why did that beam seem to fly away?
Wait, when did he himself fly up?
Yuan Musheng was pelted painfully by the oncoming rain, finally sobering up a bit.
He turned his head to look at Shang Wan, who was holding a bamboo hat over his head while carrying him and running wildly; the word “younger brother’s wife” was just out of his mouth when it was drowned by rainwater.
Shang Wan shook the rainwater off her face, glanced at him, “What did you want to say?”
“Tung oil cloth can block rain.” Yuan Musheng swallowed a mouthful of rainwater before saying, “Not enough medicinal herbs over there, need to bring some over.”
Shang Wan spun in place carrying him, then went back to grab things.
Because of the aftershock just now, half of the Yuan Family’s medicinal herb storage area had collapsed, and a lot of medicinal herbs got soaked; Yuan Musheng felt heartbroken, but he also knew there was no time to clean them up now.
Shang Wan lit an oil lamp and, under Yuan Musheng’s directions, swiftly wrapped the needed medicinal herbs in oil paper, packed them into a large bamboo basket, and wrapped the outside with two layers of tung oil cloth to keep out the rainwater.
“Let’s go, close your eyes.” Shang Wan slung the large bamboo basket over her right shoulder, reached out to pick up the unreacting Yuan Musheng, and hurried toward where the crowd was.
Yuan Musheng didn’t close his eyes at first, but couldn’t withstand the cold rain slapping his face; by the time Shang Wan finally set him down, Yuan Musheng felt like he’d been slapped dozens of times, his face numb.
“You dead man!” Rong Niangzi came running over crying, grabbing Yuan Musheng and pounding his chest with small fists, “Where did you run off to? I thought you were dead!”
Yuan Musheng already had a leg injury, and with Rong Niangzi pushing and shoving him like that, he lost his balance and fell sitting on the ground.
Rong Niangzi, who had been crying and venting, was stunned; she wiped her tears messily and helped him up, “I didn’t use much strength, how did you fall?”
“It’s my fault.” Yuan Musheng knew his own niangzi was tough-mouthed but soft-hearted, so he said softly, “I went back for medicinal herbs and got my leg smashed by the medicine shelf, probably broken. Wait until I set my leg, then you can hit me however you want.”
Hearing this, how could Rong Niangzi still think of hitting him? She hurriedly shouted: “Lang’er, your dad’s leg injury, come quick and help support him.”
“I’ll do it.” Luo Lao’er stepped forward to help, and Rong Niangzi quickly thanked him.
Shang Wan set the large bamboo basket down in a sheltered spot and first ran off to check on her own family.
Seeing her wet clothes clinging to her body, hair soaked and plastered to her cheeks, dripping water all over, Lu Chengjing’s brows furrowed tight enough to crush a fly.
“I was wearing a bamboo hat.” Shang Wan pointed to the bamboo hat on her head, not understanding why Lu Chengjing was suddenly angry.
Seeing Shang Wan completely oblivious, Lu Chengjing felt helpless and sighed, “Wearing wet clothes will make you sick; Xiao Huan has clean clothes over there, go change first.”
Just then, Rong Niangzi came running over holding a pot lid, “Younger brother’s wife, look at you all soaked, hurry and come with sister-in-law to change clothes.”
Shang Wan was pulled away by her.
The women turned their backs and huddled together, creating a circular changing space for her; the men all tactfully turned their heads away, not looking this way.
Shang Wan changed clothes quickly; the clothes Rong Niangzi prepared were quite fitting in length, except a bit loose around the waist.
Aunt Zhou brought a clean cloth towel to help dry her hair; after thanking her, Shang Wan took it and dried her own hair, asking a couple questions about the earthquake situation just now.
Xiao Huan was also sheltering here from the rain holding Yuan Yuan; the little one had been woken by the thunder, cried for a bit, then fallen back asleep, and was sleeping soundly now.
Shang Wan poked the little one’s cheek; a small dimple immediately appeared on Yuan Yuan’s rosy little face.
After the men in the village discussed for a bit, they spread out the tung oil cloth, tied it to four newly erected wooden stakes, and a simple rain shed was set up.
Villagers sheltering under various covers all moved into the shelter; each family contributed straw mats, hanging them around the shelter to block some wind and rain.
There were five rolls of tung oil cloth in total, usually used to cover medicinal herbs against moisture; now they became five rain sheds, barely enough to hold all the villagers.
Those who had run to houses to shelter from rain all came back to be with their families; this time no need for Zhang Er to lead people in counting—each family checked themselves, and everyone was there, not one missing.
Dan Dajun wrung out the corner of his clothes; he’d helped set up the rain shelter earlier and gotten quite wet. He whispered to Shen Qi: “The people in this village are pretty united.”
The atmosphere in Willow Tree Village was completely different—almost every family fended for themselves, guarding their own stuff tightly; who’d take it out to share?
“Because there’s a clear-headed pillar,” Shen Qi glanced at the several tired-looking elders, then shifted his gaze to Shang Wan, Liu Cheng, Li Dashan and others, “and outstanding leaders.”
“With a steady pillar and leaders who can suppress and shoulder burdens, even in chaos it won’t last long.”
Dan Dajun nodded, “Saves us some kung fu.”
Shang Wan came over with her half-dry hair draped, looking at Shen Qi, “I need your help with something; can we step aside to talk?”
Shen Qi raised an eyebrow inwardly—what could this formidable person need his help with?
