While preparations for Lao Bai's embroidery workshop are in full swing, the annual Nanguan Town Lotus Festival is here again.
But this year's Lotus Festival seems quite lonely, because the drought has lasted for most of the year, and the water in the rivers and ditches has almost bottomed out.
The Huaihe River is no exception. The water level is so steaming that it can barely support a boat. Almost half of the thousands of acres of lotus flowers in the river have wilted and died.
"Master, if it doesn't rain today, it will be possible again." He Shun looked up at the sky, seeing the bright and scorching sun, and there was not a trace of wind in the air, and sighed.
A Zhen stood in the corridor with his hands behind his back.
He knew that He Shun's words were not really lamenting the drought in the areas under the jurisdiction of Huai City, but he was worried about the unfavorable rumors about him.
Now there is an undercurrent surging in the court. It is said that he is unknown, saying that his arrival will cause a severe drought in the Nanguan Mountain area.
Lenovo said that when he passed through Nanguan Mountain in the winter when he was four years old, the weather dropped suddenly and he encountered a once-in-a-century heavy snowfall.
The rumors that he was detrimental to Jiangshan were increasingly confirmed.
A Zhen's brows moved slightly, as if he hadn't heard anything, and he frowned and said: "What's there to say? You must know that the people are suffering from the severe drought."
He Shun felt bitter in his heart and said, "Young Master is kind, and the drought will definitely be alleviated."
A Zhen shook his head and said: "All counties below Huaicheng, except Yangfeng County, are suffering from disasters. What is the current disaster relief situation in each county?"
He Shun's face relaxed slightly and he said: "The granary has been opened. Liu Hong is now traveling to various counties to provide disaster relief. Qingyang County, the worst-hit area, has dealt with the county magistrate, and has also made arrangements for the refugees this morning."
A Zhen nodded.
"Master, thanks to the Yan and millet seeds donated by the Bai family, the drought in Yangfeng County is not that serious. Alas, but it has never rained. I am afraid that summer farming will also be affected, and the food supply this autumn will be cut off."
He Shun did not continue.
There are two crops a year in the Huaicheng area. After the wheat, oatmeal and millet are harvested in the summer, one more crop of corn can be planted.
If it doesn't rain, corn won't be sown.
Corn is the staple food in Huaicheng.
A Zhen had never seen victims who were homeless, and he had heard about the problems caused by the disaster. Xie Xiaolian's home was hit by a flood, and he had to flee for his life. The whole family starved to death, but he was the only one who survived.
"By the way, why did Zhao Defu come to see you this morning?" A Zhen changed the subject.
"Lao Bai's family plans to open an embroidery workshop in the village. He wants to invest in the business and asked me to borrow some money." He Shun said, "I borrowed twenty taels of silver and agreed to pay it back at the end of the year."
A Zhen went to Huaicheng a few days ago and just came back. It was the first time he heard about the Bai family's embroidery workshop.
"Does the Bai family's embroidery workshop accept shares? I'll also buy one and ask them if they want it." A Zhen said.
He Shun: "."
"Brother A Zhen."
Little Fuyuan pushed open the door of the big house and poked out her furry little head.
"Xiao Yuanbao is here." He Shun dropped the heavy topic of drought and saw a kind smile on Xiao Fuyuan's face. The young master has been having trouble eating and sleeping these past few days because of the drought. Having little Fuyuan talk to him might ease his mood.
"Brother Azhen, have you just come back from Huaicheng?" Xiao Fuyuan asked.
"Yes." A Zhen nodded and ordered He Shun to prepare an ice bowl of fruits and milk for Xiao Fuyuan.
He Shun brought the food to the table, and Xiao Fuyuan took a big mouthful of the milk ice bowl. The sweetness and coldness dispelled the heat.
"Brother A Zhen, you eat too." Xiao Fuyuan said.
Seeing that her food was delicious, A Zhen ate another bowl and then a large bowl of rice.
He Shun was so excited that he almost cried. The young master had not eaten like this for several days.
"Sister, I told you last year about lighting up the entire riverbank for the Lotus Festival. My brother is going back on his promise. This year there is a severe drought and half of the lotus flowers on the Huaihe River have died. Can the money from lighting up the lights be used to resettle the refugees?" A Zhen asked.
