Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 43: Arrangements

"Everyone, please be quiet. Elders, I want to say one more thing. At the time, when Master Jing Yuan divined a great misfortune, the hexagram did not explicitly indicate whether our village, the entire town, or even the county would be affected by the disaster. It was deduced in conjunction with my dream.

Therefore, unless we receive clear words from the master, we cannot privately spread disaster news under his name. I ask all the elders to restrain their juniors, as spreading uncertain stories is akin to creating rumors."

Seeing the perplexed faces of everyone, Cheng Xiaoxiao had to continue explaining: "If you want to inform your family or friends, you can give them a heads-up privately, but do not publicly make a big deal out of it. If they don’t believe, that’s fine too. My point is that if anyone wants to use Master Jing Yuan’s name to make claims, I won’t acknowledge it.

I hope everyone understands the seriousness of this."

The elders exchanged puzzled glances with one another. What does she mean? Is this young girl distrusting us?

Being underestimated by a little girl?

Is that what they’re puzzled about?

How ridiculous is it needing a little girl to remind us of these nuances?

Regardless, Cheng Xiaoxiao’s words offended the group of elders. Each felt a bit displeased but couldn’t express it, holding it in uncomfortably... As a result, they vented this discomfort on their juniors.

When the ancestral hall’s doors opened, the juniors were met with sour faces.

They felt a pang of dread. What did they do to upset the ancestors and grandfathers, to make them look like they want to eat someone!

Fearful!

Trembling!

Hmph! Look at them, trembling like that! They have none of Xiaoxiao’s bravery. How did they end up with such timid descendants? Why hadn’t I noticed before...

Today, Cheng Xiaoxiao stood unwavering in front of the ancestors, speaking logically and clearly, analyzing pros and cons without hesitation. Although some remarks might have hurt feelings, at least she is a responsible girl. Facing a group of people with much higher status, she showed no fear at all. Now look at these young men, just growing in size without growing up, looking more foolish as I look at them.

No way, they need to be taught better. How can their children be inferior to a girl?

Unwilling!

Thus, the boys in Qingshan Village now lived in hot water...

Yet Cheng Xiaoxiao, the root cause of it all, remained oblivious.

After saying her piece, Cheng Xiaoxiao left with Mr. Cheng and her uncle. The matters were laid out; the villagers could believe it or not, but their lives were their own to decide.

Cheng Xiaoxiao planted a bomb in the village and chose not to dwell on it anymore, as she couldn’t even handle her own little family affairs.

At this time, Cheng Xiaoxiao’s home was filled with a large crowd in the courtyard, with Xiaoxiao standing in the center, a plan laid out on the table in front of her.

Aside from her family, her uncle’s family, Doctor Huang and Qi Fei, Cheng Beiniu and his son, and the recently closer Cheng Genzi family were also present. Uncle Genzi’s family had a 14-year-old daughter Cheng Xiaozhu, a 12-year-old son Cheng Liangmu, and a 7-year-old son Cheng Liangsen. Lately, Cheng Xiaoxiao often sought Uncle Genzi to make modern-style home appliances, and over time, they became familiar.

Now, they gathered to discuss preparations for the coming days. Of course, Cheng Xiaoxiao had already planned it out, with detailed duties for each person.

Scanning the people around her, Cheng Xiaoxiao spoke seriously and solemnly: "I don’t have much more to say; everyone here knows the situation. Most of you are my elders, and it shouldn’t be me pointing fingers, but... I have the fortune of receiving the master’s guidance. I remember what happened in my dream since returning from the temple, so don’t hold on to false hope, our village truly faced severe flooding.

Each life is precious and irreplaceable. We cannot leave our sole life to fate, luck, or a slim chance. Only by taking action ourselves do we have a way out. Only when we hold our fate in our own hands is it truly ours.

Here, I want to thank you all for your trust," she said, bowing deeply. "Now, let’s proceed with assigning tasks."

Everyone exchanged glances, wondering why Xiaoxiao was being so formal, deviating from what was agreed upon.

Ignoring their thoughts, Cheng Xiaoxiao began delegating work:

First, "My father, uncle, Uncle Beiniu, Uncle Gen, the few of you laborers, first coordinate with the village chief to dig ditches. It should take about three days. Second, Aunt and Aunt Niu will lead Sister Dahua, Sister Xiaozhu, and Dalan Xiaolan to handle procurement, and along the way, bring Second Brother back. Prepare three months’ worth of rice, grain, oil, salt, and vinegar. Buy some extra salt for curing meat, and purchase some cotton cloth for making winter clothes soon."

Aunt promptly asked, "It’s still midsummer now; isn’t it too early to start making winter clothes?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao looked earnestly at Aunt, "It’s not early. Who knows when the road to the town will be cut off; it’s better to be prepared." She handed over the shopping list to Aunt.

"If you don’t understand it, you can ask Second Brother. Additionally, Aunt, please take care of the vegetables from the fields, drying or pickling them as possible."

Liu Family member nodded.

Second, "Grandpa Huang, along with me, Qi Fei, Big Brother, Erya, Liangmu, and Brother Dashan, will go to the mountains to collect herbs. This is very important, and we need more people for this endeavor from the village chief and clan leader. It’s best to go together, but if they don’t send people, we’ll go on our own, although it’s unlikely they won’t. Try to gather as much as possible.

Also, Grandpa Huang, didn’t you teach some apprentices last time? Get them to help. This time I’ll go to the mountains with you to collect herbs and make medicine. We’ll prepare more cold medicine, rheumatism medicine, hemostatic medicine, and antidotes."

Huang Zhongyi nodded. If there really is a flood disaster, these medicines will be indispensable.

Third, "These tasks need to be completed within three days. Once that’s done, we start harvesting the grain. Everyone will pitch in to finish it in two days, ensuring cleanliness. Any old grain should be husked into rice, wheat ground into flour, and half of soybeans should be ground, with the other half kept for my use." This will leave about five or six days to air them out, allowing the paddy to dry to about 80%.

Fourth, "Reinforce the houses, taking it one family at a time. The current houses may not hold, so both the walls and roofs need reinforcements. I don’t know this stuff, so I’ll leave it to Uncle and Uncle Genzi to arrange."

Both Uncle and Uncle Genzi nodded in agreement.

Qi Fei also added, "I used to repair my family house, so count me in too."

Uncle patted Qi Fei’s shoulder, "Young man with many skills, not bad, not bad!" Since Qi Fei arrived at Second Brother’s house, he’s helped with lots of work, making even me feel useless, better than my two sons."

Cheng Jia watched for a while, realizing he hadn’t been assigned any tasks. Thinking his sister forgot to assign him something, he volunteered, "Sister, what about me?"

Several other unassigned individuals also nodded, indicating they hadn’t been assigned either.

Cheng Xiaoxiao smiled, "How could I forget our Brother Jia?"

Fifth, "Over the next ten days, everyone will have tasks, so there’s no need for individual cooking. We’ll all eat together at my house, with the meals prepared by Sister-in-law."