The Village Head dropped to his knees with a thud. "Rest assured, noble lord! This humble old man swears to the heavens! I will absolutely never leak a single word to anyone!"
"If I break this vow, let my mouth break out in sores and my bloodline be severed forever!"
Xiao Yi looked at the Village Head coldly, causing a layer of cold sweat to form on the old man's back.
Living to this age, what kind of things had he not experienced?
However, under Xiao Yi's gaze, he actually felt a terrifying urge to flee.
"Yun Xiao, help him up. We will leave as soon as the rain stops!"
"Yes."
Yun Xiao stepped forward and pulled the Village Head up.
The Village Head could clearly feel the strength in Yun Xiao's hands.
He vaguely guessed that these people who called themselves businessmen were definitely not that simple.
Yun Xiao led the Village Head out.
Duoduo found the Village Head's words just now very amusing. She whispered softly into Yingniang's ear.
"Sister, the way that old man spoke was so funny. He actually said fish have ancestors?"
Seeing Duoduo laugh, Yingniang also covered her mouth and giggled happily.
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo with a very complex gaze.
"Duoduo, come here."
Xiao Yi reached out, gesturing for Duoduo to come to him. Duoduo walked over, looking at Xiao Yi with a face full of confusion.
Xiao Yi held his hand out to Duoduo. "Hand!"
Duoduo was very curious. She placed her hand into Xiao Yi's palm.
Xiao Yi examined both of Duoduo's hands carefully, looking them over and over.
Duoduo's little hands were chubby, but her fingers were slender.
There wasn't much difference between her two hands.
If one had to point out a difference, it was that one of the hands had a white mark on it.
Xiao Yi held the hand with the mark, looked at it closely, and even rubbed his thumb over it.
Xiao Yi remembered very clearly that just now, it was this exact hand of Duoduo's that was swallowing the rainwater.
Watching Xiao Yi's every move, a sense of unease welled up in Duoduo's heart.
"Father, what's wrong with my hand?"
Xiao Yi raised his hand and lightly smacked Duoduo's hand. "From now on, you are not allowed to play with water!"
"These little hands are freezing from touching the water. If you catch a cold illness, you'll suffer for it in the future!"
Duoduo blinked, and then blinked again.
Did Father just hit her?
But Father's movement was so gentle, like a feather lightly brushing past.
Was this a punishment?
Duoduo blinked once more. Under Duoduo's pure gaze, Xiao Yi coughed uncomfortably.
"Ahem, did you remember what I said? If I catch you playing with water again, you'll be punished with the paddle!"
Duoduo's eyes began to curve into crescents. Finally, the smile on her face grew wider and wider, until the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears.
Seeing this, Xiao Yi said, "It seems Nanny Li hasn't taught you the rules well enough yet."
Duoduo hurriedly closed her mouth and restrained her smile.
"I've learned everything Nanny Li taught me!"
"Father, please don't be angry. Your daughter is just too happy!"
Xiao Yi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"What? It seems you thought I hit you too lightly just now?"
Duoduo showed an obedient smile. "No, Father cares about me, I understand."
The scene of Duoduo catching the water just now had also deeply shocked Su Xian and the others.
Xiao Yi was right; no one could mention this kind of thing.
If someone were to fabricate rumors, it would push Duoduo into an abyss of eternal damnation.
As for saving some fish ancestor, they felt it was just as Li Jin said—nothing more than a coincidence.
Su Xian looked at the sky. She hoped the rain would stop quickly so they could set off immediately.
Only then could Duoduo be safe.
"Duoduo, come here to Mother." Thinking of this, Su Xian waved at Duoduo.
Duoduo ran over to Su Xian, and Su Xian pulled Duoduo into her arms.
"Your father is right. Girls have delicate constitutions, so play with water less, understand?"
Duoduo nodded obediently. "Mother, I'll remember!"
Su Xian hugged Duoduo and looked at the rain outside. "I wonder when this rain will finally stop?"
"Mother, didn't the teacher say that only rain can solve the drought?"
"It was so hard for this rain to fall, wouldn't it be better if it rained a little longer?"
Duoduo liked the rain, just as she liked water.
"If this heavy rain continues for a few days and nights, it will probably cause a flood!"
Xu Jinxin, who was hugging Yingniang, interjected.
"A flood?" Duoduo repeated.
"Right! Not only floods, but it can also cause landslides and collapsing houses. They are all disasters."
Xu Jinxin looked at the pouring rain outside. The downpour was heavy, and occasionally, rainwater was blown in by the wind.
"When that happens, we won't be able to leave!" Yingniang added.
Duoduo remembered the landslide that occurred the last time she went to save her father.
She heard that during that landslide, a dozen guards from the Prince's estate had died.
Duoduo understood in her heart.
Whether it was a drought or a flood, people would die!
No wonder emperors since ancient times had always prayed for favorable weather, national prosperity, and peace for the people.
Duoduo didn't speak. The people in the room all stared at the rain outside, waiting for it to stop.
The heavy rain fell for two hours, yet there was still no sign of it stopping.
The Village Head put on a straw raincoat and went out. He needed to inspect the village for any dangerous spots.
Duoduo also wanted to go out and take a look, but she was worried about being scolded by Xiao Yi.
Duoduo rolled her eyes thoughtfully and gently pulled Su Xian's hand.
"Mother, I need to use the washroom," Duoduo lowered her voice.
With Duoduo mentioning it, Su Xian suddenly felt the need to go as well.
Su Xian looked at Xu Jinxin beside her. "Do you want to go?"
Xu Jinxin nodded. "Let's go together then. I'll go ask for directions first."
Xu Jinxin stood up and went to ask where it was.
Soon, Xu Jinxin returned. "Let's go. Yingniang, are you coming?"
Yingniang nodded. "Yes, I want to go!"
Xu Jinxin gave Li Jin a look, and Li Jin nodded to show he understood.
Xu Jinxin led Su Xian and the two children out the door.
Rainwater drifted in from time to time, and the ground under the eaves was covered in water.
The Village Head's wife saw them and felt very embarrassed.
"Our place is shabby, please bear with us, noble ladies."
Xu Jinxin smiled and greeted her, "Sorry to intrude."
The Village Head's wife hurriedly waved her hands. The Village Head had just instructed her that these noble guests in the house must absolutely not be neglected.
Under the guidance of the Village Head's wife, Xu Jinxin found the place.
Duoduo looked at the crude outhouse. It was even worse than the Song estate where she stayed when she was little. She suddenly felt that this place was not even as comfortable as the makeshift spot Xu Jinxin had enclosed in the woods.
"I suddenly don't want to go anymore. Mother, Aunt Xu, you guys go ahead. I'll wait for you outside!"
Duoduo covered her nose and ran outside.
"Yingniang, hurry up and follow Duoduo." Xu Jinxin didn't dare leave Su Xian alone here.
Seeing the environment in front of her, Su Xian also felt the urge to retreat.
"Jinxin, you go ahead. I'll go wait for you outside too."
Hearing this, Xu Jinxin smiled bitterly, "I'm not going either. I'll hold it in together with you guys."
The two walked out and saw Duoduo and Yingniang holding hands, looking up at the rain in the sky.
"When it doesn't rain, it stays dry, but once it starts, it just won't stop. Honestly."
Xu Jinxin walked over and complained.
Duoduo turned her head and gave a bright smile.
"Aunt Xu, it will stop! Very soon, it will stop."
