?44: Chapter 44 Accident Happened 44: Chapter 44 Accident Happened “I messed this up, didn’t think it through thoroughly,” Liu Hun said with a frown.

    He had thought he found a shortcut to lead the villagers to wealth, but now selling the product had become the actual problem.

    Just as a group of people were discussing the matter, Gazi suddenly rushed in breathlessly and exclaimed, “Brother Hun, Teacher Du, you guys need to hurry and see, lots of people have come to the village, and there are many tractors parked at the entrance.”

    “Let’s go!

    Let’s take a look!” Liu Hun felt it was odd because Wanbao Village, situated near Qi Mountain, usually saw hardly any outsiders, so why would there suddenly be so many people coming.

    When everyone got to the village entrance, there were only a few people left watching the tractors, and none of the others were to be seen, so Liu Hun asked someone guarding the tractors, “Master, what are you here for?”

    “Fetching timber, what else,” the elderly man answered briskly.

    “Fetching timber?

    All of us in Wanbao Village are just women staying at home; who would go up the mountain to chop trees?” Liu Hun asked the tractor driver with some puzzlement.

    The tractor driver wiped the mud off his shoe soles on the tractor’s tires and opened up to Liu Hun, “The women can’t, but the men can, can’t they?

    Isn’t there a saying, live off the mountain if near a mountain, live off the sea if near the sea.

    Since Wanbao Village is near a mountain, of course, you have to live off the mountain.

    Some people in your village who have contracted the mountain forest came to our boss wanting to sell the timber, so our boss got people together to chop and haul it.”

    Upon hearing this, Liu Hun furrowed his brows, about to speak, when the tractor driver continued, “I heard that there’s a capable person in your village, called Hunzi or something like that, an able man who made tens of thousands!

    Tell me, aren’t you jealous?

    If you are, you have to think of something, you’ve got to sell whatever you can!”

    Hearing the driver finish, Liu Hun now realized that someone was definitely stirring this up and was about to head up the mountain when he heard someone calling him from behind.

    Turning around, it was Ye Canghai.

    “Village Chief, did you need me for something?” Liu Hun asked Ye Canghai.

    He was planning to head to the mountain and could bring Ye Canghai along.

    Ye Canghai pulled Liu Hun aside and spoke, “Hunzi, I already know about this.

    Don’t get involved, okay?”

    Liu Hun knew that although Ye Canghai held the title of village chief, he was typically the type who would not act unless there was something in it for him, quite the opposite of the strictly upright Qin Yue.

    But Liu Hun felt there was something not quite right about this.

    Ye Canghai seemed to notice Liu Hun’s worries and quickly patted his shoulder, saying, “Hunzi, you can be absolutely sure this time, nothing like the incident with Cheng Rurong taking the medicine will happen again.

    This time it is people with legitimate contracts to cut trees.

    Last time, Bai Dajun was a cunning old fox, and you dealt with him fine.

    I still have to commend you for that, but now, it’s all legal and legitimate, don’t you agree?”

    Liu Hun pondered for a while.

    What Ye Canghai said made sense.

    Other’s contracted mountains weren’t his business.

    Besides, Ye Canghai was the village chief and he had spoken to this extent; Liu Hun decided not to interfere and nodded, “Chief, don’t worry, I understand how things work.

    As long as our villagers don’t get in trouble or suffer, I won’t meddle.”

    “Hey!

    Come on, let’s go inside for some tea,” Ye Canghai, arm around Liu Hun’s shoulders, led him into the house, chatting and laughing.

    Those black eyes fixated on gleaming silver, none of the villagers with contracted mountains could resist temptation; they all got people to chop trees on their mountains, except for Cheng Rurong’s family.

    Several households around Wanbao Village had mountains that were starting to bald, and Liu Hun went several times to advise against excessive deforestation, but no one listened and he received plenty of cold words.

    “Crack!” A sharp flash of lightning tore through the night sky, and the rain poured down like pearls, as if someone had punctured a hole in the celestial river, raining nonstop, now into its third day.

    “Oh, my dear mother, today I really experienced what rain is.

    What we had before wasn’t rain, it was just leaking!

    This is what you call rain!” Qin Yue laughed heartily, took off her bamboo hat, and placed the basket of eggs she was carrying on the ground, completely drenched from head to toe.

    “Qin Yue, what brings you here?” Liu Hun asked, quickly grabbing a towel for her to dry off.

    “Why wouldn’t I come?

    Can’t this temple fit a college student?” she teased, then pointing at the basket of eggs on the floor, she said, “These are for you and Teacher Du.

    The rains been pouring for days, you haven’t had much to eat.

    Look at this temple, raining hard outside and dripping inside.”

    Liu Hun was indeed a bit embarrassed; he had planned to use the money earned from selling vegetables to repair the temple properly, get some desks and chairs for the kids, and with the leftover money, make other plans.

    But this rain had suddenly arrived.

