What she saw was a road going up the high hill. Not mountain, just hill. But behind hill were literally endless mountains, some that were glistening with white snow caps.
If they could run to next mountain after flood and be there firing one year of drought, that could save them life.
But they have to leave mountain on time as eartshakes on flat ground and on mountain are different.
Getting killed by rolling stones doesn't seem a good idea.
Or maybe staying near river after flood?
No, nope.
Water will be polluted and she has to think of surviving and not getting sick right after flood.
If she could know time when they flood starts that would help her.
Maybe they have a praying temple?
Could deity give her heads up?
She saw the carraige going higher and higher and then suddenly turned to to eight and followed better path then before.
With curiosity she glanced down and saw a path made out of stone slobs.
Su Quan saw her gaze and patted her head.
"Our Su clan is famously stubborn. Last generation started making own street and wanted to help to the city. At that time we had City Lord that suddenly had stupid ideas for Su clan to help building all streets in neighborhood and they refused. So the City Lord made a law that all streets can be built except the one to Peach village. So Su clan stopped building halfway through and never continued as they fear again some crazy rules. So what they do is to repair just potholes that appear from time to time and that's it."
The carraige driver nodded. "And funniest ever, Cuo town never built roads for other villages that have to repair the current ones themselves or they wouldn't be able to travel. Even current City Lord is ignoring the problem with roads as he uses mostly river to transport things he needs."
Oh wow.
Whole town was ignored by City Lord.
She glanced back at glistening river that was wiggling to horizon. "If he ignores street it's fine, but what about river benches? They won't be ignoring them?"
The man furrowed his eyebrows. "River never floods, so..."
Yes, because rivers in this orld rarely flood, many forget to repair the protective benches and countless people died because of it.
Rains will start falling and won't stop for weeks.
Literally no stopping for weeks.
This is it.
She will know when heavy rains don't stop for long time. This is the warning.
The floor won't come instantly or would flood instantly. Rivers will become fuller and fuller but people would ignore it even when the rivers start overflowing.
At that time those that run away will starve and attack those that have food. It's same no matter what world. Her previous world or this now.
With sigh she could only shake her head. "People become comfortable near river but river is not a small pet. It's raging monster once it gets unleashed."
Su Quan patted his daughters head and nodded. "That is why Su clan chose to stay on hills now for centuries. They never trusted this river."
Before Su Fei could respond she stopped as she saw something she didn't expect.
Huh???
In front of her a ten meter high stone walls, filled with moos appeared.
Ancient door made out of hard wood opened up with a creek and two young men in simple guard uniform bowed in front of the carraige.
"Please tell us who you are and reason of coming."
Wow again.
This is fort not simple village.
Su Quan stood up and bowed politely. "I'm Su Quan. Elders sent notice that they are awaiting my arrival."
He took a silver seal from hai waist and gave it to nearby guard.
The guard just waved at him with toilet bow. "Elders already prepared your residence. We will show you the way. Please enter. "
Just then the gate fully opened up and one of guards walked in front and explained everything thoroughly.
"We have upper and lower part of Su village. Upper part has ancestral tombs, praying hall and ancient well that saved Su clan centuries ago when three year drought came. That place is not to enter without permission from clan elders."
Of course not anyone can just walk around ancient burial grounds as they want.
"Your house is at back of the hill. We will now pass clan elders house so you can first greet them before going to your new home."
Su Quan nodded.
Houses they passed all had open doors and curious people slowly walked out to see newcomers.
"Su clan rules will be explained by elders and can be read anytime at gate to the ancient thombes. It's written in stone now for centuries and our Su clan survived so long exactly because we follow those rules."
Su Fei was amazed by simplicity of their yards and homes.
She saw old yards from Qing dynasty and it was more flashy with various additions and gardens and such.
These yards looked simple. Just stone plated country and with a table and stools. Some had tree in courtyard and some didn't.
They stopped in front of same house like any other in this village and only difference was that it had old peach tree.
Yes, she recognized one as her old courtyard had one as well. It seems her grandfather planted one in memory of his old home.
In front of courtyard gate already bunch of people were waiting. Not many come to visit Su clan and today no one left village to buy supplies.
So elders knew he was coming even long before they arrived.
She waited for her father to go down and he helped his daughters to get down.
With respect the three people kneeled down and by old rules bowed and kowtowed three times before standing up...