Chapter 26: Official, Too Warmhearted
Sleeping on the same bed with a man is not right!
Xiao Qi was confused, just looking at her sitting motionless next to the table half the day while biting her thumb you could tell her heart was definitely as confused as the tangled up dish of seaweed salad on the table. The fingernail on Xiao Qi’s thumb had already been bitten down to the quick, but she still couldn’t figure out why she would put up with a man hugging her while sleeping. No, it’s why she would tolerate hugging a man while sleeping.
Old man Qian’s movement was very fast, as Xiao Qi burped from the full meal and was currently racking her brain hard thinking, a person already entered the courtyard to report that the stone material is already being delivered. Xiao Qi also couldn’t deal with the confusion anymore and followed the person to head directly to Concave Village.
Xiao Qi wore a gauze hat and jumped off the carriage holding the blueprint. As she surveyed the area, she felt a sense of pride and urgency as if Concave Village’s safety depended completely on her. Welcoming her was Advisor Lu who she felt close with from the first time she saw him. At this time, Advisor Lu had a gentle smile on. Seeing this, Xiao Qi couldn’t help but want to get closer.
“Madam came alone?” Advisor Lu smiled as he asked.
Xiao Qi bobbed her head, then handed over the simple blueprint that she drew while smiling: “Advisor Lu, if you construct the stone squares like this, how many squares can be completed in a day?”
Advisor Lu unfolded the blueprint and took a look. His brows lifted, but didn’t seem that amazed.
“This was summed up by Madam? It’s already very good, but if it was an emergency it would not work.”
“What part of it doesn’t work?” Xiao Qi hurriedly asked, then said: “Adviser Lu, you don’t have to keep calling me Madam, Madam. It’s fine if you just call me Xiao Qi.”
After Xiao Qi finished speaking, she still felt it was inappropriate, as if it had some ambiguous meaning. Just as she was about to explain, Adviser Lu already said with a smile: “Then, like before, Xiao Qi can just call me Big Brother Lu.”
Xiao Qi blinked, thought about it, then smiled: “I used to call you Big Brother? No wonder I feel so close to you!”
Lu Li Cheng smiled while nodding, then led Xiao Qi to higher ground. Xiao Qi looked at the clearly much higher river in front of her and was a bit surprised. She knitted her brows: “It didn’t rain again though?”
“Raining upstream is the same. It helped a lot when Xiao Qi had people send stone material over, but I’m afraid the water may overflow before we finish constructing the stone squares and filling them in with clay.”
Xiao Qi saw that the short dam was only about ten feet and worriedly asked: “Then there’s no choice but to be flooded?”
Lu Li Cheng nodded: “If it overflows, there will definitely be a flood this year. But this dam must be constructed sooner or later. If it’s stone blocks than the flood probably won’t be able to wash it away so constructing this first is fine. If the water overflows it also would not be destroyed like a mud dam.”
“It would have been great if there was a floodgate. Then we could at least resist it a little.” Xiao Qi sighed.
“If there was a floodgate and sluice gate to adjust the water strength we could even block the water to dredge the river. When there’s a lot of rain we could block the water, then let the water go during dry periods. With this kind of engineering, the sandy water will be able to flow freely and unimpeded. In actuality, the sandy water only has so much silt. If we dredge it properly it could even connect to other sources. Has Xiao Qi seen the sandy water outside the city during the rainy season?”
“Nope!”
Lu Li Cheng nodded and continued: “During the dry season the water level dries up but during midsummer it starts to rise until the river is up to 400 feet wide.” Lu Li Cheng pointed towards the yellow rolling muddy water and continued: “With it this wide, if it can connect together, it would allow for Tongxu’s economy to skyrocket.”
Xiao Qi recalled the long peach flower dam in that picture and smiled: “If only the dam could hurry and come like a racing horse. The scenery would be beautiful and it would be un.o.bstructed as well.”
Lu Li Cheng nodded: “This construction project will take several years. All we can do right now is to first build the dam and protect the safety of the villagers in Concave Village during times of high water. Da ren can build the dam in Tongxu, but if it’s to reach the sort of scene we talked about, we must have His Majesty’s decree.”
Xiao Qi turned around to look at Concave Village which was hidden behind layers upon layers of trees, her heart felt a bit said. It looks like, no matter what, this village must be abandoned. Xiao Qi pouted, then a moment later became cheerful again. Even though it might flood, but after the water goes down they’ll continue building the dam, and next summer this sort of thing won’t happen ever again. Whether construction to link the dam to several other provinces doesn’t matter to her, but at the very least it can protect Tongxu’s well-being.
