CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280: AFTER THE RAIN COMES THE CLEAR SKY

After eight consecutive days of torrential rain, the ninth day brought a lighter drizzle, which was a relief compared to the previous days’ downpours. Unfortunately, the streets were still flooded, turning a simple outing into a challenge that required skills in boating and swimming, so Xiuxiu and others decided to stay home and wait for the floodwaters to recede.

On the tenth day, after the rain finally stopped and the sky cleared, the water began to subside, dropping from waist-high to just reaching the calves. Xu Xiuxiu also decided to clean up and go outside.

Post-flood reconstruction and repair became a pressing issue on everyone’s minds. The near ten days of torrential rains had taken their toll on many earthen homes and old buildings, which could not withstand the beating rain and collapsed, causing widespread damage.

From the news reports of these days, it was evident that the aftermath of the flood was severe. Soldiers from the Tiger Wolf Military District in City Z had been on the flood-fighting front lines since day one. After more than ten days of intense flood resistance, surviving on cold food and wearing soaked uniforms, their work was far from over once the rain stopped, which was deeply moving to all who saw it, and Xu Xiuxiu was especially worried.

So, once the floodwaters significantly receded, Xiuxiu and Jingjing, with Aunt Luo returning promptly after the rain stopped to help look after the children, lessened much of Xiuxiu’s worries.

The matters of Sichuan Pavilion had almost entirely been handed over to Jingjing, who was very capable. She managed all kinds of errands and even dealt with major and minor issues, alongside Yuanyao.

"Jingjing, instruct all branches of Sichuan Pavilion to help the soldiers nearby who are fighting floods and providing disaster relief. Offer them free food for lunch and dinner. It doesn’t need to be extravagant, but must at least be fresh and warm. Ensure the soldiers have enough to eat. Don’t worry about this month’s performance or other issues," Xiuxiu instructed Jingjing before leaving the house.

Although they hadn’t left their home recently, the severity and unprecedented nature of this flood were clear from what they’d seen on TV. Even though Xiuxiu didn’t possess much capability, the young faces of the soldiers in dangerous situations, sleeping in the wet rain, eating cold, hard buns and dry rations, she just couldn’t bear it.

Those soldiers deserved care and compassion. Moreover, as a military wife herself, she felt that even if her ability was limited, she should contribute whatever little she could. It might not be much, but it was at least a show of support for Yuanhuan, who would undoubtedly be pleased if he knew.

"Sure! Sister, don’t worry, I’ll handle this," Jingjing said earnestly. The first thing she did when she got back to Sichuan Pavilion was to call all branches to carry out the initiative of providing free meals for soldiers. To ensure this was followed through, she even visited all the branch locations in one day, accompanied by Yuanyao, to supervise.

Early in the morning, Yuanming was dispatched by Xiuxiu to the construction site of Soup City Resort to check on the attendance of the workers. The prolonged rains had made communication challenging, and Xiuxiu knew there were likely more unseen problems and difficulties lying in wait.

The first thing she did when she went out was to meet with Ye Hua. Together, they roughly estimated the losses suffered by Tangshui City Resort due to the disaster. To be honest, the damage was particularly severe, almost jeopardizing several major projects. Luckily, Ye Hua had managed to stabilize the situation after some effort, and the resultant losses were still controllable.

After ballparking the extent of the damages and consulting with Ye Hua, Xiuxiu hurried to a construction site in the suburbs in the afternoon.

Construction had not resumed, as several workers had been involved in accidents — although not on the site, releasing Xiuxiu from responsibility. With both moral and rational considerations, however, Xiuxiu felt obligated to address the situation. She wanted to earn money, but not through unscrupulous means.

Xiuxiu spent the day determining the number of workers available for construction, but she didn’t rush to begin work. Above all, she needed to resolve the shortage of hands; hastily starting the work would be less effective than waiting a few days, either to recruit workers or to reassess once the flood issues were more settled.

The construction workers didn’t voice opposition to Xiuxiu’s decision, as she was known for treating them well and providing good wages. It highlighted the importance of her usual approach; otherwise, she might now be facing an even more troublesome situation.

"Construction work on the site is postponed for now, but I hope you all can devote the downtime to the flood disaster relief effort. Soldiers from the Tiger Wolf Military District in City Z are all in full deployment. Defending the homeland and the people is their duty, but as citizens, we too have a responsibility and obligation to help without slacking off. We should contribute whatever we can. I’d like everyone to start participating in the relief efforts from today. You will still receive your wages during this period, though the nature of the work is different and carries certain risks, so I’m not mandating participation. Those who are willing to assist the military should report to the construction foreman within an hour, and we’ll set off to offer support," Xiuxiu offered as a voluntary choice.

It wasn’t feasible to continue construction in Soup City amid the flooding. It was better to use this time to help the hardworking soldiers. With many workers on the site, even a small effort was bound to make a difference. But the support work was not without danger, and Xiuxiu planned to lead people to the villages near the City Z dam, where the problem was exacerbated by a breach, leading to countless collapsed homes.

Quite a few workers signed up for the relief mission, perhaps because those at the construction site were accustomed to tough work. The job was inherently risky, and with Xiuxiu offering full wages for helping those affected by the disaster, the number willing to go was significant.

Xiuxiu discussed the staff deployment for military assistance with Ye Hua. She was concerned he might disapprove, so she made it clear that the wages of the workers during this period would not be part of their joint venture. As businessmen, they valued profit, and while she wanted to make an effort for Yuanhuan, she couldn’t assume Ye Hua would share her viewpoint.