I relied on a system to prolong my life in ancient times.

Chapter 143 Opening the Granary and Distributing Grain

Although the breach was plugged in time, several villages downstream were still flooded. However, apart from Minghe Village, the other villages suffered relatively few casualties.

However, all the houses were destroyed. Only some of the more sturdy brick and tile houses fared slightly better and were not completely washed away, while the rest of the thatched houses were nowhere to be seen.

Not to mention food, there wasn't a single grain left. Everywhere was a mess, evoking a complex mix of emotions: emptiness, loneliness, and sadness.

He was a local resident, and seeing this scene, he burst into tears and wailed.

“Our home… is gone,” a person murmured blankly.

Qianyuan County

Xiao Siyue once again asked someone to inquire about the situation in the city.

Upon learning the current situation, Xiao Siyue fell silent.

"Miss, there are more and more people in the city now, what should we do?" Chun Tao asked anxiously.

Has my brother come back yet?

"Young Master has returned and is now at the government office," Xiao Siyu said. He had returned after Xiao Qinian left and was now discussing with the clerk how to settle the people in the city.

"I understand. Where did my mother go?" he asked again.

"Miss, Madam is inside."

"Let's go find my mother first." Xiao Siyue said and walked out. Chuntao immediately took an umbrella and held it for Xiao Siyue.

When Xiao Siyue arrived at Lin Qin's room, she saw Lin Qin pacing anxiously around the room.

"mother,"

Lin Qin's eyes lit up when she saw Xiao Siyue coming over. She quickly grabbed Xiao Siyue, her eyes filled with undisguised worry.

"Yue'er, with such heavy rain, isn't it dangerous for your father to go to the dam?"

Xiao Siyue knew that Lin Qin was worried about Xiao Qinian, so she quickly comforted her.

"Mother, don't worry, Father will be safe,"

Lin Qin felt much more at ease after hearing Xiao Siyue's words.

"Mother, please stay inside for now. I'll go find my brother," Xiao Siyue said, helping Lin Qin sit down on a stool.

"Yue'er, what do you want with your brother?"

“A lot of refugees have come to the city. I’m going to find my brother to see how to deal with them. It’s raining so hard, we can’t let Baixin stay soaked in the rain.” Xiao Siyue said and then went out.

Before Xiao Siyue even reached the government office, Xiao Siyu and the clerk had already come out.

"elder brother,"

"Yue'er, what brings you here? Go back quickly." Xiao Siyu saw Xiao Siyue stop her hurried steps.

"Brother, where are you going?" Xiao Siyue did not answer Xiao Siyu.

"We will go and resettle the people in the city."

"Brother, there are many people in the city. Where do you plan to settle them?" There are no people in the government office right now. How are we to arrange things for these few people?

"We'll first arrange for the women and children to stay in the government office. We plan to gather the others and set up some temporary shelters." This was something he had discussed with his advisor, mainly because there were too many refugees and the government office simply couldn't accommodate them all.

"What about food? How are they going to eat?" Xiao Siyue asked. Now the villagers have nothing left, and they have no food at all.

"We're preparing to open the granary and distribute the grain," Xiao Siyu said as he walked.

"But our Qianyuan County granaries can only feed these people for two days at most,"

“Father has already reported the flood to the prefectural city, and the prefectural city will definitely send grain afterward,” Xiao Siyu knew this, but there was nothing he could do. He could only hope that the disaster relief grain could be delivered as soon as possible.

"I understand, brother. I'll go with Mother and the maids and servants in the mansion to help right now." After saying that, Xiao Siyue hurried off to find Lin Qin.

"Yue'er,"

“Mother, my brother said he’s going to open the granary and distribute grain. Let’s take the maids and servants and go help.” Xiao Siyue said as soon as she entered the door.

Hearing her daughter say this, Lin Qin didn't ask why, nor did she show any reluctance, and simply followed Xiao Siyue.

“Mother, there are now several thousand refugees, and our kitchen probably won’t be enough,” Xia Siyue said as she went to check the kitchen.

As for manpower, we can find some refugees to help.

"Mother, you and the others can cook porridge for everyone in the kitchen first. I'll go out and tell my brother to build two more shacks and make two simple stoves underneath."

"Okay, Yue'er, you go ahead. I'll just watch them do it."

Cooking porridge for disaster victims is a customary practice.

The main reason is that the grain is too good, so it can only be cooked into porridge, otherwise it won't be enough. Another reason is that cooking porridge is simple and doesn't waste manpower.

After Xiao Siyue told Xiao Siyu, she dared to go to the kitchen to help. She was young, so she couldn't be of much help.

Because there were so many people, and because these disaster victims knew that the shelters were for them, everyone worked very quickly and the shelters were all set up before dark.

Thanks to everyone's joint efforts, all the disaster victims were able to eat hot porridge. Although the porridge wasn't very thick, everyone enjoyed it.

"Mom, this porridge smells so good!" A little girl held the bowl in both hands and ate it in small bites.

The woman beside her patted the little girl's head and said, "Hmm, if it's delicious, eat more. If you're not full, there's more in your bowl."

"Mom, you eat, I've had enough, my tummy is full!" the little girl said in a sweet voice.

In reality, how could such a bowl possibly fill you up? At most, it would just keep you from going hungry.

Seeing this, everyone smiled slightly, but some people seemed to have thought of something and felt sad. The fragrant porridge suddenly tasted bitter.

Isn't it tough?

Although they hadn't always had a good life, they were always a family with a house and land.

But now, a merciless flood has destroyed their own homes.

My family is gone; the home where generations have lived is no more.

They, well, from then on became homeless disaster victims.

灾民

How terrible that word is.

They were very confused. What should they do next?

Thinking of this, many people began to cry silently, and gradually their cries grew louder and louder.

Xiao Siyue saw this scene as soon as she entered the door, and she felt very sad. Natural disasters exist everywhere.

But it is always these kind-hearted people who suffer.

Xiao Siyue knew that no amount of comforting would be of any use now, because she needed to change everything.

Moreover, the sudden disaster had left these people in fear, and now that they have finally settled down, it is time for them to vent their frustrations.

Xiao Siyue didn't stop the group; she just stayed quietly by their side. All she could do now was try her best to keep them from going hungry.

But it's already dark, and Xiao Siyue is worried because Xiao Qinian and the others haven't returned yet.

Has something really happened?

Thinking of this, Xiao Siyue was about to send someone to take a look.

I happened to see what was happening in the corner.