Picking mulberries

This year's rainy season is particularly long. It has been raining continuously for more than a month. It finally cleared up for two days. I thought the weather had improved, but I didn't expect the pouring rain to cover it endlessly.The spring silkworms had cocooned and released moths. Qiu Yang originally wanted to have a good time during the summer vacation, but he couldn't stay at home because of the bad weather.

Qiu Jingping, Zhuang Huaying and his wife wore ponchos to dig ditches in the mulberry field to clear the stagnant water. Qiu Shangzhi, who was patrolling the mulberry fields, stopped when passing by, and talked with Qiu Jingping about the recent bad weather.

"Shang Zhi, I heard that many provinces in Hubei and Jiangxi drowned many people due to floods. Judging by the terrible weather, it must have been damaged by the rain and now they have moved to our place." Zhuang Huaying said worriedly.

"I heard from the elders that I haven't encountered such a situation in decades. It has been going on for nearly two months without a break. If it continues like this, I'm afraid it will be troublesome," Qiu Shangzhi also said very worriedly, " When I came from the front, many people said that their mulberries had wilted a lot and they had to be replanted."

"It's not a big deal if the mulberry seedlings are dead. If the rain pours down like this, I'm afraid there will be floods in our village." Zhuang Huaying sighed.

"Floods shouldn't happen. It doesn't rely on the river or the river. A few centipede-like creeks and streams come and go quickly. They can't store much water. What the village is most worried about is mudslides and landslides. The team has already A leading group was established, all cadres canceled their vacations, and each leader led a working group to patrol every village and village every day, reminding everyone to pay attention to precautions. They have implemented hanging point responsibility, and someone in your village should go to preach.”

Zhuang Huaying nodded: "Well, Wang Jiasen is leading the team. Each household is required to provide a labor force and take turns to be on duty at night. As soon as the gongs and drums sound, we are required to run out of the house and run to the front of the village without bringing anything with us. "Wang Jiasen is the deputy head of the township, usually in charge of family planning work.

"Landslides are very likely to happen, but it can't be said that there is no prevention of floods. Look at us," Qiu Jingping pointed to the foot of the Dougou Mountain. The vast ocean is still the vast ocean above our heads, if the dam breaks, the consequences will be disastrous."

"Mr. Ping is too worried. The gate of the Liujiu Reservoir is open every day, and the water in the reservoir has not yet reached the warning line." Qiu Shangzhi said in relief.

"It will be too late when you get to the warning line. Think about it, the Liujiu Reservoir is shaped like a scorpion, with a wide opening and a narrow inside, not to mention there are several deep bays hidden. In the past, affected by the trend of thoughts of moving quickly, the dams were overbuilt. High, if the excretion is not smooth, the pressure generated by the full water in the reservoir will be terrible, and it will definitely destroy the dam. If the hole is broken, it will be like a tiger out of the cage."

"Mr. Ping's words are justified, and I have to guard against them. I have to report to Director Ma quickly, and let him reflect to the leader." Qiu Shangzhi was also very nervous when he heard Qiu Jingping's analysis.

"Husband, is it as scary as you said." Zhuang Huaying felt a little terrified when he heard it.

Liujiu Reservoir is located at the foot of Dougou Mountain and Huatian Mountain. Although Huatian Mountain has only one mountain and it is not too high, Dougou Mountain has many peaks and is long. It stretches for several miles and is a deep arc. A mountain obliquely inserts into the Liujiu Reservoir, dividing the Liujiu Reservoir into several bays, visually it is easy for people to underestimate its water storage capacity.

There are no less than 92 peaks in Dougou Mountain, most of which are steep and precipitous. The valleys between the peaks are deep and dangerous. Whip Creek, East Stone Stream, Zhuxiu Valley, Scissors Pond, Goutou Rock, Huxiao Beach, West Stone Waterfall, Longmen Stream, Xiangshui Bay, plus the Dixie Stream at the junction of Huatian Mountain and Dougou Mountain, there are [-] paths in total. , the locals call it "Gui [-] Jian".

