Compared to the relaxed, picnic-like experience of Fang Youwei’s family, the situation on the other side—where the people of Fangjia Village had gathered—was a completely different scene.
On a small, mountain-backed slope, Fang Yunping, the village head of Fangjia Village and also the patriarch of the Fang family, looked out at the distant settlement, now submerged with only its rooftops visible, and let out a long sigh.
Their own Fangjia Village was likely even more thoroughly flooded.
Though everyone had managed to escape quickly and no lives were lost, all the possessions they had painstakingly accumulated over decades were gone.
Looking at his clansmen—some sitting, some lying down, all groaning and sighing in despair—Fang Yunping felt a deep sense of confusion, unsure of where to go next.
The place they now occupied was a dirt slope surrounded by water on all sides.
Across the water was a small hill, which connected to a larger mountain. They dared not go up into the mountains for fear of wild animals, so they could only settle on this island-like slope.
Each family had brought only a small amount of grain. With no way to replenish their supplies, they were rationing carefully, eating just one meal a day.
But even so, they wouldn’t last many more days.
“Second Uncle, we don’t have much firewood left. We’ve already cut down all the small trees on this slope, and even the branches have been picked clean. What’s left will only last two more days,” Fang Youcai reported.
Fang Yunping looked around, pointed to the narrowest stretch of water, and said, “Gather twenty strong young men—preferably those who can swim. Send them to the forest across the water to cut firewood and bring it back on wooden planks.”
Hearing this, Fang Youcai nodded and turned to gather the men.
Fang Youcai was Fang Yunping’s nephew, the eldest son of Fang Yunping’s older brother, Fang Yunhe. He was dependable in his duties, and Fang Yunping intended to groom him as the next clan leader.
Fang Yunping’s own two sons had not wanted to stay in the village; they had gone to the county to work. He had no idea how they were faring now.
Soon, twenty young men were assembled. They prepared the wooden planks, securely tied axes to their waists, and, using long bamboo poles, pushed the planks into the water.
The stretch of water was not wide—only about forty to fifty feet—but it was over a person’s depth, making it quite dangerous for those who couldn’t swim.
The twenty men had five planks. Each plank had a long rope tied to both ends, with one end left on their side.
After just a few strokes, they reached the opposite shore. They placed the planks by the water’s edge and went into the woods to look for dry branches or small trees.
Once a plank was loaded, the men on the original side pulled the rope to bring it back. After unloading the branches, they pulled the rope again to send the plank back. This method saved both time and effort.
By the time the sun was about to set, they had amassed a large pile of firewood. Fang Yunping called out loudly for them to return. But after waiting for a while, he saw the group trudging out of the woods, looking dejected.
When they finally paddled back to the slope, Fang Yunping asked in confusion, “What’s wrong with you? Why do you all look so miserable?”
The twenty men were disheveled and dirty, their hair half undone, their clothes torn. It looked as if they had just been in a brawl—except without the black eyes and swollen faces.
They exchanged glances, and one of them finally said, “While we were cutting firewood, we saw pheasants and rabbits several times. We thought we’d try to catch them after we finished chopping. But even with so many of us, we couldn’t catch a single one!”
He wiped his face in frustration.
Fang Youcai sighed. “If only Youwei were here. He’s the only one in the village who knows how to hunt. If he were here, he’d definitely catch a few.”
A young man smacked his own head in annoyance. “Brother Youwei taught me how to set snares back then. I thought it was just for fun and never tried it. Now I’ve completely forgotten…”
Seeing everyone sighing in despair, Fang Yunping quickly said, “Alright, alright. For now, move the planks over there, prop them up, and let them dry. Youfu, take your time thinking—maybe it’ll come back to you suddenly.”
Fang Yunping was also worried about Fang Youwei’s family. They had clearly been following behind when everyone fled—he didn’t understand how they had gotten separated.