The one criticizing her was none other than Old Lady Xiang.
She didn’t dare say these things in front of Jiang Si, but once the woman was out of earshot, Old Lady Xiang curled her lips and spat in her direction.
“Hah! Easy for her to talk without feeling the pinch.”
Perhaps her scornful expression was too obvious, because Sister-in-law Lin, who lived in the same building, frowned and tried to reason with her.
“Auntie, you should say less.”
Old Lady Xiang immediately bristled. “What? Why should I shut up?”
“...” Sister-in-law Fang’s expression froze.
When had she told her to shut up?
“Auntie, I didn’t say you should shut up.”
Old Lady Xiang just snorted. “Say less” might as well mean “shut up.”
City folks sure had a funny way with words.
Why couldn’t they just speak plainly instead of beating around the bush?
Having her goodwill thrown back in her face, Sister-in-law Fang’s expression darkened.
She said bluntly, “Auntie, what I meant was, since neither of the sisters-in-law said anything, isn’t it inappropriate for you to talk about them behind their backs?”
“I didn’t say anything wrong. What’s there to hide?”
Old Lady Xiang retorted, “One’s the wife of a regiment commander, the other’s the wife of a deputy regiment commander.”
“Their monthly pay is several times what others earn—of course they don’t care about losing a few things.”
“Besides, they live in those two-story houses. Who knows if the flood even reached them?”
“Not like us, crammed into these tenement buildings.”
Living in the tenement was bad enough, but their unit was on the first floor—and Building 3 was the lowest-lying in the entire residential compound.
The more Old Lady Xiang thought about it, the more bitter she felt.
“That sewing machine of ours wasn’t even six months old. Now that it’s soaked, how are we supposed to use it?”
Sister-in-law Fang had no desire to engage further.
The one who responded was the woman closest to Li Mei.
“Auntie, if the sewing machine’s waterlogged, the army will help repair it.”
After a pause, she added, “The costs for fixing the house will also be covered by the army. The worst part is just cleaning up the mess at home.”
“How is that the same?”
Old Lady Xiang’s tone turned sharp. “That sewing machine was supposed to last ten years. Now it’ll barely make it seven. Who’s going to compensate me for those three years?”
At that, the woman who’d spoken was rendered speechless.
Fine.
She shouldn’t have opened her mouth in the first place.
So she picked up her child and went to find Li Mei. Seeing Old Lady Xiang still muttering complaints, she said, “Li Mei, you should really talk to your mother-in-law and get her to tone it down.”
In the short time she’d been here, she’d already ruined all the goodwill Deputy Battalion Commander Xiang had built over the years.
As she spoke, the woman couldn’t help but think to herself:
That Deputy Battalion Commander Xiang really had the worst luck.
After struggling his way out of the village and finally making it to deputy battalion commander—just when his future looked brightest—he ended up with a mother who couldn’t read the room and a deaf-mute child.
How was he supposed to get through life like this?
“That’s just how she is. What can I do?”
As she spoke, Li Mei shot a subtle glance at the old hag.
In the past, she would’ve patiently tried to reason with her.
But after yesterday’s blowout, Li Mei had learned one thing: this household wasn’t big enough for two tigers.
So no, she wouldn’t intervene.
Not only that—she’d use this chance to fan the flames.
The more the old hag made a scene, the more she’d embarrass herself.
Only then would her husband finally make up his mind to send her away.
With that in mind, Li Mei casually asked the woman beside her, “I heard the government might give disaster relief aid for something like this?”
“That’s right,” the woman nodded.
Li Mei pressed, “Do you know how much?”
“I’m not sure, but I heard it’s based on the severity of the damage. The worse it is, the more you get.”
After a pause, the woman glanced at the child in Li Mei’s arms.
“Your family has more children, and Little Baby’s condition is special. The army will probably take that into account. Don’t worry.”
Li Mei’s eyes flickered imperceptibly toward the old hag.
Noticing her thoughtful expression, the corner of her lips curled. “Then I’ll take your word for it.”
Just then, the call for meals interrupted everyone’s thoughts.
Under the army’s disaster relief and epidemic prevention rules, until the floodwaters fully receded, everyone would eat communal meals—three porridges and one soup per day.
Breakfast was cassava and coarse rice porridge.
Lunch was amaranth and bitter leaf porridge.
Dinner was fish bone paste porridge.
It wasn’t exactly gourmet, but the purpose was to replenish electrolytes and prevent malaria.
On top of that, everyone had to drink a large bowl of herbal soup made from ginger, coarse salt, and plantain leaves—meant to induce sweating and ward off cholera.
This soup was at least tolerable, but the garlic-infused rice broth served over the next two days had Jiang Si gagging after every sip.
Not that she had a choice.
They said it was to prevent “corpse poison.”
The army went to great lengths with the meals, but to prevent post-disaster stress disorders, they also implemented a “three-sound therapy.”
In the morning, bugle calls restored routines.
At noon, before meals, everyone sang revolutionary songs—one after another.
At night, recordings of insect chirps played.
These were the visible measures. Behind the scenes, the soldiers were divided into four teams:
Team One cleared debris and reopened roads.
Team Two disinfected and sterilized.
Team Three repaired water and electricity lines.
Team Four went to nearby fishing villages, appearing wherever they were needed.
After five days and nights of nonstop work, the floodwaters in the residential compound finally receded.
That day, the overcast skies cleared, revealing a rare sunny day.
Just then, a familiar revolutionary song played over the loudspeakers.
Almost instinctively, everyone began humming along.
When the song ended, the broadcaster’s voice rang out.
Upon hearing they could finally return home, cheers erupted—but soon, tears welled in everyone’s eyes.
Even the announcer’s voice trembled with emotion.
After a pause, he shouted the final lines with all his might:
[The house may fall, but the backbone stands!]
[The fields may flood, but the seeds endure!!]
[Follow the red flag!!!!]
[Man—shall—make—heaven—bow!!!!]
[Dear revolutionary families—welcome home!!!!!]
As his voice faded, sobs and applause filled the air.
Jiang Si tilted her head up, fanning her face furiously.
Ever since getting pregnant, she’d noticed her tears came easier.
But then again, everyone was crying.
It wasn’t so embarrassing after all.
“Let’s go home,” Huo Tingzhou said, having packed their things, and reached for her hand.
Hu Meili, meanwhile, happily nuzzled her daughter’s cheek.
“Come on, Qingqing, we’re going home!”
Eldest Boy and Little Second Son paused at that. In unison, they asked,
“Mom, is her name Qingqing?”
“Yes! Qing as in ‘clear skies after rain,’ Qing as in sunshine—”
