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The rain finally ceased after a day and night. The floodwaters retreated three days later. During those three days, villagers had to scavenge edibles on the mountain. There were some wild fruits there to tide them over. Tang Zhinian, Yuxin and their siblings survived those arduous days and nights through the pieces of candy that Yuxin had and the wild fruits they gathered. The flood stopped rising and military personnel came for rescue, providing them with ample food, water, and clothing.

About three days later, after the flood had receded, they returned to the village.

But almost all of their old houses had been swept away. Usable items had been washed away, their bedding, the livestock they reared, the grain- everything was nearly gone. Their houses were gone and so were their belongings, but their lands remained untouched due to their location halfway up the hill. Only a few households’ crops were flooded, but most of them were unaffected, including those of Tang Zhinian and his siblings, except for a small corner that was inundated.

The destruction of their houses didn’t matter, their possessions being washed away didn’t matter – as long as they were alive.

And the government was responsive. Shortly after they returned to the village, relief was dispatched: regardless of anything else, each family was given a relief fund of 200 yuan, a bag of rice, and flour.

People tidied up their homes. Those whose homes were inhabitable moved back in, and the government provided tents for those who couldn’t. Reconstruction could begin later.

It might sound nice, but in reality, the damage each family suffered was significant.

Tang Zhinian, his siblings and Yuxin stood dumbstruck at the entrance of their house. The door was gone, the house was nearly razed. The only thing that remained was the roof. Everything inside had been washed away, even the earthen bed had collapsed. If not for the grand ailanthus tree at the front door, they wouldn’t have been able to locate their house.

Tang Zhijun rushed to the kitchen. Upon entering, he fell into despair, as the chopping board and firewood were gone. The jar where he hid money was also missing. He stubbornly dug the floor, but found nothing. There was no jar, no money.

“It’s ok, we still have the land, we are all alive,” Tang Zhinian comforted his brother with a pat on the shoulder.

Tang Zhijun tried to smile, but it looked more like crying.

Everything they owned had been washed away, even the money was gone.

Tang Zhinian was filled with more sadness and guilt than Zhijun.

If he hadn’t brought the money home, only the check would have been washed away. They could have found ways to recover that, couldn’t they? But now, the money was most probably swept somewhere, maybe even pocketed by someone.

Tang Zhinian had his daughter stay outside. Together with Zhijun, they cleaned up the house. After making some patchwork repairs, it was still habitable. At the very least, there was still a roof. They could also use wooden boards to substitut the missing walls. It would do.