Xiao Fuyuan nodded and said: "Brother is kind and cares about the victims. If he lights up lanterns this year, he is a bad brother."
He Shun felt relieved when he heard Xiao Fuyuan say this.
"I'll make it up for you later." A Zhen frowned.
"Brother Azhen, are you worried about the drought?" Xiao Fuyuan asked.
A Zhen nodded.
Although Xiao Fuyuan has never seen the victims outside, she heard from the third brother who went to Huaicheng to deliver goods that the entire Huaicheng was experiencing a severe drought this year. Except for Yangfeng County, the victims in other counties had almost no harvest.
Many disaster victims have poured into Huaicheng, and now Huaicheng is opening warehouses to release grain for disaster relief.
"Brother Azhen, don't worry, the drought will pass soon." Xiao Fuyuan said extremely seriously.
"What should I say?" A Zhen's heart moved.
"It's going to rain soon. If it rains, we can farm." Xiao Fuyuan took a bite of watermelon and continued, "If the fields can be farmed, there will be food to eat."
A Zhen and He Shun looked up at the sky at the same time. The sun was high, there were thousands of dark clouds, there was no wind, and there was no sign of rain.
The two of them looked at Xiao Fuyuan.
"Xiao Yuanbao, are you telling the truth?" He Shun asked in surprise.
Although it is said that Xiao Fuyuan is a good talker, it is not just a few words that can impress God about the rain.
It would be great if it really rains. If summer plowing is not delayed, the pressure on disaster relief will be reduced, and the victims of this drought who have survived the past few months will have a way to survive; secondly, the DPRK and China are concerned about the young master. Rumors of disaster will disappear.
"It's really going to rain." Xiao Fukuoka emphasized again.
Xiao Fuyuan and A Zhen talked for a while. It was reported that Liu Hong was coming. She knew that A Zhen had something to do, so she got up and left.
When I came to the door, I met Liu Hong.
Mr. Liu Hong, who had just been promoted to the prefect of Huaicheng, did not have a happy face, but a sad face.
He is thinner than when he was a county magistrate, and there are several blood blisters on his lips.
There is no other way. This year, Huaicheng has been affected by drought everywhere except Yangfeng County. He started to relieve the drought as soon as he took office.
When Liu Hong saw Xiao Fuyuan, his eyes lit up. He grabbed her and asked, "Xiao Yuanbao, when do you think it will rain today?"
The close subordinates who followed him looked confused.
A few days ago, he went to Qingyang County for disaster relief. He scolded the magistrate of Qingyang County because he set up an altar to pray for rain. He said that the magistrate of Qingyang County did not do practical things but relied on gods and monsters for disaster relief, and acted like a parent.
Why did he grab a little girl and ask about the rain? Could it be that the prefect lost his mind and went crazy?
The Qingyang County Magistrate prayed for rain after all, but the magistrate grabbed a little girl in his own room to pray for rain, which is worse than the Qingyang County Magistrate.
Xiao Fuyuan smiled and said, "Uncle Magistrate, it will rain soon."
The call of the prefect uncle is really beautiful.
Liu Hong was so excited that he almost burst into tears. He grabbed Xiao Fuyuan's hand and lost his composure again: "Xiao Yuanbao, are you telling the truth?"
Xiao Fuyuan took out her little hand from Liu Hong's and said seriously: "I don't know. Let's see if it rains in a few days."
"It can rain!"
"It can rain!"
"Very good!"
"Very good!"
After Xiao Fuyuan left, his subordinates looked up to the sky and muttered to themselves as if they were crazy when they saw their boss, Prefect Liu Hong.
It seems that my boss is suffering from hysteria because he has not been able to eat well or sleep well during the disaster relief work these days.
"Sir," the subordinate shouted cautiously.
Liu Hong came back to his senses and said with a smile: "Xiao Yuanbao said it will rain, and it will definitely rain."
The subordinate looked up at the sky. The sky was clear and there was no cloud at all.
He once again suspected that the prefect was suffering from hysteria.