    Qin Yue, wearing a floral short-sleeved shirt and thin, translucent long pants, was soaked through by the torrential rain, her wet clothing clinging tightly to her body, revealing areas that should be red, white, and black.

    “Ahchoo!” Unable to hold it in, Qin Yue sneezed, her entire body shivering, sending a wave of energy throughout the room.

    “Qin Yue, I’ll go ask Mr.

    Du if he has any dry clothes.

    You should change your clothes, or it might lead to a cold and be troublesome,” Liu Hun said as he stepped toward the door, only for someone to bump directly into his arms.

    Staggering backward, Liu Hun caught the person in his embrace and saw that it was Bai Lian.

    “Huff, puff, puff...” panting heavily, Bai Lian gasped out to Liu Hun, “Bad news... the mountain... the mountain has collapsed!”

    “What?

    The mountain has collapsed?” Liu Hun’s eyes widened in shock as he asked Bai Lian.

    Nodding vigorously, Bai Lian shook the water off himself onto Liu Hun and exclaimed, “Hun, you must hurry over and see.

    Many houses at the foot of the mountain are buried!

    Cheng Rurong has already gone to inform the village chief.

    Let’s go quickly!”

    Just as Liu Hun and Bai Lian were about to head out, Liu Hun stopped and turned to Qin Yue, “Sister Qin Yue, you and Mr.

    Du stay in the temple and gather all the wooden boards you can find to make beds.

    We might need to carry many people here.”

    “Okay!

    I’ll listen to you,” Qin Yue nodded earnestly, her heart concerned about the village’s situation but still complying with Liu Hun’s request.

    Leaving the temple, Liu Hun felt why the elders described the rain as if heaven were collapsing; he couldn’t see anything a few meters ahead.

    If it weren’t for growing up in the village, he would surely have gotten lost.

    Bai Lian, leading the way, sloshed through the muddy path till they heard crying.

    They ran towards it and found Da-Hao’s mother, the most eager to sell lumber.

    Upon seeing Liu Hun, Da-Hao’s mother clung to him as if he were her dear uncle, sobbing, “Hun, please save my old man!

    He’s buried underneath.

    This damn rain, why does it target me for bullying?”

    “Move it!

    Still blaming this and that, it’s all because you were crazy for money!

    When Hun advised you before, why didn’t I see you crying then?

    Use that money for his coffin!” Bai Lian, not caring about seniority, was moved to tears as he saw more houses buried by the landslide.

    “You come and help pick out rocks!

    Stop crying, what’s the use?

    Hurry up!” Liu Hun, dragging Da-Hao’s mother, reached the buried site of her house.

    The three of them dug together, and after a long effort, they unearthed Old Li, who was barely breathing.

    “Hun, please save my husband, I beg you!

    From now on, I’ll do whatever you say and won’t oppose you anymore,” Da-Hao’s mother pleaded, holding onto Liu Hun’s legs, fearing he might leave Old Li unattended.

    Liu Hun placed his hand on Old Li’s philtrum, sending his Qi Force straight into him.

    In moments, Old Li regained consciousness, and the first thing he did upon waking was to slap Da-Hao’s mother across the face, scolding, “You wretched woman!

    How dare you cry here?

    Didn’t Hun come by and advise you?

    You just wanted to sell the trees, and you cursed at me every day at home!

    Now you understand what retribution means!”

    “Uncle Li, Aunt Cui Hua, please stop arguing,” Liu Hun intervened, “Bai Lian and I need to keep rescuing people.

    You two be careful and head towards the temple.

    Sister Qin Yue and Mr.

    Du are there.” Then he and Bai Lian stepped back into the storm.

    “Hun, be careful out there!” Old Li called after him as he and Da-Hao’s mother headed toward the temple, chastising her all along the way.

    Liu Hun and Bai Lian walked and dug along the edge of the mountain.

    Soon, Fen Ran, leading Ye Canghai and others, joined them.

    If not for Liu Hun’s robust Qi Force, many more in Wanbao Village might have been lost.

    Ultimately, they managed to rescue everyone.

    Days later, when skies cleared, Wanbao Village was a mess.

    Ye Canghai, entering the temple, looked at the unharmed villagers and remarked, “Ah!

    This was indeed a close call without danger.

    Thank goodness everyone is fine!”

    “Fen Ran!

    It wasn’t right to speak like that,” Qin Yue said, not caring that Fen Ran was there.

    “When Da-Hao’s mother and others went up to cut the tree, why didn’t you, the village chief, stop them?

    Even if you couldn’t stop them due to contracts, at least you should have informed about the consequences of cutting too many trees.

    It was only Hun who went door to door advising against it, even enduring cold responses.

    Seems like you, the village chief, only pick the easiest tasks.”

    Hearing Qin Yue, those who had insisted on selling trees initially hung their heads in shame; they hadn’t listened to Liu Hun then and had even needed him to save their lives now.

    They had no face to speak up.

    “Village Chief Ye!

    Is Village Chief Ye here?” a voice rang out at the temple entrance, making everyone turn to look.