Gui 92 Jian is usually gentle with gurgling water and ding-dong spring water, but in the rainy season, the roar of the waterfall and the rolling water are majestic, especially in Zhuxiu Valley, Xishi Waterfall and Xiangshui Bay. Long, the water storage capacity is particularly large, and it becomes a river in the rainy season.

Qiu Jingping's analysis is correct. Because the Liujiu Reservoir is divided into many deep bays by those mountains, it is easy to be confused by the mountains that block the sight at first glance. No matter how big it is, there will be a deep pool in front of you. Standing on the embankment and looking It is impossible to see the whole picture of the reservoir. In fact, the water storage capacity of the entire reservoir is astonishingly large. As long as the dam breaks, the water hidden in the reservoirs in various bays will swarm in, causing serious damage.

Qiu Jingping and Qiu Shangzhi were talking enthusiastically when two people ran from behind Tian Yushang, Qiu Chongwei and Zhou Qingbo, the village clerks.Seeing them running in a hurry, Qiu Shangzhi quickly asked: "What are you doing in such a hurry, what happened?"

Qiu Chongwei turned his head and said: "There is an emergency on the dam. Secretary Cheng and the others are all on the dam."

"Ah! Something really happened at the reservoir." Upon hearing this, Qiu Shangzhi hurried to follow behind to the Liujiu reservoir.

"Husband, you won't become a crow's mouth." Zhuang Huaying, who had never scolded her husband before, cursed for a moment.

"Don't make any problems," Qiu Jingping felt nervous, "Hua Ying, hurry up and report the danger to everyone, so that everyone can take precautions. I'll also go to the dam to have a look."

As soon as Qiu Jingping ran for a while, he turned back and said: "Although the reservoir is far away from our village, if the dam breaks, it will be a thousand miles away, and none of the villages in the northwest of the bank will be able to escape. The news must be notified to every village, especially North Six Qiu and East Xiaoqiu, they are the first to bear the brunt."

"It's... so dangerous, don't go, there are village leaders here, and you don't live in the village." Zhuang Huaying was so frightened that she looked like she was in danger.

"Don't scare yourself. It's just a dangerous situation. Don't worry. I won't stand on the dam. I'll go to Yingzuipo opposite the township government. Not only can I see the situation on the dam there, but it's also the safest place. "Qiu Jingping's wife's heart.

"Come back soon after reading it." Zhuang Huaying shouted behind Qiu Jingping.

"Understood." Qiu Jingping shook his raincoat and ran towards the township government on wheels.

Zhuang Huaying looked around three times as soon as she walked away, and went home worried.

"Huaying, where is Jingping?" Zhuang Huaying returned home, and Zhou Guimei asked while helping her daughter-in-law to untie her raincoat, "I heard that something happened on the dam, have you heard the news?"

"How did Mom know?" Zhuang Huaying was very surprised, she just ran home after hearing the news, unexpectedly, her family would find out first.

"The village just sent a door-to-door notice. Everyone should be careful. When you hear the sound of the gong, run to Nanliuqiu in the east." At the foot of Qugong Mountain is Xiaoerqiu, and the village in front of Xiaoerqiu is Nanliuqiu , Nanliuqiu and Xiaoerqiu are high and quite flat. The most important thing is that there is a big stone flat in front of Nanliuqiu, which is very stable.

"It's good that everyone knows, so that I don't have to rush to report the news."

"Where did Jingping go?" Zhou Guimei asked again.

"They said they wanted to see what happened, so they went up to the dam."

"Damn it, why did he go to such a dangerous place?" Zhou Guimei got angry anxiously, "No, I'll call him back."

"I don't know the exact place. The place is full of people now. It doesn't matter where you look for him. He said he will be right back. If you run away, he will look for you everywhere."

