CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: SOME REJOICE WHILE OTHERS WORRY

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

In the past, when faced with illness, even if the clan members were willing to spend money to hire a doctor from the town and feed patients dark-colored herbal medicines, there was never such an immediate effect. Most of the time, they could only watch helplessly as children died young and adults succumbed eventually.

But the medicine Lin Wanwan gave didn’t even need to be brewed, yet it was so effective. Who knows what kind of divine medicine it was. It’s truly a blessing for the clan to have a Divine Doctor.

On this day, apart from Lin Dian’s diarrhea and fever, nothing major happened.

However, the clan members were quite worried for Lin Wanwan, as she still had two acres of land yet to be harvested! With today’s violent wind and rain, who knows how much would be lost.

Clan Leader Lin sighed repeatedly, "If I had known, I should have gathered the men of the clan to help you harvest the fields a day earlier. Now, with this awful weather, who knows how many days it will rain and blow!"

Lin Wanwan expressed her frustration too, as it was her first time farming, and if it were ruined by the wind and rain, it would truly be heartbreaking. Yet, given the situation, what else could be done.

This is the helplessness of farmers relying on the mercy of the weather. Besides, in the Great Tang, there is no weather forecast!

"By the way, Uncle Clan Leader, last night’s big storm, did anyone in the clan suffer?" Lin Wanwan, after worrying about her fields, thought of her clan members.

Clan Leader Lin pondered, "That’s exactly why I came to find you. Several families with poor conditions living in thatched huts had their houses blown down by the wind, making them uninhabitable for the time being. How about letting these families temporarily stay in the side rooms of the school building? Once the storm passes, they can rebuild their houses."

Lin Wanwan naturally had no objection and agreed, "Sure, Uncle Clan Leader, you arrange it. Kun Lun, go help the Clan Leader."

Clan Leader Lin said, "I’m sorry to trouble you this time. The ones who suffered the most are your Third Uncle-Grandpa’s family and Meng Xi’s family. I’ve always suggested they build stone houses, yet they keep delaying it. I’ll seriously talk to them about it this time. Living by the sea, thatched and clay houses really can’t withstand the storms."

Lin Wanwan had no other thoughts on this matter, so she quietly listened to Clan Leader Lin criticize them for a while. Then Clan Leader Lin put on his raincoat and bid farewell.

With the heavy rain these days, classes at the school naturally couldn’t be held.

For the Lin Clan, the situation seemed rather dismal.

After all, when school started, it relieved a lot of food pressure at home, as the children could get a lunch there.

And now, with a heavy downpour outside and minor leaks inside, work couldn’t be done, fields were getting waterlogged, and everyone at home waiting to be fed, it was hard to maintain a good mood.

But compared to Lin Family Manor, the Lu Family Manor and Dafeng Village were even more gloomy.

Especially Dafeng Village, mostly made of thatched huts, suffering greatly in this storm.

However, they lived with bare walls; even if the roof was blown off and the house collapsed, there was no significant loss since they were desperately poor already. With nothing more to lose, they simply continued, figuring if they endured, then they endured, otherwise, they’d try again in another life, maybe lucking into a better circumstance next time.

During the torrential rain, Lin Wanwan naturally also aided the clan members who were temporarily housed in the front courtyard of the school. She brought them cooking equipment and food, so they could at least fill their stomachs.

Third Uncle-Grandpa’s family and Meng Xi’s family, along with a few other clan members, stayed for two days in the west wing of the school building. Taking advantage of the milder storm, they went to the backyard to find Lin Wanwan to express their thanks.

At that time, Lin Wanwan was sitting on a chair, playing and doodling with little Qingyu. There were also two small guests, Da Ya and Little Crab, whom Lin Wanwan had instructed Kun Lun to bring along.

Lin Mengbo’s house was right next to Lin Wanwan’s. Just opening the west side door and taking a couple steps, you’d be in Lin Mengbo’s yard, making visiting quite easy.

Little Qingyu was at the age where she needed playmates, and both Da Ya and Little Crab were great companions. Additionally, Lin Wanwan was closest and got along best with Lin Mengbo and Lin Qin’s family among these clan members.

Lin Mengbo was the first to help her without complaint when she was working the fields and even gifted her a three-million worth Yellow Croaker and almost twenty thousand worth Sea Jellyfish Skin when they met.

Seven or eight days out of ten, Lin Wanwan would bring Little Crab and Da Ya to her home for nutritious and delicious breakfasts, which was a way to repay Lin Mengbo.

The storm outside had no effect on the people playing inside. The room was brightly lit with lamps, and not a trace of wind or rain seeped in, making it all very pleasant.

Even before Third Uncle-Grandpa and the others reached the door, they could hear little Qingyu’s clear giggle in the wind and rain from afar.

Third Uncle-Grandpa sighed, "This little girl is fortunate to have Wan-nang as her mother."

Meng Xi echoed, "Indeed, she really landed in a nest of blessings."

Lin Zhentian’s thatched house also collapsed, and he too was staying at the school. Upon hearing them, he laughed and said, "Little Yu is a lucky one, and Teacher Lin dotes on her like she’s his very own."

Meng Xi’s two kids naturally envied little Yu very much.

The older one, Dalang, spoke up, "Teacher Lin spoils little Qingyu. Every day after lunch, she cradles little Qingyu and sleeps with her for a nap, and when they wake up, she feeds her milk. When little Qingyu accidentally broke the glass jar full of melt beans last time, Teacher Lin didn’t even scold her but held her and asked if she was hurt."

Er Lang chimed in, "I really like Teacher Lin and little Yu. Little Yu gave me six melt beans to eat, and they were so tasty."

As they spoke, they reached the main room, where Kun Lun intercepted them to inform Lin Wanwan.

Lin Wanwan came out with little Qingyu to greet them. Third Uncle-Grandpa and the others were there mainly to express gratitude and courtesy.

Lin Wanwan graciously accepted their thanks, exchanged pleasantries for a while, and after a cup of milk tea, everyone took their leave. She gave the two children a couple of oranges each and instructed Kun Lun to escort them back to the front courtyard.

The next day, when the storm stopped and the rain cleared, Third Uncle-Grandpa and the others were busy looking for stone and wood to rebuild houses, while Lin Zhentian was simply appointed by Lin Wanwan to serve as security in the east wing of the school. And the school officially resumed classes.

After three days of wind and rain, the adults were somewhat listless, but the children remained full of energy. The life with heavy rain outside and light rain inside never crushed their optimism.

As they gathered, they laughed carefreely, heartily enjoying themselves. Even Dalang and Erlang, whose houses had collapsed, showed no trace of dejection and instead boasted to their classmates about staying at the school, which was far more comfortable than their own thatched houses—not leaking rain, not letting the wind through.

Seeing this vibrant scene, Lin Wanwan felt very happy. No matter how hard life gets, it can’t extinguish the children’s innocent joy.