Xiao Qi lifted her head and smiled brilliantly: “You can only find out the result after working hard. Perhaps this year the water will only rise to this level before slowly decreasing.”
Xiao Qi raised her hand to shield from the sun as she looked at the pretty clear, cloudless and sunny sky, and asked: “How many squares can be constructed in one day?”
“All the male laborers in Concave Village are working on it. If they work nonstop, ten squares are nothing difficult.”
Xiao Qi nodded excitedly: “Seize the time and construct it, then after this summer build the mud dam to the side.”
Xiao Qi’s plan was very grand. The weather changed very suddenly.
As Lu Li Cheng used the hem of his chang pao to block the rain for Xiao Qi while they ran with the villagers back to the village, Xiao Qi suddenly felt that this place was really going to flood.
The rain was very heavy, running like this already caused them to be soaking wet. Xiao Qi, for better or for worse, was invited along with Lu Li Cheng to lady Cai Yun’s house. Xiao Qi didn’t feel anything particular about that, rather it was Cai Yun that flushed red the moment she saw Xiao Qi, whether it was because of excitement or shame is unknown.
Xiao Qi only realized as she was changing clothes that it wasn’t excitement or shame, it was bashfulness. Seeing a woman with her clothes sticking to her skin, all her curves showing, and next to her was even a man, to not be bashful would be strange.
Xiao Qi changed into lady Cai Yun’s clothes and felt a bit restless as she looked at the heavy rain outside. Lu Li Cheng had also already changed into blue farmer’s clothes and walked to Xiao Qi’s side, also looking for a long time towards the yard. In the end, he sighed, asked Cai Yun for an umbrella and headed out again.
“Where are you going?” Xiao Qi followed and asked.
“To look at the water strength.”
“I’m going too.”
Lu Li Cheng saw her resolute att.i.tude and did not try to stop her. Xiao Qi wrung out her wet hair, put on the conical bamboo hat and woven raincoat Cai Yun handed her and followed Lu Li Cheng out.
“Big Brother Lu, such heavy rain doesn’t seem to be good.” Xiao Qi shouted.
Xiao Qi’s voice wasn’t clear in the heavy rain. As Lu Li Cheng turned his head to look over, Xiao Qi just happened to slip and stumble. Lu Li Cheng extended his hand and pulled her arm, saying loudly: “Hold onto my arm.”
Xiao Qi leaned toward Lu Li Cheng and held on to his arm while saying: “What will we do if the water strength rises a lot?”
“We’ll evacuate everyone.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to just evacuate everyone first?” Xiao Qi shouted, frowning.
“We should look at the situation first. It’s no good to make the villagers move for no reason.”
When Xiao Qi climbed to high ground while holding Lu Li Cheng’s sleeve, the hem of her skirt had already become extremely muddy because of falling to the ground several times. The strength of the sandy water had become even more ferocious. Xiao Qi squinted as she looked at that turbid expanse. You couldn’t even tell where the river bank was.
Lu Li Cheng let Xiao Qi stand at the high ground while jumping down himself to go check that short dam. Xiao Qi saw him enter the river but could only take a few steps. Lu Li Cheng walked along the riverbank for a while, then stood still in the water looking at the sandy water for a good while. Seeing that water strength turning violent, he abruptly turned back to climb up the short dam, pull Xiao Qi and ran.
“What is it?” Xiao Qi shouted.
“The water is flowing more and more rapidly. In such a short time it already rose more than three inches.”
Xiao Qi didn’t ask in more detail. She just knew that this really wasn’t good. Xiao Qi felt a bit guilty. If she had read that many flood management books, why didn’t she come up with the idea of building a dam earlier? It would have been better than dragging it on like this, and now having to look on helplessly as a large village get flooded.
Xiao Qi was half-dragged by Lu Li Cheng all the way back to the village. The moment she entered the yard she was pulled by familiar arms into an embrace. The bamboo hat was lifted off. Xiao Qi was splashed by rain until she was completely disoriented on the way here and leaned in that embrace, wiped dry her face, then gasped: “Why are you here?”
Song Liang Zhuo gave an irrelevant ‘en’ as an answer then raised his voice and asked Lu Li Cheng: “How’s the water strength?”
“We can only take precautions first and have the elderly, children, and women enter the city first.”
