Zheng Changhe, Qingmu, and Mrs. Yang walked into the house, tossing their hoes under the eaves to let the rain wash off the mud. The family exchanged smiles, feeling as though they'd survived an ordeal.
Juhua saw the sheet of rain connecting heaven and earth, a blur of white that obscured the distant fields and the village's outline. Water in the center of the courtyard rushed into the drainage ditches on all sides. Even though the ditches had been dug deeper, they couldn't immediately contain the torrents, which furiously spilled out of the yard. The rain continued to pour from the sky, as if determined to release all the water it had held back for days.
The chickens huddled together under the eaves, their feathers soaked by the splashing rain. Every so often, one would shake its entire body, sending droplets flying. They watched the downpour without any anxiety, even letting out a leisurely, soft cluck or two. The shelter of the eaves must have given them a great sense of peace.
