Qin Sang knew what the Old Village Chief was worried about and immediately explained:
"Everyone is fine; they are there cleaning up the aftermath. They specifically sent me back first to bring news to the village."
Only then did the Old Village Chief and the others cheer up, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief:
"Good, good, good. It's good that everyone is fine. Is anyone injured?"
Qin Sang led her horse and guided everyone inside:
"No one was really hurt, but it's raining now. I'm afraid everyone will catch a cold, so I plan to boil some ginger soup so they can have a bowl to warm up when they get back."
After saying that, Qin Sang called out to everyone:
"Don't just stand out here, everyone. You'll get sick if you stay in the rain too long. Quickly, go inside."
Qin Sang's wooden house was large and could accommodate many people. It also had an oilcloth covering the roof and drainage ditches dug around it, so the interior was very dry.
However, not many people went inside to take shelter. Everyone was busy running back to their own homes to collect water with buckets, pots, and bowls.
Many of the younger ones ran back to tell others the good news. Before long, several children could be heard frolicking and bathing in the rain.
Qin Sang felt helpless. Since it hadn't rained for so long, everyone was worried the rain would stop shortly, so they all wanted to store as much water as possible and take a bath while they were at it.
Previously, everyone had been afraid of accidents, their hearts filled with worry for the men outside dealing with the Rebel Soldiers. Now that they knew everyone was safe, they could finally express their joy without reservation.
Fearing the two iron pots in her kitchen wouldn't be enough, Qin Sang took a bag of ginger to the Village Chiefs House and asked the daughters-in-law there to also boil two pots of ginger soup, estimating that everyone in Tianjia Village would need some.
Eldest Brothers Wife led Si Jin in making Pancakes, steaming Sausages, and boiling eggs.
Everyone would surely be hungry after working until the middle of the night, so they could have a bite to eat when they returned.
Qin Sang went to her room to change into dry clothes, while Eldest Girl used a dry towel to wring out her hair.
The air carried the scent of moist earth as the entire mountain forest greedily drank in the long-awaited sweet rain. A few elderly people were waiting in the main hall outside, discussing how, now that it was raining, if they left the mountains early, they could still go back to plant some grain and vegetables—their words were filled with hope for life.
Seeing Qin Sang come out with her hair wrapped, the Old Village Chief sat in the main hall, overjoyed:
"It's good now. It's finally raining. No one will die of thirst anymore."
Qin Sang also felt much more relaxed; she wouldn't have to go fill the well with water in the middle of the night anymore:
"Village Chief, the well will definitely be full after it rains. However, I hope you can tell everyone that from now on, they should only drink boiled water. This will reduce illnesses. Especially for children, drinking unboiled water can easily cause diarrhea and intestinal worms."
The Old Village Chief had no objections and said to the other elderly men:
"Did you all hear that? Go back and tell your families."
"Alright, if Da Zhuangs Mother says so, it must be for everyone's good."
"No wonder children used to complain of stomach aches so often; it turns out it was because they drank unboiled water."
Qin Sang nodded. Listening to the pitter-patter of the rain outside, she glanced out. The rain was truly heavy, as if a hole had opened in the Heavenly River, pouring down like a waterfall.
Qin Sang was a bit worried and added:
"We also need to send people to check the ditches we dug and the drainage situation. We can't let the mountain rainwater flood us. It might not be apparent right now, but with rain this heavy, I expect water will be flowing down from the mountain shortly."
The Old Village Chief's expression turned much more serious, and he nodded:
"You're right to be careful, Da Zhuangs Mother. We were all so dazed with joy over the rain. We indeed need to check carefully; this place used to be a pool."
"The riverbed also needs to be checked to see if the water is following the channel we dug."
"Right, there are also a few wooden houses without oilcloth covering their roofs. We must have them move quickly and squeeze into other homes."
Suddenly, the Old Village Chief couldn't sit still and was about to go make arrangements.
Qin Sang stopped him:
"Let Wen Mo go. You're at such an advanced age, and the roads are slippery in the rain; you mustn't take a fall."
Qin Sang took a Straw Raincoat and put it on Wen Mo:
"Did you remember what Grandpa Village Chief said? Ask the two brothers, A Shui and the other, if they want to come to our house to take shelter."
"Your Eldest Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law can share a room, and A Shui and A Jing can squeeze into a room with your Eldest Brother and Third Brother."
"Okay, Mother."
Only then did the Old Village Chief feel at ease. He sat with Qin Sang in the main hall to wait. As time passed, more women arrived at Qin Sang's house to wait for their families.
It wasn't until dawn that the villagers of Tianjia Village returned. The women helped wipe the rain from their husbands' bodies and faces and busied themselves serving ginger soup and food.
The men took large gulps, and the spicy, warm ginger soup brought some warmth to their bodies, which had been soaked by the rain for half the night.
Only now did Qin Sang clearly see the villagers' faces. Before, everyone had been covered in dust and grime, but now, a single rain had washed them clean, making them look much fresher and tidier.
The men discussed as they ate:
"This time it's all thanks to Da Zhuangs Mother. Those trap arrangements—I think they could rival a Great General's troop deployments."
"Da Zhuangs Mother said Long River taught her all this. It's Brother Long River protecting our village from heaven."
"When I learned the mountain fire had started, I thought hope was slim. But then it rained; maybe it really was Long River helping us from heaven."
Hearing everyone actually thanking the Original Body's deceased husband, Qin Sang didn't know whether to laugh or cry:
"Alright, it's best that everyone is safe. Did you watch those refugees leave?"
"Did anyone follow you?"
Tian Yougen replied:
"Don't worry, we all remembered what you said. Some people did want to follow, but we didn't let them."
"We watched them go far away before returning to the camp."
"They know the Government Soldiers have come out to suppress the rebellion. People from two villages said they plan to leave the mountains and return to their villages to farm."
"Da Zhuangs Mother, why don't we go back to the village too? If we plant seeds now, there's still time."
The men's eyes all fell on Qin Sang, including the Old Village Chief's.
Qin Sang had only been there for two months since transmigrating, so she didn't have such strong feelings for home. However, the other villagers were different; that was where they grew up. Moreover, they were worried that if they didn't farm, they wouldn't make it until next spring.
All sorts of conditions met the requirements for returning to the village, and Qin Sang had no reason not to go back, but she still felt some unease in her heart:
"I know everyone wants to go home, but we should at least wait for this rain to stop. Also, which two villages' residents said they were planning to leave the mountains?"
"My point is, let's wait until we're sure the people from those two villages have returned home safely before we consider leaving the mountains."
Tian Yougen was a bit puzzled:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, you don't want to go back to the village yet?"
Qin Sang shook her head:
"It's not that I don't want to, but I don't trust those Government Soldiers."
"If the Government officials were good, they would have actively provided disaster relief during the Drought, and certainly wouldn't have made matters worse by continuing to collect high taxes."
"A government that extorts and overcharges isn't good, so can these Government Soldiers, who risk their lives with blades, be any better?"
"If they were truly capable, they wouldn't have allowed thousands of Rebel Soldiers to enter the deep mountains."
"We've already survived the Drought, the Locust Plague, and the war; we can't end up being killed by those Government Soldiers in the end."
"If we are to return to the village, we must be certain there is no more danger outside."
"Ideally, it should be after the Government Soldiers have withdrawn and the Government officials have resumed their administrative duties."