Chapter 495: Life and Death
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Mr. and Mrs. Li always listened to everything Li Shi said, and he would say whatever was necessary. Moreover, news of the earthquake was terrifying, so they had to prepare themselves for it.
Li Shi said, “Su Xueye built our house, and Miss Su says it’s sturdy. We won’t have a problem unless it’s a massive earthquake. Still, she also suggested we sleep in the courtyard and not inside for the next few days.
“Otherwise, the house might collapse and crush us. Let’s wear more clothes since we’re sleeping in the courtyard to survive the cold for three days. Our safety is of the utmost importance.”
His expression was severe as he was cautious about what his boss had said. Although he did not know why Su Binglan told him there would be an earthquake in the next three days, he still believed her words.
Therefore, after returning home, he arranged for his parents to stay in the courtyard. Fortunately, the family’s house was vast and spacious. They also had a large courtyard that was convenient for doing many things.
Mr. and Mrs. Li were happy their son could take a three-day break. Now that their son could rest for three days, they could spend more time with him. For some reason, the older couple was dependent on Li Shi now. Seeing their son by their side made them feel at ease, too.
Mrs. Li seemed to have thought of something and asked, “So, how do we cook during the day?”
Mr. and Mrs. Li had grown accustomed to listening to their son, even over small matters.
After some thought, Li Shi said, “Then we’ll set up a pot in the courtyard for cooking and eat there, too.”
Since it was winter, it was cold in the courtyard, especially at night. It would be so cold that they could not sleep properly outside, and Li Shi did not know what to do.
“In any case, we must persevere for the next three days. We must ensure our safety first.”
Li Shi’s parents wondered if they should inform their other children about the earthquake. Although they would not care about their other two sons, they could not just sit and watch them suffer.
Li Shi knew his parents’ thoughts and said, “I’ll tell Big Brother and Little Brother about it.’
He could not bear watching his siblings get into trouble with the dangerous earthquake, especially since the trio had an excellent relationship when they were children.
Of course, Li Shi’s siblings dared not provoke him. The main reason was that
Li Shi had many capable friends who helped him, and his siblings were no match for them.
Moreover, his siblings knew he worked for the Su family, which had prestige in the hearts of people from surrounding villages. Therefore, Li Shi’s siblings tucked their tails between their legs and dared not provoke Li Shi since he moved to Su Teng Village.
Meanwhile, when Zhou Shan returned home, he quickly told his parents about the impending earthquake. Liu Yinyin also informed her family about it.
Then her parents closed their duck blood vermicelli shop early and hung a sign on their shop’s entrance, saying, “Impending earthquake. Please go home and take precautions. We’ll reopen in three days.”
Even Su Binglan’s hotpot restaurants and her third uncle’s barbecue shop had such a sign. Many customers still went to line up at the hotpot restaurant but hurried home to prepare themselves after seeing the sign.
As for the foreigners, they could only sigh.
“I came to Teng He Town to eat hotpot. I didn’t expect them to be closed.”
“Yeah. Since there’s an earthquake, we can’t stay here for too long. We should leave as soon as possible.”
“I didn’t get to eat the famous hotpot. How will I tell my family about this when I get back? I must at least buy something. Oh, right. I can buy sweaters, school bags, and other things here. Everyone will be happy.”
“Where can I buy those?” Everyone had heard of these items and had visited Teng He Town for a few days to get them.
“They’re in Su’s Accessories. Walk along the west end of town, and you’ll see a big building from afar. There’s also a winery and embroidery shop there, so you’ll know when you’re close.”
“Oh, there’s still stinky tofu in town. You must bring some back to your family for them to try.”
“But won’t the stinky tofu go bad and become inedible?”
“Don’t worry. They have boxes for storing things. You can keep things fresh, but you’ll have to spend more money.”
These foreigners had plenty of money and came to Teng He Town for its famous foods. As everyone talked with each other, they suddenly thought of something important.
One of them said, “Something isn’t right. Why is there a sign saying there will be an impending earthquake?”
“You’re right. I would have forgotten about it if you didn’t say anything. Don’t we only know about an earthquake after the fact? How can they predict it in advance?”
“So, is this true or false?”
“Did something happen to the Su family, and they closed their shops for three days with this as an excuse?”
The foreign merchants were doubtful. Even the residents of Teng He Town were shocked when they saw the signs hanging outside the shops. Just the word “earthquake” made everyone’s faces turn pale.
“An earthquake? They’re closing for three days because of an earthquake?” “l haven’t heard of anyone being able to predict an earthquake. Is it true?”
“If there’s an earthquake, it’ll be too dangerous. It’s also winter. Where can we live if our houses collapse?”
“What should we do?”
The townsfolk got a headache just thinking about an earthquake. Some of the older people had even experienced a massive earthquake, which was truly terrifying.
‘Won’t we be able to sleep indoors for the next three days? Will we have to sleep in our courtyards or on the streets?’
The townsfolk began to spread the news. Some were willing to make preparations, while others thought it was fake.
“How can anyone predict an earthquake? Someone must’ve spread this rumor on purpose, so don’t believe it and just go about your days.”
“The Su family can make good food but aren’t gods. Don’t believe everything they say and make a fuss over it.”
Others scoffed and thought it was all a lie.
When Su Binglan returned to the village, she hurriedly told the workers from the tofu factory, embroidery shop, and winery about the matter. As for whether or not everyone believed her, that was their business.
She would inform everyone either way. Also, she gave everyone a three-day notice.
The workers at the tofu factory, embroidery shop, and winery believed Su
Binglan. No matter the reason, they would be ready in the next three days.
After all, earthquakes were terrifying, and no one wanted to risk their lives.
Moreover, Su Binglan had given the workers three days off for their sake.
They had heard that the tofu factory, embroidery shop, and winery’s buildings were earthquake-resistant, meaning they would not collapse even if an earthquake occurred.
Therefore, Su Binglan could have let them continue working under normal circumstances. Everyone knew the tofu factory, embroidery shop, and winery businesses were booming, and they could earn a lot of money in three days.
However, Su Binglan gave everyone three days off for their safety. Everyone felt touched and believed Su Binglan’s words even more, so they hurried home to tell their families and the rest of the villagers.
Some of these workers! relatives lived far away, so they had to borrow an oxcart to relay the warning. No one dared to be careless regarding matters of life and death..
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