"Amitabha, the heavenly Bodhisattva blesses you, please don't let anything happen to you." Zhou Guimei was anxiously walking around the door of the house, looking at the courtyard door from time to time.

"Where is Qiu Yang's friend?" Zhuang Huaying asked her mother-in-law when her son was not in the room.

"I went to his uncle's house. He said that the pencil case was left in Qiu Rong's schoolbag, and he will be back soon."

"Don't stand at the door and worry about it. Let's collect our things. In case something happens, we can bring some valuable belongings." Zhuang Huaying was irritated by her mother-in-law's nervous expression.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm out of my mind," Zhou Guimei just rubbed her hands together, "Huaying, where do I start collecting?"

"Oh, forget it, you'd better sit there and rest your breath, turning around made me dizzy, I'd better come." Zhuang Huaying waved her hand.

"Okay, okay, it's better for you," Zhou Guimei said with a wry smile, "When I was young, I only heard my father tell me about hiding from the Japanese devils. As soon as I heard the news, I picked up the package and carried my grandma on my back and fled into the mountains. , I should have asked him what was in the package in the first place, so as to follow suit."

"Don't be so exaggerated, it's not that scary. The reservoir is far away from us. Even if something happens, it won't be to the extent that the sky will fall." Zhuang Huaying was already in shock, and when her mother-in-law made trouble, she panicked even more, but her husband was not at home. , had to pretend to be calm.

"Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva, please protect our reservoir from accidents..." Sitting there, Zhou Guimei muttered to herself.

Zhuang Huaying was busy tidying up at home when the little guy Qiu Yang came back from his uncle's house with a pencil case in his hand.

"Stinky boy, you heard the horn in the village, stay at home and don't run around." Zhuang Huaying scolded her son.

"I know, Uncle and the others are also collecting things. My uncle and grandpa came just now and took my wife to Qian Hulu Song's house."

"Your aunt and grandpa are here, please take care of yourself, and it will save trouble if your wife is settled." Zhou Guimei stroked her chest and let out a sigh of relief.

"Where's your great-grandmother?" Zhuang Huaying asked her son.

"Grandmother refused to go to Song's house. Uncle asked the second aunt of the Zhuang family to pick him up. Grandmother didn't want to go to the Zhuang's house either. The uncle asked the second aunt to pick up the grandfather before his feet were cleared."

"How can this be done? If something happens to her grandma, how can she run away in such a hurry?" Zhuang Huaying said to Zhou Guimei, "Mom, you should go and persuade her."

"Well, I'll go there when Jingping comes back."

"Mom, where is my pendant, return it to me quickly." Qiu Yang stretched out his little hand to his mother.

"Why?" The brat was still thinking about that precious thing, Zhuang Huaying didn't have a good face.

"Uncle Dr. Cui told me that the dog is secluded, wearing it can keep you safe." Qiu Yang said very old-fashioned.

"Hey, you little bastard, you still believe in this and that at a young age, you can let it drive the plague god of the flood away from our Longgong Township." Zhuang Huaying was surprised to hear her son's words.

"Yangyang is right, just return the jade pendant to him." Zhou Guimei helped her grandson speak.

"It was all brought by my mother. You go to the temple to offer incense and worship Buddha on weekdays. Why do you take him with you every now and then, causing him to believe in this Bodhisattva and that Bodhisattva?" Zhuang Huaying complained. .

"There is nothing wrong with believing in Bodhisattvas. Only by believing in Bodhisattvas can you keep your family safe." Zhou Guimei relied on everything for her daughter-in-law, even if she didn't believe in Buddhism or God, they always had some quarrels.

"Oh, well, well, I don't bother to care about your grandparents and grandchildren. If you want to wear it, I'll give it back to you, but keep it safe, baby." Zhuang Huaying thought about it, if the dam of the Liujiu Reservoir burst, then It was easy for him to wear the expensive things on his body, so he went to find the jade pendant from under the box in the bedroom, and put it on Qiu Yang's neck.

