Chapter 271 Flood
The rain lasted for three days and three nights. Not only did it not show any sign of stopping, it was getting heavier and heavier.

In the morning, after Qin Xiaoning finished teaching Rou'er and Zhao'er, she saw another downpour outside. She couldn't help but sigh, "It's raining so hard, I don't know when it will clear up."

Rou'er said, "Qianzhou has always had a lot of rain, but this year the rain is particularly heavy. Yesterday, my father told me that two dams had burst, and the government has been rushing to repair them in the rain these past two days."

Qianzhou is close to the sea and has many rivers, so it is natural for people to panic when encountering such heavy rain.

"Has there ever been a major flood here in the past?" Qin Xiaoning asked.

Before Rou'er could answer, Zhao'er at the side said, "Yes, there was a commotion, but we are not afraid. We have a boat at home. Even if there is a flood, we can take the boat to escape." As she said that, the little girl grinned at Qin Xiaoning and said, "Sir, don't worry. If there is a flood, you can take our boat and we can go together."

Qin Xiaoning was amused by the little girl's innocent words and raised her hand to touch her head: "If there is a flood, the government will evacuate the people in advance. We just need to obey the government's instructions."

"Oh my, the water on the street is already up to our waists." A few people were talking in the house when Sister Wang came in wearing a straw raincoat and hat, complaining non-stop: "Many shops have been flooded, and the price of rice and flour has increased a lot."

Songzhi stepped forward and helped her take off her straw raincoat. "Didn't they say the dam broke yesterday? Have you gotten any information?"

"I heard that the government is rushing to repair it." Sister Wang took the towel handed to her by Songzhi and wiped her face, then showed the basket she was carrying to the people in the house, and said with a smile: "Although the prices of rice, grains and vegetables have risen sharply, this fish is easy to get."

"Look, these two big grass carps I caught from the basket outside. I'll make soup with them later."

Qin Xiaoning looked at the two big fish jumping around in the basket, and her depression grew even more intense.

There are fish in the streets, which shows how serious the flood is.

If there really is a flood, her body won't be able to withstand it.

Qin Xiaoning subconsciously raised her hand and touched her lower abdomen, and her heart couldn't help but feel nervous.

At this time, Madam Wei came with two maids to pick up Rou'er and Zhao'er. When she saw Qin Xiaoning, she looked worried and said, "I heard that the two dikes in the north have not been repaired yet, and a crack has appeared in the dike in the south. The rain is still falling. Our house is close to the south. I am afraid that if a flood comes, it will be difficult to travel. I, the head of the family, have to leave the city early."

As she spoke, she invited Qin Xiaoning: "Madam Lu, would you like to come with us? We can take care of you."

After hearing what Mrs. Wei said, Qin Xiaoning became even more panicked.

"Hasn't the government been repairing it?"

To be honest, she was a little reluctant to leave. All the family property she had built up with great difficulty was here, so she couldn't help but feel reluctant to leave. The most important thing was that she was a woman and would have no relatives if she left. What's more, she was pregnant, which made it even more inconvenient.

"The government office has indeed been under repair." Madam Wei sighed, "I'm just worried that the flood will be too severe and the repairs won't be successful."

"We are also preparing for a rainy day."

"My head of the family said that we are leaving tonight." Madam Wei asked Qin Xiaoning again: "Does Madam Lu want to go with us?"

Qin Xiaoning was a little embarrassed, mainly because she didn't want to cause trouble for the Wei family.

She had only moved in less than a month ago, and although we had some interaction, it was not to the point of being a close friend.

Taking her, a pregnant woman, with me when fleeing would be a burden.

"I'll wait a little longer." In the end, Qin Xiaoning rejected Mrs. Wei's kindness.

Seeing this, Madam Wei did not persuade them any more and left with the two young ladies. After they left, Qin Xiaoning immediately called the gatekeeper, Brother Li, and told him, "Go to Lord Shen's house. If you meet him, ask him about the flood and whether you should prepare to escape in advance."

Shen Qingshu is the prefect, and Qin Xiaoning believes that he can make accurate judgments.

Brother Li took the order and left. Qin Xiaoning then instructed Songzhi and the two maids, "Pack up our valuables first. If the government office gets the news and we have to flee, we won't have to rush around."

Not long after, Brother Li came back and said, "Master Shen is not at home. I heard from his old servant that he has been leading people to repair the embankment these days and has not been home for several days."

Qin Xiaoning frowned: "Are there many people fleeing on the street?"

Brother Li said, "I didn't see anyone running away." He added, "The streets are full of water, but it hasn't flooded the houses yet. I don't think the people are panicking."

Sister Wang echoed, "I've lived in Shuwang for more than ten years. It rains a lot here every summer, but I haven't seen a big flood. It will be fine after a few days of clearing up. Besides, the government is always guarding the embankment."

"I don't think anything will happen. There's no need to panic, ma'am." She said firmly.

Brother Wang also said: "If there is anything wrong, the government would have notified us long ago. There is really no need to panic."

"Then let's wait for news first." Songzhi followed.

The master and his servants were discussing something in the room when they heard a hurried knock on the door. Brother Li, who was standing at the door, hurried to open it.

"Oh, it's you." Brother Li greeted the person outside in surprise, and then replied to Qin Xiaoning in the outer room: "Madam, it's Mr. Wei from next door who is here."

When the people in the room heard this, they were all stunned.

Mr. Wei Erye had never visited the house. Although he was a widower in his thirties, it was rumored that he never got close to women, so everyone thought he was a very rigid person.

After reacting, Qin Xiaoning got up and went out, only to see Mr. Wei wearing a straw raincoat and hat, his black temples were wet with rain, which was dripping from time to time.

"Please come in." Qin Xiaoning spoke to him politely.

Perhaps because he was concerned that his status as a foreign man was not suitable to set foot in the house of a "widowed" woman, Master Wei did not move his feet when he heard the voice. Instead, he spoke directly to Qin Xiaoning and said, "I heard from my sister-in-law that Madam Lu refused to go with us. Why is that?"

It turned out that she was asked to escape with him.

This was really beyond Qin Xiaoning's expectations.

Mrs. Wei invited her just now only because of some friendship and out of pity for her as a woman, but now Mr. Wei actually came over to invite her on his own initiative, which was a bit puzzling.

"Madam Lu feels that she has little relationship with the Wei family, so she doesn't want to trouble others, right?"

Before Qin Xiaoning could speak, Mr. Wei seemed to see through her thoughts.

He wiped the rain off his face and said in a gentle voice, "My lady, you don't have to think like that. You are my child's husband, and we are close neighbors. We should help each other."

Seeing that the other party was sincere, Qin Xiaoning replied: "I know you are doing this for my own good, but if I leave Shu Wang now, it will be inconvenient even if I go out."

She frowned slightly and said, "Besides, the government office is always repairing the dam. I don't think there will be any danger."

As she spoke, she subconsciously looked up at the gray sky, and her voice became weaker: "This rain may stop tomorrow."