“Alright.” Song Liang Zhuo pushed back Xiao Qi’s wet hair, blocked her and took off her rain coat, wrapped the clothes Cai Yun handed over around her, before letting Cai Yun lead her to another room.
“I have already arranged everything inside the city. Ordinary households can take two people each, rich households can house a family. And they had already given their word, there won’t be any disputes.” As Song Liang Zhuo spoke he put on the raincoat that he had taken off Xiao Qi. Lifting the bamboo hat, he added: “In a bit, you should bring Xiao Qi and the villagers and leave first. I’ll manage this area.”
Lu Li Cheng nodded and followed him out the door.
Xiao Qi was standing in the doorway of the next room drying her hair. Seeing them leave she shouted: “Official Song, where are you going?”
Song Liang Zhuo’s feet paused, he nodded towards Li Lu Cheng, waiting for him to open the umbrella and leave the yard before turning back. Xiao Qi hung the cloth around her neck then knitted her brows: “Are you evacuating everyone?”
Song Liang Zhuo nodded, taking off the hat and shot a look at Cai Yun who was standing to the side. Cai Yun bit her lips, gave a courtesy, and left the room. Song Liang Zhuo lifted his hand and stroked Xiao Qi’s moist hair, speaking warmly: “In a bit, return with them to the city.”
“Then what about you?”
“I’ll head back a bit later.”
A sudden clap of thunder filled the skies. Xiao Qi trembled and tightly grabbed Song Liang Zhuo’s clothes, rubbing her cheek against it.
“Don’t be scared, that thunder can’t hurt Xiao Qi. If Xiao Qi is scared, when you get home sleep with Lu Liu.”
Xiao Qi lifted her eyes to look at Song Liang Zhuo: “You’re not fighting with me over the bed anymore?”
“Oh, I’ll fight for it again later.” Song Liang Zhuo’s tone was gentle.
Xiao Qi bit her lips. Her originally dim line of sight was suddenly blocked, a pair of hands pressed her head into his chest. Xiao Qi took a deep breath. Smelling the unique scent on Song Liang Zhuo’s body made her feel calmer.
“Then, then you should also try to get back to the city quickly.” Xiao Qi awkwardly mumbled.
“Okay.”
Xiao Qi pushed Song Liang Zhuo a little and slightly lifted her head to look over. The expression on her face changed multiple times in a flash, in the end, her eyes were even filled with tears. Song Liang Zhuo’s brows slowly creased, yet before he asked anything Xiao Qi gave a large sneeze.
Xiao Qi rubbed her nose, then sneezed a couple more times consecutively. Her nose felt sour and itchy, causing her eyes also to feel sour, and a tear slide down, just like that. Xiao Qi rubbed her nose and blinked: “It’s not that I can’t bear to part with you, it’s just, atchoo, it’s, en, my nose is really uncomfortable!”
Song Liang Zhou smiled as he stroke her cheek: “When you get back remember to drink some ginger soup. Be careful about everything.”
This means you’re about to leave!
Xiao Qi magnanimously left Song Liang Zhuo’s chest. Instantly, the warmth dispersed, causing Xiao Qi to feel a bit reluctant to part.
Song Liang Zhuo looked at Xiao Qi again, stroked her hair then turned to leave. Xiao Qi muttered as if demons and G.o.ds were at work, Song Liang Zhuo, is it that you do like me a little?
Xiao Qi stared blankly at Song Liang Zhuo figure that froze again, and rubbed her nose: “Don’t you have work to do?”
Song Liang Zhuo turned around, his eyes containing some unknown mood. Xiao Qi blinked and was about to wonder about it when Song Liang Zhuo had already turned back, drawing her waist towards him and pressed against her forehead.
A clear and light kiss, perhaps because it was fully loaded with camaraderie, Xiao Qi’s body when soft due to the warmth that was transmitted through the lips. Song Liang Zhuo raised his head and dropped another kiss on the top of her head. He reached out, searching in her chest and extracted a red string from her front lapel. Pulling out that thing that had pressed painfully against him, he smiled: “Why are you still wearing this?”
Xiao Qi still hadn’t returned to her senses from when her limbs went limp. The moment Song Liang Zhuo let go, Xiao Qi started sliding down Song Liang Zhuo’s body like soft noodles.
Song Liang Zhuo chuckled, picked up the Xiao Qi that was softly hanging onto his body and walked to the bed.
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Credits: In honor of lixiao for playing the game, Translated by Chiyomira, Edited by Sonia