Qiu Jingping returned home when it was almost at the edge of darkness, and Qiu Jingdong also came with him. The two brothers were thinking together how to deal with the critical situation.

"How is it on the dam?" Zhuang Huaying and Zhou Guimei asked anxiously.

"I'm afraid it's dangerous," Qiu Jingdong sighed, "Although the rain has stopped, the accumulated water on the mountain is still rushing down."

"Open the gate to the maximum." Zhuang Huaying said.

"It's up to you," Qiu Jingping shook his head, "I don't know which mountain has slipped, and the branches and branches that rushed down were swept in by the vortex at the gate, blocking the gate, and the water level of the reservoir seemed to rise sharply. The township has set up disaster prevention and resettlement sites in Shipingchang and Niubei Mountain in front of Nanliuqiu, and all residents in the flooded area must go there to take refuge before the danger of the reservoir is eliminated."

The gate was blocked, and Cheng Tianhao and the others were devastated and couldn't think of a solution. Using a rope to hang people with good water skills down to unblock it was not only ineffective, but also more dangerous, and poking it like toothpaste at the water outlet was not effective.Although breaking the embankment and flood discharge can solve the problem, it will cause fatal damage to the good mulberry fields in the villages down the bank.Everyone discussed and discussed, and the only way to do this is to block this road, and organize young and strong laborers from all over the town to carry sandbags and pile them on the dam.Fortunately, the rain stopped falling in the evening, and the setting sun was still visible in the west, which finally gave us a glimmer of hope. As long as we survived the night, the water flow of the mountain peaks will be even and safe. Then come back slowly Solve the problem of gate blockage.

Under the persuasion of the township government personnel, all the old and young women and children in Beiliuqiu, Jiuqiu Village, Daerqiu Village, East Xiaoqiqiu Village, Xixiao Qiqiu Village, Touqiu Village, and Qiqiu Village all went to the disaster prevention resettlement site for the night. Young and middle-aged labor divisions work in shifts to inspect dangerous situations.Everyone stayed up all night with their hearts pinched in their throats, but fortunately nothing happened to the embankment.The next day, the long-lost sun finally appeared, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, carrying things on their shoulders and carrying their things back home from the disaster prevention resettlement site.The township government cadres guarding both sides of the embankment also fell to the ground, and they were rearranged to take turns on duty.

After staying up all night, Qiu Jingping and Qiu Jingdong brothers ran to the reservoir to have a look, only to see that the water level had risen to the highest point of the embankment overnight, thanks to two or three layers of sandbags.Thinking that they were worried, Cheng Tianhao and several deputy township heads kept patrolling the embankment. People took turns to dredge the gate under the embankment, but none of them had much effect.With the sun shining high in the sky, the sound of water from the valleys also became more peaceful, and everyone felt more at ease. Finally, God blessed them and survived the danger.

Qiu Jingping and Qiu Jingdong helped transport the sandbags on Yingzuipo for a long time, but at lunch time they couldn't carry them anymore, so they rushed home together, and worked on the reservoir for half a day, the rescue workers talked and laughed together, The two brothers went home with confidence.

When passing through Dongxiao Qiqiu and approaching the entrance of the village, suddenly there was a thunderous sound of gongs from the embankment, which made people feel numb.Qiu Jingping said to his elder brother, it's not good, run away, the dam broke.

The two brothers turned their heads while running, and saw a hole in the north of the embankment, and white flood water poured down under the sun. In a blink of an eye, the entire embankment was washed away like a Nomir domino. The figure of a person was engulfed by the flood and was swallowed instantly.

All of a sudden, all men, women, old and young in Dongxiao Qiqiu, Xixiao Qiqiu, Beiliuqiu, and Jiuqiu villages ran desperately towards Nanliuqiu. Qiu Jingdong wanted to run home to see if grandma and the children had moved. He was stopped by Qiu Jingping, saying that when he heard the sound of the gong, his family ran eastward, and they couldn't find anyone when they returned home.