Proofread by Peter Gong
Aunt Zhao looked at her son was covered in blood and cried: “Who was so cruel to beat you to this? Is there any justice in this world?”
Ma Tian’en had a foresight and called in a doctor who stepped forward to check Guo Qi’s wounds and applied medicine on his wounds. Ma Tian’en retreated to the outside room, leaving Aunt Zhao and the maids to take care of him.
It took a while for the doctor to come out, and then he told Ma Tian’en before she asked: “He is seriously injured, but fortunately they are all injuries. He is in a fever and I have given him some medicine. There are several more kinds of drugs needed to be decocted and taken three days in a row. He must be cared well and had better rest on bed.” Ma Tian’en hurriedly ordered a servant to pay the doctor money and send him out.
Then Ma Tian’en came to the bedroom and saw Guo Qi’s wounds were wrapped up, but blood still came out in some places. It seemed that he suffered a lot in Guo’s house.
“The Guo Family is really lawless!” Ma Tian’en was in rage. Was there really no justice in
this world?
“I’m fine, they … just vented anger on me. You have to remember, to go to the dock …” Guo Qi said intermittently, fearing Ma Tian’en would take action on impulse.
“I know, don’t worry.” Ma Tian’en comforted him.
Since Aunt Zhao was taking care of Guo Qi, there was no need for her to worry about him. Ma Tian’en did not go to the dock for a long time. Fortunately, some enlightened people had accepted the fact that she was a woman. As long as she did not board the ship, they could still chat with her in a friendly manner.
Ma Tian’en and Shun came to the dock together, talking to Uncle Five about something on the dock recently. Uncle Five still appreciated Guo Qi, paying no attention to whether Ma Tian’en would be jealous, and he kept praising Guo Qi’s orderly manner, and his style of both punishment and mercy which was similar to that of Ma Chaosheng.
As they talked, the sky slowly got overcast. However, there was still light. Uncle Five glanced at the sky and said with a smile: “It seems that there will be rain for a while. But it won’t be pouring. Go back soon, Tian’en.”
Ma Tian’en smiled and agreed. She was about to walk back but then saw the sky which made her feel strange. The clouds and the smell were bad, which showed that it would not be a light rain.
Thinking of this, Ma Tian’en ran to the river again, scooped up the water in his mouth
and tasted it, “The water is strange, too!”
Then he ran back to Uncle Five and said, “Uncle, I think it’s strange. It may rain heavily and there may be floods. We need to make preparations early.”
Uncle Five looked at her and said in a careless way: “It should be okay. There won’t be heavy rain in such weather. If it rains, then we can take actions.”
“No, Uncle, please believe me. There will be heavy rain, so lift the sluice gate early.”
“Miss, the gate cannot be lifted casually. I have to talk to some experienced seniors.” Uncle Five called her miss, which was clear that he didn’t believe her.
Ma Tian’en was more anxious and hurriedly urged Uncle Five. Uncle Five thought she was making a fuss about trifles. But he still found several experienced battalion commanders.
These people looked at the sky and looked for someone to check if there were any signs of likely flash floods nearby. Then four hours passed silently. There was light rain and the sky in the distance was still slightly shining.
“Miss, we have checked it out, you can rest assured for there will be nothing wrong. And the light rain will stop soon,” said an old man.
“I think it will be heavy rain, you have to believe me, and you must lift the sluice gate.”
Ma Tian’en said affirmatively.
These people looked at her helplessly and said, “Miss, we really can’t follow you. Or let’s wait and see, if it rains for a while, we then lift the gate, is that okay? ”
Regardless of what Ma Tian’en said, these people did not agree to lift the gate. After all, it was a big deal which made them think Ma Tian’en was definitely less experienced than them.
Seeing that she could not persuade them, Ma Tian’en became more anxious, and her tone began to be serious: “I order you to hang the steel hook now and prepare to lift the gate.”
“Well, since you don’t go, I’ll do it myself.” Ma Tian’en said, heading for the river,
but was stopped by a bunch of people.
“No, you can’t. Disaster will be caused if the sluice gate is touched by women. We won’t
let you do that unless we die.”
“Step aside!” Ma Tian’en was furious. But more people gathered because all rushed
to stop her.
Seeing that there might be a fight, Shun quickly persuaded Ma Tian’en to go back to see
if there was any other way.
Back at Ma’s house, Ma Tian’en was eager to find Guo Qi, but after rushing in, she found Guo Qi had just fallen asleep. When Aunt Zhao saw her coming, she came over to greet her. Ma Tianen looked at Guo Qi. “Ugh, even if I tell him, he couldn’t help me.”
Thinking of this, Ma Tian’en ran back to her room depressed. Seeing that the sky was going to turn clear, Ma Tian’en also doubted whether or not she guessed wrong. However, the feeling of flooding was stronger.
Ma Tian’en couldn’t sit in the room anymore, running to the Buddha Hall to find her mother. After the death of Ma Chaosheng, Mrs. Ma spent most of her life in the small Buddha Hall.
“Mom, have you ever seen the sky signs before the flood? I feel there will be a heavy rain, but they don’t believe me.” Ma Tian’en said with grievance.
“I’ve seen it for sure, and it will happen once in a few years. However, it does not look like going to rain. Maybe you feel wrong.” Mrs. Ma looked at her daughter’s grievances and thought for a while, “Shall we wait and take another look? ”
Seeing that her mother did not believe her, either. Ma Tian’en shouted with anger to Shun: ” Go to tell Tian Fugui to be prepared for the oncoming heavy rain.” Mrs. Ma thought she lost her temper and Tian Fugui would not take it seriously, so she didn’t stop Shun.
After noon, the rain stopped slowly. There was a discussion on the pier. Women just couldn’t do anything but make a fuss.
“Uh, Tian’en ordered us to prepare in advance? Well, I will arrange for people to hang the steel hook first, and those who lift the gate keep on guard, and they will eat and lstay there. You just go back and remember me to Tian’en. ”
“Ah?” Shun froze and was surprised by his trust, thinking that Tian Fugui was indeed a
fan of this master.
“What Tian’en said is naturally right.” Tian Fugui said without doubt.
In the evening, although the sky was still cloudy, there was only light drizzle. Ma Tian’en wandered around the room, feeling that the moisture was heavier, and the feeling in the wind was strange. The feeling that there must be a heavy rain became even stronger.
“However, no one believed me. Dad, if you are still alive, you will believe me, right?” Ma Tian’en silently thought.
Lying in bed until the middle of the night, Ma Tian’en couldn’t fall asleep, and there was a fear in her heart. Suddenly there was thunder in the sky, and Ma Tian’en rushed to the window, seeing thunder and lightning, gusty winds, pouring rainstorm, shaking trees and a world losing its color.
“Oops, heavy rain! There must be flooding!” Ma Tian’en shouted and ran outside. At this time, people in Ma’s house were also awakened. Mrs. Ma ran to the daughter’s room regardless of the wind and rain.
“Mom, why are you here?” Ma Tian’en saw Mrs. Ma in wet clothes. Her hair had been messed up by the wind and rain, and some long hair was scattered on her face.