Chapter 131
Lu Gu sat and watched the rain for a while, but unexpectedly, it began to pour even harder. The rainwater cascaded down from the eaves with a loud, rushing sound, reminiscent of the white waterfalls in the mountains. He and Wei Lanxiang moved their stools further inside to avoid getting their shoes and pants wet from the splashing water.
Wei Lanxiang glanced at the dark, overcast sky outside and clicked her tongue, saying, "This heavy summer rain is really something."
Between the main hall and the front gate, there was a small open area. The vegetables were planted in the larger backyard, while the small front yard only had some flowers. Both the flowers on the branches and the delicate vines climbing the trellis were battered by the rain, their petals scattered in the muddy water, creating a messy scene.
The so-called "vine flowers" were just a local name. The tender red blossoms were hidden among the green vines and leaves, their tiny red dots peeking out from the greenery, appearing delicate and scattered. This was how the villagers referred to them.
These flowers were unassuming and petite, and some of the more particular women and fulangs in the village would plant a few of them. They added a touch of novelty during the scorching summer months.
The yellow and red petals were ruined by the rain, now stained with mud. As the rain intensified, the water quickly formed streams, carrying the muddy petals toward the drainage outlet. Earlier, they had removed the green brick that had been blocking the outlet.
Through the curtain of rain, Lu Gu saw people running past the gate. In just this short while, he had seen more than ten people, all of whom had been working in the fields.
The main hall was two steps higher than the front and back yards, a detail Shen Xuanqing had specifically instructed during the construction of the house. Normally, it required an extra step to enter, but during the rain, it prevented water from flooding into the rooms.
Seeing the flower branches bent and broken by the rain, Wei Lanxiang turned her head to glance at the backyard and said, "I wonder how the vegetable plot is doing. We should go check later. If any plants have been washed out, we’ll need to replant them."
Lu Gu responded with an "Mm," but his mind was preoccupied with worry about Shen Xuanqing, who was on his way back. The rain was so heavy, he wondered if Shen Xuanqing and the others had found a place to take shelter.
Wei Lanxiang had also had a little wine during lunch. Listening to the sound of the pouring rain, which showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, she simply said, "Since there’s nothing else to do, and there are bedding here, why don’t we rest for a bit? We can sleep for a while and check on things when we wake up."
So the two of them went inside and lay down on the bed together. The bamboo mat made it relatively cool, and each of them covered their stomachs with a thin blanket.
Outside, the four dogs had also found dry spots to lie down. Da Hui rested his head on his front paws, his eyes closed, but his ears twitched occasionally.
Flies would occasionally land on them, causing the dogs’ bellies to twitch or jerk, but after a while, they just wagged their tails and ignored the pests.
The heavy rain lasted for about three quarters of an hour. Summer downpours like this usually didn’t last too long.
Lu Gu had already woken up earlier. He yawned but stayed lying down, not wanting to disturb Wei Lanxiang, who was still asleep. The rain had cooled things down, and this nap had been quite refreshing, easing the fatigue in his body.
As the sound of the rain outside grew softer, Wei Lanxiang’s light snoring became more rapid, louder than before, and it even startled her awake. She wiped her eyes and asked, "Has the rain stopped?"
"It’s stopped, Mother," Lu Gu replied as he sat up and folded the thin blanket, placing it to the side.
They hadn’t closed the gate while they were sleeping because of the heavy rain, but with so many dogs at home, there was no need to worry.
The flower branches and vines in the front yard were battered and disheveled, but the vegetable plot in the backyard was more important. The sky had cleared, and the rain had completely stopped. The two of them went to the backyard to check on the vegetable plot.
The soil in the vegetable plot had been moist from the morning watering, and after such a heavy rain, many of the plants had been beaten down. Some with shallow roots were exposed, and a few had even been completely washed out.
Taking advantage of the wet mud and the mild sunlight, Lu Gu and Wei Lanxiang used small shovels to replant the vegetables, getting their hands and feet covered in mud.
"Oh dear, these little seedlings have been beaten so badly. What a shame," Wei Lanxiang sighed as she touched the tender seedlings that had been ruined by the rain.
The house had a large, spacious yard, and country folk always felt the urge to plant something in any empty space. Otherwise, they would feel it was a waste to leave the land unused.
With so many livestock around, there was plenty of manure. Qingyao leaves could either be foraged from the mountains or bought from others who grew them. They decided to plant a patch themselves. Once the plants grew tall, they could be dug up, dried for two or three days, and then used to repel flies and disperse odors. They were truly useful.
"These plants are easy to grow. We haven’t even used up the packet of seeds we have at home. After this batch grows tall and is harvested, we can plant another round," Lu Gu comforted her.
That was the only option. Wei Lanxiang nodded and stopped sighing.
The livestock had all retreated into their pens and coops. The newly built shelters were sturdy and reliable, effectively shielding them from the wind and rain. Most of the animals hadn’t gotten wet or frightened.
After the rain, the ground was muddy and difficult to walk on. Between replanting the vegetables and feeding the livestock, Lu Gu was quite busy. Once he finished, he returned to the main hall, leaned against the windowsill, and used a wooden stick to scrape off the thick layer of wet mud from the soles of his shoes.
"Gu Zi, the tea is ready," Wei Lanxiang said, having entered before him. She had also poured him a bowl of clear tea, showing none of the airs or strictness of a typical mother-in-law.
"Got it, Mother," Lu Gu replied. After scraping the mud off his shoes and washing the dirt from his hands, he went over.
As they were resting, Shen Xuanqing and Shen Yaoqing came in from outside.
"What a journey, truly rough," Shen Yaoqing sighed. "We hurried as fast as we could and managed to take shelter at the Min family’s house in Old Wang Village before the rain got too heavy. You know, the family that’s related to Uncle Lin. We sat there for a while."
As they spoke, they scraped the mud off their shoes in the yard before entering the main hall.
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