22 – Taohua’s Nightmare Comes True
“Bang, bang, bang!” Taohua frantically pounded on the Sun family’s door.
Aunt Sun quickly emerged from the house. “Huh? Isn’t this Taohua? What brings you here today? It’s cold outside, come in and warm yourself by the fire.”
“No need, Aunt Sun. I’m here to see Xiao Lan. Is she home?!”
“What’s the matter that’s so urgent? Look at you, your face is pale. That girl just went to the outhouse; she should be back soon. Come in and wait for her.”
Taohua was anxious. “Then I’ll go find her directly. I just need to say a few words to her.”
Taohua often visited the Sun family, so she knew where their outhouse was.
However, before she could even reach the outhouse, Sun Xiao Lan had already come out.
“What’s wrong, Taohua? I heard you looking for me even from the outhouse. Is there something urgent?”
Taohua quickly pulled Sun Xiao Lan aside and told her about the nightmare she had during her afternoon nap.
Upon hearing it, Sun Xiao Lan immediately understood Taohua’s meaning. “So, you’re going to find your husband now?”
“Yes!” Taohua nodded. “I’ve never had such a vivid dream before; this is the first time in my life. And you know, ever since I married him, my luck has improved.
If I want to dig up bamboo shoots, I can find them. If I want to sell fur for a good price, I can get a good price. Could it be that this nightmare might also come true?”
Sun Xiao Lan frowned. “Now that you mention it, it really might be possible. With some things, it’s better to believe they exist than to dismiss them. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s hurry up and go!!”
“But do you know where they’re digging the river embankment? I don’t.”
“No problem, I know. I’ll take you there!”
“Okay.”
After saying this, Sun Xiao Lan shouted toward the house, “Mom, Taohua needs to bring something to her husband but doesn’t know the way. I’m taking her there!”
“Huh?” Upon hearing this, Aunt Sun immediately popped out of the house. “On such a cold day, what are you two delivering?”
“Ah, Mom, why do you care what Taohua is delivering? Their husband-and-wife matters aren’t for outsiders like us to know, right?”
“But it’s freezing in the mountains. You two young girls need to be careful. Wait a moment, I’ll get you two hand warmers!”
“Ah, no need, Mom!” Sun Xiao Lan sounded a bit impatient. “How could we get cold if we keep walking?”
“It’s not like you have to do the work. Just stand there and wait a moment, won’t you?” Aunt Sun muttered as she quickly brought out two hand warmers from the house.
They were small jars made of coarse pottery, with handles on top. Inside, leftover charcoal from burning firewood was placed, covered with a layer of plant ash, making them portable hand warmers.
Halfway there, Sun Xiao Lan changed her tune.
“Good thing we didn’t rush off earlier. These hand warmers are so cozy! My mom is really great!”
“Yeah,” Taohua warmed her hands and smiled. “My mom is great too.”
“Giggle,” Sun Xiao Lan also laughed. “Our moms don’t favor sons over daughters. Feels like we really lucked out with our births.”
Taohua nodded. “You lucked out with your birth. If my biological father hadn’t died of illness, our family would probably be living in harmony too. Sigh, let’s not talk about this anymore. How much longer until we get there?”
“Should be soon. I think I can already hear the clanging sounds of them digging stones.”
The two quickly arrived at the riverbank and indeed saw the village men working with hoes.
But after scanning the area, Taohua did not see Qin Feng.
Anxiously, she tugged at Sun Xiao Lan’s arm. “Brother Qin isn’t here, and I don’t see your husband either.”
“That’s right, my man isn’t here either. Maybe they’re working in different groups at separate locations. But I see my grandpa over there!”
As she spoke, Sun Xiao Lan pointed ahead. “Let’s go! We’ll ask my grandpa.”
They soon found the Village Chief, who, along with the others nearby, looked curiously at Taohua and Sun Xiao Lan.
“What are you two doing here?” the Village Chief frowned at Sun Xiao Lan. “Has something happened at home?”
“Not at home, but here!” Sun Xiao Lan explained to the Village Chief. “Taohua had an incredibly vivid nightmare. She dreamed something bad would happen here, so we rushed over.”
“What?” The Village Chief looked at Taohua and his granddaughter with disbelief, then waved his hand dismissively. “You two girls shouldn’t be causing trouble here. Go back home. How did your mother even let you come out? This is just looking for trouble.”
“No, Village Elder Grandpa, we’re not looking for trouble!” Seeing that the Village Chief didn’t believe Sun Xiao Lan at all, Taohua grew desperate. “I really dreamed of this place. Isn’t there a sharp bend up ahead? This place looks exactly as it did in my dream!”
“Taohua, it’s just a dream. It’s not real. You two should go back. This isn’t where you should be.”
“But Village Elder Grandpa, even if the dream isn’t real, please hear me out, okay? If it turns out to be nothing, that’s for the best. Besides, being cautious never hurts.”
“Alright, then tell me.”
“I dreamed that Brother Qin and the others were going to lift a large rock from the river bend. They said the rock was too big and might block the ice later, so they needed to move it first.
Then Brother Qin and the others went down. Not long after they entered the water, a huge whirlpool suddenly appeared in the river. It spun very, very fast, and many people were sucked into it.
There was also a Registrar, sent by the County Magistrate, I think. He was also caught in the whirlpool and couldn’t get out.”
The Village Chief had initially thought this was just Taohua and his granddaughter causing mischief, but the more he listened, the more uneasy he felt.
Because the plan to move the large rock was real—a decision made just this morning.
But Taohua hadn’t been here this morning. How could she know about their plan?
Moreover, Taohua had mentioned the Registrar from the county office.
“Taohua?” The Village Chief’s expression turned serious. “Where did you hear that we have a Registrar here? Do you even know what a Registrar does?”
“I don’t know what a Registrar does. I just heard someone call him that in my dream! No one told me he would be here, so he really is here, right?”
“Yes!” The Registrar had also arrived unexpectedly this morning. Even the Village Chief hadn’t known in advance, yet Taohua had dreamed of it!
The Village Chief began to take Taohua’s dream seriously. After pacing in place for a moment, he suddenly said to her:
“Follow me! They should have already gone into the river by now. Let’s hurry over and check—hopefully nothing has happened!”
The further they walked, the more anxious Taohua became, because she had seen all these sights in her dream! Soon, a whirlpool would form in the river!