Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Doomsayer
Chapter 184: Doomsayer
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“I see those four shops to the south are idle. Let’s free them up and use them to shelter the homeless disaster victims. Then, send a few maids to set up stoves at the doorstep and start making porridge, twice a day. Make sure to tell the victims to bring their bowls and utensils.”
“Yes. I’ll arrange it right away.”
Clearly, Old Master Wang has seen the world and remains calm in adversity. He’s systematically organizing things in the house for Qiao Mai.
Mayor Qian and the others found it strange that the water receded quickly.
But no matter how puzzling it was, they were relieved because the faster the water receded, the less damage the people would suffer.
Those mud-brick houses could easily collapse when submerged.
If the water receded quickly, there might still be a chance to save the houses and the crops in the fields.
Everyone was celebrating, but they had no idea that Qiao Mai had exhausted herself for them.
Yuan Jiaqi didn’t know either. He wondered why Qiao Mai, who was usually the first to come running when there was trouble, had been so quiet today.
He was lost in thought while busying himself.
Qiao Mai would be the one to solve any problems, but now that she wasn’t around, he could pitch in.
While the commoners were thanking the heavens on their knees, Qiao Mai was sound asleep on her bed.
In the space, Greeny was busy planting lotus seeds. Like her master, she wanted to make this water pond beautiful.
Unfortunately, even though she knew Qiao Mai could buy things from the computer, she didn’t know how to use it. She could only click on beans endlessly.
However, since Greeny came, the space was continuously changing.
Not only did its area expand, but it was also made beautiful and pleasing to the
eye.
It enclosed all the vegetables in a garden, separated them from other plants with wooden fences, and named it “Green Green Vegetable Garden.”
If Qiao Mai were to see this, she would definitely scold it for stealing her hard work.
Greeny also turned the fruit trees into a patch called the “Green Green Fruit Orchard,” and the nut trees among them were named the “Green Green Nut Orchard. ”
Every kind of plant was categorized, and the outer circle was enclosed with wooden fences. At a glance, it looked good.
What with the “Green Green Bamboo Grove,” “Green Green Prairie,” “Green Green Pasture,” and “Green Green Big Forest” would wake Qiao Mai from her sleep with anger.
It even modified the place where Qiao Mai lived, doubling the space and tidying up the shelves.
It placed the items that could be duplicated after mutations on the shelves and put everything that couldn’t into labeled boxes.
Since Greeny had transformed into a butterfly, it regarded itself as Qiao Mai’s housekeeper.
From now on, everything in the space would have to go through its hands.
Qiao Mai slept for three days and nights before recovering from the exhaustion of overusing her mental power. Even so, she still felt a bit weak when she woke up.
She remembered the Revitalization Pills and took a bottle from the space, swallowing two pills and stashing the rest in her pocket.
Then, she walked out of the room. The sky outside was still gloomy, and it hadn’t cleared up despite her having removed all the water.
Nonetheless, the house was dry. Although the ground outside was a bit damp, there was no standing water.
She was satisfied as she looked at the water-repelling and earthquake-repelling talismans on the door. She decided to make a lightning-repelling talisman for the next time.
Yue Hong had taken Ling’er out to play. Yue Xia saw her mistress wake up and hurried out of the room.
“Mistress, are you hungry? I’ll prepare some food for you.”
“No need. Have there been any problems at home while I was asleep?”
“No, but Old Master Wang is currently assisting in disaster relief. Old Mistress Wang is also helping.”
“Oh? How are they helping with disaster relief?”
“They have arranged the four shops to the south to shelter disaster victims and are distributing porridge by the official road.”
Qiao Mai pursed her lips. They knew her well. “Alright, you can go on with your work. I’ll go check things out.”
Qiao Mai said as she walked out. Yue Xia quickly grabbed a few buns from the small kitchen, wrapped them in oiled cloth, and handed them to her.
“Eat while you watch.”
Qiao Mai smiled, “Sure.”
Outside of Lucky Garden, there were crowds of people. Old Master and Mistress Wang were sitting on the side supervising.
The victims lined up with their bowls, each being served porridge.
“Grandfather, grandmother?”
“Oh, you’re here. Is your health better?”
“Much better.”
“Your complexion still looks a bit pale. Come, sit with grandmother.”
Qiao Mai obediently sat down, and the old lady took her hand and touched her face.
“Oh? Isn’t that too troublesome if they come every day?”
“What do you suggest then?”
“Have them bring their household registration and queue up. I’ve stored a lot of grain before. Let them take it back home to cook for themselves. It’s too crowded in the town, and there’s a risk of an epidemic.”
Upon hearing the word “epidemic,” the old man’s hand stroking his beard trembled with fear.
“Starting when?”
“Tomorrow morning. It’s already late today. Write a notice and tell everyone.
Let them spread the word. We’ll stop serving porridge tomorrow.”
Old Master Wang sent someone to fetch paper and a quill and quickly wrote a short notice, posting it on the wall.
Then he shouted to the disaster victims in line, “Listen up, starting tomorrow, we won’t be serving porridge anymore. We’ll be distributing grain. Remember to bring your household registration. Each family can get fifty kilograms of grain. Don’t stay in the town every day. Be careful of the epidemic.”
Upon hearing that they could get grain, everyone was delighted, but when they heard about the epidemic, they all became scared. Those who had received their food quickly finished it and went home.
Qiao Mai nodded and checked the nearby villages and towns.
The losses weren’t substantial, and as long as they had grain, they would soon be able to rebuild their homes. The crops in the fields were also fine. Fortunately, she had removed the water in time.
The two thousand acres of water in the space was ready at any time. She hoped that there would be no drought.
Tsk, no jinxing!
When she returned, Qiao Mai went to the snack shop. The interior was empty and cold, but quite a few people were sitting under the tent outside, most of whom were townspeople.
Seeing her arrive, they greeted her.
“Madam Qiao, we haven’t seen you these days.”
“I’ve been sick and sleeping after taking medicine.”
“No wonder. Thanks to your reminder, we’re not going hungry right now.” “Don’t mention it. I was worried too. I’m just glad everyone is okay.”
Qiao Mai sat down, and the shopkeeper quickly made her a glass of fruit juice, which she liked because it was cold.
When everyone saw her take a few sips, they said, “The price of grain outside has gone crazy. It’s so quiet in our town as if nothing happened.”
“Because we’re prepared. Besides, we’ve been giving out porridge all along.
Whether the grain prices rise or not, it has nothing to do with us.”
“It has. Some people from other towns can’t buy grain there, so they come to our town. Look at those disaster victims; many are not from our town.”
Qiao Mai glanced around and saw many unfamiliar faces. She had been in this place for several years, often serving porridge, so she could recognize people from the surrounding villages.
“Hmm?”
As she turned her head casually, she saw Madam Liu Qiao. What’s going on? Did her family also get flooded? Were they out of grain?
Madam Liu Qiao stood in the crowd, her head down and hair messy, trying not to be recognized.
Qiao Mai waved to her. “Auntie, come over here!”
Seeing that she had been recognized, Madam Liu Qiao smiled awkwardly and reluctantly moved away from the crowd.
“Have a seat!”
“Mai, I really had no choice but to come here; I’ve embarrassed you.”
Qiao Mai looked at the shop and said, “Shopkeeper Niu, bring twenty tea eggs and a glass of fruit juice over.”
Seeing the tea eggs in front of her, Madam Liu Qiao burst into tears.
“Mai, I’m so sorry!”
“Did your home get flooded?”
“Yes. Even though Liu Ye and Liu Hai earned money here, the price of grain has skyrocketed. We couldn’t bear to spend so much money on grain..”